VentureCrowd gives Aussie investors access to blue chip corporate bonds
MEDIA RELEASE — VentureCrowd, Australia’s original and most successful equity-based crowdfunding platform, has launched a new investment opportunity for its registered wholesale investors, giving them unique access to the Artesian Australian Corporate Bond Fund ARSN 604 744 783 on the same terms as institutional investors. Eligible VentureCrowd investors can register interest in the fund online.
The Artesian Australian Corporate Bond Fund offers investors an investment opportunity in a diversified fund holding Australian dollar corporate bonds, professionally managed by Artesian. With Australian interest rates at all-time lows, floating rate note securities offer fixed income investors opportunities to take advantage of rising rates when interest rates bottom out and begin to rise. Although the Fund will also invest in fixed rate securities, more emphasis will be placed on FRNs to mitigate interest rate risk.
Artesian has been managing fixed income funds for over 10 years, with each partner of the business having more than 20 years’ experience in Australian fixed income markets. The Fund will aim to achieve returns above the RBA cash rate +1.75% to 2.75%, by leveraging Artesian’s extensive network of employees and relationships, combined with its lengthy experience in the bond markets throughout major periods of both turmoil and calm.
VentureCrowd, which has a proven track record in crowdfunding, is aggregating demand from potential investors for the Fund, while allowing them to retain individual control over portfolio construction. By doing this, VentureCrowd can radically lower the barriers for investment for individual wholesale investors, and give them access to opportunities traditionally reserved for institutional investors.
The addition of the Artesian Australian Corporate Bond Fund to the number of diverse investment opportunities available on the VentureCrowd platform will allow investors to diversify their portfolio. Investors can diversify their portfolio with exposure to high-return, high-growth startups, major property developments and blue chip corporate bonds.
“We wanted to offer a unique, alternative, boutique credit fund to investors accessing investments and diversification that would not normally be available to individual investors” said Rob Nankivell, VentureCrowd CEO.
“Our investors need a pool of liquid assets they can draw upon when high-return alternative investment opportunities arise, like startups and property. We see the credit portfolio as a potential way to generate regular income at the same level and fee structure as institutions. VentureCrowd has significantly lowered the barriers to entry, allowing eligible investors to truly diversify their portfolio on the platform.”
The Artesian Australian Corporate Bond Fund is the first corporate credit offering from VentureCrowd, which has built a strong pedigree in the equity-based crowdfunding space with more than $14 million in funding for startups and high-growth companies. With the addition of property, credit/debt offerings, VentureCrowd is now a true multi-asset class online investment platform, giving investors access to unique, alternative investment opportunities that are typically limited to high-end investors.
“The corporate bond market has historically been inaccessible to individual investors, involving high costs to invest and settle, and paying significant amounts in management fees or brokerage” said Artesian Managing Partner, Matt Clunies-Ross.
“We looked to create a corporate bond fund that gives Australians the potential opportunity to earn regular income from exposure to a diversified portfolio of blue chip Australian companies. We’ve lowered the barrier to entry for investors.”
