Social Investments Forum will be held in Vladivostok
According to the Vladivostok Times, "The goal of the Forum is to promote the idea of social investments through creation of partnerships among local/regional authorities, businesses and non-commercial organizations (NGOs) for successful Territory"s socio-economic development. The New Eurasia Foundation Russian Far East Affiliate Office, in partnership with the Primorsky Territory Administration will hold SOCIAL INVESTMENTS FORUM IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST on July 27, 2007 in the framework of the first Pacific Economic Congress "Russia and Asia-Pacific - from cooperation to integration."
Former Investment Committee Chair Peter D’Angelo ‘78MBA, who remains a member of the Committee, points to the University’s Vincentian and Catholic values as drivers of many investment decisions. 'As a Catholic university, St. John’s has also adopted a social investing policy which is provided to the managers in our portfolio,' he says. 'It is our intention to promote the basic moral values of fairness, respect for human life, defense of human rights and social justice.'"
TIAA-CREF Adds 2% Target For Proactive Social Investments In CREF Social Choice Account
TIAA-CREF announced a "two percent target allocation to proactive social investments within the fixed income portion of its CREF Social Choice account (the Account). The two percent target will be based on the Account's total net assets."
Doing well by doing good
According to Philippine News.com, "Many investors have strong opinions that don’t involve their views on interest rates and stock prices. They want their holdings to reflect their values by avoiding companies that profit from activities they oppose, and supporting those that behave in ways they consider appropriate or responsible. At the same time, they still want to earn a reasonable return on their portfolios.
Socially responsible investing ('SRI') helps investors meet these goals by practicing an investment strategy designed to deliver an acceptable level of performance while excluding companies that don’t meet certain ethical standards."
SEC Enforcement Actions
On July 12, 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission "filed a civil injunctive action against Michael F. Shanahan, Sr. (Shanahan), the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Engineered Support Systems, Inc., and his son, Michael F. Shanahan, Jr. (Shanahan Jr.), a former member of Engineered Support's Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors, alleging that they participated in a fraudulent scheme in which they granted undisclosed, in-the-money stock options to themselves and to other Engineered Support officers, employees, and directors. According to the complaint, Engineered Support employees and directors received approximately $20 million in unauthorized and undisclosed compensation as a result of the backdating, $16 million of which was received by top executives and directors. Shanahan personally profited from the backdating scheme by more than $8.9 million."
The Creative Investment Research, Inc. Diversity Portfolio contains equity investments in some of the largest U.S. companies. These companies have been selected for inclusion because they have outstanding financial and diversity performance. Diversity performance is calculated by reviewing several key measures: Human capital, CEO commitment, and supplier diversity. From 4/7/06 to 7/17/07, the model portfolio returned 23.93% versus a 22.45% return for the market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, a major stock market index (without considering dividends. Returns calculated before fees deducted. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.) See DiversityFund.net for more information...
Angels Descend on Minority Business Enterprises
Investors gather to consider investments in top minority-owned ventures.
Portsmouth, VA (PRWEB) July 17, 2007 -- Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC) continues its pioneering initiatives to facilitate the flow of capital to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with the announcement of the 2007 MBE Capital Call Conference, Exhibition, and Venture Forum -- September 20 & 21 in Hampton, Virginia. The MBE Capital Call presents entrepreneurs with innovative and marketable business ideas the opportunity to secure capital, and other essential resources, by "Pitching" their business plans to active, accredited investors. This event invites Entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, Investors, aspiring investors, and College/University Students to Hampton, Virginia for a rewarding two day conference aimed at facilitating investment in minority- and women-owned businesses.
VHCDC created the MBE Capital Call to expose and connect MBEs, particularly African-American, Hispanic, and Native American entrepreneurs, to capital (funding) to start and grow or expand their business. This year, twenty-one (21) entrepreneurs will be selected to pitch their business plans to active, accredited investors. A team of active investors and business development professionals will select the presenters from among registrations received thru August 10, 2007. Presenters will be judged on several criteria and may pitch plans for virtually any industry/business sector.
Registration is easy, and there's no additional cost to enter the competition. Business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, lenders, and students may register by visiting the MBE Capital Call website: www.mbecapitalcall.com now for complete details, registration, and terms and conditions.
According to the Vladivostok Times, "The goal of the Forum is to promote the idea of social investments through creation of partnerships among local/regional authorities, businesses and non-commercial organizations (NGOs) for successful Territory"s socio-economic development. The New Eurasia Foundation Russian Far East Affiliate Office, in partnership with the Primorsky Territory Administration will hold SOCIAL INVESTMENTS FORUM IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST on July 27, 2007 in the framework of the first Pacific Economic Congress "Russia and Asia-Pacific - from cooperation to integration."
St. John’s Endowment Investments Outperform Those of a Majority of Higher Education Institution
According to St. John's University, "A recently released NACUBO study indicates that St. John’s surpassed 90 percent of 700-plus colleges and universities in average annual rate of return on investments in the three-year period ending June 30, 2006. Most impressively, St. John’s outpaced many of the schools with endowments over $1 billion, with a return of 15.6 percent vs. their average return of 15.3 percent. The three-year average return for all schools reporting was 11.9 percent.Former Investment Committee Chair Peter D’Angelo ‘78MBA, who remains a member of the Committee, points to the University’s Vincentian and Catholic values as drivers of many investment decisions. 'As a Catholic university, St. John’s has also adopted a social investing policy which is provided to the managers in our portfolio,' he says. 'It is our intention to promote the basic moral values of fairness, respect for human life, defense of human rights and social justice.'"
TIAA-CREF Adds 2% Target For Proactive Social Investments In CREF Social Choice Account
TIAA-CREF announced a "two percent target allocation to proactive social investments within the fixed income portion of its CREF Social Choice account (the Account). The two percent target will be based on the Account's total net assets."
Doing well by doing good
According to Philippine News.com, "Many investors have strong opinions that don’t involve their views on interest rates and stock prices. They want their holdings to reflect their values by avoiding companies that profit from activities they oppose, and supporting those that behave in ways they consider appropriate or responsible. At the same time, they still want to earn a reasonable return on their portfolios.
Socially responsible investing ('SRI') helps investors meet these goals by practicing an investment strategy designed to deliver an acceptable level of performance while excluding companies that don’t meet certain ethical standards."
SEC Enforcement Actions
On July 12, 2007, the Securities and Exchange Commission "filed a civil injunctive action against Michael F. Shanahan, Sr. (Shanahan), the former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Engineered Support Systems, Inc., and his son, Michael F. Shanahan, Jr. (Shanahan Jr.), a former member of Engineered Support's Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors, alleging that they participated in a fraudulent scheme in which they granted undisclosed, in-the-money stock options to themselves and to other Engineered Support officers, employees, and directors. According to the complaint, Engineered Support employees and directors received approximately $20 million in unauthorized and undisclosed compensation as a result of the backdating, $16 million of which was received by top executives and directors. Shanahan personally profited from the backdating scheme by more than $8.9 million."
The Diversity Portfolio
The Creative Investment Research, Inc. Diversity Portfolio contains equity investments in some of the largest U.S. companies. These companies have been selected for inclusion because they have outstanding financial and diversity performance. Diversity performance is calculated by reviewing several key measures: Human capital, CEO commitment, and supplier diversity. From 4/7/06 to 7/17/07, the model portfolio returned 23.93% versus a 22.45% return for the market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, a major stock market index (without considering dividends. Returns calculated before fees deducted. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.) See DiversityFund.net for more information...
Angels Descend on Minority Business Enterprises
Investors gather to consider investments in top minority-owned ventures.
Portsmouth, VA (PRWEB) July 17, 2007 -- Virginia Housing and Community Development Corporation (VHCDC) continues its pioneering initiatives to facilitate the flow of capital to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with the announcement of the 2007 MBE Capital Call Conference, Exhibition, and Venture Forum -- September 20 & 21 in Hampton, Virginia. The MBE Capital Call presents entrepreneurs with innovative and marketable business ideas the opportunity to secure capital, and other essential resources, by "Pitching" their business plans to active, accredited investors. This event invites Entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, Investors, aspiring investors, and College/University Students to Hampton, Virginia for a rewarding two day conference aimed at facilitating investment in minority- and women-owned businesses.
VHCDC created the MBE Capital Call to expose and connect MBEs, particularly African-American, Hispanic, and Native American entrepreneurs, to capital (funding) to start and grow or expand their business. This year, twenty-one (21) entrepreneurs will be selected to pitch their business plans to active, accredited investors. A team of active investors and business development professionals will select the presenters from among registrations received thru August 10, 2007. Presenters will be judged on several criteria and may pitch plans for virtually any industry/business sector.
Registration is easy, and there's no additional cost to enter the competition. Business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors, lenders, and students may register by visiting the MBE Capital Call website: www.mbecapitalcall.com now for complete details, registration, and terms and conditions.