ZURICH and NEW YORK, Feb. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- RobecoSAM, the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing, and S&P Dow Jones Indices, the world's largest provider of financial market indices, today announced the launch of the Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index (DJSI Emerging Markets). The DJSI Emerging Markets offers investors a tool for measuring the performance of companies that RobecoSAM has recognized as leaders compared to their peers in terms of corporate sustainability and it also provides an effective engagement platform to encourage companies from emerging markets to adopt sustainable best practices.

A reference tool based on unique investment insights
Although much progress has been made in terms of political and economic stability, many companies in emerging markets continue to operate in challenging surroundings. The DJSI Emerging Markets seeks to identify corporate sustainability leaders by drawing on RobecoSAM's extensive experience in measuring intangibles through the annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). For example, RobecoSAM has identified resource efficiency as a potential driver of corporate success in the emerging markets based on the important role commodities play in the regional value chain.

Guido Giese, PhD, Head of Indexes, RobecoSAM, said: "The steady increase in the number of emerging market companies that participate in our CSA shows that businesses around the world are embracing sustainable practices as an important factor in their future competitive position. As the emerging markets have come of age, demand for a regional benchmark for sustainability investors has increased and we can now offer an appropriate product."

Alka Banerjee, Vice President of Global Equity Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said: "An important strategic reference point for sustainability investors around the globe, the DJSI are continuously advanced to respond to market trends and requirements. The DJSI Emerging Markets, the first index of its kind in the market, is launched in response to the evolving needs of the global investment community."

New region – same proven rules
In keeping with the already existing suite of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices family, the DJSI Emerging Markets is constructed on the basis of RobecoSAM's annual CSA, which evaluates companies' sustainability performance based on economic, environmental and social criteria. Constituents are selected based on the same criteria and best-in-class approach as companies competing for membership in the other DJSI.

In the emerging markets universe, only the companies whose Total Sustainability Score in the RobecoSAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, based on the company's participation and/or publicly available information, ranks them among the top 10% in their sector are eligible for index inclusion.

Out of a total of 800 emerging market companies that were eligible to participate in the 2012 CSA, 69 were identified as sustainability leaders in their respective sector and selected for index membership. As a result, the DJSI Emerging Markets tracks the performance of those leading companies from 20 developing economies. Like the existing DJSI Family, the new index can be customised to meet investor requirements with regard to value or faith based motivated exclusions or specific geographical subsets.

About RobecoSAM
RobecoSAM is an investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. Its offerings comprise asset management, indices, private equity, engagement, impact analysis and sustainability assessments as well as benchmarking services. Asset management capabilities include a range of ESG-integrated investment and theme strategies (in listed and private equity) catering to institutional asset owners and financial intermediaries across the globe. Together with S&P Dow Jones Indices, RobecoSAM publishes the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). Based on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual ESG analysis of more than 2,000 listed companies, RobecoSAM has compiled one of the world's most comprehensive sustainability databases. RobecoSAM's proprietary research and sustainability insight, gained through its direct contact with companies, are fully integrated into the company's investment solutions.

RobecoSAM 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 also has a long tradition of practicing and advocating Sustainability Investing principles. RobecoSAM was founded in 1995 out of the conviction that a commitment to corporate sustainability enhances a company's capacity to prosper, ultimately creating competitive advantages and stakeholder value. As a reflection of its own commitment to advocating sustainable investment practices, RobecoSAM is a signatory of the UNPRI and a member of Eurosif, ASrIA and Ceres. Headquartered in Zurich, RobecoSAM employs over 100 professionals. As of December 31, 2012, RobecoSAM's assets under management, advice and license amounted to a total of USD 11.4 billion. www.robecosam.com

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies 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℠, 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.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices are a joint product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and RobecoSAM AG ("RobecoSAM"). S&P® is a registered trademark of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"), Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones") and RobecoSAM® is a registered trademark of Robeco Groep N.V.. The trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and its affiliates. Inclusion of a company within a Dow Jones Sustainability Index is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold such company, nor is it investment advice.  S&P Dow Jones, Dow Jones, S&P, RobecoSAM and their respective affiliates (collectively "SPDJI parties") 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 the SPDJI Parties do not have the necessary licenses. The SPDJI Parties may receive 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.

RobecoSAM, USA Inc. ("RobecoSAM" or the "Firm") is an Investment Adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. RobecoSAM 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, RobecoSAM will utilize the services of certain personnel of RobecoSAM AG ("AG"), and Robeco Investment Management, Inc. ("RIM"), each a wholly owned subsidiary of Robeco Group.

RobecoSAM USA, Inc., 909 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, T: +1 212 908 9500, F: +1 212 908 9672

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices