The directors of the merged Australian Retirement Fund and the Superannuation Trust of Australia have gone for an easily recognised brand for the new 1.1 million member, $20 billion entity — AustralianSuper.
The directors announced in Melbourne yesterday that they had selected AustralianSuper as the new name for the fund after commissioning Richard Henderson to undertake the re-branding exercise.
Announcing the change, the chair of the new fund, Geoff Ashton, said the merger had not simply been aimed at creating the largest superannuation fund, but at utilising its size to deliver improved superannuation products and services to members.
He said that as of July 1, members would have access to an extended range of 15 member investment options, along with substantially improved insurance products, with in-house retirement income products also on the agenda.
ASFA has urged greater transparency and fairness in the way superannuation levies are set and spent.
Labor’s re-election has reignited calls to strengthen Australia’s $4.2 trillion super system, with industry bodies urging swift reform amid economic and demographic shifts.
A major super fund has defended its use of private markets in a submission to ASIC, asserting that appropriate governance and information-sharing practices are present in both public and private markets.
A member body representing some prominent wealth managers is concerned super funds’ dominance is sidelining small companies in capital markets.