News

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…

Russell Investments has made sweeping changes to its flagship global fixed income funds in a move that almost doubles the in-house managed component. In a note to clients last week (May 4), Russell revealed it had cut three incumbent bond managers – Colchester Global Investors, Insight and Voya – from the global fixed income menu…

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…

The Israel Institute of NZ lobbied to halt the exclusion of certain banking stocks from the NZ Superannuation Fund’s portfolio this year, according to recently released documents. In an Official Information Act (OIA) request on April 12, the local Israel association asked for confirmation the NZ Government’s largest super fund had told underlying managers that…

LGIA Super, in the process of merging with Energy Super, last week (April 30) confirmed the appointment of National Asset Servicing as custodian for the new fund. This follows last week’s announcement that LGIA will buy the Suncorp wealth management business, making only the second industry fund to buy a retail-orientated business after First State…

Evergreen Consultants has teamed with Generation Life for the launch of an ESG-orientated multi-manager investment bond, believed to be an industry first. The bond follows a model portfolio developed by Evergreen, called the Responsible Growth Model. The research and ratings firm says the model was created to provide advisers and investors with a long-term portfolio…

After repeated and universal criticism from all major super industry bodies, the Government has agreed to two amendments to its performance benchmark as part of the Government’s proposed Your Future, Your Super legislation. The Government announced last week (April 28) that it would allow the inclusion of infrastructure and unlisted property as well as administration…