Ghana: Republic Investments Limited launches ‘Republic Wealth Trust’ to boost investments

Republic Investments (Ghana) Limited – a SEC Licensed Fund Manager and a subsidiary of the Republic Bank (Ghana) Plc. – has launched a novelty, the ‘Republic Wealth Trust’, a Fixed Income Fund to serve as an alternative to boost your investments by aiding individuals/organisations to build wealth.

The Republic Wealth Trust as a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) is designed for individuals (including adults, students, children/dependents), groups, institutions, CIS and pensions fund managers with investments mainly skewed toward fixed income securities.

In addition to the Money Market Fund – Republic Unit Trust; the Equity Fund – Republic Equity Trust; the Balanced Fund – Republic Future Plan Trust; and the only licensed and operating Real Estate Investment Trust – Republic REIT; The Republic Wealth Trust, being a Fixed Income Fund marks the expansion of the product suite of Republic Investments.

The Fund aims to provide a medium to long-term fixed income investment portfolio to investors. It also aims to provide returns in the form of income by investing in fixed deposits, corporate bonds, Local and Municipal bonds, Government of Ghana securities as well as liquid funds with the Ghana Cedi (GH¢) as the base currency.

Following a successful launch of the Republic Wealth Trust, the Initial Public Offer (IPO) has commenced, with the offer period valid from March 22, 2022 to April 11, 2022. The initial price is fifty Pesewas (0.50p) per unit, and a minimum initial investment of 100 units or fifty Ghana Cedis (GH¢50) is required to participate in the IPO.

Subsequent to the expiration of the offer period, however, a regular investment plan (using MOMO/ USSD, bank transfers, standing orders or visit to any Republic Bank branch) is available for all who intend to purchase on a regular basis. Any additional investments into the fund after the offer period will attract no initial charge.

Chief Executive Officer of Republic Investments (Ghana) Ltd. – Madeline Nettey, reiterated that Republic Investments prides itself as the Premier institution to introduce a Collective Investment Scheme in Ghana, over three decades ago, and the introduction of the ‘Republic Wealth Trust’ provides alternatives to the ever-increasing clientele base whose needs keep evolving.

“As the economic indicators continue to point to the levels they are now, and outlook thereon, it enforces the need to ensure that we plan through investments to sustain our purchasing power by building wealth using vehicles like the Republic Wealth Trust.” She said, stressing that the new product is an additional buffer for retirement planning, projects, supporting educational needs of children/ dependents and to create another source of income aimed at building wealth for the future.

Mrs. Nettey assured the market of the reliability of the Republic Wealth Trust. “The investment of the assets of the fund is most critical, therefore regulatory compliance and risk management, forms a core of our investment management strategy. Our robust and detailed counterparty & portfolio selection models have been designed to ensure that decisions on where and how to invest the assets lead to the safety of your investments”.

The launch of the ‘Republic Wealth Trust’, which was held on March 22, 2022 at the head office of the company located at North Ridge in Accra, brought together investment professionals, management & heads of regulatory bodies and fund managers. Also present were the executives & management of Republic Bank & Republic Investments, and representatives of GT bank, the Fund Trustees led by Solace Fiadjoe – Head Financial Institutions.

Also in attendance were Mr. Farid Antar and Mr. Tetteh Tagoe who represented the Directors of the fund manager. The Special Guest was Rev. Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana (SEC) Ghana.

In his address, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Ghana) Plc., Farid Antar was excited that Republic Investments, as the one-stop shop for all investment needs, is committed in pursuing excellence and innovation in the market by introducing this new product which he believes has come at the opportune time, to support especially those in the informal sector to build long term wealth and structured retirement plan. He therefore urged all customers – corporate institutions and the General public – to subscribe to the new product to safeguard their future.

The Special Guest, Rev. Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, Director-General of SEC, commended Republic Investments for promoting and safeguarding investment in the country for the many years of its existence, affirming the company as the first to introduce a CIS.

He was particularly enthused about the theme for the event: ‘A wealth builder for your future’, expressing optimism that, the features of the ‘Republic Wealth Trust’ could provide the niche to secure the future prospects of people through investments. He stressed that, “we create the future we want by developing a disciplined culture of savings and investments”.

He recapped that investing is a shared responsibility of all players in the market, the regulator ensuring effective surveillance, the fund manager ensuring compliance and seeking the interest of clients, while investors were reminded to ensure they understand the risk-return trade off when choosing investments. Government, he assured, will do its part through the regulator by continuously regulating the system to give confidence to investors and stakeholders as a whole.

The launch for the Republic Wealth Trust provided investors with highlights of the product features of the new Fixed Income Fund managed by Republic Investments, and a reminder to all investors – home and abroad – to take advantage of this initial public offer. “The Time to Build Wealth is now, and an avenue to achieve that is through consistently investing in the Republic Wealth Trust to achieve any desired goal”, the CEO Mrs. Nettey declared.