Responsible investment
Our commitment
Qualitas is a signatory to the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and a member of Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC). We are committed to integrating ESG considerations across our funds and investments, reflecting our view that responsible investment supports better risk management and more sustainable long-term returns for investors.
How we assess ESG
All prospective investments undergo a pre-investment ESG assessment using our proprietary rating tools, covering environmental, social and governance dimensions - including energy efficiency, climate risk, building ratings, modern slavery, governance standards and regulatory compliance. ESG ratings are presented to our Investment Committee as part of the investment approval process.
What we avoid
We apply exclusionary screens to avoid investments that could cause significant harm to the environment or society. We do not invest in assets or projects engaged in the following areas:
- Military equipment and firearms
- Nuclear and radioactive materials
- Tobacco manufacturing
- Adult entertainment
Supporting a more sustainable built environment
A core strategic priority for Qualitas is to leverage our real estate platform to support Australian property owners and developers in achieving their sustainability objectives. Our Sustainable Finance Framework provides a structured approach to identifying investments that contribute to meaningful environmental and social outcomes.
Green buildings
Finance for construction or refinancing of residential and commercial buildings meeting Green Star, NatHERS or NABERS benchmarks, with full electrification and low-carbon design requirements.
Sustainable upgrades and retrofits
Finance for capital works that reduce energy use and emissions in existing buildings - including electrification, solar, HVAC upgrades and improved glazing - with a measurable improvement in NABERS ratings.
Affordable housing and social infrastructure
Finance for social and affordable housing programs, and social infrastructure assets - including healthcare, aged care and education facilities — that expand access to essential services.
Sustainability-linked loans
Loans where the interest margin adjusts based on a borrower's performance against agreed ESG targets - incentivising measurable sustainability improvements across any real estate asset class.
Our team is able to structure green, social and sustainability-linked loans in accordance with applicable market standards, including the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association (APLMA) Loan Principles. We work directly with borrowers to identify the most appropriate structure for their assets and sustainability objectives.
