Stanbic unveils unit trust investment option
SET: Top Stanbic Uganda Holdings Ltd officials interact at the launch of the Stanbic Unit Trust in Kampala. Left is Grace Semakula, the SBG Securities CEO.
Stanbic Uganda Holdings Ltd, the mother company of SBG Securities Ltd, has unveiled its unit trust, aimed at enabling individuals and companies to pool their money to create a large fund that generates daily income.
Speaking at the official launch at the Kampala Serena Hotel, officials said that the Stanbic Unit Trust was registered by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and is managed by professionals who shall invest the funds in a wide range of securities for the benefit of the holders.
Grace Semakula, the SBG Securities CEO, said they were all set to navigate the investment environment, diversifying portfolios across treasury bills, bonds, fixed deposits, and shares to minimize risk and maximize returns for the investors.
- He said an investor including individuals, SACCO, company, etc, needs just UGX100,000 to start investing in the Stanbic Unit Trust, which has Stanbic Bank Uganda as its custodian and KCB Bank Uganda Limited as its trustee.
The custodian ensures the safekeeping and efficient management of assets held by the trust fund. In other words, even if the unit trust closes shop for various reasons, the funds remain safe in the custody of the custodian.
On the other hand, the trustee has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the unit holders, including the fair distribution of income (such as dividends or interest) that may be generated from the unit trust's assets.
- “Our platforms provide a customized experience for your investment journey by enabling you to track, make top ups and access your investments simply,” Semakula added.
“We have a rich depth of expertise in the investment industry amassed over the years which guides asset allocation and ensures superior returns on your investments.”
Unlike treasury bonds that pay interest only twice a year and force an investor to incur a heavy penalty if the money is withdrawn before maturity, a unit trust pays interest on a daily basis and there are no penalties for withdrawal of funds at any time.
Semakula said an investor can open a Stanbic Unit Trust account in one day and start investing immediately using mobile money or bank transfers.
The Stanbic Unit Trust now joins UAP Old Mutual, ICEA Uganda, Sanlam Uganda, Stanlib Uganda, Crested Capital Uganda, and Xeno Investment; which are currently the officially registered unit trust fund managers in the country.
- Unit trusts have continued to gain popularity in recent years. According to the CMA, the total number of unit trusts accounts stood at 66,188 by end of June 2023 while the total value of assets held by Ugandan unit trust funds topped $530 million (about UGX2 trillion) by end of June 2023.
- Additionally, the average interest rate paid on unit trust savings was between 10% -13% per year, which makes investing in unit trusts much more profitable than merely keeping money on a bank account.
However, financial advisors say that while unit trusts offer many advantages, they also come with some potential disadvantages as a particular unit trust may underperform compared to peers due to poor investment choices or the high management fees that it forces investors to incur.
Semakula said their unit trust aims to generate superior returns on investments given their understanding and experience in the investment markets to ensure that Ugandans achieve their investment goals.
Stanbic Holdings Uganda Ltd, is a subsidiary of the South Africa-based Standard Bank Group, Africa's biggest bank by assets.