Super trustee receives additional licence conditions from APRA

24 January 2023
| By Laura Dew |
image
image
expand image

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has imposed additional licence conditions on Diversa Trustees to address prudential concerns and recommended a third-party review of its operating model.

These new conditions were designed to address:

  • The adequacy of Diversa’s resources to manage risks and meet regulatory and compliance obligations; 
  • Heightened inherent business risks driven by the complex structure and operations of Diversa; and 
  •  Concerns regarding the ability of Diversa to deliver quality member outcomes, including in relation to high fees and poor investment performance.

Diversa had approximately 320,000 members and more than $11 billion in funds under management.

The additional licence conditions also sought to codify recommendations of a third-party review of Diversa’s operating model, which included matters relating to governance, risk management, and outsourcing and oversight.

Under the terms of the new licence conditions, which came into force on 23 January, Diversa was required to:

  • Enhance its governance and risk frameworks, with a particular focus on third party service providers;
  • Improve member outcomes through the development and implementation of a plan to address persistently high fees; and
  • Conduct an independent review to ensure that APRA’s concerns have been adequately addressed.

APRA deputy chair, Margaret Cole, said the licence conditions set baseline expectations for independent trustees in the industry.

"The inherent complexity of the independent trustee model, with one trustee having oversight over a substantial number of funds, sub-funds and products, requires significant resourcing to ensure quality member outcomes.

"These licence conditions set the minimum standard for governance, risk, outsourcing and oversight, and member outcomes to ensure that Diversa is in the best position to continue as a trustee in the long term.”

In December 2022, Diversa received an infringement notice from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) regarding alleged greenwashing.

Read more about:

AUTHOR

Recommended for you

sub-bgsidebar subscription

Never miss the latest developments in Super Review! Anytime, Anywhere!

Grant Banner

From my perspective, 40- 50% of people are likely going to be deeply unhappy about how long they actually live. ...

11 months ago
Kevin Gorman

Super director remuneration ...

11 months 1 week ago
Anthony Asher

No doubt true, but most of it is still because over 45’s have been upgrading their houses with 30 year mortgages. Money ...

11 months 1 week ago

Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Co...

2 days 14 hours ago

Demand from institutional investors was the main driver of growth in Australia’s responsible investment (RI) market in 2023, as the industry continued to gain momentum....

2 days 14 hours ago

In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges....

2 days 15 hours ago