Syria Screen - RiskMetrics Online Help Files - MSCI

Global Sanctions MethodologySyria ScreenNovember 2014Government agencies and disclosureFinancial data providersDirect communication with companyQUALITY ASSURANCEMSCI ESG Research maintains robust quality assurance programs, including full reviews of research bysenior analysts, and a methodology committee that approves all changes to the research methodologyand enforces a consistent implementation.GLOBAL SANCTIONS RESEARCH FACTORS: SYRIAIn addition to classifying the general type of a company’s involvement with Syria, MSCI ESG Researchidentifies a number of factors detailing the nature of the company’s involvement. These factors arediscrete data fields in MSCI ESG Research’s Global Sanctions database and, therefore, can be used tocreate customized lists of companies involved with Syria. These factors include both common criteriaacross all or most target countries covered by MSCI ESG Research’s Global Sanctions product, andfactors unique to Syria.Clients that subscribe to ESG Manager and/or ESG Data Feeds will have access to these research factors.The following provides the research factor name, the column header under which that factor will beidentified, and the description of that research factor.CREATING A RESTRICTED LIST: SYRIAStep 1Step 2The first step in creating a restricted list consists of determining the involvement type. All companies onMSCI ESG Research’s Syria list meet one of the three involvement types, Equity, Non-Equity, or Other.Factor Name Column Header DescriptionSyria - InvolvementTypeSYRIA_TIEType of involvement - Equity, Non-Equity, or OtherThe second step, if necessary, is to identify further levels of the company’s involvement with Syria. Thefollowing list of research factors are available to build a restricted list concerning companies involvedwith Syria, and are designed to be able to meet the criteria of various mandates. The factors are listedalphabetically by Column Header.Factor Name Column Header DescriptionSyria - GovernmentTieSYRIA_BUS_GOVTCompany with a business tie to the Syriangovernment.Syria - Military Tie SYRIA_BUS_MILITARY Company with a business tie to the Syrian military.Syria - Issue CreditLoanSYRIA_CREDIT_LOANCompany issues credit or loans to Syria.MSCI ESG Research© 2014 MSCI Inc. All rights reserved.Please refer to the disclaimer at the end of this document5 of 8msci.com