ETHICAL BUSINESS PRACTICES
We believe that ethical behavior is critical to Lexmark's vision, “Customers For Life.” All Lexmark business units are regularly analyzed for risks related to corruption. The Company has designed and adopted employee and supplier codes of conduct that help to mitigate these risks. A formal risk assessment focused on corruption is included in Lexmark’s audit plan. The audit plan is reviewed and approved by the Finance and Audit Committee of Lexmark’s Board of Directors on an annual basis.
All business units and any legal entity owned by Lexmark are subject to formal risk assessment. Audits are conducted annually by an outside entity to ensure compliance. All Lexmark employees are expected to adhere to the policies set forth in our Code of Business Conduct that addresses a variety of business ethics issues including anti-corruption and bribery policies. All Lexmark regular (both full-time and part-time) employees are required to annually review and certify understanding of Lexmark’s Code of Conduct. The Code covers the following topics: personal conduct, conflicts of interest, accounting records, internal controls and audits, complying with laws and regulations, supplier relationships, customer relationships, information concerning others and corporate social responsibility. All employees are required to verify compliance on an annual basis. In 2010, 100 percent of Lexmark regular employees worldwide (including managers and non-management employees) reviewed the Code of Conduct and verified the receipt and understanding of the code.
The status of this annual review process is tracked by Lexmark’s Human Resources Department on an annual basis and is reported to the Lexmark Ethics Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. All modifications to the Code of Business Conduct are reviewed by the Ethics Committee prior to any updates.
Lexmark has established programs, policies and procedures that ensure the effective implementation of Lexmark’s Code of Business Conduct.
Lexmark and our suppliers also adhere to the Electronics Industry Code of Conduct, an industry specific code that addresses a variety of ethical issues including corruption, bribery, transparency, intellectual property, fair business practices and whistleblower protection.
Allegations of employee corruption/fraud are thoroughly investigated by the appropriate business unit, in collaboration with Human Resources, Internal Audit and Lexmark’s Legal Department. Results of such investigations determine disciplinary action and whether the incident requires investigation by outside agencies and formal charges.
All such incidents are reported to the Ethics Committee and to the Finance and Audit Committee of Lexmark’s Board of Directors.
Since Lexmark’s inception in 1991, Lexmark has had no reportable incidences of corrupt behavior and has not been a defendant in any legal cases regarding corrupt behavior.
Anti-Competitive Behavior
Lexmark supports efforts to preserve and foster fair and honest competition within a competitive market system. We take care to ensure that our business practices do not violate competition laws (also known as antitrust, monopoly, fair trade or cartel laws) that prohibit business practices that unreasonably restrict the functioning of the competitive system. Since its establishment, Lexmark has been the defendant in only one anti-competitive behavior lawsuit – Arizona Cartridge Remanufacturers Association Inc. v. Lexmark International Inc. (Case Number 03-16987).
In 2003, the Arizona Cartridge Remanufacturers Association Inc. (ACRA) challenged Lexmark's Cartridge Return Program, a program in which Lexmark offers customers discounts on new cartridges in return for their agreement to return the used cartridges only to Lexmark for remanufacturing or recycling. Lexmark uses the cartridges in its remanufacturing business. In order to facilitate competition and customer choice, Lexmark has always offered cartridges without a discount that may be remanufactured by anyone.
In 2005, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Lexmark’s favor, reaffirming the legality of this program.
Monetary Fines
As a result of Lexmark’s commitment to ethical business practices, Lexmark has not been subject to any significant fines or non-monetary sanctions for non-compliance with laws and regulations related to accounting fraud, workplace discrimination or corruption since its inception in 1991.
