Legal
Compliance Statement
Responsible petroleum trading and related services
Dannon Group Petroleum & Energy seeks to build long-term confidence through lawful conduct, commercial discipline, product integrity and accountable relationships. These principles apply to our directors, employees, representatives and, through risk-based contractual requirements, relevant agents, suppliers, buyers, logistics providers and other counterparties.
Licensing and Regulatory Compliance
We conduct petroleum and related activities only within the scope of applicable law and the licences, permits, registrations and approvals required for the relevant activity and jurisdiction. In Nigeria, this includes applicable requirements under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and oversight by NUPRC and/or NMDPRA, depending on the activity. We do not describe an approval, allocation, licence, mandate or authority as valid unless it can be independently verified.
Counterparty Due Diligence
Before material engagement, we apply risk-based know-your-customer and know-your-business procedures. These may include verification of legal existence, registered address, directors, beneficial owners, authorised signatories, licences, commercial capacity, banking details, source of funds, source of product, litigation or adverse information, sanctions exposure and politically exposed person status. Enhanced due diligence may be required for higher-risk relationships or jurisdictions.
Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption
We prohibit bribery, kickbacks, facilitation payments, secret commissions, improper gifts and any attempt to influence a public official or private party unlawfully. Hospitality, gifts, sponsorships, donations, intermediaries and success-based compensation must have a legitimate purpose, be proportionate, transparent, accurately recorded and approved under applicable controls. No commercial objective justifies improper conduct.
Anti-Money Laundering, Sanctions and Trade Controls
We do not knowingly participate in money laundering, terrorist financing, proliferation financing, sanctions evasion, tax evasion, trade-based financial crime or transactions involving criminal proceeds. Transactions may be screened against applicable sanctions and trade restrictions. We may decline, pause or terminate an engagement, request additional evidence, or make a legally required report where concerns cannot be resolved.
Product Legitimacy, Quality and Documentation
- We expect documented, lawful title and authority to sell or supply petroleum products.
- Product descriptions, origin, quantity, specifications and quality certificates must be authentic, traceable and capable of independent verification.
- Inspection, custody transfer, measurement, storage, transportation, customs and delivery documentation must follow the contract and applicable standards.
- We reject forged documents, fabricated proof of product, unauthorised use of corporate identities, manipulated test results, adulteration, diversion and misdescription of cargo.
Payments and Commercial Controls
Payments must follow signed contractual terms and verified banking instructions. We do not endorse unexplained third-party payments, personal accounts for corporate transactions, cash arrangements designed to avoid controls, or last-minute bank-detail changes without independent verification. Fees and commissions must reflect legitimate documented services, reasonable value and appropriate approvals.
Competition, Conflicts and Confidentiality
We support fair competition and do not permit bid manipulation, price fixing, market allocation or improper exchange of competitively sensitive information. Actual or potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed and managed. Confidential information is used only for authorised purposes and protected through proportionate contractual, technical and organisational controls.
Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Human Rights
We seek to work with counterparties that maintain safe operations, competent personnel, emergency preparedness, environmental controls and respect for internationally recognised human rights. We oppose forced labour, child labour, human trafficking, discrimination, harassment and unsafe working practices. Environmental incidents and safety concerns connected to our activities should be reported promptly and addressed responsibly.
Speak-Up, Investigation and Non-Retaliation
Concerns about suspected misconduct, fraud, unsafe activity, document falsification, sanctions exposure, corruption, privacy or conflicts may be reported through the Contact page or to a responsible Dannon officer. Reports should be made in good faith and with available supporting information. We support confidentiality and non-retaliation to the extent permitted by law and practical circumstances, and we may investigate, remediate, suspend or terminate relationships where appropriate.
Continuous Improvement
Our compliance programme is risk-based and may evolve with our operations, regulatory requirements and recognised industry practice. Training, due diligence, contractual safeguards, monitoring, audits, recordkeeping and management oversight are applied according to role and risk. This Statement expresses our standards; it does not replace applicable law or the specific obligations of a contract.
Our working transaction-control framework — know-your-counterparty, authority verification, sanctions screening and the decision gates applied to every opportunity — is set out in detail on the Compliance page.