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INTRODUCTION
The reputation
of Adorn Jewellery,
("Adorn" or
the "Company")
is built upon
basic principles
of ethical behavior,
individual integrity
and personal
commitment.
This reputation
can be retained
only if all
Adorn officers,
directors and
employees establish
and adhere to
the highest
moral and ethical
standards in
the conduct
of Adorn Jewellery
business.
This Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct (the
"Code of Ethics
and Standards
of Business
Conduct") governs
the work behavior
and business
relationships
of all Adorn
officers, directors
and employees
with customers,
competitors,
governmental
officials, the
media, vendors,
communities,
the general
public and fellow
officers, directors
and employees.
The purpose
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct
is to advise
you of Adorn
policies regarding
business ethics
and standards
of conduct and
to otherwise
assist officers,
directors and
employees in
making decisions
on behalf of
Adorn and in
avoiding conflicts
of interest.
Unless otherwise
indicated, any
questions regarding
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct should
be directed
to your Department
Manager, a corporate
officer of Adorn
Jewellery or
the Director
of Human Resources
Department and
in the case
of officers
and directors,
the General
Counsel. Officers,
directors and
employees are
encouraged to
discuss with
the Chief Executive
Officer, General
Counsel or any
corporate officer
any concerns
they may have
related to the
interpretation
and application
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct.
All Adorn officers,
directors and
employees are
covered by this
Code of Ethics
and Standards
of Business
Conduct.
Adorn Code of
Ethics is stated
below, followed
by Adorn Standards
of Conduct.
ADORN'S CODE
OF ETHICS
Adorn will conduct
its business
fairly and in
an ethical and
proper manner.
In conducting
its business,
integrity must
underlie all
Company relationships,
including those
with customers,
vendors, competitors,
governmental
officials, communities,
the media, the
general public
and co-workers.
The highest
standards of
ethical business
conduct and
full compliance
with all applicable
laws are required
of Adorn officers,
directors and
employees in
the performance
of their Company
responsibilities.
Officers, directors
and employees
will not engage
in conduct or
activity that
may raise questions
as to the Company's
honesty, impartiality
or reputation.
In order to
preserve and
perpetuate the
reputation and
successful business
operation of
Adorn, there
should be careful
observance of
all applicable
laws, rules
and regulations,
as well as scrupulous
regard for high
standards of
conduct and
personal integrity.
While it is
not possible
to describe
every illegal
or improper
act or practice,
Adorn deems
the following
standards of
conduct to be
particularly
important.
I. BUSINESS
CONDUCT
-
Gifts and
Entertainment.
Gifts, favors,
entertainment,
or services
of any kind
may not
be provided
by or on
behalf of
Adorn to
a customer,
supplier,
government
employee
or other
person or
organization,
unless all
of the following
criteria
are met:
(i) it is
reasonable
and not
excessive;
(ii) it
cannot,
in the surrounding
circumstances,
be reasonably
construed
as a bribe,
payoff or
kickback;
(iii) public
disclosure
of it would
not embarrass
Adorn; (iv)
the item
is consistent
with the
normal and
accepted
business
ethics of
the country
in which
it is provided
(see Foreign
Corrupt
Practices
Act); and
(v) it does
not violate
the laws
of the United
States or
the country
in which
it is provided.
Except as
stated below,
in no circumstances
may gifts
be made
of cash
or cash
equivalents
(such as
stock certificates
or bonds).
Gift certificates,
promotional
codes and
discount
codes, however,
may be given
if they
are reasonable,
comply with
the above
criteria
and are
properly
documented.
-
Payments
to Customers
or Vendors.
No effort
may be made,
directly
or indirectly,
to influence
improperly
a Adorn
customer
or supplier.
The payment
of bribes,
payoffs,
kickbacks
or other
benefits
that may
improperly
influence
business
relationships
between
Adorn and
its customers
or suppliers
is prohibited.
Such conduct
is illegal
and may
violate
state and
federal
criminal
laws. Notwithstanding
the foregoing,
Adorn may
credit customer
accounts
when necessary
to accommodate
customers
for missing
goods, late
shipments,
or other
business
reasons
so long
as it is
done fairly
and in accordance
with the
Company's
standards
of business
conduct.
-
Political
Contributions.
No corporate
funds, merchandise
or service
may be paid
or furnished,
directly
or indirectly,
to a political
party, committee,
organization
or to a
political
candidate
or incumbent,
except if
legally
permissible
and if approved
in advance
in writing
by the Chairman
of the Board
and Chief
Executive
Officer
of the Company.
No political
contributions
by individual
employees
may be made
in the name
of Adorn
or be reimbursed
by it, directly
or indirectly.
-
Payments
to Government
Officials
or Employees.
Corporate
funds or
other assets
may not
be paid
or furnished,
directly
or indirectly,
to a government
official,
government
employee
or politician
for the
purpose
of obtaining
or maintaining
business
on behalf
of Adorn.
Such conduct
is illegal
and may
violate
state and
federal
criminal
laws. Assistance
or entertainment
provided
to any government
office should
never, in
form or
substance,
compromise
the Company's
arm-length
business
relationship
with the
government
agency or
official
involved.
-
Accounting
Procedures
and Documentation.
All transactions
must be
accurately
recorded
in a timely
manner on
Adorn books
and records.
The recording
and reporting
of transactions
and financial
balances
will be
in accordance
with Generally
Accepted
Accounting
Principles
("GAAP").
No unrecorded
bank accounts,
corporate
funds or
assets may
be maintained.
No entry
may intentionally
distort
or disguise
the true
nature of
any transaction.
Corporate
funds may
not be paid
with the
intent or
understanding
that any
part of
such payment
is to be
used for
a purpose
other than
that described
by the documents
supporting
such payment.
To the extent
included
in their
job duties,
officers
and employees
are expected
to assist
Adorn in
maintaining
its system
of internal
accounting
controls
that will
provide
reasonable
assurances
to management
that all
transactions
are properly
recorded.
-
Compliance
with Laws,
Rules and
Regulations.
The policy
of the Company
requires
compliance
with all
laws, rules
and regulations
applicable
in the country,
state and
local jurisdiction
where Company
business
is conducted.
An officer,
director
or employee
must not
take any
action on
behalf of
the Company
that such
officer
director
or employee
knows or
reasonably
should have
known violates
the letter
or spirit
of any law,
rule or
regulation.
II CONFLICT
OF INTEREST
The Company's
officers, directors
and employees
have an obligation
to be loyal
to the best
interests of
the Company.
They should
take all reasonable
efforts to identify
actual or potential
conflicts of
interest between
Company interests
and their personal
or professional
relationships
and to bring
such conflicts
to the attention
of the General
Counsel. They
should adhere
to any conflict
of interest
policies as
established
from time to
time by the
Company's Audit
Committee.
Members of Adorn
Board of Directors
(the "Board")
have a special
responsibility
because our
Directors are
prominent individuals
with substantial
other responsibilities.
To avoid conflicts
of interest,
Directors are
expected to
disclose to
their fellow
Directors any
personal interest
they may have
in a transaction
upon which the
Board passes
and to recuse
themselves from
participation
in any decision
in which there
is a conflict
between their
personal interests
and the interest
of Adorn.
III IMPLEMENTATION
AND MONITORING
All Department
Managers shall,
within their
areas of responsibility,
be responsible
for explanation
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct
so as to assure
employee knowledge
and compliance.
Department Managers
are also responsible
for enforcement
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct
within their
area of responsibility.
In order to
ensure that
violations of
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct do not
result in harm
to the Company
or its employees,
it is essential
that management
of the Company
be aware of
such violations.
Therefore, employees
are encouraged
to discuss with
their Department
Manager or any
Company corporate
officer any
concerns they
may have related
to the interpretation
and application
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct
Code of Ethics
and Standards
of Business
Conduct. Any
actual or contemplated
conduct that
an officer,
director or
employee discovers
and which he
or she reasonably
believes may
constitute a
violation of
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct must
be promptly
reported to
a Department
Manager or a
Company corporate
officer, or
if necessary,
the Company's
Chief Executive
Officer or Chairman.
Adorn will not
tolerate any
kind of retaliation
for reports
or complaints
regarding misconduct
that were made
in good faith.
If Adorn receives
information
regarding an
alleged violation
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct,
then the General
Counsel shall:
(1) evaluate
such information
as to gravity
and credibility;
(2) if necessary,
initiate an
informal inquiry
or a formal
investigation
with respect
thereto; (3)
if appropriate,
prepare a written
report of the
results of such
inquiry or investigation,
including recommendations
as to the disposition
of such matter;
(4) if appropriate,
make the results
of such inquiry
or investigation
available to
the public (including
disciplinary
action); (5)
if appropriate,
recommend changes
to this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct
that the General
Counsel deems
necessary or
desirable to
prevent similar
violations of
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct and
(6) if such
a violation
relates to conduct
by an officer
or director,
advise the Chairman
of the Audit
Committee or
the Nominating
Committee who
may determine
to oversee any
such informal
inquiry or formal
investigation.
The General
Counsel will
have primary
authority and
responsibility
for the enforcement
of this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct,
subject to the
supervision
of the Board
or a committee
of the Board
that it may
designate, or,
in the case
of accounting,
internal accounting
controls or
auditing matters,
the Audit Committee,
and Adorn will
devote the necessary
resources to
enable the General
Counsel to establish
such procedures
as may be reasonably
necessary to
create a culture
of accountability
and facilitate
compliance with
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct.
IV VIOLATION
Violation of
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct may
result in disciplinary
action, including
counseling,
oral or written
reprimands,
warnings, probations
or suspensions
(with or without
pay), demotions,
reductions in
salary, terminations
of employment,
and restitution.
Legal proceedings
may also be
commenced, if
necessary, to
recover the
amount of any
improper expenditures,
any profits
realized by
the offending
officer, director
or employee,
and any financial
detriment sustained
by Adorn. In
appropriate
circumstances,
violations of
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct will
be reported
to the applicable
authority.
V WAIVERS
AND AMENDMENTS
Any waivers
of the provisions
in this Code
of Ethics and
Standards of
Business Conduct
with respect
to senior financial
officers, executive
officers or
directors may
only be granted
by the Board
of Directors.
Any amendment
or waiver of
this Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct that
applies to the
Company's principal
executive officer,
principal financial
officer, principal
accounting officer
or controller,
or person performing
similar functions
or the Company's
directors shall,
if required
under SEC rules,
be disclosed
in a Form 8-K
filed by the
Company, or
posted on the
Company's Internet
website, within
five business
days of such
amendment or
waiver.
VI GENERAL
This Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct is a
corporate statement
of policy, the
contents of
which may be
modified, substituted
or altered at
any time by
the Company.
This Code of
Ethics and Standards
of Business
Conduct is not
intended to
create a contract
of employment
or to alter
the employment
relationship
that exists
between officers
or employees
and the Company.
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