All companies want to maximize their profits, while they have to obey business ethics, which is study of proper business policies and practices regarding potentially controversial issues, such as corporate governance, insider trading, bribery, discrimination, corporate social responsibility and fiduciary responsibilities( Business ethics)
Business ethics help a firm facilitate its accountability, reliability and honesty to its customers, cooperative partner and the government. Many enterprises are urgently eager to win as much profits as possible, so they use illegal means to achieve their wants. But actually, this kind of behavior can ruin their reputation significantly and they can not run anymore.
So, company is better do legal things and listen to the law. In order to build a strong reputation, company should promote and integrate its value, culture, leadership&enforcement.
Reference:
Business ethics, investopedia, link: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/business-ethics.asp