| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 73.28 |
| Liaison | Pierre Lemay |
| Submission Date | Jan. 24, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Université Laval
PAE-17: Shareholder Advocacy
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
5.00 / 5.00 |
Pierre
Lemay Development Advisor Office of the Vice Rector, External and International Affairs and Health |
Has the institution filed or co-filed one or more shareholder resolutions that address sustainability during the past three years?:
Has the institution submitted one or more letters about social or environmental responsibility to a company in which it holds investments during the previous three years?:
Has the institution conducted a negative screening of its entire investment pool within the last three years?:
A brief description of how the institution (or its foundation) has engaged in shareholder advocacy that promotes sustainability during the previous 3 years. :
The university’s investment portfolio (real estate, infrastructure, and companies) comprises its employees’ pension plan funds as well as its endowment funds. The portfolio is managed by Fondation de l’Université Laval and is worth an estimated $1 350 000 000 (end of 2012).
The Mutual Fund, a trust consisting of the assets of Université Laval’s four pension plans, manages asset allocation. The Investment Committee administers the Mutual Fund in accordance with an Investment Policy. In an effort to enforce the policy, the committee oversees investment management by outside managers. All assets, with the exception of real estate funds, are managed by outside managers.
The Investment Committee has an agreement with Groupe Investissement Responsable (GIR), which exercises and manages proxy-voting rights in our Mutual Fund companies. GIR issues requests and recommendations to the management teams of these companies, which represent the largest share of the university’s investment portfolio.
***
Groupe Investissement Responsable Inc., more commonly known as GIR, is a Quebec leader in the area of extra-financial strategic advisory services, a critical part of today's investment world. GIR guides its clients through the environmental, social, and corporate governance issues that affect public companies. It also offers a wide array of services including proxy-voting services, research, and business consulting.
As a strategic advisor, GIR is duty-bound to act in the best long-term interest of its clients. GIR believes that fiduciary duties require taking into account environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues that can have an impact on how investment portfolios perform.
Thanks to its partners and its large network of contributors, GIR offers worldwide coverage provided by local and independent experts. Its research service involves some 200 environmental, social, and corporate governance indicators.
The website URL where information about the negative screen, divestment effort, and/or direct engagement with companies in which the institution holds investments is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.