• ONE OF THE TOP RECIPIENTS OF THE 2011 “WORLD’S MOST ETHICAL COMPANIES” AWARD

PANAMA CITY, Panama, March 16, 2011 – Recognized internationally for its innovative work and ethical business practices, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2011 World’s Most Ethical Companies. According to the Ethisphere Institute, the ACP secured a spot on the list from a record number of nominations by “going the extra mile and implementing upright business practices and initiatives that are instrumental to the company’s success, benefit the community, and raise the bar for ethical standards within the industry.”

“We are truly honored by this award. At the Canal – we have a set of Guiding Principles – our True North if you will, that inform and inspire our work. At the very core of these principles is our commitment to transparency, honesty, responsibility to the Panamanian people, our customers and the environment,” said Panama Canal Administrator/CEO, Alberto Alemán Zubieta. “These principles are our core values and reinforce our will and passion to serve our customers and provide a safe, reliable and efficient service to the shipping and maritime industry.”

This year’s list of World’s Most Ethical Companies features companies in 38 industries, ranging from retail, energy and utilities, and transportation and logistics. Ethisphere reviewed thousands of companies through in-depth research and multi-step analysis, and identified 110 companies that surpassed their industry peers as this year’s World’s Most Ethical Companies.

“As companies strive to maintain a competitive advantage, good ethics translate into better business, and better business means better bottom lines. The Panama Canal Authority recognizes the important role that principled practices play in brand reputation, which ultimately is the most valuable asset for a corporation,” said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of the Ethisphere Institute.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information, please visit http://www.pancanal.com/. You can also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepanamacanal.

About Ethisphere Institute
The research-based Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. The Institute’s associated membership groups, the Ethisphere Council and Business Ethics Leadership Alliance, are forums for business ethics that includes over 200 leading corporations, universities and institutions. More information on the Ethisphere Institute can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.