Part 3Investment powers of trustees

I194Exercise of power of investment

After section 4 of the Trusts (Scotland) Act 1921 (c. 58) insert—

4AExercise of power of investment: duties of trustee

1

Before exercising the power of investment under section 4(1)(ea) of this Act, a trustee shall have regard to—

a

the suitability to the trust of the proposed investment, and

b

the need for diversification of investments of the trust, in so far as is appropriate to the circumstances of the trust.

2

Before exercising that power of investment, a trustee shall (except where subsection (4) applies) obtain and consider proper advice about the way in which the power should be exercised.

3

When reviewing the investments of the trust, a trustee shall (except where subsection (4) applies) obtain and consider proper advice about whether the investments should be varied.

4

If a trustee reasonably concludes that in all the circumstances it is unnecessary or inappropriate to obtain such advice, the trustee need not obtain it.

5

In this section, “proper advice” means the advice of a person who is reasonably believed by the trustee to be qualified by the person's ability and practical experience of financial and other matters relating to the proposed investment.