How we evaluate products
Responsible Investment strategies, processes, practices and disclosures are assessed against the eight criteria for product certification in the Responsible Investment Standard and accompanying Guidance and Assessment Notes.
What this symbol means
General certification: This Symbol signifies that a product or service offers an investment style that takes into account environmental, social, governance or ethical considerations, and that it adheres to the operational and disclosure practices required under the Responsible Investment Certification Program for the category of Product.
<span class="text-size-xxsmall">The content on this webpage is provided by Responsible Investment Association Australasia Ltd (ACN 641 046 666, AFSL 554110). For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. Certain content provided may constitute a summary or extract from the offer document of a financial product. Any general advice has been provided without reference to your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. If the advice relates to the acquisition of a particular financial product for which an offer document (such as a product disclosure document) is available, you should obtain the offer document relating to the particular financial product and consider it before making any decision whether to acquire the product. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial products’ future performance. To obtain information tailored to your situation, contact a financial adviser.</span>
Themes & Issues
Society
Environment
<span class="text-size-xxsmall">For RIAA’s definitions of the themes included and issues avoided, please view this guide. Product-specific exclusion criteria and practices may vary. You can find these by referring directly to the product provider.</span>
Overview
Aware Super Socially Conscious diversified investment options
We offer a range of Socially Conscious investment options for members who prefer to limit their investment in companies we consider to have a highly adverse environmental or social impact. As well as following the Aware Super Responsible Ownership approach, investments in the Socially Conscious options are selected and managed according to additional and stricter restrictions known as screens.
These options are invested across a range of asset types (listed and unlisted), investment managers and styles.
Screening criteria
Screens within our Socially Conscious options are grouped into three categories:
•Climate change screens
•Ethical screens
•Conventions and controversies screens
The screening criteria – the screens themselves and how they are applied – are detailed on our website. The Socially Conscious options will not invest in companies and other entities involved in the screened activities where the stated thresholds are met. The screening criteria apply to all asset classes (though with some differentiation in private equity).
Please note:
•Up to 5% of the private equity asset class maybe invested in companies and other entities not meeting the screening criteria, other than the tobacco, nicotine-alternatives and tobacco-based products, and controversial weapons screens.
•The screening criteria do not apply to the use of derivatives or securitised assets (financial products that give the holder exposure to a pool of loans, bonds or other debt products). This means these types of assets may have an indirect exposure to companies or other entities involved in the screened activities.
•Continuous application of the screens may not always be possible. This may result in inadvertent holdings, typically over the short term, in investments we are seeking to exclude.
•We do not exclude companies that provide goods or services to entities generating revenue from the screened activities or that are involved in the distribution of these products, unless otherwise stated.
•We do not automatically exclude companies’ subsidiaries, joint ventures or bond issuers; each is assessed on its own verifiable involvement in the relevant activity. For example, if a company is excluded due to its involvement in controversial weapons, its subsidiary will only be excluded if it is assessed to be verifiably involved in controversial weapons based on its own activities.
•Our Investment team may also decide to exclude a company for reasons outside our formal criteria.
More information
For more information on how the Socially Conscious options are managed and details of the options’ investment objectives, asset allocation, risk levels and fees, select ‘Product Documentation’ below to view our Handbook or Product Disclosure Statement.
Description
Our Balanced Socially Conscious – Retirement Transition option is managed with specific restrictions and exclusions known as screens. It seeks to avoid investments in industries and companies recognised for having a highly adverse environmental or social impact. It is mostly invested in growth assets like shares and private equity. It has a target split of 75% growth assets and 25% defensive assets.