• Combined platform to serve investors representing over US$40 trillion in assets under management
• Integration to unify methodologies for Sustainable Development Investments (SDIs) and SDG alignment
• Founding pension funds—APG, PGGM, AustralianSuper, and BCI—retain board representation to guide governance

A Global Move to Standardize Sustainable Investment Data

Net Purpose has acquired the Asset Owner Platform for Sustainable Development Investments (SDI AOP) in a deal that consolidates two of the world’s leading data frameworks for measuring investments aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The merger establishes one of the largest independent sustainable data providers globally, serving investors overseeing more than US$40 trillion in assets.

The partnership aims to close long-standing gaps in ESG measurement and comparability by aligning two complementary methodologies that quantify a company’s contribution to sustainable outcomes. Under the agreement, SDI AOP’s founding asset owners—APG, PGGM, AustralianSuper, and the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI)—will retain active governance roles on Net Purpose’s board to ensure methodological continuity and credibility.

Net Purpose CEO and Founder Samantha Duncan will lead the combined entity, which will integrate SDI AOP’s data infrastructure and classifications into its existing platform. The enhanced service will expand access to consistent, verifiable data for investors pursuing climate and broader SDG-aligned portfolios.

Strengthening Methodology and Market Trust

Both organisations were founded on the principle that credible impact measurement is essential for scaling sustainable finance. SDI AOP, created by some of the world’s largest pension funds in 2019, developed a common framework to define and identify Sustainable Development Investments—assets that deliver measurable contributions to global development targets.

Claudia Kruse, Chief Sustainability and Strategy Officer at APG and Chair of the SDI AOP, said the merger reinforces that mission. “The SDI AOP was established to create a shared understanding of investments that contribute to the SDGs. Five years in, we are thrilled to have built a committed community of clients with whom we’ve set a global standard. We’re incredibly excited to unite with Net Purpose on our shared mission and goals.”

PGGM’s Chief Investment Officer, Lars Dijkstra, added that the merger strengthens investor capacity to link financial performance with real-world outcomes. “SDIs are a central characteristic of the investment approach PGGM takes,” he said. “With this combination, we have great confidence in the further development of a methodology for global investors to select companies that generate good financial returns while having a positive impact.”

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A Governance Model Anchored in Asset Owner Leadership

The partnership preserves SDI AOP’s founding principle of asset-owner governance—a key differentiator in a crowded ESG data market. The founders will continue to shape methodology and strategy through their board representation at Net Purpose, maintaining the credibility institutional investors rely on.

BCI’s Senior Managing Director and Global Head of ESG, Jennifer Coulson, called the integration a natural progression. “Combining forces with Net Purpose allows us to scale these efforts, and we look forward to continuing as part of the Net Purpose Board to maintain the quality and integrity investors depend on.”

AustralianSuper’s Director of ESG and Stewardship, Sandra Silea, said the deal aligns with investors’ growing need for actionable tools. “Net Purpose and SDI AOP are united by a shared ambition—to support investors with the tools they need to identify and measure progress towards the SDGs,” she said.

Implications for Global Investors

The acquisition represents a pivotal step toward consolidating fragmented sustainability metrics that have long hindered comparability across asset classes. As ESG data demand accelerates under new disclosure regimes such as the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the ISSB standards, investors are increasingly seeking transparent, methodology-driven solutions.

For institutional investors managing trillions in assets, the combined platform’s ability to unify SDG classifications could reduce reporting complexity and increase confidence in sustainable allocations. By offering verified, outcomes-based data, the partnership is positioned to help align investment portfolios with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement objectives.

The Bigger Picture

The consolidation also points to a broader realignment within sustainable finance—where data transparency and methodological integrity are emerging as strategic imperatives. For C-suite leaders and investors, the merger offers both operational efficiency and governance assurance at a time when ESG scrutiny is intensifying across markets.

With Net Purpose now integrating SDI AOP’s robust framework, the combined entity is expected to become a central reference point for measuring corporate contribution to sustainable development—bridging the gap between impact ambition and accountable investment outcomes.

At stake is not just improved data clarity, but the credibility of sustainable finance itself in delivering measurable global progress.

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