Alice Prudhoe announced winner of Michael O’Sullivan ESG Rising Star Award
CareSuper and ACSI were delighted to announce Alice Prudhoe, sustainability officer at Local Government Super as the winner of the inaugural Michael O’Sullivan ESG Rising Star Award in front of over 230 delegates during the ACSI 2015 Annual Conference held in Sydney on Tuesday. Michael O’Sullivan was ACSI’s founding president from 2001 until 2011 and chair of … Read more
Change in energy distribution as disruptive as move from land lines to mobiles
There is a looming energy distribution revolution, highlighted by a declining demand for fossil fuels, creating a new reality in which investors make decisions, Christina Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, told delegates at the ACSI conference. She says a shift in the energy sector, as large as the shift … Read more
30% Club aims to revolutionise boards
There needs to be a revolution, not evolution, in board composition and appointment so all talent can be considered, chief executive of Newton Asset Management, Helena Morrissey, told delegates at the ACSI conference in Sydney. Morrissey, who is one of only 2 per cent of chief executives in financial services globally to be female, told … Read more
Financial reports insufficient basis for investment decisions
Companies financial reports are critical to investment decision but insufficient as they only tells 20 per cent of the story of a company, whereas integrated reporting give a complete view. Professor Mervyn King, chairman of the international integrated reporting council, said before investing what is ultimate beneficiaries’ money into a company’s equity, ESG factors should … Read more
Mental health illness affects superannuation investments
There is a clear business case to tackle mental health illness in superannuation as it impacts on the funds themselves through their employees, the members and the companies funds invest in, a panel of business leaders said. Sam Mostyn, non-executive director of Virgin Australia, Transurban Group, Citibank Australia and Mirvac Group, said that a company’s … Read more
MTAA capital protection/ growth hybrid product has pleasing uptake
The Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) Superannuation Fund has had a “pleasing” uptake by members of a new investment option that is a hybrid between growth and capital protection, designed particularly for those transitioning into retirement. The Income Focused Option is designed to deliver capital stability and manage investment volatility, targeting a reliable … Read more
Four super funds secure FEAL scholarships
HESTA, UniSuper, Local Government Super and QSuper have been awarded scholarships from the Fund Executive Association Ltd (FEAL) to further professional development amongst their executive. These scholarships offer executives an opportunity to study at the world’s leading executive institutes, such as the London School of Economics and the Melbourne Business School, not only to … Read more
Unable to find value investors turn to cash
The Future Fund’s allocation to cash is the highest it has been for more than five years, increasing from 12.8 per cent to 15.2 per cent in the past quarter. The cash allocation has moved between a low of 5.8 per cent in June 2013 and this new high of 15.2 per cent. December 2010 … Read more
Factors phase two: Robeco to launch multi-factor credit fund
Robeco will launch the world’s first multi-factor credit fund, after academic research by its quantitative research team reveals that size, low-risk, value and momentum factors have economically meaningful and statistically significant risk-adjusted returns in the corporate bond market. Robeco, which manages €1.2 billion in equity factor portfolios and a total of €25 billion in quant … Read more
Ray King leaves Mercer
Private equity specialist Ray King is leaving Mercer today, after three years at the firm as partner. His role has been cut due to the global restructure of the private markets group at Mercer following the acquisition of SCM, a provider of advice in private equity, real estate and infrastructure, in November 2014. King announced … Read more
AIST viewpoint: a fairer tax system for all
New research that details who gains the most from tax concessions in super should be a key driver in tax reforms this year, says TOM GARCIA chief executive of AIST. There can be no debate that super needs to be taxed concessionally. But at what point do we draw the line in the name of … Read more
