Anti-bribery

Munters' reputation depends how we conduct business. All employees and agents of our company must comply with all applicable laws and regulations in any location in which we transact business. We want our business partners and employees to know that we conduct our business in an ethical manner. If a non-ethical practice is illegal but acceptable in a country does not mean it is acceptable to Munters. Non-compliance with anti-bribery laws can have very serious consequences for Munters. This includes significant fines and imprisonment for individuals.

Consequently, Munters will discipline any employee who violates anti-bribery laws. All employees must also be certain that your career will not suffer if you do business in an ethically correct manner and this leads to lower business results. Please read this manual carefully. If you suspect that Munters does not comply with the anti-bribery laws in your country, you must alert your manager or follow our Whistleblower Policy.

Purpose of this Manual

The purpose of this manual is to:

set out Munters' policy against making improper payments or inducements; and
provide guidance to all Munters employees, with regard to Anti-bribery laws around the world.

Many Anti-bribery initiatives and laws are focused on dealing with public officials. In Munters we regard all business transactions to be of equal importance. In some cases we do realize that our employees must be even more vigilant for improper proceedings. Such cases are when dealing with public officials who are entrusted with investing public funds.

Policy

All Munters personnel are to conduct company business in a legal and ethical manner. Munters must not use illegal payments, bribes, kickbacks or other questionable inducements to influence any business transaction. Munters specifically prohibits bribery by any of its employees or agents.

This policy applies to all of the company's operations, including those conducted by any of Munters' subsidiaries, agents, distributors, or other representatives and any joint venture in which Munters is a participant.

Application of Policy

The essential elements of anti-bribery laws consist of a payment, offer, or promise of anything of value to any person in a position to influence a purchase decision. It is also granting of favour while knowing that all or part of such payment will be passed on to persons influencing purchase decisions.

There are few limitations on what can be regarded as "anything of value." In addition to cash or some other form of monetary consideration it can be almost any form of direct or indirect benefit.

Examples of what may violate international bribery laws include:

Travel arrangements
Meals
Contributions to charity at the direction of a client
Giving a job to a client's family member
Granting a scholarship to a client's family member
Tickets to sporting events

Please note that the list above only constitutes examples of potentially improper inducements and in no way limits the scope of anti-bribery prohibitions.

As a global company, Munters employees frequently come into contact with foreign officials. Employees communicate with government officials regarding public contracts or licensing and other required government approvals, e.g. customs clearance, business licenses, safety/environmental permits. In some countries officials may request improper payment in these discussions. In these situations international anti-bribery laws must be followed.

Most international anti-bribery laws prohibit an individual from making or offering an improper payment, especially to a public official. Accordingly, in most cases it does not matter whether the improper inducement is actually transferred to the intended recipient. Further, the receiver need not accept the improper payment or even communicate that he or she intends to accept it. Rather, the mere offer or promise of an improper payment to a public official falls within the category of prohibited conduct.

The purpose may also not only be to initiate direct purchasing action, but also to induce a person to do or omit to do any act, in violation of his or her lawful duty;

In addition, the anti-bribery laws typically prohibit both direct and indirect payments to public officials. Thus, Munters can be liable for improper payments made
by its agents, distributors or other business partners
to advisors, consultants or others acting for the government, who pass on all or part of a payment to an official.

Accordingly, no Munters employee may make, promise or authorize a payment to a third party (such as an agent, distributor or a consultant) who, in turn, is likely to pass all or a portion of that payment improperly to an official.

Application of Local law

Munters must always follow both Swedish legislation as well as local legislation. If there is a discrepancy the more strict legislation must be followed.

Approved business expenditures

Anti-bribery laws typically allow payments which constitute real and reasonable business expenditures.

The expenditures must relate directly to the promotion of products or services or to the execution of a contract with a customer. The law is unfortunately seldom clear on what an allowed expenditure is, and what an improper inducement is. It is thus clearly advisable to spend money in such situations with great care and appropriate management approval.

It is further not a viable defense for payments that all customers, whether from the private or the public sector, are treated in the same manner when it comes to a specific expenditure. The question is whether the expenditure in each situation is necessary and whether the payment is reasonable. A good example is travel expenses for a potential client. These will most likely be regarded as an improper inducement, since clients are considered to pay for their own costs when investigating procurement options.

In addition to this there are radical differences in living standards in various regions of the world. Sometimes relatively modest expenditures can be viewed as improper inducements to an individual. What might be viewed as a customary practice in certain parts of the world may be viewed as an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in other regions. Munters employees must be aware of these different living standards

Gifts and entertainment

Giving and receiving gifts, as well as entertaining and being entertained, are accepted practice in many countries when negotiating or conducting business with third parties.

However, if the value of the gift or entertainment becomes too large, it can affect, or be seen to affect, business judgment.

It can also create expectations of special treatment. All gifts and entertainment given or received must be of a reasonable value and appropriate to the business relationship in question.
If you are not sure whether a gift or entertainment is of a reasonable value, you should discuss it with your line manager prior to committing to such expenses.

Facilitation payments

Facilitation payments are traditionally small payments made to foreign officials in accordance with publicly known or widely-followed local custom to expedite or secure performance of routine government action, such as obtaining official documents or processing governmental papers.

Munters discourages employees from making facilitation payments in countries where the local law permits them. However, they may be paid in certain circumstances provided that they are accurately recorded in the ledgers of the company. You must get your manager's approval before making a facilitation payment. In countries where facilitation payments are prohibited Munters also prohibits them.

Penalties for violating international anti-bribery laws

Penalties for violating international anti-bribery laws vary from country to country. For Munters, Swedish laws are applicable in addition to local laws. The Swedish legislation includes hefty fines and possibly imprisonment for the individual, the management and even Board members.

Red flags

To help Munters employees recognize situations in which payments may be suspect or corrupt, this manual provides the following "red flags" which alert employees that their dealings may be in violation of anti-bribery laws.

Avoid unusual payment patterns or financial arrangements. Improper payments in regard to e.g. foreign officials are frequently accompanied by unusual payment arrangements. Employees should use increased vigilance when asked to make payments in a bank account not located in the country where the services were rendered.
Be cautious when conducting business in a country with a history of corruption. To find out what the current level of corruption is in a country, contact Munters Group Finance.
Avoid paying commissions at different levels than has been paid previously.
Beware of a lack of transparency in expenses and accounting records. Our business partners should voluntarily share expense statements and accounting records of joint activity.
Be careful when a potential client recommends hiring a consultant. Overall, be cautious when a potential client suggests that Munters pay or hire a third party.
In order to assist our employees in behaving in a commercially correct manner, all financial transactions must be recorded in a timely and accurately. Any information relating to a transaction must be recorded. The records should reflect transactions in conformity with accepted accounting standards and be designed to prevent off-the books transactions such as kickbacks and bribes.
Accordingly, company employees must follow all applicable standards, principles and laws for accounting and financial reporting. No employee should establish an undisclosed or unrecorded account on behalf of the company for any purpose. Munters Financial Manual must be followed in all aspects.

Selecting and monitoring agents

In many countries, Munters retains local individuals or firms as an agent, distributor or representative (collectively referred to as "agents") to conduct their business. Munters can be held liable for corrupt payments an agent makes on the company's behalf, with or without Munters' knowledge.

Munters therefore requires that all agents comply with anti-bribery laws at all times. There is a normal due diligence process that focuses on the agent's relevant expertise, and qualifications. In addition to this, all Munters employees must take additional steps to secure compliance with anti-bribery laws when working through agents.

First, the company must determine the competence and reputation of the agent, as well as the agent's contacts with any potential clients. These relationships include not only business relationships, but family relationships as well.

Second, any business unit that contracts an agent abroad must keep a detailed file of the due diligence efforts made in conjunction with obtaining the agent. This file should document

the reasons why the agent was selected,
the examination the business unit conducted to ascertain whether the agent may have previously violated anti-bribery laws,
the checks made regarding the agent's integrity in conducting business.

Third, agents that have been approved by the business must also be reviewed periodically to ensure that the agent still complies with anti-bribery laws.

If any Munters business unit utilizes the services of an agent, a detailed written contract must be set up. In addition to the arrangement's commercial terms, the contract should also contain appropriate warranties from the agent concerning past and future compliance with anti-bribery laws. The agent must show and warrant that he or she:

Is not affiliated with any foreign official, or a candidate for public office, and will advise Munters if any of these conditions change during the course of the agency relationship;
Will not, in the future, engage in conduct on behalf of Munters or related to work for Munters that would violate anti-bribery laws;
Has read, understands, and agrees to comply with the Munters code of conduct and the principles and procedures of the Munters Anti-Bribery policy.
Will reimburse travel and entertainment expenses only when approved in advance by Munters and supported by detailed records;
Shall not assign or sub-contract work under the contract without the prior approval of Munters;
Will indemnify Munters for any damages that result from the breach of any of the agent's representations;
Shall maintain accurate books and records and Munters shall have reasonable access to the agent's books and records and the right to audit them on a periodic basis.
Finally, when examining the relationship, Munters employees should evaluate whether the proposed compensation to be paid in exchange for the services rendered or the products delivered is reasonable in light of the circumstances.

Acquisitions and mergers

Munters may be held liable for past anti-bribery violations from a company Munters acquires.
Munters must therefore review, as part of the acquisition due diligence process, business activities of the acquired company in regard to anti-bribery laws.

This diligence will allow Munters to assess not only the risks the target's operations will present going forward with respect to compliance with anti-bribery laws, but also potential exposure stemming from the target's past activities.

This due diligence should be tailored to the country and business of the target company and conducted at the same time as the deal diligence so that Munters may act upon any information it receives before the deal is finalized.

Particular attention should be paid to the following types of information Munters typically obtains during the due diligence process:

The types and identities of agents and consultants the company uses and their compensation arrangements;
The company's countries of operations;
The involvement of government officials in the company's business (either as owners, directors or employees);
The condition of the company's internal controls and books and records; and
Whether the company has ever been accused of violating anti-bribery laws.

Munters corporate complaints procedure

If you need to report an incident, the first step is to contact your manager and discuss the incident with him/her.

If for various reasons this is not possible, any employee should follow the recommendations in the Munters Whistleblower Policy.