Socially Responsible Investing

With Health Super, you can use your investing power to support companies and organisations that meet certain standards for social, environmental or ethical operations. See how you can take an ethical stance and invest in Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) options.

how does Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) work?

 

If you choose an SRI option, Health Super will swap the standard Australian and International shares in your chosen option with shares that meet our criteria for Socially Responsible Investments. All other assets will remain the same as the standard options.

 

4 Socially Responsible Investment options to choose from

If you are still working, about to retire, or thinking about an Allocated Pension product, you can choose to invest your money with Health Super’s SRI options. For more information on the risk and return, asset mix and investment objectives of each option simply click on the investment option you are interested in.

Socially Responsible Investment options

Health Super Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Accumulation and Spouse accounts

investment option	monthly returns	1-year return  (as at 30 June 2008)	5-year return  (as at 30 June 2008)
Long-Term Growth SRI	view	-10.18%	7.64%
Medium-Term Growth SRI	view	-6.40%	7.16%
Balanced SRI	view	-2.65%	6.35%
Short-Term  Conservative SRI	view	1.14%	5.63%
Stopover SRI	view	n/a	n/a

 

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

 

a stringent screening process

Health Super engages Investment Managers who use screening processes to select companies who are considered suitable for inclusion in Health Super's SRI options.

 

Investment Manager	responsible for screening
Perennial Growth Management (Perennial)	Australian SRI shares
AMP Capital Investors Ltd	International SRI shares

 

The Investment Manager consideration for inclusion requires companies to meet certain social, environmental or ethical standards. 

companies we screen for the most socially responsible	companies we consider
If a company is materially involved in certain negative activities, it may be excluded from Health Super's SRI option, depending on each individual Investment Manager's approach. These negative activities include: alcohol tobacco pornography gambling armaments the defence industry uranium and nuclear power damaging the environment child labour oppressive regimes fur animal testing	On the other hand, if a company is engaged in, or has positive policies in relation to one or more of the following activities, they are considered for the SRI option: sustainability environmentally beneficial technologies (i.e. wind energy) governance and ethics good workplace practices product quality stewardship

 

important tips to consider when investing with Socially Responsible options

1. There maybe a higher level of risk involved when investing in Socially Responsible Investments. Be aware that they may be more volatile than some other forms of investments. However, greater volatility is no guarantee of higher returns.
2. Because there are only 2 Investment Managers, the level of risk is not spread as widely as it is for our traditional investment choice options. If you’d like to see how the individual SRI Investment Managers have performed, take a look at their websites – www.perennial.net.au and www.ampcapital.com.au
3. SRI is a relatively new investment category. Therefore, Health Super’s historical returns before 2003 are not available. To view the latest SRI returns, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

need more information?

For more information on Socially Responsible Investing please refer to Health Super’s Product Disclosure Statement.