UBS Licenses 27 MSCI Indices for New Series of ETFs

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

MSCI Inc. MSCI, a leading provider of investment decision support tools worldwide, announced today that UBS Global Asset Management (UBS) has licensed 27 MSCI Hedged Indices for a new series of ETFs launched today.

Thomas Merz, Head of UBS ETF Europe, commented, “By basing our physically replicated ETFs on a range of MSCI Hedged Indices, we are able to offer our clients a way to reduce currency risk and optimize portfolio returns in a transparent and cost-efficient way.”

“We are very pleased to license our indices to UBS for the launch of this new series of currency hedged ETFs,” said Deborah Yang, Managing Director and Head of the MSCI Index Business in EMEA and India. “UBS's decision to use nearly 30 MSCI indices as the basis for these new ETFs reflects not only the wide range of indices we offer, but also MSCI's position as the index of choice for the ETF market.”

In a 2013 report, Greenwich Associates named MSCI the “benchmark of choice” for international equity ETFs.¹

About MSCI

MSCI Inc. is a leading provider of investment decision support tools to investors globally, including asset managers, banks, hedge funds and pension funds. MSCI products and services include indices, portfolio risk and performance analytics, and governance tools.

The company's flagship product offerings are: the MSCI indices with approximately USD 7.5 trillion estimated to be benchmarked to them on a worldwide basis;² Barra multi-asset class factor models, portfolio risk and performance analytics; RiskMetrics multi-asset class market and credit risk analytics; IPD real estate information, indices and analytics; MSCI ESG (environmental, social and governance) Research screening, analysis and ratings; ISS corporate governance research, data and outsourced proxy voting and reporting services; and FEA valuation models and risk management software for the energy and commodities markets. MSCI is headquartered in New York, with research and commercial offices around the world.

²As of March 31, 2013, as reported on July 31, 2013 by eVestment, Lipper and Bloomberg

For further information on MSCI, please visit our web site at www.msci.com

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¹ Greenwich Report “Institutional Investors' Relationship with ETFs Deepens”, May 2013, Greenwich Associates