ASIC updates fee transparency for super and managed investment funds
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has issued an update regarding its work around the improvement of transparency and comparability of fees and costs for managed investment and superannuation funds, through its work on Regulatory Guide (RG 97).
ASIC announced that:
- It has extended beyond 30 September its facilitative compliance approach to fee and cost disclosure; and
- It will work with an external expert to conduct a review of the fees and costs disclosure under RG 97 to ensure that it is best meeting in practice the objective of greater transparency for consumers.
The corporate regulator said that these actions were undertaken in response to feedback from across the industry around challenges with practical implementation of RG 97.
Also, an external expert would focus on the RG 97 reforms and their impact and would liaise with industry and produce any necessary recommendations on how to achieve better transparency and comparability of fees and costs.
This process would be expected to conclude in the first half of 2018.
During this period, funds should provide accurate information about fees and costs to consumers.
“Understanding fees and costs across superannuation and managed investment fund products remains an ongoing challenge for consumers and ASIC will continue to focus on getting the requirements right so that consumers can be well informed,” ASIC said.
AUTHOR
Oksana Patron
Recommended for you
AUSIEX has announced it will acquire FIIG, a specialist fixed income provider with $4.5 billion in funds under advice.
Platinum Asset Management has announced it is in discussions with a global alternatives fund manager regarding a possible merger to create an $18 billion firm.
JP Morgan Asset Management has appointed an ETF specialist from Vanguard as it seeks to expand its ETF range.
The alternative asset manager has expanded its Singapore office with a head of Asian distribution, representing a “critical step” for the Asian business, where it is seeking to launch new offerings.
