K63 Insurance and Superannuation Funds

Big super warns of cash-in risk

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Original article by Joanna Mather, Tony Boyd, Aleks Vickovich
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 3-Apr-20

Treasury has forecast that about $27bn in total will be withdrawn from superannuation funds after the federal government relaxed the rules governing early access for people who have been impacted by the pandemic. AustralianSuper CEO Ian Silk notes that industry estimates suggest that withdrawals could top $50bn. He adds that some super funds may struggle to cope with a big increase in withdrawals, but stresses that it will not be an issue for AustralianSuper. Silk also warns that a surge in withdrawals will affect the super industry’s capacity to invest in and recapitalise businesses when the crisis abates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD

Reserve Bank could lend money to super funds to help cover coronavirus withdrawals

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Original article by Ben Butler
The Guardian – Page: Online : 31-Mar-20

The federal government has predicted that as much as $27 billion could be withdrawn from super funds under rules allowing people who lose their jobs as a result of COVID-19 to withdraw up to $20,000, but some funds suggest that it could be as much as $60 billion. The Reserve Bank is understood to be working out how it might set up a government-backed facility to assist funds to pay withdrawals, although Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has thus far rejected the idea. The government’s decision to introduce a wage subsidy to keep people in work could mean the level of withdrawals may not be as great as previously forecast.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Super funds lose billions as crisis hits

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 15 & 22 : 25-Mar-20

The financial market turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic has weighed on asset valuations in the superannuation industry. AustralianSuper has slashed the value of its portfolio of unlisted assets by 7.5 per cent, while IFM Investors has cut the valuations of its Australian unlisted assets by an average of 7.6 per cent. Both group have exposure to a range of infrastructure assets, such as airports and toll roads. Other super funds are also reviewing the value of their unlisted assets.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD

Super fund satisfaction at risk as markets tumble

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Mar-20

New data in Roy Morgan’s Superannuation Satisfaction Report shows that CARE Super has the highest customer satisfaction rating, at 74.5%. Self-managed funds scored the highest average satisfaction when compared to other sectors. The Superannuation Satisfaction Report, with data up to February 2020, shows CARE Super on 74.5%, an increase of 9.2% on 12 months ago. It placed ahead of Tasplan on 72.8% (+6.9%), Unisuper on 72.7% (+1.5%) and Cbus on 71.0% (+5.0%). Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says that given recent heavy losses in equities markets due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these levels of customer satisfaction may be the highest we see for some time. The report’s findings are from Roy Morgan Single Source, Australia’s most trusted consumer survey, compiled by in-depth interviews with over 50,000 Australians each year.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, CARE SUPER PTY LTD, TASPLAN LIMITED, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING UNIONS’ SUPERANNUATION FUND

Growing super’s $3 trillion funds pool

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Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 21 : 26-Feb-20

Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows that the total value of assets managed by the nation’s superannuation funds increased by 13 per cent to $2.951bn in 2019. Rice Warner forecasts that the super pool will increase to about $7trn by 2034, and so-called mega funds will dominate the sector. MySuper accounts boasted assets under management of $802bn at the end of 2019, up nearly 20 per cent, while self-managed super funds had assets totalling $739.7bn, an increase of 7.8 per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, RICE WARNER ACTUARIES PTY LTD

Bank concerns don’t apply to us: super funds

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Original article by James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 6-Feb-20

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia has questioned the need to expand the Banking Executive Accountability Regime to include super funds and insurers. ASFA CEO Martin Fahy describes the proposal as an ‘overkill’, and he argues that the super industry is already subject to tough regulation. He adds that the proposal will discourage product innovation and affect funds’ returns. Australian Banking Association CEO Anna Bligh has expressed support for extending the regime beyond the bank sector.

CORPORATES
THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BANKING ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY

People’s Choice Credit Union – 95% customer satisfaction – highest satisfaction score in the general insurance category

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Jan-20

People’s Choice Credit Union has won Roy Morgan’s General Insurer of the Month Award for November 2019, with a customer satisfaction rating of 95%. It is now ahead of RACT (92%), RAA (91%), Shannons (90%) and RAC (87%), and has won its second consecutive monthly award. Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine says that while RACT has been the dominant brand throughout 2019, People’s Choice Credit Union has been the standout performer in terms of ratings growth, increasing its rating by 9% over the last 12 months. The latest customer satisfaction ratings are taken from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey, compiled by in-depth face-to-face interviews with over 50,000 Australians each year in their homes.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, PEOPLE’S CHOICE CREDIT UNION, RACT INSURANCE PTY LTD, RAA INSURANCE LIMITED, SHANNONS, RAC INSURANCE PTY LTD

Windfall for super on share upsurge

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Original article by David Rogers, Gerard Cockburn
The Australian – Page: 13 & 18 : 16-Jan-20

Data from SuperRatings shows that the median balanced superannuation fund achieved a return of 13.8 per cent in 2019, for the best calendar-year gain since 2013. SuperRatings’ executive director Kirby Rappell says investors should not expect a similar return in 2020, although he expects the sector to perform well again. Rappell adds that consolidation in the super industry is likely to continue in 2020, and the sustainability of operating expenses will be a key issue for funds of all sizes. The average super fund has returned 7.7 per cent over the last decade.

CORPORATES
SUPERRATINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Health funds fear surge in fire claims

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Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian – Page: 15 & 16 : 15-Jan-20

Private health insurers expect the bushfire crisis to result in a sharp increase in insurance claims, particularly from customers who have been affected by the smoke haze. However, they say it is too soon to determine the exact impact of the fires. Latrobe Health Services CEO Ian Whitehead anticipates a big increase in claims related to mental health issues arising from the bushfires, as well as physical health problems. Australian Medical Association president Tony Bartone says the longer-term effects of inhaling hazardous smoke will not be known for some time.

CORPORATES
LATROBE HEALTH SERVICES, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED, BUPA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, AUSTRALIAN UNITY LIMITED

ASIC puts insurers on notice over bushfires

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Original article by Max Maddison, Joyce Moullakis
The Australian – Page: 13 & 14 : 10-Jan-20

Suncorp has estimated that its bushfire claims for the current financial year have cost between $315 million and $345 million to date. Around 9,000 bushfire insurance claims have been made across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia since September, while the Australian Securities & Investments Commission has urged insurers to deal with bushfire claims fairly and efficiently. ASIC has warned consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent tradespeople and repairers offering to help them with insurance claims.

CORPORATES
SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA