In November 2010, Andrea Forbes, senior policy adviser to Bill Shorten, told attendees at an industry roundtable in Canberra that the argument to boost the Superannuation Guarantee (SG) to 12 per cent needed broader media coverage. She wanted coverage of the policy push to extend beyond the trade and financial press to metropolitan dailies with broader readerships. Her intention was clear: the Minister for Financial Services Superannuation wants the debate heard by all Australians. On October 17, Shorten featured in a policy roundtable convened by Conexus Financial, publisher of Investment Magazine, in which consumer advocacy, economics and investment professionals debated whether the boost to 12 per cent SG will benefit working Australians. It was covered by 7.30 that night.
Funds embrace investment short-termism
An MSCI global asset owners survey covering more than $US 5.5 trillion in assets under management shows funds are taking an increasingly short-term focus and putting a greater emphasis on risk management. The 2011 Global Asset Owners Survey, Back to the Future of Risk Management, which includes 85 participants in 26 countries, also reveals Australian asset owners have substantially higher levels of external management and more funds allocated to equities than asset owners from other countries.
Australia falls short of pension gold
Australia is capable of achieving the elusive A-grading in the Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index, according to its author, David Knox, if the country adopts a number of regulatory reforms. Knox, who is senior partner at Mercer, says the biggest reform that will improve Australia’s ranking will be an increase in the superannuation guarantee. This will have the effect of increasing retirement income, as well as the value of assets in the system, and so improving sustainability. If Australia combines this with increased labour force participation, and introduces some “integrity measures”, it would be “pretty close to A-grade”, Knox says. He says Australian superannuation fund member statements show what a member’s account balance currently is, but not what it is projected to be when the member retires.
Altius wins $150 million mandate
Altius Asset Management, one of Australian Unity’s boutique funds, will double its funds under management to $300 million with a mandate from an institutional investor.
Colonial First State adds to emerging markets team
Colonial First State Global Asset Management has hired three people to manage emerging markets debt investments and may hire more people to focus on the world’s fastest growing economies.
Dean Paatsch talks executive pay
Dean Paatsch, co-founder of corporate governance firm Ownership Matters, talks about executive pay in Australia with Brett Cole.
Jane Perry is new Qantas Super CEO
Jane Perry is the new chief executive of Qantas Superannuation Ltd. BlackRock wins $3.8 bln from VicSuper
BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Ltd. will manage 45 per cent of VicSuper assets after the not for profit Melbourne-based fund gave it $3.8 billion to manage.
Greiner: super funds wary of infrastructure
Two New South Wales superannuation funds are speaking with Nick Greiner as the chairman of Infrastructure NSW puts together a 20-year infrastructure plan for Australia’s most populous state.
Australian fund managers must innovate
The $1.8 trillion Australian fund management business must embrace innovative investment products if they are to provide investors with adequate returns, says the former head of strategy at the Future Fund.
Ipac’s Jeff Rogers: “fear is dominant”
Fear is trumping greed in global markets, says Jeff Rogers, chief investment officer of Ipac which manages about $12 billion in assets.
Combined Fund feels no impetus to merge
The $520 million Combined Fund feels no impetus to merge as a bigger fund may not provide the same quality of service its 10,000 members currently enjoy, says the fund’s independent director Brett Lazarides.
