Active Super and Vision Super are now entering the home stretch of a drawn-out merger process that will create a new $29 billion fund with 170,000 member accounts.
The NZ Superannuation Fund has made half-a-dozen fresh investments over the previous few months across an eclectic range of strategies including US timber, a quant trend-follower and a life science specialist.
Will the real super fund Awards please stand up
(Pictured: Jeff Bresnahan)
There’s nothing like a spat between rivals to prick one’s interest, but the recent dispute between trade publisher Super Review and research firm SuperRatings is particularly unusual.
Super Review had claimed to have SuperRatings’ support for a new industry Awards night, which would be highly unusual in itself. But this turned out to be news to SuperRatings, which has been organizing its own Awards night for the past 12 years.
SuperRatings last week published a note to super funds, managers and other interested parties pointing out its true position but did not name the offending organization.
Jeff Bresnahan, SuperRatings founder, wrote: “You may have recently received an email in relation to a proposed super awards event indicating SuperRatings is a partner and supporter of the event. SuperRatings is not associated with this event and continues to host the original and premier Superannuation Fund Awards night, as it has done for over a decade. Â
“The 12th Annual SuperRatings Fund of the Year Awards Dinner follows the 2014 Day of Confrontation conference on Tuesday October 14, 2014 at The Ivy, Sydney. We look forward to seeing you there.
“SuperRatings is naturally disappointed with any action which has the potential to harm the integrity of our name, services and events, and will continue to take steps to protect same. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.”
SuperReview had not only indicated a partnership with SuperRatings, it had also lifted and placed its logo on the SuperReview website. That mention and artwork were taken down after SuperRatings complained.
SuperRatings then sent Mike Taylor, Super Review’s editor, a legal letter for good measure.
The Heron Partnership, Melbourne-based boutique advisory firm, is the partner of SuperReview for its super funds Awards night in Melbourne on September 17.
Another trade publisher, Conexus Financial, also entered the super Awards fray in competition with SuperRatings last year, after teaming up with Chant West. At this rate there will soon be more super fund awards than funds.
The media partners for the SuperRatings Awards are Investor Strategy News and Benchmark Media
