Australian Ethical Investment

Australian Ethical was founded in 1986,{{Cite web |title=About Australian Ethical Investment |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/about/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} and since then, has been providing investors with investment management products that align with their values and provide returns aligned to the objectives of each fund. All investments are guided by the Australian Ethical Charter which shapes its ethical approach and underpins both its culture and its vision.

On 17 Dec 2002 Australian Ethical was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) as AEF.{{Cite web |title=AEF share price and company information for ASX:AEF |url=https://www.asx.com.au/markets/company/AEF |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Australian Securities Exchange |language=en}}

In 2014 the company became a founding B Corporation (B Corp){{Cite web |title=Australian Ethical Investment Limited - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global |url=https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/australian-ethical-investment |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.bcorporation.net |language=en-us}} in Australia and the first listed B Corp in the region.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-13 |title=How Australian Ethical is driving impact with returns |url=https://bcorporation.com.au/stories/australian-ethical-bftw-2021/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=B Lab Australia & New Zealand |language=en-AU}} It was awarded the B Corp "Best for the World" ranking it in the top 5% of B Corps globally (in the corresponding size group) in various categories in the years 2015–2019 and 2021–2022. As at 13 July 2023, the ethical investment manager became the highest scoring Certified B Corp in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand after achieving a recertification score of 168.5, more than double the score required to gain certification.{{Cite web |date=25 August 2023 |title=Appendix 4E and Full Year Report and Accounts |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/globalassets/pdf-files/asx-announcement/2023/20230825-aef-fy23-full-year-accounts-and-appendix-4e.pdf |website=Australian Ethical}}

On 25 November 2022, Australian Ethical successfully completed the successor fund transfer (SFT) of Christian Super into Australian Ethical bolstering customer numbers and FUM.{{Cite web |title=Welcoming Christian Super Members to Australian Ethical |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/cs/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} Australian Ethical also inherited Christian Super’s impact investing portfolio which became available to non-super investors for the first time through its multi-asset managed fund options. Post the SFT, Australian Ethical continues to operate solely under the Australian Ethical brand.

As at 31 March 2025, Australian Ethical has $13.1 billion in funds under management and more than 134,000 clients (managed fund investors and funded superannuation members).{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 April 2025 |title=ASX Announcement: AEF Quarterly FUM Announcement |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/globalassets/pdf-files/asx-announcement/2025/20250416-aef-quarterly-fum-announcement.pdf |website=Australian Ethical}}

Australian Ethical is a pure-play ethical investment manager, only offering ethical funds across Australian Equities, International Equities and Multi-asset funds. It offers thirteen superannuation{{Cite web |title=Super - Investment options – Long Term Superannuation Investment Options In Australia |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/super/investment-options/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} and pension{{Cite web |title=Pension Investment Options - Australian Ethical - Super and Managed Funds |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/pension/investment-options/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} options to its members as well as twelve managed funds{{Cite web |title=Managed Funds - Ethical Managed Investment Funds In Australia |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/managed-funds/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} options, an SMA{{Cite web |title=SMA model portfolio |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/adviser/sma/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} and an ETF{{Cite web |title=Australian Ethical - ETF |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/etf/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} product.

Australian Ethical was one of the first superannuation companies in Australia to sell super directly to customers using a digital marketing approach, and now also sells managed funds directly, as well as through a network of advisers and private wealth firms. They also have a small institutional business providing managed funds to organisations, largely not-for-profit and values-aligned.  

Their ethical investing approach{{Cite web |title=Guide to our Ethical Investment Process |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/globalassets/pdf-files/why-ae/ae-guide-to-our-ethical-investment-process.pdf |access-date=20 September 2023 |website=Australian Ethical}} aims to:

• Give investors access to ethically screened portfolios of companies and other investments which are more aligned with their values than market portfolios.
• Influence progress towards a better future for people, animals and the environment by engaging with select companies to improve key business practices.
• Help them identify, understand and manage investment risk and opportunity, at a company, portfolio and systemic level.

Their investment process involves:

• Ethical assessment – the in-house Ethical Research team assess possible investments according to the 23 principles of the [https://www.australianethical.com.au/why-ae/ethical-charter/ Ethical Charter], using the contemporary decision frameworks (and criteria) that bring these to life. This process identifies companies that Australian Ethical believe can influence progress towards a better future for people, animals and the environment and restricts those that they believe aren’t; and this research defines their universe of potential ethical investments.
• Investment analysis and construction – Australian Ethical’s investment team then constructs portfolios suitable for the investment strategies and return objectives of funds and options. Their investment strategy results in equity and multi-asset funds that are overweight versus benchmark in renewables, technology and healthcare with on average 4.1x more investment in renewable energy than the benchmark.{{Cite web |title=Impact - Australian Ethical Super and Managed Funds |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/why-ae/Influence/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}}
• Ethical stewardship{{Cite web |title=Ethical stewardship |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/why-ae/ethical-stewardship/ |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}} – The ethics research team also monitors investee companies and engage to influence companies, governments and others as an important part of the process. As an investor they can encourage companies to create more positive impact and avoid negative impact in different ways – sometimes a simple discussion with management works. But they can also encourage change by:
• voting for changes to directors and executive remuneration more aligned with sustainable business strategies
• collaborating with other investors to signal shared expectations for more responsible business practices
• voting against a merger or a demerger proposal
• publicly questioning company decisions at AGMs and through the media, including through proposing and supporting shareholder resolutions.
• Divestment, and the threat of divestment, is another tool. If done at scale it can affect a company’s cost of capital, making it less competitive than its more sustainable competitors. If done publicly, it can impact a company’s reputation. It can also create market signals that help influence broader change
• Australian Ethical’s stewardship includes strategic action for change on a small number of priority issues which have included:
• Stopping finance and insurance helping expand the fossil fuel sector
• Reducing harm to animals from animal testing and research
• Stopping livestock driven deforestation in Australia
• Reducing emissions from high emissions building products.

Every year, Australian Ethical donates 10% of profits (after tax and before bonus) to the Australian Ethical Foundation{{Cite web |title=Australian Ethical Foundation Ltd |url=https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/0c044a67-3aaf-e811-a963-000d3ad244fd/profile |website=ACNC}} to unearth and fund high impact charities driving solutions addressing climate change. Since 2000, Australian Ethical has paid out over $11 million in grants.{{Cite web |title=Australian Ethical Foundation |url=https://www.australianethical.com.au/foundation/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=Australian Ethical |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.australianethical.com.au/ Official site]

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Category:Companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange

Category:Financial services companies based in Sydney

Category:Investment companies of Australia

Category:Superannuation in Australia

Category:Financial services companies established in 1986

Category:Australian companies established in 1986

Category:Ethical investment

Category:B Lab-certified corporations in Australia

Category:Asset management companies