Compliance Management System

Through the Group Guidelines, largely standardized articles of association, rules of procedure for the management bodies of local companies, signature rules based on the four-eyes principle and the individual requirements of Corporate departments, various matters are subject to defined approval and reporting procedures.

Other topics are discussed and agreed upon in regular meetings at local or regional level or in departmental meetings. These meetings also provide a forum for exchanging experience and information and for reporting.

Essential processes at Messer have been defined and, in many cases, certified, for example according to ISO or GMP standards.

To ensure compliance with the Messer Code, the existing organizational structures are to be used. The individual departments, persons responsible at regional level and management bodies are directly responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with the Messer Code within their respective areas of responsibility.

With the support of Corporate Legal and Corporate Compliance, Internal Audit carries out regular reviews lasting several days at the local companies.

During these reviews, matters relevant to the Messer Code, such as articles of association, rules of procedure, signature rules, training programs conducted and compliance with reporting obligations, are subject to detailed review.

In addition, individual specialist departments conduct detailed audits in areas such as safety, health, environment and quality, Medical and Information Technology.

Comments and proposals for improvement are documented in a report and submitted to the Management Board of Messer SE & Co. KGaA. The implementation of improvement measures is reviewed through follow-up audits within a defined time frame.

Pending litigation and potential or threatened disputes above a certain value or risk level are centrally reviewed every three months.

The information recorded includes the facts of the case, litigation value, case status, litigation risk and any provisions already established or to be established, where applicable.

The Managing Directors, LCOs and BCOs are obliged to inform the CCO of any suspected serious violation of the Messer Code.

All matters relevant to the Messer Code within the respective regional subsidiary or department must be reported to the CCO for the preceding year as part of the annual compliance report, no later than January 31.

The CCO reports regularly to the Management Board of Messer SE & Co. KGaA. In individual cases or upon request, the CCO must promptly report any serious violations of the Messer Code that have been brought to their attention. Other matters are reported once a year.

Once a year, all local subsidiaries and Corporate departments report relevant matters to the Vice President Corporate Controlling for preparation of the risk report.

The report is discussed by the Management Board of Messer SE & Co. KGaA. The Management Board decides on any further measures required, where necessary. The Supervisory Board of Messer receives the report and, where necessary, additional detailed explanations.

Once a year, Messer summarizes all activities in a Sustainability Report and has it certified within the framework of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).