SRI & Fund News

• Important Notice—Revision to Policies Affecting Unit Price of Domestic Bond Fund— The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits has changed the methodology that it will use to determine the fair market value of a portion of the assets in the Domestic Bond Fund (DBF). This change will be effective on March 10, 2008 and have a one-time positive impact on the per unit value of both the DBF and the Multiple Asset Fund (MAF).
• GBOPHB Instrumental in Wal-Mart Sustainability Reporting— The General Board has been actively engaged with Wal-Mart since 1999 on employee wage and benefit issues and the working conditions in overseas factories. Today, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the world’s largest retailer, released its first-ever sustainability report.
• Balanced Social Values Plus Fund Improvements—The General Board staff has conducted a review of the investment management of the Balanced Social Values Plus Fund (BSVPF) and has decided to make a change that is intended to improve the consistency of the fund’s performance compared to its benchmark and reduce the fund’s expenses.
• August 2007 Crisis in the Investment Markets—Investors generally, and participants in the General Board’s funds specifically, are concerned and want to know what has caused the current market crisis and when they can once again see gains in their personal investment accounts. 8/20/07
• The SEC Continues to Debate the Issue of Shareholder Resolutions—On July 25, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released two proposals concerning the rule that gives shareholders the right to file resolutions at company annual meetings, suggesting that future restrictions may be possible. 8/20/07
• Introduction of a Second Benchmark for the Balanced Social Values Plus Fund—The General Board has reviewed the performance benchmark of the Balanced Social Values Plus Fund. The General Board believes that the current benchmark (60% Russell 3000 Index/30% Lehman Mortgaged Backed Securities Index/10% Merrill Lynch 90-day Government Index) is an appropriate benchmark for the fund over the long term. 1/27/07
• The General Board—Signatory to United Nations' Principles for Responsible Investment—The General Board of Pension and Health Benefits of The United Methodist Church (General Board) is a major institutional investor and one of the original 25 international signatories, instrumental in developing the United Nations' Principles for Responsible Investment, announced in New York this morning. 4/27/06
• Our Investment Funds Description provides detailed information about our investment funds. 12/31/06