At a General Meeting held today (Thursday 23 February 2012), members of Big Sky Credit Union Limited approved a proposal to transfer the Big Sky Credit Union business to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australian Unity Limited – Lifeplan Australia Building Society Limited. Read More

Australian Unity Investments (AUI) has sold an office building at 477 Collins Street, Melbourne, owned by its Office Property Trust, to Aviva Investors Asia Pacific Property Fund – a fund managed by Singapore-based fund manager Aviva Investors Asia Pte Limited –for $67 million. Read More

The philanthropy business of Equity Trustees Limited (EQT) has employed Ms Cari Jackson Lewis, an experienced American estate planning attorney, to a maternity leave position. Read More

With traditional financing sources largely unavailable, property developers are turning to private investors to fund projects, creating outstanding opportunities for investors who can access this market, according to private investment and advisory firm Wingate Group. Read More

Around half of all adult Australians do not have a valid Will – and even those who do often make basic mistakes that mean their wishes are not properly carried out, says Mr Stephen Hardy, an estate planning specialist at Equity Trustees Limited (EQT). Read More

Investors who do not come to terms with the changed economic and investment environment in 2012 are likely to miss out on opportunities, or put capital at risk, according to Australian Unity Investments’ joint venture asset managers. Read More

If investors had long-term plans at all, too many have thrown them out and are instead reacting to the latest global economic gloom, says Mr Jonathan Philpot, financial planning partner at HLB Mann Judd Sydney. Read More

Members of Big Sky Credit Union will vote on the proposal to join a wholly-owned subsidiary of Australian Unity Limited, at a meeting to be held on 23 February 2012 in Melbourne. Read More

Mr Darryl Swindells, audit partner at accountants and advisers HLB Mann Judd Sydney, has been appointed chairman of HLB International’s Audit Working Group. Read More

Small cap companies* continued to provide the majority of initial public offering (IPO) activity in 2011, with an increased number listing during the year compared to the last three years, according to the latest HLB Mann Judd Small Cap IPO Watch report. Read More

Last year Equity Trustees Limited (EQT) distributed over $11.7 million on behalf of the 204 charitable trusts it manages following the directions and wishes of the trusts’ founders. Read More

The R.M. Ansett Trust, one of the most substantial perpetual philanthropic trusts in Victoria, has announced grants of $910,000 in the form of donations and scholarships to charitable causes that help children. Read More

The Harold and Cora Brennen Benevolent Trust will distribute $96,500 in its first of two rounds of grants in 2012, to medical institutions in Victoria to purchase equipment to assist in their research. Read More

Since the global financial crisis (GFC) we have seen three phases of business reaction to difficult trading conditions, but the current response could cause real problems for businesses, says HLB Mann Judd Sydney. Read More

Most working Australians are under-insured and a 2012 priority should be for them to check their income protection, trauma and life insurance to see if it is adequate, says Mr Michael Hutton, wealth management partner at HLB Mann Judd Sydney. Read More

Ratings house Zenith Investment Partners has awarded the Australian Unity Wingate Global Equity Fund a ‘recommended’ rating. In its report, Zenith says that: “The Fund is an attractive offering and can offer value for investors that are looking for international … Read More

Godfreys, Australia’s biggest vacuum and cleaning retailer, announces the completion of its consensual balance sheet restructuring. Read More

Many retiring baby boomers are facing a generation squeeze where they still have elderly parents to worry about as well as children who are financially dependent on them, says Mr Phil Galagher, head of wealth management at Equity Trustees Limited. Read More