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(Pictured: David Simons)  The Future Fund won’t peak in size until 2030 if the Government draws down the maximum it is permitted under the organisation’s specific legislation, but is already managing its liabilities and has set up a strategy unit devoted to the task. Nevertheless, the Future Fund remains the poster child for Australia’s struggling…

(Pictured: Tim Sims) For the first time, in 2014, investment in Australian private equity by sovereign wealth funds around the world and other big overseas investors outpaced that by Australian investors, according to Yasser El-Ansary, the chief executive of Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCAL). But, at the same time, the performance of Australian…

(Pictured: Brad Young) Brad Young, the co-chief executive and head of investments at Altius Associates of the US, who has been visiting Australia at least once a year for 10 years, believes interest in private equity has been picking up for the last couple of years and there will be more funds moving into the asset…

(Pictured: Frank Casarotti)  Magellan Asset Management seeded its new-style Exchange Traded Product (ETP), a listed-but-open-ended active global equities fund, with $50 million and enjoyed a net inflow of $13 million from investors on day one. Judging by the response, the fund is set to me emulated by many others. Magellan started work on the product…

(Pictured: Brendan O’Farrell) by Patrick Liddy My daughter, having recently joined the workforce, was given choice of super funds with a recommendation to go with one of the big well-known industry funds. She is a university student so not much will be going in by way of contributions for some time. She asked my advice. I’m…

(Pictured: Barry McInerney) Bank of Montreal’s asset management business, which opened a Sydney office in 2013, may well be the fastest growing fund management firm in the world. Barry McInerney, co-chief executive in charge of asset management outside Canada, outlined some of his plans for the region. BOM Global Asset Management has expanded its funds under…

(Pictured: Brian Keogh) Thomas Murray IDS, the specialist international custody consultant, has re-established a Melbourne office with the recruitment of two experienced executives formerly from NAB and will part company with Peter Katz, who has represented the firm for the past five years from his base in Wellington, New Zealand. Brian Keogh and Adam Zani will…

(Pictured: Jo Townsend) Jo Townsend, the general manager, investments, at REST will become the new chief executive of Funds SA after a search, replacing the CFO, John Piteo, who had been acting in the top job since Richard Smith retired in January. For REST, Townsend’s departure in April will be the second loss of a senior…

(Pictured: Sam Hallinan) Sam Hallinan will become the new chief executive of Nikko Asset Management in Australia following the resignation of Mike Davis last month. Hallinan was most recently general manager of investment management at NAB Asset Management and head of one of its affiliates, Antares Capital Partners. He previously spent six years at MLC. The…

Despite anecdotal evidence of a resurgence of interest in Australian venture capital, particularly in the ‘fintech’ field, the overall private equity and venture market in Australia continued its downward path last year, according to figures to be discussed at a conference this week. The producers of the annual Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ) Conference, taking…