Legal compliance at Georg Fischer was reinforced in 2005 by the creation of the Corporate Compliance function. Drawing on the concept approved by the Executive Committee, the Corporate Compliance Officer ensures that the corporate subsidiaries comply with the law and with the business ethics principles prevailing in the company in all their business activities. This is effected in particular by organisational measures, training at Corporate Group level and by information and advice.

The compliance principles are enshrined in the Code of Conduct of the Georg Fischer Corporation. On subjects of particular importance to an internationally operating industrial company such as prohibition of agreements that contravene cartel law, the offering or acceptance of unlawful advantages and compliance with export control regulations, directives exist that are binding for all corporate subsidiaries and do not allow of any exceptions to the principles of legal complaince. The Corporate Compliance Officer conducts regular training sessions on these topics.

The Corporate Compliance Officer constantly develops the compliance concept and reports to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors annually on his activities.

Furthermore, since 2008 a corporate directive has been in place, enabling employees to report violations of the law or internal directives that they observed in their working environment. Employees can remain anonymous if they so wish. The first point of contact in such cases is the employee’s line manager or, if the incident cannot be reported through line management, Internal Auditing and the Compliance Officer. This corporate directive is a further tool for combating illegal behaviour. Employees can read it on the intranet.