“We have selected the assetmasterProfessional™ solution because of the objectivity and scope of its data as well as the transparency that is built into the entire solution,” said Geert Heuninck, KBC Asset Management's Head of SRI Department. “With the product and its Excel Add-In functionality, our SRI analysts can seamlessly integrate ASSET4’s ESG data into their current best-in-class and environmental research. Whether an analyst is investigating a company’s performance on human rights, carbon emissions or corporate governance the in-depth ASSET4 data will provide a new resource to consider. Since 1992 we have been the SRI leader in Belgium and now with access to ASSET4’s universe of over 2,600 companies and its 250 key performance indicators and 900 data points, we can continue to expand and deepen our SRI research and screening processes.”

“KBC Asset Management has been a pioneer in socially responsible investment, and we are proud that they have chosen the ASSET4 solution,” said Peter Ohnemus, ASSET4 President and CEO. “The combination of their in-house Sustainability Research Department with the independent monitoring coming from their External Advisory Board for Sustainability Analysis and their Environmental Advisory Committee truly sets them apart. Now with access to the ASSET4 system, which contains the world’s largest database of ESG information, an ESG news tracking capability and our recently announced carbon emission estimates, the KBC Asset Management sustainability team has an enormous new reservoir of information to rely on for the development of the industry-leading socially responsible funds.”

KBC Asset Management NV
KBC Asset Management NV is part of the KBC Group KBC is a multi-channel bancassurer with a geographic focus on Europe, catering mainly for retail and private banking customers and small and medium-sized enterprises. Besides focusing on providing retail and private bancassurance services, KBC is active in asset management and private equity, and in the field of corporate banking, leasing, factoring, re-insurance, insurance, brokerage, project and trade finance in Belgium, Central and Eastern Europe and elsewhere (mainly in Europe). It also has an extensive private banking network in eight Western European countries. The head office is located in Brussels, the financial heart of Europe. KBC Asset Management has been operating since 1948 and thus has already built up well over fifty years’ experience. KBC Asset Management is the largest player on the Belgian market for institutional asset management and for private investors. It has a leading position in Western Europe and a dominant presence in Central Europe; occupies a prominent position worldwide in capital-protected products (e.g., click funds); manages some 200 open-ended investment funds and around 800 investment funds offering capital protection. For more information, please visit www.kbcam.be

ASSET4
ASSET4 is the leading provider of objective, comparable and auditable extra-financial information. We provide professional investors and corporate executives access to the world’s largest database of ESG information and the analysis tools to integrate that information into their everyday decision making. ASSET4 has 220 employees and is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland with locations in London, New York, Mauritius and India. ASSET4 is a proud signatory of the UN's Principles for Responsible Investment and a contributing member to organisations and initiatives like: UNEP-FI, Eurosif, UKSIF, USSIF, Nachhaltiges Investment and the Ceres Coalition in the US. For more information, please visit www.asset4.com