Lion Global Investors unveils first insured physical gold fund in Singapore

Lion Global Investors (LGI), a member of the OCBC Group announced the launch of the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund, Singapore's first physical gold fund that is insured and securely vaulted in Singapore. Distributed to retail investors by OCBC, MariBank Singapore, Great Eastern and Singlife Group, and with Standard Chartered Bank Singapore appointed as the fund's custodian, this landmark initiative marks the first time a consortium of leading players from Singapore's financial sector has come together to launch a flagship physical gold fund. The partnership underscores a shared commitment to elevating Singapore's standing as a leading gold hub.

Amid growing geopolitical uncertainty, gold continues to be viewed as a reliable safe haven asset. While traditional trading hubs like New York and London remain influential, the global gold market has been steadily shifting eastward. Positioned near 25% of the world's gold mining supply, Singapore offers both geopolitical neutrality and strategic geographic proximity, making it well-placed to emerge as a leading gold hub. The launch of the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund builds on these strengths, reinforcing Singapore's dual roles as a global financial centre and a leading gold hub.

The LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund seeks to track the performance of London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Gold Price AM as closely as possible. The fund will invest in LBMA Good Delivery gold, which is compliant with LBMA Good Delivery Rules and fully safekept in Singapore.

The fund provides investors with access to physical gold, underpinned by secure vaulting, insured protection and seamless digital accessibility. As the first of its kind in Singapore, this launch marks a pivotal moment in positioning the nation as a leading gold hub, offering both local and international investors the opportunity to invest in gold physically stored within Singapore.

"By anchoring the fund in Singapore and partnering with trusted institutions, the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund represents a bold step forward in making physical gold investment more accessible, secure and relevant for today's investors," said Teo Joo Wah, CEO, Lion Global Investors.

"We are thrilled to be launching the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund, which addresses growing demand for alternative assets in diversified portfolios, particularly in volatile markets where gold continues to serve as a trusted store of value. By leveraging multiple avenues from digital banking to insurance platforms, the fund also ensures accessibility for a broader investor base, from institutional clients to everyday savers seeking inflation hedges and long-term wealth preservation," Teo added.

Launch anchors of the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund

While the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund is open to Singapore-based investors, its launch is anchored by a consortium of leading players from Singapore's financial sector that play a pivotal role in its development and distribution. These strategic partners bring deep expertise and infrastructure to support the Fund's success.

Teo Joo Wah, CEO of Lion Global Investors, said, "We are proud to lead this initiative that not only democratises access to physical gold but also unites a visionary group of partners who are contributing to Singapore's success as a financial and gold hub. This is more than just a fund, it's a blueprint for collaboration across financial services to meet evolving investor demands."

As a key distribution partner of the fund, OCBC brings its trusted advisory expertise and robust client network to this milestone initiative, providing access to investors seeking portfolio diversification.

Tan Siew Lee, head of group wealth management at OCBC said, "While gold prices have risen meaningfully, in a volatile market environment, gold continues to be a trusted store of value and a portfolio diversifier. Our customers can now conveniently access this new gold fund through our wealth advisory and digital banking channels to diversify their portfolios. As a leading wealth management player, we are constantly curating quality investment solutions that align with our customers' aspirations to enable them to strengthen their investment portfolios and preserve their wealth."

As the anchor digital bank partner, MariBank plays a key role in broadening access to Singapore's first physical gold fund by making gold investment available at as low as SGD 1 ($0.77). Through its secure and intuitive digital platform, MariBank enables seamless fund participation for retail investors, making gold investment more accessible than ever.

Natalia Goh, MariBank Singapore CEO said, "MariBank is proud to be a key member of this gold consortium, leading the charge to make gold investment simpler and more inclusive. Starting from just SGD1 ($0.77), customers can now invest in a trusted asset that helps them hedge and build resilience in uncertain times. This reflects our broader mission to make financial services simple, reliable and rewarding for everyone."

As pioneering insurance partners in Singapore's first physical gold fund, Great Eastern and Singlife are setting a new benchmark by incorporating physical gold into their offerings and breaking new ground through their commitment to offer it as part of their Investment-Linked Policies (ILP) programmes. This strategic integration not only broadens access to alternative investment options for the insurance segment but also underscores their dedication to financial empowerment and building innovative, future-ready solutions.

"Long-term wealth planning remains a key priority for our customers and I believe will continue to be viewed as a steady hedge especially for individuals approaching retirement and those seeking stability in a diversified portfolio. As a homegrown insurer, we are aligned with Lion Global Investor's strategic direction in bringing this Gold Fund to market as a compelling option to preserve wealth," said Greg Hingston, group CEO, Great Eastern.

"Singlife's partnership with LGI on the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund reflects our commitment to providing innovative solutions as we help customers find a better way to financial freedom," said Allen Kuo, chief investment officer at Singlife. "As part of this collaboration, we're offering advisers and customers access to this unique class of assets through our ILPs and investment platforms, GROW with Singlife and dollarDEX. In addition, we will allocate a portion of our participating fund assets to this fund, leveraging its potential to deliver better risk-adjusted returns for our policyholders."

As the fund's custodian, Standard Chartered provides top-tier asset servicing and custodial services, ensuring the secure storage of physical gold holdings. It also acts as the custodian and gold provider, facilitating the purchase and sale of physical gold for the fund. Additionally, the bank serves as the trustee and functions as both the fund administrator and transfer agent.

Francois Verlaine, regional head of financing and securities services for ASEAN and South Asia, Standard Chartered, said: "We are very excited to play a pivotal role with our partners in elevating Singapore's position to be the leading financial centre in Asia with the launch of Singapore's first insured and Singapore-vaulted physical gold fund. With the changing global trends in today's world, we believe that this fund, which is locally managed, with its physical gold being directly custodised in Singapore, provides a fresh alternative investment option for investors in Singapore and the region.

Our financing and securities services business has always been at the forefront, working closely with our clients and helping them deliver against their objectives. Our comprehensive suite of fiduciary and fund solutions, coupled with the bank's extensive experience and track record in gold trading and custodial solutions, enables us to play an instrumental role in supporting our partners to contribute to the Singapore fund and asset management industry."

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society