ROCKVILLE, MD., & STOCKHOLM (Sept. 15, 2015 ) – Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a leading provider of corporate governance solutions to the global financial community, today announced the acquisition of Ethix SRI Advisors AB, a globally recognized firm providing sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) research and advisory solutions to assist in investment decision-making. Effective today, Ethix SRI Advisors will be renamed ISS-Ethix.
Established in 1999 and with offices in Stockholm and Copenhagen, Ethix is a trusted advisor to asset owners and investment managers around the globe, representing more than €300 billion in assets under management. Ethix provides its global clients with deep expertise across a range of SRI issues, including environmental, human rights, labor standards, corruption and controversial weapons. Key services include policy development, company research and portfolio monitoring, support of active ownership programs, stakeholder communication, and reporting. Ethix is a long standing signatory of the UN-supported PRI and board member of the European Sustainable Investment Forum.
“This acquisition is in keeping with our long-standing commitment to expand our product offerings, provide innovative solutions, and deliver the highest levels of service to our clients across the globe,” said ISS President & CEO Gary Retelny. “The addition of Ethix will help our clients navigate the complex and rapidly evolving SRI landscape through cutting-edge technology that is underpinned by world-class ESG data, analytics, and research.”
ISS-Ethix will maintain its operations in both Stockholm and Copenhagen with its staff representing 13 countries and covering more than 15 languages remaining in place. ISS-Ethix will continue to be led by Ethix’s Managing Director and Founding Partner, Ulrika Hasselgren, a veteran of the responsible investment industry who has advised institutional investors in sustainable and responsible investment for more than 15 years.
“With the combination of ISS’ comprehensive governance offerings and Ethix’s deep expertise in environmental and social research and analysis, we are poised to offer our clients a truly integrated solution to meet both the depth and breadth of institutions‘ ESG needs, ” said Hasselgren.
Hasselgren, will also lead ISS‘ overall responsible investment business initiatives and continue to be based in Scandinavia.
“We are very pleased to welcome Ulrika and the entire Ethix team to the ISS family,” said ISS Chief Revenue Officer Stephen Harvey. “We look forward to integrating our teams, products, and services to provide clients of both Ethix and ISS a turn-key solution that is global in scope.”
