Imagine giving away one-third of your employees – all people who underpin your biggest business unit, biggest money spinner and arguably the riskiest part of the group – for no money in return. What a decision.

Resurgent Insignia Financial is doing it. New CEO Scott Hartley wants to send 1300 employees packing by the middle of next year. They will go to global financial services software group SS&C Technologies, an American company worth $30 billion (or 10 times Insignia), and form the backbone of its new Australian superannuation services arm that can take on market-leader Link.