SAM Rates Johnson Controls as a Gold Class Sustainability Leader

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) today announced its recognition as a 2009/2010 Gold Class Sustainability Leader by SAM. A leading global asset manager for sustainability investments, SAM annually rates more than 2,000 companies based on their sustainability performance.

Johnson Controls is recognized as one of two companies with SAM's highest Gold Class sustainability rating and one of four global companies listed in the Auto Parts & Tires category. The company was recognized with Gold Class level in the 2008 and 2009 reports.

"This year marks the 125th anniversary of Johnson Controls and we are celebrating this milestone around the world," said Charles Harvey, vice president, Diversity and Public Affairs. "Our roots date back to 1885 with the invention of the electric room thermostat and our commitment to energy efficiency is evident in the products, services and solutions our 130,000 employees deliver each and every day.  We are honored to earn the highest rating for sustainability again from SAM."

Together with PricewaterhouseCoopers, SAM publishes an annual sustainability yearbook detailing assessments of company-specific sustainability objectives from 58 industries. The SAM results provide the basis for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes.

The sector-specific environmental criteria used for the Auto Parts & Tires ranking include climate strategy, emission products, environmental policy/management system, operational eco-efficiency, and product stewardship. Social dimension strategies in the ranking include occupational health and safety, stakeholder engagement and standards for suppliers.

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is the global leader that brings ingenuity to the places where people live, work and travel. By integrating technologies, products and services, we create smart environments that redefine the relationships between people and their surroundings. Our team of 130,000 employees creates a more comfortable, safe and sustainable world through our products and services for more than 200 million vehicles, 12 million homes and one million commercial buildings. Our commitment to sustainability drives our environmental stewardship, good corporate citizenship in our workplaces and communities, and the products and services we provide to customers. For additional information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com.

SAM

SAM is an investment boutique focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. The firm's offering comprises asset management, indexes and private equity. Its asset management capabilities include a range of single-theme, multi-theme and core sustainability investment strategies catering to institutional asset owners and financial intermediaries in Europe, the United States, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Through its index activities, SAM has partnered with Dow Jones Indexes and STOXX Limited for the publication and licensing of the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) as well as customized sustainability benchmarks. Furthermore, SAM is the center of expertise for clean tech private equity within Robeco.

Based on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment, SAM has compiled one of the world's largest sustainability databases and analyzes over 2,000 listed companies annually. SAM's proprietary research and sustainability data are fully integrated into its offering.

SAM is a member of Robeco, which was established in 1929 and offers a broad range of investment products and services worldwide. Robeco is a subsidiary of the AAA-rated Rabobank Group.

SAM was founded in 1995, is headquartered in Zurich and employs over 100 professionals. As of December 31, 2009, SAM's total assets amount to USD 14.8 billion.

SOURCE Johnson Controls