Tokyo (February 19, 2015) - Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been awarded RobecoSAM Gold Class, a global distinction for corporate sustainability.

RobecoSAM, based in Switzerland, is the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. RobecoSAM invites over 3,000 of the world’s largest companies to participate in the Corporate Sustainability Assessment. Results are analyzed in terms of economic, environmental and social issues with a focus on long-term value creation. Recently RobecoSAM has released its annual “Sustainability Yearbook 2015” in which 69 companies are ranked as Gold Class. Five Japanese companies including Konica Minolta are awarded Gold Class. Among the Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics sector, Konica Minolta is the only Japanese company as Gold Class.

In this year’s assessment, Konica Minolta has earned the highest evaluation in the Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics sector for its economic initiatives including innovation management and risk management, as well as for environmental initiatives on climate change strategies, environmental policy and its management.

Globally, institutional investors have been paying close attention not only to financial indices but also to environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts and policies in evaluating corporations’ long-term and sustainable value creation. Socially responsible investment (SRI) assessment companies provides those institutional investors with company ratings based on ESG researches.

Based on its management vision to become “a global company that is vital to the society” and “an innovative company that is robust and constantly evolving,” Konica Minolta aims to both meet its social responsibilities and build on its competitive edges. The Konica Minolta Group has selected issues, such as environmental challenges, that are very important to society and have a great impact on its businesses, and internationally drives CSR initiatives embedded in the businesses by utilizing its proprietary technologies and long-fostered know-how. The comprehensive management system and activities have been highly appraised.

Under the brand proposition “Giving Shape to Ideas,” Konica Minolta will continue developing innovative ideas and ability to put those ideas into practice toward creation of new values that contribute to solve issues in the global society through its business-integrated CSR activities.