Equity Trustees

What Equity Trustees does

Equity Trustees (ASX: EQT), operating through EQT Holdings Limited and its wholly-owned licensed subsidiaries, is one of Australia's largest specialist trustee companies, founded in 1888 and headquartered in Melbourne with offices in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. The company delivers independent fiduciary services across three primary customer segments: high-net-worth individuals and families (estate planning, wills, executor services, powers of attorney, wealth management, and philanthropy); corporate and institutional fund managers (Responsible Entity services, custody, real assets administration, debt and securitisation trusteeship, and superannuation trusteeship); and philanthropists and not-for-profit organisations (the Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation and structured giving accounts). The company oversees A$284 billion in funds under management as of 19 February 2026, including A$229 billion+ across corporate and private clients and A$4.9 billion managed on behalf of clients under legal disability, while serving approximately 990,000 superannuation members and distributing A$170 million via 4,800+ grants in FY25 across 750+ charitable funds.

The business model is predominantly fee-based, comprising recurring trustee and fiduciary fees, managed services for fund administration, and subscription-style structured giving accounts with a A$5,000 minimum opening balance. Distribution relies on direct relationship management for HNW and institutional clients, supported by referral pipelines from financial advisers, accountants, and lawyers. Core technology assets include the Philanthropy Portal (a digital platform enabling 24/7 structured giving account management) and standard responsible entity administration infrastructure, with no disclosed AI/ML or proprietary model capabilities. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales combined with professional adviser networks, anchored by multiple Australian Financial Services Licences and RSE registrations that constitute the company's primary competitive moat.

Recent strategic activity reflects a deliberate portfolio repositioning. In 2022, EQT acquired Australian Executor Trustees from Insignia Financial Ltd for A$135 million, materially expanding its executor and trustee footprint. In February 2026, EQT was appointed Financial Vehicle for the South Australian Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism, extending a government infrastructure trusteeship role first held under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap since September 2022. In May 2026, the company launched four Royal London Australian active funds with approximately A$1 billion AUM, and in 2025 launched the Philanthropy Portal. In June 2026, EQT announced its intention to withdraw from independent superannuation trusteeship via Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited, following ASIC civil proceedings related to the First Guardian Master Fund, with an expected ~A$13 million FY26 impairment and reclassification of the segment as a discontinued operation.

Name

Equity Trustees

Legal name

EQT Holdings Limited

Website

https://eqt.com.au

Company type

Public

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trustee and Fiduciary Services

NAICS

Trust, Fiduciary, and Custody Activities (523991), Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Pension Funds (52511), Open-End Investment Funds (525910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiduciary Agency & Trustee-for-Hire Services (FSAAANAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal & Family Trust Services (FSAAANAA), Structured Finance Legal, Trustee & Administration (FSACACAJ), Fund Depositary (UCITS/AIFMD & Trustee Oversight) (FSAAAOAC), Endowments (Universities, Foundations, Nonprofits) (FSAAAGAC)

Keywords

• Trustee and fiduciary services
• Estate administration services
• Responsible entity services
• Fund administration services
• Philanthropy management

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Trustee and Fiduciary Services: Fees for estate administration, executor services, trust management, and trustee appointments for individuals and families.
2. Fund Services: Responsible Entity services, custody, fund administration, and oversight for corporate and institutional fund managers.
3. Wealth Management: Asset management and investment services for private clients and the for-purpose sector.
4. Philanthropy Services: Structured giving account management with minimum $5,000 threshold, professional investment management, and grant distribution services.
5. Superannuation Trustee Services: Independent trustee services for superannuation platforms, managing approximately $95 billion in funds under management.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Equity Trustees operates as an Australian specialist trustee company providing independent fiduciary, executor, and estate administration services to private clients, families, and institutions. It delivers Responsible Entity, custody, fund administration, and asset management services to corporate and institutional fund managers, alongside structured philanthropy solutions and trustee services for those lacking capacity. The firm also provides superannuation trustee services (currently under strategic exit) and note/debt trustee services.

Product overview

Equity Trustees operates as a comprehensive, multi-service trustee and wealth management company offering both private client services and corporate fund services through a unified platform. Private services include estate planning (wills, powers of attorney), executor services, philanthropy management (through the Philanthropy Portal and Structured Giving Account), health and personal injury trustee services, and tax services. Corporate services encompass Responsible Entity services for managed investment schemes, fund administration, asset management, superannuation trusteeship, custody, and debt/securitisation services. The company also manages the Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation with over 750 charitable funds and $284 billion in funds under management as of February 2026. The offering is a platform-plus-services model rather than a single unified product, with services delivered through dedicated teams across multiple Australian offices.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wills Legal document preparation service for creating wills that specify asset distribution upon death and appoint executors for estate administration.
• Estate Planning Comprehensive estate planning services including will preparation, superannuation binding nominations, enduring powers of attorney, and guardianship arrangements.
• Executor Services Professional executor services for administering estates and distributing assets to beneficiaries according to the will's instructions.
• Powers of Attorney Enduring powers of attorney services appointing trusted persons or the trustee company to make legal, financial, and health decisions when capacity is lost.
• Health and Personal Injury Trustee Services Specialized trustee services for individuals awarded compensation for injuries, including financial management, Client Relationship Manager assignment, and support for NDIS, healthcare coordination, and adaptive technology including eye gaze communication systems.
• Tax Services Registered tax agent services including capital gains tax record reconstruction, bespoke tax advice, and ongoing tax compliance for individual clients, deceased estates, and trusts.
• Structured Giving Account A personal giving account within the Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation that is professionally managed and grows over time. Account holders can recommend causes and charities to support and contribute when suitable, with a minimum opening balance of $5,000.
• Corporate Fund Services Corporate fund services including Responsible Entity services for managed investment schemes, institutional funds management, and custody services for external fund managers.
• Asset Management Advisory and investment management services provided to private clients and the for-purpose sector by specialists.
• Superannuation Trustee Services Independent superannuation trustee services for platform operators and RSE licensees, currently under strategic review for potential exit from this business segment.
• Note Trustee Services Note trustee services for debt and securitization transactions.
• Custody and Real Assets Services Custody services and real assets administration for corporate clients.
• Debt and Securitisation Services Services supporting debt issuance and securitisation transactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $170 million distributed via 4800+ grants in FY25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SS&C TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 26 May 2026SS&C provides fund administration and unit registry services for Royal London Asset Management's Australian active funds. Equity Trustees serves as Responsible Entity for these funds, which include global equity and short duration global high yield strategies with approximately AUD $1 billion in assets under management.
• Australian Executor TrusteescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Equity Trustees announced intention to acquire Australian Executor Trustees (AET) for A$135 million. AET was previously owned by Insignia Financial Ltd. The transaction is expected to complete by end of 2022 per original announcement.
• AusEnergy Services LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026Equity Trustees was appointed by AusEnergy Services Ltd (ASL), the SA FERM Scheme Administrator, as Financial Vehicle for the South Australian Firm Energy Reliability Mechanism (SA FERM). Role includes holding and administering scheme funds and acting as counterparty to FERMAs.
• Insignia Financial LtdminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2022Strategic alliance where Insignia becomes a preferred service provider for AET and EQT following the $135 million sale of AET business. Proceeds used to repay debt and fund transformation initiatives.
• NSW GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquity Trustees has held the role of Financial Trustee under the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap since September 2022, applying trust and fund governance expertise to energy infrastructure projects.
• Royal London Asset ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership builds on three-year relationship where Equity Trustees serves as Responsible Entity for new Australian funds structured as feeder funds providing indirect exposure to Dublin-domiciled UCITS funds.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Netwealth Group: Netwealth is a leading Australian wealth management platform with growing superannuation and managed account services. It overlaps with EQT's wealth management and corporate trustee business.
• HUB24 Limited: HUB24 operates an investment and superannuation platform used by advisers and HNW clients, competing with EQT's wealth and superannuation trustee offerings in the Australian platform market.
• Pinnacle Investment Management: Pinnacle operates a multi-boutique investment management model in Australia with significant FUM. Its scale and fund governance footprint make it a relevant comparator for EQT's responsible entity and institutional fund services.
• Perpetual Limited: ASX-listed Perpetual is Australia's closest direct competitor, operating a large trustee, wealth management and corporate trust business — including responsible entity and estate services — that directly overlaps Equity Trustees' core offerings.
• Australian Unity: Australian Unity operates trustee, estate, philanthropy and wealth services alongside its broader mutual offering, directly comparable to EQT's private and community client segments.

Broad incumbents

• Northern Trust Corporation: Global custody, asset servicing and trustee specialist serving institutional and HNW clients. Comparable to EQT's corporate trustee, custody and asset management offerings at the global services level.
• AMP Limited: One of Australia's largest wealth managers with trustee, superannuation and platform services. AMP is a broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities in wealth, super trusteeship and estate services.
• State Street Corporation: Global custodian and asset servicer with institutional fund administration and depositary services — directly comparable to EQT's Responsible Entity and custody offerings for institutional fund managers.
• BT Financial Group (Westpac): Westpac's BT Financial Group offers wealth, superannuation and estate planning services at scale, providing a bank-owned incumbent benchmark for EQT's private client and trustee services.
• Insignia Financial Ltd: Formerly IOOF, Insignia is a major Australian wealth and platform group with trustee, superannuation and estate administration services. It is also the prior owner of AET that EQT acquired, making it a comparable fiduciary and superannuation peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/equity_trustees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Equity Trustees