Ethics charter

We expect our Partners and Collaborators to treat all employees equally and fairly. Our Partners and Collaborators will not engage in any form of discrimination in their hiring process, access to training, promotion, termination based on criteria of gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, political opinion, nationality, social or ethnic background.

Our Companies and their Partners and Collaborators, aware of the specific risks that prevail in their industrial sector, will provide a safe and healthy working environment in order to avoid accidents or injuries that could be caused by, associated with, or be produced during work or handling of equipment. They will manage systems to detect, avoid or neutralize any threat to their employees’ health and safety and comply with local and international laws and regulations. The same principles shall apply to our Companies and Partners who provide housing to their employees.

The reputation of honesty and integrity of Groupe CIF must not be put in danger by an inappropriate offer of payment. During transactions, our Companies and our Partners must never offer, promise or give any undue pecuniary or other advantage, either directly or indirectly, in order to obtain or retain business or any other improper advantage. Groupe CIF companies do not tolerate any corrupting practice or influence peddling by their employees or business Partners and Collaborators. Any breach of the rules of this directive will be legally sanctioned by termination of current markets with the offending Partner, notwithstanding any denunciation to the competent authorities. Groupe CIF companies prohibit the practice or the tolerance of any form of corruption whatsoever and expect their Partners and Collaborators to exercise judgement in fighting corruption and exposing it in the business community. Groupe CIF companies are committed alongside their Partners and Collaborators to condemn and act against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Making or accepting corporate gifts and entertainment offers is often an appropriate way for Partners and Collaborators to show courtesy and mutual respect, provided that their value is reasonable and that they are not intended to unduly influence a transaction or a formal procedure.

Gifts and entertainment must only be offered or accepted:

• If they are reasonable and appropriate;
• Occasional;
• Of moderate amount (estimate of a value of less than 60 euros) and;
• On receipt, they must be transmitted to the person in charge of the gifts in order to be recorded by her/him and be the subject, at the end of the year, of lots as part of a tombola benefiting all of the employees of the company.

Reasonable gifts received by Collaborators of Groupe CIF Companies must be delivered to the person designated as being in charge of the gifts received, who will check the reasonableness of the gift, record it and will ensure a follow-up of the gifts received. Our Collaborators and Partners are not allowed to keep for their personal account the gifts received, unless otherwise advised by the person in charge of the gifts. At the end of the year, a tombola benefiting all the employees of the Company will be organized with the gifts received during the year. Business entertainment (such as meals, theatre or sporting event tickets) can play an important role in strengthening the business relationships of business partners. Therefore, our Collaborators and Partners are permitted to accept invitations that enhance goodwill and consolidate good relationships with
clients or suppliers in the context of legitimate business dealings, as long as they are in accordance with these guidelines.

Such invitations are permitted only in the following cases:

• when they have been declared beforehand to the person in charge of the gifts or to Human
• Resources for registration and validation;
• when they are only occasional;
• when they are reasonably related to a legitimate business purpose (accompanying a client or supplier to a cultural/sporting/professional event or a business lunch);
• when they do not represent a bribe or kickback (e.g., to obtain or renew a contract, or illicit benefits);
• when they do not give the impression (or implied obligation) that the giver is getting preferential treatment, a contract, prices or preferential terms of sale in return;
• when they are in good taste and remain in the context of an appropriate professional event;
• when they are reasonable and appropriate to the context of the professional activity;
• where they will not influence, or appear to influence, the employee’s ability to act in the best interests of the Company; when reported under the Gifts and Entertainment Notification Procedure and;
• when in compliance with the specific limits established by local management.

The following invitations are never acceptable cases:

• when they can be considered excessive in the context of the professional activity;
• when classified as “adult” or other kinds of performances involving nudity or obscene behaviour;
• when the beneficiary knows that the person offering the invitation does not have the right to do so.