Yesterday
‘I was the only non-billionaire in the room’
Aware Super’s Deanne Stewart, a leading voice for a sector using its increasing political, social and investment clout, on why she wants to be a force for good, and what it was like meeting King Charles.
May
Labor shouldn’t crash through on super taxes like the Voice
The government’s failure to heed advice from many parts of the community that the super tax policy is flawed ominously echoes the defeat of the referendum.
‘Too complex already’: Pushback grows against Labor’s $3m super tax
Deanne Stewart, CEO of the country’s third-largest super fund, says she would like the $3 million threshold for the new tax to be indexed and urged the government to stop making the system more complex.
US giant KKR named preferred bidder at Aware’s $1b-plus chicken grower ProTen
Street Talk understands the private capital juggernaut, led by Andrew Jennings, ruled the roost with a bid around $1.3 billion.
April
Big super is questioning its exposure to Wall Street
Regulatory filings show the country’s biggest retirement funds made billion dollar bets on American technology giants ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Big investors wield private assets to cushion returns from wild market
The nation’s largest money managers, including the big superannuation funds, are using unlisted holdings to manage the fallout of volatile global equities.
Super funds urge members not to panic after rout takes losses to $170b
The country’s largest retirement investors say they are leaning in to the meltdown, which they see as a short-term problem that presents buying opportunities.
Cybercriminals impersonated super executives in week of mass breach
The attacks occurred in the same week hackers compromised the largest funds and siphoned retirement savings out of member accounts.
Aware Super ropes in ex Future Fund CIO, Mac bigwig
Both have been appointed for an initial period of two years, and will oversee the management of the investment portfolio as well as advise Aware Super’s board
March
Canadian suitor clucks at Aware’s $1b-plus chicken producer, ProTen
ProTen is being courted by Canada’s Northleaf, US private equity giant KKR and Sydney’s Roc Partners.
Superannuation bosses submit their US travel bills
They may not have been staying at luxury hotels, but fund bosses still racked up some tidy bills on Kevin Rudd’s US superannuation junket.
The country’s big super funds are reaching their ASX investing limit
AustralianSuper expects to hit an effective cap on how much it can invest in the local market and make good returns. Its peers are also looking overseas.
Why super fund investment calls are about more than next quarter’s returns
What’s at the heart of a super fund’s investment strategy? Capital allocation. And the better it allocates that capital, the better for all of us.
January
Big super to keep pushing companies on climate
New climate disclosure laws mean even retail super funds will engage with companies on climate this year. Poor workplace safety and governance is also a concern.
Super admits its size is a risk but says ‘what is the alternative?’
The managers of Australia’s $4.1 trillion retirement savings pool say they are best placed to invest in banks and private lending despite warnings from the RBA and IMF.
Top super investors dash pre-election rate cut hopes
But they say investors should be optimistic about inflation easing despite later cuts and risks associated with Donald Trump taking the White House.
December 2024
How big super is spending your money on sponsorship and marketing
Jumps in advertising spends at industry giants such as Aware Super and UniSuper came despite a crackdown by the watchdog questioning whether these costs are in members’ best interests.
November 2024
AustralianSuper pays members back $4.2m over claims handling delays
The industry super giant is voluntarily compensating the loved ones of deceased members after an overhaul of its claims handling processes imposed tough new timelines.
Australia’s most complained about super funds revealed
Embattled construction industry fund Cbus topped the list of major funds, new data shows, but complaints across the sector jumped last financial year.
How Aware Super beat the sector’s reputation for bad customer service
The $180 billion super fund invested in service and advice before regulators forced it to. As the rest of the industry now scrambles to catch up, it’s eyeing bigger plans.