National Australia Bank (NAB) has announced to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) that it is “in the process of undertaking discussions with a number of global custody providers regarding potential options for the future operation of the NAB Asset Servicing business”.
The announcement said the bank was constantly assessing ways in which it could improve its offering to customers and that, for example, “our current offering incorporates both global and local custody providers to deliver world-class products and services”.
It said that it expected any changes to its operating model would be in line with group strategy to be the leading bank for superannuation and ageing “with asset servicing customers remaining important to the group”.
“We will continue to explore potential arrangements over coming months , however the details of any discussions are commercially confidential,” the ASX announcement said.
IFM has firmly opposed any push for publicly disclosing current valuations of private market assets, saying it would “damage the financial interests of investors” and reduce appetite for infrastructure and private business investment.
Subdued GDP figures have bolstered expectations that the RBA could cut rates sooner and, possibly more aggressively, market watchers say.
Australian institutional investors plan to keep their finger on the pulse of private markets, new data has shown, with local investors aiming to further expand allocations into the sector.
The RBA has opted for a 25 bp rate cut last month to ensure that at a time of heightened uncertainty, monetary policy settings remained “predictable”.