QUICK’s Approach to Sustainability

 

Message from CEO

Social challenges, such as climate change, are significant risks to corporate operations and crucial opportunities for growth and profitability. There has been increased focus on these issues as critical management priorities. QUICK recognized this trend early on and established QUICK ESG Research Center in 2014. We have been at the forefront of research in this field, expanding to provide non-financial information, including environmental and human capital data, alongside traditional financial information. We aim to collaborate with financial institutions and businesses to tackle social challenges effectively.

As a member of the Nikkei Group, QUICK is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technology to transform information into value, contributing to the sustainable development of both the economy and society, and ultimately fostering a more prosperous world..

Motohiro Matsumoto
President, Chief Executive Officer
QUICK Corp.

QUICK’s Sustainable Management

Basic Approach

Since its establishment in 1971, QUICK has been providing a wide range of data on stock prices of listed companies, long- and short-term interest rates, foreign exchange rates, and political and economic information of various countries. We have contributed to the development of the Japanese economy by making these data available to many market participants and companies.

Today, the negative impacts to the environment and society are becoming apparent behind the backdrop of economic development. Consequently, there is a global need for corporate action to resolve common issues such as extreme weather conditions, human rights issues, and deteriorating labor environments.

We established QUICK ESG Research Center in 2014 to conduct research and studies on ESG issues and sustainable investment. In 2020, we also became a signatory to the UN Global Compact (UNGC). Since then, we have been promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, respecting human rights, and combating corruption. Our mission is to support companies, organizations, and individuals around the world who are striving for sustainable business activities to solve sustainability issues by leveraging our information, data analysis, and distribution service platform that we have fostered.

Among various social issues, we have identified Key Themes that we should address with priority.
Through initiatives based on these Key Themes, QUICK is committed to working with stakeholders to promote sustainable economic and social growth.

Key Themes

Enriching Society with Data

Value Created Through Our Business
(Proactive Measures)

In addition to investment-related information, including economy and finance, we deliver clear and accurate information on diverse topics such as disasters, geopolitical risks, and energy. By leveraging innovations like artificial intelligence (AI), we collect and analyze data from a broad range of sources to generate new value. This process enables us to build systems that provide crucial information for key decision-making and strategic judgements.

We deliver useful data and services to a wide range of clients, primarily serving financial institutions, as well as corporations, government agencies, and academic organizations. Through collaboration among industry, government, academia, and civil society, we showcase the attractiveness of Japanese companies, industries, regions, and markets to the world. We are committed to creating frameworks that attract foreign capital and talent to Japan.

Through co-creation and collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders, we vitalize financial markets and the investment landscape as a whole, contributing to sustainable economic development. We empower financial professionals to overcome their challenges by offering specialized development programs. Furthermore, we are committed to enhancing the financial literacy of future generations through our educational initiatives.

Driving Force for Value Creation

To serve the needs of our diverse clients and continuously create new value, we embrace a wide spectrum of perspectives and backgrounds, fostering a culture of co-creation. Grounded in a commitment to diversity that transcends origin, gender, and age, we strive to energize our organization and drive business growth by cultivating a fair and equitable workplace.

Recognizing that our employees are our most valuable asset, we refer to them as “human capital.” We encourage proactive learning and skill enhancement through training and other development systems to ensure that our highly specialized talent can drive our growth strategies while generating valuable knowledge.

Management Foundation to Mitigate Risks
(Defensive Measures)

The quality and reliability of our information and services are assets we have built with our customers for over 50 years since our founding. Leveraging our strengths in high quality and operational resilience, we are fully committed to providing a courteous and sincere response under all circumstances, from routine operations to emergencies.

We support and conform to universal principles regarding human rights and labor, recognizing that “human rights are of the utmost importance.” We strive to improve the transparency of our work environment by preventing discrimination and harassment and providing equal employment opportunities. We promote health and productivity management, recognizing that our employees’ mental and physical health is the source of everything and essential for our growth.

We promote the efficient use of energy with consideration for the conservation of the global environment, including responding to climate change. In the development and operation of our products and services, we set appropriate reduction target for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. To meet the target, we prioritize using low-impact energy and collaborate with stakeholders.

Aware of the societal impact of our business, we are committed to our mission of providing diverse information with fairness and impartiality, and we act with integrity toward all stakeholders. As a corps of information experts, we constantly hone our expertise and remain agile and responsive to shifts in society and the market.

To meet the trust placed in us by society, we establish and uphold an appropriate governance structure grounded in business ethics. We ensure that our Board of Directors is composed of diverse talent with the required knowledge, skills, and experience. We also continue to operate with a high degree of transparency.

We have established an appropriate management system for personal information and privacy, including for our contractors. We also implement the latest security measures against cyberattacks and other threats, and conduct regular drills. To ensure service continuity and resilience, we collaborate with suppliers to create a detailed Business Continuity Plan (BCP), which we constantly review and strengthen in response to changes in the social environment and other anticipated risks, such as system failures.

ESG-related Initiatives

Environment

Environmental Policy

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance and Reduction Targets

Social

Human Rights Policy

Health Management

Governance

Anti-Corruption Policy

Basic Policy on Tax Transparency

Basic Policy on Information Security

Endorsement of the Initiatives

Signed the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
Signed the UN Global Compact (UNGC)
Expressed support for the “Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Recommendations”

QUICK’s ESG-related Business

QUICK ESG Service

Management System

Sustainability Committee

Supplier Code of Conduct

Supplier Code of Conduct

Activities to Date

Our Progress Since 2013