Two South Australian superannuation funds, Statewide Super and Local Super, have confirmed they are having detailed discussions about a merger.
However, due diligence would need to be completed and shareholder approval received before a merger between the two companies could take place, according to the chairman of Statewide Super, Nicholas Begakis AM, and chairman of Local Super, Juliet Brown.
Begakis and Brown said the recent release of the Federal Government’s Cooper Review into the governance, efficiency, structure and operation of Australia’s superannuation system had encouraged super funds around the country to consider merger and acquisition opportunities.
A merged entity would manage more than $4 billion in funds, with Statewide Super’s $2.4 billion and Local Super’s $1.7 billion in funds under management.
The super fund announced that Gregory has been appointed to its executive leadership team, taking on the fresh role of chief advice officer.
The deputy governor has warned that, as super funds’ overseas assets grow and liquidity risks rise, they will need to expand their FX hedge books to manage currency exposure effectively.
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.