Statewide Super, Tasplan and WA Super have ditched plans for a potential merger to create a $24 billion super fund, with Statewide today confirming that it would be pursuing other opportunities.
The three funds entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to consider a merger in March, but Statewide Super today confired that it would not continue its discussions with the other two funds.
It appeared that the decision to withdraw was led by Statewide Super, with a Tasplan spokesperson saying to Super Review: "Tasplan has today been advised by Statewide Super of their withdrawal from the triparted MOU process."
The fund said it did so while keeping in mind that the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) had urged funds to assess merger opportunities, and said that it would actively pursue both inorganic and organic growth. It pointed to its recent successful tender for Northern Territory Government superannuation as an example.
“We have a member-first culture and we are open to merger propositions as long as it is proven to be in member’s best-interest,” Statewide Super chief executive, Tony D’Alessandro, said.
“Statewide Super has a positive position in the marketplace and this means the breadth and scale of a merger would need to make sense for the fund and our members.
“We will continue to look for ways to deliver greater value, improve returns, and negotiate better insurance cover, and we know that sometimes mergers are the best way to deliver this.”
WA Super had already undergone a merger recently, successfully merging with Concept One in February, 2018, adding over 20,000 members from the latter to the fund.
The Future Fund’s CIO Ben Samild has announced his resignation, with his deputy to assume the role of interim CIO.
The fund has unveiled reforms to streamline death benefit payments, cut processing times, and reduce complexity.
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.