Specialist back-office provider White Outsourcing has spun out of parent White Funds Management to set up on its own business. The business unit, which previously sat within White Funds Management, services boutiques such as Paradice Coopers, van Eyk and more recently MIR.
The rebranding and changes to management and ownership will allow key executives to take equity in the new entity. Peter Roberts and Andrew Harrison have been appointed joint chiefs of White Outsourcing. According to Roberts, growth in outsourcing has been steadily growing since White took on its first major client Wilson Asset Management in 1999. Further growth is anticipated as more boutiques set up and look to outsource compliance functions and back-office activities, he said. “A lot of the larger [outsourcing] players do a quality job, but they have a high minimum fee. Our pricing is more reasonable which makes us attractive to start-up boutiques. “Our systems and processes are based on a chartered accounting model, given that the bulk of us are from a chartered accounting background, which also gives us a quality edge.” Ownership of the group will consist of international accounting firm, Moore Stephens Sydney, White Funds Management and staff and management of White Outsourcing. “Outsourcing is a growing area, but we haven’t been going out and marketing our services. We’ve had a steady flow of new clients based on referrals, but we’ll become more active,” Roberts said. Custodians including National Custodian Services, JP Morgan and RBC also provide back-office outsourcing services.
A managed investment scheme holding 20 per cent or more in unlisted assets is deemed an illiquid scheme and is restricted from providing frequent liquidity, but there is no formal limit on how much super funds can allocate to these asset classes. The Conexus Institute writes this is a special privilege given to APRA-regulated super funds that should not be taken for granted.
David Bell and Geoff WarrenFebruary 6, 2025