Australian Ethical Investment has expanded its private markets suite with the launch of the Growth Opportunities Fund, an open-ended vehicle tailored for wholesale investors. The fund debuts with a substantial $500 million Australian Dollar seed allocation from the manager, bolstered by a cornerstone commitment of up to $125 million Australian Dollar from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
The strategy targets a diversified portfolio of unlisted real assets centered on five secular themes: decarbonization, digitalization, urbanization, circular economy, and demographic shifts. Initial capital deployment spans recycling infrastructure, renewable energy storage, and aged care facilities.
Managed under the firm’s proprietary Ethical Charter, the fund utilizes an independent Impact Advisory Forum to ensure rigorous reporting and ESG alignment. Financially, it targets an annualized net return of 11%–13% over a seven-year horizon. Notably, the structure offers quarterly liquidity, bridging the gap between high-impact private market exposure and investor flexibility.