Dividend heroes: Ten trusts with 40 years of rising payouts

Witan investment trust has become the tenth investment trust to grow its annual dividend for 40 consecutive years, according to the Association of Investment Companies.

Last Monday, Witan announced a 6.9% increase to its dividend in 2014 to reach a total of 15.4p per share paid out over the year on its £1.5bn trust. This is the 40th year the trust has grown its dividend in its 106-year history, meaning it joins just nine other trusts that can boast similar dividend growth. The oldest and largest investment trusts in the world are among those dubbed "dividend heroes" by the AIC, including Alliance Trust and Foreign & Colonial investment trust, which have grown their dividends for 47 and 44 years respectively. "Newer" trusts have also posted impress...