Corporate Conduct Charter : Olympus Group Code of Conduct
I. General Code
1. Purpose
The Olympus Group Code of Conduct ("Code of Conduct") is a set of fundamental internal rules that must be followed by the Directors and Employees of the Olympus Group to realize the objectives of the Olympus Group Corporate Conduct Charter.
2. Basics of Conduct
(1) In conducting corporate activities, Directors and Employees will strive to understand and respect the cultures and customs of each country and region in which the Group operates. Directors and Employees will also comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and will act with a strong sense of ethics as a member of society. Therefore, pursuing profits through activities that violate laws and ethics is strictly forbidden.
(2) Directors and Employees will always act with full awareness of the importance of building a strong identity for the Olympus Brand through providing products and services, and their relationship with customers and suppliers.
(3) Directors shall make every effort to prioritize this Code of Conduct in their activities and disseminate it within the Group, based on the awareness of their duty to realize the objectives of the "Olympus Group Corporate Conduct Charter".
3. Definitions
(1) "The Olympus Group" or "Company" means Olympus Corporation, its consolidated subsidiaries and companies that Olympus Corporation substantially controls.
(2) "Directors" means the directors, auditors, executive officers and similar personnel of companies within Olympus Group.
(3) "Employees" means full-time employees, temporary staff, temporary employees, part-time employees and casual employees of the Olympus Group.
II. Code of Conduct
1. Sound Corporate Activities
1-1 Free Competition and Fair Transactions
(1) Fair Transactions
a. Directors and Employees will conduct fair transactions in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and in line with general business practices and social norms.
b. Directors and Employees will observe laws and regulations related to fair competition, including anti-monopoly laws, and will not engage in improper activities such as contract rigging.
c. Directors and Employees will not abuse the Company's principal position to cause inappropriate disadvantage to their business partners.
(2) Import and Export Management
In order to preserve international peace and security, Directors and Employees will conduct import and export activities in compliance with all applicable local and international laws, rules, regulations and business standards.
1-2 Management of Company Assets
(1) Preservation of Company Assets
a. Directors and Employees will appropriately manage tangible and intangible company assets and will not use them for non-business or private purposes.
b. Directors and Employees will responsibly safeguard the intellectual property (including inventions, ideas, designs, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets) generated from their work for the Company and aggressively promote as the intellectual property of the Company.
c. Directors and Employees will not inappropriately use the intellectual property of others or not infringe upon others' intellectual property rights.
(2) Prohibition of Using Company Network for Personal Purposes
Directors and Employees will not use the Company's network for receiving or sending information for private purposes.
1-3 Management of Proprietary Information
(1) Information Protection
a. Directors and Employees will diligently protect and manage confidential information according to the Information Security Policy and will not use it inappropriately during and after their term of employment.
b. Directors and Employees will appropriately obtain, use, and manage personal information about customers, shareholders, directors, employees and business partners' employees in accordance with laws and company rules.
c. Directors and Employees will not take any actions that may damage the information assets of the Company or others, such as inappropriate access through the Internet.
(2) Trustworthy Advertising
a. Directors and Employees of the Company's public relations department are expected to disclose corporate information about management policies and business activities in a timely manner to retain the understanding and trust of all stakeholders.
b. If contacted by or when contacting the mass media such as newspapers, magazines, and television stations, Directors and Employees will obtain an approval from the public relations manager of the Company prior to releasing information.
c. In advertising and marketing activities, Directors and Employees will use appropriate displays and expressions that are based on facts and will avoid discriminatory or defamatory expressions or expressions that mislead current or potential customers.
d. Directors and Employees will refrain from posting personal opinions or information about companies and business partners in the media, as well as on the Internet, whether or not such information is beneficial or harmful for the Company.
(3) Prohibition of Insider Trading
Directors and Employees will not buy or sell stocks while in possession of non-public information obtained through their work.
1-4 Sound Relationship with Society
(1) Restrictions on Gift-Giving and Business Entertainment
a. Directors and Employees will not offer, give, or receive any gift, benefit or business entertainment with business partners beyond general business practices and social norms. If any Employee is uncertain about whether he or she should accept a gift, benefit or business entertainment, he or she should discuss the matter with his or her superior.
b. Directors and Employees will not seek personal gain from business partners.
c. Directors and Employees will not give or offer inappropriate monetary disbursements, including promises, to business partners.
d. Directors and Employees will not participate in any act suggesting the possibility of bribery to public officials, including those of foreign countries, or directors of government-affiliated institutions including international institutions.
(2) Political Activities
Directors and Employees will not make illegal political contributions or provide illicit support for election activities.
(3) Prohibition of Anti-Social Behavior
Directors and Employees will not have any relationship, either directly or indirectly, with anti-social groups or forces that threaten the stability and safety of society.
2. Actions on Behalf of the Customer
2-1 Increase Customer Satisfaction
(1) Being aware of what is in demand around the world, Directors and Employees are expected to pursue business ideas in tune with customer needs.
(2) Directors and Employees will strive to develop and provide safe, high-quality, and meaningful products and services from the customers' perspective.
(3) Directors and Employees are expected to respond sincerely, speedily, and precisely to customer demands.
2-2 Providing Information to Customers
Directors and Employees will speedily and appropriately provide information to customers when necessary.
3. Respect for Human Rights
3-1 Respect for Individual Rights
(1) Directors and Employees will not use discriminatory expressions regarding race, faith, gender, age, social position, family lineage, nationality, ethnicity, religion or disability.
(2) Directors and Employees will treat everyone with respect and courtesy, and without harassment . Any form of harassment on the basis of race, gender or disability will warrant sever action from the Company.
3-2 Rejection of Inappropriate Labor
Directors and Employees will reject forced labor, illegal labor and child labor in any country or region.
4. Working Environment with Vitality
4-1 Ensuring Safety and Cleanliness
Directors and Employees will strive to prevent occupational injuries and maintain the health of employees by creating a safe and clean workplace.
4-2 Establishment of a Sound Working Environment
(1) Directors and Employees will strive to foster a corporate culture where opinions and questions may be freely expressed in a cooperative atmosphere of mutual respect for individuality and abilities.
(2) Directors and Employees will strive to create a personnel system that effectively promotes and develops the abilities of the Company's employees.
(3) Directors and Employees are expected to place importance on discipline and strive to acquire skills, improve technologies and provide value sought by society.
5. Harmony with the Environment
5-1 Efforts to Preserve the Environment
(1) Directors and Employees will strive to develop safe and environmentally friendly products and production technologies, and will disclose the Company's environmental initiatives in a timely manner.
(2) Directors and Employees will strive to assess the environmental impact of the Company's development, production, and sales activities in order to develop appropriate standards and regulations.
(3) Directors and Employees will strive to promote recycling activities, such as the collection of waste and its recycling, while implementing resource and energy conservation initiatives.
(4) Directors and Employees are expected to take the initiative to preserve the environment at home, at the workplace, and in society, by deepening everyone's understanding of environmental issues.
6. Integration with Society
6-1 Relationship with Local Communities
Being aware that cooperation with local communities is essential to the mutual development of those communities and the Olympus Group, Directors and Employees will strive to understand, and will respect, the cultures and customs of the countries and regions in which they conduct business activities.
6-2 Contributing to Society
(1) Directors and Employees will strive to fulfill their role as good citizens by supporting and promoting cultural, educational and volunteer activities.
(2) Directors and Employees will promote mutual understanding through active communication with people living in the countries and regions in which they conduct corporate activities, by contributing to society through the development of close ties with local communities.
III. Operational Structure
1. Creation, Revisions, and Abolition
The Board of Directors of Olympus Corporation has the authority to create, revise and abolish this Code of Conduct.
2. Promotional Activities
Top Management of the Olympus Group will establish the necessary functions to effectively implement this Code of Conduct and will adhere to it in the execution of its own responsibilities.
3. Help Line
If any conduct of the Company's Directors or Employees is found to be in breach of this Code of Conduct, or if help is needed in relation to a matter that might be illegal or unethical, every Employee must report to and/or consult with his or her superiors, or the department concerned with the matter.
However, if the Employee has difficulty reporting it to his or her superiors or the department concerned, such Employee may use the Help Line established by Olympus Corporation.
The act of seeking consultation and reporting, and the content of such dialogue, is held in the strictest confidentiality, and the results of reporting and referrals honestly raising legal or ethical concerns, shall not disadvantage the reporter in any way.
4. Application to Group Companies
Olympus Group companies in Japan, excluding companies that are listed and have separate codes of conduct, shall adopt this Code of Conduct in the Board of Directors of each Company as its own code of conduct. Overseas Olympus Group companies shall formulate their own codes of conduct in the spirit of this Code of Conduct with due consideration to the laws, culture and social customs of their country.
5. Punishment
Punishment for actions in breach of this Code of Conduct shall be handled in accordance with relevant laws and the rules and regulations of each Company in the Olympus Group.
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