Australian Ethical Investment

What Australian Ethical Investment does

Australian Ethical Investment Ltd is an ASX-listed (AEF) ethical superannuation and investment manager founded in 1986, headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The company manages approximately A$14 billion in funds under management across its superannuation fund and serves more than 120,000 Australian members, making it one of the longest-operating dedicated ethical investment managers in the country. Its core technology is a proprietary ethical screening methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative analysis, applied by an in-house ethics research team, with formal restrictions on fossil fuels, gambling, tobacco, and nuclear power, balanced against an Ethical Charter and Certified B Corporation status.

The product suite spans a MySuper-authorised ethical superannuation fund with multiple investment options (Balanced, Growth, Conservative, Moderate, High Growth), retail and wholesale managed funds across Australian and international equities and multi-asset strategies, an active ethical ETF (High Conviction Fund, ASX: AEAE), the Altius fixed income suite, infrastructure debt, a Separately Managed Account offering, and a recently launched A$625 million climate-focused private markets fund in partnership with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer via website and phone, a dedicated financial-adviser portal and business development managers, shelf-space on major investment platforms (HUB24, BT, CFS, Macquarie Wrap, Netwealth, Praemium, Insignia), and stockbroker platforms for the ETF.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring asset-based fees on superannuation administration and investment management (typical member with A$50,000 balance pays approximately A$633 per year), managed-fund management fees (around 0.69% p.a. with performance fees), ETF management and performance fees (15% of outperformance), and now management fees on the private markets fund. The company reports A$126.4 million in annual revenue at a 19% net margin with an A$471.3 million market capitalisation per third-party profiling. Customer segments are individual Australians (primary), financial advisers (primary), family offices and foundations (secondary), and not-for-profit organisations (secondary). Operating geographies are Australia and New Zealand for managed funds, with superannuation applications restricted to Australian residents.

Name

Australian Ethical Investment

Legal name

Australian Ethical Investment Ltd

Website

https://australianethical.com.au

Company type

Public

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Australian Ethical Investment Ltd is an ASX-listed ethical superannuation and investment manager, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Sydney, managing approximately A$14 billion across ethical super, managed funds, ETFs, and a new climate-focused private markets fund, serving over 120,000 Australian members alongside financial advisers and institutional investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ethical Superannuation and Managed Funds

NAICS

Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Open-End Investment Funds (52591), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening & Exclusions (Negative Screens, Norms-Based, Values-Based) (FSAAALAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pension Master Trusts, Superannuation & Provident Funds (FSAAAGAB)

Keywords

• Ethical superannuation
• Managed funds
• Responsible investing
• Ethical investment management
• Retirement savings

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Superannuation Management: Fees charged for managing superannuation funds including administration fees and investment fees. Members with $50,000 balance pay approximately $633 per year in total fees. The fund manages approximately A$14 billion in superannuation assets.
2. Managed Funds Management: Fees from managing retail managed funds including Australian Shares Fund, Balanced Fund, Diversified Shares Fund, Emerging Companies Fund, High Growth Fund, Income Fund, International Shares Fund, and various Altius fixed income funds. Management fees typically range from 0.69% p.a. with additional performance fees.
3. Pension Account Management: Fees from managing account-based pension accounts for retirees, offering ethical investment options for retirement income.
4. ETF Management: Management of exchange-traded funds including the High Conviction Fund (ticker AEAE) with management fees and performance fees of 15% of outperformance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Australian Ethical Investment Ltd manages ethically screened superannuation, pension, and managed fund products for Australian individual investors, financial advisers, family offices, and not-for-profit organisations. The company applies a proprietary ethical screening methodology that excludes fossil fuels, gambling, tobacco, and nuclear power while favouring renewable energy, healthcare, IT, and education. Its product range spans MySuper superannuation, account-based pensions, active ETFs, a private markets climate fund, and a fixed income Altius suite, supported by in-house ethics research.

Product overview

Australian Ethical Investment is an ethical superannuation and managed fund provider offering a comprehensive suite of investment products. The core offering includes Australian Ethical Super (MySuper-authorized superannuation with Balanced, Growth, Conservative, Moderate, and High Growth options) and ethical managed funds spanning Australian Shares, Balanced, Diversified Shares, Emerging Companies, High Growth, Income, and International Shares strategies. The product range extends to specialized fixed income through the Altius suite (Bond Fund, Credit Income Fund, Green and Sustainable Bond Fund, Short Duration Bond Fund), Infrastructure Debt Fund for wholesale investors, and the High Conviction Fund Active ETF (AEAE). Additional offerings include Ethical Account-Based Pension for retirement, Insurance through Super (Death, TPD, Income Protection), Separately Managed Accounts, and the recently launched Growth Opportunities Fund (A$625 million climate-focused private markets fund). The company serves over 120,000 Australians through its ethically screened investment platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Australian Ethical Super
• Managed Funds
• Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)
• High Conviction Fund Active ETF
• Ethical Account-Based Pension
• Australian Ethical Altius Bond Fund
• Australian Ethical Altius Credit Income Fund
• Australian Ethical Altius Green and Sustainable Bond Fund
• Australian Ethical Altius Short Duration Bond Fund
• Australian Ethical Infrastructure Debt Fund
• Separately Managed Account (SMA)
• Australian Ethical Growth Opportunities Fund
• Insurance through Super

Quantifiable outcome

• Growth Super option achieved 7.53% returns over 10 years p.a. (as at 31 March 2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Future Super: Future Super is an Australian ethical/superannuation provider offering fossil-free super and investment options to individuals, directly competing with Australian Ethical Super across the same retail super customer base with overlapping ESG screen methodology.
• Betashares Australia: Betashapes is Australia's largest ETF issuer with strong ESG/ethical ETF offerings (e.g., HETH, FAIR), competing with Australian Ethical's High Conviction Fund ETF (AEAE) for self-directed retail investors on ASX and direct platform access.
• Australian Unity Investments: Australian Unity operates a wealth and superannuation arm offering ethical/social-impact investment options to retail customers, overlapping with Australian Ethical's value-driven retail investor customer base and offering competitive alternatives.

Broad incumbents

• Vanguard Australia: Vanguard is the dominant passive asset manager in Australia with a growing ESG product range (e.g., VAS, VESG); it competes on price and brand scale across retail super and ETFs, putting fee pressure on Australian Ethical's active ethical strategies.
• BlackRock iShares (Australia): BlackRock is the global iShares ETF leader with multiple ESG-screened ETFs available on ASX (e.g., IEU, IXJ ESG variants), competing for ethical-conscious Australian retail and adviser flows against Australian Ethical's active ETF and managed funds suite.
• AustralianSuper: AustralianSuper is Australia's largest superannuation fund (~A$300B FUM) offering MySuper and increasingly ethical/ESG investment options; it dwarfs Australian Ethical by scale but competes for the same retail Australian super members.
• HESTA: HESTA is a major industry super fund with strong ESG/sustainable investment capabilities, serving health and community services workers; competes for ethically minded workers' super contributions against Australian Ethical Super.
• Colonial First State (CFS): CFS is one of Australia's largest investment platforms and super platforms where Australian Ethical funds are distributed; CFS itself offers competing multi-manager investment options, making it both a channel and an indirect competitor via its in-house products.

Others

• Australian Ethical Foundation (subsidiary/related): The Australian Ethical Foundation is the company's charitable arm that grants 10% of taxable profits to conservation, climate, and animal welfare causes; not a peer but adjacent and a brand-identity asset for the parent.

Emerging players

• Regnan (T. Rowe Price Australia): Regnan is a specialist responsible investment research and engagement business under T. Rowe Price that serves institutional investors with ESG analysis; competes with Australian Ethical's institutional family-office/grant/foundation offering on the sophisticated end of the market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/australianethical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-ethical-investment
• Instagraminstagram.com/australianethical
• Xx.com/austethical

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments14 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Ethical Investment