MSCI Launches Innovation-Focused Indexes, Developed in Collaboration with ARK Invest
NEW YORK – May 13, 2020 – MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI), a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community, today announced the expansion of its megatrend index suite with the launch of five indexes focused on disruptive innovation. The indexes track the performance of companies in dynamic fields, including autonomous technologies, genomics, fintech, and next generation internet.
The new thematic indexes will leverage insights based on collaboration with ARK Investment Management LLC (“ARK Invest”), an expert in analyzing disruptive innovation in the public markets and a global investment manager. By researching across sectors, geographies, and market capitalizations, ARK Invest seeks to provide a deeper understanding of innovation themes and how they will develop over time.
“Technological advances, health crises, scientific discoveries, and changes in business and consumer behaviour continue to transform global dynamics. Investors are increasingly demanding innovative tools that enable them to better identify growth from these economic and societal transformations,” said Stephane Mattatia, Head of Thematic Indexes at MSCI. “Thematic investing continues to be an area of growth and focus for our clients, and we are therefore pleased to announce the launch of these new indexes as well as our collaboration with ARK Invest.”
“ARK is delighted that MSCI’s innovation-specific thematic indexes will offer institutional investors exposure to the five innovation platforms evolving today,” said Catherine Wood, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Investment Officer at ARK Invest. “We believe artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, DNA sequencing, and blockchain technology are game changing innovations that will transform the way the world works during the next five to ten years.”
About the indexes:
| Index | Index composition |
| MSCI ACWI IMI Autonomous Technology & Industrial Innovation Index | Companies that are expected to derive significant revenues, based on the underlying index methodology criteria, from the development of new products and services as a result of technological innovation in industrial automation, manufacturing, transportation, energy usage, energy storage, energy production as well as in artificial intelligence and machine learning |
| MSCI ACWI IMI Genomic Innovation Index | Companies that are expected to derive significant revenues, based on the underlying index methodology criteria, from the development of new products and services in the field of genomic sequencing, synthesis, analysis or instrumentation, enable bio computing, bioinformatics, molecular diagnostics and agricultural biotechnology. |
| MSCI ACWI IMI Next Generation Internet Innovation Index | Companies that are expected to derive significant revenues, based on the underlying index methodology criteria, from the migration of technology infrastructure to the cloud, the increased use of shared technology, infrastructure and services as well as from the increased adoption of internetbased products and services, new payment methods, big data, the internet of things, and social media. |
| MSCI ACWI IMI Fintech Innovation Index | Companies that are expected to derive significant revenues, based on the underlying index methodology criteria, from the development of new products and services as a result of technological innovation in the financial sector. |
| MSCI ACWI IMI Innovation Index | Companies that have high exposure to the following themes through a well-diversified, rules-based and transparent index - Autonomous Technology & Industrial Innovation, Genomic Innovation, Fintech Innovation, and Next Generation Internet Innovation. |
The indexes will use MSCI’s current thematic index methodology framework and have several
potential applications for investors:
• As an investment policy benchmark to guide strategic asset allocation;
• To act as the underlying index for products, including ETFs, structured products and mutual funds;
• As a benchmark to measure performance of asset managers. For more information, please visit msci.com.
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About MSCI Inc.
MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 45 years of expertise in research, data and technology, we power better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. We create industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process.
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The information contained herein (the “Information”) may not be reproduced or redisseminated in whole or in part without prior written permission from MSCI. The Information may not be used to verify or correct other data, to create any derivative works, to create indexes, risk models, or analytics, or in connection with issuing, offering, sponsoring, managing or marketing any securities, portfolios, financial products or other investment vehicles. Historical data and analysis should not be taken as an indication or guarantee of any future performance, analysis, forecast or prediction. None of the Information or MSCI index or other product or service constitutes an offer to buy or sell, or a promotion or recommendation of, any security, financial instrument or product or trading strategy. Further, none of the Information or any MSCI index is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. The Information is provided “as is” and the user of the Information assumes the entire risk of any use it may make or permit to be made of the Information. NONE OF MSCI INC., ARK INVEST, OR ANY OF THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR ITS OR THEIR DIRECT OR INDIRECT SUPPLIERS OR ANY THIRD PARTY INVOLVED IN MAKING OR COMPILING THE INFORMATION (EACH, AN “INFORMATION PROVIDER”) MAKES ANY WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH INFORMATION PROVIDER HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIEDWARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE FOREGOING AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDERS HAVE ANY LIABILITY REGARDING ANY OF THE INFORMATION FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) OR ANY OTHER DAMAGES EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. The foregoing shall not exclude or limit any liability that may not by applicable law be excluded or limited.