Navigator’s Singapore operation has become the first investment administrator to be included under Singapore’s $60 billion Central Provident Fund Investment Scheme (CPFIS).
Navigator’s Singapore operation has become the first investment administrator to be included under Singapore’s $60 billion Central Provident Fund Investment Scheme (CPFIS).
CPFIS is a comprehensive social-security savings scheme with three million members. It is designed to take care of a member's retirement, home ownership, health-care and financial protection needs through insurance schemes.
Navigator’s state-of-the-art investment platform will be available for CPF members from 1st December 2002. Through financial advisers, members will have access to a wide range of best-in-market unit trust funds and sophisticated investment management tools.
Norwich Union Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Rob Garnsworthy, said that Navigator’s inclusion under CPFIS is the key to Navigator’s growth and success in Singapore and we are very honoured to have been included.
“The launch of Navigator in Singapore on 10 October 2002 was very satisfying for the Australian operation and comes off the back of almost two years solid work. Today’s announcement is even more exciting as we can now provide our services to a huge pool of investors,” he said.
“The Singapore model of Navigator is based on our highly successful Australian system and has been tailored for local conditions. Our vision is to roll Navigator out around the world after we have proved the concept in Singapore."
With Navigator, CPF Members now have a powerful portfolio administration option for accessing the unit trust market. Navigator provides a range of services and benefits that have been specifically designed to make investing for retirement and wealth creation simple, transparent, flexible and cost- effective.
For Singapore’s aging population, retirement savings are now more important than ever before. However, until now, the entry cost for CPF Members investing in unit trust funds has been prohibitive especially when compared to the returns generated by these funds during the recent economic downturn.
Navigator now offers CPF Members the opportunity to invest in unit trusts with no front-end sales charges. In addition, Navigator will also absorb all Agent Bank fees charged to CPF Members, which again reduces the entry costs for Members wishing to invest in the unit trust market.
Steve Heald, Managing Director for Navigator Investment Services Limited, Asia, said: “Navigator is delighted with CPF Board’s decision as it gives us access to a huge potential investment market which consists of over S$63 billion of uninvested funds. Coming soon after our launch in Singapore, this is an encouraging development and reflects the confidence in the system’s proven benefits for CPF Members.
“Retirement savings is a long-term strategy. With a diversified portfolio of property, cash, fixed interest and equities, investors should aim to achieve double-digit returns over a 10 – 15 year period. This objective will require a weighting of investments in growth asset classes such as property and equities to maximise investment returns,” he said.
Navigator facilitates protection against market volatility by enabling investors to switch between funds at no cost, which means investors can move in and out of different asset classes when required as a result of changing needs or changing economic conditions.
Mr Heald said: “Navigator in Singapore is a truly independent platform. It doesn’t own any distribution or product manufacturing capability and it outsources its research – which all add up to assuring CPF Members and our customers that they are not being influenced by biased advice. Our aim is to provide a totally independent environment of open architecture, which allows investors, through their advisers, to invest in the right mix of unit trusts to deliver the best possible financial outcomes for them.
“Put simply, Navigator offers investors the most efficient way to plan, choose, manage and track their CPF investments. It puts Members in control.”
Navigator is scheduled to expand the product offerings in 2003 and will apply to have these additional investment products included under the CPFIS.
For further information, please contact:
Simon Morgan,
Group General Manager Public Affairs
PHONE (03) 9829 8892
MOBILE 0407 966 632
Note to editors:
- Norwich Union Australia is a group of three specialist financial services companies; Navigator, Norwich Union Life and Portfolio Partners. Through these companies we provide products and services in the areas of wealth creation, wealth management and wealth protection for more than 300,000 customers throughout Australia.
- Globally, Norwich Union Australia is part of Aviva plc, the world’s seventh largest insurance group, the largest insurer in the UK and one of the top five life companies in Europe. Aviva was formed in May 2000 through the global merger of CGU plc and Norwich Union plc.
- Aviva’s principal business activities are long-term savings, funds management and general insurance. It has a market capitalisation of approximately A$32.19 billion at 30/09/02, worldwide premium and investment sales of more than A$80 billion from ongoing business and more than A$572 billion in assets under management. The group has 64,000 employees and more than 25 million customers.
- This document does not contain all the terms and conditions attaching to product benefits and options. For a full list of terms and conditions please refer to the Offer Document. A policy for insurance cover or an application for an issue of an interest as described in this document can only be effected after completion of the application form contained in a current Offer Document for the product.
The information in this document reflects Norwich Union's understanding of existing legislation, proposed legislation, rulings etc as at the date of issue. While it is believed the information is accurate and reliable, this is not guaranteed in any way. The information is not, nor is it intended, to be comprehensive or a substitute for professional advice on specific circumstances.
The securities advice or information given in this document is of a general nature and has not taken into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. Before making an investment decision on the basis of the advice above, a prospective investor needs to consider, with or without the assistance of a professional adviser whether the advice is appropriate in the light of their particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.