January 2021

27Jan

Fund run by Australian pension investors seeks stake in Spain’s Naturgy

Investment fund IFM Global Infrastructure Fund offered on Tuesday to buy a 22.7% stake in Spain’s Naturgy for 5.06 billion euros ($6.13 billion), sending the power group’s shares soaring 16% to lead gainers on Madrid’s bourse. The cash offer of 23 euros per share represented a 19.7% premium over Naturgy’s closing price on Monday, according to calculations by the fund’s manager IFM Investors, which is owned by Australian pension funds. Naturgy’s earnings have been hit over the past year...

January 27, 2021
News, Slider,
Read more...
26Jan

Australia. Super top-up: Funds call for $5000 payments for low-income earners

The federal government should make one-off contributions of up to $5000 into the superannuation accounts of low-income earners who accessed their retirement savings early, a lobby group has argued. The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) on Monday released new analysis showing almost one million young workers who accessed the government’s early super access scheme had either emptied their accounts or reduced their balances to less than $1000. Amid mounting evidence of the recession’s disproportionate impact on young people,...

January 26, 2021
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
22Jan

Australia. Fresh calls for universal pension after talk of new ‘death tax’

After some talk about drawing money from deceased super estates, one seniors' advocate is recommending a universal pension. Ian Henschke, chief advocate for National Seniors Australia, has renewed calls for a universal pension scheme that isn't means tested. "Review after review complains about older people failing to spend down their capital; they don’t blame the system, they blame the retiree. And then they wonder why no one’s listening," he told Savings.com.au. "By setting income and asset limits which restrict...

January 22, 2021
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...
18Jan

Australia. Why we should stick with the 12pc super guarantee rate

By Karen Maley If Treasurer Josh Frydenberg was hoping that the eagerly awaited Callaghan retirement income review might help him resolve the fiendishly difficult political problem of what to do with the superannuation guarantee levy, he'll be deeply disappointed. The Morrison government is facing intense pressure from a group of hardline backbenchers to scrap the long-legislated increase in employers' compulsory contribution to their workers' super from 9.5 per cent of wages to 12 per cent by 2025. Read more @AFR

January 18, 2021
News, OP Ed, Slider, ,
Read more...
05Jan

Covid to accelerate restructuring of Australia’s pensions industry

Testing financial conditions during 2020 have added to the pressure on Australia’s superannuation industry to deliver better investment outcomes and greater cost efficiency, according to Funds Global Asia’s 2020 Australia survey conducted in partnership with Calastone. Respondents predict that this will accelerate mergers between superannuation funds, while placing fresh demands on fund providers to offer wider product choice to scheme members. The Australian pension fund, or “superannuation”, sector, has been under scrutiny from financial regulators over the past four years as...

January 5, 2021
News, Slider,
Read more...

December 2020

18Dec

Australian Regulator Questions 10 Pensions Over Poor Performance

Australia’s prudential regulator will consider using its enforcement powers on 10 default retirement savings plans that were found to be among the nation’s worst performers for a second year. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority said Friday it is assessing whether the eight trustees managing the plans have failed their obligations to members and will seek information on how they’re addressing the underperformance. APRA will then determine what action will be taken, including whether to use its power to force...

December 18, 2020
News, Slider, , , ,
Read more...

November 2020

24Nov

Australia’s Financial Firms Want to Turn Capital Markets Green

Australia’s largest financial companies are targeting net-zero emissions over the next 30 years as the global shift to a low-carbon economy gathers pace. The Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative on Tuesday released 37 recommendations to help the financial sector target climate neutrality by 2050 and ensure it remains competitive. They include setting interim carbon reduction targets when deciding lending, insurance and investments as the next decade will be critical to achieving the goal, according to the plan. The road map...

November 24, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
19Nov

Australia. 12% superannuation hangs in the balance

The federal government will release the findings of its review into retirement incomes on Friday. Amongst other things, the review is believed to support a recent warning from Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe that the legislated increase in the superannuation guarantee (SG) will reduce wages and economic growth. The SG is slated to rise from 9.5% to 10% in mid-2021, but the government is set to delay a decision on proceeding with this increase until it hands down the...

November 19, 2020
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...
13Nov

Pension Fund Climate Change Lawsuit Settles

A lawsuit filed by an environmental scientist in Australia against his pension fund for not adequately disclosing or assessing the effect of climate change on its investments has been settled. Bloomberg reports that the Retail Employees Superannuation Trust, commonly referred to as Rest, has committed to net zero emissions in its portfolio by 2050. The fund also said it would “enhance its consideration” of such risks when making investments, publicly reveal its holdings and monitor the approach of its...

November 13, 2020
News, Slider, ,
Read more...
09Nov

75% of Aussies support 12% superannuation guarantee increase

An overwhelming majority of Australians support lifting the superannuation guarantee to 12% despite Reserve Bank modelling revealing that doing so will shrink wages growth. Three in four Australians say they support increasing the super guarantee to 12%, according to a nationwide survey conducted by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). Only 12% of the 1,375 people surveyed said they think the super guarantee rate should remain unchanged at 9.5%. The superannuation guarantee is the minimum amount your...

November 9, 2020
News, Slider, , ,
Read more...