Wilshire Indexes, a leading global benchmark platform, and Nikkei Inc., a world-renowned media brand for Asian News and calculator of the Nikkei 225, announced that Nikkei has made a strategic investment in Wilshire Indexes to accelerate the expansion and adoption of the global benchmark platform.

Wilshire Indexes combines new technology, critical and deep index experience, and a long heritage of index innovation to help transform how investors use benchmarks to realize their objectives. Recognizing the global opportunity and long-term strategic importance of a new global benchmark platform, the investment from Nikkei aims to further the global expansion of its index business and reinforce the Nikkei brand internationally.

In 2022, Nikkei and Wilshire Indexes jointly developed the Nikkei 225 Climate Change 1.5℃ Target Index, a powerful tool for ESG investment which aims to meet the minimum standards for the EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks (PAB). The partnership will strengthen the collaboration around the development of new innovative index offerings for global investors and promotion of the Nikkei brand globally.

Nikkei joins existing investors, including Singapore Exchange (SGX Group), the Financial Times (FT), Mark Makepeace, CC Capital and Motive Partners. CC Capital and Motive Partners acquired Wilshire Indexes’ parent company, Wilshire Advisors LLC, in 2021. Wilshire Indexes was advised by Solomon Partners and Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

Mark Makepeace, CEO of Wilshire Indexes, said, “We are excited about the potential of this new strategic partnership with Nikkei. The combination of Wilshire Indexes heritage of index innovation, Nikkei’s leading media brand and global reach, and our respective teams of index industry pioneers will help accelerate the growth of our global benchmark platform and client service offerings.”

Tsuyoshi Hasebe, President & CEO of Nikkei Inc, said, “We are very pleased to be investing in Wilshire Indexes, led by Mr. Makepeace with his outstanding track record in index development. The Nikkei index business, which includes the Nikkei 225, is well known in Japan, and we plan to expand our presence globally.”

Doug Newton, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of CC Capital, said, “This partnership is a testament to the world-class technology, infrastructure and broad reach of the Wilshire Indexes platform today, as well as the opportunities ahead. Wilshire Indexes has proven its ability to outperform for their blue-chip clients. We are confident that Nikkei’s strategic investment will further position Mark and the talented Wilshire Indexes team to build on their leading strategies and innovation capabilities and continue driving value in the evolving index marketplace.”

Scott Kauffman, Founding Partner of Motive Partners, said, “We are excited with the continued success and growth of Wilshire Indexes. The combination of growing global strategic partnerships and new technology, data and analytics capabilities, will continue to drive disruption and differentiation across the index industry.”

Source: Wilshire Indexes