The Royal Mint And World Platinum Investment Council (Wpic)

The Royal Mint - London, 15 December 2016: The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) and The Royal Mint today announced a strategic partnership to deliver a new range of physical platinum investment products suited to retail investors internationally.

The move marks The Royal Mint's first entry into the platinum bullion market. The partnership is the latest in a series of strategic initiatives from the WPIC to stimulate further investor demand for physical platinum and increase the number and type of platinum investment opportunities available worldwide.

Under the agreement, the WPIC will work with The Royal Mint to develop and launch a range of platinum bullion coins and bars to suit a wide range of investor needs. A number of new products will be launched throughout 2017.

The Royal Mint, a 1,000-year-old institution owned by HM Treasury and the world's leading export mint, has successfully been producing precious metal coinage since the 9th Century and has throughout this time continued to strike coins in gold, silver and soon platinum . With the launch of bullion trading site http://www.royalmintbullion.com in 2014 The Royal Mint became the first mint to offer bullion coins and bars direct to individuals on a 24/7 basis, dispatched to the customer or stored on their behalf in The Royal Mint's vault - The Vault™.

With support from the WPIC, The Royal Mint will expand its portfolio to include the production and marketing of platinum products alongside its existing, internationally-renowned bullion coin and bar range. For the first time, UK and international investors will have the opportunity to purchase platinum bullion from the world's leading export mint.

Commenting on the announcement, David Crawford, Program Manager at the World Platinum Investment Council, said: "The Royal Mint is one of the world's oldest and foremost authorities and issuers of bullion coins and bars, and we are honoured to be working with them. It is the WPIC mission to increase the range of sustainable investment options available in global markets. Platinum has historically been a store of value and source of long-term appreciation. As such, this new product range from The Royal Mint is good news for retail investors."

Commenting on the announcement, Chris Howard, The Royal Mint's Director of Bullion, said, "The introduction of platinum to our portfolio is the next logical step for The Royal Mint and increases the choice available to our customers, supporting our ambition to provide the 'complete bullion solution'. Given the significant growth in our bullion activities in recent years, we are excited to be entering this new marketplace and look forward to working with the WPIC to expand the range of trusted Royal Mint Bullion products available to investors."