| Organisational Overview | ||||||
| Organisational Overview This section captures information that helps determine if some of the subsequent questions are required and also plays a role in benchmarking. Please make sure you provide accurate answers. This is also one of the more challenging sections as it may require gathering information from multiple sources. We suggest you collect all this information before progressing to other parts of the questionnaire. | ||||||
| 1. What were your organisation's total assets under management as of the most recent count (in millions)? (Estimating to the nearest hundred million as of December 31 2008 would be preferable - although the most recent available count would be sufficient. If your currency is not listed, please select 'other' and indicate your currency or convert to United States dollars.) | 6700 | |||||
| Please select currency | Australian dollar (AUD) | |||||
| 1a. If 'other' was selected, please specify the other currency here | No Answer | |||||
2. Please pick the one category and level of complexity that best describes your organisation (if your organisation is a pension fund, please also select your pension type). This information may be used to provide you with the best possible benchmarking. Complexity
| ||||||
| Corporate pension or superannuation or retirement or provident fund or plan | Highly complex | Hybrid | ||||
| 2a. If 'other' was selected, please specify the other category here | No answer | |||||
| 3. Please provide an approximation of your average asset mix for 2008 or your asset mix as of the most recent count (in percent):(+/- 5% is sufficient. The sum of all the fields must be 100%) | ||||||
Active | Passive | Active | Passive | |||
| Listed equity (developed markets) | 0 | 0 | 32.01 | 4.45 | ||
| Listed equity (emerging markets) | 0 | 0 | 2.32 | 0 | ||
| Fixed income (not including corporate issuers) | 0 | 0 | 24.51 | 0 | ||
| Fixed income (corporate issuers) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Private equity | 0 | 0 | 3.05 | 0 | ||
| Listed real estate or property | 0 | 0 | 2.21 | 0 | ||
| Non-listed real estate or property | 0 | 0 | 11.98 | 0 | ||
| Hedge funds | 0 | 0 | 6.36 | 0 | ||
| Commodities | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Infrastructure | 0 | 0 | 4.39 | 0 | ||
| Cash | 0 | 0 | 8.72 | 0 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Governance, Policy and Strategy | ||||||
| Governance, Policy and StrategyQuestions 5 through 15 are about the governance and oversight of your organisation's responsible investment activities and the associated policies and strategy. This section will be scored separately from the six Principles."Policy" in this section may refer to one overall RI policy or multiple policies that address various elements of RI. | ||||||
| 5. Do you have a policy that makes specific reference to responsible investment (RI) or environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues? | Yes | |||||
| 6. If you have a policy that makes specific reference to RI/ESG issues, which of the following Principles does it address?(Please check all that apply.) | Principle 1: We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.,Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices.,Principle 3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest.,Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry.,Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles.,Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles. | |||||
| 7. If you have a policy that makes specific reference to RI/ESG issues, which of the following asset classes does it apply to?(Please check all that apply.) | Listed equity (developed markets),Listed equity (emerging markets),Fixed income (not including corporate issuers),Private equity,Listed real estate or property,Non-listed real estate or property,Hedge funds,Infrastructure | |||||
| 8. If you have a policy that makes specific reference to RI/ESG issues, when was your policy last reviewed? | Within the last 3 years | |||||
| 9. If you have a policy that makes specific reference to RI/ESG issues, has it been disclosed publicly?(If answering yes, please indicate how this statement can be obtained - a URL would be sufficient. If answering no, please explain why not.) | Yes: 'http://www.healthsuper.com.au/tools-resources/publications/index.cfm' | |||||
10. To what extent has your approach to responsible investment been translated into a plan of action as reflected in business planning, strategic planning, or similar internal management processes?
| To a small extent | |||||
| 11. Who within your organisation has responsibilities related to RI implementation?(Please check all that apply.) | Committee of the board of trustees or board of directors,Chief Executive Officer or Chief Investment Officer or equivalent,RI or ESG specialist | |||||
| 12. Do you have a policy or approach/process that requires screening out or excluding stocks or sectors from your investment universe? | Sectors | |||||
| 13. What are your reasons for screening out or excluding stocks or sectors from your investment universe?(Please check all that apply.) | We (and/or our clients) wish to avoid supporting the companies/sectors in question based on ethical considerations and we regard buying/holding their stock as providing such support | |||||
| 14. Please describe how your organisation assesses if there is a link between your RI activities and the performance (risk and return) of your investments: | No Answer | |||||
| 15. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Governance, Policy, and Strategy here. | As a regulated superannuation fund Health Super is required to have a policy relating to our investment objectives & strategies. The Trustee Board has approved this policy and decided to include ESG considerations in its investment process. The Board has also included ESG in its Statement of Investment Beliefs. Our Product Disclosure Statement informs members that we are a signatory to the UNPRI. Health Super is considering in 2009 adopting a formal ESG Policy to further document our governance policies. Health Super is in the early stages of implementing the PRI. | |||||
| Principle 1 | ||||||
Principle 1: We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes.For the purposes of this questionnaire, integration is the consideration of ESG issues alongside traditional financial measures, based on the belief that ESG issues can affect the performance (risk and/or return) of investment portfolios (to varying degrees across companies, sectors, regions, asset classes and through time). Please note that the view that ESG issues can influence investment returns may be based either on
| ||||||
| 16. Please provide a one to two paragraph description of your approach to this Principle.This question and similar questions relating to each of the other Principles are being asked for three reasons. The first reason is to gather details regarding signatory implementation for inclusion in the PRI annual report on progress. The second reason is to capture activities not captured directly by questions in the Reporting and Assessment Tool. The third reason is to provide context and details to support verification calls. | Health Super has commenced drafting a formal ESG Policy to incorporate this Principle. In November 2008 Health Super wrote to its managers to determine the level of understanding of ESG issues and to promote the UNPRI. (All of Health Super's assets - except cash - are managed externally). In 2009 Health Super will continue to discuss with our Managers how we can work together on integration. Evaluation of ESG capabilities will also be incorporated into the manager review process. | |||||
| Integration of ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes of internally managed assets | ||||||
| 17. For what percentage of your internal assets under active management do you integrate RI/ESG issues into your internal investment decision-making processes (in percent)?(+/- 5% is sufficient.) | ||||||
| Listed equity (developed markets) | ||||||
| Listed equity (emerging markets) | ||||||
| Fixed income (not including corporate issuers) | ||||||
| Fixed income (corporate issuers) | ||||||
| Private equity | ||||||
| Listed real estate or property | ||||||
| Non-listed real estate or property | ||||||
| Hedge funds | ||||||
| Infrastructure | ||||||
18. To what extent have you integrated RI/ESG issues into your internal active investment decision-making processes?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q17.)
| ||||||
| Listed equity (developed markets) | No Answer | |||||
| Listed equity (emerging markets) | No Answer | |||||
| Fixed income (not including corporate issuers) | No Answer | |||||
| Fixed income (corporate issuers) | No Answer | |||||
| Private equity | No Answer | |||||
| Listed real estate or property | No Answer | |||||
| Non-listed real estate or property | No Answer | |||||
| Hedge funds | No Answer | |||||
| Infrastructure | No Answer | |||||
19. When forming investment views, to what extent does your organisation gather and analyse ESG information, including, where applicable, information obtained from engagement activities?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q17.)
| No Answer | |||||
20. To what extent do portfolio managers or others making investment decisions in your organisation apply the ESG information and analysis available to them when constructing and managing portfolios?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q17.)
| No Answer | |||||
21. To what extent do you have a process for improving the effectiveness of research and portfolio management processes with regards to ESG factors?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q17.)
| No Answer | |||||
22. To what extent do you have a process for assessing and improving internal investment staff competency to incorporate RI/ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q17.)
| No Answer | |||||
| Integration of ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes of externally managed assets | ||||||
| 23. For what percentage of your external assets under management are RI/ESG issues integrated into the investment decision-making processes of your external investment managers (in percent, +/- 5% is sufficient)? | ||||||
| Listed equity (developed markets) | 80 | |||||
| Listed equity (emerging markets) | 100 | |||||
| Fixed income (not including corporate issuers) | 90 | |||||
| Private equity | 0 | |||||
| Listed real estate or property | 100 | |||||
| Non-listed real estate or property | 100 | |||||
| Hedge funds | 0 | |||||
| Infrastructure | 100 | |||||
24. To what extent have RI/ESG issues been integrated into the investment decision-making processes of your external investment managers?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q23.)
| ||||||
| Listed equity (developed markets) | To a moderate extent | |||||
| Listed equity (emerging markets) | To a moderate extent | |||||
| Fixed income (not including corporate issuers) | To a moderate extent | |||||
| Private equity | Not applicable | |||||
| Listed real estate or property | To a moderate extent | |||||
| Non-listed real estate or property | To a moderate extent | |||||
| Hedge funds | Not applicable | |||||
| Infrastructure | To a moderate extent | |||||
25. To what extent do you consider the capabilities of external investment managers to incorporate RI/ESG issues when searching for, selecting and retaining your external investment managers?(Applies only to investments that include integration of RI/ESG issues as indicated in Q23.)
| To a small extent | |||||
| Integration - final comments | ||||||
| 26. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Principle 1 here. Please also describe any significant activities relating to Principle 1 that have not been captured by the questions above. | Health Super has access to an analytic tool developed by Goldman Sachs JBWere. This tool allows Health Super to rank portfolios to ascertain an indicative ESG 'rating'. This is to be used internally to allow Health Super to engage with our external managers where Health Super can see any ESG issues emerging in stocks held. | |||||
| Principle 2 | ||||||
| Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices. | ||||||
| 27. Please provide a one to two paragraph description of your approach to this Principle. | Health Super has since 2004 had a Proxy Voting Policy. As part of all Investment Management Agreements, managers (where relevant) are required to vote in accordance with the guidelines and provide commentary where the guidelines have not been followed. Health Super is also considering the merits of joining the ESG Research Australia initiative that is being developed to encourage ESG research. Health Super has been a supporter of the CDP for the last 2 years and has committed to being a signatory for the next three years. | |||||
| (Proxy) voting - applies only to listed equity (developed markets), listed equity (emerging markets) and listed real estate or property. | ||||||
| 28. Do you have a (proxy) voting policy?(If 'Yes - disclosed publicly', please indicate how your (proxy) voting policy can be obtained- a URL would be sufficient. If answering no, please explain why not.) | Yes - internal document | |||||
| 29. Does your (proxy) voting policy address environmental, social, and governance issues? | ||||||
| Environmental | No | |||||
| Social | No | |||||
| Governance | Yes | |||||
| 30. Who decided how to vote on ballot items on behalf of your organisation in 2008?(Please check all that apply.) | External investment manager | |||||
31. To what extent is information related to ballot items gathered and analysed before voting decisions are made?
| Not applicable | |||||
| 32. Do you ensure that voting is done in accordance with your voting instructions? | Yes for some | |||||
| 33. Do you inform companies of your rationale when you abstain or vote against management recommendations? | Yes for some | |||||
| 34. Please indicate how many resolutions you could have voted on and how many resolutions you did vote on in 2008:(include abstentions as votes where votes against are not possible, use the last available one year period if information for 2008 is not available or too difficult to gather, approximate numbers are acceptable. If you are unable to provide the exact number please provide an approximation of the percentage by entering 10 in the 'Resolutions could have voted on' column and your estimate in the 'Resolutions voted on' column. So if you voted on about 70% of the possible resolutions you would enter 7 in the 'Resolutions voted on' column. If you are not sure, please enter a 1 in all four fields.) | ||||||
| Domestic | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Foreign | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 35. You are classified as an Asset Owner and should not answer this question. For the listed equities that you manage, do you provide (proxy) voting services for your clients if they request them? | No Answer | |||||
| 36. How does your securities lending program address voting? | We do not have a securities lending program | |||||
| 37. How many shareholder resolutions related to ESG issues did you file or co-file during 2008? | ||||||
| As lead filer | ||||||
| As co-filer | ||||||
| Planning to be lead filer in 2009 | ||||||
| Planning to be co-filer in 2009 | ||||||
| 38. Please explain why you did or did not file or co-file any shareholder resolutions related to RI/ESG issues during 2008: | Health Super has not filed any resolutions related to ESG issues during 2008, as there are legal and regulatory impediments to shareholders lodging resolutions in Australia, especially when the subject matter relates to the management of the company (as is usually the case with environmental and social issues). Although shareholders have the statutory power to propose resolutions and to call company meetings, they cannot use those powers to call meetings or put resolutions on subject matters that relate to management powers, which are vested exclusively in the directors. The 'narrow' judicial interpretation of these legal provisions restricts the ability of Australian shareholders to propose resolutions on ESG issues. | |||||
| Engagement - general | ||||||
| 39. Who engaged with companies to seek ESG improvements in 2008?Please rank who engaged with companies according to their importance within your overall active ownership activities. You can only select Most, Second, Third and Fourth most important once each. Only the method you rank as 'Most important' will be scored for benchmarking purposes. If you wish to request that your other methods of engagement also be scored, please complete all the relevant sections and email the PRI at assessment@unpri.org when you submit your response. | ||||||
| Internal staff | Did not engage with companies in 2008 | |||||
| External investment manager(s) | Second most important | |||||
| External engagement service provider(s) | Most important | |||||
| No Answer | |||||
| 40. Do you have a written engagement policy or other documents that direct engagement?(If 'Yes - disclosed publicly', please indicate how your policy can be obtained- a URL would be sufficient.) | Yes - internal document | |||||
| 41. If you have an engagement policy or other documents that direct engagement, what do they include?(Please check all that apply.) | Other (please specify): 'ACSI Company Engagement Framework.' | |||||
| 42. How many companies are you invested in? | 815 | |||||
| Engagement - internal staff | ||||||
43. This question is not applicable to you due to your response to Q39 regarding who engages with companies. To what extent do you have a process for identifying and prioritising ESG related engagement opportunities?
| No Answer | |||||
44. This question is not applicable to you due to your response to Q39 regarding who engages with companies. How many portfolio companies did you engage with on ESG issues in 2008?
| ||||||
| Extensive engagement | ||||||
| Moderate engagement | ||||||
| Basic engagement | ||||||
| 45. This question is not applicable to you due to your response to Q39 regarding who engages with companies. What proportion of your engagements addressed environmental, social or governance issues (in percent)?(One engagement may address more than one issue, so the three percentages need not add to 100%. For example, if you only had one engagement and it addressed environmental and governance issues then the answer would be 100% for environmental and 100% for governance.) | ||||||
| Environmental | ||||||
| Social | ||||||
| Governance | ||||||
46. This question is not applicable to you due to your response to Q39 regarding who engages with companies. To what extent do you set ESG engagement objectives and attempt to evaluate your engagement success?
| No Answer | |||||
| 47. This question is not applicable to you due to your response to Q39 regarding who engages with companies. What percentage of engagements that ended in 2008 were deemed successful (in percent)?(Engagement success: a considerable part of objectives or milestones that were set when the engagement commenced were achieved.) | No Answer | |||||
48. This question is not applicable to you due to your response to Q39 regarding who engages with companies. To what extent do you have a process for assessing and improving staff competency to act as active owners and incorporate ESG issues into ownership practices?
| No Answer | |||||
| Engagement - external engagement service provider(s) | ||||||
49. How many portfolio companies did your external engagement service provider(s) engage with on ESG issues on your behalf in 2008?
| ||||||
| Extensive engagement | 181 | |||||
| Moderate engagement | 0 | |||||
| Basic engagement | 0 | |||||
| 50. What proportion of your external engagement service provider(s)'s engagements on your behalf addressed environmental, social or governance issues (in percent)?(One engagement may address more than one issue, so the three percentages need not add to 100%. For example, if you only had one engagement and it addressed environmental and governance issues then the answer would be 100% for environmental and 100% for governance.) | ||||||
| Environmental | 71 | |||||
| Social | 71 | |||||
| Governance | 64 | |||||
51. To what extent do you contribute to and assess the ESG engagement activities of your external engagement service provider(s)?
| To a moderate extent | |||||
| Engagement - external investment manager(s) | ||||||
52. How many portfolio companies did your external investment manager(s)'s engage with on ESG issues on your behalf in 2008?
| ||||||
| Extensive engagement | 0 | |||||
| Moderate engagement | 0 | |||||
| Basic engagement | 1 | |||||
| 53. What proportion of your external investment manager(s)'s engagements on your behalf addressed environmental, social or governance issues (in percent)? (One engagement may address more than one issue, so the three percentages need not add to 100%. For example, if you only had one engagement and it addressed environmental and governance issues then the answer would be 100% for environmental and 100% for governance.) | ||||||
| Environmental | 0 | |||||
| Social | 0 | |||||
| Governance | 100 | |||||
54. To what extent do you contribute to and assess the ESG engagement activities of your external investment manager(s)?
| To a small extent | |||||
| 55. Did you consider the capabilities of external investment managers to engage with companies on ESG issues on your behalf when searching for, selecting and retaining your investment managers? | No, planning to in 2009 | |||||
| Engagement - final comments | ||||||
| 56. What ESG issues were addressed in your or your service providers'engagement initiatives? (Please check all that apply.) | Benefits and compensation,Governance,Other (please specify): 'Sustainability reporting and Global Reporting standards' | |||||
| 57. What measures do you or your external service provider(s) use to assess the impact and success of engagement? | Our external provider, Australian Council of Superannuation Investors applies a ratings system to assess the impact and success of engagement. Each rating identifies whether the relevant issue has been resolved or requires further action. If a response or outcome is deemed unsatisfactory, ACSI will either write to or request a meeting with the company or, where relevant, recommend against a company resolution. | |||||
| 58. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Principle 2 here. Please also describe any significant activities relating to Principle 2 that have not been captured by the questions above. | Q41 Other. Where engagement is undertaken on Health Super's behalf by ACSI, it is guided by the ACSI Company Engagement Framework. The framework covers: " Engagement with individual S&P/ASX 200 companies. " Engagement at a sector or broader level on issues based on research commissioned, or undertaken, by ACSI. " Engagement with government, regulators and other parts of the investment industry to encourage mainstreaming of consideration of ESG issues into investment decision making processes. ACSI's engagement is also guided by the ACSI Corporate Governance Guidelines and ACSI ESG Guidelines. Q50. All of the engagement work that ACSI undertakes on behalf of its members relates to ESG issues. | |||||
| Principle 3 | ||||||
| Principle 3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest. | ||||||
| 59. Please provide a one to two paragraph description of your approach to this Principle. | Health Super receives and considers regular reports from its external engagement providers, Risk Metrics and ACSI. Where a particular issue is relevant to Health Super's portfolio we will engage directly with our investment manager and seek the appropriate disclosure from the investee company. In 2008 Health Super requested two of its managers to seek disclosure from investee company relating to a placement of shares that was considered to be outside of the law. Health Super will continue to adopt this approach where related to ESG. | |||||
| 60. Who asked investee companies (or other investment entities) to provide information about their ESG policies, practices or performance in 2008?(Please check all that apply.) | External engagement service provider(s),External engagement service provider(s) collaboratively with other investors | |||||
61. To what extent did you or your external engagement service provider(s) or your external investment manager(s) have a dialogue with investee companies (or other investment entities) regarding the production of standardized reporting about their ESG policies, practices or performance in 2008?('Standardized' could also include systematic reporting in areas where standardized reporting has not yet emerged.)
| ||||||
| Listed equity (developed market) | To a moderate extent | |||||
| Listed equity (emerging markets) | To a small extent | |||||
| Fixed income (not including corporate issuers) | To a small extent | |||||
| Private equity | Not at all | |||||
| Listed real estate or property | To a small extent | |||||
| Non-listed real estate or property | Not at all | |||||
| Hedge funds | Not at all | |||||
| Infrastructure | To a small extent | |||||
| 62. What formats of reporting on ESG issue policies, practices or performance have been requested? Please check all that apply. | Integrated with regular financial reports,Global Reporting Initiative (GRI),Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) | |||||
63. To what extent did you or your external engagement service provider(s) or your external investment manager(s) seek information from companies regarding their practices related to norms, standards, codes of conduct or international initiatives related to ESG issues in 2008?
| To a moderate extent | |||||
| 64. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Principle 3 here. Please also describe any significant activities relating to Principle 3 that have not been captured by the questions above. | ACSI has engaged with all of companies in the S&P/ASX100 index on their sustainability reporting practices, which were assessed against the international reporting framework, the GRI. In early 2008, ACSI commissioned research into the sustainability reporting practices of S&P/ASX 100 companies. ACSI wrote to every company in the S&P/ASX100 about the findings of the study and, where the findings were unsatisfactory, ACSI has sought ongoing dialogue with the company. ACSI also engages with companies on governance disclosures, especially the governance content of annual reports and notices of meeting. ACSI encourages companies to fulfil their reporting requirements against the Corporations Act and the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations. ACSI has not yet engaged on specific norms, standards and codes relating to environmental and social issues, but intends to do so in the future. | |||||
| Principle 4 | ||||||
| Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry. | ||||||
| 65. Please provide a one to two paragraph description of your approach to this Principle. | Health Super has throughout 2008 attended a number of industry forums focussing on ESG issues. These include the RIAA annual conference, UNPRI working groups. These forums provide the investment industry with an opportunity to discuss the various degrees to which entities 'pension funds and managers' are implementing the Principles. Health Super will continue to support such events. In 2009 Health Super will be continuing its dialogue with investment managers in implementing the Principles. | |||||
| 66. Did you consider RI/ESG requirements when searching for and selecting service providers in 2008 when applicable? | ||||||
| Investment consultant | No, planning to in 2009 | |||||
| Proxy voting service provider | Not applicable | |||||
| External overlay service provider | Not applicable | |||||
| Investment research provider | Not applicable | |||||
| 67. Have you included RI/ESG elements in the following? | ||||||
| Investment monitoring | No, planning to in 2009 | |||||
| Incentive structure (internally managed) | Not applicable | |||||
| Incentive structure (externally managed) | No | |||||
| Contractual relationships with external investment managers | No | |||||
| Contractual relationships with other investment related service providers | No | |||||
68. To what extent did you encourage your eligible service providers to become PRI signatories or consider RI/ESG factors in 2008?(Service providers include but are not limited to: external investment managers, investment consultants, proxy voting service providers, external engagement service providers, and investment research providers.)
| To a large extent | |||||
69. You are classified as an Asset Owner and should not answer this question. To what extent did you encourage your institutional clients to become PRI signatories or consider RI/ESG factors in 2008?
| No Answer | |||||
70. To what extent did you encourage peer organisations to become PRI signatories or consider RI/ESG factors in 2008?
| To a small extent | |||||
| 71. Have you revisited any relationships with service providers in light of RI/ESG issue-related capabilities? | No | |||||
| 72. Does your broker evaluation process (which determines how you allocate commissions to brokers) include an ESG component and/or do you have a budget to pay for ESG broker research? | Not applicable | |||||
| 73A. What is your total investment research budget (including brokerage commissions intended to recognize research, in the same currency used in Q1) | 67000000 | |||||
| 73B. what proportion of your total investment research budget is allocated to ESG research (in percent)? | 0.01 | |||||
74. To what extent do you identify ESG issues and suggest them to brokers or other investment research providers for research?
| To a small extent | |||||
75. To what extent did you engage in dialogue, lobbying or initiatives pertaining to government policy and/or industry regulations (for example, stock exchanges or accounting standards) related to RI/ESG issues in 2008?
| To a moderate extent | |||||
| 76. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Principle 4 here. Please also describe any significant activities relating to Principle 4 that have not been captured by the questions above. | Health Super undertakes public advocacy and policy work through ACSI. A key element of ACSI's work is engagement with government, regulators and other parts of the investment industry to promote best practice ESG standards. Health Super has the opportunity to have input into the direction and content of ACSI's work. In 2008, ACSI's public policy and advocacy work included: Participation in a Parliamentary Joint Committee hearing on Shareholder Engagement. In conjunction with IFSA, releasing public statements on short selling and stock lending. ACSI and AIST made a joint submission on the Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. ACSI has continued to participate on the ASX Corporate Governance Council. ACSI made a submission to an ASX Public Consultation Paper on non-voting ordinary shares. Internationally, ACSI continues to be an active participant in the ICGN and the UN PRI. | |||||
| Principle 5 | ||||||
| Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles. | ||||||
| 77. Please provide a one to two paragraph description of your approach to this Principle. | Health Super has been a participant in a number of industry events including the UNPRI Asia Pacific Working Group and looks forward to continuing this in 2009. | |||||
78. To what extent did you collaborate with other investors to improve your effectiveness in implementing each of the following Principles?
| ||||||
| Principle 1 | To a small extent | |||||
| Principle 2 | To a small extent | |||||
| Principle 3 | To a small extent | |||||
| Principle 4 | To a small extent | |||||
| 79. How did you use the PRI Engagement Clearinghouse in 2008?(Please check all that apply.) | Logged in during 2008 to use the Clearinghouse as a learning tool or to keep up to date on ongoing engagements | |||||
| 80. Did you participate in any of the following RI/ESG issue-related collaborations and/or associations? For those not listed, please use the "other" field:(Please check all that apply.) | Carbon Disclosure Project,Other (please specify): 'Australian Council of Superannuation Investors' | |||||
81. Please indicate the three RI/ESG issue-related collaborative engagement initiatives and/or industry associations that you participated in most extensively and indicate how you did so:
| ||||||
| PRI | To a small extent | Health Super is a member of the UNPRI Asia Pacific Working Group. Either attended in person or dialled in to conference calls relating to various ESG topics throughout 2008. | ||||
| Carbon Disclosure Project | To a small extent | Health Super this year signed up to the CDP and has indicated it would like to participate in the project for the next 3 years. | ||||
| 1st Other specify from Q80 | To a small extent | Health Super is a member of ACSI. ACSI was formed for the explicit purposes of mutualising the cost of research on corporate governance and providing a strong, collective voice to companies on key corporate governance issues. | ||||
| 82. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Principle 5 here. Please also describe any significant activities relating to Principle 5 that have not been captured by the questions above. | Health Super is a member of ACSI. ACSI was formed for the explicit purposes of mutualising the cost of research on corporate governance and providing a strong, collective voice to companies on key corporate governance issues. Health Super's participation in ACSI helps us to collaborate with other superannuation funds and improve our effectiveness in implementing principles 2, 3 and 4. | |||||
| Principle 6 | ||||||
| Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles. | ||||||
| 83. Please provide a one to two paragraph description of your approach to this Principle. | Reporting on Health Super's implementation of the Principles is provided to the Board monthly and to the Investment Committee on a quarterly basis. Health Super's attendance at a number of industry forums such as the Responsible Investment Association of Australia's annual conference has enabled us to discuss with other signatories our respective progress in implementing the Principles. Health Super recognises the importance of the completion of the annual PRI assessment tool. Health Super has found this process to be of benefit in thinking about how it can improve in implementing the Principles. For the first year, Health Super will publish its results on the UNPRI website. | |||||
84. To what extent did you disclose (privately and/or publicly) your approach to incorporating ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes in 2008?(If you disclose publicly, please indicate how this disclosure can be obtained - a URL would be sufficient. If answering not at all, please explain why not.)
| To a small extent: 'Included in our Product Disclosure Statement' | |||||
| 85. How did you disclose your (proxy) voting record in 2008?(Please select all that apply. If you disclose publicly, please indicate how this disclosure can be obtained - a URL would be sufficient. If answering not at all, please explain why not.) | Disclosed to clients or beneficiaries,Summary of votes,Disclosed quarterly | |||||
86. To what extent did you disclose (privately and/or publicly) your RI/ESG issue-related engagement activities, results and progress in 2008?(If you disclose publicly, please indicate how this disclosure can be obtained - a URL would be sufficient. If answering not at all, please explain why not.)
| Planning to in 2009: '' | |||||
| 87. Did you disclose (privately and/or publicly) RI/ESG activities, results and progress related to Principle 3, Principle 4 or Principle 5 in 2008?(If you disclose publicly, please indicate how this disclosure can be obtained - a URL would be sufficient. If answering not at all, please explain why not.) | ||||||
| Principle 3 | Planning to in 2009 | |||||
| Principle 4 | Planning to in 2009 | |||||
| Principle 5 | Planning to in 2009 | |||||
| 88. How would you like to publish your responses to this PRI Reporting and Assessment tool?(Please check all that apply.) | Please automatically publish our responses to the reporting and assessment tool in full on the PRI website,We will send a URL to the PRI Secretariat which will link to the responsible investment section of our website (which will include a partial response to this reporting and assessment tool) | |||||
| 89. Please add any overall comments and clarifications related to Principle 6 here. Please also describe any significant activities relating to Principle 6 that have not been captured by the questions above. | No Answer | |||||
| Closing Comments | ||||||
| 90. Please describe the benefits you have enjoyed as a result of signing the PRI: | No Answer | |||||
| 91. What has your organisation changed as a direct result of becoming a PRI signatory? | Health Super has amended its manager review process to include formal incorporation of ESG capabilities. | |||||
| 92. Did the financial market turmoil of 2008 cause you to change your approach to the consideration of ESG factors or active ownership? If it did, please explain how. | No. | |||||
| 93. What are the top three activities the PRI Secretariat could undertake to enhance and encourage further implementation of the PRI by current and prospective signatories? | ||||||
| 1. | ||||||
| 2. | ||||||
| 3. | ||||||
| 94. What are your top three PRI-related goals/priorities for 2009? | ||||||
| 1. | Undertake detailed ESG analysis of portfolios. | |||||
| 2. | Closer relationship with external managers to create dialogue on integration of ESG issues in investment decision making process. | |||||
| 3. | Encourage greater research. Promotion of the UNPRI. | |||||
| 95. What were your most significant achievements in 2008 in relation to your implementation of Principles? | ||||||
| Principle 1: We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes. | Engaging with external managers to determine how they integrate ESG issues in their investment decision making process. | |||||
| Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices. | ||||||
| Principle 3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest. | ||||||
| Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry. | Engaging with external managers to adopt the Principles. | |||||
| Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles. | Engaging with external managers to adopt the Principles. | |||||
| Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles. | Engaging the Trustee Board on ESG issues and receiving feedback relating to their commitment to implementing the Principles. | |||||
| 96. What were your biggest barriers in 2008 with relation to your implementation of the Principles? | ||||||
| Principle 1: We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes. | ||||||
| Principle 2: We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices. | ||||||
| Principle 3: We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest. | ||||||
| Principle 4: We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry. | ||||||
| Principle 5: We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles. | ||||||
| Principle 6: We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles. | ||||||
| 97. Please indicate which principle you find the most difficult to implement and the principle you find the least difficult to implement: | ||||||
| Most difficult | Principle 3 | |||||
| Least difficult | Principle 2 | |||||