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bullet NewslettersJun '09: Not since the '30'sHistorical & current experiences & learnings
 

Historical and current experiences and learnings

 
The key question to ask yourself is whether there are learnings from past and current experiences that you should never forget and should be captured into corporate memory:
  • Frozen assets and unrealistic property valuations: Sounds like the early 1990’s when the unlisted property fund market essentially closed for business for 12 months, and interestingly was the foundation for the current REIT market as a means of providing liquidity for investors.
  • Lehman failure: Counterparty risk having the potential to bring down the financial system – anyone heard of Long Term Capital Management. Peter Fisher from the New York Federal Reserve was quoted in “When genius failed” as saying following the inspection of LTCM positions in 1998, “I’m not worried about the markets trading down. I’m worried that they won’t trade at all”.
  • Unit pricing valuations in conflict with accounting valuations: Losses following the bursting of the tech bubble resulted in accrued loss positions in many funds and lively discussions with auditors regarding Future Income Tax Benefits (FITB). To keep accounting interesting the accountants have changed the name to Deferred Tax Asset this time around, but all the same lessons apply.
  • Crediting rates (and unit prices) struggling with market volatility: Inadequate stress testing and flawed mathematical models for member entitlements was first highlighted to me in 1993/94, when markets rose rapidly in the first half of the year, and then fell in the second half. In percentage terms, the positive and negative returns largely offset each other. However, large contributions relative to fund size resulted in a much larger dollar loss in the second half of the year. Bottom line, models need to be stress tested to ensure they are robust and can withstand material market changes and significant cash flow movements between investment options.
  • Misleading product names: Founder of Intech, Ron Liling, was a vocal critic of the industry in 1994 by criticising “Capital Stable” funds for carrying too much exposure to growth assets and therefore being susceptible to capital loss, which subsequently eventuated. During the crisis, we have found “Cash” funds with 20+ year debt securities and others with significant equity exposures.
  • Securities lending: This is probably one of the most misunderstood investment activities, yet is still embraced by many investors and with minimal scrutiny. There are a myriad of risks in securities lending, yet what is often misunderstood are the inherent conflicts in the business model. The more return earned on the collateral reinvestment, the more income that is able to be shared between the custodian and the client. In 1994, in pursuit of higher returns, collateral was invested in longer dated securities and derivatives, and losses were incurred when US short term rates rose quickly. Recent problems of a well known index manager are associated with the investment of collateral.
  • One bubble bursts, another emerges: In 1987, the bursting of the sharemarket bubble led to a property bubble. When the tech bubble burst, lower interest rates and easy credit was the medicine, which resulted in today’s mess. We now have quantitative easing and money being thrown around like it was confetti. So what next...inflation, the demise of the US dollar?
In the news Minimize
 

Oct '13: How Christian Super makes an impact

Oct '13: Back to front (office) decision making - getting the negotiation "right"

Apr '13: Appointment to ASFA Economics & Investment Policy Council

Apr '13: Appointment to ASFA Investment Standing Advisory Panel

Apr '13: IO&C Shanghai: Front & middle office get involved in custody decisions: Negotiation strategy

Sep '12: ASI: Removing the barriers to investment innovation

Aug '12: Panel: Risk of obsession with peer risk

Mar '12: CMSF media: TAER counterproductive

Mar '12: CMSF 2012: Fees in the superannuation industry

Feb '12: Capability review for Australian equities manager

Jan '12: Industry fund custody review

Nov '11: Retail fund custody fee negotiation advice

Sep '11: Investment consulting market share information

Jun '11: Operational due diligence review for industry super fund

Jun '11: Investment strategy day facilitation for industry super fund

Jun '11: Capability review for unlisted property manager

Apr '11: Investment strategy day facilitation for industry super fund

Mar '11: Capability review for Australian equity manager

Mar '11: Investment manager capability review case study

Feb '11: Conference presentation: Fees in the super industry - A framework for transparency

Dec '10: Christian Super concludes consulting review

Jul '10: ESSSuper concludes consulting review

Jan '10: AvSuper concludes custodian review

Dec '09: I&T article - Transition management

Dec '09 AvSuper custodian review

Nov '09: I&T article: Fee the difference

Oct '09: Christian Super custodian review

Sep '09: Corporate fund custodian review

Sep '09: LGS concludes consulting review

Aug '09: Industry fund consulting review

Jul '09: AvSuper concludes consulting review

Apr '09: SuperFunds article: Transition Mgmt
 

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Example projects include:
  • Working with board and investment committees on investment beliefs, investment governance, investment models, investment policies, service provider appointments, competitive positioning, delegations and peer risks
  • Working with CEOs, CIOs and COOs on strategy, successor fund transfers, operating models, organisational design, as well as staff mentoring and training
  • Working with teams on investment and operational due diligence (internal and external), service provider management, project implementations, conflict identification and management, and team development
  • Reviews and advice relating to investment consultants, implemented consultants and custodians, along with related due diligence both domestically and internationally
  • Negotiation of arrangements with outsourced service providers including fees, service standards and agreements
  • Specialist work assisting investors reduce foreign exchange costs working closely with FX Transparency
 
 
Investment consulting reviews
 
Investment manager capability reviews

 

Click here for a case study...

 

 
Investment managers
(Australian & international shares, bonds, property) 
  • Target market
  • Product design
  • Pitch material
  • Mock reviews
  • Operational due diligence
  • Investment consulting market
  • After tax returns
  • Fees, including performance fees
 
 
Negotiation strategy & implementation
(fees, service standards, commercial terms, litigation)
  • Retail platform
  • Commercial multi-manager
  • Industry funds
  • Public sector funds
  • Corporate funds
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  • Covering:
    • Custodians
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Strategy off-site facilitation
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Investment administration (custody) reviews
Operational due diligence reviews
  • Multi-managers
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Industry superannuation fund

Strategic and operational advice to guide the establishment of common infrastructure to support multiple funds, tax structures & investment options:

  • Current operation, competitive landscape and regulatory environment
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  • Member entitlements
  • Operating models
  • Custodian review and selection process
  • Asset consultant selection process
  • Unit pricing and taxation
  • Operational transition
Multi-manager and private equity fund

Strategic and operational advice:

  • Business model
  • Target market
  • Product design
  • Investment administration providers
  • Investment systems and infrastructure
  • Operational due diligence framework
  • Investment manager due diligence
  • After tax returns
  • Transition manager panel
Investment platform provider

Implementation efficiency review for an investment platform provider

  • Business model and governance
  • Investment menu
  • Investment manager relationship management
  • Operational implementation models
  • Fee and service re-negotiation
  • Product changes
  • Operational changes
Industry superannuation fund

Project managed the asset transition for a $200 million defined benefit to defined contribution conversion

  • Strategy determination
  • Detailed implementation planning
  • Implementation
  • Post implementation review
Specialist debt investment manager

Strategic and operational advice:

  • Business concept
  • Business model
  • Financial modelling
  • Equity raising
  • Product design
  • Fund raising
  • Target market
Multi-manager

Project manage a $1.5 billion asset transition for a multi-manager and retail investment platform

  • Appointment and termination of over 50 investment managers
  • Trading across multiple markets and asset classes
  • Implementation of new investment strategies
  • Launch of new investment trusts
New market entrant

Strategic advice for an international company considering acquisitions

  • Australian superannuation industry
  • Member administration
  • Key issues and trends
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