Responsible and transparent corporate management that strives for long-term value creation is a top priority for Koenig & Bauer. We regard integrity and compliance as indispensable in all business dealings and we pursue a zero tolerance policy. With a group-wide compliance management system (CMS), we have created a framework for ensuring that our business practices meet high standards of compliance and integrity. Further information can be found at compliance.koenig-bauer.com

Corporate Governance 

We are convinced that good corporate governance is a key component of sustainable business success and that it strengthens the confidence of our shareholders, business partners, employees and the financial markets in our company. Company guidelines and internal regulations are adapted regularly and promptly to the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Codex. All suggestions in the codex are also implemented to the maximum possible extent.

Compliance Standards

The compliance management system (CMS) is designed to place a key focus on preventing the violation of laws, standards or internal regulations. Comprehensive guidelines have been drawn up on the basis of regular analyses of compliance risks and the necessary processes to ensure business conduct characterised by compliance and integrity have been established. Ongoing adaptation of the internal requirements makes it possible to respond to new demands and changes in the risk situation. A Corporate Compliance Manual has been rolled out across the whole group and brings our Code of Business Conduct, the rules on compliance organisation and the most important group guidelines together in a single document.

Particular importance is attached to the prevention of corruption and bribery in our CMS. This also reflects Koenig & Bauer’s uncompromising commitment to the promotion of fair competition. To enable our comprehensive compliance and integrity standards to achieve their full effect, 13 online training sessions are currently available that cover the most important topics relating to compliance and the Code of Business Conduct. These training sessions are mandatory for the employees whom this concerns directly and their teams. The preventive measures defined in the CMS are supplemented by regular activities to verify their effectiveness and to identify potential for improvement. This includes both internal and external compliance assessments within Koenig & Bauer AG and the subsidiaries.

The established whistleblower system allows employees to report potential compliance violations anonymously, and also provides a channel for third parties to enter into direct contact with the Compliance team. All reported circumstances are investigated fully and any disciplinary or legal steps deemed necessary are initiated. This applies in equal measure to any notification of legal violations in Koenig & Bauer companies received via the media or authorities.

Human Rights

In its role as an employer and as a supplier or recipient of products and services, Koenig & Bauer pledges its commitment to human rights and respects such rights as a core element of responsible corporate management. Child labour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. The Framework for Business and Human Rights of the United Nations (“Protect, Respect and Remedy”) serves as a key guideline for company policy.

Code of Conduct for Suppliers

By incorporating human rights principles into our purchasing terms and consistently factoring them into all essential business activities, our business partners are bound both to acknowledge and to respect human rights in equal measure. Our purchasing terms also require that external business partners respect the rights of employees and comply with all labour laws. The code of conduct for suppliers, as referenced in the purchasing terms, similarly expects that all statutory and contractually agreed quality and safety standards, as well as all applicable environmental requirements, will be observed, especially in regard to the use and processing of hazardous substances. Besides avoiding all forms of discrimination, suppliers must give assurances that they do not use child labour.

Alongside the essential business processes, the selection of and cooperation with relevant business partners are subject to initial and regular auditing processes. Within the framework of a digitalised compliance check, business partners must undertake to observe the Code of Business Conduct and receive mandatory training on the compliance standards of Koenig & Bauer.