The nature of our business often requires that we interact with officials of various governments around the world. Company policy and applicable laws establish certain limits on those interactions.
Nextivity, Inc. and its subsidiaries, (collectively, the “Company”) is committed to doing business with integrity. This means avoiding corruption of all kinds. It is the Policy of the Company to comply with all applicable anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act (“UKBA”), the Singapore Prevention of Corruption Act (“SGPCA”) and the local laws in every country in which we do business. These laws prohibit bribery of foreign government officials (broadly defined later in this Policy), and with regard to the FCPA in particular, mandate that companies establish and maintain accurate books and records and sufficient internal controls. The UKBA also prohibits private sector (commercial) bribery.
A violation of anti-corruption laws can lead to severe civil and criminal penalties and is cause for disciplinary action (up to and including termination of employment); therefore, it is vital that you not only understand and appreciate the importance of these policies and procedures, but comply with them in your daily work.
This Policy applies to all employees of the Company, including officers and directors. In addition, the Company will require third parties who represent the Company (such as agents, consultants, and contractors) to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this Policy.
All employees and third party contractors should remain vigilant in watching for, avoiding, and reporting to the Finance Department any questionable transactions that may violate this Policy.
Although this Policy focuses primarily on compliance with the FCPA, UKBA, and SGPCA. it is necessary to remain equally attentive to compliance with all applicable corruption laws, including the federal, state and local laws of each country in which the Company operates. The FCPA, UKBA, SGPCA and local corruption laws will be referred to collectively as “Applicable Corruption Laws” in this Policy.
For the purposes of this Policy, the term “government official” is broadly defined to include:
Employees of state-owned or state-controlled commercial enterprises (such as an oil company that is majority owned by a government) are considered government officials under Applicable Corruption Laws and this Policy. It is important to keep in mind that even persons who are not deemed to be officials under local laws may still be considered government officials under the FCPA, UKBA, and SGPCA. To be certain, employees should always consult the Finance Department whenever there is a question as to whether an individual is a government official.
Prohibition on Bribery
Applicable Corruption Laws prohibit companies and their employees and representatives from (directly or indirectly) giving, promising, offering or authorizing payment of anything of value to any government official in order to obtain or keep business or to secure some other improper advantage. In essence, these laws prohibit the giving of anything of value to influence a government official’s actions. Prohibited payments include, but are not limited to, those designed to:
The prohibition on bribery applies to the giving of anything of value, not only money. This includes but is not limited to providing business opportunities, favorable contracts, stock options, gifts and entertainment. Such payments are barred even if:
The UKBA also specifically prohibits the offering or acceptance of corrupt payments and other advantages between private (non-government) persons and entities. Such conduct constitutes commercial bribery and is prohibited.
Facilitating Payments
Facilitating (or expediting) payments also are prohibited under this Policy. Facilitating payments are small payments paid to foreign government officials to expedite or facilitate non-discretionary actions or services, such as obtaining an ordinary license or business permit, processing government papers such as visas, providing police protection, providing telephone, power or water service or loading or unloading of cargo.
Although there is a narrow exception for facilitating payments under the FCPA, such payments are prohibited under the UKBA and the laws of many other countries. Therefore, in order to ensure compliance with all Applicable Corruption Laws, Nextivity prohibits facilitating payments altogether, except for personal safety payments described below.
Except as provided herein, employees are prohibited from providing anything of value to any foreign official, regardless of rank; or to any person while knowing or being aware that all or a portion of it will be offered, given or promised (directly or indirectly) to a foreign government official.
Permitted Payments
Although this Policy is intended to provide guidance, anti-corruption matters are not always clear and must often be addressed on a case-by-case basis. In all situations where there is a question, employees should consult the Finance Department prior to taking action.
Services
Nextivity may pay for legitimate services provided to the Company by a foreign government entity or government official, such as paying a government-owned utility company for electricity. Payments for any services rendered to the Company by a foreign official (including an officer of a foreign government-owned or controlled commercial enterprise), including honorarium payments and reimbursement of expenses, must be made in accordance with the financial and accounting directives set forth in this Policy.
Gifts, Meals, and Entertainment
Under certain circumstances, it may be permissible to provide modest gifts or a meal or other entertainment to a government official as a social amenity. When deciding whether a gift is appropriate, employees also must take into account any past, pending or future business or administrative matters that are within the recipient’s realm of influence. The timing and context surrounding such gift or entertainment must be weighed in order to assess whether any particular gift or entertainment could be perceived to be a bribe.
Generally, gifts, meals and entertainment are permissible, provided that:
Personal Safety Payments
Personal safety payments are permissible under this Policy. A personal safety payment is a payment to avoid imminent physical harm. Personal safety payments do not include payments made in response to commercial duress, or in response to threats to commercial, financial or other interests. If confronted with a situation in which you believe that there is an imminent threat to your health or safety, you must use your best judgment in determining whether to make a personal safety payment. If you reasonably elect to make a personal safety payment, you will not be subject to discipline under this Policy, but those payments must be immediately reported to the Finance Department. The Company will not reimburse you for such payments.
Donations
Donations made to foreign-based charities are permissible, but are required to be pre-approved by the Chief Executive Officer, and properly documented and transparent.
Political Contributions
Contributions to international political parties or committees or to individual politicians may only be made with the prior written consent of the Chief Executive Officer. Approved contributions must be made in accordance with the applicable law, and all requirements for public disclosure of such contributions shall be fully complied with.
Third Parties
Applicable Corruption Laws prohibit corrupt payments made directly by Company employees or indirectly through a third party such as a consultant acting for or on behalf of the Company.
Under the FCPA, it is unlawful to make a payment of anything of value to any person, knowing that all or any portion of the payment will be offered, given or promised to a government official or any other person for a corrupt purpose. The term “knowing” includes conscious disregard, deliberate ignorance, and willful blindness. In other words, the Company and individual employees may violate the FCPA if we have “reason to know” or “should have known” that a third party will bribe a government official.
Under the UKBA, a company can be held criminally liable for bribes paid on its behalf by a third party anywhere in the world – even if the company had no knowledge of the bribe.
Accordingly, the most important step the Company can take to protect itself from liability for improper payments made by third parties is to choose its business partners carefully.
The Company will conduct appropriate due diligence and will exercise care in selecting such third parties by employing only reputable entities and will pay only reasonable compensation for the services provided.
The Company will require third parties who represent the Company to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this Policy. Such third parties will periodically be required to provide the Company with a certification of compliance with all applicable laws, including any Applicable Corruption Laws.
In addition, agreements with certain third parties must contain representations and warranties regarding the third party’s agreement to comply with Applicable Corruption Laws.
Due Diligence; Mergers or Acquisitions
The Company will not enter into any relationship with a third party who will have substantive interaction with government officials on behalf of the Company without an inquiry into the third party’s background, qualifications and reputation. Any issues raised during this due diligence review must be addressed to the satisfaction of the Company prior to entering the relationship. The amount of time and effort required for due diligence will depend on the number and complexity of issues raised during the review process.
Employees will inform the Finance Department once they have identified a third party that is subject to due diligence review.
In the event of a merger or acquisition, sufficient due diligence must be performed to assure the Company of the acquisition target’s compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA and UKBA.
Red Flags
In evaluating potential third parties and during any relationship with them, Company employees must be conscious of any “red flags” that may be present or arise. A “red flag” is a fact or circumstance that serves as a warning signal that a third party may act corruptly. It is the responsibility of the employee that observes a red flag to refer the matter to the Finance Department. A non-exclusive list of examples of red flags is below:
Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
The FCPA imposes strict accounting requirements on the Company. In particular, the FCPA requires the keeping of accurate books and records that, in reasonable detail, reflect the transactions and asset dispositions of the Company, and the development and maintenance of a system of internal accounting controls including periodic audits. These requirements apply to all payments, not just sums that would be “material” in the traditional financial sense.
The following financial and accounting directives have been implemented to help ensure the Company’s compliance with the FCPA:
Accountability: Roles and Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities with regard to the Company’s anti-corruption compliance are as follows:
Reporting Violations
Any partner, customer, officer, director, manager or employee who suspects a violation of this Policy must immediately report such suspected violation to the Company using the email address [email protected]. Any such report shall be handled in a confidential manner by the senior management of Nextivity.
February 4, 2019
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