English - Colgate

We strive to serve the best interests of our shareholders and to help build shareholder value.WE UPHOLD GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE TO PROTECT SHAREHOLDER VALUE.The Company’s corporate governance policies and programs, of which this Code of Conduct is a keycomponent, serve as an important shareholder safeguard. In recent years many checks and balances havebeen enacted by Congress, the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange, and other regulators and authoritiesaround the world in order to promote the ethical corporate behavior that has been standard practice atColgate for many years. Our shareholders are well served by an independent board, made up of a substantialmajority of independent directors, and independent committees that oversee audit, compensation andgovernance matters. Frequently updated committee charters and governance guidelines clearly definedirector roles and responsibilities and the Company’s corporate governance principles.For a more detailed description of the Company’s corporate governance program, please see the “Colgate-Palmolive Company Board Guidelines on Significant Corporate Governance Issues” and the charters ofthe Company’s Audit Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, Personnel andOrganization Committee and Finance Committee, all of which are available on the Company’s website.WE MAINTAIN STRONG AUDIT PROGRAMS TO INCREASE INVESTOR CONFIDENCE.The Company is committed to the quality, integrity and transparency of its financial reports. Thiscommitment is reflected in the Company’s longstanding policies and procedures, including an internalaudit group monitoring financial controls worldwide, independent auditors who have a broad mandate,and an independent Audit Committee overseeing these areas. To maximize the effectiveness of theseresources, Colgate people are expected to engage in open and honest communication and a free exchangeof information with the internal and external auditors and the Audit Committee.For additional information regarding the important roles of the Company’s internal auditors, independentauditors and Audit Committee, please see the “Colgate-Palmolive Company Audit Committee Charter,”which is available on the Company’s website.WE KEEP SHAREHOLDERS INFORMED ABOUT THE COMPANY’S PROGRESS.Each year shareholders are invited to attend the Company’s annual meeting at which the progress of theCompany during the past year is reviewed and shareholders have the opportunity to ask questions of thesenior management of the Company. In the intervening months, shareholders may visit the Company’swebsite, www.ColgatePalmolive.com, for information about recent product launches, the latest financialresults, the Company’s sustainability efforts and other business developments.26 CODE OF CONDUCT