What does the merger mean for Sunsuper members and employers?
On 28 February 2022, Sunsuper members’ accounts transferred to Australian Retirement Trust and became Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings accounts.
Why are you merging, and why with QSuper?
Over the last two years, Sunsuper and QSuper have undertaken a detailed due diligence process to explore if both funds’ memberships would benefit from being part of a merged super fund. This process identified a strong case for merging with achievable efficiencies and savings. QSuper shares our focus on working for members, not shareholders, aiming to deliver strong, long-term investment returns, and providing the tools and advice to help members feel on top of their super.
In addition, both funds have simple and transparent fees, award-winning products and services, and proven investment philosophies. Australian Retirement Trust are unquestionably strong, with world-class capability and the scale that comes from a membership base of two million Australians and $200 billion in funds under management.
How can I be sure the merger is in the best interests of my employees?
Both trustee boards had a very clear obligation at law to act in the best interests of their members. The due diligence process demonstrated a strong business case for merging the funds with achievable efficiencies and savings, and both funds’ boards formed the view that entering into the Heads of Agreement to progress the merger is in members’ best interests.
How does the merger benefit me and my employees?
Australian Retirement Trust is one of Australia's largest super funds, proud to take care of over $200 billion in retirement savings for more than two million members. As a fund that works for members, not shareholders, we work in members' best interests, and commit to returning profits to them as lower fees and better services. Your employees who were Sunsuper members will now be able to access the same product features, benefits and services they know and trust from Sunsuper.
As a participating Australian Retirement Trust employer, you'll now also have access to the same benefits and services you had with Sunsuper, including:
- Support and assistance from our dedicated employer support and relationship team.
- Access to our secure Employer Online payment facility.
- For eligible employers, the ability to make one single payment for all of your employees' super through Australian Retirement Trust Clearing House.
- News, information, webcasts and seminars to keep you up to date on the latest super rules and legislation.
Will the service model for employers change?
We don’t expect any changes to the current service model for employers. Your Sunsuper contacts remained the same through the integration.
When will employers be told more about the merger progress?
We’ll kept you informed of progress through your regular Sunsuper contacts.
Questions about superannuation payments
Will how I make contributions change?
We’ll continue to accept your contributions as we did in Sunsuper and allocate them to your employees' accounts in Australian Retirement Trust.
Will the BPAY details change?
No, there will be no change to your or your employees' BPAY details.
Will there be any changes to previous contribution processes from both a system and USI perspective?
You are able to use Sunsuper systems to make payments. We recommend you update any bookmarked links to Sunsuper assets with direct links to the Australian Retirement Trust website.
The Unique Superannuation Identifier (USI) won’t change until 1 July 2022. Australian Retirement Trust will contact you before this date to provide the updated USI.
Is the How To Pay information on the website still in the same location?
Links to the Sunsuper website now automatically redirect you to either identical or similar information on the Australian Retirement Trust website. If you have any trouble accessing the information you need, please contact us and we’ll direct you to the relevant page on the new website.
Can I continue to use the Sunsuper clearing house? Will my logins change?
You can continue to use clearing house. Your login details will remain the same. Users of Sunsuper Clearing House are now automatically participating employers of Australian Retirement Trust. Read the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging Significant Event Notice for Sunsuper Clearing House at australianretirementtrust.com.au/pds for more details.
Will there be a disruption to processing where we can't pay contributions?
Employer Online was unavailable for a short period over the weekend of 26 and 27 February.
Why does Sunsuper still show on some platforms?
Changing the name of a superannuation fund across a number of platforms can take some time, so you may still see Sunsuper listed on certain information regarding payments and with the ATO until all relevant updates have been made.
Will the banking details for contributions paid to Sunsuper change?
Direct debit – from 28 February 2022, your existing Direct Debit arrangements from Sunsuper transferred to Australian Retirement Trust. These payments will now be processed by Australian Retirement Trust instead of Sunsuper under the existing APCA ID/USER ID 066383.
BPAY® – you can continue making BPAY® payments with the same biller code and reference details you used with Sunsuper. From 28 February 2022, the Biller Name will be automatically changed to Australian Retirement Trust.
BPAY® – you can continue making BPAY® payments with the same biller code and reference details you used with Sunsuper. From 28 February 2022, the Biller Name automatically changed to Australian Retirement Trust.
® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518
Sunsuper clearing house or a third-party clearing house – payment details will not change as a result of the merger. Please continue to pay using the instructions provided by your clearing house.
EFT – from 28 February 2022, payments must be directed to the following bank account (noting only the name has changed): Australian Retirement Trust.
Sunsuper payments - Bank account name: Australian Retirement Trust
Questions about members' accounts
What action do members need to take?
Members won’t be required to do anything for their accounts with Sunsuper to transfer to Australian Retirement Trust. Their new Australian Retirement Trust accounts generally have the same features as their old Sunsuper accounts but there is some important information that they need to be aware of, which was covered in their significant event notice (SEN) and Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet that they received in January 2022, and is also available at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger.
Will members’ history in Sunsuper remain visible in Member Online? Can they manage their contributions, tax deductions etc in the same way?
Members are still be able to access historical documents from Sunsuper in Australian Retirement Trust.
What is happening with current beneficiary nominations for members?
All existing preferred, binding and reversionary beneficiaries that are detailed on a member's account have transferred to their Australian Retirement Trust account.
Will my employees' account details change?
Your employees' member numbers remain the same in Australian Retirement Trust.
Will members' fees change?
There are no changes to existing Administration fees. Since the merger, we have the size and scale to deliver long-term efficiencies that will enable our administration fees to remain low.
Will members’ insurance cover change?
No, the insurance arrangements that members had on their accounts (as immediately assessed prior to the merger) are the arrangements they have as a member of Australian Retirement Trust. This includes any cover amounts, premiums, policy terms and conditions as defined in the relevant Insurance guide, and any special acceptance terms applied by the insurer when cover was underwritten.
Will members’ investments change?
No, the accounts members hold in Australian Retirement Trust are invested in options that are identical to those their Sunsuper account was invested in immediately prior to the merger. The full range of options available to members in Australian Retirement Trust are identical to those previously available in Sunsuper.
Members should refer to their significant event notice (SEN) or page 7 of the Sunsuper and QSuper are merging: Important information booklet, available at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger for more details.
Will your investment philosophy or returns change?
The Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings investment options has adopted the investment strategy of the Sunsuper investment options. For example, the Australian Retirement Trust Super Savings Balanced investment option has adopted the investment strategy of the Sunsuper Balanced investment option, which returned 10.2% p.a. over 10 years to 31 December 2021.*
*Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Australian Retirement Trust’s Super Savings has adopted the same products, services and investments as Sunsuper. The Sunsuper Balanced option for Super-savings accounts has identical investments to the Balanced Pool in the Lifecycle Investment Strategy. Members invested in the Lifecycle Investment Strategy are invested 100% in the Balanced Pool until age 55.
Will members still be able to access financial advice at no additional cost?
Helping members obtain high-quality financial advice remains a priority for Australian Retirement Trust. Members will still be able to access simple financial advice about their Australian Retirement Trust account for no additional cost. At Sunsuper, we also worked hard to develop strong, collaborative relationships with the adviser community, and this will continue in Australian Retirement Trust.
Will Dream Rewards still be available?
As an Australian Retirement Trust member you are able to access the same product features you know and trust from Sunsuper including:
- More in your back pocket through our member exclusive Australian Retirement Trust Rewards program offering rewards and everyday discounts.
What is changing / staying the same for Sunsuper members?
Information on what is changing or staying the same for members is available in the Important information booklet available at australianretirementtrust.com.au/merger.
Questions about contact details
Will my contact person change?
There will be no changes to your contact person. If there are any changes to this in the future, we will let you know.
What are the new contact details for me, for my employees?
In January 2022, you should have received communication with all the contact details you'll need for Australian Retirement Trust. The Contact Us page on the Sunsuper website will redirect you to the contact details on the Australian Retirement Trust website. We recommend you update any links to the Sunsuper website with direct links to the Australian Retirement Trust website at this time.
What is the new website address?
The new website address for members and employers is: australianretirementtrust.com.au
Do I need to change any IT security/white-labelling arrangements that I have in place for emails from Sunsuper to emails from Australian Retirement Trust? (firewalls/blocked email addresses)
Please engage your IT teams to ensure that emails from the domain australianretirementtrust.com.au are not blocked by your firewalls.
Our emails may be directed to your or your employees’ “Junk” folders. We will be sending you and your employees who are members a welcome email shortly after the merger date, so please look out for communications from us.
Read more merger FAQs
Still have questions? Check out our other popular merger FAQs or speak to our team via our contact us page or call 13 11 84 (8:00am - 6:30pm (AEST) Monday to Friday)
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