Riverbend

Code of Conduct

Read the Code of Conduct in its entirety

About RGBA's Code of Conduct:

Strive for ethical professionalism.  Each of us should strive to maintain a professional environment that considers ethics and compliance an integral part of all of our business decisions.

We should always strive to conduct our business activities in an honest, open, and fair manner.  Our success as businesspeople and the success of our company depend on our ability to build trusting relationships with our customers, providers, suppliers, business partners, and regulators.  We should each ensure that ethics and compliance concerns are not sacrificed in the pursuit and achievement of business or personal goals.  A culture of ethics and compliance is promoted as we perform our day-to-day job functions.

Additionally, the organization encourages suppliers and third parties with which we do business to adopt and follow a code of conduct particular to their own organization that reflects a commitment to detect, prevent, and correct any occurrences of unethical behavior.  Our organization is willing to share our own Code of Conduct, along with related policies and procedures, with these entities in order to relay our commitment to a corporate culture of ethics and compliance.

Each of us has an obligation to perform our jobs in a manner that is consistent with the Code of Conduct.  One of the benefits of doing so is pure and simple satisfaction – it feels good to do the right thing.  In addition, the ability of each of us to integrate the principles embodied in the Code of Conduct into our everyday activities will be a factor considered in our annual performance evaluations and in promotional decisions as well.

It is very important that each of us understands our obligations in the event that we are faced with an ethical or compliance dilemma.  The first step in creating an ethical and professional environment is to give you the tools you need in order to make ethical decisions.  If you have a question about whether your actions might violate the Code of Conduct, bring your concerns to the attention of management - discuss the issue with your supervisor or manager.  Keep in mind that it is always best to try to resolve these concerns with your supervisor first.  However, if for some reason you do not feel comfortable doing so, you can always contact the Compliance Department through the Confidential Compliance Hotline (423-535-7900), and you may do so anonymously if you wish.  For more information on this subject, please refer to the section at the end of this document addressing how to report compliance concerns.

Adherence to the Code of Conduct is mandatory for all employees, officers, and members of the Board of Directors – no one is exempt.  Anyone who violates the Code of Conduct will be subject to disciplinary action, which could range from a verbal reprimand for a minor violation up to and including termination for a more serious violation.  If you are aware, or become aware, of a potential or actual violation of the Code of Conduct, you must report it to management or the Compliance Department as soon as possible.  A failure to report a violation of the Code of Conduct is, in itself, a violation.

This Code of Conduct provides general guidelines to help you understand how you are expected to conduct business.  If you have questions about the code, you are encouraged to discuss them with your supervisor, the People Services Division, the Legal Division, the Compliance Department, or the Compliance Officer.  For your further reference, detailed corporate policies are available on the company intranet.

Read the Code of Conduct in its entirety