Global equities manager Martin Currie Investment Management is looking into the possibility of introducing an emerging markets fund to Australia next year, reflecting the firm’s growing belief in, and commitment to, the developing world for long-term investment.
Water, our lifeblood, now an infrastructure investment too
Causeway Asset Management has recruited an expert in tradable water rights and launched a dedicated Australian water fund, which will look to invest up to $300 million in the asset class. UniSuper upgrades to full advice for members
UniSuper yesterday launched its upgraded financial planning network, designed to cater for the specific requirements of academics and tertiary education employees.
First we take Waikato: JANA
JANA has won its first consultancy job in New Zealand, tipping out a more global competitor as investment adviser for the NZ$230 million Trust Waikato.
AvSuper picks Elvish to run ruler over custodian
Six months after hiring Brett Elvish to test its asset consultant, the $1 billion AvSuper has chosen Brett Elvish to lead its review of National Asset Servicing (NAS), its custodian of 14 years.
Workcover quietly changes asset consultant
The $12 billion multimanager fund standing behind the WorkCover NSW worker’s compensation scheme has a new asset consultant, with Watson Wyatt’s five year relationship coming to an end.
ComSuper palms off DC, keeps DB admin of gov’t funds
ComSuper has announced it will outsource the administration functions of the 70,000-member Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan (PSSap).
FRM hedge fund-of-funds hires Australia head
After nine months without a local chief, global hedge fund-of-funds group Financial Risk Management has hired a well-known hedge fund identity to lead a renewed charge in Australia.
Funds forced to consider inflation hedging: Watson Wyatt
Volatile inflation post-GFC will force funds to consider hedging, said Watson Wyatt’s Robert Brown, chair of its global investment committee.
The $1.4 billion, 97,000-member ASSET Super is considering merger partners as a way of increasing its footprint in modern awards and pre-empting any Government moves to encourage consolidation – and there is a ‘back to the future’ twist to one of the rumoured suitors. ComSuper palms off DC, keeps DB admin of gov't funds
ComSuper has announced it will outsource the administration functions of the 70,000-member Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan (PSSap).
Choosing a transition manager…
in the one field that refuses to rationalise
Interest rates are not the only thing going up in Australia in defiance of the rest of the world. While the transition management marketplaces of London and New York have seen a number of investment banks exit, or at least ‘transition transition’ into their custody or asset management affiliates, in Australia the broker-dealers are standing strong, and in 2009 have even been joined by new competitors claiming ‘purer’ models.
Yet this abundance creates a problem for the chief investment officer wanting to move from Manager A to B. At least a dozen competitors are marketing seriously in Australia, and putting as many different spins on their service while doing so. These spins range from broker-dealer to pure agency multi-broker, asset manager, liquidity arranger, or project manager/consultant. So, a CIO could spend as long determining the right transition manager as they did deciding to transition in the first place.
MICHAEL BAILEY gets some guidance from consultants, and asks the transition managers (TMs) themselves, about how best to differentiate and negotiate in the transition management milieu.
