Australian Christian Super

Established in 1994, Australian Christian Superannuation (“ACSuper”) is an employer-sponsored superannuation fund providing superannuation and insurance services to employers and their employees.  ACSuper has grown to over 1000 employers and 4500 members.

While the fund is open to all employers, it specialises in assisting those within the Church and charitable sector.  Individuals can join the fund by simply requesting their employer join the fund and make superannuation contributions on their behalf.

The fund has ‘Ethical Balanced’ as its default option with ‘Ethical Shares’ its other responsible investment option. The responsible investment components now manage over $6 million within the two ethical options for over 1000 members.

CERTIFICATION DETAILS

Certified by RIAA since: 2008

Is the whole fund certified or does it provide a responsible investment option? There are two responsible investment options available to investors: - Ethical Balanced (the Fund default investment option) - Ethical Shares

What percentage or proportion of the responsible investment option/s is invested in a responsible investment product/s? The two responsible investment options split their investments across the different asset classes according to the following table:

Please explain your superannuation fund’s overarching responsible investment methodology:

ACSuper appoints an external Investment Manager (ACS Financial Pty Ltd – AFSL 247388) to oversee and manage all its investments under an agreed mandate. The mandate includes the requirement that the manager adheres to its ethical policy for its ethical investments. Whilst ACSuper does not dictate to the manager on the operational aspects of the screening process, it does require the manager to choose from a list of approved research organizations that it is confident with for the ethical screening of its investment.

The manager may apply for inclusion of any research organization not currently on the approved list. The ACSuper Investment Committee will review the application and advise the manager on whether the application is successful or otherwise.

List of currently approved research organization:

1. CAER – Corporate Analysis. Enhanced Responsibility.
2. Just Screening

The Standards and Values that the manager is to base their screening on are:

Social Responsibility

• Responsible and fair workplace management practices
• Responsible community and stakeholder relations
• Tolerance, respect and dignity for all persons
• Encouragement of family values
• Efficient energy and resource use
• Long term, sustainable environmental practices
• Proactive governance and accountability
• Honesty and integrity
• Transparent and timely reporting
• Sustainable financial returns
• Use of appropriate risk management

Environmental Care

Financial Best Practices

Where possible and practical the manager is to use the following screening process.

Negative screen:

Avoid investments that do not measure up favourably against the above listed standards and values. In particular would be companies in the following industries – gambling, alcohol production, tobacco manufacturing, pornography and armaments.

Companies that show unacceptable practices in areas such as human rights, occupational health and safety and environment management are also excluded.

It is recognize that there will be occasions when companies inadvertently breach some of the principles and where genuine efforts are made to rectify the breaches.

ACSuper will not prohibit investment in a company where a breach of the principles, in relation to its products or services, constitutes no more than 5% of the company’s activities; the breach may be balanced by other positive actions.

Positive screen:

ACSuper seeks to invest in companies that produce goods and/or services which enhance the health and welfare of individuals, communities and preservation of the environment.

Neutral:

It is likely that majority of investments will be in companies which are considered to be neutral in terms of the positive and negative screens.

Stocks in the portfolio

ACSuper invest via direct holdings and managed investment schemes.

Managed investment schemes:

AMP Capital Investors Responsible Investment Leaders International Share Fund

Hunter Hall Global Ethical Trust

Direct Holdings (top 10):

Past performance To view the performance of each responsible investment option offered by ACSuper, select one option from the list below: - Ethical Balanced - Ethical Shares

Further information

For further information about ACSuper’s responsible investment options, please visit the Ethical Investment section of their website.

CONTACT DETAILS