The year has seen the finalisation of the Group's Code of Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Guidelines. These are aimed at establishing a framework for the operating companies within the Group in terms of Richemont's values and policies.
As a member of the global community, Richemont has always regarded acting as a responsible corporate citizen to be an integral part of the way the Group does business. It prides itself on maintaining high standards of integrity and honesty in carrying out its business activities and expects the support of its managers, its employees, suppliers and associates in pursuing these goals.
The guidelines set out broad principles broken down into six main areas - customers, employees, communities in which Group companies operate, the environment, business partners and shareholders.
Within the framework of the annual report it is not possible to deal fully with the broad topic that corporate social responsibility represents. Rather, the Group will make use of the Richemont internet site to give fuller information on corporate social responsibility related issues. Below, we present a short review of two specific areas of the Group's involvement in supporting both employees and the community in which it operates.