FTSE Russell, the global index provider, has introduced the FTSE All-World ex Australia Net Tax (Super) Index Series which is designed to support the superannuation industry’s focus towards greater transparency and more accurate measurement of performance.
The index series calculates net returns for global equities after deducting both capital gains tax and withholding tax. Capital gains tax is applied in the same way superannuation members are taxed through their investment returns. The withholding tax rates reflect the Australian superannuation tax treaty rates that apply to each market.
A robust index, such as the FTSE All-World ex Australia Net Tax (Super) Index Series tailored for superannuation funds, enables funds to accurately measure after-tax investment performance against an after-tax industry benchmark that is representative of the tax in superannuation member returns.
The index series was developed in conjunction with one of Australia’s largest corporate super funds, Qantas Super. The fund currently has $7.65 billion assets under management, and is a strong advocate for tax-efficient investing.
Jessie Pak, Managing Director Asia, FTSE Russell, said:
FTSE Russell has a strong track record of calculating net-of-tax total return indexes for different investor types, the newest of which is for Australian superannuation funds. Providing our clients with indexes that take into consideration superannuation tax rates reduces the tracking error between a fund and the index, therefore providing a more accurate measure of the fund’s performance.
Michael Clancy, Chief Executive Officer, Qantas Super, added:
Tax is one of the largest costs of investing, so managing our members’ assets in a tax-efficient way is really important. By doing so, we seek to improve investment outcomes for our members and build their confidence in their financial future. At Qantas Super, we identified the need for a global index that incorporates the tax impacts that apply to members of Australian superannuation funds and worked with FTSE Russell for a solution. This new index series is a terrific tool to help superannuation funds understand and manage the impact tax has on investment outcomes. FTSE Russell was a superb partner in bringing this idea to life.