Sustainalytics buys real estate climate risk firm

Sustainalytics buys real estate climate risk firm
Aquantix's climate-risk models use artificial intelligence to assess physical risks for about 500 million residential and commercial assets.
JUL 07, 2022

Morningstar Sustainalytics has bought Montreal-based climate-risk tech firm Aquantix.

The acquisition will significantly expand Morningstar Sustainalytics’ climate data capabilities in the real estate sector, where Aquantix specializes.

The acquired company’s climate-risk models use artificial intelligence to assess physical risks for about 500 million residential and commercial assets across 180 countries, according to the firms.

“Banks, lenders and real estate asset managers require a comprehensive understanding of the impact that climate change has on their portfolio of real estate investments,” said Morningstar Sustainalytics commercialization director of real estate solutions, Toby Messier, in the announcement.

“Aquantix fills this void by capturing millions of climate-related data points and providing meaningful property risk metrics that measure the estimated asset damage from emerging climate events across various time frames and scenarios.”

Aquantix has a strategic partnership with fellow Canadian firm Teranet, from which Morningstar will also benefit, the acquiring firm stated.

Teranet, which specializes in registry services and real estate data and analytics, uses Aquantix’s property climate risk information for the packages it provides to financial institutions and regulators.

This story was originally published on ESG Clarity.

Retirees seeking income clarity, better communication most of all

Latest News

Mesirow acquires part of flexPATH in second retirement deal of 2026
Mesirow acquires part of flexPATH in second retirement deal of 2026

Chicago-based Mesirow Fiduciary Solutions adds flexPATH's plan-level outsourced fiduciary book, boosting its retirement market reach to $164 billion.

Advisor moves: LPL lands $350M veteran advisor duo in Florida
Advisor moves: LPL lands $350M veteran advisor duo in Florida

Also, Raymond James's employee advisor channel adds breakaways from Wells Fargo and Stifel, while UBS welcomes an ex-Morgan Stanley duo in Indiana.

SEC accuses crypto firm founder of running $425 million Ponzi scheme
SEC accuses crypto firm founder of running $425 million Ponzi scheme

It promised guaranteed principal and 10% monthly returns. The SEC says it invested nothing.

MassMutual Ascend tops $2 billion in RIA annuity sales as advisors warm to income products
MassMutual Ascend tops $2 billion in RIA annuity sales as advisors warm to income products

Ten years after entering the fee-based annuity market, MassMutual Ascend says nearly half its lifetime sales came in the past two years alone – but barriers remain among fee-only advisors.

Fintech bytes: Wealth tech firms target advisor productivity with new integrations
Fintech bytes: Wealth tech firms target advisor productivity with new integrations

Amplify, WealthReach, Zeplyn and Zocks have unveiled partnerships aimed at automating portfolio management, content creation, account opening, and client communication.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income