Momo Mahadav, President and CEO of Maala, upon publication of the Maala CSR 2010 Ranking: "Israel's 2010 CSR ranking represents a higher professional level in terms of ethics, community investment and environmental management; more companies at the platinum rank and higher competition have resulted in an overall increase in the level and scope of social responsibility in the Israeli economy."

The Maala 2010 ranking includes 75 companies, representing an increase of 21% in relation to the number of participants in the 2009 ranking (62 companies), of which 47 companies are publicly traded.

Maala Organization unveiled the "2010 Maala Index for Social Responsibility" at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Wednesday, 9.6.10. Most of the ranking data serve to indicate an increase in the number of companies participating in the index, rising attention to the issue of waste management, growth in the number of companies that have adopted a code of ethics, an increase in the number of companies that maintain a risk management function and that regularly discuss and monitor their ability to reduce greenhouse gases.

However, the ranking data also indicate that no significant improvement has been recorded in the number of women who serve as board members nor in the number of women in senior management positions who enjoy a high level of wages. The growth that has been recorded in the number of ethnic Arab employees is marginal, as was the employment of disabled employees.

The new publicly traded companies participating in the 2010 index include: Bezek, Tambour, New Hamashbir Latzarchan, Mellanox Technologies, Dan Hotels corp., Y.H. Dimri Construction and Development, Mehadrin, Tigbur Temporary Help and Scailex Corporation. The privately-held companies include Leumi Card, CTS Group, SAP, G4S, Siemens and Israel Post (Government).

The New Maala Index
On the basis of the 2010 ranking, the stock exchange has updated the composition of the "Maala Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Index." Starting this year the index will include all publicly traded companies participating in the ranking (excluding privately-held companies and companies whose shares are traded overseas) and not only the top 20 publicly traded companies appearing in the Maala Index, as was the case in the past.

According to Momo Mahadav, President of Maala: "The Maala 2010 ranking reflects a significant increase in the importance that managers in companies in Israel associate with issues of responsibility, ethics, transparency and reporting to shareholders and interested parties. Israel's acceptance into the OECD is a contributing factor that integrates well within this trend but is also indicative of the challenges facing Israeli companies that are now included in the MSCI developed economy Index, while being compared to companies in Europe and in the United States, rather than to companies in emerging markets - which was the case previously."

The Maala CSR ranking is entirely voluntary and all participating companies have made their own decision to participate and report, with no legal obligation to do so. The participants in the ranking include publicly traded companies in which the public's funds are invested, thereby accounting for their higher degree of obligation toward the public and the interested parties. The ranking also includes privately-held companies, or companies whose shares are traded overseas.

Each group of companies (publicly traded or privately held) consists of three ranking levels: Platinum companies - the companies that enjoy the highest grades, Gold companies and Silver companies - according to the final grade in the ranking. Especially noteworthy are the Silver-ranked companies that have elected to share their social responsibility management and impact with the public. Generally speaking, the principal contribution of the ranking to the companies consists of detailed feedback in the form of a "roadmap," that serves to identify and correct weaknesses in the company's performance.

About Maala
"Maala" is Israel's leading member organization that have made a decision to generate changes in the area of social responsibility in Israel. Maala serves as an advocate, consultant, educator and facilitator, encouraging corporations to identify opportunities for community involvement, promoting environmentally sound practices, social accountability and reporting, Which results in the implementation of corporate social responsibility strategies as a business philosophy.

Maala has been publishing and operating (since 2003) the "Maala Ranking" of publicly traded and privately held companies in Israel, according to their social responsibility performance.

Chairman of Maala: Zvi Ziv
President of Maala: Momo Mahadav
Maala website: www.maala.org.il

Maala - Business for Social Responsibility

Maala - Business for Social Responsibility

Maala is a non-profit corporate membership organization promoting ESG and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Israel. Founded in 1998, Maala is considered as the ESG standards-setting organization in Israel. Presently, the membership organization is comprised of some 130 members, Israel’s largest companies.

Maala publishes the Maala ESG indexes annually on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, and as of 2016 organizes an annual international conference in Tel Aviv.

Our Mission

Helping companies increase their social and environmental impact

• Sharing practices & mutual learning
• Flagging priorities & developing joint initiatives
• Setting voluntary standards for business in Israel

Driving Change through

1. A network of 120 member companies, Israeli and global companies operating in Israel 2. A hub for sustainable business practices, solutions and cross-sector collaboration.
2. An annual CSR index rating 153 companies, also traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Maala ESG Index Facts & Figures

1. Over 150 companies rated. (vs. 47 when the index was launched in 2006)
   - Approx. half are of Israel’s large companies, rated on the Maala Advanced Index
   - Approx. half are of Israel’s mid-size companies, rated on the Maala Basic Index
2. Aggregate revenue: $137 billion; over 350,000 employees
3. TA Maala Index includes half of the total market value traded on the TASE.

Maala ESG Index Main Features

1. National based index – a prestigious Israeli business club
2. Local adaptation of global ESG and sustainability standards
3. A guidebook for local expectations and priorities
4. Reflects local market business culture

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