A new move by Morningstar will potentially allow the firm to increase its ability to cater to firms and investors interested in values-based investing. The firm has paid an undisclosed price to become a 40% stakeholder in Sustainalytics, a global provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) research and ratings, according to Asia Asset Management. Through the deal, Morningstar has bought into the 25-year-old company's bench of 170 analysts, spread across 13 offices internationally, with expertise and knowledge of more than 40 sectors. The two firms have been partners since they collaborated on the Morningstar Sustainability Rating series for global mutual funds and ETFs in 2015. Now covering more than 35,000 mutual funds and ETFs around the world, the series has grown into the largest dataset of its kind, letting investors assess companies based on how they address ESG issues.