Deal Furthers ISS’ Responsible Investment Business Expansion
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND & MUNICH, GERMANY (March 15, 2018) – Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), the leading provider of end-to-end responsible investment and governance solutions to the global financial community, today announced the addition of oekom research AG, a leader in the provision of environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings and data, as well as sustainable investment research.
Reflecting the strength of both brands, oekom research AG will be renamed ISS-oekom with the new unit complementing the work of ISS’ existing responsible investment teams.
Headquartered in Munich and established in 1993, oekom research is a trusted advisor to financial institutions, collectively holding more than €1.5 trillion in assets, who turn to it for a wide variety of responsible investment solutions and services. More than 180 financial services companies, specialized ethical banks, and institutional investors subscribe to oekom’s sustainability research to assist them in their selection of securities for mutual funds and segregated accounts, and fulfillment of their asset management mandates.
oekom’s suite of responsible investment solutions includes: corporate, industry, and country ratings; portfolio analysis; sustainability impact services; green bond services; climate risk services; and engagement services.
Drawing on an experienced team of research analysts based in Munich, Paris, and London, oekom’s full coverage universe includes approximately 5,500 publicly traded companies across the globe, as well as another 700 sovereign and sub-sovereign debt vehicles. Of this universe, about 3,800 companies from all major sectors of industry are subject to corporate ESG ratings.
“As institutions across the globe continue to seek out holistic responsible investment solutions and services, ISS is pleased to respond to those demands through this transaction,” said ISS Chief Operating Officer Stephen Harvey. “We welcome the entire oekom team to the ISS family and look forward to continue providing our clients with the industry’s leading environmental, social, and governance solutions.”
oekom research will maintain its operations in Munich, Paris, London together with offices in New York and Zurich with its staff of more than 110 remaining in place. The ISS-oekom research unit will continue to be led by co-founder Robert Haßler, a widely respected leader in the responsible investment field with deep roots in sustainability ratings and publishing and draw on the expertise of its skilled team.
“I am pleased for oekom research to be a part of ISS in furtherance of our shared objective of providing institutional investors world-class ESG ratings and data alongside cutting-edge responsible investment research and insights,” said Haßler.
“The addition of oekom research and its highly talented team of professionals underscores our continued commitment to achieving our mission of empowering investors to effectively manage governance, environmental, and social investment opportunities and risks to realize long-term value,” said ISS President & CEO Gary Retelny. “As a global provider, we are pleased to be able to bring to a wider audience the high-quality environmental and social data, ratings and research offered by oekom.”
