investments, outside employment or advisory roles, business opportunities, or a relationship the environment, and health and safety, with friends or relatives could impact your ability to make objective judgments. Conflicts must • To maintain fair employment practices, be disclosed and dealt with openly and transparently. • To demonstrate a strong commitment to safety and quality, • To ensure that confidential information is protected against unauthorized disclosure and is appropriately safeguarded, DEALING WITH BUSINESS PARTNERS • To not offer bribes, kickbacks or improper payments of any kind to government officials or other third parties for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or gaining an improper advantage. RELIABLE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Mérieux NutriSciences is committed to always maintaining accurate and honest financial Mérieux NutriSciences relationships with its suppliers must be characterized by honesty and records. We ensure that our business operations are properly recorded in accordance with fairness. We are guided by the following standards of behaviour: applicable accounting standards and with our internal financial policies and procedures. • We will not make payments to any employees of suppliers to attain lower prices for Mérieux NutriSciences. PREVENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING • We will not reveal a supplier’s pricing, technology or other confidential information Mérieux NutriSciences is committed to complying with all laws against money laundering that without prior written permission. prohibit businesses from accepting or processing proceeds of criminal activities. The Company • We will not make false or misleading remarks to others about suppliers or their products expressly prohibits the participation in any activity or transaction conceived to disguise the nature or services. and source of money connected with criminal activities (such as corruption, terrorism, or drug That is why we decided to integrate in our contracts, the signing of our Supplier Code of Ethics trafficking) as legitimate commerce where the true source of the funds cannot be identified. encouraging our suppliers to respect the ethics and compliance rules of our organization. We also implemented a Global Sustainable Purchasing Policy to assist our purchasers in the PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION selection of our suppliers. Mérieux NutriSciences is committed to conducting its activities free from the unfair influence of any bribery and corruption and in accordance with the United States Foreign Corrupt RESPECT OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE REGULATIONS Practices Act and other anti-corruption laws that apply wherever the Company does business. Mérieux NutriSciences has customers and business partners all over the world. International Mérieux NutriSciences’ employees may not offer or make a corrupt payment to any government trade laws control where we can send or receive products and services. Compliance with official or entity, political party or candidate, or employee or enterprise owned or controlled import, export, boycotts, customs, and embargo regulations is a priority to develop a by a government agency, for the purpose of influencing any official action or inaction, or sustainable international business. Commodities (goods and materials), technology (technical obtaining, retaining, or directing business. Mérieux NutriSciences’ employees do not engage data and know- how), and software are all covered by these regulations. in any form of bribery or fraud, including but not limited to embezzlement, theft, hiding, or misusing Mérieux NutriSciences assets, or falsification of records and reports. RESPECT OF FAIR COMPETITION PRESERVING CONFIDENTIALITY Mérieux NutriSciences promotes free competition as the best way to achieve progress in the interest of the customers and the public health. Fairness in our relationships with our Our Company dedicates significant human and financial resources to create innovative competitors promotes trust from customers. Consistent with the antitrust and competition processes and ideas in the technical, scientific, financial, and business fields. All such laws in the countries in which the Company operates, Mérieux NutriSciences is committed to information represent valuable assets that must be protected with the utmost care. competing fairly and in the spirit of promoting free competition. Confidentiality of the Company’s trade secrets and confidential information must be We endeavor to partner with diverse businesses, giving them the opportunity to present their maintained. Trade secrets may include information regarding the development of systems, products, services, and expertise to Mérieux NutriSciences. This includes small businesses and processes, services, products, productivity models, performance metrics, financial plans, those owned by women, minorities, veterans and disabled persons. strategic and expansion plans, know- how and technology other confidential information regarding customers and operations. SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING PRACTICES If it is necessary to disclose confidential information to outside parties, the appropriate parties Mérieux NutriSciences views its suppliers as key factors to its success. As such, the Company must sign a Confidential Disclosure Agreement (CDA) before any information is shared. CDAs is committed to selecting suppliers who maintain a commitment to strong ethical standards. do not relieve us of the responsibility to use care in deciding what information to disclose. We seek to do business with suppliers who share our concerns for and commitment to The absence of documentation of exchanges of information or any breach of CDA provisions sustainable business practices. At a minimum, suppliers must meet all applicable environmental may expose the Company to the loss of the protection of its information or to damage claims. rules, regulations and laws in the countries where they do business. In addition, Mérieux NutriSciences will seek business relationships with suppliers who go beyond legal compliance and consistently look for new and better ways to conserve resources, reduce pollution and PROTECTION OF PRIVACY RIGHTS waste, and enhance the communities in which they operate. What we expect from our suppliers: Mérieux NutriSciences recognizes the importance of privacy as a fundamental right. • To comply with all applicable laws, including laws relating to employment, human rights, Maintaining privacy of personal information of employees, former employees, job applicants, 18 19