Two Australian companies have become associate members of the Enhanced
Analytics Initiative (EAI), an international organization that gathers
information from asset owners and asset managers to support better
investment research.
The new members – VicSuper, the trustee of VicSuper Fund and one of
Australia’s fastest-growing superannuation funds, and Hesta Super Fund,
a health and community services industry superannuation fund – bring
the EAI’s total assets under management to €1.85trillion ($2.5tn,
£1.25tn).
Bob Welsh, VicSuper’s chief executive, said: ‘VicSuper has a strict
framework of corporate governance guidelines. These principles are very
much aligned with EAI’s mission to promote a sustainable investment
environment. We look forward to working with the members of EAI to help
promote the kind of investment research which will ensure that informed
investment decisions are being made on our behalf.’
Rob Fowler, Hesta’s executive manager of investments and governance,
said: ‘Hesta believes it is essential to make it attractive for
research analysts to holistically incorporate material, extra-financial
issues into their analysis of companies. EAI recognizes the importance
of incentivizing the research provider to demonstrate the value that
Hesta places on the analysts’ work.’
