Investors Raising Heat on Fossil Fuel Companies and Their Strategies for Emerging Low-Carbon Economy
On the heels of a historic global climate agreement in Paris, investors have filed a record number of shareholder resolutions this year with major U.S. energy companies asking them to disclose their strategies for competing in a global economy that is shifting towards clean energy and away from fossil fuels. The resolutions seek clarity on […]
UUA Board of Trustees Approve Decrease in Payment Percentage for UUA Administered Trusts
The Board, acting on the recommendation from the Investment Committee, approved a reduction in the trust payout percentage from the current annual rate of 5% to 4.75% effective for fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017) and then a second reduction to 4.5% for fiscal year 2018. The Investment Committee based their […]
A Blueprint For ESG Implementation
As environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors gain steam among asset owners, how they incorporate ESG factors in their investment decisions is taking an increasing import. FEMM questioned several funds to better understand these asset owner’s journeys to incorporate an ESG philosophy in their portfolio’s. A consultant was also asked to provide general views. Reporter […]
January Monthly Commentary
Equities started the year sharply lower as investors shunned risk amid concerns of a global slowdown in growth. The continued weakness in oil prices added to this risk aversion as oil hit a decade low of $26 before ending the month at $33. At home, economic reports were largely underwhelming, including the tepid estimated GDP […]
December Monthly Commentary
Global equities ended 2015 with a whimper as investors stayed on the sidelines while central banks in Europe and the US provided guidance on monetary policy. At home, the Federal Reserve raised rates, putting its target rate from 25-to-50 basis points. The anticipated move was well received by US markets which received a modest mid-month […]
Shareholder Activism Succeeds at American Electric Power
In 2014, the UUA co-filed a resolution with American Electric Power (AEP) requesting a review of the company’s public policy advocacy efforts on energy and climate change policy. In March of this year, Tim Brennan, CFO and Treasurer of the UUA, wrote an op-ed piece using the UUA’s moral and financial power to continue the […]
November Monthly Commentary
Global equities were subdued in November amid tempered investor sentiment on the heels of October’s bounce back from third quarter losses. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% as positive economic data not only provided a supportive backdrop, but also increased the likelihood the Federal Reserve will raise rates at its December meeting. As of the end of November, […]
UUCEF, LLC Subscription Agreements Due Now
UUCEF investing congregations, IMPORTANT NOTICE: Congregations wishing to invest their assets in the UU Common Endowment as of January 1, 2016 must complete a new subscription agreement immediately. These documents were mailed to all investing congregations in October. If you did not receive them, please notify us immediately by email or by calling Susan Helbert […]
Climate Change Toolkit
Many times the members of the UUA SRI Committee have questions from congregations, endowments and sometimes even institutional investors about what they can do with investment funds to impact climate change. CERES and their clean trillion campaign is one place that we direct fiduciaries with larger investment pools for ideas. Recently, a toolkit called Action On […]
UUA Signs Letter to the FDA
The UUA has long been concerned about the consequences of the systems of agriculture in use today, as reflected by our Ethical Eating Statement of Conscience. Additionally, UUA member congregations have a history of activism with corporations that engage in biotechnology, and we see this as an extension of those grass-roots efforts. The UUA, in […]