LONDON, NEW YORK and ZURICH, April 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI), one of the world's largest providers of financial market indices, and RobecoSAM, the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing, today announced the launch of the S&P ESG Index Series, which is designed to measure the performance of companies in its respective underlying index with a weighting scheme based on an ESG Factor Score, derived from RobecoSAM's annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). It is the first index family to treat ESG as a standalone performance factor, using the RobecoSAM Smart ESG methodology, and the first global ESG index family that serves the growing market of smart beta indices.

The S&P ESG Index series is based on S&P DJI's regional indices. The series consists of the S&P Global 1200 ESG, S&P 500^® ESG, S&P Europe 350 ESG and S&P/TOPIX 150 ESG.

The constituents' sustainability profiles are evaluated using RobecoSAM's groundbreaking Smart ESG methodology, an advanced scoring system that focuses on financial materiality by pinpointing ESG indicators that are considered the most financially relevant for different industries. The methodology eliminates known biases such as market cap and industry, and avoids undesired factor exposures in the scores.

Alka Banerjee, Managing Director, Head of Product Management, S&P Dow Jones Indices: "Sustainability issues can be sources of substantial risks but equally, substantial opportunities. We are proud to combine our experience and extensive know-how in developing smart beta indices with RobecoSAM's world-class ESG credentials to create the S&P ESG Index Series, a unique offering for investors who want to use ESG as a smart beta factor." 

Guido Giese, PhD, Head of Indices, RobecoSAM: "Now, ESG integration is accessible to each and every investor. Our new S&P ESG index family makes it easy for investors to track the performance of companies that have sustainable long-term operations without changing their standard benchmark. RobecoSAM's Smart ESG approach represents the latest step in sustainability investing moving to the mainstream. We are pleased to partner with the leading index provider, S&P Dow Jones Indices, to bring this unique proposition to the market."

For additional information on the S&P ESG Index family, please visit:
http://www.spindices.com/index-family/sustainability/esg

Want to learn more about RobecoSAM's groundbreaking Smart ESG methodology? Then visit: 
http://www.robecosam.com/en/sustainability-insights/focus-themes/smart-esg/index.jsp

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a part of McGraw Hill Financial, 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 investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 1,000,000 indices covering a wide range of asset 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.

About RobecoSAM
Founded in 1995, RobecoSAM is an investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. It offers asset management, indices, engagement, voting, impact analysis and investing, sustainability assessments, and benchmarking services. Asset management capabilities cater to institutional asset owners and financial intermediaries and cover a range of ESG-integrated investments (in public and private equity), featuring a strong track record in resource efficiency theme strategies. Together with S&P Dow Jones Indices, RobecoSAM publishes the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). Based on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), an annual ESG analysis of over 3,800 listed companies, RobecoSAM has compiled one of the world's most comprehensive databases of financially material sustainability information. The data of the CSA is also included in USD 84.6 billion of assets under management by Robeco.

RobecoSAM is a member of the global pure-play asset manager Robeco, which was established in 1929 and is the center of expertise for asset management within the ORIX Corporation. 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. Approximately 130 professionals work for RobecoSAM, which is headquartered in Zurich. As of December 31, 2015, RobecoSAM had assets under management, advice and/or license in listed and private equity* of approximately USD 10.7 billion. Additionally, RobecoSAM's Governance & Active Ownership team** had USD 238 billion of assets under engagement and USD 49 billion of assets under voting.

Important legal information:
Standard & Poor's®  and S&P® are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"), a subsidiary of McGraw Hill Financial, Inc. Dow Jones® is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones"). RobecoSAM is a registered trademark of Robeco Groep N.V. These trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC ("S&P DJI) . The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®) was developed by, and is the exclusive property and a trademark of, S&P and MSCI Inc.

It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P DJI, Dow Jones, S&P and their respective affiliates do not sponsor, endorse, sell or promote any investment fund or other investment product that is offered by third parties and that seeks to provide an investment return based on the performance of any index. S&P DJI does not make investment recommendations, and inclusion of a security within an index, and CSA results, are not recommendations by S&P DJI for the purchase or sale of any security or other asset or to pursue any investment strategy. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P DJI does not have the necessary licenses. S&P DJI receives compensation for licensing its indices to third parties.

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 Private Equity is the marketing name of the combined private equity divisions of Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. ('Robeco') and its fully owned subsidiary, RobecoSAM AG ('RobecoSAM'). Any funds or services offered by RobecoSAM Private Equity are managed and offered by Robeco, who may have delegated certain investment advisory functions to RobecoSAM. ** RobecoSAM's Governance & Active Ownership team is a brand name of Robeco. RobecoSAM USA is an investment adviser registered in the US. RobecoSAM USA, 909 third avenue, New York, NY 10022. Copyright © 2016 RobecoSAM – all rights reserved.

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices