HSBC Fund Management (Malta) Limited has announced that as of yesterday income shares are available to investors in the Maltese Assets Fund, Malta Government Bond Fund, Malta Bond Fund and International Bond Fund. Investors will now have the option of investing in these funds either by acquiring the new class of income shares or the existing accumulator class of shares.

It is expected that the income shares will provide a regular, quarterly income to investors in each of the four funds. The accumulator shares on the other hand do not pay dividends, but will suit investors who are looking for automatic re-investment of income.

“Income paying funds are useful in any investor’s financial planning requirements. The Maltese Assets Fund, the Malta Government Bond Fund, the Malta Bond Fund and the International Bond Fund invest in a diverse range of local and international assets. They are large and well established products which have already proved their long-term potential to local investors,” said HSBC Fund Management’s managing director, Joseph D. Camilleri.

Dividends in Maltese liri will be credited directly to the investors’ bank account in Malta. Investors will also have the option to request automatic re-investment of any income. Those who invest in the new income shares up to 5 February 2005 will also receive between 0.25 per cent to 1.25 per cent of free units on the amounts invested.