Standard & Poor’s and TMX Group Inc., the operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange, have launched a new index for companies in the green technology sector, the two organizations announced Thursday.

The S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index measures the performance of companies listed on TSX whose core business is in the development and deployment of green technologies.

“A growing number of investors are interested in the clean technology investing theme,” said Jasmit Bhandal, director of S&P Indices in Canada.

“This new index provides a gauge for investors to assess the hypothesis that global interest in clean technology will lead to a favourable environment for clean technology companies.”

The index draws companies from the investable universe of public companies whose activities provide value-added solutions to environmental problems.

S&P and TSX chose Jantzi-Sustainalytics, one of the world’s leading providers of environmental, social, and governance research and analysis, to develop and maintain the Clean Technology Classification System.

“Jantzi-Sustainalytics is a leader in this space and is uniquely positioned to identify the Canadian securities whose core business is in the development and deployment of green technologies,” says Bob Mann, Managing Director, Jantzi-Sustainalytics.

Jantzi-Sustainalytics screened TSX listed securities according to a methodology which first evaluates companies for inclusion based on involvement in and strategic commitment to five environment themes:

• Renewable Energy – Production and Distribution;
• Renewable Energy – Specialized Suppliers;
• Energy Efficiency:
• Waste Reduction and Water Management; and
• Low Impact materials and products.

“Toronto Stock Exchange has become a key listing, financing and trading destination for clean technology companies,” says Ungad Chadda, senior vice president, TSX. “The creation of the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index is a significant step forward for this important new industry sector.”

For a complete list of constituents for the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index, click here.

IE