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ASB Investment Funds Positive Impact Fund

Put your savings to work making a positive impact on our world.

Apply today

What is the Positive Impact Fund?

The ASB Investment Funds Positive Impact Fund has been created to provide Kiwis with an alternative option for investing. It is more than an ethical fund, our Fund advances global social and environmental goals, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while still helping you save for your future.

The Fund is made up of both income assets (around 40% of global Green Bonds) and growth assets (around 60% of global equities).

    Growth Assets

    The growth assets invest in impact investments. These investments seek to maximise long-term returns through global companies whose goods and services address the world's greatest social and environmental problems as identified by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Impact themes include affordable housing; education & skilling; financial & digital inclusion; public health; green energy; sustainable food, water & waste; efficiency, electrification & digitisation; pollution remediation & prevention; and safety & security.

    Income Assets

    The income assets invest in Green Bonds. The primary purpose of Green Bonds is to raise capital and investment for projects with environmental benefits such as alternative energy, sustainable water, green building and climate adaptation. Green Bonds are aligned to impact investing as the issuer must declare the eligible green project upfront, provide clear environmental benefits, ensure funds from the bonds are segregated and report on the projects to comply with the ICMA Green Bond Principles. 

Positive Impact Fund blogs

The name's bonds, green bonds

Did you know that 40% of the Positive Impact Funds are invested in green bonds? We dive into what green bonds are, what we hold, how they perform, and how they align to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Find out more

What the…impact? How our Positive Impact Fund advances social and environmental goals

Take look at companies the Fund is now invested in and the UN Sustainable Development Goals they align to.

Find out more

Our impact investing journey

It's been 3 years since we took our first step into impact investing. So, what have been the main challenges, what have we learnt, and where do we see ourselves heading in the future?

Find out more

More about the Positive Impact Fund

What is impact investing?

Impact investing is a responsible investment strategy that aims to generate social and environmental impact as well as financial returns. This can be done through investment in companies through shares as well as issuing bonds.
 
What are these impact companies doing? Our Positive Impact Fund growth assets are invested in BlackRock's Global Impact Fund. The BlackRock Global Impact Fund is committed to delivering measurable impact, with a selection of the impacts delivered in 2020 demonstrated in the metrics below*:

Financial and digital inclusion

114 million unbanked and underbanked individuals   received access to financial services 

Public Health

1.8 billion patients received affordable healthcare

Sustainable Food, Water & Waste

99 million individuals had access to clean drinking water 11 million tons of food waste was prevented from being sent to landfills

Green Energy

Generated over 102,000 GWh of renewable energy

Affordable Housing

Provided affordable housing for over 600,000 families

Exclusions - what the Fund won't invest in

Currently the Positive Impact Fund invests in third-party managed funds which have their own exclusion policies. Due to differences in exclusion categories, definitions and research providers, the Fund may have indirect exposure to a security on our ASB Exclusion List. We cannot instruct a manager to divest a security from a third-party fund, but we do share our feedback and our reasons for excluding securities.

Our growth asset fund manager generally excludes companies (where possible) involved in:

  • Controversial weapons
  • Nuclear weapons
  • Thermal coal production and power generation
  • Tar sands production
  • Tobacco producers
  • Civilian firearms producers and retailers
  • UN Global Compact violators

Our income asset fund manager generally excludes (where possible):

  • Controversial weapons
  • Nuclear weapons
  • Thermal coal
  • ESG controversies and global norms

To find our more about our fund managers' exclusion policies and definitions, see the ASB Investment Funds Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives.

What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals?

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth - all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

The UN SDG were established in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN SDG include 169 targets to stimulate action in areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet.

What are Green Bonds?

Green Bonds are fixed income instruments in which the proceeds will be exclusively applied towards new and existing green projects.

In our Positive Impact Fund, our fund manager selects Green Bonds using the Green Bond Principles (GBP).

This graph gives you an idea of the types of Green Bonds the Positive Impact Fund now invests in. The graph shows the breakdown of eligible projects declared by the bond issuers, that our new fund manager was invested in as at May 2021.

Important things to know before investing in the Positive Impact Fund

The Positive Impact Fund aims to provide moderate to high returns allowing for large movements of value up and down. Invests in a portfolio of investments that make a positive impact on society or the environment in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The number of years with negative returns are generally expected to be similar to the Growth Fund.

  • Appropriate for investors that have at least 11 years to invest
  • More growth assets than income assets
  • Aims to achieve moderate to high returns over time
  • Significant ups and downs in your balance are expected
  • Makes investments that have a positive impact on society or the environment

Compare funds

Learn more about income assets and growth assets.

The most recently compiled list of underlying portfolio holdings for the ASB Investment Funds Positive Impact Fund is provided here.

Is the Positive Impact Fund right for me?

The Fund could be suitable for you if you want your values to play a larger role in how your savings are invested.

If your priority is to invest according to your investment timeframe and goals, then one of our other funds may be the best option for you. Compare our funds here.

We also have a Positive Impact Fund available for our ASB KiwiSaver Scheme customers, if this sounds more like you, please find further information here.

Invest now with ASB

Already have an ASB Investment Funds account?

You can switch to the Positive Impact Fund, or open an additional ASB Investment Funds account by contacting the ASB Wealth Advisory Service. 

Contact us

Ready to open an ASB Investment Funds account?

If you're already with ASB, log into FastNet Classic online banking to apply.
New to ASB? Contact us to find out more.

Apply online Contact us

*Source: BlackRock Global Impact Annual Report 2020

Interests in the ASB KiwiSaver Scheme and ASB Investment Funds (Schemes) are issued by ASB Group Investments Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASB Bank Limited (ASB). ASB provides administration and distribution services for the Schemes. No person guarantees interests in the Schemes. Interests in the Schemes are not deposits or other liabilities of ASB. They are subject to investment risk, including possible loss of income and principal invested. For more information see the ASB KiwiSaver Scheme Product Disclosure Statement or the ASB Investment Funds Product Disclosure Statement available from this website and the register of offers of financial products at www.disclose-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz (search for ASB).

What are income assets?

Income assets are things like cash deposits with banks, and bonds issued by Governments, councils and companies to fund projects. Income assets often pay distributions, so investors tend to see more stable returns, but returns can be negative.

Growth assets

Growth assets are shares in large listed companies - like Apple, Microsoft or Amazon, and also shares in companies that are involved in investing in and developing property - like commercial buildings, shopping centres, and hotels. Growth assets tend to experience more frequent and more pronounced ups and downs in value.

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