KT&G (President Kyung-man Bang) has once again achieved the 'AA' rating for the fourth consecutive year, the highest level in its industry group, in the ESG index evaluation conducted by MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International).

KT&G was evaluated alongside nine global tobacco companies and maintained its position as an ESG Leader within the industry group with an 'AA' rating this year. This rating is higher than that of the top three global tobacco companies, and it is an exceptional case for a domestic company to achieve the AA rating four years in a row. 

MSCI annually evaluates the management status related to Environment (E), Social Responsibility (S), and Governance (G) of approximately 8,500 publicly traded companies worldwide, assigning them a rating from 'AAA' to 'CCC' across seven levels. Notably, from the AA rating upwards, companies can be newly included or have their proportion increased in various investment portfolios managed by MSCI.

In the 'Product Safety and Quality' category, KT&G ranked first among the nine companies due to its responsible marketing and excellent quality management. In the 'Governance' area, the company scored highly for 'Tax Transparency', and its board operations were rated as the highest in the industry for independence and expertise. In the 'Environmental' category, KT&G was noted for its water reuse and supply chain management activities.

Shim Young-ah, Director of KT&G's ESG Management, stated, "Achieving the AA rating in the MSCI ESG evaluation for four consecutive years reflects our sustained efforts in leading global ESG management. We will continue to strive for the company's sustainable development based on advanced ESG management practices."

Moreover, KT&G's commitment to sustainable ESG management was recognized in 2023 when it received the 'Best Governance Company' award at the 'Korea ESG Standards Excellence Company Awards.' This year, the company was also selected for the second consecutive year as an excellent company in the 'Climate Change Response and Water Resource Management' categories by CDP, a global environmental information evaluation organization.

(Photo Description) KT&G CI