ZURICH and NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2012 results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) review have been announced by SAM, the investment boutique focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing, and S&P Dow Jones Indices, the leading global index provider.

Following SAM's Corporate Sustainability Assessment, the largest additions (by free-float market capitalization) to the DJSI World include Microsoft Corp, Canadian National Railway Co, and Target Corp, while the largest deletions (by free-float market capitalization) are International Business Machines Corp, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, and United Technologies Corp.

The DJSI World 2012/2013 will have 340 components as 41 companies will be added to, and 41 firms will be deleted from the index. All changes will become effective with the opening of the stock markets on September 24, 2012.

The 2012 DJSI review also yielded the following regional index component changes:

Guido Giese, Head of Indexes, SAM: "The participation rate for this year's Corporate Sustainability Assessment was 8.4% higher than last year. We see this as a strong signal of the increasing recognition that integrating sustainability into corporate strategies is essential to the bottom line. The companies that participate in our assessment really grasp the financial materiality of incorporating sustainability into their strategies."

David Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the S&P Dow Jones Index Committee, S&P Dow Jones Indices: "Over the last several years, we have witnessed a continued and growing interest in long-term oriented investment strategies that include sustainability investing. In this environment, the DJSI, with its long track record of evaluating the sustainability performance of some of the world's largest companies, has become an important reference in the industry, for investors as well as for companies included in the indices."

The DJSI follow a best-in-class approach, including companies across all industries that outperform their peers in numerous sustainability metrics. SAM invites the world's 2,500 largest companies (by free-float market capitalization) from the 58 sectors to report annually on their sustainability performance. The result of the Corporate Sustainability Assessment provides an in-depth analysis of economic, environmental and social criteria, such as corporate governance, water-related risks and stakeholder relations, with a special focus on industry-specific risks and opportunities.

SAM annually identifies the top company in each of the 19 supersectors derived from the 58 sectors. The 2012-2013 Supersector Leaders are (listed alphabetically by supersector):

Launched in 1999, the DJSI are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. The DJSI enable investors to integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios while providing an effective engagement platform for encouraging companies to adopt sustainable best practices.

Today, the index family has approximately USD 6 billion in assets under management in a variety of financial products including mutual funds, separate accounts, structured products and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Approximately 55 products are based on the indexes serving asset managers and banks in 15 countries.

For additional information on the DJSI, please visit:
http://www.sustainability-indexes.com/
http://www.djindexes.com/sustainability/

About SAM

SAM is an investment boutique focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. The firm's offering comprises asset management, indexes, private equity and sustainability benchmarking services. Its asset management capabilities include a range of sustainability theme and broad ESG integrated investment strategies catering to institutional asset owners and financial intermediaries internationally. SAM partners with S&P Dow Jones Indices in the publication of the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). Based on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment, SAM has compiled one of the most comprehensive sustainability databases and analyzes over 2,000 listed companies annually. SAM's proprietary research and sustainability insight - through its direct contact with companies - are fully integrated into its offering.

SAM is a member of the global pure-play asset manager Robeco, which was established in 1929 and offers a broad range of investment products and services. Robeco is a subsidiary of the Rabobank Group, which has the highest credit rating of all privately owned banks, according to rating agencies Moody's, Standard & Poor's, Fitch and DBRS. Robeco is committed to both practicing and implementing its Responsible Investing principles group-wide. Within Robeco, SAM acts as the center of expertise for sustainability insight. In its domestic Swiss market, SAM also represents Robeco by handling sales, client services and marketing for Robeco's product range.

SAM was founded in 1995 on the conviction that corporate commitment to sustainability practices enhances a company's capacity to prosper, ultimately creating stakeholder value. As a reflection of its own commitment to advocating sustainable investment practices, SAM is a signatory of the UNPRI and a member of Eurosif, Asria and Ceres. SAM is headquartered in Zurich and employs over 100 professionals. As of June 30, 2012 SAM's assets under management and advice amounted to a total of USD 11.5 billion.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices

S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM), S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of institutional and retail investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 830,000 indices covering a wide range of assets classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com.

Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"), a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones").  These trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P and their respective affiliates (collectively "S&P Dow Jones Indices") do not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any investment fund or other investment vehicle that is offered by third parties and that seeks to provide an investment return based on the performance of any index. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Dow Jones Indices does not have the necessary licenses. S&P Dow Jones Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

Important legal information: The details given on these pages do not constitute an offer. They are given for information purposes only. No liability is assumed for the correctness and accuracy of the details given. The securities identified and described may or may not be purchased, sold or recommended for advisory clients. It should not be assumed that an investment in these securities was or will be profitable.

Sustainable Asset Management, USA Inc. ("SAM" or the "Firm") is an Investment Adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. SAM is a subsidiary of Robeco Groep N.V. ("Robeco"), a Dutch investment management firm headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In connection with providing investment advisory services to its clients, SAM will utilize the services of certain personnel of SAM Group Holding AG ("AG"), and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. ("RIM"), each a wholly owned subsidiary of Robeco Group.

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SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices