Natixis Investment Managers joined an expanding presence of Australian financial services firms supporting this year’s American Australian Association’s ANZAC Day service and lunch in New York on April 25.
Natixis, a multi-affiliate manager, accompanied Hostplus, a supporter, in the promotion of Australia’s interests alongside the more solemn ANZAC Day remembrances. David Elia, Host’s chief executive, and Sam Sicilia, the fund’s CIO, attended with another prominent supporter, Malcolm Turnbull, the former prime minister.
Natixis became a “Guardian of ANZAC Day” and was represented by three of its affiliate managers: US equities manager Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, fixed income specialist Loomis Sayles and alternatives manager Flexstone Partners.
The sponsorship is not cheap – it costs $50,000 to be a “Guardian”. Supporting sponsors, called “Diggers of Lone Pine”, pay $25,000. The money goes to help war veterans, from both Australia and America, to engage in educational programs to help their futures. The Australian Consulate-General in New York partners with St Paul’s Chapel of Trinity Church Wall Street to host the service.
Louise Watson, general manager for Australia at Natixis said: “The Guardians of ANZAC initiative helps provide scholarships for Australian and American veterans. In recognition of ANZAC Day, the spirit of mateship, and the legacy of our diggers and their American allies, we are pleased to be co-sponsoring this worthwhile cause along with our affiliate managers, Loomis Sayles, Vaughan Nelson and Flexstone.”
Other “Guardians” include IFM Investors, Evans Dixon, ANZ, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. “Diggers of Lone Pine” include BHP and Lend Lease.
Launched in July 2017, the Association’s ANZAC fund-raising and commemorative initiative has to date awarded 19 US and Australian veterans more than $800,000 to further their education in Australia and the US.
The Association is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening cooperation and understanding between the US and Australia. It was set up by Rupert Murdoch’s father, Sir Keith Murdoch, in 1948. Sir Keith, a managing director of the Herald & Weekly Times (now owned by News Corp) started the Adelaide News, which his son inherited and built into a global media empire. Rupert Murdoch spoke at last year’s annual benefit dinner for the Association in New York, which was sponsored by News Corp.
