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.


Sustainable Plus classification: This Symbol signifies that a product or service has been certified and classified to offer an investment style that takes into account environmental, social, governance or ethical considerations, with embedded, measurable and reported sustainability objectives aligned with portfolio holdings and stewardship practices, adhering to the operational and disclosure practices required under the Responsible Investment Certification Program for the category of Product.
Themes & Issues
Society
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Included
Armaments
Fully avoided
Tobacco
Mostly avoided
Fossil fuels
Partially avoided
Gambling
Partially avoided
Pornography
Partially avoided
Alcohol
Partially avoided
Environment
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Included
Armaments
Fully avoided
Tobacco
Mostly avoided
Fossil fuels
Partially avoided
Gambling
Partially avoided
Pornography
Partially avoided
Alcohol
Partially avoided
Overview
The Acadian Sustainable Global Equity Fund seeks to maximise risk-adjusted, long term active returns from a diversified portfolio of global securities while actively incorporating a range of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment criteria and reducing exposure to carbon intensive companies relative to the benchmark. The option aims to outperform the MSCI World (ex Australia) Index over rolling four year periods before fees and taxes.
Description
Acadian utilizes a systematic multi-factor investment approach while integrating a range of ESG criteria to select stocks. This includes having no exposure to stocks that derive any revenue from the production or manufacturing of tobacco and controversial weapons (including the manufacture, delivery, or provision of critical components of cluster munitions, landmines, biological & chemical weapons, blinding laser weapons, depleted uranium weapons, incendiary/white phosphorus weapons, non-detectable fragments weapons, or nuclear weapons); or more than 10% of gross revenue from the production or manufacture of products in alcohol, gambling, and adult entertainment; derive more than 20% of gross revenue from thermal coal mining or extraction of unconventional oil & gas (such as oil sands, shale oil, shale gas, and tar sands); and stocks considered to have business practices that violate the UN Global Compact (as assessed by a third party provider, MSCI), for example, those involved in very severe ESG controversies such as human rights abuses or corruption (e.g., extortion or bribery).
Acadian will target a reduction in weighted average carbon intensity (WACI) of the portfolio relative to the MSCI World ex-Australia Index of at least 20%. The fund will also target a positive (at least 10% above the index) rating for companies providing environmental solutions such as clean technologies and renewable energy (as assessed by a third-party provider, MSCI). The fund does not hedge currency risk.
We, the Responsible Investment Association Australasia, don't earn any commission from providers or products you switch to.
Themes & Issues
1
themes included
1
issues fully avoided
1
issues mostly avoided
4
issues partially avoided
Product Targets
Wholesale
Institutional
Certified Since
2020
Last date certified
August 30, 2024
Primary RI Strategy
Negative Screening, ESG Integration
Secondary RI Strategy