Gielda Papierow Wartosciowych w Wrszw : Launch of the First Polish ETF

2019-01-07 14:15:37

Warsaw, 7 January 2019

Launch of the First Polish ETF

PRESS RELEASE

• A new WIG20TR ETF has been added to GPW's offer of financial products
• The new Beta ETF is the first Polish ETF listed on GPW

Beta ETF WIG20TR, the first 100% Polish ETF in the history of the Warsaw Stock Exchange, established under Polish law, developed and managed by Polish experts, has been newly listed on GPW's Main Market today. AgioFunds TFI is the ETF's issuer. Dom Maklerski BOŚ is the offeror and market maker. Beta Securities Poland participates as co-ordinator in the development of Poland's ETF market.

'We are very happy about today's new listing. Congratulations to AgioFunds TFI and Beta Securities on the first ETF which physically replicates WIG20TR. This comes as another step in the development of the ETF market. ETFs are very popular on the global financial markets and are bound to enjoy popularity in Poland. I believe that the listing of this new ETF will offer tangible benefits, sparking more interest in GPW's products and attracting new domestic and international investors to the local capital market. We expect that further ETFs will cover more companies than just WIG20 participants,' said Marek Dietl, President of GPW.

Beta ETF WIG20TR addresses the needs of investors. It is a simple and transparent way to participate in the rising valuation and growth of the biggest Polish listed companies participating in WIG20TR, an index which includes the dividends paid to the shareholders.

'This is a historic moment for our capital market. 2019 will be the year of ETFs. The new GPW-listed instrument is easily available to all categories of investors. All holders of brokerage accounts may freely buy and sell the ETF just as they buy stocks; however, liquidity of the ETF market should be much stronger. I do believe that the product will have many devout users, becoming a part and parcel of investment portfolios,' said Adam Dakowicz, President of AgioFunds TFI.

In view of global trends, Beta ETFs should become an important part of the portfolios of investors interested in highly liquid, low-cost, transparent investment products. Financial advisors and asset managers, in turn, can use them to quickly and efficiently build well-performing investment portfolios.

'We focus on the delivery of transparent and cost-effective ETFs to the market. The Beta ETF WIG20TR is the first fund in a series under development. As of today, investors get a tool that tracks a leading GPW index in a simple and inexpensive way. New products will be offered with time, which will certainly prove attractive to Polish and international investors alike. We hope that the investors will appreciate the high management standards and the professional edge of the market maker,' said Robert Sochacki, Management Board Member of Beta Securities Poland.

On 26 November 2018, GPW, AgioFunds TFI, Beta Securities Poland and Dom Maklerski BOŚ signed a memorandum of understanding to establish co-operation in the development of new products on the Polish capital market and to promote investor education. The new listing of the Beta ETF is a part of these efforts.

'We are glad to have successfully finalised several months of preparations for the launch of Poland's first ETF on the exchange. I believe that today's new listing will boost the development of this segment of the capital market, of which we want to be an active participant,' said Radosław Olszewski, President of DM BOŚ. 'Our strengths include many years of experience as an offeror and market maker. As the market maker, we will work to support high liquidity and offer promotional fees to investors,' said Mr Olszewski.

ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) track the performance of exchange indices. ETFs are regulated by EU and national law. ETF units can be created and cancelled on an on-going (daily) basis. Certificates of portfolio closed-ended investment funds, i.e., ETF units, are traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in the same way as shares and can be freely bought and sold. The liquidity of ETF trading is supported by a market maker.

AgioFunds TFI is a licensed investment fund company (TFI) operated under the law and supervised by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority since 2009. It offers a dozen open and closed-ended investment funds and several dozen funds dedicated to affluent investors. Its assets under management stood at close to PLN 7 billion as at 31 October 2018. AgioFunds TFI is 100% Polish private financial institution independent of financial corporations. It aspires to be the leader in new segments of the capital market.

Dom Maklerski BOŚ (Bank Ochrony Środowiska) is a leading provider of brokerage services in Poland. It has for many years been the futures leader, awarded by the President of GPW for its active presence and market making. The broker provides access to the markets operated by the exchange, investment funds, the energy market, as well as pension savings solutions. It supports investors with a range of training initiatives, research, recommendations and analysts' comments.

For more information about the Beta ETF, please visit www.gpw.pl and agiofunds.pl.

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The Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) is the biggest exchange in Central and Eastern Europe. GPW operates a regulated market of shares and derivative instruments and the alternative stock market NewConnect for growing companies. GPW is developing Catalyst, a market for issuers of corporate and municipal bonds. Since 9 November 2010, GPW is a public company listed on Warsaw Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.gpw.pl.