Responsible Returns Investment Tool

Product Name	Australian Ethical Australian Shares Fund
Issuer	Australian Ethical Investment
Category	Investment product
Type	Fund/Trust
Target	Retail, Wholesale
Certified Since	2006
Certification Symbol	Ethical
Asset Classes	Equities - Australian only
Markets	Australia, New Zealand
Investment Approaches	Negative Screening, Positive Screening, Engagement
It Includes	More sustainable companies Social impact investments Renewable energy Green property Healthcare & medical products Sustainable transport Education Social & community infrastructure Sustainable water Sustainable land management & agriculture
It Excludes	Fossil fuels Logging Tobacco Nuclear energy (including uranium) Human rights abuses Labour rights violations Animal welfare Armaments Alcohol Gambling Pornography

Overview

A diversified share portfolio of companies predominately listed on the ASX and selected on the basis of their social, environmental and financial credentials. The Fund utilises an active stock-picking management style with stocks selected for growth rather than income, with a bias towards smaller capitalisation stocks listed on the ASX. All stocks are chosen on the basis of relative value where we deem the risks are being adequately priced.

Description

Australian Ethical believe the more money doing good for the planet, the better. Since 1986 we have been influenced by the 23 principles of the Australian Ethical Charter to invest in ethical and responsible initiatives that have a positive impact on the planet, people and animals while achieving competitive long-term returns. We avoid investments in corporations that engage in harmful practices such as coal, oil, weapons, tobacco, gambling and human rights abuses. The Charter not only influences our investment choices, but underpins every aspect of our business practices.

We seek out investments which provide for and support:

the development of workers’ participation in the ownership and control of their work organisations and places;
the production of high quality and properly presented products and services;
the development of locally based ventures; the development of appropriate technological systems;
the amelioration of wasteful or polluting practices; the development of sustainable land use and food production;
the preservation of endangered eco-systems; activities which contribute to human happiness, dignity and education;
the dignity and wellbeing of non-human animals;
the efficient use of human waste;
the alleviation of poverty in all its forms; and
the development and preservation of appropriate human buildings and landscape.

We avoid investments that are considered to unnecessarily:

pollute land, air or water destroy or waste non-recurring resources;
extract, create, produce, manufacture, or market materials, products, goods or services which have a harmful effect on humans, non-human animals or the environment;
market, promote or advertise, products or services in a misleading or deceitful manner;
create markets by the promotion or advertising of unwanted products or services;
acquire land or commodities primarily for the purpose of speculative gain;
create, encourage or perpetuate militarism or engage in the manufacture of armaments; entice people into financial over-commitment;
exploit people through the payment of low wages or the provision of poor working conditions;
discriminate by way of race, religion or sex in employment, marketing, or advertising practices; and
contribute to the inhibition of human rights generally.

Australian Ethical Australian Shares Fund

Other products certified by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA)