ESG Evaluations by External Agencies Sustainability Awards and Recognition
ESG investments are on the rise—that is, when investors not only consider financial analysis in making investment decisions, but also non-financial information related to the environment, society, and governance, in order to conduct investment which promotes companies’ sustainable growth from a mid-to long-term perspective (sustainability). The following showcases some of the high performance evaluations which Sojitz has received from external organizations.
Awards & Commendations
RobecoSAM
Since 2004, RobecoSAM has assessed the corporate sustainability
of roughly 3,000 major companies worldwide, awarding “Gold Class,”
“Silver Class,” and “Bronze Class” awards to the best companies
in each industry sector. Sojitz was selected for a Silver Class
Sustainability Award in 2019. We also received the “Industry Mover”
award for the second year running, which recognizes Sojitz as having
made the most improvement among companies in our sector over that
year.
CDP
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. In 2018, Sojitz received
an upper rating of B in “Management” with regards to climate change.
Internet IR Award
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 three consecutive years now, coming in 2nd
place overall. (In 2018, Sojitz was one of only nine selected out
of 3,782 nominated companies.)
Nadeshiko Brand
This award, conferred jointly by the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the
Ministry of Economics, Trade, and Industry each year, recognizes
listed companies which excelled at empowering women in the workplace.
Sojitz has been selected as a Nadeshiko Brand company for three
consecutive years (March 2017 , March 2018 and March 2019), in recognition
for our efforts to promote women’s empowerment in terms of career
advancement and support for working mothers.
Indexes
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)
Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) was selected as an FY2018 constituent
of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices’ (DJSI) DJSI World and
DJSI Asia Pacific listings, both 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.)
and RobecoSAM (Switzerland). DJSI evaluates companies for selection
as constituents based on those companies’ economic, environmental,
and social performance in terms of sustainability.
FTSE4Good Index Series and FTSE Blossom
Japan Index
In June 2018, Sojitz was selected as a constituent of the FTSE4
Good Index Series and FTSE Blossom Japan Index provided by FTSE
Russell*1, a global index provider. These are both widely used
by investors, as indexes comprised of companies which excel in
their response to environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
issues. The FTSE Blossom Japan Index has also been selected by
the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) as an index for
ESG investment.
*1 Fully-owned subsidiary of the London Stock
Exchange. Creates and manages indexes, as well as provides related
financial data on a global scale.
"FTSE Russell confirms that Sojitz has been
independently assessed according to the index criteria, and has
satisfied the requirements to become a constituent of the FTSE
Blossom Japan Index. Created by the global index and data provider
FTSE Russell, the FTSE Blossom Japan Index is designed to measure
the performance of companies demonstrating strong Environmental,
Social and Governance (ESG) practices. The FTSE Blossom Japan
Index is used by a wide variety of market participants to create
and assess responsible investment funds and other products."
MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN)
Sojitz was selected as a constituent of the MSCI Japan Empowering
Women Index (WIN) in 2017 and 2018. This index was created by
U.S. company MSCI and is another ESG index selected by the GPIF
for ESG investment. 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.
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.
SNAM Sustainability Index
Sojitz has been a constituent of the SNAM Sustainability Index,
an index set up by Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Asset Management Co.,
Ltd, for six years running. The SNAM Sustainability Index was
first established in August 2012, and it evaluates nominees’ ESG
(response to environmental, social, and governance issues) based
on Sompo Risk Management & Health Care Inc.’s environmental
survey and IntegreX Inc’s social and governance survey.