Australian Retirement Trust has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alcoa Super.
This was the third merger announcement made by the fund since the start of the year as the fund targeted achieving $500 billion by 2030.
The two funds would now commence a comprehensive due diligence process, and any potential merger, via a successor fund transfer (SFT), will only progress if both funds determine that doing so would be in each of their members’ best interest.
Alcoa Super had more than 5,000 members and $2 billion in funds under management.
ART chief executive, Bernard Reilly, said: “Our merger last year to become Australian Retirement Trust was really just the starting point and laid the foundation for our future growth strategy,
“Over the last year alone, we’ve increased our member numbers by more than 200,000 and
our funds under management by $40 billion.
“Mergers and transitions are just one aspect of our growth channels, which also include
pursuing growth through member direct and retail financial advisers.”
The two other MOUs that ART was working on was AvSuper, which had previously looked to merge with CSC, and Commonwealth Bank Group Super.
A ratings firm has placed more prominence on governance in its fund ratings, highlighting that it’s not just about how much money a fund makes today, but whether the people running it are trustworthy, disciplined, and able to deliver for members in the future.
AMP has reached an agreement in principle to settle a landmark class action over fees charged to members of its superannuation funds, with $120 million earmarked for affected members.
Australia’s second-largest super fund is prioritising impact investing with a $2 billion commitment, targeting assets that deliver a combination of financial, social, and environmental outcomes.
The super fund has significantly grown its membership following the inclusion of Zurich’s OneCare Super policyholders.