On April 21, 2020 Morningstar, a leading provider of independent investment research, announced “it has reached an agreement to acquire Sustainalytics, a globally recognized leader in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings and research. Morningstar currently owns an approximate 40% ownership stake in Sustainalytics, first acquired in 2017, and will purchase the remaining approximate 60% of Sustainalytics shares upon closing of the transaction.
‘Modern investors in public and private markets are demanding ESG data, research, ratings, and solutions in order to make informed, meaningful investing decisions. From climate change to supply-chain practices, the nature of the investment process is evolving and shining a spotlight on demand for stakeholder capitalism. Whether assessing the durability of a company’s economic moat or the stability of its credit rating, this is the future of long-term investing,’ said Morningstar Chief Executive Officer Kunal Kapoor. ‘By coming together, Morningstar and Sustainalytics will fast track our ability to put independent, sustainable investing analytics at every level – from a single security through to a portfolio view – in the hands of all investors. Morningstar helped democratize investing, and we will do even more to extend Sustainalytics’ mission of contributing to a more just and sustainable global economy.’
For more than 25 years, Sustainalytics has been ahead of the curve, recognizing the need to provide ESG solutions to investors, banks, and companies worldwide. The firm is widely known for its security-level ESG Risk Ratings – which are integrated into institutional investment processes and underpin numerous indexes and sustainable investment products – as well as serving an ever-increasing number of use cases across the emerging sustainable finance landscape. Sustainalytics offers data on 40,000 companies worldwide and ratings on 20,000 companies and on 172 countries.”
You can read the press release on newsroom page of the Morningstar internet site.