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The Maxell Group is
aware that the electrical machinery, electronic and telecommunications
equipment and information industry, of which it is a part, helps
to support the global economy and the international community.
In order to merit the confidence of society and to help establish
a mode of corporate conduct that will contribute to the building
of a truly rich and vital society, the Maxell Group hereby establishes
the following corporate ethical guidelines.
| 1. |
We will develop and supply
socially useful products, software
and services, giving due consideration to safety.
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(1) We will strive to identify the needs of society, develop
products, software and services beneficial to society and provide
our customers with the best possible quality at an acceptable
price.
(2) We will give due consideration to safety in the development,
design, manufacture and supply of our products, software and
services.
(3) We will work constantly to develop new products and technology.
We will respect intellectual property rights such as technical
information, patents and trade secrets, and will supply outstanding
products, software and services to our customers, based on new
technology.
(4) We will foster the creativity and self-esteem of employees
and cultivate a corporate climate in which the individual is
free to express his or her opinion. This will allow us to sustain
our capability to develop new technology and products.
(5) In developing and supplying useful products, software and
services, with due attention to safety, we must address not
only the needs of local communities but also those of the international
community. With this in mind, we will ensure compliance with
the laws and regulations of the countries with which we have
business dealings, and strive to deepen our understanding of
various societies and cultures.
| 2. |
We will engage in fair, transparent
and free competition, and will maintain sound and
ethical relations with government and administrative
bodies. |
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(1) We will ensure that we elicit ethical behavior in the business
environment to fit our mission to contribute to society.
In accordance with the principle of self-accountability that
is the basic premise of a market driven economy, we will engage
in fair, transparent and free competition in a spirit of self-help
and self-sufficiency. In this regard, we will ensure that our
activities conform to high ethical standards, complying not
only with the law but also with social norms.
(2) We will establish systems to ensure compliance with anti-trust
law and/or other related laws and regulations, and will not
engage in illegal behavior, the pursuit of profit by illicit
means or activities that are in contrast with international
norms.
(3) To eradicate any conduct that could be interpreted as mutual
dependence or "adhesion" to political or administrative
bodies, we must first eliminate any notion of reliance on such
bodies and must then work to build transparent relationships.
It is through diligent efforts of this kind that we will be
able to establish sound and ethical relations with the government
sector.
(4) Our purchasing transactions will generally be open to all
suppliers. We will conduct such transactions in a fair and transparent
manner and according to easily understandable procedures. In
the course of purchasing transactions, we will select products,
software and services according to economically rational criteria,
consistent with these ethical guidelines. We will require our
suppliers and manufacturing contractors to adhere to the relevant
laws and conform to the Code of Conduct and ethical standards
of the Maxell Group.
(5) Systems and practices that have been in place for some time
will be reviewed continually to ensure that they are fair and
transparent, and conform to international norms.
| 3. |
We will communicate with
society at large, including shareholders, and will
disclose corporate information in a fair and positive
manner. We will also maintain stringent and appropriate
controls of internal information that includes personal
information. |
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(1) We will communicate with society and ensure that our activities
are compatible with social norms in a fair and transparent way.
This will be accomplished through timely and appropriate disclosure
of the kind of information, which is required by society, in
every area of corporate management, through positive public
relations programs, and other appropriate methods of communication.
(2) We place importance on promoting understanding of corporate
management and activities among shareholders and investors through
disclosure and other investor relations (IR) activities.
(3) We recognize the importance of communication with local
communities and will actively engage with them in both dialogue
and local community activities.
(4) We will strictly control not only internal information of
which creation, maintenance and/or storage is required under
legislation such as the corporate law, and the financial instruments and
exchange law, but also personal information such as customer
information, recognizing that it is an important business asset.
Such information will be used only for its intended purpose
and we will not allow its misuse. In ensuring non-violation
of unfair competition prevention laws or insider trading regulations,
we will exercise appropriate internal controls over the acquisition,
use and/or disclosure of confidential company information.
(5) We will supply appropriate corporate information in formats
compatible with advanced information technology to as many in
the public as possible and in an effective and efficient manner,
through the use of multimedia networks and systems.
| 4. |
We recognize that action
on environmental problems is an essential precondition
of continued business success, and we will proactively
protect and support the global environment. |
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(1) Protecting the global environment is one of the most important
issues facing humanity. We will systematically pursue environmental
preservation activities under the basic philosophy of working
in harmony with the environment and the slogan "Conservation
of the global environment for the next generation".
(2) We will maintain environmental management systems that
conform to the ISO 14001 standards and pursue resource and energy
savings, the development of environmental technology, production
activities, product development and supply, and collaboration
with local communities through integration of the following
three themes: (1) supplying environmentally friendly products;
(2) pursuing environmentally friendly production activities
and (3) working for peaceful co-existence with society.
(3) With regard to development and supply in particular, we
will
comply with the environmentally friendly Green Procurement program,
from the raw materials procurement stage onwards, ensuring strict
control of chemical substances, and supplying products with
a low environmental impact.
| 5. |
As a good "corporate
citizen", we will actively engage in philanthropic
activities. |
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Through our officers, employees and our corporate activities,
we will maintain relations with local communities. Since we
are part of society and our business activities should be of
benefit to society, we will engage in a variety of corporate
citizenship activities. We will also establish internal conditions
that make it easy for employees to engage in a range of volunteer
activities on an individual and spontaneous basis.
| 6. |
It is our policy to provide
employees with workplace conditions which are safe
and comfortable, and respect the character and especially
the human rights of the individual. We will not
discriminate against job applicants and employees
in any aspect of recruitment, employment and promotion,
on grounds of race, religion, color, country of
origin, age, gender, handicap, or any other grounds
that have no bearing on business interests. |
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(1) Our policy is to assure sound employment and working conditions.
We will treat employees in accordance with the applicable laws
and regulations in each country or region. We will assure introduction
of personnel systems and employment conditions that meet the
increasing standards of living and quality of life of employees
and that reflect the growing diversity of the labor force and
individual lifestyles.
(2) Our policy is to provide workplace conditions which are
safe and comfortable, assuring the health and safety of our
employees, which is vital to the pursuit of our business activities.
Besides complying with health and safety legislation in each
country and region, we aim to enhance our control of health
and safety issues by creating our own standards where necessary.
(3) Respect for human rights and fair and equal treatment of
employees is of the utmost importance. In line with international
standards such as the United Nations "Universal Declaration
of Human Rights", and the "Fundamental Conventions
on Human Rights" of the ILO, we will adhere to the basic
principles of assuring equality of opportunity in employment,
prohibiting forced labor and child labor, observing sound employment
and labor practices, and providing a healthy, safe and efficient
workplace environment, free from discrimination based upon on
grounds of race, religion, color, country of origin, age, gender,
handicap, or any other grounds that have no bearing on the business
interests of the Maxell Group.
(4) We recognize that a corporate climate which encourages employees
to exercise their independence, creativity and skills to the
maximum, will contribute to the growth and development of the
Maxell Group. We will introduce transparent, impartial, fair,
and reasonable labor systems, and pursue a variety of employee
development programs respecting the individuality of our employees.
| 7. |
We will reject all contact
with organizations involved in activities in violation
of the law or in violation of accepted standards
of responsible social behavior. |
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(1) With the scope of corporate activities growing ever broader,
and competition intensifying, we must take care not to become
involved with anti-social elements or organizations. We recognize
that in addition to ensuring that our own conduct is correct,
it is also our duty to deal with anti-social elements and/or
organizations which may be involved in dubious activities in
a resolute manner, and that doing so is vital for the sound
development of our corporate activities.
(2) When dealing with anti-social elements and/or organizations
which may be involved in dubious activities, we will at all
times maintain a sense of urgency and ensure that the way we
do business offers no opportunities for them. We will comply
with any applicable legislation and act in a firm and resolute
manner, in the belief that we should not be intimidated, make
payments or take advantage of such elements.
| 8. |
We will respect the culture
and customs of each country and region and ensure
that our management practices will also benefit
localities where we conduct business. |
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The Maxell Group does business on a global scale. Our products
are both manufactured and sold throughout the world. It is therefore
vital that we take a global perspective in conducting our business.
With peaceful coexistence and mutual prosperity in mind, we
will contribute to the communities where we do business, not
only through business activities, but also by encouraging our
employees to participate in voluntary activities in local communities.
| 9. |
In the course of our work,
we will not provide entertainment or make gifts
of which the value exceeds social norms, and will
not accept such entertainment or gifts. |
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We recognize that providing entertainment or making gifts the
value of which exceeds social norms in the course of business,
or accepting such entertainment or gifts, may severely impair
the fairness and transparency of our business activities, and
will not give or accept such entertainment or gifts under any
circumstances. Even when the entertainment or gift is the minimum
required by social convention, at all times we must adhere to
the spirit of these Ethical Guidelines and take particular care
to avoid any situation that is likely to be interpreted as constituting
a fraudulent transaction or a conflict of corporate and personal
interests. Cases in which it is difficult to determine the proper
course of action should be referred to a supervisor in charge
of ethical guidelines in the company.
| 10. |
Senior management recognizes
its duty to put the spirit of these Ethical Guidelines
into practice and to set an example to others. Internal
systems to ensure awareness and observance of the
Ethical Guidelines and foster a sense of morality
will be established. If a situation arises in which
the Ethical Guidelines are infringed, senior management
will be directly involved in resolving the problem,
identifying its causes and implementing measures
to prevent its reoccurrence. Senior management will
also ensure that the matter is disclosed to the
public without delay and in an appropriate manner
and, having clearly identified powers and responsibilities,
will deal strictly with those involved, including
any members of senior management. |
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(1) In the course of its corporate management duties, senior
management will observe the following requirements and, recognizing
that a corporation is a public entity, will strictly avoid conflicts
of corporate and personal interests:
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(a) |
Senior management will strive to identify
the needs of society and ensure that the Maxell Group's
conduct is in harmony with those needs. |
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(b) |
Senior management will be responsible
for enhancing awareness and observance of the spirit of
these Ethical Guidelines both within their own company
and other related Maxell Group companies as well. They
will also, in recognition of corporate social responsibility,
perform periodic reviews of the Maxell Group’s conduct
for continual improvement. |
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(c) |
Through employee education and training,
senior management will work to enhance awareness of the
company's role in society. |
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(d) |
Senior management will strive to establish
a corporate climate and systems that are conducive to
internal communication. They will work to enhance understanding
between senior management and employees. |
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(e) |
Senior management will establish internal
systems to encourage employees to act in the spirit of
these Ethical Guidelines. |
(2) Should a situation arise in which the company's social responsibility
is called into question, senior management will themselves provide
a clear explanation to the public of the causes and development
of the situation, the proposed response and measures to prevent
its reoccurrence. Having ascertained the particulars of the
matter, they will deal with those involved, including themselves,
strictly and speedily, and will resolve the situation in a manner
that is acceptable to society.
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