Bonus Bonds scheme now in wind-up

Media announcement 2 November 2020

ANZ Investment Services (New Zealand) Ltd (ANZIS) today announced that the Bonus Bonds scheme is in wind-up.

ANZIS, the Manager and Trustees Executors Limited, the Supervisor, today confirm that wind-up of the scheme commenced from 9pm Saturday 31 October 2020. Investors still holding Bonus Bonds as at this date will now be unable to make redemptions.

With low interest rates continuing to reduce the Bonus Bonds prize pool, the Bonus Bonds scheme was closed to new investment on 25 August 2020 and an announcement was made that ANZIS intended to begin winding up the scheme no later than the end of October 2020.

During the wind-up the Supervisor and Manager will calculate and distribute to investors the funds that they are entitled to as Bondholders in the scheme.

Final distributions from the wind-up cannot be paid until term deposits that the scheme invests in have matured or been otherwise realised, the final winding up expenses have been confirmed and ANZIS has bank account details from Bondholders to make payments.

“We are confident that bondholders remaining in the scheme when we commenced winding up will receive a share of reserves over and above their original investment,” said Ben Kelleher, Managing Director Retail and Business Banking for ANZ.

“While the process to confirm the final amount that each bondholder is entitled to is complicated and may take twelve months or more, we expect to distribute a large portion of what each bondholder is entitled to sooner than this.

“If this happens bondholders will receive their total distributions in more than one payment.”

No further redemption requests are being accepted. Valid redemption requests received before 9pm on 31 October 2020 will continue to be processed and paid. To find out more information and stay up to date, visit anz.co.nz

About ANZIS

ANZIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited and is part of the ANZ Group of companies. ANZIS is the manager of the Bonus Bonds scheme.

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ANZIS stops new investment in Bonus Bonds and moves to wind up scheme

Media announcement 26 August 2020

ANZ Investment Services (New Zealand) Ltd (ANZIS) today announced it will stop accepting new investment into the Bonus Bonds Scheme as low interest rates continue to reduce the prize pool.

“We’re always reviewing our investment products to ensure they best serve the interests of investors,” said Ben Kelleher, Managing Director Retail and Business Banking for ANZ.

“Low interest rates have reduced the investment returns of the scheme which affects the size of the prize pool. It has now become apparent those trends are likely to continue in the medium term. The Official Cash Rate, currently at a historically low 0.25%, may fall further in early 2021 as the global economy grapples with the impacts of Covid-19.

“The ANZIS Board decided it is no longer appropriate to accept new investment into Bonus Bonds with immediate effect, and intends to start winding up the scheme no later than the end of October. Winding up the scheme includes the process of returning funds to bondholders.

“Before the start of a wind up, the scheme will continue to operate, with two more prize draws expected.”

Bonus Bonds was launched by the New Zealand Government through the Post Office in 1970. Instead of earning interest or receiving investment gains or losses, each eligible Bonus Bond gives bondholders one entry into the monthly prize draw, where investment returns of the scheme are returned to investors as prizes. The top prize in the monthly draw is $1 million.

The September and October prize draws are intended to be held as scheduled and customers can continue to redeem their Bonus Bonds until winding up starts. However, ANZIS might move to an earlier wind up, for example, if there is a heavy demand for redemptions or it otherwise considers it is in the overall best interests of investors to do so.

“Investors have two choices. They can redeem their Bonus Bonds before the scheme starts to wind up, or stay in the scheme and be entitled to a share of the remaining reserves, after expenses, when the scheme is wound up,” Mr Kelleher said.

“Those who choose to stay during the wind-up phase will have their investments locked in during this process, which may take up to 12 months.

“The board believes current reserves are sufficient for bondholders to be confident they will receive back their initial investment. The reserves represent the surplus of the value of assets in the scheme over the claims of bondholders.”

With Covid-19 restrictions in place, Mr Kelleher urged bondholders to consider when was the appropriate time for members to redeem their bonds, and information can be found in the FAQs.

It was not immediately necessary for a member to go to an ANZ branch Mr Kelleher said.

Need to get in touch?

If you still have an enquiry and would like to hear from one of our team please get it touch in one of the following ways:

If you're an ANZ customer or are activated on MyBonusBonds:

Send a Bondmail if you are activated for MyBonusBonds or call the contact centre on 0800 266 374.

If you're not an ANZ customer:

Gather up any information you have around your bondholding and pop into any ANZ branch. Please remember to bring some identification with you - find out what you need