TIAA-CREF Announces Social Choice Fund SRI Allocation

A TIAA-CREF news release said that under the new target allocation, the account will invest in publicly traded fixed income securities that finance initiatives in areas including affordable housing, alternative energy such as hydro-electric power and economic development programs in the United States and abroad. 

The new 2% target allocation, subject to market conditions and valuation parameters, would result in over $175 million of investments, according to the company.  TIAA-CREF said it expects to begin reporting progress toward meeting the 2%target investments in the fourth quarter of 2007.

The investments will be chosen based on the same financial criteria used by TIAA-CREF’s Global Public Markets group in selecting fixed-income investments for the organization’s other funds.  The announcement said the new allocations made in CREF Social Choice will complement existing private market investments related to microfinance, affordable housing and community economic development currently pursued by TIAA-CREF through its TIAA Traditional account.

“We continue to see increasing demand for socially responsible investments from our clients and the broader marketplace, including the ability to invest in initiatives such as renewable energy sources and economic development programs in the United States and abroad,” said Herb Allison, Chief Executive Officer, TIAA-CREF, in the news release.

CREF Social Choice had $8.9 billion in net assets as of March 31, 2007, with over 430,000 investors.  The account is a balanced portfolio with an overall target asset allocation of 60% equity securities and 40% fixed income securities.