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Acquisition Solidifies Partnership Between IW Financial and Conflict Securities Advisory GROUP
Acquisition Solidifies Partnership Between IW Financial and Conflict Securities Advisory GROUP
Published 09-12-07
Submitted by Non Profile
PORTLAND, ME - September 12, 2007 - Conflict Securities Advisory Group, Inc. (CSAG), the world's only research firm dedicated exclusively to identifying and assessing companies that conduct business with U.S. State Department-designated terrorist-sponsoring countries and the leader in designing and implementing "terror-free" investment solutions (www.terrorfreeinvesting.com) has been acquired by IdealsWork, Inc., the parent company of IW Financial, in a cash and stock transaction it was announced today.
CSAG will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary. IW Financial is a leader in the development of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research, consulting and portfolio management solutions for the financial services industry. Terms of the transaction were not announced.
This follows an announcement in June of this year that the two companies would work together to offer institutional, plan sponsor, and asset management clients research, analytics and consulting services enabling them to satisfy the divestment and/or engagement requirements of all pending or future legislation on Iran, Sudan or other states designated by the U.S. as sponsors of terrorism. The acquisition allows the firms to more closely integrate their products and services, offering clients seamless access to global security assessments as well as ESG research, analytics and consulting services.
"The ability to screen for exposure to terrorist-sponsoring states is increasingly important to both institutional and individual investors," said Sam Pierce, Chief Executive Officer at IW Financial. "CSAG is the undisputed leader in this space. Integrating our respective firms' research and services means our clients have a one-stop option whether it is meeting divestment/engagement requirements, building "terror-free" investment products, or screening portfolios using environmental, social, and governance factors."
Launched in 2001, CSAG is an impartial research firm based in Washington, DC that specializes in identifying and profiling the activities of publicly traded companies in countries designated by the State Department as states that sponsoring terrorism. The firm has the longest track record in the marketplace for providing detailed information on corporate ties to Sudan, Iran and other terrorist-sponsoring states. An industry pioneer, CSAG has helped implement the nation's first "terror free" public fund; the nation's first "terror-free" mutual fund; the nation's first national "terror-free" separate account platform that makes it possible for any institutional investor to invest "terror-free" if they so choose; and the nation's first "terror-free" foundation endowment. CSAG clients include the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Office of the Comptroller of New York City, the Treasurers of Missouri and Arizona and asset management firms from around the world.
"We are pleased to join with IW Financial to offer an expanded array of services, focusing on global security risk and business activities in terrorist-sponsoring states," said Roger W. Robinson, Jr., President and CEO of CSAG. "There is rapidly growing demand for this kind of screening and certification capability."
"Today, global investors are focusing on public firms with operations in state sponsors of terrorism," Pierce said. "In the future, there will undoubtedly be other global security risk factors that come to the fore. By combining with CSAG, we are well positioned to help our clients address these concerns as they arise."
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 CSAG
Conflict Securities Advisory Group (CSAG), an independent research provider based in Washington DC, has the longest track record of any firm in the marketplace for providing detailed information on the business ties of publicly traded companies in terrorist-sponsoring states. The firm has worked with leading asset managers, index providers, states, universities and foundations on terror-free investing and their research underpins the nation's first "terror free" public fund and "terror-free" mutual fund. CSAG clients include the SEC, New York City's Comptroller Office and the Treasurers of Missouri and Arizona.
For information on CSAG visit www.conflictsecurities.com.
For more information on terror-free investing, visit www.terrorfreeinvesting.com.
