S&P, TSX Launch S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index

TORONTO, March 25 /CNW/ - Standard & Poor's, the world's leading index provider and TMX Group Inc., operator of Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), announced today the launch of the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index. 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," says 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 S&P/TSX Clean Technology 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.

"In building the classification system for the index, our team at Jantzi-Sustainalytics drew on our knowledge of how global environmental trends are impacting capital markets," states Bob Mann, Managing Director, Jantzi-Sustainalytics. "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."

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. We believe it is the first comprehensive index of Canadian companies that are focused on addressing environmental issues such as climate change.

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

See a complete list of constituents for the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index below:

    
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    TICKER                                          COMPANY
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    GNA                                    Gerdau Ameristeel Corp
    BRC.UN                        Brookfield Renewable Power Fund
    WPT                                  Westport Innovations Inc
    CAS                                              Cascades Inc
    NPI.UN                            Northland Power Income Fund
    ATA                            ATS Automation Tooling Systems
    AQN                         Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
    RPG                                     Ram Power Corporation
    NAL                                       Newalta Corporation
    GLV.A                                               GLV Inc A
    PCC                                       Plutonic Power Corp
    BLD                                 Ballard Power Systems Inc
    BLX                                             Boralex Inc A
    RCM                                            Ruggedcom Inc.
    BU                                  Burcon NutraScience Corp.
    WFI                         WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc
    INE                             Innergex Renewable Energy Inc
    MPT.UN           Macquarie Power & Infrastructure Income Fund
    IEF.UN                                     Innergex Power Inc
    BPT.UN                              Boralex Power Income Fund
    AZD                                            Azure Dynamics
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    

About S&P Indices

S&P Indices, the world's leading index provider, maintains a wide variety of investable and benchmark indices to meet an array of investor needs. Over $1 trillion is directly indexed to Standard & Poor's family of indices, which includes the S&P 500, the world's most followed stock market index, the S&P Global 1200, a composite index comprised of seven regional and country headline indices, the S&P Global BMI, an index with approximately 11,000 constituents, and the S&P GSCI, the industry's most closely watched commodities index. For more information, please visit www.standardandpoors.com/indices.

About Standard & Poor's

Standard & Poor's, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is the world's foremost provider of independent credit ratings, indices, risk evaluation, investment research and data. With offices in 23 countries and markets, Standard & Poor's is an essential part of the world's financial infrastructure and has played a leading role for 150 years in providing investors with the independent benchmarks they need to feel more confident about their investment and financial decisions. For more information, visit http://www.standardandpoors.com

About TMX Group (TSX-X)

TMX Group's key subsidiaries operate cash and derivative markets for multiple asset classes including equities, fixed income and energy. Toronto Stock Exchange, TSX Venture Exchange, Montreal Exchange, Natural Gas Exchange, Boston Options Exchange (BOX), Shorcan, Equicom and other TMX Group companies provide trading markets, clearing facilities, data products and other services to the global financial community. TMX Group is headquartered in Toronto with offices in Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. For more information about TMX Group, visit our website at www.tmx.com.

About Jantzi-Sustainalytics

Jantzi-Sustainalytics provides leading-edge analysis of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of organizations. As a global firm with local expertise, Jantzi-Sustainalytics offers high-quality information on companies, institutions and countries. Through the online research platform clients can access ESG profiles and ratings on more than 2,000 listed companies worldwide. Combined the new Jantzi-Sustainalytics has helped clients become responsible investors for nearly 20 years.

For further information: Jasmit Bhandal, Standard & Poor's, [phone], [email protected]; David R. Guarino, Standard & Poor's, [phone], [email protected]; Carolyn Quick, TMX Group, [phone], [email protected]