The Investment Company plc invests in preference shares and prior charge securities. The Company seeks to achieve the objective through investment in a diversified portfolio of holdings, such that no investment, at the time it is made, results in more than 10% of the portfolio being in the securities of any one company or issuer. In addition, it seeks to ensure that the portfolio is substantially invested into preference shares and prior charge securities, with no more than 10% of the portfolio invested in ordinary shares, with the portfolio being, subject to special circumstances, predominantly in sterling denominated instruments of United Kingdom-based issuers. The Company also owns an investment dealing company, Abport Limited. The Company has a total of 90 portfolio investment holdings in 71 companies.