FTSE and ECPI launch first Responsible Investment Index Series for the Italian market

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SRI Index Series will enable investors to track the performance of companies listed on the Italian Exchange with leading Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) practices.   

The index series comes at a time when investor interest in Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is increasing. The new indices build on the existing FTSE Italia Index Series, which FTSE started calculating in 2009, and create further choice and investment opportunities in the thriving domestic retail market. The series currently consists of two indices:  

 FTSE ECPI Italia SRI Benchmark Index is made up of constituents from the FTSE MIB Index and FTSE Italia Mid-Cap Index that show good ESG practices.
 FTSE ECPI Italia SRI Leaders Index is made up of constituents from the FTSE MIB Index and FTSE Italia Mid-Cap Index that demonstrate excellent ESG practices.  

The indices were designed using FTSE’s robust international index standards and ECPI’s in-depth ESG research.  They are calculated in real-time, pulsing every 15 seconds, and benefit from stringent size, liquidity and free-float screening. Based on a capped UCITs-compliant methodology, the indices allow investors to reduce the over concentration of certain stocks in their portfolio making them suitable for benchmarking funds and developing structured products.  

ECPI’s comprehensive ESG rating methodology was applied to 100 constituents of the FTSE MIB and FTSE Italia Mid-Cap indices. ECPI’s in-house team of analysts applied their knowledge of the Italian market and their unrivalled expertise in ESG issues to dissect companies according to around 100 separate ESG indicators.

Luca Filippa, Managing Director for FTSE Italy, said: “FTSE is well established as a leader in the field of SRI indexing. Since the world renowned FTSE4Good Index Series was created in 2001, we have developed a diverse range of SRI indices for investors who want to identify and access companies worldwide with outstanding ESG practices. We are delighted to collaborate with research experts, ECPI to offer Italian investors a new passive management strategy based on our international indexing standards and their local market expertise.”

Michele Calcaterra, CEO of ECPI, said: “Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are increasingly recognised by investors as serious risk factors, worthy of greater focus as aspects of investment strategies, not just a niche consideration. FTSE Group, one of the world’s leading providers of indices, is the perfect partner for ECPI in this venture. We are proud to announce the launch of the FTSE ECPI Italia SRI Index series, which will further increase investor confidence in ESG-backed investments Europe-wide.”