THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT. Presented by: Peter Smailes, Treasurer

Transcription

1 THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT Presented by: Peter Smailes, Treasurer N O V E M B E R 2 4,

2 Histry UBC histrically invests in pled funds and indices. In 2010 UBC established an administrative Scially Respnsible Investment Cmmittee t: prvide advice n envirnmental, scial and gvernance (ESG) factrs as it related t the investment f endwment assets. In April 2013 the Cmmittee prpsed t the Bard f Gvernrs jining UN Principles fr Respnsible Investment (UNPRI), the Canadian Calitin f Gd Gvernance (CCGG) and incrprating ESG factrs int endwment investments. The Bard apprved jining CCGG, incrprating ESG factrs int endwment investments, rejected jining UNPRI and set up its wn Bard task grup. 2

3 UBC Endwment Respnsible Investment Plicy June 2013 Direct investment in envirnmental and scial prjects Including climate change/greenhuse gas reductin prjects and in student husing prjects. Gd gvernance UBC Investment Management Trust (IMANT) has jined the Canadian Calitin fr Gd Gvernance. IMANT is als including ESG principles in the selectin f its fund managers. Cntinuus imprvement Bard f Gvernrs special task grup will review the rapidly evlving investment landscape and recmmend further changes t the full Bard. 3

4 Investment Best Practices Incrprating ESG factrs in the investment prcess is prudent and aligned with UBC s scial cmmitment. UBC incrprates ESG factrs int its investment prcess thrugh: Manager selectin, Investr engagement, Direct engagement, and Cllective engagement. 4

5 UBC Endwment Respnsible Investment Plicy (March 2015) Divestment Review Threshlds Divestment prpnents must have supprt frm UBC stakehlders befre the RI Cmmittee will cnsider their divestment prpsal. A Student referendum that has achieved a majrity (50% +1) and a qurum f at least 20% f eligible vtes. A Faculty referendum that has achieved a majrity (50% +1) and a qurum f at least 20% f eligible vtes. A Staff referendum that has achieved a majrity (50% +1) and a qurum f at least 20% f eligible vtes. A written request frm the Alumni Assciatin Bard. Supprt frm tw stakehlder grups is required 5

6 UBC Endwment Respnsible Investment Plicy Divestment Criteria Divestment prpnents have t meet these criteria befre the RI Cmmittee will recmmend divestment t the UBC Bard. Five divestment criteria: 1. Prven scial, plitical, ecnmic r envirnmental ratinale. 2. Reasnable evidence that divestment is an effective way t achieve the desired utcme. 3. Absence f alternative plicies. 4. Cnsistency with the University s legal bligatins as trustee. 5. Cnsistency with ther University relatinships. 6

7 Divestment Prpsal The UBC Alma Mater Sciety held a referendum in 2014 requesting that: UBC shuld immediately frg further investments in fssil fuel cmpanies, and divest frm all existing fssil fuel hldings within five years. The AMS referendum passed with 77% supprting the mtin. UBC Faculty als vted 62% in favur f calling n the University t divest itself f its fssil fuel stcks. The AMS presented UBC with a paper utlining the case fr divestment. 7

8 Divestment Respnse UBC hired an independent third party with respnsible investment expertise t determine if the five divestment criteria were met. They were nt. UBC did nt write a paper clarifying the University s apprach and respnse. We shuld have. UBC cmmitted t establish a Sustainable Future Fund. 8

9 UBC Sustainable Future Fund A lw CO2, high ESG fund separate frm the main endwment. 35% lw CO2 equities, 35% high ESG equities, 30% bnds. Intended t address mre than just fssil fuel divestment. Initially funded by $10 millin f UBC discretinary endwment funds. Open t dnrs. Will act as a cmparatr t the main endwment. Still under discussin. 9

10 Lessns Learned Engage yur Bard early. Get gd legal advice. Wrk with yur investment managers they are ding mre than yu realize. Meet with divestment prpnents. If yu are nt likely t divest and nt likely t cnvince divestment prpnents, fcus n yur real audience. Cmmunicatin is key. 10

11 Other Lessns Learned Faculty, staff, and students have a cntractual relatinship with the University. We have a legal bligatin t invest mnies in accrdance with ur university s gverning statute; differences abund within and acrss prvinces. We d try t accmmdate ur dnr s wishes, but we have t d it within the limits f the trust terms. We cannt invest t prmte an agenda that is cllateral t the interests f the beneficiary f the trust. We have a duty t priritize the financial interests f the beneficiaries t earn a return that is prudent t balance apprpriate levels f risk and return. I am nt a lawyer s please seek legal advice. 11

12 Questins? 12

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