News

Jessica Donohue has a 20-year pedigree with the asset servicing and fund management firm, with leadership roles in its asset owner, investment services and academia segments. She replaces retiring Rick Lacaille as head of global investment insights, sustainability and impact.

Some of the country’s biggest super funds have navigated volatile markets and write-downs in one of their favourite asset classes to deliver solid returns in a tough year.

There’s going to be plenty of low cost of capital opportunities for super funds as Australia’s existing power infrastructure is retired and replaced with renewable energy generation – not to mention its storage.

Riding the equity market rally and significant diversification in its alternatives portfolio has delivered Australian Retirement Trust a 10 per cent return as it keeps both eyes on the end of the rate cycle.

The $72 billion fund has dumped Link Group and partnered with upstart administration services provider Grow Inc. as it navigates a “rapidly changing technology landscape”.

Super funds and other institutional investors are deeply unsatisfied with the nature of private markets fees, but cost-additive pressures are emerging across all asset classes when fees should be falling.

UniSuper’s pioneers of internalisation have set up their own firm providing investment management and advisory services to superannuation funds as competition picks up and the need for a helping hand grows.

AustralianSuper’s appointment of a new deputy CIO with the lion’s share of responsibility for its overseas investments demonstrates the growing importance of international diversification for the country’s biggest funds.

While making it through recent market events is an “accomplishment”, asset managers need to shake things up in order to survive. They’re doubling down on what worked in the past instead.

Even with the market-shaking events of 2022 mostly in the rearview and most of the valuation pressure now played out, equities won’t be moving much higher unless something big changes.

The $70 billion super fund has appointed WTW as asset consultant to its board and board investment committee as it internalises a substantial chunk of its funds under management.

Australia’s largest super funds are casting a close eye over their property and infrastructure allocations amidst challenging market conditions, according to new research from J.P Morgan. And while investment internalisation continues to gather pace, not all funds are sold on its worth.