| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 74.69 |
| Liaison | Tess Esposito |
| Submission Date | Feb. 9, 2022 |
University of Dayton
PA-10: Sustainable Investment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.74 / 5.00 |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Positive sustainability investment
1,053,850,000
US/Canadian $
Value of holdings in each of the following categories:
| Value of holdings | |
| Sustainable industries (e.g., renewable energy or sustainable forestry) | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Businesses selected for exemplary sustainability performance (e.g., using criteria specified in a sustainable investment policy) | 112,000,000 US/Canadian $ |
| Sustainability investment funds (e.g., a renewable energy or impact investment fund) | 23,300,000 US/Canadian $ |
| Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or the equivalent | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent) | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Green revolving funds funded from the endowment | 0 US/Canadian $ |
If any of the above is greater than zero, provide:
The above investments include:
- a large cap equity fund that invests in companies whose environmental strategies are generating tangible business results, in the form of revenue growth, cost improvement, or enhanced franchise value. The funds seek to invest in companies that have an above average returns as a result of environmentally-efficient design or manufacturing, or offer products or services that address environmental problems. Environmental analysis complements thorough fundamental research and a strict valuation discipline; only companies with strong fundamental, environmental and valuation characteristics are considered for investment.
- a fixed income fund that selectively invests in corporate, municipal, supranational and government agency securities with above-average ESG profiles and/or bonds that fund essential environmental, social or economic development projects.
- a commitment to invest in a renewable private energy fund. To date we have invested ~$5.7 million, which represents .1% of our long-term pool value as of April 30, 2021. This fund invests in renewable energy projects around the globe.
- a private equity fund investing in renewable energy.
- a private equity fund investing in early and growth stage companies that will produce a competitive financial return and measurable positive social impact. Targets four sectors: healthcare, education, financial services and energy access.
- a long/short global equity hedge fund strategy that includes socially responsible investing as a factor in the investment process.
- a large cap equity fund that invests in companies whose environmental strategies are generating tangible business results, in the form of revenue growth, cost improvement, or enhanced franchise value. The funds seek to invest in companies that have an above average returns as a result of environmentally-efficient design or manufacturing, or offer products or services that address environmental problems. Environmental analysis complements thorough fundamental research and a strict valuation discipline; only companies with strong fundamental, environmental and valuation characteristics are considered for investment.
- a fixed income fund that selectively invests in corporate, municipal, supranational and government agency securities with above-average ESG profiles and/or bonds that fund essential environmental, social or economic development projects.
- a commitment to invest in a renewable private energy fund. To date we have invested ~$5.7 million, which represents .1% of our long-term pool value as of April 30, 2021. This fund invests in renewable energy projects around the globe.
- a private equity fund investing in renewable energy.
- a private equity fund investing in early and growth stage companies that will produce a competitive financial return and measurable positive social impact. Targets four sectors: healthcare, education, financial services and energy access.
- a long/short global equity hedge fund strategy that includes socially responsible investing as a factor in the investment process.
Percentage of the institution's investment pool in positive sustainability investments:
12.84
Part 2. Investor engagement
Sustainable investment policy
No
None
A copy of the sustainable investment policy:
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None
The sustainable investment policy:
Portions of UD's Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines for Catholic, Sustainable, and Responsible Investment are included below to address the questions in this section.
None
Does the institution use its sustainable investment policy to select and guide investment managers?:
Yes
A brief description of how the sustainable investment policy is applied:
Compliance with the guidelines is monitored monthly with assistance from our outsourced CIO partner and independent custodian.
In 2015, the University completed the divestment from fossil fuel companies in the domestic equity and domestic fixed income portion of its portfolio. In addition, specific investments have been made in “sustainable” funds that focus on renewable energy investments and in companies that have track records of environmentally sustainable business practices.
In 2015, the University completed the divestment from fossil fuel companies in the domestic equity and domestic fixed income portion of its portfolio. In addition, specific investments have been made in “sustainable” funds that focus on renewable energy investments and in companies that have track records of environmentally sustainable business practices.
Proxy voting
Yes
None
A copy of the proxy voting guidelines or proxy record:
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None
A brief description of how managers are adhering to proxy voting guidelines:
The University intends to be a responsible investor by voting proxies of individually owned stocks and mutual funds. The University uses the services of an outside firm to vote proxies on its behalf based on approved guidelines for proxy voting that are consistent with its stated SRI guidelines. The University staff will periodically review the proxy voting records of this firm in order to ensure compliance with these guidelines.
The University may also choose to invest in an entity or fund which it might otherwise avoid in order to exercise its rights as a shareholder in order to affect desired change consistent with these guidelines. However, such action is limited and is only done in support of a known or planned proxy actions, and such actions must be approved by a majority of the its Investment Committee. The University delegates many of its investment decisions to its Outsourced CIO partner and Investment Managers, and it may delegate the voting of proxies in accordance with these guidelines.
The University may also choose to invest in an entity or fund which it might otherwise avoid in order to exercise its rights as a shareholder in order to affect desired change consistent with these guidelines. However, such action is limited and is only done in support of a known or planned proxy actions, and such actions must be approved by a majority of the its Investment Committee. The University delegates many of its investment decisions to its Outsourced CIO partner and Investment Managers, and it may delegate the voting of proxies in accordance with these guidelines.
Shareholder resolutions
No
Examples of how the institution has engaged with corporations in its portfolio about sustainability issues during the previous three years:
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Divestment efforts and negative screens
Yes
A brief description of the divestment effort or negative screens and how they have been implemented:
Avoidance Strategies and Negative Screens:
The Staff will periodically review and prepare a list of companies to be screened from its investments, and this list is reviewed and approved by the Investment Committee of its Board of Trustees. The most recent review of the screens was completed in Spring 2021. UD's fossil fuel and Catholic negative screens currently encompass global equities and fixed income securities, and preclude investing in 333 companies. The following criteria are used in preparing the list of prohibited investments:
• The University does not invest in corporations that own significant amounts of unburned fossil fuels, retain the rights to extract significant amounts of unburned fossil fuels, generate significant revenue from the extraction of fossil fuels, or who are significant users of fossil fuels and are not making meaningful efforts to reduce their use of fuels that are harmful to the environment.
• The University strives to avoid investment in corporations that are involved in the direct participation in or support of abortion and the sale and/or manufacture of abortifacients, the manufacture or sale of contraceptives, the production or use of stem cells derived from aborted fetus in stem cell or fetal tissue research, and the sale or production of pornographic materials or materials that are demeaning to certain races, genders, or ethnic groups.
In addition to its negative screening process, the University monitors and strives to avoid investment in entities that:
• Demonstrate a significant lack of concern or fairness in labor-management relations and the equitable treatment of women and minorities, and which show disregard for consumer or worker safety and environmental quality.
• Generate a significant portion of their revenues from the production of offensive military or other weapons;
• Are involved in the exploitation of natural resources or human life in underdeveloped areas of the world; and
• Engage in management or board governance practices that: limit the appointment of minorities and women to leadership or board positions; favor certain classes of shareholders, executives, and board members with regard to shareholder voting rights; and maintain compensation practices that are not aligned with shareholder interests.
The Staff will periodically review and prepare a list of companies to be screened from its investments, and this list is reviewed and approved by the Investment Committee of its Board of Trustees. The most recent review of the screens was completed in Spring 2021. UD's fossil fuel and Catholic negative screens currently encompass global equities and fixed income securities, and preclude investing in 333 companies. The following criteria are used in preparing the list of prohibited investments:
• The University does not invest in corporations that own significant amounts of unburned fossil fuels, retain the rights to extract significant amounts of unburned fossil fuels, generate significant revenue from the extraction of fossil fuels, or who are significant users of fossil fuels and are not making meaningful efforts to reduce their use of fuels that are harmful to the environment.
• The University strives to avoid investment in corporations that are involved in the direct participation in or support of abortion and the sale and/or manufacture of abortifacients, the manufacture or sale of contraceptives, the production or use of stem cells derived from aborted fetus in stem cell or fetal tissue research, and the sale or production of pornographic materials or materials that are demeaning to certain races, genders, or ethnic groups.
In addition to its negative screening process, the University monitors and strives to avoid investment in entities that:
• Demonstrate a significant lack of concern or fairness in labor-management relations and the equitable treatment of women and minorities, and which show disregard for consumer or worker safety and environmental quality.
• Generate a significant portion of their revenues from the production of offensive military or other weapons;
• Are involved in the exploitation of natural resources or human life in underdeveloped areas of the world; and
• Engage in management or board governance practices that: limit the appointment of minorities and women to leadership or board positions; favor certain classes of shareholders, executives, and board members with regard to shareholder voting rights; and maintain compensation practices that are not aligned with shareholder interests.
Approximate percentage of endowment that the divestment effort and/or negative screens apply to:
41
Investor networks
Yes
None
A brief description of the investor networks and/or collaborations:
The University is a member of the Intentional Endowments Network (IEN), an initiative of the Crane Institute of Sustainability. The IEN provides a network of over 150 member institutions for idea sharing regarding investing for sustainability.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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