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(pictured: Chris Trevillyan) Australia’s potential GDP growth is better than most of its developed market peers over the next 10 years, according to the latest capital markets analysis by Frontier Advisors. But emerging markets are likely to perform better. The assessment was presented last week by consultants Chris Trevillyan, Alvin Tan and Anthony Michael, and included…

(pictured: Vanessa Stoykov) Evolution Media is developing another television series and a new web portal following its recent move into mainstream direct-to-consumer broadcasting with its ‘No More Practice’ reality TV show about investments on the Nine Network. Vanessa Stoykov, Evolution’s founder and chief executive, told a gathering at the Stone & Chalk technology hub in…

(pictured: Tim McGavin) Laguna Bay, the agribusiness manager, has had its first closing of $280 million raised for the Laguna Bay Agricultural Fund, to be invested in a portfolio of businesses across Australia and New Zealand. The manager is already the largest olive oil producer in Australia. The fund, which will have its final closing around…

(pictured: Len Brennan) Russell Investments senior management have taken “a meaningful equity stake” in the business alongside new owners TA Associates and Reverence Capital Partners, cementing the ongoing leadership in the new arrangement. The two US private equity firms picked up Russell Investments from the London Stock Exchange for US$1.15 billion last October after fending off…

(pictured: David Goodacre) RBC Investor & Treasury Services has recruited experienced salesperson David Goodacre into the new position of director of global client coverage. He left BNP Paribas Securities Services in April after 12 years with that firm. Goodacre, who was most recently sales manager, Australia and New Zealand, at BNP will be working with former…

The smart beta trend has hit warp speed, according to new research from index provider FTSE Russell, with interest from global institutional investors up more than 60 per cent over the past year. More than 70 per cent of asset owners are either “using or actively evaluating smart beta” the 2016 FTSE Russell smart beta…

(pictured: Daniel Celeghin) By Greg Bright For future fee revenue for fund managers operating in the Asia Pacific region only one country matters – China. While Australia accounts for 16 per cent of the regional market it will pay only 10 per cent of the fees. But there are bright spots for certain managers. According to…

(pictured: Fiona Trafford-Walker) The biggest challenge facing traditional asset consultants is the internalisation of investment management by big funds and the provision of advice inside the funds, according to Fiona Trafford-Walker, the director of consulting at Frontier Advisers. At the same time, the work of those consultants was getting broader. She addressed the Women in Super…

(pictured: Ronan Walsh)  Ronan Walsh, the general manager of investments at REST Industry Super, left the fund suddenly last Thursday after less than six months in the job. A search is underway for a replacement. Walsh joined the $37 billion fund on December 7 after a six-month search, replacing the former general manager investments, Jo…

(pictured: Chris Redman) Investors have historically paid too much to access illiquid assets, a new study by global asset consultancy Willis Towers Watson (WTW) has found. And the liquidity premium varies considerably over time. In a just-published research paper, WTW says – based on its bespoke measure – the illiquidity risk premium (IRP) has been below…