In January 2022, CHIMEI Corporation has achieved the ISO 37001 certification by BSI for its anti-bribery management system applicable to all employees and operating activities of CHIMEI Corporation. This makes CHIMEI - the world leading performance material provider – the first company in Taiwan to be certified compliant with this standard under the same scope of accreditation. By achieving the ISO 37001 certification, CHIMEI has demonstrated its corporate governance and corporate culture are in accordance with the best international standards of business ethics.

ISO 37001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2016, designed to help an organization establish, implement, maintain, and improve an anti-bribery compliance program. It includes a series of measures and controls that represent global anti-bribery best practice. The purpose is to assist enterprises in preventing, detecting and responding bribery while providing supporting guidance for implementing or benchmarking an anti-bribery management system. CHIMEI announced the implementation plan of the anti-bribery management system at the end of 2020 and began implementing in March 2021. Targeting the internal operational processes of all the business locations and external commercial activities, bribery risk assessment was conducted. In addition, the bribery risk control mechanism was established for financial and non-financial aspects, leading to the establishment of CHIMEI’s Anti-bribery Management System. Currently, 18 employees of CHIMEI have obtained the ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system internal auditor licenses. The organization’s internal audit competency has been successfully improved, and the employees’ knowledge of anti-bribery management systems and corporate integrity and transparency has been enhanced. CHIMEI endeavors to implement ethical management into the corporate culture, and expressly prohibit unethical conduct, improper benefits, conflicts of interest and avoidance of commercial dealings with unethical operators in the policy of CHIMEI’s Anti-bribery Management System. In order to proclaim CHIMEI’s determination to comply with the ISO 37001 standard, an independent external reporting platform has been added to the existing reporting mechanism targeting conduct in violation of ethical management. This will ensure and protect anonymous reporters and the independence and reliability of reporting channels.

CHIMEI successfully obtaining the certification demonstrated the company and all employees’ active implementation of “Ethical Corporate Management Best Practice Principles,” thereby building a comprehensive anti-bribery management system. In view of this, Lin-Yu Chao, President of CHIMEI Corporation, said “The implementation of ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system is of great importance to CHIMEI, as it serves as an important track for the company to move toward the next 60 years. Discussions arising from the system establishment process and the deep rooting of the anti-bribery culture are precious. As a result, CHIMEI has strengthened the mindset of rigorous discipline. Through the complete PDCA cycle of ISO 37001, the existing internal control system can be optimized while adding effective bribery risk management procedures and regulations. Looking ahead, CHIMEI will more actively embrace various systems, and under the prerequisite of system regulations, pursue accelerated progress and stride toward sustainable operation.”

Peter Pu, Managing Director, NE Asia Region of BSI said “CHIMEI has made proactive ESG efforts and integrated forward-looking ESG considerations into strategy and practice that lead to long-term corporate resilience. Through obtaining the ISO 37001 anti-bribery management systems certification, CHIMEI demonstrates its culture of integrity, and contributes to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the era of sustainability, the integration of forward-looking and innovative decision making within corporate governance is the key to achieve corporate sustainability.”

Peter Fan, Managing Partner of Deloitte & Touche Financial Advisory Corporation mentioned “The implementation of ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system took nine months to complete. The advisory service was delivered by Forensic Accounting Consultancy Team of Deloitte. Considering the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders as the starting point, the disparity between the existing operational processes and the international standards was inspected. Additionally, through the risk assessment workshop, CHIMEI’s employees were led to identify various bribery risks and risk levels in accordance with their own operating processes. This in turn aided in formulating management regulations and strengthening existing control measures. In addition, the electronic forms was widely used in this project to in line with CHIMEI’s “paperless” policy. The bribery prevention and control focus have been deeply rooted in actual operating activities. Not only has the overall operating efficiency and transparency been improved, but also the ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system has been more effectively implemented, which also shown CHIMEI is truly committed to integrity and ethics.”

CHIMEI will adhere by the principle of “zero tolerance” for any conduct of bribery in strict compliance with the ISO 37001 standard. Anti-bribery management shall be thoroughly implemented, while the system processes will continue to be improved, thereby realizing integrity and self-discipline throughout the company and among all its employees. Furthermore, the corporate culture of business integrity and legal compliance will continue to be spread to the business partners in order to co-create an integrity-based supply chain.