STOXX, the benchmark and custom index business of ISS STOXX, has agreed to acquire Milan-based sustainable investment solutions provider ECPI, strengthening its position in sustainability-focused indices and data at a time when institutional demand for credible ESG benchmarks continues to evolve. The acquisition brings ECPI’s established sustainability index suite and proprietary research capabilities into the STOXX platform, allowing ISS STOXX to broaden its range of sustainability-aligned benchmarks while deepening analytical support for asset owners and asset managers navigating complex regulatory and investment requirements.

Founded in 1997, ECPI has built a long-standing presence in the sustainable investment ecosystem, providing indices, data, and analytics tailored to institutional investors. Its offerings span more than 60 sustainability indices, covering global benchmarks, thematic strategies, and both equity and fixed income universes. These indices are widely used for index-linked investment products, portfolio construction, risk analysis, and compliance with sustainability mandates. Following completion of the transaction, STOXX will assume responsibility as benchmark administrator for the full suite of ECPI indices, integrating them into its broader index governance and distribution framework. The move reflects a growing emphasis on scalable, transparent sustainability benchmarks that can support both passive and rules-based active strategies.

ISS STOXX has positioned the acquisition as part of a longer-term strategy to deliver differentiated sustainability solutions across global markets. By incorporating ECPI’s index methodologies and datasets, STOXX aims to offer clients a wider set of tools to align portfolios with environmental and social objectives while maintaining clarity on risk, return, and methodology. Axel Lomholt, Head of Index at ISS STOXX, said the transaction reinforces STOXX’s commitment to strengthening sustainability offerings for institutional clients. He noted that ECPI’s index range would now be accessible to a broader global audience through STOXX’s distribution and index infrastructure. For asset managers, the expanded platform may support the development of new sustainability-linked products, particularly as regulatory expectations and client scrutiny around ESG claims increase.

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Beyond indices, ECPI brings one of the largest proprietary corporate sustainability research databases in the market. The dataset covers more than 6,800 issuers and applies a proprietary research framework focused on sustainability performance factors linked to long-term intangible value creation. This research capability complements ISS STOXX’s existing data and analytics portfolio, which spans corporate governance, climate risk, and ESG ratings. Combined, the platforms are expected to support more granular screening, portfolio construction, and reporting across sustainability strategies. As investors increasingly demand decision-useful sustainability data rather than headline scores, access to consistent, research-backed datasets is becoming a critical differentiator.

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The acquisition comes amid a period of reassessment in sustainable investing, with regulatory divergence, evolving disclosure standards, and political scrutiny reshaping ESG implementation across regions. In this environment, index providers are under pressure to demonstrate methodological robustness, transparency, and adaptability. Lorenzo Pelizzola, Vice President of ECPI Index and ESG Research, highlighted product innovation and responsiveness to client needs as core strengths of ECPI’s approach. He said joining ISS STOXX would allow the team to scale those capabilities while continuing to deliver tailored sustainability solutions to institutional investors.

STOXX’s move underscores a broader trend in the index and data sector, where scale, governance, and research depth are becoming essential to support sustainable investment at institutional level. As ESG moves from niche strategies toward core portfolio integration, demand is shifting toward benchmarks that combine credibility with flexibility. For investors, the integration of ECPI into ISS STOXX may enhance access to sustainability indices that are both investable and analytically robust. For the wider market, the deal highlights how sustainability data and index providers are consolidating to meet rising expectations around transparency, consistency, and long-term value alignment.

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