Unit Trust of Samoa

What Unit Trust of Samoa does

Unit Trust of Samoa (UTOS) is a government-backed open-ended unit trust established under the Unit Trusts Act 2008 and operational since the Trust Deed was signed on 9 July 2010. It provides Samoan nationals — citizens by birth, descent, permanent residence, or marriage — with an accessible vehicle to invest in a diversified portfolio spanning listed equities (Unit Trust of Fiji, BSP Financial Group, ATH Group), unlisted equities (Vodafone Samoa, ATH International Ventures, Samoa Submarine Cable Company), term deposits, and government securities. The Trust is managed by Unit Trust of Samoa (Management) Limited, a State Owned Enterprise, with assets held by Tafa'ilagi Trustee Company Ltd; an independent Board of Directors provides fiduciary oversight.

UTOS operates a web-based and mobile investment platform at app.utos.ws with 256-bit SSL encryption and UpGuard-monitored cybersecurity. Distribution combines physical offices in Apia and Savai'i (the latter via a Gambling Control Authority partnership) with digital top-ups through Vodafone M-Tala, Digicel MyCash, ANZ Internet Banking, BSP Online Banking, and the Pacific 40 Talofa Voucher. The company serves four account types — Individual, Joint, Group, and Business — at a minimum holding of 25 units, and runs the Samoa Airways Airline Investment Initiative as a specialized product channel.

The business model centers on management of unitholder funds rather than disclosed fee revenue; unitholders receive tax-free annual dividends plus capital growth. FY2024/2025 delivered SAT$10.90 million in dividends (0.08 sene per unit) to over 6,800 unitholders, a 13.50% total return. Unit pricing is published monthly with a current issue price of SAT$2.04 and withdraw price of SAT$2.02 (effective 3 June 2026). Go-to-market is community-led through Savai'i roadshows and AGMs, paired with a direct-to-consumer digital acquisition model and diaspora outreach in New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and American Samoa.

Name

Unit Trust of Samoa

Legal name

Unit Trust of Samoa

Website

https://utos.ws

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Unit Trust of Samoa is a government-backed open-ended unit trust offering Samoan nationals and diaspora investors accessible units in a diversified portfolio of regional equities, government securities, and unlisted Samoan assets, with digital onboarding and mobile payment top-ups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Unit Trust / Investment Management

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (52591), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAEAAAB

Investment Management Advisory (RIA)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

Keywords

• Unit trust investment
• Diversified portfolio management
• Government-backed investment
• Retail investment accounts
• Mobile payment integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Samoa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Unit Sales and Management Fees: UTOS generates revenue through managing the unit trust. Unitholders purchase units and the trust invests in a diversified portfolio. Revenue comes from management of unitholder funds invested in equities, lending, and government securities.
2. Dividend Distribution: Annual dividend payments to unitholders based on net profit of the trust. Dividends are tax-free and include capital growth from portfolio performance. Most recent payout of 0.08 sene per unit (SAT$10.90 million total) for FY2024/2025.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UTOS is a government-backed open-ended unit trust that sells investment units to Samoan nationals at a monthly published price (issue $2.04, withdraw $2.02), with a minimum of 25 units to open an account. The trust pools unitholder funds into a diversified portfolio of listed and unlisted equities (Unit Trust of Fiji, BSP Financial Group, ATH Group, Vodafone Samoa, Samoa Submarine Cable Company), term deposits, and government securities, and distributes tax-free annual dividends plus capital growth to unitholders.

Product overview

Unit Trust of Samoa operates as a single unified investment trust product (UTOS) that provides accessible investment opportunities for Samoans. The core offering is the UTOS investment scheme where unitholders purchase units in a diversified portfolio. The product suite includes the core investment platform with online account management capabilities, the Samoa Airways Airline Investment Initiative as a specialized investment option, and multiple digital payment integration modules (Vodafone M-Tala, ANZ Bank, Digicel MyCash, Pacific 40 Talofa Voucher) for convenient account top-ups. Account types include Individual, Joint, Group, and Business accounts, all requiring minimum 25 units to maintain active status.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UTOS Core Unit Trust Investment Primary investment product allowing Samoan nationals to purchase units (minimum 25 units) in a diversified portfolio of listed and unlisted equities (Unit Trust of Fiji, BSP Financial Group, ATH Group, Vodafone Samoa, Samoa Submarine Cable Company), term deposits, and government securities, with tax-free annual dividends and capital growth.
• Samoa Airways Airline Investment Initiative Specialized investment initiative enabling Samoan nationals (by birth, descent, permanent residence, or marriage) to invest in the national airline through UTOS with a minimum of SAT$500. Funds are held in standard UTOS accounts until shares are issued; returns are linked to Samoa Airways operational performance.
• UTOS Online Services Platform Secure web and mobile application allowing unitholders to check account balances, print statements, and make deposits to purchase units online. Uses 256-bit SSL encryption and email-based 5-digit authentication codes.
• Individual Investment Account Standard UTOS investment account for individual Samoan nationals, requiring two valid IDs and a minimum of 25 units to open.
• Joint Investment Account UTOS investment account for two or more applicants, each providing two valid IDs.
• Group Investment Account UTOS investment account for organizations, requiring a written resolution signed by at least four group members and two authorized signatories.
• Business Investment Account UTOS investment account for businesses, requiring Board of Directors approval and two authorized signatures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 13.50% total return for FY24/25 (4.06% dividend yield + 9.44% capital gain)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Digicel SamoacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 November 2023Partnership announced November 2023 to integrate UTOS on Digicel MyCash platform. Allows unitholders to conveniently purchase units using the MyCash app. Enables customers to top-up investment accounts from any location without physically visiting the office. UTOS CEO Tevaga Viane Tagiilima stated the partnership demonstrates UTOS's commitment to digital options for unitholders.
• Vodafone SamoacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVodafone M-Tala mobile payment gateway integration enables unitholders to top-up accounts via Vodafone network. Partnership includes dividend declaration of WST 1.25 million to UTOS for FY2023. UTOS holds unlisted equity in Vodafone Samoa. Digicel CEO Anthony Seuseu stated partnership breaks down barriers to financial investment access.
• ANZ Bank SamoacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUTOS available as biller on ANZ internet banking platform, enabling ANZ customers to easily pay UTOS unit purchases through online banking.
• Pacific 40 - Talofa VoucherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOverseas customer top-up service allowing diaspora Samoans to invest remotely through Talofa Voucher redemption for UTOS unit purchases.
• BSP (Bank of South Pacific)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBSP Online Banking billpay integration enables BSP customers to purchase UTOS units through internet banking services.
• Samoa AirwaysflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment initiative through UTOS enabling Samoans to invest in national airline. UTOS maintains dedicated register for Samoa Airways shareholding initiative. Minimum investment SAT$500. Working Group including UTOS, Samoa Airways, Ministry of Finance, and technical advisors progressing airline re-launch. Returns based on Samoa Airways operational performance.
• Gambling Control Authority (GCA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGCA office in Salelologa, Savai'i serves as secondary distribution point. Savai'i residents can buy units and open new accounts through GCA branches without traveling to Apia headquarters.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• ATH Group Holdings: Samoa-anchored investment and holdings company with operations across Pacific technology, telecommunications, and financial services. UTOS directly holds shares in ATH, creating a reciprocal investor relationship and making ATH directly comparable as a Pacific-domiciled investment holding vehicle.
• Kina Bank: Papua New Guinea-listed bank and wealth manager serving retail and institutional clients across the Pacific. Comparable to UTOS as a Pacific-anchored financial institution offering diversified investment products, though operating primarily in banking rather than pure unit trust.

Broad incumbents

• Public Trust New Zealand: New Zealand's statutory trustee company providing trust, estate, and asset management services to individuals and families. Comparable to UTOS in fiduciary and trust administration functions, including trustee oversight and beneficiary asset management, though at much larger scale and in a more developed market.
• BSP Financial Group: Largest financial services group in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, offering banking, insurance, and wealth/investment management. UTOS holds unlisted equity in BSP, and the two are directly comparable as Pacific investment management platforms serving regional retail and institutional clients.
• Fiji National Provident Fund: Fiji's mandatory retirement savings scheme pooling national contributions for investment across Pacific and global assets. Comparable to UTOS in serving as a national pooled investment vehicle for citizens in a neighboring Pacific jurisdiction, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Unit Trust of Fiji: Fiji's flagship open-ended unit trust offering diversified portfolio exposure to retail and institutional investors in a neighboring Pacific economy. Closely comparable to UTOS in product structure (open-ended unit trust), regulatory framework, retail investor focus, and Pacific regional mandate.
• Samoa National Provident Fund: Samoa's national retirement and savings fund operating under similar government-backed mandate to mobilize national savings and invest in domestic and regional assets. Comparable to UTOS as the other major Samoan investment vehicle, though focused on retirement contributions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/utosam

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unit Trust of Samoa