Deere earns position among World's Most Ethical Companies for seventh straight year

MOLINE, Ill., March 8, 2013 /CNW/ - For the seventh consecutive year, Deere & Company has been included on Ethisphere Institute's "World's Most Ethical Companies" list. The research-based Ethisphere Institute is dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

Deere was among 145 companies honored after evaluations were conducted of each company's corporate ethics and compliance program; overall reputation, leadership and innovation; corporate governance; corporate citizenship and responsibility; and company culture concerning ethics.

"Our core values of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation are a source of inspiration for Deere employees and dealers around the world," said Samuel R. Allen, chairman and chief executive officer. "This focus on how we do business has earned John Deere the loyalty of generations of customers whose work is linked to the land."

The Ethisphere Institute reported that honorees promote ethical business standards and practices internally that exceed legal compliance minimums and shape future industry standards. The list was made final after Ethisphere reviewed and analyzed nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries. Assessment of company data that was then verified by careful independent research resulted in an Ethics Quotient for each company. Those with the highest EQ scores in each industry were named to the final list.

Alex Brigham, executive director of Ethisphere, said, "More companies applied for the World's Most Ethical Companies recognition this year than any year in the past, which demonstrates that ethical activity is an important part of many of these companies' business models. We are also seeing more companies be proactive and create new initiatives that expand ethics programs and cultures across entire industries."

Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Visit John Deere on its website at www.JohnDeere.com.

SOURCE: Deere & Company

Ken Golden, Director, Global Public Relations, [phone]

http://www.deere.com