Sumitomo Corporation Group's Corporate Mission Statement, consisting of the Management Principles and the Activity Guidelines, is the fundamental and ultimate value standard of the Company. The Management Principles are the redefinition of Sumitomo's business philosophy, which has been cultivated over its 400 years of business history, from a contemporary and global perspective set out in a simple and clear structure. The Activity Guidelines stipulate the required behavior of the Company and its officers and employees and provide the means to realize the Management Principles.

Management Principles and Activity Guidelines

The first sentence of the Corporate Mission Statement "We aim to be a global organization that consistently stays a step ahead in dealing with change, creates new values, and contributes broadly to society" constitutes the "Corporate Vision" of the Company.

The first article of the Management Principles "To achieve prosperity and realize dreams through sound business activity" represents the "Corporate Mission," the second article "To place prime importance on integrity and sound management with utmost respect for the individuals" represents the "Management Style" and the third article "To foster a corporate culture full of vitality and conducive to innovation" represents the "Corporate Culture" of the Company, respectively.

Sumitomo Corporation shall share this value standard throughout the Group, and shall practice it in each business activity to contribute to realization and improvement of the economic and social value of all stakeholders of the Company.

Sumitomo's Business Philosophy

The origin of the Management Principles lies in Sumitomo's business philosophy, which has been inherited and adhered to by the Sumitomo Group for the more than 400 years since its foundation.

In essence, it tells us that "We should place prime importance on integrity and sound business activities, and should never be moved from joy to sorrow by daily market fluctuations. But, when faced with a paradigm shift, we must take the lead in striving for structural innovation. In this way we can and should create meaningful values not only for ourselves but for society as well."

It implies a universal value valid enough even now, but more than 400 years have passed. There are some expressions too profound for the officers and employees of today, and other articles requiring some complementing for a company doing business on a global basis like us. So, Sumitomo Corporation has translated it into plain language and reorganized it in a clear structure in the Management Principles formulated in 1998.