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Management report on the Group<br />

2.7 Management report on the Group Expected developments and associated opportunities and risks<br />

Pages 177-185 177–185<br />

The effectiveness of of our compliance<br />

program was audited by by KPMG in in 2011;<br />

more information on compliance and and<br />

KPMG's KPMG‘s report can be be found on on the the internet<br />

at internet www.thyssenkrupp.com/en/konzern/<br />

at www.thyssenkrupp.com/en/<br />

compliance.html<br />

konzern/ compliance.html<br />

112 | 113<br />

Procurement risks<br />

Depending on the market situation, prices for raw materials and energy can fluctuate significantly. We<br />

safeguard our competitiveness by adjusting purchasing prices and securing alternative procurement<br />

sources. The geographical distribution of orders makes us less vulnerable to regional supply bottlenecks. To<br />

hedge against raw material price swings, in particular for nickel and copper, we also use derivative financial<br />

instruments – mainly commodity forward transactions. The use of these instruments is subject to strict<br />

rules. Details of these risk areas are provided in the Notes.<br />

The energy transition in Germany will permanently increase the price of electricity with the rise in the share<br />

of renewable energies and the associated need to expand the electricity grids. On top of this there are costintensive<br />

regulatory requirements for the electricity and gas networks of our major production locations. To<br />

counter the risk of rising energy prices we pursue a structured energy procurement policy. Furthermore all<br />

business areas are further increasing their efforts to save energy and recycle waste so as to prevent<br />

greenhouse emissions and conserve natural resources.<br />

Risks associated with acquisitions, disposals and restructurings<br />

Active portfolio management is a key element of our corporate development. We constantly monitor and if<br />

necessary make provision in the balance sheet for risks associated with the disposal or acquisition of<br />

companies, business activities and real estate and with restructurings.<br />

Legal risks associated with third-party claims<br />

Claims can result in legal risks. In the associated legal proceedings ThyssenKrupp is represented by its own<br />

experienced corporate counsel, if necessary with the additional support of external attorneys. We minimize<br />

claims for damages under product liability law through the high quality of our products.<br />

When contractual partners assert claims against ThyssenKrupp under plant construction, supply and service<br />

contracts, we examine the individual claims carefully and make provision where payment obligations are<br />

considered likely.<br />

Our strict compliance program reduces the risk of antitrust violations and corruption at all levels of the<br />

Group. In the Compliance Commitment the Executive Board of ThyssenKrupp AG states that antitrust<br />

violations and corruption are not tolerated in the Group. We monitor and regularly update our supplementary<br />

policies and publications as well as our internal compliance organization.<br />

We have separated the legal counsel service from compliance in terms of organization and staff. Within<br />

compliance the advisory function was also segregated from general principles and compliance<br />

investigations. In May 2011 we resolved further measures which will be implemented in the framework of a<br />

multi-year program. These measures include an increase in the number of employees in the compliance<br />

organization, namely by appointing regional compliance officers in selected regions.<br />

We appointed KPMG AG to audit our compliance program to auditing standard 980 of the Institute of Public<br />

Auditors in Germany (Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer e.V.) for the period April to September 2011. The audit<br />

covered the structure, implementation and in particular the effectiveness of our compliance program, and<br />

was therefore the most extensive audit possible under IDW PS 980. Due to the special rules applying in the<br />

USA, the subsidiaries in this country were not part of the audit. KPMG confirmed that the compliance<br />

management system at ThyssenKrupp AG is appropriately implemented and was effective in the period<br />

reviewed. Insofar as recommendations for compliance work were made on the basis of the audit findings,<br />

their implementation is being examined.

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