1. General Standards of Conduct
DIKAR is a cooperative dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of sporting firearms, leisure and sporting goods. We see product quality, after-sales service and lean management as key competitive advantages that enable us to achieve high levels of efficiency and profitability while ensuring the satisfaction of our customers and members.
The following values define our philosophy, guide our daily conduct and support our long-term success:
- Customer Focus
- Sense of Belonging
- Creativity and Innovation
- People Development
- Transparency and Integrity
Among these values, we would like to highlight Ethical Relationships, which are based on the following principles:
- DIKAR promotes the continuous transformation of the organisation, its services and its products, placing the customer at the centre of everything we do and building personalised relationships based on collaboration, respect and trust.
- DIKAR’s internal and external relationships are guided by transparency, integrity, trust and ethical principles.
- Relationships with distributors and end users will be built on trust and a commitment to long-term partnerships. In all our dealings, we will promote clarity of purpose, confidentiality, truthful information and the freedom to choose products and services. We will always strive to balance their interests with those of the cooperative.
- The relationship between the cooperative and its members will be based on shared responsibility for business results and a common commitment to the future of the organisation. Through open dialogue, we will foster a culture of loyalty, trust and mutual respect.
- DIKAR will communicate its plans and achievements with clarity, transparency and integrity, while promoting open and accessible relationships with regulatory authorities and other public institutions.
- DIKAR will inspire confidence among customers and society by maintaining appropriate levels of profitability and financial strength.
- DIKAR will act with professionalism and shared responsibility in fulfilling its contractual and institutional commitments.
- DIKAR will extend its social commitment by contributing to the economic and socio-cultural development of the communities in which it operates.
- DIKAR will ensure that all financial information disclosed to the markets, concerning both the cooperative and its Group, is complete, reliable and timely. To support this, it maintains an Internal Control System over Financial Reporting (ICSFR).
- DIKAR is firmly committed to the professional and personal development of its worker-members and employees, and to fostering a culture of trust that encourages innovation, teamwork, commitment and active participation.
The importance these values have achieved within DIKAR requires them to be translated into clear standards of conduct that are respected throughout the cooperative. The Code also defines unacceptable practices in order to promote a widely accepted standard of business ethics.
Compliance with the principles and standards of conduct set out in this Code is mandatory, without prejudice to the obligations established under applicable law and the cooperative’s internal regulations.
It should be noted that this Code of Ethics does not, in itself, constitute a Disciplinary Code, and breaches of its provisions do not automatically result in disciplinary action. However, certain violations may lead to disciplinary proceedings where the conduct also constitutes an offence under the Disciplinary Regime set out in the Cooperative’s Articles of Association, either because it falls directly within the defined offences or because it represents a form of conduct covered by them.
All individuals subject to this Code of Ethics have been expressly informed of its scope and content, and the full text is available on the Company’s intranet.
2. Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
DIKAR is committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, fully understanding their purpose and scope.
Compliance with the law is a fundamental requirement for all worker-members, employees and directors of DIKAR and its Group.
DIKAR has established a range of internal policies and procedures to support compliance with applicable legislation. Knowledge of and compliance with these internal rules is mandatory for all worker-members, employees and directors. Among the most significant are:
- Firearms and Explosives Regulations
- Internal Code of Conduct
- Procedures approved under ISO 14001 for Environmental Management.
- Data Protection Security Document (LOPD), setting out employees’ roles and responsibilities regarding the protection of personal data.
- Procedures approved under ISO 45001 for Occupational Health and Safety Management.
- Procedures approved under ISO 9001 for Quality Management.
Preventing the illegal trafficking of firearms, their essential components and ammunition is of particular importance. In this regard, DIKAR aligns itself with society and the relevant authorities by recognising the importance of this effort and is committed to establishing and maintaining the structures and procedures required by applicable legislation and international standards.
This commitment forms the foundation of the ethical conduct expected from everyone within the organisation.
3. Employment Relations
DIKAR is committed to providing its employees with a safe working environment, free from risks that could affect their physical or psychological health. As part of this commitment, DIKAR has implemented an Occupational Risk Prevention Plan and a Policy for the Prevention of Conflict and Harassment.
Del mismo modo, DIKAR será el garante de que todos sus miembros, independientemente de su relación laboral o societaria o de su sexo, origen y religión, dispongan de igualdad de oportunidades laborales, de promoción y de desarrollo.
4. Loyalty to the Organisation – Conflicts of Interest
Loyalty to the organisation is demonstrated through conduct that is consistent with its mission, aligned with its best interests and protective of its reputation. A conflict of interest exists whenever an employee’s personal interests conflict, or appear to conflict, with the interests of the organisation.
The relationship between DIKAR and its employees must be based on the loyalty that arises from shared interests. Accordingly, the organisation respects employees’ participation in social, financial, business or public activities, provided these are lawful, do not create unfair competition or conflict with their responsibilities at DIKAR, and do not compromise their independence or professional commitment. Whenever there is any doubt about a potential conflict of interest, employees must inform their direct manager.
DIKAR has a Conflict of Interest Prevention Policy.
5. Responsibility for Corporate Image and Reputation
DIKAR’s image and reputation are closely linked to the relationship between its employees and society as a whole. Therefore, all DIKAR employees must take the utmost care to protect and uphold the company’s image and reputation in all their professional activities.
Employees must avoid any activity that could harm DIKAR’s interests or reputation, while also ensuring that suppliers and business partners uphold the same standards.
Employees must exercise particular care when making public appearances. They must obtain prior authorisation from their direct manager before speaking to the media, participating in professional conferences or seminars, or taking part in any other public event where they are identified as DIKAR employees.
6. Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Measures
Under no circumstances may DIKAR employees engage in unethical practices to influence the decisions of third parties for the purpose of obtaining any benefit for the organisation or for themselves.
No employee may directly or indirectly offer, give, request or accept cash payments, gifts, benefits in kind or any other advantage to or from any person acting on behalf of a public or private entity, political party or candidate for public office, with the intention of improperly obtaining or retaining business or securing any other undue advantage.
DIKAR employees must always act in accordance with applicable laws and must never engage in or tolerate bribery, whether directed towards the organisation, its employees or by the organisation towards third parties.
Gifts, invitations and hospitality may only be offered or accepted for legitimate business purposes. They must be socially appropriate and of such a nature that, if publicly disclosed, they would not cause embarrassment to either the recipient or the giver.
DIKAR has an Anti-Corruption Policy, a Grants Policy and a Procurement Policy.
7. Political Contributions, Sponsorships and Participation in Foundations and Associations
DIKAR does not engage in political activities or make financial contributions of a political nature. However, anyone within the organisation is free to participate in political activities in a personal capacity, in their own time and using their own resources. In doing so, they must make it clear that their views and actions are their own and do not represent those of the organisation.
Sponsorships are carried out in exchange for opportunities to promote DIKAR’s brands. Financial sponsorships are managed transparently, meaning that the identity of the recipient, together with the purpose and justification of the sponsorship, must be properly documented. DIKAR also provides sponsorship through the participation of its employees in events organised by third parties.
Likewise, as a responsible cooperative and an organisation committed to creating a positive social impact, DIKAR participates in foundations and associations, particularly those related to culture and education, that make a meaningful contribution to the communities in which they operate. Such sponsorships and participation in events, foundations and associations are never undertaken in exchange for competitive advantages or for any other inappropriate purpose that could damage DIKAR’s image or reputation.
Donations and sponsorships are governed by the Anti-Corruption Policy.
8. Confidential Information and Duty of Confidentiality
The following is considered confidential information:
- Internal information explicitly designated as confidential, as well as third-party information provided to DIKAR under confidentiality agreements.
- Information relating to employees, cooperatives, suppliers and any other third parties associated with DIKAR that has not been made public either by DIKAR or by the owners of the information.
- Documentation relating to the activities of DIKAR’s various business areas that has not been made publicly available by those areas.
All employees have a duty to maintain discretion, secrecy and confidentiality regarding any information they handle in the course of their work. Employees must not disclose confidential information without DIKAR’s authorisation, either during their employment or after it has ended.
In compliance with applicable data protection legislation and its confidentiality commitments, DIKAR is committed to protecting all information relating to its employees and stakeholders.
DIKAR has a Privacy and Confidentiality Policy and an Information Security Policy.
9. Financial Record-Keeping and Integrity
All DIKAR transactions, events and business activities must be recorded clearly, accurately and in accordance with applicable regulations in the organisation’s records.
This information must always be communicated truthfully, completely and in a clear, understandable manner. Under no circumstances may information that is known to be false, inaccurate or misleading be provided if it could cause others to make decisions based on incorrect assumptions.
In addition to fully cooperating with our external auditors and any competent authorities requesting information, the Governing Board will carry out regular oversight to ensure the reliability of financial information and the accuracy of the organisation’s records.
The Governing Board of DIKAR has ultimate responsibility for establishing, maintaining and ensuring an effective Internal Control System over Financial Reporting (ICSFR), designed to ensure that the financial information filed with the Register of Cooperatives, relating both to the cooperative itself and to the Group, is complete, reliable and timely.
The Management Board and the external auditors are responsible for designing and implementing effective control procedures that ensure the ongoing reliability of the financial information disclosed to third parties through official reporting. To this end, they will provide the cooperative with sufficient human and material resources, while ensuring that those involved in preparing financial information receive the training necessary to perform their duties effectively.
In this regard, the following principles must be observed:
- DIKAR is responsible for providing reliable, accurate, complete and timely financial information regarding its financial statements and any events that could have a material impact on them.
- In addition to the procedures established throughout the Group to ensure that financial information is prepared in accordance with applicable accounting principles and valuation standards, all worker-members and employees have a duty to carry out their responsibilities diligently when recording and processing information, as this forms the basis for the preparation of the Group’s public financial reporting.
- Worker-members and employees are responsible for ensuring the reliability, accuracy, integrity and timely updating of information, regardless of the specific responsibilities assigned to particular areas of the Group regarding information integrity and availability, the data entered into the various recording systems, and the information they produce in the course of their duties.
- This responsibility is particularly important in relation to the data and reports required for the preparation of the Group’s financial statements, as their proper recording and interpretation are essential to ensure the correct application of the valuation criteria applicable to each accounting balance, transaction or contingency.