UK Modern Slavery Act and California Transparency in Supply Chains Act Statement
Highridge – UK Modern Slavery Act and California Transparency in Supply Chains Act Statement
DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE UK MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015 AND CALIFORNIA TRANSPARENCY IN SUPPLY CHAINS ACT 2010 FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
UK MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2015 (“UK ACT”)
This statement is made pursuant to Section 54, Part 6 of the UK Act and sets out the steps HighRidge has taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its supply chains or any parts of its business. Highridge Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “Highridge” or the “Company”) is a global life sciences leader in the dental and spine markets.
CALIFORNIA TRANSPARENCY IN SUPPLY CHAINS ACT 2010 (SB 657) (“CALIFORNIA ACT”)
Under the California Act, companies of a certain size doing business in the State of California are obligated to disclose their efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking from their direct product supply chains for the goods that they offer for sale.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Highridge was founded in April 2024 as an independent, privately held company after it was purchased by H.I.G. Capital from ZimVie, a publicly traded spin-off of the dental and spine business units from Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. From its headquarters in Westminster, Colorado, and additional facilities around the globe, Highridge serves customers in over 70 countries worldwide with a robust offering of dental and spine solutions including differentiated product platforms supported by extensive clinical evidence. The steps described in this statement include steps taken by Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. prior to its completion of the spin-off of ZimVie, and by ZimVie prior to its completion of the sell of Highridge.
COMPANY DISCLOSURE
Highridge strives to achieve and maintain high standards of corporate integrity and ethical behavior. The Company takes the issues of slavery and human trafficking very seriously and will continue doing its part by responsibly managing its supply chain in an effort to eradicate human trafficking and slavery. Highridge does not endorse any form of modern slavery in its operations or in its supplier networks. Highridge takes a number of steps with respect to verification of its supply chain and certification of materials to ensure suppliers are operating in an ethical manner, including the following:
1. Verification – HighRidge expects that its suppliers will conduct their businesses in a lawful manner and in compliance with high standards of integrity and ethics. In order to establish guidelines for such standards, HighRidge has established a Code of Supplier Conduct. The Code of Supplier Conduct requires supplier compliance with important legal, ethical, behavioral and other requirements. Specifically, the Code of Supplier Conduct states that suppliers must not support, promote or engage in the practice of slavery or human trafficking, and it requires suppliers to comply with the laws regarding slavery and human trafficking of the country or countries in which they are doing business.
Highridge suppliers are further expected to take reasonable and necessary steps to help ensure that their subcontractors and sub-suppliers conduct business in compliance with the Code of Supplier Conduct. Suppliers are expected to promptly take corrective action to address any deficiencies identified with respect to compliance with Highridge’s Code of Supplier Conduct, to maintain necessary records and documentation to demonstrate their compliance with the Code of Supplier Conduct and to report noncompliance or concerns regarding questionable behavior to their Highridge Sourcing representative or via the Highridge Compliance Hotline (Highridge suppliers are further expected to take reasonable and necessary steps to help ensure that their subcontractors and sub-suppliers conduct business in compliance with the Code of Supplier Conduct. Suppliers are expected to promptly take corrective action to address any deficiencies identified with respect to compliance with Highridge’s Code of Supplier Conduct, to maintain necessary records and documentation to demonstrate their compliance with the Code of Supplier Conduct and to report noncompliance or concerns regarding questionable behavior to their Highridge Sourcing representative or via the Highridge Compliance Hotline (compliance.hotline@zimvie.com). In the Code of Supplier Conduct, slavery, human trafficking and child labor are specifically prohibited. If a supplier is found to be in violation of the Code of Supplier Conduct, Highridge will take all appropriate measures to address the violation. Highridge reserves the right to terminate its relationship with any supplier for failure to comply with the Code of Supplier Conduct.). In the Code of Supplier Conduct, slavery, human trafficking and child labor are specifically prohibited. If a supplier is found to be in violation of the Code of Supplier Conduct, Highridge will take all appropriate measures to address the violation. Highridge reserves the right to terminate its relationship with any supplier for failure to comply with the Code of Supplier Conduct.
2. Audits – Highridge has implemented a risk-based approach in conducting periodic (typically triennial) supplier audits, which include an evaluation of compliance with prohibitions against slavery and human trafficking in supply chains. As an output of our periodic monitoring, Highridge was satisfied that the risk of slavery and/or human trafficking in its direct supplier base was low. Highridge expects to continue the practice of monitoring its global supply chain and Highridge’s Code of Supplier Conduct states that HighRidge, or a third party designated by
2. Audits – Highridge has implemented a risk-based approach in conducting periodic (typically triennial) supplier audits, which include an evaluation of compliance with prohibitions against slavery and human trafficking in supply chains. As an output of our periodic monitoring, Highridge was satisfied that the risk of slavery and/or human trafficking in its direct supplier base was low. Highridge expects to continue the practice of monitoring its global supply chain and Highridge’s Code of Supplier Conduct states that Highridge, or a third party designated by Highridge, may conduct periodic audits, inspections, and/or reviews of suppliers’ facilities. In addition, to the extent that Highridge suspects or receives notice that a supplier is involved in slavery and/or human trafficking activities, Highridge will conduct an inquiry, or third party audit if warranted, and take appropriate action as required by law.
Highridge may conduct periodic audits, inspections, and/or reviews of suppliers’ facilities. In addition, to the extent that Highridge suspects or receives notice that a supplier is involved in slavery and/or human trafficking activities, Highridge will conduct an inquiry, or third party audit if warranted, and take appropriate action as required by law.
3. Certifications – Highridge requires its suppliers to represent and certify, by acceptance of the Company’s purchase order terms and conditions, that in providing goods and services under the purchase order, the supplier has complied and will comply with all applicable federal, foreign, state and local laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, all anti-slavery and anti-human trafficking laws.
4. Accountability – Highridge has established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (ZV0002_Highridge_Code_of_Business_Conduct_and_Ethics_Final.pdf), which applies to all Highridge personnel, including officers, directors and employees (including full-time, part-time temporary and contract employees) (collectively, “Team Members”). Highridge expects its business partners and contractors to share the general principles stated in the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. These general principles require Highridge Team Members to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to those relating to human trafficking and slavery. The Highridge Supplier Code of Conduct specifically calls out child labor, forced labor (slavery) and human trafficking.
The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics explains that if a Team Member needs guidance on a legal or ethical question or knows of or suspects illegal or unethical activity, he or she should consult with or report the matter to his or her manager, supervisor, a representative of the Legal or Compliance Department, or via the Company’s Speak Up Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All reports of alleged violations (which can be made anonymously) will be investigated by Highridge. Disregard or deliberate ignorance of the law, failure to report known or potential violations and/or failure to cooperate in an investigation will not be tolerated and may lead to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.
5. Training – All Team Members are trained annually on the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics requires Team Members to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to those relating to human trafficking and slavery. Team Members who have direct responsibility for supplier management are also trained on the Highridge Code of Supplier Conduct. The Code of Supplier Conduct informs suppliers that Highridge will take all appropriate measures to address any violations.
Highridge strives to continuously improve its programs and practices to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the Company’s high ethical standards, and to meet the expectations of its customers, stockholders, and other stakeholders.