Any person who in good
faith makes an Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation, reports
a Retaliatory Act (each as defined in Section A below) or provides
assistance to the Audit Committee, management or any other person
or group, including any governmental, regulatory or law
enforcement body, investigating a Report (as defined in Section A)
in accordance with the procedures outlined in this policy shall be
protected from threats of harassment, retaliation, discharge or
other types of discrimination, including, but not limited to,
discrimination in compensation or other terms and conditions of
employment, caused by the employee's making a Report. An employee
harassing, retaliating against or discriminating, or threatening
to harass, retaliate against or discriminate, another Company
employee who in good faith makes a Report is subject to
discipline, including, but not limited to, the termination of
employment. In addition, no employee may be adversely affected
because such employee refused to carry out a directive which, in
fact, either constitutes or may lead to a violation of the
Company's accounting and other policies or a violation of legal or
regulatory requirements
However, an employee who does not file a report in good faith or
who files a Report on the basis of evidence which the employee
knows to be false will not be protected by the Policy and may be
subject to disciplinary action and legal claims.
WHISTLEBLOWER PROCEDURES
A. Responsibilities of Audit Committee With Respect to Specified Complaints
1. The Audit Committee shall
receive, retain, investigate and act on complaints and concerns
of employees and stockholders (“Reports”) regarding:
(a) questionable accounting,
internal accounting controls and auditing matters, including
those regarding the circumvention or attempted circumvention
of internal accounting controls or that would otherwise
constitute a violation of the Company’s accounting policies
(an “Accounting Allegation”);
(b) compliance with legal and regulatory requirements (a “Legal
Allegation”); and
(c) retaliation against employees who make Accounting
Allegations or Legal Allegations (a “Retaliatory Act”).
2. In the discretion of the Audit Committee, responsibilities of the Audit Committee created by these procedures may be delegated to the Chair of the Audit Committee or to a subcommittee of the Audit Committee.
B. Procedures for Receiving Reports
1. Any Report that is made directly to management, whether openly, confidentially or anonymously, shall be promptly reported to the Audit Committee.
2. Each Report forwarded to the Audit Committee by management and each Report that is made directly to the Audit Committee, whether openly, confidentially or anonymously, shall be reviewed by the Audit Committee, who may, in their discretion, consult with any member of management who is not the subject of the allegation and who may have appropriate expertise to assist the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall determine whether the Audit Committee or management should investigate the Report, taking into account the considerations set forth in Section C below.
(a) If the Audit Committee determines that management should investigate the Report, the Audit Committee will notify the General Counsel in writing of that conclusion. Management shall thereafter promptly investigate the Report and shall report the results of its investigation, in writing, to the Audit Committee. Management shall be free in its discretion to engage outside auditors, counsel or other experts to assist in the investigation and in the analysis of results.
(b) If the Audit Committee determines that it should investigate the Report, the Audit Committee shall promptly determine what professional assistance, if any, it needs in order to conduct the investigation. The Audit Committee shall be free in its discretion to engage outside auditors, counsel or other experts to assist in the investigation and in the analysis of results.
C. Considerations Relative To Whether the Audit Committee or Management Should Investigate a Report
In determining whether management or the Audit Committee should investigate a Report, the Audit Committee shall consider, among any other factors that are appropriate under the circumstances, the following:
1. Who is the alleged wrongdoer? If an executive officer, senior financial officer or other high management official is alleged to have engaged in wrongdoing, that factor alone may militate in favor of the Audit Committee conducting the investigation.
2. How serious is the alleged wrongdoing? The more serious the alleged wrongdoing, the more appropriate that the Audit Committee should undertake the investigation. If the alleged wrongdoing would constitute a crime involving the integrity of the financial statements of the Company, that factor alone may militate in favor of the Audit Committee conducting the investigation.
3. How credible is the allegation of wrongdoing? The more credible the allegation, the more appropriate that the Audit Committee should undertake the investigation. In assessing credibility, the Audit Committee should consider all facts surrounding the allegation, including but not limited to whether similar allegations have been made in the press or by analysts.
D. Protection of Whistleblowers
Consistent with the policies of the Company, the Audit Committee shall not retaliate, and shall not tolerate any retaliation by management or any other person or group, directly or indirectly, against anyone who, in good faith, makes an Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation, reports a Retaliatory Act or provides assistance to the Audit Committee, management or any other person or group, including any governmental, regulatory or law enforcement body, investigating a Report. The Audit Committee shall not, unless compelled by judicial or other legal process, reveal the identity of any person who makes an Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation or reports a Retaliatory Act and who asks that his or her identity as the person who made such Report remain confidential and shall not make any effort, or tolerate any effort made by any other person or group, to ascertain the identity of any person who makes a Report anonymously.
E. Records
The Audit Committee shall retain for a period of seven years all records relating to any Accounting Allegation or Legal Allegation or report of a Retaliatory Act and to the investigation of any such Report.
F. Procedures for Making Complaints
In addition to any other avenue available to an employee, any
employee or stockholder may report to the Audit Committee openly,
confidentially or anonymously any Accounting Allegation or Legal
Allegation or report of a Retaliatory Act. Accounting Allegations,
Legal Allegations and reports of a Retaliatory Act can be made
orally or in writing to Dresser-Rand Group Inc., Chairperson of
the Audit Committee, Paul Clark Drive, Olean, NY 14760. They can
also contact the Audit Committee using the Company’s website, by
selecting “Corporate Governance”, and then selecting “Ethics
Hotline.”
Such Reports can also be made directly:
(a) Confidentially by contacting
the Director of Internal Audit in writing or in person at
Dresser-Rand Group Inc., Director of Internal Audit, Paul Clark
Drive, Olean, NY 14760 using the Company’s website at
www.dresser-rand.com, selecting “Corporate Governance”, and
then selecting “Ethics Hotline.”
(b) If made by an employee, anonymously, by calling the Ethics
Hotline at 1-800-721-0952 at any time using the D-R Net, and
selecting “Ethics Hotline.” The process is managed by an
outside, independent service provider and allows anyone to make
a Report without divulging his or her name. The Ethics Hotline
service provider is required to share the information provided
in the Report to management or, if requested by the individual
making the Report, the Audit Committee as promptly as
practicable.
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