However, public documents reveal that the UC system continues to possess public and private assets in fossil fuel companies. As per the UC’s recent Form 13F filing — a document required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — it still possesses more than $3.9 million in ExxonMobil shares, a company accused in multiple lawsuits of misguiding the public about climate change impacts of fossil fuels.
As of mid-2023, the UC endowment and retirement plan still have substantial investments in private equity firms with oil and natural gas industry assets including Peyto Exploration, Foundation Energy Management, EnCap Flatrock Midstream, and Lime Rock Partners. Private equity investments, unlike mutual funds, do not trade publicly, are not available for individual purchase, and have higher risk profiles but potentially higher returns.
UC Investments also possesses indirect shares in major oil and gas firms through investments in index funds like S&P 500 and MSCI. The UC announced in May 2020 its request to MSCI to create an index excluding tobacco and fossil fuels. However, UC’s proxy voting record signifies continued shareholdings in public oil and gas companies, contradicting its divestment claim.
The UC system’s endowment is not managed entirely by the UC Board of Regents or UC Investments. Each UC campus has its own endowment managed by a campus foundation. The UC Berkeley Foundation, for instance, has not voted to divest from fossil fuel companies. Campus foundations, including UC Berkeley Foundation, are urged to hold a vote to divest from fossil fuels.
Although the UC system has made progress towards a clean energy future, more transparency is expected from UC Investments about divestment parameters from fossil fuels and a timeline for full divestment. Such actions are crucial for building trust between the UC Board of Regents, the university community, and achieving the university’s stated goals of implementing ESG principles in its investment practices.
Original Story at www.dailycal.org