Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS) has reported strong performance across its Collective Investment Schemes for the 2025 financial year, with total assets under management exceeding a combined GHS 2.5 billion. This milestone reflects significant growth in investor confidence, supported by improving macroeconomic conditions and disciplined portfolio strategies. The Funds’ performance was highlighted at the Annual General Meeting held on 19 June 2026, where the company outlined robust gains across its flagship funds – Stanbic Cash Trust (SCT), Stanbic Income Fund Trust (SIFT), and Platinum Debt Income Fund PLC (PDIF).
Strong Growth Across Funds
All three funds recorded notable growth in assets under management. The Stanbic Cash Trust more than doubled in size, increasing by 114% to approximately GHS 1.66 billion. The Stanbic Income Fund Trust also grew by 35.6% to GHS 645.9 million, while the Platinum Debt Income Fund expanded by 199% to over GHS 212 million. This growth was driven by renewed investor participation and improved market conditions, including declining inflation, falling interest rates, and a strengthening Ghana cedi.
Impressive Returns and Benchmark Outperformance
SIMS’ funds delivered strong returns and outperformed key benchmarks. The Stanbic Cash Trust main class recorded a return of 33.2%, significantly above its benchmark of 19.8%, while the Stanbic Income Fund Trust delivered 35.3%, outperforming its benchmark of 21.1%. The performance was largely attributed to falling yields and bond price appreciation, which supported significant valuation gains across fixed-income portfolios.
Strategic Positioning Drives Performance
Fund Managers attributed the strong performance to disciplined investment strategies and proactive portfolio repositioning.
The Stanbic Cash Trust maintained a conservative approach focused on capital preservation and liquidity, with investments primarily in treasury bills and fixed deposits. Earlier this year, the fund was rebalanced away from government bonds into money market instruments, restoring liquidity and reducing duration risk. “The fund’s priority remains capital preservation, liquidity, and competitive risk-adjusted returns,” said the Portfolio Manager, Santi Sackey, noting that the repositioning restored the fund’s expected risk profile.
The Stanbic Income Fund Trust continued to focus on medium- to long-term corporate and sovereign bonds, benefiting from the decline in benchmark interest and improved bond market activity. The fund is expected to remain significantly weighted in the 2027 and 2028 maturities, which are anticipated to serve as the primary anchor of portfolio returns. The Manager reopened the main fund to new deposits, which has enabled investors to capitalise on lower yields and reduced portfolio volatility.
Unlisted Credit Strategy Supports Growth
The Platinum Debt Income Fund PLC, which focuses on long-term debt investments, delivered robust asset growth and a weighted average yield of 15.3%. According to the Fund Manager, Boaz Asare, the Fund continues to unlock attractive return opportunities by strategically diversifying its unlisted debt portfolio across key sectors, including financial services, fintech, transport, and mining.
Commitment to Investor Value
The Fund manager and trustee implemented fee reductions to help cushion investors from new regulatory costs and statutory obligations introduced this year. The SCT Fund management fees were reduced from 2.25% to 2.00%, while trustee fees reduced from 0.40% to 0.25%.
Outlook
Looking ahead, fund managers anticipate continued market volatility driven by global developments and Ghana’s economic transition. However, they remain optimistic about emerging opportunities, particularly in the domestic bond market.
With a focus on disciplined portfolio management, liquidity, and strategic investing, SIMS is well positioned to sustain growth and deliver competitive returns to investors.
