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External Recognition

The Company is highly rated for its sustainability initiatives and has been selected as a constituent of the following ESG indices.

Dow Jones Sustainability Asia/Pacific Indices

The Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index (DJSI) are leading indices of ESG investments jointly developed by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC in the United States and RobecoSAM AG in Switzerland. Offered since 1999, the DJSI select leading sustainable companies for inclusion by comprehensively analyzing economic/governance, environmental and social factors of the world’s leading companies. As part of the DJSI’s annual review, 156 companies (75 Japanese companies) out of 600 major companies based in the Asia-Pacific region were selected for inclusion in the DJSI Asia Pacific Index of 2023.

The Company was selected as a constituent for the first time in December 2023.

Included on the A-List in the CDP Climate Change Questionnaire 2023

The Company has been selected for the highest A-List rating for the Fourth consecutive year in the 2023 climate change survey by CDP, an international environmental non-profit organization, and recognized as a leading company in climate action and information disclosure. The climate action of the Company, which defines the "realization of decarbonized society" as one of its seven materiality issues, including the efforts to obtain approval from the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative and information disclosure in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, and joining RE100 were recognized.

Recognized as CDP Supplier Engagement Leader 2023

In March 2024, the Company was selected as a Supplier Engagement Leader in recognition of its GHG emissions reduction activities throughout its value chain.

S&P/JPX Carbon Efficient Index

The index uses TOPIX, a representative stock price index that indicates trends in the Japanese market, as its universe, and determines the weighting of constituents by focusing on the status of environmental information disclosure and the level of carbon efficiency (carbon emissions per unit of sales). It has been selected as an ESG index by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).

The Company has been continuously included in the index since its calculation in 2018.

MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index

The MSCI Japan ESG Select Leaders Index is constructed by selecting companies with outstanding ESG evaluations from among the constituents of the parent index (MSCI Japan IMI Index). It was also selected as an ESG index of the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).

The Company was selected as a constituent in June 2023.

MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index (WIN)

The “MSCI Japan Empowering Women Index” is composed of leading companies within their Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) sector groups in terms of promoting and maintaining gender diversity selected from the constituents of its parent index (the MSCI Japan IMI Top 700 Index, which inclu des the top 700 securities in terms of market capitalization) based on MSCI Gender Diversity Scores. This ESG index is adopted by GPIF (Government Pension Investment Fund).

The Company has been selected as its constituent for six consecutive years since 2018.

*The inclusion of J. Front Retailing 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 J. Front Retailing 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.

FTSE4Good Index Series

The index is produced by FTSE Russell (UK) and is designed to measure the performance of companies with strong ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) practices around the world.

The Company was selected as its constituent for the first time in June 2023.

FTSE Blossom Japan Index

The FTSE Blossom Japan Index is designed to measure the performance of Japanese companies with high Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings. Japanese companies with ESG scores of 3.3 or higher are selected by weighting corresponding to the parent index to minimize industry bias. It has been selected as an ESG index by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).

The Company was selected as its constituent for the first time in June 2023.

FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index

This index is designed to measure the performance of Japanese companies that demonstrate relatively strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices in their respective sectors. To support the transition to a low carbon economy, companies with particularly high GHG emissions are included only if their improvement efforts are recognized with the TPI Management Quality Score. It has been selected as an ESG index by the Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).

The Company has been continuously selected as its constituent since 2022.

*FTSE Russell (the trading name of FTSE International Limited and Frank Russell Company) confirms that J. Front Retailing Co., Ltd. has been independently assessed according to the FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index criteria, and has satisfied the requirements to become a constituent of the FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index. The FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index is used by a wide variety of market participants to create and assess responsible investment funds and other products.

*Click here to learn more about the FTSE Blossom Japan Sector Relative Index.

Morningstar Japan ex-REIT Gender Diversity Tilt Index

The Morningstar Japan ex-REIT Gender Diversity Tilt Index was created by U.S.-based Morningstar Inc. to evaluate the gender diversity initiatives of Japanese companies that meet Morningstar's eligibility criteria. Based on the Gender Equality Score of Equileap which conducts research on gender equality, each candidate company is evaluated in terms of gender balance, wage equality, work-life balance, and corporate policies that promote gender equality, and each company is classified into five groups based on the evaluation score. J. Front Retailing was rated “Group 1,” the highest of the five levels.

Eruboshi Certification

On October 18, 2023, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store was awarded 3-star “Eruboshi” certification by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare based on the Act on Women’s Participation and Advancement in the Workplace.

Certified under the Kurumin mark system

In 2021, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores has been certified under the Kurumin mark system by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare as a "childcare support company" that helps employees balance work and childcare.

Recognized under the 2024 Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program [Large Enterprise Category]

In March 2024, J. Front Retailing was recognized under the 2024 Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program [Large Enterprise Category], which is jointly run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi. Under the Certified Health & Productivity Management Outstanding Organizations Recognition Program, the METI and the Nippon Kenko Kaigi jointly recognize outstanding enterprises engaging in efforts for health and productivity management.

Received the Highest Rating under the DBJ Employees' Health Management Rated Loan Program

In February 2023, the Company has received the highest rating from Development Bank of Japan Inc. (“DBJ”) under the DBJ Employees’ Health Management Rated Loan Program for its “excellent advanced initiatives to Employees’ Health Management.” This is the first time the Company has obtained the highest rating.
*The DBJ Employees’ Health Management Rated Loan is the world’s first loan program to incorporate DBJ’s proprietary "health management rating" system through which DBJ evaluates and selects companies with outstanding initiatives in their consideration toward employees’ health.

Selected as an Environmentally Sustainable Company at the 5th ESG Finance Awards Japan

The Company was selected as an Environmentally Sustainable Company in the Environmentally Sustainable Company category at the 5th ESG Finance Awards Japan hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, in recognition of the quality of its disclosure of strategies and other information related to important environmental issues.
The purpose of this award is to evaluate and recognize financial institutions and organizations that are actively engaged in ESG finance and companies that are engaged in environmentally sustainable management, and to share the results with many stakeholders who are involved in ESG finance and environmentally sustainable management.

Rated 4.5 stars in Nikkei SDGs Management Survey 2023

The Company received a 4.5-star rating in the Nikkei SDGs Management Survey 2023, which rates the actions to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Nikkei SDGs Management Survey is comprised of questions on four categories including “SDGs strategy / economic value,” “social value,” “environmental value” and “governance” and assesses companies with 18 performance index developed from questionnaires for companies and public data.

Rated four stars in “the 7th NIKKEI Smart Work Management Survey”

In November 2023, the Company was rated four stars in “the 7th NIKKEI Smart Work Management Survey,” which recognizes excellent companies that work on productivity revolution through work style reforms.
The survey was initiated by Nikkei Inc. in 2017 covering listed companies and leading unlisted companies across Japan. It defines the initiatives that maximize the performance of the organization in three areas including diverse and flexible work styles, the systems that create new businesses and market development strengths as the “Smart Work Management.” Companies are evaluated in these three areas and rated out of five stars.

SNAM Sustainability Index

The “SNAM Sustainability Index,” launched by Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Asset Management Co., Ltd. in August 2012, is an investment fund for pension funds and institutional investors that invest in companies rated highly for their ESG performance.

The Company has been selected as its constituent for 12 years running since its inception.

Signed a loan agreement for the “Positive Impact Finance”

In December 2019, the Company has signed a loan agreement for the “Positive Impact Finance” with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited. It is a business loan with unspecified use of funds in an alignment with the Principles for Positive ImpactFinance*1 established by the United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative*2.
Positive Impact Finance involves comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the environmental, social, and economic impacts (positive and negative) of corporate activities, and the provision of loans to support these activities on an ongoing basis. The greatest feature is to use as evaluation indicators and disclose the degree to which the company contributes to the achievement of corporate SDGs. The Company is the first retailer that signed this agreement.
The Company has received a third-party opinion from Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. (represented by TAKAGI Shokichi, President)*3 concerning the compliance with the Principles for Positive Impact Finance of the evaluation procedures and the rationality of the evaluation indicators used to sign the agreement.

*1 Principles for Positive Impact Finance
This is a financial framework for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) in January 2017. By disclosing the contributions to the achievement of SDGs in KPIs and assessing the positive impact of these contributions and providing funds, the banks guide the efforts of funded companies to increase the positive impact and reduce the negative impact. As a responsible financial institution, the lending bank monitors the indicators to ensure that their impacts are continuing.

*2 United Nations Environmental Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is a subsidiary body of the United Nations established in 1972 as an implementing agency for the Human Environment Declaration and the International Environmental Action Programme. UNEP FI is a broad and close partnership between UNEP and more than 200 global financial institutions. Since its establishment in 1992, it has been working with financial institutions, policies and regulators to transform itself into a financial system that integrates economic development and ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) considerations.

*3 Please visit the website of Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. for details.
https://www.jcr.co.jp/

“Gold” rating in the PRIDE Index

For the third consecutive year, the Company has received the highest rating of “gold” in the PRIDE Index* 2023, which evaluates initiatives related to LGBT people and other sexual minorities (hereafter "LGBT”). The “PRIDE Index,” which evaluates LGBT-related initiatives at workplaces, was launched by a voluntary organization “work with Pride” to help companies create LGBT-friendly workplaces in Japan.

*“PRIDE” stands for:
1. Policy: Action Declaration
2. Representation: LGBTA Network
3. Inspiration: Raising Awareness
4. Development: Human Resources Management Policy and Programs
5. Engagement/Empowerment: Social Responsibility and External Activities

Received the Excellence Award in the Sustainability Category at the 2022 Internet IR Awards

The Company was selected for the Excellence Award in the Sustainability Category at the 2022 Internet IR Awards in which the IR websites of listed companies are evaluated and scored by Daiwa Investor Relations Co. Ltd. based on its own evaluation criteria.