Sustainability News

Hsinchu, Taiwan, November 16, 2020 - United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE:UMC; TWSE: 2303) ("UMC"), a leading global semiconductor foundry, today announced that Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has selected UMC as a global component for the 13th consecutive year. UMC’s performance surged this year, especially in the environmental category where three of the five scored items received full marks, ranking first in the global semiconductor foundry industry. Within the 23 Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) scoring items, UMC earned the highest scores in the semiconductor industry for nine, including "Environmental Policy and Management System," "Product Stewardship," "Product Quality and Recall Management," "Environmental and Social Reporting," "Human Rights," and "Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy." These nine highest scores included seven perfect marks. DJSI-World 2020 evaluated the largest 2,500 global enterprises, with only 7 semiconductor companies selected worldwide.

SC Chien, co-president and CSR Committee chairman at UMC said, "DJSI is highly regarded internationally, and it is difficult to stand out among worldwide companies to be selected as an index component for 13 consecutive years. This achievement highlights the hard work of all employees working together on all aspects of ESG, and is the cornerstone of UMC’s sustainable operation. As we celebrate UMC’s 40th anniversary, we will continue to uphold the concept of "people-oriented, symbiosis with the environment, and co-prosperity with society," implement the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), and work with global supply chain partners and stakeholders to exert influence towards better CSR practices. We continue to advance on the path towards sustainable operation and anticipate even greater contributions to social development, creating a win-win situation for shareholders, colleagues, customers and society.”

UMC is a pioneer in promoting corporate sustainability and practicing social responsibility, with numerous recognitions both domestically and worldwide. In 2020, UMC earned “Top 5% in Corporate Governance Evaluation,” “FTSE4Good Emerging Index” honors and was listed as a “FTSE4Good TIP Taiwan ESG Index” component. UMC also promotes partnerships with its green “Eco Echo Award,” now in its fifth year, to promote domestic ecological conservation. So far, more than 30 ecological conservation plans and youth environmental action projects have been implemented.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are a family of best-in-class benchmarks for investors who have recognized that sustainable business practices are critical to generating long-term shareholder value and who wish to reflect their sustainability convictions in their investment portfolios. The family was launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmark and tracks the stock performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria.

Created jointly by S&P Dow Jones Indices and SAM, the DJSI combine the experience of an established index provider with the expertise of a specialist in Sustainable Investing to select the most sustainable companies from across 61 industries.

The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for investors who wish to encourage companies to improve their corporate sustainability practices.

Note from UMC Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about introduction of new services and technologies, future outsourcing, competition, wafer capacity, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and technological and development risks. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in UMC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. UMC does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.