Sharesies expands

Investment platform Sharesies has become an NZX participant, allowing it to trade shares in individual companies.

Thursday, June 20th 2019, 9:51AM

From mid-July, Sharesies investors will have access to all companies listed on the NZX main board alongside its current share offerings in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and managed funds.

Sharesies co-founder Leighton Roberts said the company was founded to make it more accessible for people to grow their wealth.

“We’re excited to bring NZX-listed companies to our platform and make this accessible for our investors. It’s important more Kiwis get equal access to investment opportunities with whatever amount they can afford.

“Currently only 20% of Kiwis invest in shares, with savings accounts and property being the most common investments. There are a lot of barriers in the way of investing in shares. We’ve spent the last six months working with NZX to become a market participant so we can give Kiwis even more access to the benefits of the share market, something we think is hugely important now more than ever given New Zealand’s current low-interest environment."

Sharesies is the only investment platform in New Zealand offering fractionalised NZX shares, which means investors can invest a minimum of one cent per trade. This will apply to listed companies as well.

“It’s great to think that very soon New Zealanders will be able to own a bit of everything on the NZX for less than $2. Everything we do is about providing equal opportunities, whether you’re wanting to invest from 1 cent or $500,000. This will apply to our pricing model too. We know current pricing models make it more difficult for people purchasing small bundles of shares, so we’ll be looking to disrupt that when we launch in a few weeks’ time,” Roberts said.

NZX executive director of markets development and clearing, Benjamin Phillips, said: “We are excited to welcome Sharesies as an NZX trading and clearing participant. Sharesies, through its innovation is opening up market access to a wider range of New Zealand retail investors. This supports NZX’s strategy of growing market access and investment, and that the share market is a place for investors of all sizes.”

Roberts said: “Becoming an NZX market participant fulfils a major aspiration we’ve had since day one and means our 47,000 customers have access to a part of trading they’ve largely been shut out of. This is the culmination of months of hard work and really demonstrates how Sharesies has grown tremendously in two years since we founded the company.”

Founded in 2017, Sharesies has more than 47,000 customers and manages more than $57 million in funds for New Zealanders.

Tags: Sharesies