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Code of conduct for Board members and senior management
of the company adopted by the Board of Directors on 31st
october, 2005.
This Code of Conduct for Directors and Senior Management
is adopted by the Board of Directors of BBL to encourage
and promote honest, ethical conduct and to comply with
all applicable laws, rules, regulations and standards.
Best practices in corporate governance can successfully
emerge only when informed by a set of ethical business
principles and a well defined approach towards organizational
behavior. Without such business ethics and well constructed
rationale, corporate governance runs the risk of becoming
just a form filling exercise. The road map, thus, needs
to be based on substance which means adherence to a dedicated
code of conduct of behavioral norms in letter and spirit.
This code of conduct covers area such as commitment towards
national interest, harmonious relations with employees,
avoidance of conflict of interest, abhorrence of bribery
and corruption and emphasis on corporate social responsibility.
It has been a long pursued policy and commitment of BBL
to maintain the highest standards of integrity - professional
and financial business ethics in the conduct or its business.
The code of conduct shall apply to:
1. All Directors of the company whether executive or
non-executive ('Board Members')
2. All Managers of the Company from the rank of Deputy
General Manager and above. All Managers ('Senior Management')
of the Company reporting directly to the Managing Directors
grade
This code of conduct will act as guideline to:
- Promote honest and ethical conduct.
- Maintain a corporate climate in which the integrity
and dignity of each individual is valued and promoted.
- Assure compliance with laws, rules and regulations
that govern the Company's business activities
- Assure the proper use of the Company's assets.
This Code does not specifically address every potential
form of unacceptable conduct and it is expected that Board
Members and Senior Management of the Company will exercise
good judgment in compliance with the principles set out
in this Code. Board Members and Senior Management of the
Company have a duty to avoid any circumstance that would
violate the letter or spirit of this Code.
Board Members and Senior Management of the Company are
to deal with customers, suppliers, employees and others
in a fair manner and in the best interests of the Company.
| V. PROPER USE OF COMPANY
ASSETS |
Company assets should be used only for the legitimate
business purposes of the Company. Board Members and Senior
Management of the Company are prohibited from using Company
assets, confidential or proprietary information or position
for personal gain.
| VI. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS,
RULES AND REGULATIONS |
Any transaction undertaken in the name of the Company
that would violate the laws of the land is prohibited.
Particular attention is directed to the laws, rules and
regulations relating to discrimination, securities, antitrust,
civil rights, transactions with foreign officials, safety
and the environment. Wherever there is doubt about proper
interpretation of law, all concerned should act in accordance
with the opinion of the Company's legal advisors to safeguard
the interests of the Company.
| VII. DISCRIMINATION AND
HARASSMENT |
The Company is committed to providing a workplace free
of discrimination and harassment based on race, color,
religion, age, gender, national origin, disability, veteran
status, or any other biases. It would be the endeavour
of every Board Member and Senior Management of the Company
to see that the work place is free from such biases.
If any Officer or Associate is discriminated against,
he or she may lodge a complaint of discrimination or harassment
to the Managing Director(s) or Vice President: HRD of
the Company.
| VIII. POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
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Corporate funds, credit, property or services shall
not be used, directly or indirectly, to support any political
party or candidate for public office, or to support or
oppose any ballot measure, without the prior approval
of the Board of Directors of the Company.
| IX. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
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Confidentiality of information relating to the Company,
including all unpublished information, which comes to
the knowledge in the course of the discharge of functions
should be strictly maintained; except when such disclosure
is authorized or legally mandated.
General
Generally, a conflict exists when the personal interests
or activities of a Board Member or Senior Management of
the Company is likely to influence the exercise of his
or her independent judgment in the performance of one
or more duties to the Company. Even the appearance of
a conflict of interest may be as damaging as an actual
conflict and should be avoided.
Board Members and Senior Management of the Company should
not enter into any transaction or engage in any practice,
directly or indirectly, that would tend to influence him
or her to act in any manner other than in the best interests
of the Company.
Board Members and Senior Management of the Company (or
members of their immediate family) also should not exercise
discretionary authority or make or influence any recommendation
or decision on behalf of the Company that would result
in an undisclosed personal financial benefit to such person
or to members of his or her immediate family.
Board Members and Senior Management of the Company also
should not exploit for their own personal gain, opportunities
that are discovered through the use of Company property,
information or position in the Company unless the opportunity
is first disclosed in writing to the Company.
It is clarified that it would not be a conflict of interest
for Board Members and Senior Management of the Company
or members of their immediate family to obtain services
from persons or entities who also provide services to
the Company, including legal, accounting or brokerage
services, loans from banks or insurance from insurance
companies, at rates customary for similarly situated customers.
Gifts and Other Benefits
No Board Member and Senior Management of the Company
or member of his or her immediate family, shall (directly
or indirectly) solicit, accept or retain any gift, entertainment,
trip, discount, service, or other benefit from any organization
or person doing business or competing with the Company,
other than exchange of normal pleasantries or entertainment
as part of normal business courtesy and hospitality that
would not influence and would not reasonably appear to
be capable of influencing, such person to act in any manner
not in the best interest of the Company or acceptance
of a nominal benefit that has been disclosed to the Company.
Insider Trading
Board Members and Senior Management of the Company shall
not derive any benefit or assist others to derive any
benefit by giving investment advice from the access to
and possession of information about the Company, not in
public domain and therefore constitutes insider information.
All Board Members and Senior Management of the Company
will comply with the Company's Code on Insider Trading
and the guidelines as issued by SEBI.
Senior Management of the Company is expected to devote
full time and efforts during normal working hours to the
service of the Company. No such person shall engage in
any business or secondary employment that interferes with
his or her obligations and responsibilities to the Company.
Officers in Senior Management of the Company will not
serve on the Board of Directors of any corporation not
owned or controlled by the Company, other than a nonprofit,
charitable, religious, civic or educational organization,
without the prior written approval of the Managing Director
of the Company.
| XII. ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING
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All Board Members and Officers in Senior Management
of the Company are expected to follow the Company's Accounting
Policies. All accounting records should accurately reflect
and describe corporate transactions. The recordation of
such data must not be falsified or altered in any way
to conceal or distort assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses
or the nature of the activity.
All public disclosures made by the Company, including
disclosures in reports and documents filed with or submitted
to the Statutory Authorities shall be accurate and complete
in all material respects. All Board Members and Officers
in Senior Management are expected to carefully consider
all inquiries from the Company related to the disclosure
requirements and promptly supply complete and accurate
responses.
| XIII. VIOLATIONS OF THE
CODE |
Board Members and Senior Management of the Company should
promote ethical behaviour and take steps to ensure that
the employees are encouraged to report violation of laws,
rules, regulations or this "code" to the appropriate
personnel and inform them that the compliance will not
allow retaliation for reports made in good faith.
| XIV. COMPLIANCE STANDARDS
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- All suspected violations of this Code shall be promptly
reported to the Board and such violations are subject
to investigation by the Board or any Committee/or any
person(s) so designated by the Board. Violations will
be investigated by the Board or any such designated
persons/committee and appropriate action will be taken
in the event of any such violation.
- Directors should inform the Company immediately about
the emergence of any situation which may disqualify
him from directorship.
- It shall be the endeavour of every Director to attend
as far as possible and actively participate in meetings
of the Board and Committee thereof on which they are
members.
| XV. AMENDMENT OR MODIFICATION
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Any amendment or modification of this Code would be
approved by the Company's Board of Directors or a duly
authorized Board Committee.
The members of the Board of Directors and the Senior
Management of the Company shall affirm compliance of the
Code on an annual basis. The Annual Report of the Company
shall carry a declaration to this effect signed by the
Managing Director and the Vice President, Finance, of
the Company. The Directors will annually sign the confirmation
that they have read and will comply with this Code.
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