Booster Income Securities Portfolio

Companies of concern

• Human Rights Violations

  • Meta Platforms, Inc. 0.07%
    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. 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.

  • Thermo Fisher Scientific 0.03%
    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 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.

  • Johnson & Johnson 0.02%
    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.

  • Nestlé 0.01%
    Human Rights Abuses

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

    NESTLÉ 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.

  • Uber Technologies, Inc. 0.01%
    Labour Rights Violations

    Where the actions of companies have violated global standards on labour rights and freedoms; including poor treatment of workers, child and forced labour, and modern slavery.

    UBER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Labour Rights Violations

    Uber is a ride and food delivery service provider. Evidence shows the company has been prioritising revenue growth over driver welfare and user safety. As Uber considers its drivers to be contractors, this limits their employee rights to the minimum wage and other benefits, meaning drivers and vehicles are not subject to the labour standards expected from traditional taxi companies.

• Environmental Harm

  • BHP Group 0.03% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    Environmental Damage

    Where companies, through their products or operations, are involved in environmental degradation e.g., pollution, chemical spills.

    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.

    BHP GROUP Environmental Damage Fossil Fuel Production

    One of the world's largest mining companies, headquartered in Australia with operations globally. In 2015 Samarco (a BHP joint venture with Vale SA) caused the Mariana dam disaster releasing huge quantities of heavy metal waste into the Doce River basin. This is the largest pollution incident ever recorded and devastated communities and the ecosystem. BHP also mines thermal coal. While it sold some coal mines, it will continue to operate the Mt Arthur mine in New South Wales until 2030.

• Animal Cruelty

  • Exxon Mobil Corp. 0.03% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    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.

    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.

    EXXON MOBIL CORP. Animal Testing Fossil Fuel Production

    ExxonMobil, headquartered in the USA, is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. The company is engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, as well as in the manufacture, trade, transport and sale of crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals, and specialty products. Between 2020 and 2022, the company spent on average US$1,402 million per year on exploration activities alone. After generating 1,581 million barrels of oil in 2021, the company plans to expand their operations an additional 452% in the short term (1-7 years). This is the largest amount of expansion relative to current operations of any of the major oil and gas companies. The expansion is also proposed to extend far and wide across the globe, including in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, Chad, Angola, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Argentina, Guyana, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Russia. Evidence shows the company is far from being on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise, as the company’s planned short-term expansion overshoots the IEA Net-Zero Emissions Scenario by 51.1%.

  • LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Se 0.03%
    Animal Welfare Issues

    Where companies, through their products or operations, cause harm to animals e.g., animal entertainment (such as marine parks and rodeos), livestock exports, whale meat etc.

    Fur & Speciality Leather

    Where companies are involved in the production or retail of fur & speciality leather products (where animals are raised purely for skins).

    LVMH MOËT HENNESSY LOUIS VUITTON SE Animal Welfare Issues Fur & Speciality Leather

    Uses exotic leather and fur products in its luxury ranges such as crocodile, python and ostrich. Brands containing exotic leather include Donna Karan, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Bvlgari, Céline. In addition it sells cosmetics and fragrances in China where testing on animals is required.

  • Procter & Gamble Co. 0.02%
    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.

  • Hermès International Sca 0.01%
    Animal Welfare Issues

    Where companies, through their products or operations, cause harm to animals e.g., animal entertainment (such as marine parks and rodeos), livestock exports, whale meat etc.

    Fur & Speciality Leather

    Where companies are involved in the production or retail of fur & speciality leather products (where animals are raised purely for skins).

• Weapons

  • Walmart, Inc. 0.02%
    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. 0.07% 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.

  • BHP Group 0.03% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    Environmental Damage

    Where companies, through their products or operations, are involved in environmental degradation e.g., pollution, chemical spills.

    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.

    BHP GROUP Environmental Damage Fossil Fuel Production

    One of the world's largest mining companies, headquartered in Australia with operations globally. In 2015 Samarco (a BHP joint venture with Vale SA) caused the Mariana dam disaster releasing huge quantities of heavy metal waste into the Doce River basin. This is the largest pollution incident ever recorded and devastated communities and the ecosystem. BHP also mines thermal coal. While it sold some coal mines, it will continue to operate the Mt Arthur mine in New South Wales until 2030.

  • Exxon Mobil Corp. 0.03% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    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.

    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.

    EXXON MOBIL CORP. Animal Testing Fossil Fuel Production

    ExxonMobil, headquartered in the USA, is an integrated oil and gas company that explores for, produces, and refines oil around the world. The company is engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas, as well as in the manufacture, trade, transport and sale of crude oil, natural gas, petroleum products, petrochemicals, and specialty products. Between 2020 and 2022, the company spent on average US$1,402 million per year on exploration activities alone. After generating 1,581 million barrels of oil in 2021, the company plans to expand their operations an additional 452% in the short term (1-7 years). This is the largest amount of expansion relative to current operations of any of the major oil and gas companies. The expansion is also proposed to extend far and wide across the globe, including in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, Chad, Angola, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Argentina, Guyana, USA, Canada, the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and Russia. Evidence shows the company is far from being on a climate change pathway aligned with 1.5°C of global temperature rise, as the company’s planned short-term expansion overshoots the IEA Net-Zero Emissions Scenario by 51.1%.

  • Totalenergies Se 0.01% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    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.

    TOTALENERGIES SE Fossil Fuel Production

    French based global oil major (7th largest in the world). In 2022 it produced 970 million barrels of oil and the company plans to expand their operations with an additional 7,970 million barrels in the short term (1-7 years). This planned term expansion overshoots the IEA Net-Zero Emissions Scenario by 57%.

  • Woodside Energy Group Ltd. 0.01% !!
    This company is expanding their fossil fuel production and
    is off track with the UN target to limit global temperature
    rise to 1.5°C
    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.

    WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LTD. Fossil Fuel Production

    Australia’s largest oil and gas company with the largest LNG production in the southern hemisphere. The company seeks to massively expand gas production in NW Australia, which will produce huge levels of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 50 years. Ecologists are also very concerned about Woodside’s expansion plans on important coral reef habitats.

• Social Harm

  • Booster Wine Group 0.12%
    Alcohol

    Where companies are involved in the production or retail of alcoholic beverages, or alcohol-related products and services.

  • Skycity Entertainment Group Ltd. 0.01%
    Gambling

    Where companies are involved in the manufacture or retail of gambling specialised equipment, gambling supporting products and services, or gambling operations.

    SKYCITY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LTD. Gambling

    Casino and hotel operator across Australia and New Zealand. Has failed on a number of occasions to meet its regulatory obligations. Failures by the Auckland Casino to minimise harm for a problem gambler led to a mandatory shut down for 5 days in 2024. Repeated failures to prevent money laundering resulted in a large fine in Australia of AUD$67m and in NZ of NZD$4m.