UCLA Investment Company

UCLA Investment Company

Founded in 2011 as a subsidiary of the UCLA Foundation, the UCLA Investment Company formalized the investment management function previously housed within the university's treasury operations. It serves as the primary fiduciary for the UCLA Endowment alongside pools managed for the UCLA Alumni Association, the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Hammer Museum. The creation of a separate management company brought UCLA in line with the governance model adopted by peer institutions like the University of Texas and the University of Michigan. The office pursues a multi-asset strategy spanning global public equities, fixed income, absolute return strategies, private equity, venture capital, real estate, and natural resources. The endowment's portfolio is characterized by a significant tilt toward alternative assets, a common posture among large university endowments seeking inflation protection and uncorrelated returns. While specific direct investments are not publicly cataloged, the portfolio gains exposure to private markets primarily through fund commitments and co-investments managed by external GPs across North America, Europe, and Asia. The investment team operates from Los Angeles with a lean professional staff, reporting to a board of directors appointed by the UCLA Foundation. Recent leadership transitions have shaped its current governance: Jagdeep Singh Bachher, a veteran of the University of California system, was appointed Chief Investment Officer and President following a search in 2023 (per UCLA, September 2023), bringing continuity from his prior role as Deputy CIO at the UC Regents. The office also manages adjacent relationships, including investment oversight for the Hammer Museum's endowment and specific restricted gifts to the Jonsson Cancer Center. The firm's structural differentiator lies in its position within a confederated public university system. Though captive to UCLA, the investment company operates independently from the University of California Regents' $180 billion-plus pool, making its own asset allocation and manager selection decisions. This independence allows for a tailored liability profile matched to UCLA's specific campus and medical center obligations, distinct from the broader UC system's centralized investment apparatus.