2012 News Releases
CalSTRS Releases Statement on Investments in Firearms Manufacturers
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) released a statement today regarding its investments in private equity funds managed by Cerberus Capital Management that are invested in the Freedom Group, which manufactures firearms:
“The tragic and devastating acts that took place December 14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut have prompted many in this country to call for change: To determine what we can do differently to help ensure the unthinkable never happens again.
CalSTRS Chief to Chair FTSE’s Environmental Markets Committee
Jack Ehnes succeeds former CalEPA Secretary Winston Hickox after five years as chairman.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – FTSE Group (“FTSE”), a leading global index provider and a pioneer in responsible investment, announced that Jack Ehnes, CEO of CalSTRS (California State Teachers’ Retirement System) will serve as the new chairman of the FTSE Environmental Markets Committee.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Appoints CalSTRS’ Anne Sheehan to Board of Directors
CalSTRS Director of Corporate Governance among 13 selected to inaugural board.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – California State Teachers’ Retirement System’s (CalSTRS) Corporate Governance Director, Anne Sheehan, has been named to the board of directors of the newly-launched Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB).
CalSTRS Announces Real Estate Partnership to Serve Urban Markets
The first project will include a Southern California shopping center.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) today announced the launch of a real estate joint venture focused on urban retail properties in underserved communities. The partnership has the potential of reaching $250 million in commitments.
CalSTRS Releases Statement on News Corp. Shareholder Vote
CalSTRS Vote Addresses Lack of Governance Changes at News Corp.
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) released a statement today outlining its votes at the News Corp. annual meeting. CalSTRS Director of Corporate Governance Anne Sheehan said:
CalSTRS Announces California Infrastructure Investments
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) today announced the expansion of its infrastructure program that includes a $42.8 million commitment to four California investments. Two of the investments are construction projects.
CalSTRS Responds to State Controller’s Review Addressing Pension Spiking Controls and Processes
CalSTRS Responds to State Controller's Review Addressing Pension Spiking Controls and Processes
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS CEO Jack Ehnes issued a statement today in response to State Controller John Chiang’s “Pension Controls and Mechanisms” review addressing pension spiking:
“Last year, before the State Controller announced plans for his review, CalSTRS had identified the need to make aggressive changes and upgrades to mitigate pension spiking. This resulted in the creation of a toll-free Pension Abuse Reporting Hotline and a dedicated Compensation Review Unit to investigate suspected pension spiking cases.
CalSTRS Releases Statement of Findings from City College of San Francisco Audit
CalSTRS Releases Statement of Findings from City College of San Francisco Audit
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) today released a statement on the findings of its audit of the City College of San Francisco (CCSF), covering the period from July 1, 2006 to June 20, 2011.
CalSTRS 2012 Proxy Season Successful in Advancing Majority Voting
CalSTRS Reports Overwhelming Success Regarding Adopting a Majority Voting Standard in Director Elections
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, reports overwhelming success regarding adopting a majority voting standard in director elections with the 95 companies engaged in the 2012 proxy season.Eighty-two of those companies adopted a majority voting standard.
Diverse Director DataSource (3D) Opens for Business
New Database Helps Corporations and Shareowners Recruit Diverse Board Talent
NEW YORK, NY – The Diverse Director DataSource (3D), a new resource for finding untapped talent to serve on corporate boards, is now open for corporations, search firms and shareowners looking for diverse talent for corporate boards.
CalSTRS Investment Returns Reflect Global Markets in 2011-12
Volatility and strong headwinds flatten performance but downturn's wake has passed
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – Flat investment returns at CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, reflected the highly volatile and challenging global markets of the 2011-12 fiscal year.
The 1.8-percent return rate is well below the actuarial assumed rate of 7.5 percent and 150 basis points below the policy benchmark, the fund’s performance measuring stick.
CalSTRS Statement on the naming of COO Sheryl Sandberg to the Facebook Board of Directors
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS calls the naming of Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg to its board of directors a good first step toward greater corporate leadership diversity. CalSTRS also encourages additional action.
CalSTRS, Industry Group, Say Technology Increases Shareholder Participation
The finding is in a report on best practices for virtual shareholder meetings
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, as part of an industry working group, has issued a report titled, “Guidelines for Protecting and Enhancing Online Shareholder Participation in Annual Meetings ,” that shows how technology can boost shareholder participation through online annual meetings.
CalSTRS Expands New, Next Generation Private Equity Manager Program
Invesco Private Capital will Manage Additional $250 Million
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, announced today the $250 million expansion of its New and Next Generation Private Equity Manager Program with Invesco Private Capital (IPC). The program’s assets under management now total $550 million.
CalSTRS, With Fellow Pension Plans, Achieves First Major U.S. Corporate Proxy Access Success
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, and pension plans from New York, Illinois, North Carolina and Connecticut today announced success in achieving corporate board accountability via proxy access at Nabors Industries, Ltd.—the first such victory at a U.S. public company.
CalSTRS to Vote 5.3 Million Shares Against Entire Wal-Mart Board
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – Jack Ehnes, chief executive officer of CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, made the following statement regarding CalSTRS’ intent to vote its 5.3 million shares, worth $313.5 million, at the upcoming shareholder meeting:
“CalSTRS believes former and current Wal-Mart executives and board members breached their fiduciary responsibilities. They did so by failing to respond to indications of a pattern of unethical conduct in the company’s foreign operations.
CalSTRS Selects a Private Equity Consultant
Pension Consulting Alliance will provide assessments of the portfolio's performance
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Teachers’ Retirement Board, the governing body of CalSTRS, today announced the selection of Pension Consulting Alliance as the private equity consultant to its Investment Committee for the next five years.
PCA will provide independent assessments of the private equity portfolio’s performance.
CalSTRS Employee Recognition Program Receives International Association’s Best Overall Award
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – CalSTRS, The California Teachers’ Retirement System, today announced that its employee recognition program, Virtuosity > CalSTRS Powered by You, garnered the 2012 RPI Best Practice Standards® Award for Best Overall Recognition Program from Recognition Professionals International (RPI).The international award celebrates employee recognition innovations that enhance organizational per
SEC Appoints CalSTRS Anne Sheehan to Investor Advisory Committee
Director of Corporate Governance Anne Sheehan among the SEC's 21 selected
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – Anne Sheehan, director of corporate governance at CalSTRS, has been appointed to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee, a requirement of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Dana Dillon Elected Chair of CalSTRS Board
Harry M. Keiley elected Vice Chair
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA – The trustees of CalSTRS, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, unanimously elected Dana Dillon as chair and Harry M. Keiley as vice chair for the 2012-2013 term at their meeting, Thursday April 12, 2012.
The 12-member Teachers’ Retirement Board nominates and elects its chair and vice chair annually. Trustees serve four-year terms. The officers provide leadership to the board as they develop policies and provide direction for the nation’s largest teacher pension fund. The new officers assume their posts immediately.