Act Ethically Today to Energize Tomorrow
At Auren we live our Values and each of our employees, in the daily performance of their duties, must adopt behaviors and make decisions based on the three pillars that underpin our Corporate Culture:
- Ethics
- Life
- Sustainability
Putting each of these values into practice presupposes first considering the principles that underpin them: Ethics and Integrity. The company is committed to conducting its activities ethically and transparently in all situations, developing its business with the highest level of integrity. Employees therefore play a leading role in these efforts. Each and every one of them must incorporate behavior consistent with these values into their attitudes and work routines.
The company has a solid Ethics and Compliance Program to engage them in this direction. Conducted by the Ethics and Integrity department, this program includes guidelines that materialize in policies and training, in line with the laws and regulations applicable to these issues, with the aim of guiding employees on the practices that Auren Energia expects from each of them in the performance of their duties.
The ethical and integrity standards that guide the actions of employees are also required of business partners who establish commercial relations with the company. To ensure that these companies are aligned with these values, Auren has an Integrity Due Diligence Standard. Through the verification processes and routines established in the document, partners are subjected to due diligence prior to contracting, minimizing Auren’s exposure to reputational risks.
The management of Auren’s Corporate Integrity Program is the responsibility of the Ethics and Integrity Management, an area led by the Legal, Institutional and Integrity Executive Board and which reports to the company’s CEO, reinforcing the ongoing commitment to conduct its operations always guided by its values.
Check out the organization chart of Auren’s Ethics and Integrity Department:
How does the Ethics and Integrity team strengthen people and relationships on a daily basis at Auren?
Auren’s Ethics and Integrity Program
The Program includes a set of actions to guide and disseminate ethical and upright conduct among Auren’s employees, suppliers and business partners. The actions include:
- Code of Conduct: the basic document of the Ethics and Integrity Program, it concentrates the guidelines that must be observed in order to put corporate values into practice.
- Compliance Policies and Standards. These documents complement the Code of Conduct with additional processes, standards and guidelines for good practice. They cover and detail specific topics such as anti-corruption, conflicts of interest, receiving gifts, presents and hospitality, consequence management, relations with public authorities, among others.
- Training. In order for all employees to learn about, clarify their doubts about or refresh their understanding of the Code of Conduct, as well as the Anti-Corruption and Compliance Policy and Standards, specific training agendas are promoted, and attendance is mandatory. The company also holds Somos Éticos (We Are Ethical), which consists of meetings aimed at promoting an open discussion of real issues and problems in Auren’s business, and how the Values and policies can be put into practice.
- Internal communication. Auren employees are constantly impacted by content on Ethics and Integrity through its internal channels and communication campaigns. To this end, the company publishes content related to good practices and internal standards in weekly newsletters. The newsletter also features messages from senior management, seeking to engage everyone in the importance of transparency in business, and how ethics and integrity are embedded in the company’s daily life.
- Confidential Channel. The Ethics Line, a specific channel for reporting irregular conduct or conduct that is not in line with the guidelines of Auren’s Code and policies, is available to all stakeholders with whom the company interacts – employees, business partners, suppliers and customers, among others. Operated by a third-party company, Aliant, the channel’s principle is to respect users’ anonymity. All reports are treated confidentially and investigated. If confirmed, they receive the necessary corrective measures. Access to the channel is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800-591- 7192 or at canalconfidencial.com.br/aurenenergia
- Integrity Due Diligence Standard. All partners, including suppliers and service providers, are required to adhere to the same standards of ethics and integrity that permeate Auren’s corporate values and guide its operations. In order to meet them before establishing business relationships, the company assesses the compliance risks involved in each deal, which is mapped in accordance with the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law, as well as other applicable legal provisions and prohibitions.
Based on this investigation and the information mapped, the applicable due diligence procedures are defined. The aim is to engage them in the best transparency, ethics and integrity practices through contractual compliance clauses. Thus, contracts are only awarded after approval from the Ethics and Integrity Department.
Generating Admirable Results from Best Practices
Issues related to Ethics and Integrity are constantly evolving in order to meet the highest market standards. In order to keep in line with the best corporate practices and contribute to the improvement of these guidelines in the business sector, the company is part of and participates in institutional initiatives aimed at promoting debate and the exchange of experiences. These include:
- Business Pact for Integrity and Against Corruption. Auren is a signatory to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative.
- Collective Action for Integrity in the Electricity Sector. An initiative for cooperation between various stakeholders in this segment, promoting a collaborative environment for the exchange of experiences and the development of actions on behalf of the electricity sector.
- 100% Transparency Movement. An initiative to promote corporate It aims to encourage and enable companies to go beyond legal obligations, strengthening transparency and integrity mechanisms in companies
- Brazil Pact for Business Integrity. An initiative of the Office of the Comptroller General (CGU) that encourages companies operating in the country to make a public commitment to corporate integrity, as well as a commitment to integrity throughout the business cycle.
Understand the Structure, Scope and Responsibilities of Auren’s Ethics and Integrity Area
*Information on the members of the Board of Directors and the Conduct Committee is available at https://ri.aurenenergia.com.br/esg/administracao-conselhos-comites-e-comissoes/.
Responsibilities
CEO
An effective member of the Conduct Committee, he is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Corporate Ethics and Integrity Program by allocating the necessary resources and disseminating the culture ethics and integrity to all Auren hierarchical levels.
Board of Directors
Among their various responsibilities, we would highlight that of approving, monitoring and deciding on compliance with the Ethics and Integrity Program. They are also responsible for taking note of and
deciding on any complaints arising from the Ethics Line that may involve members of Auren’s board of directors.
Ethics and Integrity Team
The Auren Ethics and Integrity Team is responsible for:
- Developing, determining and coordinating the Company’s Integrity processes, including the dissemination of content that promotes the consolidation of a culture of ethics and integrity, through communications campaigns and periodic training for employees;
- Establishing normative guidelines through the implementation of the Code of Conduct, Integrity Policies and Standards, guaranteeing business compliance with legal requirements and internal practices;
- Periodically mapping the company’s integrity risks (risk assessment), taking into account the business context and internal and external factors that may impact the company’s objectives and the Corporate Integrity Program;
- Adopt measures and processes for due diligence of third parties and background checks on suppliers and business partners to ensure contractual compliance;
- Reviewing and approving contracts and deals in which the Company is involved, in accordance with Internal Policies and the risk classification for contractual compliance;
- Investigating complaints and allegations of possible misconduct, proposing remedial measures, disciplinary measures or risk mitigation, where appropriate;
- Propose and manage the sessions of the Conduct Committee to decide on disciplinary measures or remedial actions applicable to cases of misconduct;
- Advising and counseling the Company’s Executive Board and Board of Directors on matters related to the Corporate Integrity Program and reporting to the Statutory Audit Committee whenever requested;
- Monitor and measure the main indicators of the Corporate Integrity Program, making it possible to effectively evaluate controls and identify actions for continuous improvement;
- Leading institutional ethics and integrity initiatives by joining associations, fronts, certifications and public recognition of the Corporate Integrity Program.
Conduct Committee
Under the terms of the internal rules and regulations, the Conduct Committee is made up of three members: Fabio Rogério Zanfelice (Chief Executive Officer), Carlos Curci Neto (Legal, Institutional and Integrity Executive Officer) and Renata Bertucci Caldeira (Ethics and Integrity Manager).
The Conduct Committee is responsible for:
- Receive all reports without exception
- Evaluate reports on the investigation of complaints and evidence;
- Order the adoption of the necessary disciplinary measures;
- Ensure that deviations and violations are followed up with applicable disciplinary measures, regardless of the hierarchical level;
- Decide on actions for the prevention and treatment of identified control deficiencies;
- Supervising the application of the Code of Conduct;
- Propose revisions to the Code of Conduct;
- Report to the Audit Committee on the progress and outcome of complaints.
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