FE fundinfo has announced in a statement the acquisition of the consulting and research house CSSP (Center for Social and Sustainable Products AG) to expand its ESG capabilities.
Specifically, the fund data and technology provider has acquired all of CSSP’s share capital, including its yourSRI.com platform which provides ESG screening and labels on thousands of funds. As part of the deal, CSSP founders Oliver Oehri and Christoph Dreher will co-head the ESG product group at FE fundinfo.
“At a time when ESG investing and reporting is rapidly becoming the major consideration for the investment industry, our acquisition of CSSP will enable us to expand upon our driving principle of connecting and supporting the global fund industry, through both a deep understanding of the market and the provision of clear, accurate and transparent data and reporting“, said Philipp Portmann, Head of Business Development & Strategy at FE fundinfo.
In his view, Oehri’s and Dreher’s vision of how important ESG investing will become, alongside their ambition to support investors to make better informed decisions, “clearly matches” their own.
The transaction will bring another important capability to FE fundinfo’s existing range of services, which help fund managers and distributors access accurate data and fulfill their regulatory obligations. The firm highlights that, as ESG due diligence requirements and reporting standards become more formalized in 2021, including the forthcoming introduction of the sustainable finance disclosure regulations (SFDR) across Europe from March 2021, they will continue to work with clients to meet these changes.
Meanwhile, Oehri and Dreher claimed to be “delighted” to be joining the FE fundinfo team at a pivotal moment in the evolution of ESG investing. “The reporting on extra-financial criteria has gained in importance in recent years and investors are rightfully asking for multi-dimensional risk assessments at portfolio level to effectively measure the corresponding exposure. Our services and bespoke solutions, that have been trusted by hundreds of clients, provide a holistic overview of the ESG profile”, they added.
For Sofia Cisneros
For Funds Society, Madrid