Comparison to Peers

Answer: Expectations of society and the investors of the PE firm. Society`s perception of what is right and what is wrong. This can influence both profits in form of not being an acceptable firm to the public, and can affect the ability to attract capital. Investors will first look into the track record of the PE firm and on the strategy, and then most investors will want to see the CSR guidelines that will be used in the fund’s investment concerning the different portfolio companies. The company wants to be accepted and an attractive place to work at.

Question: What do you believe are the expected/realized benefits for your company in undertaking CSR?

Answer: No value enhancing benefits expect for staying with their stakeholders who is important to the company as a whole and the production process. Only that the company acts as a responsible citizen for society as a whole.

Question: Could the resources spent on CSR have been put to greater use somewhere else?

Answer: No, it’s a cost of doing business.

Question: Have there been many changes to the CSR policy when it was under your ownership?

Answer: The time we spend focusing on CSR has changed over the years. It is the

management that take care of the daily operations and also that the necessary CSR is in place.

Question: When you are exiting the portfolio companies, do you think the selling price is going to be affected by the implemented CSR?

Answer: No. CSR will not influence it in a negative way, but don’t think it will influence it in a positive way either. But it will help to exit the company by having the necessary CSR measures needed. It’s not positive if we have it but it could be negative if we don’t have it.

shareholders, while seeking to uphold our social, ethical and environmental principles and considering the interests of its other stakeholders: customers, employees, those with whom we do business, and society as a whole. The company believes that its success is built on the strength and effectiveness of its relationships with its various stakeholders, which are its shareholders, customers, employees and suppliers. It has a formal SEE framework with SEE principles and policies to be discussed by the board. The CEO of Signet is responsible that the set principles and policies are being followed, and the SEE committee is in charge of the implementation. The CEO is also a director of RJC and is board and chairman of Jewelers of America.

Signet has a supplier code of conduct and policies on business integrity, health and safety, the environment and labor standards. This code applies to the company`s suppliers and agents that Signet deals directly with, and all is encourage to enforce this code in their own supply chain. In 2002 Signet formally adopted the Kimberley Process Certification System (KPCS), which is certification system for the source of uncut diamonds. Signet also played a leading role in establishing RJC and these principles were formed in 2005. In May 2011, the company was certified to meet the ethical, human rights, social and environmental standards established by RJC in 2008. The company is also involved in community relationship programs and charitable donations to a few chosen charities.

10.3.2. Sodexho

The company is according to its website recognized as the leader of global sustainability in its market sector, and it believes that the company is the community of its clients, consumers, employees and shareholders and its purpose is to satisfy these stakeholders’ expectations. In 2009, Sodexho developed “The better tomorrow plan”, which is a worldwide corporate citizenship roadmap for the Sodexho group, and this plan is continuously improved. This plan addresses three core issues: nutrition, health and wellness, local communities and

environment. Sodexho sees its employees as the foundations of the business as it is reliant on its employees to produce its services and they are the ones that are in direct daily contact with the customers. This is why the employee’s health and safety is a core CSR measure. The company is also reliant on offering safe solutions in their processes that meet the needs of its employees as their customers increasingly expect integrated and global solutions on quality, health and safety, and their suppliers must also follow these solutions. Sodexho also respects the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour

Organization principles due to the fact that it is a huge global company situated in 80 different countries.

10.3.3. Claus Ohlson

The company`s sustainability vision is to “commit the company`s resources to economic, social, environmental development that contributes to sustainable living conditions for current and future generations”. The company has a sustainability program that is led by a CSR forum, which sets goals, strategies and activities for the entire group`s CSR program and also monitors that these plans are reached. Claus Ohlsons` key stakeholders are customers,

employees, shareholders, suppliers and manufacturers, and also the public. The company is in continuous dialog with these key stakeholders to ensure that they keep updated on the various expectations and demands placed on the company. In an annual customer survey, they found out that the most important CSR measure is preserving human rights, followed by good personnel policy and the environmental program.

Since Claus Ohlson is a retail company, one of the most important CSR measures is the Supplier Code of Conduct. This conduct involves an effort in improving the working

conditions and working environment in which their products are manufactured. The company audits all the suppliers on a regular basis, and all companies that are to supply products to Claus Ohlson must pass a comprehensive audit. This is done through their CSR committee that is based in Shanghai, as most of their manufacturers and suppliers are located in Asia.

Concerning the employees, the company has a lot of CSR measures; induce program to new employees, employee survey, continuous skill development, competitive salaries based on company goals and healthcare programs. The company sees the employees as their core and they place great emphasis on attracting and retaining the best employees that are capable of providing a high level of customer service. The company also tries to preserve the

environment through focusing on goods transportation, product responsibility, energy consumption, waste, packaging and printed materials, and also contributing to local business communities in which they operate.