KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. (TAIEX: 3711, NYSE: ASX), the leading provider of semiconductor packaging, test and system assembly services, today announced that it has been included in the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World and Emerging Market segments. This is also the fifth year in a row that the company has been named the Industry leader in the Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment Industry Group, becoming the only company from Taiwan to achieve this accolade. ASE is also the only company from Taiwan to be named on the CDP A list thrice and on the FTSE4Good Emerging Index for five straight years. The recognition from numerous distinguished international organizations is a testimony to ASE’s resounding commitment in corporate sustainability, which has allowed the company to gain a competitive edge and create positive impacts through its business practices.
The DJSI World applies a transparent, rules-based component selection process based on the companies’ Total Sustainability Scores resulting from the annual SAM (previously known as RobecoSAM) Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). Only the top ranked companies within each industry are selected for inclusion. The CSA is open to the largest companies globally and over 3,500 publicly traded companies are invited this year. In this year’s DJSI list, there were 58 companies assessed in the Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment Industry Group, and 7 of the companies, including ASE, made the cut on the 2020 DJSI World list. ASE achieved outstanding scores in 23 assessment categories including the highest scores in the categories of customer relationship management, information security/cybersecurity and system availability, environmental reporting, product stewardship, corporate citizenship and philanthropy.
“Despite an uncertain economic climate that was exacerbated by a global pandemic, we were able to deliver outstanding financial results with revenue increasing 15% in the first three quarters of the year and demonstrate steady profit growth,” said Jason Chang, Chairman and CEO, ASE Technology Holding. “As an industry leader, we remain committed to promote sustainability across the entire organization and develop a sustainability blueprint for the long term. Going forward, we will continue to play an active role to advance sustainable development within the semiconductor industry and contribute positively to the environment, economy and society,” he continued.
Towards Industry 4.0. In 2015, ASE embarked on the planning and transformation of ASE’s operations into smart factories. The adoption of automation and the heterogeneous integration of facilities, machinery and IC packaging have helped to drive innovation and increase the value of the industry through the collaboration between ASE, customers and suppliers. ASE’s expertise in heterogeneous integration combined with sustainable development and the development of new applications will further advance and improve human life.
Managing Cybersecurity in a Digital Age. ASE has introduced the NIST CSF (National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework) to all its 25 sites worldwide. With a robust risk and business continuity management structure, the company can effectively conduct overall cybersecurity maturity assessments and develop prudent responses against risks and threats.
Charting a Low Carbon Future. The development of low-carbon, efficient and environmental friendly clean energy has always been an integral part of ASE's sustainability strategy. In addition to active energy conservation and emission reduction, expansion of the green supply chain and increasing the use of renewable energy, ASE is also exploring new smart energy technologies and investing in renewable energy. In 2019, ASE’s consumption of renewable electricity increased by 29% compared with the previous year, and seven of its manufacturing sites have already achieved 100% renewable electricity usage. The total amount of water recycled has also increased by about 9% compared with 2018.
Giving back to the Community. The ASE Cultural and Educational Foundation and the ASE Foundation for Environmental Sustainability are responsible for developing long-term social projects that create environmental, economic and social benefits. The foundations support programs that align with environmental conservation, community building and arts charity.
Programs include the provision of medical care and education to rural communities, donation of a mobile clinic, organization of a summer camp for children in the rural communities, and activities for senior citizens. ASE has also launched a reforestation program to mitigate greenhouse effects, conserve water, increase green resources, and improve the habitat and biodiversity of wild animals and plants. Since 2017, the reforestation program has restored almost 27 hectares of land and about 40,000 new seedlings have been planted.
Resilience in a Pandemic. To mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on business operations, ASE has established innovative management systems and implemented BCP policies and pandemic measures at all its global locations. The company has also invested in technology and infrastructure to develop effective response and recovery mechanisms. Among the various approaches is the building of a class 100K clean room facility to manufacture high quality surgical face masks that will be provided to employees to help prevent transmission.
The thorough assessment of each ASE business unit’s benchmark for sustainable development and value creation has enabled ASE to foster a unique corporate value creation model that is closely in line with industry trends. Integration, expansion and innovation form the core of ASE’s basic business strategy for the future and serve as an important basis for the company to focus on achieving corporate sustainability of the highest standards. For more information on ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd’s corporate sustainability, please visit http://www.aseglobal.com/en/csr/
About the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) are a family of best-in-class benchmarks that recognize companies with sustainable business practices. 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 in 1999, 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. For more information, please visit https://www.spglobal.com/esg/csa/
About ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.
ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd. is among the leading providers of independent semiconductor manufacturing services in assembly, test, materials and design manufacturing. As a global leader geared towards meeting the industry’s ever growing needs for faster, smaller and higher performance chips, ASE Technology Holding develops and offers a wide portfolio of technology and solutions including IC test program design, front-end engineering test, wafer probe, wafer bump, substrate design and supply, wafer level package, flip chip, system-in-package, final test and electronic manufacturing services. For more information about ASE Technology Holding, please visit www.aseglobal.com; Twitter: @asegroup_global; Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ase-group
Safe Harbor Notice
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Although these forward-looking statements, which may include statements regarding our future results of operations, financial condition or business prospects, are based on our own information and information from other sources we believe to be reliable, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of our senior management and our actual results of operations, financial condition or business prospects may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements for reasons including, among others, risks associated with cyclicality and market conditions in the semiconductor or electronic industry; changes in our regulatory environment, including our ability to comply with new or stricter environmental regulations and to resolve environmental liabilities; demand for the outsourced semiconductor packaging, testing and electronic manufacturing services we offer and for such outsourced services generally; the highly competitive semiconductor or manufacturing industry we are involved in; our ability to introduce new technologies in order to remain competitive; international business activities; our business strategy; our future expansion plans and capital expenditures; the strained relationship between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China; general economic and political conditions; the recent shift in United States trade policies; possible disruptions in commercial activities caused by natural or human-induced disasters; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and other factors. For a discussion of these risks and other factors, please see the documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2019 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on March 31, 2020.
