The Sy family-led SM Investments Corp. (SMIC) and the Consunji-led DMCI Holdings Inc. were included in this year’s Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index (GEI).
The index is a listing of hundreds of companies across 11 sectors in the world that takes into account best practices that increase the scope of a firm’s adherence to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
SMIC, DMCI and unit Semirara Mining and Power Corp. were the only local firms that landed on the list of 380 companies. The GEI expanded its list this year to represent 44 countries and regions, including firms headquartered in Indonesia and Bermuda for the first time. Companies range from a variety of industries, including automotive, banking, consumer services, engineering and construction and retail.
The 2020 listing included 325 companies headquartered across 42 countries and regions.
The GEI brings transparency to gender-related practices and policies at publicly listed companies increasing the breadth of ESG data available to investors. The comprehensive, transparent GEI scoring methodology allows investors to assess company performance and compare across industry peer groups.
“We are pleased to be recognized again and likewise extend our appreciation to Bloomberg. We believe in upholding equal opportunities for our people that promote a better workplace,” SMIC President and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio said.
“We recognize the value and contributions of women across the DMCI group of companies. They occupy key positions in our board, management and workforce. With our companies’ inclusion in the GEI, we hope to provide more women with the opportunities and support they need to reach their full potential,” DMCI Chairman and CEO Isidro A. Consunji said.
Through disclosure of gender-related metrics using the GEI framework, the firms included in the 2021 GEI have committed to provide a comprehensive look at their investment in workplace gender equality and the communities in which they operate, raising the bar of what should be expected from other companies within the same industry. The 3 firms were included in this year’s index for scoring at or above a global threshold established by Bloomberg to reflect a high level of disclosure and overall performance across the framework’s 5 pillars.
Both the framework and the GEI are voluntary and have no associated costs. The GEI is a reference index and is not for use as a financial benchmark. The index is not ranked. While all public companies are encouraged to disclose supplemental gender data for their company’s investment profile on the Bloomberg Terminal, those that have a market capitalization of $1 billion are eligible for inclusion in the index.
The reference index measures gender equality across 5 pillars female leadership and talent pipeline, equal pay and gender pay parity, inclusive culture, sexual harassment policies and pro-women brand.
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