When Anthony Starkins was retrenched for the second time within a few months in 1998, after nearly 20 years in investment banking, he decided he should seek financial advice. His ensuing frustrations resulted in the business to which he has devoted the last 20-plus years, First Samuel Limited. “I spoke to financial planners, banks, brokers…
David Swensen, the Yale endowment fund’s famous chief executive and always a candidate for the “best investor in the world” title in any contest, died last Wednesday night US time (May 6 in Australia) at 67. In his 36 years at the fund’s helm, Swensen achieved many first’s for the institutional investment industry. He pioneered…
Willis Towers Watson has formed a working group to assess the potential for what it calls a ‘new breed’ of investment management firm that invests across the equity spectrum, from private to public markets. The working group, bringing together researchers from both sectors within WTW, was established in March. The global asset consulting firm believes…
As the national conversation dramatically shifted to include widespread sexist, harassment and bullying behaviours, a spotlight has been shone on the HR capabilities of organisations. Of course, the conversation has become much broader in recent months, with growing concerns being aired for women’s financial wellbeing, including the role of super, gaining headlines. But it is…
There is growing concern about the relevance of broad market indices, especially due to their poor reflection of China’s growth. The main concern should probably be managers who hug them. Whether or not it’s the index producers to blame, or managers who are not as active as they claim, an interesting angle on what is…
Big investors are increasingly looking to make a difference with their commitments towards a net zero carbon target. They don’t have to raise direct equity capital to do so. In a recent note to clients, ‘Net Zero: the role of capital markets’, global equities manager Martin Currie says there is a common misconception that without…
It’s not only the traditional core of Melbourne-based industry funds that can get political in the battle against climate change and growth. Aware Super, with a foundation membership of NSW public sector employees, has entered the fray. The fund commissioned and published Friday (May 7) a 65-page report written by social researcher Rebecca Huntley entitled…
NZ Super, the Future Fund and Norway’s NBIM are among the top-performing government funds, as well as having the highest level of governance and sustainability, according to a study by SWF Global. The study, of 52 of the world’s largest funds, attempts to illustrate the connection between good governance with sustainability processes and investment returns….
Paradice Investment Management has appointed Stephen Bramley as head of institutional distribution, a new position for the Australian and international small-cap specialist. Bramley has had a lot of experience in similar roles, most recently as head of distribution for Asia Pacific at Pacific Current Group, which was Australia’s first listed multi-affiliate manager, then known as…
Calvert Research and Management and Parametric, two of Eaton Vance’s managers, have combined in Australia for the first time to manage the equities component of Rest Super’s new sustainable growth investment option. Calvert is the US-based ESG specialist acquired by Eaton Vance in 2016. Parametric, an implementation specialist manager which is one of the global…
