Fisher Funds lands Huljich KiwiSaver

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Fisher Funds has announced plans to acquire the Huljich KiwiSaver business, a deal which will make it one of the largest New Zealand-owned non-default schemes in the country.

Friday, April 1st 2011, 7:20AM 4 Comments

by Benn Bathgate

Fisher Funds managing director Carmel Fisher said, "We are delighted to have the opportunity to welcome members of the Huljich KiwiSaver scheme into our own. Our two schemes have similar goals and both organisations have a shared passion for KiwiSaver and a desire to give members the best possible service and communication."

The combined schemes will have more than 100,000 members and $400 million in assets.

"We will be working with the Huljich team to ensure a seamless transition and there will be no interruption for either Huljich or Fisher Funds members as we complete this exciting transaction," Fisher said.

The Huljich KiwiSaver has been one of the sector's fastest-growing schemes, but faced controversy recently when former managing director Peter Huljich admitted transactions that artificially inflated performance figures.

Huljich Wealth Management chairman John Banks said the choice of Fisher Funds was easy given their shared focus on best practice and customer service.

"We are very proud of what we have achieved in the development of Huljich KiwiSaver over the past three years. We have attracted a significant number of members and they have remained loyal to our scheme because of the service we have provided. Fisher Funds has also been successful in this regard," he said.

"It is also pleasing our members will remain with another New Zealand owned independent KiwiSaver provider, a key point of difference in the KiwiSaver industry."

He said Huljich decided to move on from KiwiSaver, recognising that "increasing compliance costs and regulation will change the KiwiSaver landscape in future years."

The transaction, which will see all duly notified members of the Huljich KiwiSaver scheme transferred into the Fisher Funds scheme, remains subject to approval from the Government Actuary.

A letter regarding the proposed transfer, and the Fisher Funds KiwiSaver scheme investment statement, will be sent to all Huljich KiwiSaver scheme members in early April and Fisher Funds said it hoped to complete the transfer in May 2011. 

Benn Bathgate is a business reporter for ASSET and Good Returns, email story ideas to benn@goodreturns.co.nz

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