Ethica

15 January 2008
Press release

Ethica

SuperLife today announced the launch of the first balanced, Socially Responsible Investment investment option available to KiwiSaver scheme members in New Zealand. The option is called Ethica. It will exclude investments that have an adverse impact on community values. It will also be looking to invest in organisations that adopt sustainable practices, good governance and don’t have a permanent negative long-term environmental impact. Ethica is a separate superannuation investment fund available through the SuperLife KiwiSaver scheme and also through the SuperLife master trust.

“There is a growing demand for a balanced Socially Responsible Investment Option” said Michael Chamberlain, principal of SuperLife. “We are happy to provide the first balanced option for the KiwiSaver market. This reflects the advantages of SuperLife KiwiSaver being a Kiwi-owned provider and being able to make all decisions in New Zealand on a timely basis.”

“The challenge was to establish an investment option that adopted sound, best practice investment principles and that was aligned with the values and beliefs of New Zealanders who are concerned about New Zealand, our collective future and our individual rights and freedoms. We did not simply want to jump on the bandwagon and go for a high profile, big brand and ignore what makes sense from an investment standpoint”.

“Ethica combines SuperLife’s low cost, low transaction investment principles with our members’ collective community values. By adopting a balanced approach to the different asset classes and to investments within an asset class, members will benefit from diversification. Ethica is a simple “tick the box” option for savers who want a socially responsible, low cost KiwiSaver option. With the investment opportunities available today, we expect the average return to be competitive over the long-term but like all investments, the year-by-year return will move around the average.”

ENDS

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