Superannuation

AUSTRALIA - AustralianSuper has appointed Jason Peasley to the newly created role of Head of Infrastructure as part of its plans to "significantly" increase its investment in the asset class.

UK/AUSTRALIA - The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) is to meet with UK fund managers today to discuss how they can meet the growing demand for responsible investment strategies from superannuation funds.

AUSTRALIA - Political parties of all colours must unite to back proposed changes to the superannuation system and help restore confidence in the industry, the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) said.

AUSTRALIA - The Government has launched a discussion paper on plans to introduce higher superannuation concessional contribution caps for members over 50.

AUSTRALIA - The superannuation fund City Super has awarded a A$1.5bn ($1.5bn) custodian and administration mandate to JP Morgan Treasury and Securities Services (TSS).

AUSTRALIA - Australia's largest pension fund AustralianSuper has planned to merge with Westscheme to form a A$40bn ($40.2bn) fund with 1.7 million members.

NEW ZEALAND - The New Zealand Superannuation Fund returned 4.42% in December 2010, up from -0.38% in the previous month, due to an increase in global equities.

AUSTRALIA - The Australian Government has proposed super funds use tax file numbers (TFNs) to identify members' accounts to help recover the ‘lost' A$18.8bn ($19bn) in superannuation assets.

AUSTRALIA - Pension fund Sunsuper has acquired the Melbourne central business district (CBD) office property for AU$107m ($108.3m), the fifth in its direct property portfolio.

NEW ZEALAND - The Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation have appointed FarmRight as the first investment manager in its rural land strategy and acquired its first dairy property in West Otago.