Antibribery and Corruption
On July 1, 2011, the United Kingdom Antibribery Act 2010 became effective in the U.K. This law requires all U.K. businesses and their subsidiaries to comply with stringent antibribery legislation. The Antibribery Act introduces rigorous antibribery guidelines with serious consequences for both businesses and individuals who fail to comply. The Antibribery Act dictates that regardless of the country in which bribery takes place, if that bribery is committed for or on behalf of a U.K. business, then the Antibribery Act will apply.
Because The Sage Group plc is a U.K.-headquartered business, its subsidiaries, including our business here in North America, must comply with the U.K. Antibribery Act. To ensure that we comply, we have introduced a new Antibribery and Corruption Policy. The key principles of the Sage North America Antibribery and Corruption Policy are set out below.
- Sage and its employees do not and will not offer, promise, or give bribes or request, agree to receive, or accept bribes in any form (a bribe can be an offer of money but also any other financial or nonfinancial advantage or reward).
- Anyone acting for or on behalf of Sage (including some third parties or business partners we work with) must also refrain from engaging in any of the activities set out above.
- If anyone at Sage is concerned that this type of activity may be happening in the business, he or she can report it immediately and confidentially and be confident that action will be taken.
- The new policy does not prevent reasonable and proportionate gifts, hospitality, and entertainment, but where those gifts, hospitality, and entertainment are unreasonable, disproportionate, or given in inappropriate circumstances (for example, when a Sage employee is considering whether to award a contract to someone) then they may constitute bribes and should not be offered or accepted. Common sense should always prevail.
Sage takes these principles very seriously and will continue to monitor and review any bribery and corruption risks which the business might face.
