Compliance & conduct
At Aera, we are steadfast in our commitment to upholding a proactive and rigorous compliance policy, adhering to the highest industry standards. Our comprehensive compliance framework is meticulously designed to align with internationally recognized legal and regulatory benchmarks, ensuring integrity and diligence across all our operations.
Responsible corporate leadership
Aera’s approach to compliance is rooted in responsible corporate leadership. We have implemented a suite of policies and controls to ensure strict adherence to applicable laws and regulations, aligning with global standards and fostering compliant market conduct. Our Chief Compliance Officer is pivotal in this endeavor, ensuring that Aera not only respects all legal requirements but also champions the effective execution of our Code of Ethics.
Focus on responsible conduct
Our compliance process is integrated across the entire spectrum of our business relationships, with a focus on critical areas such as:
- Identification of normative changes and risk mapping: We continuously monitor regulatory developments and potential risks to adapt our strategies accordingly.
- Implementation of compliance tools: Utilizing advanced tools to streamline compliance processes and enhance operational efficiency.
- Systematic onboarding of counterparties: Each counterparty undergoes rigorous onboarding to ensure compliance with our stringent standards.
- Comprehensive compliance checks: We conduct thorough checks on over 60 indicators, including anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, sanctions lists, and the identification of ultimate beneficiaries.
Annual monitoring checks are a cornerstone of our compliance strategy, ensuring data integrity and currency with all counterparties, thereby reinforcing our commitment to maintaining accurate and up-to-date information.
Ethics in business
Ethical business practices are fundamental to Aera. Our Chief Compliance Officer oversees the ethical integrity of all our business activities, ensuring that every employee is well-versed in and committed to our ethical approach. Regular training modules are conducted to bolster this commitment.
Empowerment and continuous improvement
Our Chief Compliance Officer is empowered to propose and implement improvements based on regulatory changes and industry best practices. This proactive stance ensures that our compliance framework remains robust and responsive to the dynamic regulatory landscape.
Our standards
Compliance with applicable laws and regulations is a strategic imperative at Aera. Our Code of Business Conduct delineates the principles and business ethics that all employees, officers, and directors must adhere to. Compliance with the Code and our Compliance Policies is mandatory, fully supported by our Board and Executive Committee.
Mandatory training
We equip our employees with online mandatory training courses on key risk topics, including anti-bribery and corruption, market abuse, anti-trust and competition law, and anti-money laundering. Regular updates and guidance are provided as new laws and regulations are enacted and policies are revised.
Know Your Counterparty
Central to our compliance approach is the Know Your Counterparty (KYC) onboarding and monitoring processes. This due diligence system is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the evolving regulatory environment, ensuring continual improvement and adaptation.
At Aera, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of compliance and integrity, ensuring that our business practices not only meet but exceed the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct in the commodity trading industry.
A pioneer in environmental commodity trading
At the heart of global markets with a specific focus on Africa, we identify, source, and monetize environmental commodities.
Leadership
Aera leadership is characterized by a blend of entrepreneurial background, technical expertise, and operational experience.