Australian Ethical Investment

Last updated

Australian Ethical Limited
Company type Public
ASX:  AEF
IndustryFinancial Services
Founded1986;39 years ago (1986)
Headquarters 130 Pitt St, Sydney, Australia
Key people
  • John McMurdo (CEO) [1]
  • Mark Simons (CFO) Ludovic Theau (CIO)
Products Superannuation, Pensions, Managed funds, SMA, ETF
Revenue A$100.5 million (Y.E. 30 June 2024) [2]
AUM Increase2.svg A$13.94 billion (2025) [3]
Number of employees
100+
Website australianethical.com.au

Australian Ethical is an ethical investment management company, listed on the ASX, and based in Sydney, Australia

Contents

History

Australian Ethical was founded in 1986, [4] 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. [5]

In 2014 the company became a founding B Corporation (B Corp) [6]  in Australia and the first listed B Corp in the region. [7] 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. [7] 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. [8]

On 25 November 2022, Australian Ethical successfully completed the successor fund transfer (SFT) of Christian Super into Australian Ethical bolstering customer numbers and FUM. [9] 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 30 June 2025, Australian Ethical has $13.94 billion in funds under management and more than 134,000 clients (managed fund investors and funded superannuation members). [10]

Products and services

Australian Ethical is a pure-play ethical investment manager, only offering ethical funds across Australian Equities, International Equities and Multi-asset funds. It offers seven superannuation [11] and six pension [12] options to its members as well as fifteen managed funds [13] options, an SMA [14] and an ETF [15] 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 [16] aims to:

Their investment process involves:

Community giving

Every year, Australian Ethical donates 10% of profits (after tax and before bonus) to the Australian Ethical Foundation [19] to unearth and fund high impact charities driving solutions addressing climate change. Since 2000, Australian Ethical has paid out over $11 million in grants. [20]

References

  1. McCubbing, Gus (3 February 2020). "McMurdo new CEO of Ethical Investment fund". Seven News .
  2. "ASX Announcement: AEF FY24 Results Announcement" (PDF). Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  3. "Now, we manage $13.94 billion for more than 134,000 funded customers (managed fund investors and funded superannuation members) as at 30 June 2025". www.australianethical.com.au. 17 July 2025.
  4. "About Australian Ethical Investment". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  5. "AEF share price and company information for ASX:AEF". Australian Securities Exchange. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  6. "Australian Ethical Investment Limited - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global". www.bcorporation.net. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  7. 1 2 "How Australian Ethical is driving impact with returns". B Lab Australia & New Zealand. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  8. "Appendix 4E and Full Year Report and Accounts" (PDF). Australian Ethical. 25 August 2023.
  9. "Welcoming Christian Super Members to Australian Ethical". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  10. "ASX Announcement: AEF Quarterly FUM Announcement" (PDF). Australian Ethical. 17 July 2025.
  11. "Super - Investment options – Long Term Superannuation Investment Options In Australia". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  12. "Pension Investment Options - Australian Ethical - Super and Managed Funds". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  13. "Managed Funds - Ethical Managed Investment Funds In Australia". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  14. "SMA model portfolio". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  15. "Australian Ethical - ETF". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  16. "Guide to our Ethical Investment Process" (PDF). Australian Ethical. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  17. "Impact - Australian Ethical Super and Managed Funds". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  18. "Ethical stewardship". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  19. "Australian Ethical Foundation Ltd". ACNC.
  20. "Australian Ethical Foundation". Australian Ethical. Retrieved 18 October 2024.