Stockspot chief executive Chris Brycki told ifa more disclosure was “urgently needed” in the industry super space so that fund members could make informed decisions about how their fund would fare in the wake of an extreme liquidity event like the evolving COVID-19 crisis.
“The level of secrecy and non-disclosure by public funds has always been unacceptable, but it has taken the current crisis to expose it,” Mr Brycki said.
“Whilst it is unrealistic to demand a daily revaluation of unlisted investment, the basis for their valuation should be disclosed, including any discount caused by factors causing illiquidity in that investment.
“Investors and their financial advisers will then be aware of the impact of significant market movements on these valuations.”
On Tuesday, Mr Brycki tweeted changes that had been made to the PDS of hospitality industry fund Hostplus between this week and last week, with section 5.17 of the statement that referred to switches between investment options being processed “on every national business day” being replaced with a new section that allowed the trustee to “suspend or restrict applications, redemptions and withdrawal requests”.
Hostplus hit back at media coverage of its PDS changes on Wednesday, saying it was “misinformed”.
As far as the fund is concerned, it has updated its PDS in accordance with its program, stating it had highlighted elements of the its “long-standing governing rules and discretions” as they relate to investment pricing and transactions.
Further, it added that no amendment to the governing rules of the product has been made.
“Alongside other superannuation funds Hostplus’ Trust Deed prudently (like others) empowers its Trustee with a broad discretion to suspend or delay unit pricing in extraordinary situations to ensure equity, fairness and balance in investment pricing and transactions in the best interests of all members,” the fund stated.
“In Hostplus’ case, this trustee power is not new. It is not unique. It is not exceptional.”
Research compiled by Mr Brycki last month showed Hostplus had a 38 per cent allocation to unlisted assets in its balanced fund, and an equities portfolio worth an estimated $16 billion, factoring in average market declines since the fund’s January equities portfolio valuations were disclosed.
With the majority of its 1.2 million members facing unemployment, Mr Brycki said it was likely listed holdings in the fund would be insufficient to meet maximum member redemptions of $20,000 each under the government’s early access scheme for those affected by COVID-19.
Further research released by Stockspot yesterday showed retail industry fund REST was likely to be in the same boat, with a 47 per cent allocation to unlisted assets in the fund’s Core strategy, 40 per cent allocated to shares and 13 per cent to bonds and cash. With retail workers also at risk of unemployment and the fund having reported $22 billion worth of shares in its portfolio at 29 February, this could also prove insufficient to fund member redemptions, Mr Brycki said.
Mr Brycki said it was “hard to know” the extent of liquidity issues for funds such as Hostplus at this stage, but warned at best the high allocations to unlisted assets could create unfair outcomes for members.
“If the unlisted investments have not been properly valued, members who transfer into cash or redeem their units at the current price potentially do so at the wrong value,” he said.
“The remaining members pay for this as well as suffering their own losses when the unlisted assets are finally revalued down or sold.”
He added that while it was “too early to know” if the crisis would put a longer-term dent in the positive reputation of industry funds, “perceptions around illiquid unlisted assets are likely to change dramatically”.
Senator Andrew Bragg has similarly blasted industry funds who may have allocated too much into illiquid assets ahead of the crisis, calling it a "sign of bad management and poor investment governance".
Treasury has estimated around $27 billion or 1 per cent of the total super savings pool will be withdrawn, but Rice Warner has predicted almost double will be taken out as unemployment rises, pointing to a range of $40 to $50 billion.
The actuaries consultant has also predicted the industry funds that cater to the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors will be most heavy hit by the withdrawals.
A reported 361,000 Australians have applied for an early release of their super so far.
