Konica Minolta, Inc. (Konica Minolta) has been awarded RobecoSAM Silver Class, a global distinction for corporate sustainability. RobecoSAM Sustainability Award Silver Class 2014RobecoSAM, 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 2014” in which 70 companies are ranked as Gold Class, 65 companies including Konica Minolta as Silver Class and 87 companies as Bronze Class. Four Japanese companies including Konica Minolta are awarded Silver Class. Globally, institutional investors have been paying close attention not only to financial indices but also to environmental and social efforts and policies in evaluating corporations' long-term and sustainable value creation. 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. The company has also been praised for its environmental policy and management systems and other environmental initiatives. Besides RobecoSAM Silver Class, Konica Minolta has been included in Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and Dow Jones Sustainability Asia Pacific Index by Dow Jones and RobecoSAM, FTSE4Good Global Index of the UK-based FTSE Group, and Japan-based Morningstar Socially Responsible Investment Index. In addition, the company has been named to CDP's Japan 500 Climate Performance Leadership Index and Japan 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index. Konica Minolta has also been awarded Prime Status by Germany-basd oekom research AG, among the best companies for CSR in its worldwide industry segment.