NEW YORK, NY – February 6, 2012 –The Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability, announced today that the official unveiling of the 2012 World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies will take place at an Honoree Dinner at New York’s Grand Hyatt Hotel on March 15, 2012, with former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright serving as the event’s keynote speaker.

This year’s WME honorees promote ethical business standards and practices by exceeding legal minimums for compliance, introducing innovative ideas that benefit the public—forcing their competitors to follow suit. They demonstrate how corporate citizenship is undoubtedly tied to the success of a company’s brand and bottom line.

“Each year the competition for World’s Most Ethical Companies intensifies as the number of nominations submitted for consideration grows,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of Ethisphere. “This year’s winners know that a strong ethics program is a key component to a successful business model, and they continue to scrutinize their ethical standards to keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment.”

Secretary Albright serves as chair of Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, and chair of Albright Capital Management, an investment advisory firm focused on emerging markets. She was the 64^th U.S. Secretary of State, the first female to serve this position, and, at that time, the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. She will share insights on the geopolitical environment to help leading companies successfully navigate complex jurisdictions, while mitigating risk and enabling growth.

Visit us at http://ethisphere.com/wme-honoree-dinner/ for information about the WME Honoree Dinner and to purchase a seat at the dinner program.

Global Ethics Summit

The WME Honoree Dinner is hosted in conjunction with the fourth annual Global Ethics Summit, co-sponsored by the Ethisphere Institute and Thomson Reuters. The Summit, held March 15-16 in New York, offers business leaders the opportunity to gain critical and timely insight into the risks and challenges of conducting business, as well as best practices to mitigate the threats they pose. By bringing together CEOs, board chairs, GRC leaders and government and regulatory officials, this event offers an in-depth and multi-faceted learning experience that encourages the sharing of best practices for navigating an increasingly complex global corporate landscape.

A few of the confirmed panelists at the 2012 Global Ethics Summit include:

• Brackett Denniston, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, General Electric
• Lee D. Augsburger, Senior Vice President, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer, Prudential Financial Inc.
• Doug Lankler, Executive Vice President, Chief Compliance and Risk Officer, Pfizer Inc.
• Christopher Leslie, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Hitachi Data Systems
• Nancy J. Laben, Senior Vice President, Legal, and General Counsel, AECOM Technology Corporation
• Sheila Penrose, Chairman of the Board, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Board Member, McDonald’s Corporation
• William Lytton, former Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Tyco International, and former Vice President and General Counsel for International Paper

A full agenda can be found at http://www.globalethicssummit2012.com/agenda.

Media credentials:

A limited number of media credentials will be available for the World’s Most Ethical Companies Honoree Dinner and the Global Ethics Summit. To apply, please email Gabe Roth at groth@rubenstein.com.

Media contacts:
Alex J. Stockham
Rubenstein Associates
(213) 537-0017
astockham@rubenstein.com

Gabe Roth
Rubenstein Associates
(212) 843-8067
groth@rubenstein.com

A Texas attorney has gathered 489 publicly available corporate codes of conduct, and they are now searchable through the website of the Ethisphere Institute, a compliance and ethics think tank. The attorney, Ryan McConnell, told BNA the database can be a good
resource for companies that are updating compliance programs…

To read the full article, download the issue by clicking the thumbnail below.

NEW YORK – November 29, 2011 – The Ethisphere Institute, in partnership with attorneys Ryan D. McConnell, Katharine Southard and Charlotte Simon, is pleased to announce the launch of its new Code of Conduct Dataset, a searchable, online review of the content of codes of conduct and policies from the 500 largest corporations by revenue. The information contained in the dataset, which was collected between January 2011 and September 2011, breaks down key aspects and content areas within each code of conduct by 42 criteria, ranging from whether the code includes an introductory letter from the company’s CEO to inclusion of policies on key compliance and ethics risk areas such as export controls, insider trading, and anti-corruption.

“The code of conduct is the foundation of a compliance program and sets forth the rules that all employees should follow,” said Ryan D. McConnell, a white collar criminal defense partner with Haynes and Boone who conceived of and directed the research. “This new tool is exciting as it provides compliance officers with a centralized tool for reviewing peer practices in code of conduct content. Every company should gather data to benchmark and improve their own codes of conduct on a regular basis.”

Beyond providing a free, searchable tool for compliance officers interested in researching today’s peer practices in codes of conduct, Ethisphere will use the information collected for this dataset, as well as publicly available information on more than 2,500 additional codes of conduct gathered by Ethisphere’s research team, to regularly publish statistics and best practices on codes of conduct by industry.

For example, some of these findings include:

• Five percent of retail stores do not have an antitrust policy of any kind
• Two-thirds of beverage companies’ codes listed in the dataset begin with an introduction from the CEO
• Only 17 percent of airline companies’ codes listed in the dataset contain 24/7 hotline availability information

“Ethisphere is the top organization when it comes to reviewing and benchmarking codes of conduct for multinational corporations,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, senior vice president of advisory services and assistant general counsel for Corpedia, a leading ethics, compliance, and risk assessment consulting company and licensed credentialing partner of the Ethisphere Institute. “Making this data publicly available will help significantly as companies benchmark themselves against others in their industry, providing an opportunity for companies to see areas they can improve and areas where they are doing well.”

Click here to register for access to the new dataset which will be granted on a password-protected complimentary basis and will be featured on Ethisphere’s website at www.ethisphere.com.

About The Code Content Dataset
The Ethisphere Code of Conduct Dataset is an aggregation of more than 500 companies’ code and policies benchmarked by industry. The dataset is designed to be a comprehensive tool for compliance departments as they develop and improve their own codes. Compliance professionals can use the dataset to learn best practices from peers by reviewing over 500 codes.

###

Ethisphere Media Contacts
Jennifer Mitchell
Marketing & Media Director
jmitchell@ethisphere.com
1-800-369-7583 ext 7

Irving, TX November 8, 2011 – Novation has earned the coveted Ethics Inside® Certification from the Ethisphere Institute, a leading internationalthink tank dedicated to the research and promotion of best practices in corporate ethics and compliance.

“We are extremely pleased to receive this prestigious honor.  Our employees have a long-standing commitment to ethical business conduct and applying the highest standards of integrity to every aspect of our business, so I am particularly delighted that our allegiance to these characteristics has been recognized with such an esteemed distinction,” said Jody Hatcher, president and chief executive officer. “We have always believed that where integrity and ethics are the rule, success follows.  We look forward to continued success through our ongoing commitment to upstanding business practices.”

Ethisphere, the provider of independent verification of corporate ethics and compliance programs, awards Ethics Inside^® Certification exclusively to companies that not only have implemented adequate standards, systems and programs to reasonably prevent compliance failures and ethical breakdowns, but that can also demonstrate the existence of a superior employee and leadership culture that promotes ethical business practices.

During the Ethisphere corporate credentialing process, exceptional governance systems and supply chain sustainability were two of the standout components of Novation’s Ethics Inside Certification.

“Novation’s strong culture of ethics, robust compliance and ethics program, and solid governance systems were absolutely noteworthy,” said Robert Leffel, director of Compliance Advisory Services for Corpedia, a licensed Ethisphere credentialing partner. “We were impressed with Novation’s efforts in supply chain sustainability and oversight, including their best-practice vendor grievance and feedback process which every organization should adopt.”

Ethisphere’s licensed credentialing partners look at more than 100 separate criteria during the Ethics Inside^® Certification process, including corporate citizenship and responsibility; overall compliance and ethics program; organizational health and culture of ethics; corporate governance; and regulatory history. No company is expected to excel in all criteria areas—yet the aggregate score must meet or exceed a level at which ethical behavior becomes the core expectation, fundamental compliance systems are in place, tone from the top is clear and the company’s actions bear unmistakable signs of good corporate citizenship. More information about Ethics Inside^® Certification is available at http://ethisphere.com/inside.

About Novation
Founded in 1998, Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc. and UHC, two national health care alliances, and 5,500 members of Provista, LLC, representing more than 30,000 sites. Novation provides alliance members sourcing and information and data services. Based in Irving, Texas, Novation develops and manages competitive contracts with more than 600 suppliers. VHA, UHC and Provista members used Novation contracts to purchase approximately $40 billion in 2010.  More information about Novation can be found at www.novationco.com.

Novation Media Contact
Angie Boliver
aboliver@novationco.com
972.581.5305

Ethisphere Media Contact
Jennifer Mitchell
Marketing & Media Director
jmitchell@ethisphere.com
800.369.7583 xt 7

Northbrook, IL November 1, 2011 – The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) earned the coveted Compliance Leader Verification™ from the Ethisphere^® Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the research and promotion of best practices in corporate ethics and compliance.

Ethisphere, the provider of independent verification of corporate ethics and compliance programs, provides independent Compliance Leader Verification^™ for companies with best-in-industry ethics and compliance programs – those organizations that have made the decision to proactively invest resources in compliance, sending a clear signal to key stakeholders that compliance and ethics are an absolute organizational priority.

“We are pleased by this recognition of Allstate’s firm and longstanding commitment to the highest ethical standards and the sound ethics and compliance programs to back them up,” said Rich Crist, Allstate senior vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer. “We see CLV as a learning experience, and view it as a milestone on our continuing journey of vigilance to keep Allstate’s ‘Good Hands’ promise.”

During the Ethisphere corporate credentialing process, compliance communication was one of the standout components of Allstate’s ethics and compliance programs. Allstate’s communication efforts are robust and make use of both traditional and technologically advanced mechanisms to reach employees.

“Allstate’s commitment to ethics and compliance is reflected in, among other things, the best-in-class communication program the company has implemented. Blog posts, contests and scenarios augment a robust training program and allow Allstate employees to regularly interact with ethical challenges in an environment that embraces available technology ,” said Erica Salmon Byrne, senior vice president of Compliance Advisory Services for Corpedia, a licensed Ethisphere credentialing partner. “We were consistently impressed with the way Allstate’s ethics and compliance team asked ‘what’s next?’, whether they were discussing communications, leader-directed case-based training, shorter innovative training programs, case tracking or risk mitigation.”

“Allstate has devoted significant resources to ethics and compliance,” Crist said. “Just as importantly, our team has full access to and support of our senior leadership team and Board of Directors. We greatly appreciate our Board and leaders’ willingness to engage in case-based ethics learning, as well as their commitment to our values-based versus rules-based approach.

“Management and employees alike participate in online ethical dilemma contests, nominate individuals for the Allstate Ethics and Compliance Awards, attend workshops and lunch-and-learns, and play two ethics board games we developed to spark thought and conversation. It’s all about keeping ethics and compliance relevant and top-of-mind so that people think through the implications of any real-world ethical dilemmas they may face,” Crist said.

Ethisphere’s licensed credentialing partners conduct a detailed review of the organization’s current compliance and ethics-related initiatives, and benchmark them against the “hallmarks” of an effective compliance program, as defined by the U.S. Federal Sentencing Guidelines (FSG) and corporate and industry best practices, including standards (code and policies), board of director oversight, program structure and responsibility, training and communications, due care, monitoring and auditing, and enforcement and discipline. Ethisphere then provides companies with a detailed report as to how their program measures up to industry benchmarks, including recommendations for improvement. Additional information about Compliance Leader Verification is available at http://ethisphere.com/ethisphere-compliance-leader-verification/

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

Allstate Media Contact
Maryellen Thielen
847.402.5600

Ethisphere Media Contact
Jennifer Mitchell
jmitchell@ethisphere.com
800.369.7583 ext 7

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Fleishman-Hillard delivers successful communications campaigns for its clients. More than any other public relations, public affairs, and marketing communications firm, we’re known to work with our clients, not just for them. Make no mistake- with our 27 practice groups and 14 Specialty Areas you’ll get strategies, insights and exposure from communications experts around the globe. Our programs will help advance your business goals. And strengthen your organization. Our communications strategies deliver results, bringing the exposure your company wants so you get the results you need.

Contact:
Phone: 314-982-1700
Website: www.fleishman.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Solomon McCown & Company

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Solomon McCown & Company provides strategic communications, public affairs and crisis management services to national and regional companies and to mission-focused organizations.

Contact:
Phone: 617 695-9555
Website: www.solomonmccown.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Weber Shandwick

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Weber Shandwick is a global public relations and communications leader. Across an expansive global network of public relations practitioners, our award-winning communications teams bring to every engagement an unrelenting client focus, a passion for their clients’ businesses, innovative and creative strategies and a commitment to measurable results.

Contact:
Phone: 212-445-8000
Website: www.webershandwick.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Edelman

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: For more than 50 years Edelman has built a reputation known for breakthrough strategy and programming that delivers valuable results to our clients. Our professionals across our global network strive to bring the highest level of personal and professional integrity to the execution of their job, every day. As a global organization it is all the more important that we be unified in all facets of how Edelman does business. Our expertise and role in the formation and dissemination of messages to all stakeholders is of value across the spectrum of traditional media as well as increasingly called upon by numerous new media options.

Contact:
Phone: 312-240-3000
Website: www.edelman.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Barkley

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Barkley is the largest employee-owned advertising agency in the U.S. Ownership has its advantages. It allows us to attract national talent, retain that talent and increase every partner’s passion because they have a financial stake in client and agency success.

Contact:
Phone: 816-842-1500
Website: www.barkleyus.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Tunheim Partners

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description:At Tunheim Partners, we bring to our work a commitment to strategic thinking and client service, a track record of creativity and the ability to execute effectively and efficiently. We employ a client-intimate approach to relationships rooted in a solid understanding of our clients’ cultures and strategies. Our approach is straightforward: we listen carefully, learn quickly and act decisively to execute communications programs that embody our clients’ brands, adding value with measurable results.

Contact:
Phone: 952-851-1600
Website: http://tunheim.com/

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Addison

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Addison believes that the best strategy has no value until it is implemented successfully. Innovative communications strategies, highly compelling creative visualization, and clear content is the essence of what we do.

Contact:
Phone: 212-229-5000
Website: www.addison.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: LUCITA

Services: Communication, PR and Investor Relations

Description: LUCITÀ is a bold and vibrant force in the field of media and communications.

Contact:
Phone: 203-878-2137
Website: www.lucita.net

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Loop Initiatives Inc.

Services: Communications, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Loop Initiatives is an action-oriented management consulting
service aimed at enhancing profitability through ecologically responsible decision-making.

Contact:
Phone: 212-773-3000
Website: www.loopinitiatives.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Ernst & Young International

Services: Communications, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Headquartered in New York, with an office in Los Angeles, 5W Public Relations has been named the fastest growing PR firm in the US for the past three years. Described by a leading PR trade magazine as “aggressive in a way that clearly resonates with clients looking for a firm staffed with type A-plus personalities, a BS-free approach, and results from Day One,” 5W’s culture is aggressive, energetic, fast-paced and focused. From media relations to corporate communications, technology, consumer marketing and special events, “WE GET IT”.

Contact:
Phone: 212-999-5585
Website: www.5wpr.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]

Company: Xenophon

Services: Communications, PR and Investor Relations

Description: Xenophon Strategies is a full-service strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, crisis communications and government affairs. Our firm, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., and an office in San Francisco, has a diverse portfolio of clients, including Fortune 500 companies, public entities, trade associations and foundations.

Contact:
Phone: 202-289-4001
Website: www.xenophonstrategies.com

Have you worked with this company before? Rate their work:
[ratings]