GCB Capital Limited, a subsidiary of GCB Bank, has unveilled its Golden Eagle Unit Trust – a Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) designed to provide investors with a platform for secure, diversified and inflation-resistant investments.
The fund aims to simplify investments, deepen domestic financial markets and foster long-term wealth creation. It is consistent with the Security and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) goal of making CISs default vehicles for retail investors with funds below GH¢100,000, as detailed in its Capital Market Master Plan (CMMP).
At the launch, Managing Director-GCB Capital Limited Kofi El-Awuku highlighted the product’s importance in addressing challenges in Ghana’s investment environment.
He stated: “What you have gathered here to do today is a reflection of our commitment to simplifying investments, providing easy access to everyone and contributing to deepening the financial markets in Ghana.”
The Golden Eagle Unit Trust – so named to reflect the attributes of GCB’s iconic golden eagle emblem – is designed to cater for a broad spectrum of investors including individuals, institutions and pension funds with the promise of safeguarding investors’ funds while delivering consistent returns through a diversified portfolio.
“The Golden Eagle Unit Trust is more than just an investment product. It is a secure pathway to achieving your financial aspirations one golden step at a time,” Mr. El-Awuku added.
The fund is structured to balance stability and growth, offering investments in local and offshore markets. Local investments include government securities, corporate bonds, equities and real estate investment trusts (REITs), while offshore assets comprise sovereign bonds, corporate bonds and equities.
Addressing the fund’s risk management approach, the GCB Capital MD stated: “We have a carefully curated, diversified portfolio, a team of seasoned professionals… which has crafted a solution that strikes the perfect balance between growth and liquidity, underpinned by thorough risk management to cater for the unique needs of every investor”.
In light of recent developments within the investment ecosystem, Golden Eagle Unit Trust seeks to rebuild investor confidence through transparency and accessibility. Investors are assured of prompt liquidity, with redemption requests processed within three working days, Mr. El-Awuku said.
Regulatory backing
The SEC has played a critical role in the fund’s development and approval. Also speaking at the launch, Deputy Director-General Legal-SEC Deborah Mawuse Agyemfra commended the initiative – noting that it aligns with regulatory efforts to strengthen the domestic capital markets.
“As a regulator, our dual mandate is to protect investors while fostering market development. The launch of this product today is a testament to the guidelines we’ve set and the collaborative efforts to meet them,” she stated.
“Our rigorous approval process ensures that every application meets the highest standards of transparency and safeguards investors’ interests,” the regulator added.
The fund is managed by GCB Capital and supported by Fidelity Bank as trustees. This governance framework ensures that investor funds are securely handled and in compliance with industry standards.
Vice President-GCB Capital Afua Akyaa Osei assured stakeholders of the fund’s commitment to accountability, saying: “We are committed to transparency, which is very critical for investors – wherever they have invested their funds – to know what is going on.”
She added that the fund will be valued daily, enabling its managers to share timely market information, provide liquidity daily and ensure that clients can easily enter or exit. The IPO opened on December 5, 2024 and will run until January 9, 2025.
