ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

Being a responsible corporate member of society, the Fuji Keizai Group is committed to legal compliance and high ethical standards in its corporate activities to live up to the support and trust of all stakeholders, while at the same time ensuring safety and environmental protection in its business activities.

Compliance and ethical consideration policy

The Fuji Keizai Group was established with the belief and mission that every survey facilitates corporate growth, which, in turn, contributes to the growth of the industry, and eventually the well-being of the whole society. Since then, our commitment to providing quality surveys by putting ourselves in the shoes of clients and contributing to society through sound and honest corporate activities has always been at the heart of our corporate philosophy.

This abiding conviction sustains us, whatever era we are in. We strive to guarantee strict adherence to corporate ethics, so that our officers and employees can act according to the spirit based on a good understanding of our philosophy in their daily work lives, in changing times when companies are required like never before to engage with society and perform their social responsibility.

Establishment of a compliance manual

The Fuji Keizai Group has established the Fuji Keizai Group Code of Conduct to promote the implementation of our corporate philosophy and compliance-based management. This code of conduct is used to clarify our internal system and operations related to compliance and to conduct fair and transparent business activities by observing not only legal but also other kinds of compliance. Furthermore, we have also established the Fuji Keizai Group Compliance Manual in response to the improvement of the internal system and revision of our rules.

Compliance promotion system

The following describes the system which the Fuji Keizai Group has established to implement compliance-based management in accordance with its corporate ethical standards:

• Compliance Committee
• Establishment of a department in charge of compliance and a special consultation service
• Enhancement of monitoring

Mindset and standards of conduct

1. Legal compliance

   We accurately understand and observe laws, regulations, and guidelines relevant to our business activities. In particular, we take the utmost care to correctly understand the Act on the Protection of Personal Information, Labor Standards Act, Anti-Monopoly Act, and other laws, regulations and rules related to unfair competition and one-sided deals and implement business activities accordingly.

2. Protection of personal information

   We limit our use of personal information to within the purposes specified to the providers of the information and do not share it with any third party without justifiable grounds.

3. Observation of the insider trading regulations

   We fully understand the purposes of the insider trading regulations and ensure rigorous handling of important information in accordance with the separately stipulated insider trading control procedure.

4. Respect for intellectual property rights

   We respect the copyrights and other intellectual property and intellectual property rights of others and do not illegally obtain, use, modify or distribute materials copyrighted by others.

5. Elimination of antisocial forces

   We do not have any connections with antisocial forces or utilize their influence. We do not have any dealings with them either, regardless of the reasons behind such dealings.

6. Appropriate accounting and tax filing

   We follow the accounting rules, relevant laws and regulations, and other generally accepted accounting standards in carrying out accounting operations. We also appropriately file tax returns in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

7. Observation of the Marketing Research Guidelines

   We carry out research operations in accordance with the guidelines stipulated by the Japan Marketing Research Association.

8. Prohibition of excessive gift-giving, entertaining, etc.

   We do not give business partners any cash, gifts, entertainment, or other forms of economic benefits that go beyond the bounds of socially accepted limits.

9. Sound relationship with government employees

   We do not fraudulently give government employees, irrespective of whether inside or outside Japan, any cash or other forms of benefits, or offer or promise to do so.

10. Respect for human rights

    We regard respecting human rights as a universal standard of conduct. We act with respect for the dignity and basic human rights of all individuals, and build a corporate culture that respects human rights.

11. Establishment of a whistle-blowing system

    We provide a consultation service concerning violations of laws, regulations, and corporate ethics to promote fairer management that stringently observes laws, regulations, and corporate ethics.

12. Prohibition of harassment

    We seek to provide an appropriate work environment in compliance with labor laws and other relevant laws and regulations and never tolerate any unfair treatment or harassing behavior or acts in workplaces.

13. Environmental preservation, resource-saving and energy-saving efforts

    As a responsible corporate member of society, we constantly make efforts in our workplaces aimed at preserving the environment with the goal of living in harmony with the local community and protecting the irreplaceable global environment. At the same time, we observe all environmental protection-related laws and strive to make efficient use of resources and energy.

14. Prohibition of acts that involve conflicts of interest

    We always act in such a way that there is no conflict of interest between our personal interests and those of the company and never seek personal advantage.

15. Appropriate management of information

    We keep all confidential information, including customer information obtained through business activities and trade secrets, under strict control to prevent information leakage to outsiders.