Ethos Services offers a comprehensive range of services dedicated entirely to socially responsible investing (SRI) and active shareholder engagement.
Sustainability Analysis and Reporting Solutions
A sound, sustainable, and responsible investment strategy requires far more than just financial data, particularly information on environmental and social responsibility and corporate governance. To this end, Ethos Services offers a range of services for the extra-financial analysis of companies in the SPI, SBI AAA-BBB, MSCI World ex CH, and the 250 largest companies in the MSCI Emerging Markets index. ESG ratings are based on a sector-by-sector comparison of corporate practices. Ethos also considers whether a company should be excluded from a sustainable portfolio if it generates a significant portion of its revenue in a sensitive sector (armaments, tobacco, etc.) or is involved in a serious ESG controversy. In addition to its traditional ESG ratings, Ethos has developed analytical tools that enable the assessment of companies' greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity, as well as the ambition and credibility of their climate strategies. These tools make it possible to identify companies that either have the lowest GHG emissions or have implemented credible strategies to reduce their emissions. Ethos has also developed a Positive Impact methodology that identifies companies whose products and services have a positive impact on the environment and society and that actively contribute to the transition to a more sustainable economy. Finally, Ethos provides institutional clients with innovative reporting solutions that enable the quick and easy creation of sustainability reports that meet the latest transparency requirements. The analyses of approximately 2,000 companies and Ethos' reporting solutions are accessible on the electronic e-Services platform. Portfolios can be uploaded to the platform to conduct various statistical analyses, such as the distribution of ESG ratings and exposure to product- or behavior-specific exclusions.
Sustainable Investment Solutions
The investment funds, discretionary management mandates, and stock market indices offered by Ethos are based on an SRI approach. The sustainability approach developed specifically by Ethos:
The sustainability analyses of the companies are conducted by Ethos Services analysts. Ethos collaborates with international partners to analyze companies listed outside Switzerland.
Analysis Service for General Meetings
Ethos offers institutional investors detailed analyses of general meeting agendas, including voting recommendations, for all companies listed in Switzerland, as well as for the most important companies listed outside Switzerland. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in corporate governance and general meeting analysis, Ethos offers investors a high-quality service for exercising their voting rights in compliance with the principles of good corporate governance and sustainable development. This service enables Swiss pension institutions to fulfill their legal obligations to exercise voting rights for directly held shares in companies listed in Switzerland. The e-Services platform simplifies access to analyses, voting recommendations, and company information, and enables personalized reports on one's own voting behavior.
Dialogue with Companies
Engagement is an essential tool for all long-term investors committed to the principles of sustainable development. The goal is to encourage companies to strengthen their ESG practices in the interests of sustainable value creation. Ethos enables tax-exempt Swiss institutions, particularly pension funds, to join forces to engage in a structured dialogue. The following tools are used for this purpose:
