Press Releases

IW FINANCIAL, Si2 PARTNERSHIP EXPANDS SERVICES TO SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTORS

Investors to get bundled delivery of ESG research and proxy information services

PORTLAND, Maine (October 23, 2009) — IW Financial and Si2 today announced a partnership that adds proxy information services to the IW Financial solution set. The agreement enables IW to broaden its offerings and team with a group of expert proxy analysts.

"We're pleased to offer our clients a choice when it comes to getting good research on environmental and social proxy issues," said Sam Pierce, CEO of IW Financial. "We think this is a positive development for an industry whose choices have been reduced over the past year."

The partnership will enable IW Financial to seamlessly provide its clients with the online tools and in-depth reports produced by Si2. Si2, in turn, will be able to provide its clients with access to ESG research for screening on issues like Sudan involvement and tobacco industry exposure, plus the tools on IW Financial's analytic platform.

"We started Si2 because big institutional investors told us they want robust, impartial background information and a better range of choices for proxy research services," said Heidi Welsh, executive director of Si2. "Now they have that. The partnership with IW Financial will make these choices more broadly available, and gives a terrific set of portfolio screening options, too."

About IW Financial
IW Financial is a leading provider of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research, consulting and portfolio management solutions for asset management firms, managed accounts sponsors, institutional investors, plan sponsors, and investment advisors.
 
With its unique combination of investment industry expertise, unbiased research, and technology solutions, IW Financial helps industry professionals capitalize on growing investor demand by incorporating ESG factors into investment platforms, products, and portfolios, adding value to the money management process while strengthening client relationships.
 
For more information on IW Financial visit www.iwfinancial.com.

About Si2
The Sustainable Investments Institute (Si2) conducts impartial research and publishes reports on organized efforts to influence corporate behavior that affects society and the environment. Si2 closely follows shareholder resolutions proposed by investor activists, analyzing the changing campaigns and identifying key points of contention in reports that enable institutional investors to make informed, independent decisions about their votes on these proposals. In addition to these educational proxy research materials for members, SI2 publishes reports for policy makers and the interested public on emerging issues of corporate and investor responsibility. It is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC, supported mainly by its members who include leading academic institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Pomona, and Vassar.
 
Visit www.siinstitute.org for more on Si2 and its experienced team of analysts.

Dan Porter
IW Financial
(207) 773-2333 x8402
danporteriwfinancial.com

Heidi Welsh
Si2
(301)-432-4721
heidisiinstitute.org