TILT acquires USCII as Heron maintains key ongoing role
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Heron Foundation today announced that it has partnered with TILT Investments on a strategic repositioning of the U.S. Community Investing Index (USCII), with a stated goal of allowing the USCII continued growth, development, and successful application in the years ahead. Under the agreement, TILT will acquire all intellectual property rights related to the USCII and its methodology, including responsibility for obtaining all necessary source data. Heron will continue to play a major role in the future of USCII, taking a 20 percent founder’s share and a seat on the company’s board.
Developed in 2005, the USCII is an index of publicly traded companies designed to identify those that contribute positively to the communities in which they source, operate, and sell. Heron and its research partners have continually refined USCII methodology to draw from new data sources and better identify which enterprises are net contributors to society based on their approach to human, natural, civic, and economic capital.
“The USCII is a core part of Heron’s history and work, helping our foundation fulfill its mission of helping people and communities help themselves,” said Dana K. Bezerra, President of Heron. “Our commitment to that mission is unwavering and is at the heart of our decision to pursue this next chapter for USCII. We are thrilled to have a partner in TILT who is ready to build on the demonstrated success of USCII, allowing it to grow even further to the benefit of its users, and we’re excited to have a seat at the table for this next chapter in the growth of USCII.”
At Heron, the USCII has been overseen by an advisory committee of professionals in pertinent fields, including but not limited to sustainable investing, philanthropy, and social data. TILT expects to maintain the Index’s core qualities: diversification (holding 230-250 issues), a commitment to multi-capital (net contribution) factors, and a focus on community well-being (an emphasis on human and civic capital returns).
“We are honored to partner with Heron to advance mission-aligned investing in the U.S. and globally. We welcome continued collaboration with Heron and other investors who seek to go beyond the scope of ESG investing to achieve non-financial returns alongside financial returns,” said Tim Ferguson, CEO of TILT. “The USCII provides us with a powerful benchmark to develop customized solutions for investors who want to explore multi-capital investing in the public equity markets.”
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