To our stakeholders,

I am pleased to confirm that Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS reaffirms its support of the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

During the reporting period, Selmer has made a clear statement of its commitment to its stakeholders and to the public through our regular channels of communication and Selmer continues to strive to make the Ten Principles an integrated part of our day-to-day operations.

In the reporting period, the non-executive board of directors of the Company adopted the resolution to implement the Ten Principles in Selmer's Sustainability Strategy of 2022 – 2023. The strategy focuses on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption and the role of law firms as advisors and service providers to enhance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Strategy is based on a high-level risk and impact assessment of Selmer's operations.

As a law firm, our lawyers and the advice we provide remain our most important tool for change. Selmer seeks to actively provide our clients with advice that enables their development and risk management in a sustainable direction. The objective, both for our own and our clients' businesses is to increase responsible and sustainable behaviour and decisions in daily activities and communication.

Selmer's core values support and enhance Selmer's commitments to the Ten Principles and Selmer's Sustainability Strategy. Selmer's Sustainability Strategy also refers to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly high-lighting Goal 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, Goal 14 Life Below Water and Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals – all to reflect core industries of our clients.

In this annual Communication on Progress, Selmer describes our actions to continually improve the integration of the Global Compact and its principles in our business strategy, culture and daily operations. Selmer commits to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communications.

Sincerely yours,

Mr. Atle Carlsen
Managing Director, Advokatfirmaet Selmer AS

Selmer's commitment to responsible business and respect for human rights is rooted in our core values, which is to ensure long-term value for our clients and the community. Selmer strives for transparency and to act responsibly with good corporate governance in all our operations. Selmer commits to contribute to the respect for fundamental human rights and employee rights and to ensure that Selmer does not contribute to human rights violations in our business, advice, and supply chain.

As a leading law firm in Norway, Selmer meets growing expectations from business partners, clients, local community and current employees as well as candidates considering joining us to align and ensure respect for human rights and labour rights. The Board established a project on the strengthening of human rights and labour rights in February 2022. Selmer is currently in the process of adopting procedures to ensure a risk based and transparent approach to comply with the Norwegian Transparency Act.

Selmer has strong governance in place to ensure respect for human rights through our employee committees and our Committee on Ethics. Through our standing Ethics Committee, employees can raise concern related to the substance and form of services provided and to ethical issues that may arise in the workplace. Selmer also contributes to society and individuals in the local community through our pro bono group, mandated to provide pro bono services in alignment with and to the enhancement of fundamental human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the business law services industry, representation of women and minorities is generally low and there is a need to ensure enhanced representation of women and minorities. In 2022, a new female lawyers' network at Selmer was initiated by a group of Selmer's young female lawyers. Selmer encourages and supports the network and welcomes how it aims to provide a safe platform for young women in law to discuss and raise the issue of representation. Selmer continues to strive to ensure strengthened female representation and diversity including by putting these issues on the agenda to support them in management, the board of directors and in our partnership.

Selmer carries out regular feed-back survey assessments of the work environment and there is an established whistle-blower channel to protect our employees and enhance respect and safety in our work environment.

Selmer's Sustainability Strategy as adopted by the Board in February 2022 addresses social safeguards and human rights. Selmer is in the process of reviewing and enhancing its policies and procedures on human rights and strives to ensure enhanced women-representation and diversity from the top. As part of this process, we also review how best to bench-mark our progress.

Selmer's most valuable and important asset is our employees. To care for our workers is rooted in Selmer's identity and clearly communicated from the top. Selmer is committed to be an attractive workplace with care for the employees and their life situation.

Selmer has employee representatives in the board of directors. These representatives are chosen by fellow employees. The employees at the board have the authority, role and responsibilities as other Board members and we find that they bring a unique insight to the board and raise issues close to our day-to-day business.

To enhance the work environment and ensure employee engagement, Selmer has also established safe employee groups on all levels of the organisation so that our employees can safely discuss and share concerns with management. Management also monitors the work environment by their assessment of feedback from surveys with the objective to address concerns and grievances. Selmer also have whistleblowing routines in place for employees that wishes to raise concerns and grievances with management.

Selmer has in place collective agreement with our group of associates under-pinning our obligations to comply with the obligations to be a respectful employer and monitor working hours and overtime. Selmer has implemented routines to monitor and control overtime work. A healthy working environment and care for our employees remains one of the top priorities of Selmer.

Selmer's Sustainability Strategy as adopted by the Board in February 2022 addresses social safeguards and labour rights. Selmer is in the process of reviewing and enhancing its policies and procedures on labour rights. As part of this process, we also review how best to bench-mark our progress.

Selmer commits to conduct its operations in a way that contributes to sustainable solutions and responsible growth. Selmer actively seeks to reduce its own direct and indirect footprints (climate and resource economy) to help support the Paris goals in collaboration with and by setting concrete requirements to our suppliers.

In April 2013, Selmer was awarded the status of an "Environmental Lighthouse". Selmer is also part of "Grønt Punkt", enabling Selmer to influence our suppliers not to overpack.

Environmental Lighthouse is Norway's most widely used certificate for companies to document their environmental efforts and show social responsibility. Being an Environmental Lighthouse involves systematic work and monitoring of environmental measures in everyday life. The companies meet requirements and implement measures for a more environmentally friendly operation and a good working environment. Annual environmental reports are submitted, and every three years the business is recertified.

Selmer's Sustainability Strategy as adopted by the Board in February 2022 addresses both environment and climate change and refers to the need of monitoring and controlling both direct and indirect footprint. Selmer is in the process of reviewing and enhancing its ongoing efforts on environment and climate change. As part of this process, we also review how best to bench-mark our progress.

Selmer opposes corruption in all forms and is committed to conduct our business with integrity and in accordance with the legislation and high ethical standards imposed on the legal profession.

Selmer have prepared internal ethical guidelines beyond the regulatory and industry practice "Rules of good legal practice" applying to our lawyers, advisers and other employees. The rules include provisions on employees' duty to report their own investments and requirements for prior approval of external positions, duty of confidentiality and detailed routines for conflict management. Our value-based diligence with regard to conflict resolution has on several occasions meant that we have abstained from interesting and significant assignments. We are, like other law firms, also subject to the regulations on money laundering and rules of conduct under the Securities Trading Act.

In our day-to-day operations, our employees may raise concerns through our established whistleblowing routine, with management or with Selmer's standing Ethics Committee.

Selmer's Sustainability Strategy as adopted by the Board in February 2022 addresses social safeguards and anti-corruption. Selmer is in the process of reviewing and enhancing its policies and procedures on anti-corruption. As part of this process, we also review how best to bench-mark our progress.