Samsung Epise Holdings Accelerates Value Growth with AA ESG Rating and Profit Turnaround

Samsung Epise Holdings has received an AA rating from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) in its first participation in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) assessment. The holding company also achieved a profit turnaround in the first quarter, bolstered by strong sales of its subsidiary Samsung Bioepis's biosimilars, marking a successful combination of business performance and ESG values.

On May 14, Samsung Epise Holdings announced that it earned an AA rating, placing it in the leader group of the MSCI ESG evaluation. This high rating comes after the company publicly shared its management achievements and the ESG activities of its subsidiary, Samsung Bioepis, following its split listing in November of last year.

MSCI evaluates publicly traded companies worldwide on environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) criteria, assigning ratings from AAA to CCC across seven levels. Samsung Epise Holdings received particularly high marks in the social category for its talent management and product safety and quality control.

Kim Kyung-ah, CEO of Samsung Epise Holdings, stated, "Achieving a leader rating in our first global ESG assessment is the result of systematically preparing ESG management as a core value since our establishment. We will strengthen our ESG-based sustainable management system alongside the development of patient-centered biopharmaceuticals."

Meanwhile, Samsung Bioepis reported first-quarter sales of 454.9 billion won and an operating profit of 144 billion won, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 14% and 13%, respectively. This double-digit growth was driven by solid sales of existing products, such as the biosimilar SB4, which marked its 10th anniversary in Europe, and the impact of new product launches in the United States.

The holding company, Samsung Epise Holdings, recorded consolidated first-quarter sales of 453.9 billion won and an operating profit of 90.5 billion won, successfully turning a profit. Following its establishment from the spin-off of Samsung Biologics in November, the holding company had reported sales of 251.7 billion won and an operating loss of 63.6 billion won in its first two months but quickly transitioned to profitability due to the strong performance of its subsidiaries.