Business ethics and trade practices

The success of Saab and all our partners depends on our capability to be competitive. We also know that our success is short lived unless it is built on a proper business conduct. Saab’s reputation for honesty and integrity must not be put at risk by accusations of improper business behavior.

At Saab, we believe that ethical and economic values are interdependent and we expect our employees to behave with the highest ethical standards and integrity.

Business ethics

Honesty and integrity are integral to all of Saab’s operations, and the company expects the same of those it works with.

Saab supports transparency and openness, provided that national security regulations are met and confidential information is not revealed which could damage Saab competitively and/or impact its relationships with customers and partners. Saab’s business ethics also state that:

• Compensation paid to agents, suppliers and partners must be based solely on the products and services procured. 
• Gifts and other benefits must fall within the limits allowed by each nation’s laws. 
• Employees must avoid conflicts between their personal financial interests and the company’s business activities. If there is any doubt whatsoever, the question will be resolved by management. 
• Transactions by all business units of the Saab Group must be disclosed and reported in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
  

Stricter practices in dealings with consultants and other intermediaries

Saab tightened its routines and policies on the practices on corruption in 2007. The rules governing how the company deals with marketing consultants outside Sweden have been centralised and tightened.

The reason for the revisions of the internal rules is Saab’s increased internationalization and complexity, which increases the demands on how the company deals with marketing consultants.

The new regulatory framework provides closer control and coordination between Saab’s functions at the group and business area level. Saab will continue to work with marketing consultants in internationaltransactions. All the advisers and collaborations are subjected to detailed reviews in accordance with the processes and procedures outlined in the directive which also includes a detailed decision-making process where authorization is centralized.

Same business ethics for all

The rules on appointment and management of marketing consultants require that Saab’s business is conducted in compliance with Swedish law, that the principles of the OECD’s guidelines to fight corruption of foreign government representatives in international transactions are applied and that current laws encompassing these principles are followed. No employees or marketing consultants who represent Saab may engage in corrupt behavior. Marketing consultants must maintain the same high business ethics as Saab’s employees.

Extensive awareness training is carried out for employees dealing with marketing consultants. The training is offered on a continuous basis. 

European Code of Conduct

Saab actively participated during the year in the creation of a new Code of Conduct for the European defence industry. Authored by the Aerospace and Defense Industries Association in Europe (ASD), the code outlines industry-wide standards for the procurement of defence and security materiel. The new standard, which affects over 2,000 aerospace and defence companies in 21 countries, was adopted in September 2007 as an extension of the association’s work on ethics and anti-corruption.