UMC selected as global component for Dow Jones Sustainability Index for two consecutive years

HSINCHU, TAIWAN: UMC, a leading global semiconductor foundry, announced that it has been selected as a global component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the second consecutive year, following DJSI's 2009 annual review.

UMC was listed for both the DJSI-World and DJSI-Asia Pacific indexes this year. DJSI-World 2009 chose 2,608 global enterprises for evaluation, with 317 enterprises selected as global components. Only six semiconductor companies were selected globally.

UMC scored top marks among technology sector companies in several areas, including Codes of Conduct/Compliance/Anti-Corruption & Bribery, Product Quality and Recall Management in economic dimension and Standards for Suppliers in social dimension.

Moreover, UMC scored high marks in overall three dimensions: economy, environment and society. UMC's listing underscores the company's exceptional performance in sustainable operations, which is on par with leading global companies and recognized by international investors.

Dr. Shih-Wei Sun, CEO from UMC, said: "It is a great pleasure that UMC's accomplishments in corporate sustainability have been recognized again by Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, one of the most respected indexes worldwide. Sustainable growth and corporate social responsibility have always been core aspects of UMC's operation, and we take practical and continuous steps in this direction.

"Throughout the past year, despite the challenges brought by the global economic downturn, UMC considered employee's rights as our priority and flexibly adjusted our operations to face business challenges. More recently, following the disaster caused by Taiwan's latest typhoon, UMC sent its fire trucks and volunteers to southern Taiwan to provide direct assistance to typhoon victims.

"Furthermore, UMC will also provide resources for long-term assistance in several areas such as education and psychological consulting. Being listed as a DJSI component is not the end result of our efforts, but marks the beginning of further self-improvement. Going forward, we will continue to fulfill our responsibility as a corporate citizen and make contributions to the environment and society, while enhancing our business competitiveness to maximize shareholders' benefits."

Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes was launched jointly by Dow Jones Index, STOXX and Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) in 1999. DJSI includes global indexes, regional indexes and special indexes.

Global components of DJSI are reselected every year based on the comprehensive evaluation of the performance of each enterprise in the aspects of economy, environment and society. "DJSI-World" picks approximately 2,500 global enterprises for the evaluation and the top 10 percent of these enterprises will be listed as its components.

"DJSI-Asia Pacific" picks top 600 enterprises in Asia Pacific for the evaluation, and the top 20 percent whose market coverage are in top 45% in this region will be listed as its components.