A unitized endowment pool (UEP) is a powerful tool for making investments as part of an endowment. UEPs allow endowments to pool their capital with other investors, granting everyone involved access to a much larger, more diversified investment portfolio than each endowment could typically manage or afford on its own.

Rather than invest in individual stocks, bonds, or other securities, a UEP is owned by a group of investors who own units in the pool. All the investors in the group agree on the assets that will be included in the UEP and the buy-in date for the investment. Each investor is allocated units in the pool in proportion to the amount of capital they contributed to the UEP.

UEPs are similar to mutual funds in some ways, but they are only available to endowments, not to the public. One of the chief benefits of UEPs is that their size and broad diversification gives endowments access to investments and markets that would not be available to them if they invested on their own. For example, UEPs may allow investors to access less liquid investments, such as private equity and venture capital. UEPs also make it much easier for endowments to sell investments that become illiquid.

UEPs can have a wide range of uses, but they are particularly beneficial to endowments that are looking to access more complex markets and financial products, such as those of emerging economies. This is because UEPs allow endowments to invest in regions and markets that they would normally be unable to do due to regulatory, currency, or liquidity restrictions associated with investing in these markets on a standalone basis.

In addition to the advantages of access and diversification, UEPs can also be attractive from a tax perspective, as many countries offer preferential tax treatment for investments made within UEPs.

Overall, UEPs provide endowments with many benefits, but it is important to be aware of the risks associated with investing in a UEP. As with any form of investment, it is important to perform extensive research and due diligence before entering into an agreement with a UEP. Furthermore, it is important to understand all the fees and charges associated with managing a UEP and the specific terms of the agreement.

Ultimately, UEPs offer endowments many advantages, including access to complex financial markets, potential tax benefits, and greater diversification and liquidity. However, as with any form of investment, endowments should carry out thorough research before committing to a UEP and understand the fees and other associated costs.