Rest moves closer to its impact investment ambition with investment in ARCHIMED

Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, has taken another step towards its impact investment target with an investment in specialist private equity firm ARCHIMED.

European-based ARCHIMED invests exclusively in healthcare industries to drive sustainable development and improve people’s health and economic status.

Marina Pasika, who leads Rest’s private equity program, said the high-quality investment was another important milestone in reaching the fund’s ambition to achieve a one per cent allocation to impact investments across the total portfolio by 2026.

“Our investment in ARCHIMED aims, first and foremost, to help our 1.9 million members to grow their retirement savings with strong, long-term investment returns – but it also contributes to a better future,” said Ms Pasika.

“Rest’s investment approach always prioritises investment returns to members. Growing our allocation to investments that generate strong financial returns alongside measurable social or environmental benefits is a key element of our approach to responsible investment.

“ARCHIMED aims to create better, safer and more accessible healthcare across the globe, and promote sustainable and responsible practices. Like Rest, they are also aligned to five of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“In particular, Rest and ARCHIMED are both aligned to SDG 8: ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’, and SDG 13: ‘Climate Action’.

“Following our first impact investment in Palisade Impact, it’s exciting to build on that momentum and expand our exposure to this area.”

ARCHIMED finds, supports and scales up companies that have a mission to improve health outcomes, specifically companies that create and deliver products and services that aim to improve human and animal health. They do not invest in the higher-risk areas of heathcare, like drug development. The companies that ARCHIMED invests in are highly scalable, international, and have a strong scientific component.

Examples of ARCHIMED’s investments include:

• PlasmidFactory, a German company that manufactures DNA for vaccines and medical research; and
• Natus Medical, a global medical device provider that specialises in solutions for diagnosis and treatment of patients with disorders of the nervous system.

Rest’s first impact investment was with Australian-based Palisade Impact, which focuses on assets that target and contribute to practical solutions to social disadvantage and climate change by investing in next generation infrastructure and businesses providing essential services.