UniSuper

Australia’s superannuation funds have nearly the highest proportion of internal asset management in the world, but there’s plenty of questions hanging over the practice even as funds push into more expensive niche asset classes.

Offshore offices might get super funds “closer to the action”, but they can come at a literal cost – and not every fund is prepared to pay it.

While Australian Retirement Trust thinks massive scale makes offshore investing a must, not every fund wants to join the jet set, and UniSuper thinks there’s still plenty of opportunities to be had at home.

Systemic risk in the superannuation system likely doesn’t stem from funds themselves, but from their service provider relationships. Regulators need to be thinking harder about where and how it arises – something they’re not necessarily well set up to do.

To deliver for its highly engaged member base, UniSuper must walk a fine line between investing responsibly for their future and meeting their demands around climate change in the here and now.

The $124 billion super fund is pretty proud of its direct property portfolio, which now includes 66 acres of prime development land once used to manufacture dynamite. But it doesn’t want to take on the risks that come with heading overseas.

A coalition of domestic and international pension funds has bought one of Australia’s largest private forest management companies in a big vote of confidence for natural capital assets.

The $120 billion fund is making moves to shore up its property portfolio while also consolidating its sustainable investment credentials through a tie-up with NorthStar Impact as a specialist external listed equities manager.

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.

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.