Borsa İstanbul fully complies with UN Global Compact principles and is committed to integrate these principles into its business operations. Our commitment to embed these principles in our decision-making is reflected into diverse efforts and projects aimed at enhancing knowledge in the sector as well as improving economic, social and natural environment for future generations.

Being a founder member of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, a signatory to UNPRI and Vice-Chairman to the Board of Global Compact Turkey Local Network, we are working together with our international and national partners to raise awareness of environmental, social and governance issues, develop sustainability initiatives and manage risks.

Borsa İstanbul, being a core player of the financial sector, is strongly committed to enhance the capacity building among its stakeholders and works on providing products and services for investors and on raising awareness about the value of Sustainability among the companies listed.

Borsa İstanbul has always been and will always be actively involved in diverse sustainability related initiatives and will continuously support Global Compact Initiative and its principles.

Yours Sincerely,

Tuncay DİNÇ
CEO
Borsa İstanbul

Borsa İstanbul is committed to protecting human rights and freedom and believes that everyone should be given the liberty and security, the right to express himself/herself freely, the right to have respect in private life. In this context, Borsa İstanbul strives to ensure and sustain a reliable, fair and healthy working environment.

The recruitment and personnel policy of Borsa İstanbul is in line with the internationally proclaimed human rights principles. Borsa İstanbul policies and ethics code of conduct prohibit discrimination based on sex, race, religion, and color, political or other opinion and social origin. Borsa İstanbul also has a certain recruitment reserve for disabled people.

Ethics code of conduct is an inseparable part of the labour contract. The ethics code of conduct is based on social work’s core values of service, honesty, fairness, non-discrimination and alike.

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

Diamonds which are traded in the Borsa İstanbul Precious Metals & Diamond Markets are required to be certified according to the principles of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. Diamonds without certificates are not allowed to be traded on Borsa İstanbul markets. With this application, Borsa İstanbul aims to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream rough diamond market and to ensure that diamond purchases on Borsa İstanbul markets are not financing violent rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments.

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas offers detailed recommendations for companies in order to help them respect human rights and prevent from contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing practices.

Borsa İstanbul, in cooperation with OECD, carries out various activities, including the organization of informative meetings and trainings in order to ensure that the gold transactions performed in the Precious Metals Market are in line with the internationally accepted standards and Turkish companies import gold responsibly.

Furthermore, as a result of the agreement signed between Borsa İstanbul and the OECD, Borsa İstanbul had the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas translated into Turkish and distributed the Guidance to its members.

Borsa İstanbul prepared Responsible Gold Supply Chain Guide on the basis of the above mentioned Guidance. The Guide aims to ensure that the Precious Metals Market members fight against systematic and widespread human rights violations, not contribute to financial resources supporting regional conflicts and terror, and comply with the high standards put in place against money laundering.

Within this framework, Borsa İstanbul highly recommends its Precious Metals Market members to create their own policies on the basis of Borsa İstanbul Responsible Gold Supply Chain Guide and supply gold in accordance with the policies envisaged therein. In order to encourage responsible gold supply policies, Borsa İstanbul members that apply such policies will be announced on Borsa İstanbul website.

Indirect contributions to ensure a healthy corporate life:

BIST Corporate Governance Index

Borsa İstanbul encourages the companies to improve their corporate governance performances. For this purpose, Borsa İstanbul has been computing and disseminating the Corporate Governance Index since 2007. BIST Corporate Governance Index aims to measure the price and return performances of companies traded on Borsa İstanbul Markets with corporate governance rating of minimum 7 over 10 as a whole and minimum of 6.5 for each main section. The corporate governance rating is determined by the rating institutions incorporated by the Capital Markets Board (CMB) in its list of rating agencies as a result of their assessment of the company's compliance with the corporate governance principles set by the CMB. Rating grades ranging between 1 and 10 are assigned on the compliance with corporate governance principles as a whole and individually with respect to the topics such as; shareholders, public disclosure and transparency, stakeholders, board of directors.

BIST Sustainability Index

Going one step ahead from the Corporate Governance Index, Borsa İstanbul started to calculate the BIST Sustainability Index as of November, 4th in 2014. BIST Sustainability Index covers a wider range of issues than Corporate Governance Index does. Using the global methodology of EIRIS, companies are assessed according to various aspects ranging from human rights and environmental effects to encountering corruption. Those that meet the index inclusion criteria determined by Borsa İstanbul and EIRIS are included in the index.

Borsa İstanbul Sustainability Platform

Borsa İstanbul acknowledges its role to create awareness in investors and listed companies on environment, social responsibility, and corporate governance issues and to provide them with the expertise and advice.

Borsa İstanbul established the Sustainability Platform with the participation of NGOs, universities and regulatory authorities. Sustainability Platform aims to create a sharing network which enables result-oriented and effective realization of the sustainability activities and powerful discussions on future joint steps in the field of sustainability.

Borsa İstanbul also publishes corporate social responsibility and sustainability-related activities of its members and listed companies on Borsa İstanbul website.

Handbook for Sustainability Guidance

Borsa İstanbul published the “Handbook for Sustainability Guidance” which is designed to serve as a guide for the companies whose capital markets instruments are listed or have potential to be listed in Borsa İstanbul.

Sustainability Bulletin of Borsa İstanbul

A Sustainability Bulletin which is summarizing Borsa İstanbul’s sustainability practices and performance for the year 2014 was prepared in order to effectively communicate to the stakeholders Borsa İstanbul’s commitment to the integration of sustainability perspective in business models. Borsa Istanbul started its works on converting this Bulletin to a Sustainability Report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting standards in the upcoming period.

Sustainability Management Project

Borsa İstanbul started a Sustainability Management Project this year with the aim of determining a corporate vision for sustainability and forming a corporate sustainability strategy. This project involves a benchmarking study with the best practices, materiality analysis and shareholder engagement program. This project is planned to be completed at the end of 3rd quarter 2016.

Contributions to Education:

Borsa İstanbul’s “Contribution to National Education Project”, which started back in 1997, is in progress. Borsa İstanbul has been transferring funds to the Ministry of National Education for the construction of different types of schools throughout Turkey. In this regard, a protocol was signed between the Turkish Ministry of National Education and Borsa İstanbul in December 2011.

Human Rights

Borsa İstanbul did not receive any negative feedback regarding human rights violation during the period.

Number of disabled staff working at Borsa İstanbul is 13 as of August 31, 2015.

BIST Corporate Governance Index

Borsa İstanbul Corporate Governance Index comprises 50 companies as of August 31, 2015.

BIST Sustainability Index

Companies that aim to be included in the index give emphasis on their sustainability performances. Compared to the first index term companies perform better in many aspects that are assessed by EIRIS in the second term of the BIST Sustainability index. This means that Borsa İstanbul contributed to increase in the number of companies whose emissions has been reduced, which achieved to encounter bribery and corruption better and which provides better conditions to their employees such that they have more healthy and safe conditions, they work in an environment which is less corrupt and more developed in terms of human rights.

Borsa İstanbul Sustainability Index comprises 15 companies as of August 31, 2015.

Borsa İstanbul Sustainability Platform

Borsa İstanbul Sustainability Platform convened 3 times within the period from September 2014 to August 2015. In addition, Sustainability Platform organized sustainability related events with participation of international experts in the field.

Contributions to Education:

With the “Contribution to National Education Project”, Borsa İstanbul has allocated funds of approximately $US 1 billion to national education since the project’s inception in 1997.

During the whole phases of the Project, 416 fully functional and equipped educational institutions have been constructed including, but not limited to, university faculty buildings, administrative buildings, social facility centers, public training centers, primary schools, high schools, apprenticeship schools, boarding schools, vocational high schools, dormitories, mass-housing, sports and cultural centers.

Our rules and regulations cover policies concerning our employees’ rights, responsibilities and compensations. In order to ensure comparable pay for comparable work, the wage and compensation system are defined in Human Resources (HR) regulations. On the other hand, the health expenses of our all employees and their families are covered by Borsa İstanbul.

Borsa İstanbul sustains its professional relationship with employees’ union. Borsa İstanbul is also committed to offering democratic, equal and respectful working environment to its employees and members in addition to its non-discriminating recruitment and service policies.

Borsa İstanbul HR regulation provides the staff with the freedom of association and collective bargaining, as well as the right to become members of associations, foundations, etc. for social activities.

Borsa İstanbul engages in activities to enhance personnel motivation and loyalty.

The first collective agreement between Borsa İstanbul and “TezKoop İş – Commercial and Official Employees Union” was signed in 2007. In 2009, the second collective agreement was signed covering the years 2009-2010. In 2011, the third collective agreement was signed covering the years 2011-2013. Finally, the last collective agreement was signed in December 2013, covering the years 2014-2016.

Borsa İstanbul staff can also become members of “The Association of Borsa İstanbul Employees”, which aims at improving the communication and cooperation among the members, protecting the rights of its members, contributing to the social, cultural and sportive aspects of its members’ lives and providing its members with scientific research, training and publications.

Borsa İstanbul offers its employees a healthy and safe working environment based on national and international ever-developing legal regulations on Safety & Health at work. In this regard, there is a Workplace Health and Safety Board in Borsa İstanbul which is responsible for organizing educational events in order to raise awareness among the employees. The Board organized a Safety & Health education program for all the employees of Borsa İstanbul and on December 2014, an evacuation drill was carried out. There is also a workplace safety specialist, a nurse and a doctor who are currently serving the personnel.

Borsa İstanbul organizes social activities for employees regularly such as social meetings, dinners, picnics or similar activities to motivate and strengthen employee loyalty. Borsa İstanbul is also supporting both morally and financially its employees giving them the opportunity to fulfill their hobbies including music workshops, corporate games and sports tournaments every year.

The total number of members of “TezKoop İş Commercial and Official Employees Union” is 418 whereas the figure was 548 in year 2014. The ratio of union members to the total number of employees was 79.6% in August 31, 2014 and is 73% as of August 31, 2015.

The total number of members of “The Association of Borsa İstanbul Employees” is 262 which were 304 in the last period.
A “TezKoop. İş Commercial and Official Employees Union” representative also takes part in Borsa İstanbul Workplace Health and Safety Board.

The number of female personnel is 148, which represents 25.8% of the total number of employees. It goes without saying; there is no wage discrimination due to genders.

The minimum age for employment is 18.

Borsa İstanbul is committed to protecting the environment and resource saving and actively supports and participates in ecological protection, promotes environmental responsibility in most of its infrastructural and administrative systems.

Borsa İstanbul has developed a number of applications within green IT concept to increase overall company productivity and reduce paper usage.

Borsa İstanbul has automated almost whole internal business processes by developing Business Process Management (BPM) applications which can be summarized as below;

• Human Resources Related Applications (Performance Management, Education, Overtime Process, Payroll, Health Care Costs etc.)
• Demand & Project Management Process
• Internal Correspondence
• Cost & Budget Automation

Besides these applications, all commercial and legal correspondence has started to be carried out over electronic system since October, 2014.

Borsa İstanbul has also developed web based applications (connect.borsaistanbul.com) for communication with member institutions and data vendors.

Energy

The Borsa İstanbul building was constructed in line with the new technologies considering environmental protection. Additionally, environmental friendly technologies like recycling & energy saving initiatives started to be used in the current infrastructure construction projects.

Borsa İstanbul launched the Primary Data Center (PDC) which is highly secure and can be monitored from a single point, and employs technical hardware of international standards and full redundancy. Compared to its counterparts, PDC employs high energy efficiency.

Borsa İstanbul continuously participates in programs aiming at reducing carbon footprint. Borsa İstanbul provides shuttle services to its employees to help decrease carbon footprint emissions.

Recycling

To protect the environment, waste papers, batteries and recyclables are collected and sent to recycling facilities periodically.

To reduce energy consumption and save energy, efficient air conditioning systems and energy saving light bulbs are being used within Borsa İstanbul premises.

As a result of the automated and web-based Business Processes, Borsa İstanbul saved approximately 4 million A4 size paper on an annual basis which means saving 400 pine tree roughly.

Borsa İstanbul prevented 3.6 tons of carbon emission by implementing “ink toner” saver program in the period September 2014- August 2015. Borsa Istanbul saved 8 trees by only printing on both sides of papers in this period.

Borsa İstanbul employees are diligent to integrate environmental management and control in their daily life and administrative activities.

Previous enhancements in the building automation system had enabled Borsa İstanbul to achieve reductions in electricity consumption.

Borsa İstanbul has zero tolerance for violation of laws/regulations and dishonesty or unethical behavior. Any illegal activity such as bribery, abuses by employees or executives are strictly prohibited.

Borsa İstanbul takes all necessary precautions to prevent such abuses.

Borsa İstanbul’s rules and regulations such as Code of Ethics and Human Resources Directive are intended to prevent unethical or illegal business practices and conflicts of interest are regulated strictly.

Borsa İstanbul rules and regulations require that the employees are not allowed to offer, give or take any presents in any form in cash or in kind, directly or indirectly from any person or entity doing business with Borsa İstanbul (institutions, public officials, shareholders etc.,) other than the limits and exceptions mentioned in the HR regulations.

Enforcement and Surveillance Board of the Borsa İstanbul monitors all trading activities and unusual price/volume changes to detect illegal practices such as market manipulation, insider trading and any other market abuse actions.

There is also Compliance Department of Borsa İstanbul in charge of regulatory compliance and reporting findings of anti-money laundering activities to the related regulatory and enforcement body of the government.

Borsa İstanbul investigates activities of any kind of data distribution, index calculation and financial product creation which are based on Borsa İstanbul data but not carrying Borsa İstanbul license in order to detect and prevent unauthorized information sharing and illegal revenue streams.

Borsa İstanbul personnel regulation prohibits strictly trading Borsa Istanbul market products to prevent corruption and conflict of interest.

The financial statements and reports of Borsa İstanbul are subject to independent audit and disclosed to public according to the principles and procedures determined by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey.

Suspicious transactions and markets abuses activities are reported to the Turkish Capital Markets Board by the Borsa İstanbul.

Borsa İstanbul supports the activities of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Institute of Internal Auditors- Turkey (TİDE), European Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditing (ECIIA) and ACFE Local Chapter in order to improve ethical and professional standards and implementations of internal auditing and fighting against fraud.

Borsa İstanbul is a member of International Surveillance Group since 2012.

Currently, there are 14 CFE (Certified Fraud Examiners), 10 CIA (Certified Internal Auditor) and 4 CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) certified auditors employed in Enforcement and Surveillance Board and 3 lawyers and 1 CIA and CFE certified senior compliance officer employed in Compliance Department of Borsa İstanbul.