First State Super's investment beliefs include a statement on Universal Ownership.
There can be second or third order impacts from an investment decision on our portfolio and the world into which our members will retire. We need to be mindful of these ‘footprints’ (both positive and negative) that our investments make in markets, in communities and on the environment.
We recognise that poor management of long term Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) related risks by a company not only impacts our investments but can potentially harm the broader community and environment as well. We are a signatory to the United Nations Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI), which promotes sustainable investment and provides an important framework for institutional investors to consider the impact of these issues on their investment decisions.
There are ways to improve the long-term performance of the portfolio through active engagement with companies based around long term value creation, sustainability and good governance.