The International Stock Exchange (TISE) has launched a new market segment, TISE Sustainable, and joined the United Nations’ Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (UN SSE).

With sustainable finance gathering momentum, TISE is seeking to play a greater role in facilitating the financing of a sustainable future. TISE has established the new segment as a comprehensive and reputable enabler for increased capital allocation towards environmental, social or sustainable activities, while committing to promoting sustainability performance and transparency in the capital markets as part of becoming a Partner Exchange of the UN SSE.

Cees Vermaas, CEO of TISE, said: “TISE is committed to being part of the sustainable capital markets ecosystem, both in terms of how we manage our business and through our role as a facilitator of global capital flows. I am very pleased that we have now further enhanced our position in this regard through the launch of Europe’s most comprehensive sustainable finance segment, TISE Sustainable, and our membership of the UN SSE, which puts us at the heart of global efforts to encourage sustainable investment.”

TISE is now among the 104 Partner Exchanges of the UN SSE. As part of the admission process, Mr Vermaas formally pledged TISE’s commitment to promoting sustainability performance and transparency in the capital markets during correspondence with the UN Secretary General, António Guterres.

UN SSE is a UN Partnership Programme whose mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organisations, can encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Anthony Miller, Coordinator of the UN SSE, said: “We welcome TISE as a Partner Exchange of the UN SSE and are encouraged to see the actions that TISE is taking to promote sustainable finance. We wish them every success with their new sustainable market segment, TISE Sustainable.”

TISE Sustainable provides qualifying issuers and their securities with enhanced connectivity, credibility, transparency and visibility among investors.

With a straightforward application process and no additional fee, the segment is available to all TISE-listed issuers – including both bond and equity issuers – who comply with at least one recognised framework or rating*. Investors can take comfort from the fact that the displayed issuers must have demonstrated their compliance to qualify for inclusion and that they are undertaking ongoing public sustainability reporting and comprehensive information disclosure.

The launch of TISE Sustainable represents an evolution from TISE GREEN, which was originally launched at the end of 2018.

Mr Vermaas added: “Since the launch of TISE GREEN we have seen a significant maturing of the sector, for example in terms of growth in the amount of capital being deployed and the development of accompanying frameworks and ratings. These changes have been accelerated by the pandemic which has broadened the focus of governments, regulators, businesses and investors from a concentration on the environment to a more holistic view of sustainability. I am excited that the launch of this new segment and our Membership of UN SEE will help us to facilitate the increased allocation of capital towards environmental, social and sustainable activities.”

For more information visit: www.tisegroup.com/sustainable