Euronext Launches the BEL® ESG Index

Euronext today announced the launch of the BEL® ESG index, a new index identifying and tracking the companies within the BEL® 20 and the BEL® Mid indices that have demonstrated the best ESG practices.

The BEL® ESG Index is designed to facilitate the adoption of mainstream ESG investment solutions by investors. It is the fifth ESG Index variant for national blue-chip indices, following the launch of the CAC® 40 ESG (France), the MIB® ESG (Italy), the AEX® ESG (The Netherlands) and the OBX® ESG (Norway).

For the index market data, Euronext has partnered with Sustainalytics, a leading global provider of ESG research, ratings and data. Sustainalytics provides the ESG assessment of companies for the composition of the index. The BEL® ESG has been designed to be fully compliant with the Central Labelling Agency’s 'Towards Sustainability' label, a high-quality standard for sustainable financial products such as indices and funds.

Stéphane Boujnah, CEO and Chairman of the Managing Board of Euronext N.V.: "Euronext is committed to support companies taking ambitious steps towards more sustainable business models. By combining the recognized BEL brand with a stringent and consensual ESG methodology while maintaining liquidity, The BEL® ESG responds to the market’s growing demand for sustainable investment tools.

As a leading index provider in Europe, we are determined to accelerate the transition to sustainable investments through the launch of indices such as this new BEL® ESG index. Other countries are successfully moving into the space of domestic ESG blue chip indices, following the launch of the CAC® 40 ESG in France, the AEX® ESG in the Netherlands, the OBX® ESG in Norway and the MIB® ESG in Italy."

Ita Demyttenaere, Director Client Relations, Sustainalytics: "We are pleased to support our partnership with Euronext through the launch of the BEL® ESG index – a significant milestone for the Belgian market thanks to its compliance with the Central Labelling Agency’s 'Towards Sustainability' label. Morningstar Sustainalytics’ ESG data and robust methodology advance the index’s credibility by considering the ESG risk exposure management of the largest companies based on market capitalisation."