University of Louisville
PA-10: Sustainable Investment
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.16 / 4.00 |
Keith
Sherman Foundation Employee Administration |
Total value of the investment pool:
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) | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Sustainability investment funds (e.g., a renewable energy or impact investment fund) | 54,700,000 US/Canadian $ |
| Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) or the equivalent | 0 US/Canadian $ |
| Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent) | 18,200,000 US/Canadian $ |
| Green revolving funds funded from the endowment | 0 US/Canadian $ |
A brief description of the companies, funds, and/or institutions referenced above:
Sustainability Investment funds
Manager A ($41.5 Mil) is a certified B Corp, and notes sustainability is deeply embedded in the Firm's culture and investment process. The Firm seeks to identify companies that are part of the solution to material sustainability issues in their sectors and/or are well-positioned for long-term secular trends. Manager A specifically addresses UN SDGs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, and 17. Consequently, Manager A does not feel the need to operate an exclusion list, although its process does naturally move it away from particular sectors/companies. The Firm noted that roadmaps allow the team to identify sustainability issues that are relevant and material to particular sectors. Manager A holds positions in companies which participate in wind turbine manufacturing, sustainable building materials, and green technology development.
Manager B’s ($13.2 M) restricted investments list includes coal mining, coal transportation, fossil-fuel refining, adult entertainment, and weapons manufacture and distribution. As part of the research process, Manager B seeks to assess each potential portfolio company’s carbon emissions policies. Manager B employees will buy Gold Standard carbon credits in an attempt to remain carbon neutral. To further its ESG efforts, Manager B has joined CDP. The CDP database stores and shares standardized climate change, water, and forest information. The global disclosure system is a mechanism for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage environmental impacts. CDP focuses on three main data categories: cities, states and regions; corporate data; and data for investors. CDP reports data on more than 5,000 companies. Manager B encourages companies in which it invests to report to CDP. Manager B holds positions in companies which participate in sustainable public transportation, renewable energy sources, and green technology development.
Socially responsible mutual funds with positive screens (or the equivalent):
Manager C ($14.6M) has large positions in select global technology companies that score high in ESG ratings and have exemplary corporate sustainability practices, and they do not invest in fossil fuels. Manager C strives to identify and capitalize on major technology trends, seeking to buy shares in companies entering big new markets with strong earnings growth and engaged, focused leadership. Corporate leadership and governance are described as key components to their investment thesis. Manager C states that it actively meets with management and tracks their actions in an effort to ensure interest alignment. In addition, Manager C indicates that it performs extensive due diligence on management teams and boards of portfolio companies, in advance of investment and on an ongoing basis. Manager C seeks to short companies that it believes have poor governance structures.
Manager D ($3.6 million commitment) is a Certified B Corporation, which demonstrates the commitment that the Firm has to ESG stewardship. Manager D's responsible ownership and people-first investment strategy seeks to address all 17 UN SDGs. As part of the Firm’s ESG policy, Manager D notes it commits to completing ESG due diligence prior to acquiring a company and monitors identified ESG factors at the portfolio company post-acquisition. Manager D conducts ESG due diligence for each new platform and add-on investment where fund equity is required. ESG risks and opportunities identified during due diligence are reviewed with the Investment Committee prior to signing a purchase agreement, according to the Firm. Manager D provides recommendations based on its findings for portfolio companies to implement, which it believes will assist the companies to grow and generate value as well as positive social and environmental impact. Manager D reports it performs annual monitoring of the portfolio companies to track progress and implementation of recommendations. Manager D is focused on companies in the software, services, and online sectors and invests with companies that exhibit strong ESG ratings.
Percentage of the institution's investment pool in positive sustainability investments:
Does the institution have a publicly available sustainable investment policy?:
A copy of the sustainable investment policy:
The sustainable investment policy:
n/a
Does the institution use its sustainable investment policy to select and guide investment managers?:
A brief description of how the sustainable investment policy is applied:
n/a
Has the institution engaged in proxy voting, either by its CIR or other committee or through the use of guidelines, to promote sustainability during the previous three years?:
A copy of the proxy voting guidelines or proxy record:
A brief description of how managers are adhering to proxy voting guidelines:
In July 2016, UofL began participating in shareholder advocacy through a contract with Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) to help us manage our proxy voting at shareholder meetings. In 2015-16, UofL’s Committee on Investor Responsibility examined the proxy voting guidelines available through ISS and decided that the package which most closely aligns with UofL's mission and goals is the Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Proxy Voting Guidelines. UofL uses these guidelines to vote on all shareholder resolutions for companies in which we are directly invested.
Has the institution filed or co-filed one or more shareholder resolutions that address sustainability or submitted one or more letters about social or environmental responsibility to a company in which it holds investments during the previous three years?:
Examples of how the institution has engaged with corporations in its portfolio about sustainability issues during the previous three years:
n/a
Does the institution participate in a public divestment effort and/or have a publicly available investment policy with negative screens?:
A brief description of the divestment effort or negative screens and how they have been implemented:
One of the UofL Foundation's Fund Managers ("Manager B") uses negative screens. Manager B’s restricted investments list includes coal mining, coal transportation, fossil-fuel refining, adult entertainment, and weapons manufacture and distribution. As part of the research process, Manager B seeks to assess each potential portfolio company’s carbon emissions policies. Manager B employees will buy Gold Standard carbon credits in an attempt to remain carbon neutral. To further its ESG efforts, Manager B has joined CDP. The CDP database stores and shares standardized climate change, water, and forest information. The global disclosure system is a mechanism for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage environmental impacts
Approximate percentage of endowment that the divestment effort and/or negative screens apply to:
Does the institution engage in policy advocacy by participating in investor networks and/or engage in inter-organizational collaborations to share best practices?:
A brief description of the investor networks and/or collaborations:
n/a
Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable investment efforts is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
UofL's investments are managed not by the university directly, but by the UofL Foundation. Manager market values reported here are as of 6/30/2021.
UofL's investments are managed not by the university directly, but by the UofL Foundation. Manager market values reported here are as of 6/30/2021.
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.