David Chaplin

A tiny Auckland-based superannuation scheme aimed at UK pension transfers has frozen after its eco-friendly investments turned nasty. According to its latest financial accounts, the GBP International super fund suspended all redemptions citing the inability to “access the valuation” of the underlying funds managed by Isle of Man-based investment firm The Premier Group. The GBP… [Read More…]

Superannuation scheme numbers held steady over the 12 months to December 31, 2014, despite membership falling by over 18,000, new Financial Markets Authority (FMA) statistics reveal. According to the FMA statistics, released last week, there were 456 registered super schemes as at the end of 2014, just one less than the previous year. Total scheme… [Read More…]

Harbour Asset Management will roll out retail versions of two wholesale funds in the coming weeks. Jody Kaye, Harbour chief operating officer, said the Wellington-based boutique manager has retailised its Income Fund and the recently-released T Rowe Price Global Equity Growth Fund. Kaye said Harbour decided to launch the two retail funds after testing demand… [Read More…]

Equity funds bled a sea of red over the September quarter, according to the latest Aon Hewitt NZ manager survey. However, in one of the most volatile three-month trading periods since the GFC, the median manager in both the Australasian and global (unhedged) shares outperformed their respective benchmarks over the quarter, the Aon survey shows…. [Read More…]

We’ve heard a lot about the recent stellar rise in demand for the so-called ‘40 Act’ liquid alternatives funds in the US. Well, here is how the trend is playing out in Australia. Surprisingly, big super funds are beneficiaries. According to David Saunders, the founder and managing director of K2 Advisors, an affiliate of Franklin… [Read More…]

Fisher Funds has recorded an after-tax profit of almost $22.4 million in the year to March 31, 2015, up more than $6 million on the previous period despite a fall in net income. According to the Fisher accounts filed last week, the funds management group achieved the result on total net revenue of almost $60.9… [Read More…]

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZS) could see staff numbers rise to almost 125 this financial year as it gears up for broader in-house investment responsibilities. In its just-released annual report, the NZS records employee levels of 113 (or 111 full-time equivalent staff), up from 69 in 2011. According to an NZS spokesperson, the fund… [Read More…]

The Accident Compensation Commission (ACC) fund outperformed all but two of its portfolio benchmarks over the 12 months to June 30, its latest accounts show, with only Australian equities and Australasian property/infrastructure blotting its perfect record. According to the ACC annual report published last week, the $31.4 billion fund returned 14.5 per cent in the… [Read More…]

Despite fetching a price at the lower end of the scale analysts rated the sale Russell Investments last week as good news for the London Stock Exchange (LSE), according to a Reuters report. “BofA Merrill Lynch analysts said the proceeds were somewhat below their expectations, but the market had been fretting about the sale, and… [Read More…]