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 are the requirements?
In order to certify products as certified responsible investments, RIAA assesses them against its RI Certification Standard. The Certification Standard is underpinned by eight requirements that act as the guiding principles of the RI Certification Program. Since its inception the RI Certification Standard has evolved significantly, reflecting the dynamic evolution of responsible investment. These eight requirements are:
- RI strategies are formal, disclosed, consistent, auditable and fit for purpose
- Labels are clear, honest and not misleading
- Product avoids significant harm
- Discloses full holdings, performance, sustainability outcomes and engagement and voting practices
- Managed by active stewards, and managers can detail the stewardship practices and outcomes
- Organisation has formal commitment to responsible investment
- Organisation provides educational information to members and customers about RI strategies
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
Pengana International Equities Limited (trading on the ASX as ‘PIA’) is a Listed Investment Company (“LIC”) that exists to provide shareholders with continued capital growth as well as regular, reliable, and fully franked dividends.
The strategy aims to generate superior risk-adjusted returns, through investing in an actively managed portfolio of global companies that meet the team’s high quality and durable growth criteria at reasonable prices. A robust responsible investment framework provides an added layer of risk mitigation.
The investment manager is Harding Loevner, a New Jersey-based global equity fund manager formed in 1989 with over US$84billion in Assets under Management.
Description
The Company is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (“ASX”) under the code PIA.
PIA’s investment manager is Pengana Investment Management Limited (“PIML”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Pengana Capital Group (PCG). PCG also provides financial management and marketing support.
Harding Loevner LP (“Harding Loevner”) is PCG’s investment team for PIA. Harding Loevner is a New Jersey-based global equity fund manager formed in 1989. PCG’s partnership with Harding Loevner provides Australian retail investors exclusive access to Harding Loevner’s extensive global expertise, usually only accessible to institutional investors.
Corporate objective
PIA’s objective is to provide shareholders with capital growth from investing in an ethically screened and actively managed portfolio of global businesses in addition to providing shareholders with regular, reliable and fully franked dividends.
Investment strategy
The strategy to invest globally in high-quality, growing businesses based on disciplined industry research has been implemented by Harding Loevner since 1989.
The strategy seeks superior risk-adjusted returns, generated through investing in companies that meet the investment team's high quality and durable growth criteria at reasonable prices.
These companies are identified through the conduct of fundamental research, with a long-term, global perspective, and must exhibit the following four key investment criteria: competitive advantages, quality management, financial strength, and sustainable growth potential.
Responsible Investment
The Company is committed to responsible investing and seeks to avoid investing in businesses that are, in its opinion, currently involved in activities that are unnecessarily harmful to people, animals or the environment.
The Company invests in businesses selected through Harding Loevner’s Responsible Investment process that pass PCG’s ethical screens.