External Assessments/Inclusion in the Indexes| Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.

External Assessments

FTSE4Good

FTSE4Good index established by FTSE Russell, a worldwide provider of market indexes, is composed of companies selected from major companies around the world for demonstrating outstanding ESG practices. As of the end of March 2023, FTSE4Good has selected 1,074 companies from developed countries, including 226 Japanese companies. Our Company has been selected for inclusion in the index for the fifth consecutive year since 2019.

FTSE Blossom Japan Index

This index was established by FTSE Russell, and is composed of Japanese companies selected for demonstrating outstanding ESG practices. Selected from among the shares on the FTSE Japan Index, it is designed to contain a distribution of industries equal to that of the Japanese stock market. Our Company had a comprehensive evaluation of 3.1 as of June 2023.

FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index

This index selects companies with a focus on FTSE Russell's ESG ratings, and includes only companies that are valued for their climate governance and climate change initiatives, particularly among those with high greenhouse gas emissions. Our Company had a comprehensive evaluation of 3.1 as of June 2023.

S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index

A joint-brand index by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and the Japan Exchange Group (JPX). Selected from TOPIX shares, it is weighted toward companies with outstanding carbon efficiency and environmental information disclosure. From June 2023, our Company has received a decile class rating of 1 and an information disclosure status rating of “Disclosed.”

CDP "Climate Change 2023"

Established to carry out activities seeking information disclosure from corporations on their greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to counter climate change, CDP has been measuring and managing the environmental impact of industry since its start in 2000. More than 23,200 companies have disclosed climate change information (2023 data), and CDP scores companies' environmental performance on a scale topped by the “A” rating. Our Company has received a score of A-.

CDP "Water Security 2023"

CDP Water Security is a program seeking disclosure of information on risks affecting water security. Our Company compiles statistics on items including water withdrawals/discharges and treatment methods which is useful in understanding data on water stress. Our Company has received a score of B.

EcoVadis Sustainability Rating 2024: Silver

EcoVadis SAS was established in 2007 as an institution that evaluates the ESG efforts of companies in order to improve the environmental and social practices of companies across their whole supply chains. Thus far, it has assessed approximately 130,000 companies in 220 industries and 180 countries and regions in terms of their policies, measures taken and performance in the four categories of environment, labor & human rights, ethics, and sustainable resource procurement. EcoVadis confers its Silver rating only on companies performing within the top 15% of the plastic manufactures it evaluates.

“MSCI Japan Empowering Women (WIN) Select Index

The “MSCI Japan Empowering Women (WIN) Select Index” is constructed based on gender diversity score, by selecting companies that excel in gender diversity from the top 700 brands by market capitalization (MSCI Japan IMI Top 700 Index).
Our Company has been selected as one of the 379 companies for inclusion in the index. We had a gender diversity score of “4.7” as of June 2023.

* The inclusion of Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. 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 Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. 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.

Inclusion in the indexes

SOMPO Sustainability Index

In 2023, our Company was selected for inclusion for the fourth consecutive year in the SOMPO Sustainability Index, established independently by Sompo Asset Management Co., Ltd. The roughly 300 shares comprising the index are selected each year for outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. It is used for the SOMPO Sustainable Operation program.

iSTOXX^®MUTB Japan Platinum Career 150 Index

The iSTOXX^®MUTB Japan Platinum Career 150 Index is an ESG index focusing on “human capital,” jointly developed by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation and STOXX Limited an index provider affiliated with the Deutsche Börse Group.
The index comprises 150 companies actively engaged in building employees' careers from three perspectives: “long-term view,” “active learning,” and “social contribution.” Our Company has been selected as a company for inclusion in the index.

JPX-Nikkei Index 400

The JPX-Nikkei Index 400 is composed of companies with high appeal for investors, which meet requirements of global investment standards, such as efficient use of capital and investor-focused management perspectives, and promotes the appeal of Japanese corporations domestically and abroad, while encouraging continued improvement of corporate value, thereby aiming to revitalize the Japanese stock market.
Our Company was selected for the first time in FY2023 for inclusion in the “JPX-Nikkei Index 400.”