ZURICH (August 3, 2009) – SAM, the investment boutique focused
exclusively on Sustainability Investing, and Dow Jones Indexes, a leading
global index provider, today announce the launch of the Dow Jones
Sustainability Japan 40 Index (DJSI Japan 40). The index measures the
performance of the largest 40 sustainability leaders in Japan and provides
market participants with a highly liquid and tradable sustainability
benchmark for Japanese equities. The Dow Jones Sustainability Japan 40 Index
is selected and weighted based on the SAM sustainability scores.
“As one of the largest investment markets worldwide, Japan is a crucial
player in driving the integration of sustainability criteria into investing.
With the DJSI family just about to turn ten years old, we are delighted to
add a dedicated Japanese index to our offering and to support the momentum
in this market with a benchmark designed according to the SAM sustainability
scores,” said Alexander Barkawi, managing director, SAM Indexes.
“Sustainability indexing continues to gain importance as interest grows in
responsible investment concepts, particularly in light of the recent
volatility and turmoil in financial markets. The Dow Jones Sustainability
Japan 40 Index allows market participants to track the performance of
Japan’s 40 sustainability leaders selected according to the superior
methodology of the Dow Jones Sustainability index series,“ said Michael A.
Petronella, president, Dow Jones Indexes.
The Dow Jones Sustainability Japan 40 Index further complements the Dow
Jones Sustainability Indexes, which were launched in 1999 and have become a
key reference point in Sustainability Investing. The index series comprises
14 broad and blue-chip global, Asia Pacific, North America, U.S., European,
and Euro zone benchmarks, as well as additional subset benchmarks.
The DJSI Japan 40 follows the well-established Dow Jones Sustainability
Indexes methodology. Component selection as well as index weightings are
based on SAM’s unique sustainability scores. The scores are derived from a
comprehensive annual assessment of general as well as industry-specific
criteria covering issues such as corporate governance, risk management,
emissions, water and energy consumption, human capital development, and
stakeholder relations.
The index is rebalanced annually in September and calculated in U.S. dollars
and Japanese yen.
For more information on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes please visit
www.sustainability-indexes.com.
About SAM
SAM is an investment boutique focused exclusively on Sustainability
Investing. The firm’s offering comprises asset management, indexes and
private equity. Its asset management capabilities include a range of
single-theme, multi-theme and core sustainability investment strategies
catering to institutional asset owners and financial intermediaries in
Europe, the United States, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Through its index activities, SAM has partnered with Dow Jones Indexes and
STOXX Limited for the publication and licensing of the globally recognized
Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) as well as customized sustainability
benchmarks. Furthermore, SAM is the center of expertise for cleantech
private equity within Robeco.
Based on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment, SAM has compiled one of
the world's largest sustainability databases and analyzes over 1,000 listed
companies annually. SAM’s proprietary research and sustainability data are
fully integrated into its offering.
SAM is a member of Robeco, which was established in 1929 and offers a broad
range of investment products and services worldwide. Robeco is a subsidiary
of the AAA-rated Rabobank Group.
SAM was founded in 1995, is headquartered in Zurich and employs over 100
professionals. As of 30th June 2009, SAM’s total assets amount to USD 11.6
billion.
About Dow Jones Indexes
A full-service index provider, Dow Jones Indexes develops, maintains and
licenses indexes for use as benchmarks and as the basis of investment
products. Best known for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Dow Jones Indexes
also is co-owner of the Dow Jones STOXX indexes, the world’s leading
pan-European indexes that are an integrated segment of the Dow Jones Global
Index series. Additionally, Dow Jones Indexes maintains its benchmark index
series, the Dow Jones Total Stock Market Indexes, which is anchored by the
Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index and covers more than 12,000
securities in 65 markets. Beyond equity indexes, Dow Jones Indexes maintains
a number of alternative indexes, including measures of the hedge fund and
commodity markets. Dow Jones indexes are maintained according to clear,
unbiased and systematic methodologies that are fully integrated within index
families. www.djindexes.com
Dow Jones & Company (www.dowjones.com)
is a News Corporation company (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV;
www.newscorp.com). Dow Jones is a
leading provider of global business news and information services. Its
Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's,
MarketWatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Its Enterprise Media Group
includes Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Jones Factiva, Dow Jones Client Solutions,
Dow Jones Indexes and Dow Jones Financial Information Services. Its Local
Media Group operates community-based information franchises. Dow Jones owns
50% of SmartMoney and 33% of STOXX Ltd. and provides news content to radio
stations in the U.S.
Contact:
SAM Indexes GmbH
Alexander Barkawi
Managing Director
Phone: +41 44 653 1802
E-mail:
alex.barkawi@sam-group.com
Dow Jones Indexes/STOXX press office:
Email:
PR-Indexes@dowjones.com,
Phone: New York: +1-212-597-5720
Frankfurt: +49-69-29-725-290
Hong Kong: +852-800-969-336
Singapore +65-6-4154-299