Evaluation by Society

CDP is a non-profit organization based in London and jointly run by institutional investors. CDP collects data from major companies across the world regarding environmental strategies and countermeasures against greenhouse gases emitted by these companies. CDP then analyzes this data and announces the results each year. Sojitz has received a rating of A− (leadership level) with regards to climate change for five consecutive years since 2019.

Daiwa Investor Relations Co. Ltd. evaluates and grades the standards by which listed companies disclose information online (IR sites) each year, granting awards to the top companies. This award is one of the longest-running awards in Japan and is often upheld as a benchmark for determining the quality of IR sites. Sojitz has received the top award for eight consecutive years. (In 2023, Sojitz was one of only 9 companies selected for the Grand Prize out of 4,048 nominated companies.) Sojitz also has received the Excellence Award in the Sustainability category for three consecutive years, a new category added since 2021. (In 2023, Sojitz was one of 17 companies selected for the Sustainability Excellence Award.)

Sojitz has been selected as a constituent of the MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN) for seven consecutive years since 2017. Index figures are calculated using data disclosed under the Act on Promotion of Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace, with constituents comprised of those companies which earn a high gender diversity score.

In December 2023, Sojitz was selected as a constituent for the MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index.
This Index is comprised of listed companies with high ESG ratings across their industry sectors.

The MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index and MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN) were created by U.S. company MSCI Inc. and represent ESG indices adopted by the GPIF for ESG investment.

The inclusion of Sojitz in any MSCI Index, and the use of MSCI logos, trademarks, service marks or index names herein, do not constitute a sponsorship, endorsement or promotion of Sojitz by MSCI or any of its affiliates. The MSCI indexes are the exclusive property of MSCI. MSCI and the MSCI index names and logos are trademarks or service marks of MSCI or its affiliates.

Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) was selected a constituent of World listings (five consecutive years since 2018) and Asia Pacific listings of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices’ (DJSI), internationally-recognized, CSR investment-focused global stock price indices. The DJSI is a family of stock indices provided by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC (U.S.). DJSI evaluates companies for selection as constituents based on those companies’ economic, environmental, and social performance in terms of sustainability.

For twelve years running, Sojitz has been a constituent of the SOMPO Sustainability Index, an index set up by Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. The SOMPO Sustainability Index was first established in August 2012, and it is reviewed annually based on Sompo Risk Management Inc.’s Buna-no-Mori (“beech forest”) environmental survey, as well as on the social and governance evaluation conducted as part of the company’s ESG management survey. The Sompo Sustainability Index is used in Sompo Asset Management Co., Ltd.’s Sustainable Management investment product.

What is SOMPO Sustainable Management?
SOMPO Sustainable Management is an ESG (environmental, social, governance) investment product launched by SOMPO Asset Management Co., Ltd. in August 2012. Unlike general active investing in which a fund manager evaluates and selects stocks to invest in, SOMPO Sustainable Management utilizes a buy and hold approach to invest in stocks with strong ESG evaluations from research firms. The weighting of stock holdings is determined based on its own SOMPO Sustainability Index, a proprietary active index composed of approximately 300 companies. Currently, this product is used by several pension funds and institutional investors.

The Kurumin certification is awarded by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in recognition of companies that provide excellent support for child-rearing in accordance with the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising Next-Generation Children. After receiving Kurumin certification for every assessment since 2010, Sojitz was awarded Platinum Kurumin certification in 2021. Sojitz has also obtained “Platinum Kurumin Plus” certification awarded from December 2022 to companies that have raised awareness internally and implemented policies and systems for employees to balance work while undergoing fertility treatment.

Organized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Ikumen Enterprise Award recognizes companies and institutions who are making exceptional efforts to encourage their male employees to participate in child rearing, with the aim of promoting work environments in which employees can more easily balance work and childcare. Sojitz Corporation received an Encouragement Award in the Ikumen Enterprise Awards 2020.

The NPO Nippon Kenko Kaigi issues this certification in recognition of companies that implement superior health management based on criteria set by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Sojitz has been recognized over multiple years since 2019 for taking a strategic, management-oriented approach to improving its employees’ health. The company has been certified as a “White 500” company under the program, and 2024 marks Sojitz’s fifth time to receive this commendation and second consecutive year following its selection in 2023.

The Health & Productivity Stock Selection Program, which is jointly administered by METI and the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), evaluates only TSE-listed companies ranked within the top 500 of the Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program. The Health & Productivity Stock Selection Program chooses companies that have made strategic efforts to address employee health from a management perspective. Sojitz has been selected under the 2024 Health & Productivity Stock Selection Program for the second time following its inclusion in 2021, in recognition of the company’s exceptional health management initiatives.

A rating issued by the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ). DBJ evaluates and rates companies based on the company’s consideration for its employees’ health, and sets financing conditions based on the evaluated company’s results. Sojitz received a rating in 2018.

Each year, Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. holds the Platinum Career Awards in partnership with Toyo Keizai Inc. (Sponsors: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, The Tokyo Stock Exchange). In anticipation of the 100-year life, a platinum career is defined by three characteristics, including long-term vision, autonomous learning, and the resolution of societal issues. The Platinum Career Awards recognizes companies that help to build platinum careers, and Sojitz was awarded the highest prize in June 2022.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has designated companies and organizations that are promoting the introduction and utilization of telework. Sojitz was selected in October 2020.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry issues this certification in recognition of companies based on Japan’s Act on Facilitation of Information Processing. Certification is awarded to companies that demonstrate outstanding efforts to implement the key practices of METI’s digital governance code by integrating IT systems into its businesses and corporate management vision and presenting this information to stakeholders. Sojitz was awarded digital transformation certification in April 2021.