The Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership (Chairman Chungyoung Ahn) hosted its 41^st general meeting on June 30 at the Seoul Palace Hotel to announce the 2015 Mutual Growth Index evaluation results.

The Mutual Growth Index is a quantification of measuring mutual growth among major companies and SMEs, to create fair trade and a culture of mutual growth within. These performances are graded on a curve by combining the assessment results from the Fair Trade Commission and satisfaction survey from SMEs collected by the Korea Commission for Corporate Partnership.

The Fair Trade Commission evaluates big corporations through both written surveys and field investigations based on the following four categories: implementation of four key practices of fair trade, terms of payment, providing financial, technological and personnel support, and support for secondary business partners. The Commission for Corporate Partnership on the other hand carries out surveys to determine the satisfaction levels of primary and secondary business partners in the activities of the major companies in order to further enhance mutual growth.

The 2015 Mutual Growth Index assessed a total of 133 major and midsize companies that made big impacts in their mutual growth activities, through their high sales volumes or public interests. As a result, 25 companies including POSCO received the Best Rating, while 41 companies received an Excellent Rating, 46 companies received a Satisfactory Rating, and 21 companies received a Fair Rating.

POSCO has once again reinforced its reputation as a role model for simultaneous growth. It will continue to follow the Fair Trade agendas closely to not only spread the culture of fair trade, but also provide various supports to its business partners. In particular, POSCO looks to help its partners improve their competitiveness by providing support in technology, finance and research to uncover new markets.

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On June 30, NCCP Chairman Ahn Chung Young announced the evaluation results for 2014 at its 35^th general meeting at Seoul Palace Hotel.

The evaluation is divided into four grades; best, excellent, satisfactory and fair. One hundred twelve major companies which have great economic influence, according to business type and of impact of shared growth among the top 450 major companies in terms of sales, were assessed. The value of shared growth indexes is quantified by evaluating the shared growth levels of major companies in order to create fair trade and a culture of shared growth among major companies and SMEs.

Only 19 companies, including POSCO, were awarded the highest grade, 37 companies were awarded an excellent grade, 42 companies, including POSCO E&C, received a satisfactory grade and the remaining 14 companies received a fair grade.

Companies who achieve the highest grade receive benefits for one year with the Fair Trade Commission, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Public Procurement Service and National Tax Service.

POSCO won additional accolades and was selected as one of “The Most Honorable Company” recipients. It has secured this title for three consecutive years along with Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, SK Global Chemicals and SK Telecom. This honor means being recognized as having earned the highest grade and be given the same incentives as the highest grade for an additional year, even in the case of receiving an excellent grade next year.

POSCO will develop “Creating Shared Value” (CSV) programs and policies which promote ways to achieve sustainable partnerships with cooperating companies and plans to continue operating as an exemplary company of shared growth by actively promoting these programs.