"The Council of Institutional Investors is an organization
of large public, Taft-Hartley and corporate pension funds which
seeks to address investment issues that affect the size or security
of plan assets. Its objectives are to encourage member funds,
as major shareholders, to take an active role in protecting plan
assets and to help members increase return on their investments
as part of their fiduciary obligations.
Founded in 1985 in response to controversial takeover activities
that threatened the financial interests of pension fund beneficiaries,
the group began with 20 member funds. Today the Council has almost
100 pension fund members whose assets exceed $900 billion and
it is recognized as a significant voice for institutional shareholder
interests.
General Membership--open to any employee benefit plan, any not-for-profit
foundation and/or endowment, or any state or local agency that
is officially charged with the investment of plan assets. General
Members participate in all meetings and seminars sponsored by
the Council and are the only voting members of the Council."