RCBC trust funds emphasize Rizalian excellence

MANILA, Philippines - For an individual, a name is nothing less than the cornerstone of his personality. For a company, it’s the bedrock of reputation.

In recognition of this singularly persuasive nature of names, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) has decided to settle on a more dignified and resounding identity of its unit investment trust funds or UITFs.

And few names are as evocative of trust and worthy of high esteem as “Rizal.”

“The name Rizal has become synonymous with Filipino honor and integrity, which speaks highly of our national hero’s proud legacy,” explained Nanette Ferrer, RCBC senior vice president and trust officer.

In addition to acknowledging the honor of Dr. Jose Rizal, RCBC also seeks to emphasize to its investors the “trust” that is integral to its fund management business. Additionally, it facilitates easy recall and immediate identification with the bank.

Five Rizal UITFs

The “Rizal” appellation applied in all five UITF variants takes the place of the Chinese animal prosperity symbols by which they were formerly differentiated.

The Rizal Peso Money Market Fund, formerly the Dragon Fund, is invested in a relatively short-term portfolio of fixed income government securities, time deposits, and other tradable securities. With a minimum holding period of 30 days, this type of fund is suited to conservative investors who are looking for moderate and relatively stable returns over the next 90 days but want immediate access to their funds when they need it. It seeks to exceed the benchmark 91-day Treasury Bill rates.

The Rizal Peso Bond Fund, formerly the Unicorn Fund, invests in various short-term and long-term fixed income securities and deposits. This fund is fit for traditional investors with an investment horizon of at least one year who desire potentially higher returns on their investment.

The Rizal Equity Fund, formerly the Tiger Equity Fund, focuses on stocks in the local market. Pooled funds are invested in a portfolio with up to a maximum of 80 percent in equities listed and to be listed at the Philippine Stock Exchange, making it ideal for aggressive investors who want to partake of the action in the local stock market in exchange for the opportunity to reap higher returns.

The Rizal Dollar Money Market Fund, the former Phoenix Dollar Fund, invests in a relatively short-term portfolio of dollar denominated sovereign, corporate bonds and time deposits.

With a minimum holding period of 30 days, this fund meets the needs of clients looking for dollar denominated investments convertible to cash on short notice although with relatively moderate returns.

The Rizal Dollar Bond Fund, formerly the Eagle Dollar Fund, invests funds in a portfolio of short-term and long-term dollar denominated fixed income instruments. With a minimum holding period of 90 days, this fund would be appropriate for clients with excess dollars that can be invested for longer periods and looking for potentially higher returns.

Outperforming expectations

Amidst the difficult market conditions, all of the Rizal UITFs managed to place among the top performing funds in their respective categories in terms of returns generated for 2008. “While we are battling to generate good returns for our clients, we also strive to achieve consistency in outperforming established benchmarks,” Ferrer remarked in closing.

“The actual performance of our UITFs and the fact that its is outperforming benchmarks show our deft handling so far of the turbulent financial markets last year. We are always out to prove to our clients that we are worthy of their trust,” Ferrer said. It should be noted though that actual performance is not a guarantee of future performance per BSP regulations on UITFs.

RCBC also offers one of the lowest minimum investment amounts as well as the lowest fees in the industry. For a minimum of P25,000, clients can already have the opportunity to invest in these RCBC Rizal UITFs, depending on their investment objectives, liquidity position and risk tolerance.

For more information on how to invest in RCBC’s UITFs, interested investors may contact tel. nos. 8783315-16, email [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or inquire at any of RCBC’s more ;than 200 Business Centers nationwide.