MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of research-based indexes and analytics, announced today the launch of MSCI ESG Research Inc.’s next generation product, MSCI ESG Ratings, designed to support institutional investors’ growing ESG integration, manager reporting, engagement and portfolio monitoring needs.
MSCI ESG Ratings represents an evolution in ESG research and analysis. It is the first research and ratings product to provide an in-depth, integrated look at each of the three ESG components, combining the assessment of social and environmental risks and opportunities that vary across industries with an analysis of governance risks that vary significantly between different capital markets.
The MSCI ESG Ratings tool provides a range of features designed to improve the ability of the front office to integrate ESG factors into existing investment processes, including:
- Expanded governance data: an additional 250 corporate governance data points, combined with 750 social and environmental data points;
- More risk metrics: 96 unique governance risk metrics across four dimensions including board, pay, ownership & control, and accounting;
- 65,000 individual director profiles analyzing their financial, industry and risk management expertise;
- Daily monitoring of ESG controversies and governance events that can change the ESG risk profile of companies;
- Easily accessible investment insights via a newly developed tear sheet highlighting the most significant ESG risks and opportunities;
- In-depth assessment of each company’s key ESG risks based on a granular industry and geographic risk exposure analysis;
- Coverage of over 5,700 equities and 350,000 fixed income securities.
Eric Moen, Managing Director and Head of ESG, said: “As institutional investors increasingly integrate ESG factors into their investment processes, they are seeking a more comprehensive understanding of the ESG risks in their portfolios. With MSCI ESG Ratings we are proud to offer a combination of sophisticated environmental, social and governance analysis so that our clients can better evaluate their ESG risks.”