Encouraging better governance standards and investing in ways that provide sustainable returns are key considerations long-term investors should be taking into account, according to First State Super.
First States Super chief executive, Michael Dwyer said the fund had joined the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) to up its responsible investing commitments, and would look to leverage environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles to appeal to investors.
“Our members need to know that the companies they’re investing in are managing [ESG] issues appropriately,” he said.
“We are pleased to support ACSI’s advocacy, engagement and voting programs.”
ACSI chief executive Louise Davidson confirmed membership was now thirty-eight, and said the expansion was due to members becoming increasingly active overseas and in Australia.
“[It] correlates with our growing impact on corporate Australia, in policy and regulatory settings, and overseas,” she said.
ACSI collective with First State Super managed over $2.2 trillion in assets and owns an average 10 per cent of all ASX200 companies.
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