To respond more effectively to the expectations of its shareholders, Sodexo continuously works to improve its investor relations program by developing new information channels and the quality of its interactions during the different meetings with the financial community.
In order to comply with all applicable regulations in connection with its listing on Euronext Paris (the French stock exchange), Sodexo and all the teams involved in preparing financial communications have committed to a set of transparency principles designed to ensure equal treatment of all shareholders.
Sodexo’s investor relations policy is based on four core principles:
Only the Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer as well as the members of the Group executive Committee are authorized to provide financial communications. The Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer appoints the Investor Relations team to act as spokespeople for the Group, within specific delegated powers.
All financial communication is reviewed prior to publication by a Group Disclosure Committee comprising of representatives from Group Finance, Communications, Corporate Responsibility, Legal, Board Secretary and Human Resources.
Barring exceptional circumstances, all information with the potential to influence the share price is published before Euronext Paris opens for trading.
After approval of this information by the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Board of Directors (depending on its nature), it is communicated to the markets via a press release issued simultaneously to the entire financial community and to the stock market authorities.
Sodexo does not communicate financial information during the following periods:
To ensure Sodexo’s commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, the Board of Directors adopted a Code of Conduct with integrity principles for senior managers in 2003.
The Code of Conduct sets out a core set of behaviors:
The Group’s ethical principle of transparency means efficient communication with the Group’s shareholders, so that they are provided with full and accurate information on the Group’s financial condition and profits. The Group is committed to timely communication and to complete, accurate, reliable and clear reporting.