Sumitomo Chemical Included in All GPIF ESG Indexes

Jul. 27, 2018

Sumitomo Chemical Company ("Sumitomo Chemical") is pleased to announce that its stocks are now included in all of the three indexes selected by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) of Japan as factors to be incorporated into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment strategies. Sumitomo Chemical has been included as a constituent stock in the FTSE Blossom Japan Index and the MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index for two consecutive years whereas it has been selected anew for inclusion in the MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN).

Created by FTSE Russell, a global provider of indexes and other benchmarks, the FTSE Blossom Japan Index is designed to measure the performance of Japanese companies demonstrating strong ESG practices. The MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index and the MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN) are indexes both designed by MSCI Inc., which provides a variety of tools to support institutional investors around the world in making investment decisions. From among the stocks constituting the MSCI Japan IMI Top 500 Index, MSCI selects those companies that excel in ESG evaluation and are active in encouraging and promoting women’s participation in the workplace.

Guided by the Sumitomo Spirit, which stresses, among others, the importance of seeking to benefit not only its own business, but also both the nation and society, Sumitomo Chemical Group companies follow the three-tier TSP^* approach in undertaking ESG activities. Starting in fiscal 2016, Sumitomo Chemical has been conducting a certain program by which products and technologies that will help combat climate change and reduce the environmental impact are designated as "Sumika Sustainable Solutions", along with a Sustainable Tree program, the Company’s participation-type initiatives geared to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition, in April of this year, the Company established a Sustainability Promotion Committee to accelerate initiatives that will contribute to sustainability and also to enhance information disclosure on ESG activities.

Toward building a sustainable society, Sumitomo Chemical Group companies will continue to boldly take on the challenges of creating new values by capitalizing on the integrated strengths of chemistry through each member of the companies making the best of their creativity.

• TSP: Promoting a commitment to achieving the SDGs "under Top commitment, through offering business-driven Solutions, and with the Participation of all employees."

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