Aurora Conservative Fund

Companies of concern

• Human Rights Violations

  • Meta Platforms Inc-Class A 0.11%
    Public Safety

    Where companies are involved in significant harm to individuals or communities, through the unsafe nature of their products or delivery of services and inadequate response to evidence of harm.

    META PLATFORMS INC-CLASS A Public Safety

    Meta is the world’s largest online social network consisting of the Facebook app, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, and many features surrounding these products. The company has faced several investigations and legal action linked to privacy-related allegations, including its handling of user data, and breaches of user privacy. Meta has also been criticised for its poor governance model, as well as allowing its platform in non-English speaking countries to be used to incite ethnic violence.

  • Nestle SA-Reg 0.09%
    Human Rights Abuses

    Where the actions of companies have violated global standards on human rights and freedoms including customary rights of indigenous people.

    NESTLE SA-REG Human Rights Abuses

    Nestle manufactures and sells food and beverages. The company has been criticised for exploiting local water resources for its bottled water production, which has forced underprivileged communities to pay a premium for their groundwater while alternatives have been exhausted. There have also been several allegations of labour conflicts and human rights violations in Nestle’s palm oil, coffee, fruits and seafood supply chains.

  • Johnson & Johnson 0.05%
    Public Safety

    Where companies are involved in significant harm to individuals or communities, through the unsafe nature of their products or delivery of services and inadequate response to evidence of harm.

    JOHNSON & JOHNSON Public Safety

    Johnson & Johnson is the world's largest and most diverse healthcare firm. The company has been involved in repeated incidents related to the quality and safety of several of its products across all three of the company’s business segments — drugs, devices, and consumer products. Several products have been associated with allegations of severe or even fatal adverse impacts on patients.

  • Caterpillar Inc 0.02%
    War & Conflict

    Where a company is complicit in its products or services enabling violations of the Geneva Convention and infringement of the rights of individuals in war or conflict situations.

    CATERPILLAR INC War & Conflict

    Caterpillar, a manufacturer of heavy equipment, power solutions, and locomotives, has a history of supplying the Israeli military. In 2004, Human Rights Watch reported the use of Caterpillar D9 bulldozers in demolishing over 250 Palestinian homes in Gaza, resulting in Palestinian casualties. Subsequently, in 2017, the Israeli military acquired numerous Caterpillar heavy engineering vehicles through a significant deal. The sale was financed by the United States Government, but the deal itself was between the Israeli military and Caterpillar. Incidents involving Caterpillar equipment causing harm to Palestinians have persisted, with recent instances reported as of 2023.
    These occurrences include the use of Caterpillar equipment in demolishing Palestinian homes in illegally occupied territories, constructing illegal settlements and their infrastructure on occupied land, as well as building the Separation Wall in the West Bank and the Gaza border wall. Evidence also suggests Caterpillar’s products have been used by third parties in other conflict-affected areas, including Myanmar and the Western Sahara. Caterpillar's continued supply to these conflict areas raises concerns about its complicity in the misuse of its products.

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc 0.02%
    Human Rights Abuses

    Where the actions of companies have violated global standards on human rights and freedoms including customary rights of indigenous people.

    THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC INC Human Rights Abuses

    Thermo Fisher Scientific sells scientific instruments and laboratory equipment, diagnostics consumables, and life science reagents. Thermo Fisher DNA testing kits have been linked to surveillance and discriminatory purposes by the legal authorities in Xinjiang (a region of China) for monitoring and tracking the Muslim Uyghur ethnic group and other minorities. Evidence shows Thermo Fisher Scientific continues to supply DNA sequencing products to the Xinjiang region, despite the company announcing it would halt sales to the region in 2019.

• Animal Cruelty

  • Unicharm Corp 0.12%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

  • Beiersdorf AG 0.10%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

  • Procter & Gamble Co/The 0.03%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

  • L'Oreal 0.01%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

    L'OREAL Animal Testing

    L'Oréal is a personal care company and cosmetics company concentrating on hair colour, skin care, sun protection, make-up, perfume, and hair care. The company states that its products are sold in countries where animal testing of cosmetic products is required by law.

  • Sherwin-Williams Co 0.01%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

  • Unilever PLC-Sponsored Adr 0.01%
    Animal Testing

    Where companies are involved in testing products on animals for cosmetic, personal care, household product, chemical and other uses. We do not include companies which conduct animal testing for pharmaceutical products, medical devices, biotechnology, human food, or pet food.

• Weapons

  • Walmart Inc 0.04%
    Firearms

    Where companies are involved in the manufacturing or retail of firearms, including guns, rifles, pistols, or components or services thereof.

    WALMART INC Firearms

    Walmart is the USA’s largest retailer by sales, selling a variety of general merchandise and grocery items. Walmart retails shotguns, pistols and ammunition at some of its stores in the USA, as well as components for firearms such as scopes. Walmart are currently working to improve their weapon-realted controls.

• Fossil Fuels

  • Contact Energy Ltd 0.68% 1.5°C
    This company is on a 1.5°C pathway
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

    CONTACT ENERGY LTD Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Contact Energy is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest electric utilities companies. Contact operates three thermal power stations that employ gas and diesel. In FY2023, 7% of the energy Contact generated came from thermal generation. However, Contact has announced plans for further investment in renewable generation. This includes NZD 1.2 billion in geothermal power, by constructing a new station and expanding capacity at an existing station, along with early developments in wind and solar generation. Therefore, the company is considered to be on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise.

  • Hera Spa 0.30%
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

  • Nextera Energy Inc 0.26%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

  • Public Service Enterprise Gp 0.21%
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

    PUBLIC SERVICE ENTERPRISE GP Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Public Service Enterprise Group is based in the USA and supplies electricity and natural gas to customers, primarily in New Jersey. Evidence shows that electricity generated from oil and gas accounts from 15% of the company’s total revenue. However, the company is in the process of divesting from their fossil fuel assets and in 2021 they shut down their last coal-fired plant. The company now plans to focus on nuclear power and natural gas and has set a target of net-zero emissions by 2030. Therefore, the company is considered to be on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise.

  • Centerpoint Energy Inc 0.18%
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

  • Xcel Energy Inc 0.15%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

  • Alliant Energy Corp 0.14%
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

  • Dominion Energy Inc 0.14%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

  • Weg SA 0.11%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

  • Edp Finance Bv 0.09% 1.5°C
    This company is on a 1.5°C pathway
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

  • Atlantica Sustainable Infras 0.08%
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

  • Pinnacle West Capital 0.06%
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

  • Enel Spa 0.04% 1.5°C
    This company is on a 1.5°C pathway
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

    ENEL SPA Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Enel is Europe’s largest electric utilities company by market capitalisation and holds a 70.1% stake in the energy company, Endesa. Evidence shows that energy generated from fossil fuels accounts for 15% of the company’s revenues. However, the company have announced plans to abandon coal by 2027 and gas by 2040, while investing significantly in expanding their renewable energy capacity. By 2030, the company expects to have invested a total of EUR €70 billion in renewable energy. Therefore, the company is considered to be on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise.

  • Cassa Depositi E Prestit 0.02%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.

  • Iberdrola SA 0.02% 1.5°C
    This company is on a 1.5°C pathway
    Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Where companies source their power generation from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) to generate electricity.

    IBERDROLA SA Fossil Fuel Power Generation

    Iberdrola is a Spanish energy company, and one of the largest utilities in the world with electric utility operations in nearly 40 countries. Evidence shows that energy generated from oil and gas accounts for 15% of the company’s revenues. However, the company currently generates 80% of their electricity from renewable sources and have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. The company reports a total investment of EUR €150 billion is planned for this decade to enable its energy transition. Therefore, the company is considered to be on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise.

  • Valero Energy Corp 0.02%
    Fossil Fuel Production

    Where companies are involved in the production of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal, shale oil) including exploration, production (including core services), storage, transport (except by rail) and refining.