Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Good for Business, Markets and Companies

"A strong ethical foundation is a competitive advantage, and Kesko recognizes the important role corporate responsibility plays in improving its bottom line," said Alex Bingham, Executive Director of the Ethisphere Institute, informs LETA.

"As more and more organizations strive for this honor each year, Kesko's inclusion as a World's Most Ethical Company for 2012 demonstrates its industry-leading commitment to ethics and dedication to integrity," Bingham pointed out.

When naming the companies, Ethisphere evaluated, among other things, the company's code of ethics, number of innovations, sustainable business practices and responsibility of operations. For listing purposes, Ethisphere's experts reviewed hundreds of companies, representing more than one hundred countries and over 35 industries. A total of 145 companies, the best in their industries, were included in the list.

Kesko has received several recognitions for its responsibility work in Finland and internationally. Kesko has been included in the Dow Jones sustainability indexes for nine years in succession. Kesko has been selected among 'the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World' for eight times (www.global100.org ). In February 2012, Kesko was awarded by World Finance Magazine for 'the Best Corporate Governance in Finland' in terms of corporate governance development and reporting for the second time in succession. In 2011, Kesko was awarded as the best in Finland in responsibility reporting.

Kesko is engaged in the food trade, the home and speciality goods trade, the building and home improvement trade, and the car and machinery trade.

Kesko's home and speciality goods trade operates in the clothing, home, leisure, home technology, entertainment and furniture product lines. Kesko's subsidiary RautaKesko is an international service provider which retails building, renovation and home improvement supplies in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Belarus. RautaKesko manages and develops the K-rauta, Rautia, K-maatalous, Byggmakker, Senukai and OMA in this area.

K-rauta for consumers, builders and professional customers operates in Latvia and Estonia.

The Senukai chain is the market leader in Lithuania.

The car and machinery trade company VV-Auto which imports and markets Volkswagen, Audi and Seat passenger cars, and Volkswagen commercial vehicles in Finland, and it also imports and markets Seat passenger cars in Estonia and Latvia.