ART rolls out new investment technology platform

Australian Retirement Trust (ART) has launched a new portfolio management system as the $375 billion superannuation fund strengthens its investment capabilities targeting further growth.

The platform, powered by BlackRock's Aladdin technology, brings portfolio management, risk analytics, trading, compliance and operations into one connected system, giving investment teams a more integrated view of the fund's holdings and exposures.

The implementation marks a significant step in ART's investment technology transformation, with the fund targeting $500 billion in funds under management by 2030. ART manages retirement savings for 2.4 million members.

ART chief investment officer Ian Patrick said the new system would support investment decisions as the fund navigates increasingly complex global markets.

"With more than $375 billion in funds under management, it's important we continue to invest in capability that supports our investment decisions on behalf of our 2.4 million members," Patrick said.

He said the platform would reinforce ART's focus on portfolio construction, diversification and managing risks across its investments.

"This uplift aims to strengthen our long-term investment approach and provides a scalable foundation for future growth, helping us to continue to invest with discipline through changing market conditions," he said.

The system is designed to improve oversight across the portfolio by consolidating functions that can otherwise operate across separate investment processes. Its implementation supports ART's broader efforts to scale its investment operations alongside the growth of members' retirement savings.

BlackRock head of Aladdin client business ANZ Louisa Roberts said the platform would provide a consistent view of the portfolio while supporting ART's evolving investment model.

The rollout was delivered through collaboration between ART and several investment technology partners, including BlackRock, State Street and Rimes.

For ART, the new system provides infrastructure to support a larger investment portfolio, while strengthening the tools available to assess risk and make decisions on members' behalf.