1.

Endorsed / Not Endorsed: After careful analysis of all the factors involved only those investments that offered good value or realistic reward in return for the risk were endorsed. Favourable aspects are shown in green, strong negative aspects are shown in red.

Closing date: In the event of significant demand some products may have closed earlier.

3.

Inferred investment period: all the products shown inferred an investment period of three years on the front of their brochure.

Minimum actual investment period: The period between the product’s closing date and the date when the final payout could be expected. Where the final payout date is not specified in the product literature, a period of up to one week after the end of the investment term has been allowed.

5.

Headline rate: The inferred annualised rate of return as shown on the front of the brochure.

6.

Actual annualised growth rate: Based on an investment made on the closure date with growth option selected and without any larger investment bonus and assumes that index does not fall. Gross rate equivalents for investments that distribute their proceeds net of basic rate tax assume the savings rate of tax of 20%.

7.

Market Protection level: Providing the relevant index never falls by more than the percentage shown, all of the original investment will be returned.  Soft protection - market protection level can be broken at any time during the term, hard protection - market protection level applies to closing value.  Unless stated protection is soft protection.

8.

Final Index Level: Where the final index level is the average closing level over a number of days or weeks it is lower risk than that of a single day although the closing value on a single day is significantly lower risk than the lowest index level at anytime during a period as this could be a sudden downward spike in the index.

9.

The final return calculations are based on an investment of £10,000 for annual income and assume that there were no early investment bonuses. Where a return is “subject to tax” this would be on the income / growth element only.

10.

Dublin based companies - It is assumed that investment in any of these are not via an ISA. Where the growth option is selected growth would be subject to Capital Gains Tax rather than income tax. Where income is selected from the these products tax would be at the rate of 10% for basic rate taxpayers and 32.5% for higher rate taxpayers.

11.

Where a return is shown as “tax paid at basic rate” the tax is not reclaimable by non taxpayers. Higher rate taxpayers may have an additional tax liability at the marginal rate (18% in 2000/01)

12.

Tax information is based on our interpretation of current Inland Revenue practice and tax legislation which is subject to change.