Are electronically signed Principles legally binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures generally are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met, including consumer disclosure where required.

Do I need notarization or witnesses?

Typically no; the Principles are contractual and do not require notarization or witnesses in most jurisdictions. Exceptions apply for instruments treated as notarial or testamentary—confirm per state law for wills, deeds, or powers of attorney.

Can the document be signed electronically using signNow?

Yes. signNow supports legally binding electronic signatures and follows ESIGN and UETA frameworks. It offers HIPAA-compliant workflows under a BAA, SOC 2 Type II controls, AES-256 at rest, and TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit to support secure e‑signing and audit trails.

What authentication levels are recommended?

Authentication should match transaction risk: email or SMS for low-risk signings, and knowledge-based authentication, SSO, or multi-factor for higher assurance. Record the method in the audit trail to support attribution and regulatory requirements such as 21 CFR Part 11 when applicable.

How should signed records be stored securely?

Store signed PDFs and certificates in a secured repository with encrypted at-rest storage (AES-256) and encrypted transit (TLS 1.2/1.3). Maintain access controls, backups, versioning, and retention policies aligned with IRS and HIPAA obligations.

How can a signed Principles be corrected or revoked?

Corrections require mutual agreement: execute an amendment or replacement and record the revision in version control. To revoke acceptance, follow contract terms or sign a revocation; preserve prior versions to meet retention and audit requirements.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Principles INEOS Principles

Business Principles INEOS Principles

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

Business Principles INEOS Principles

Parties

Company Name: Partner Name:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Company Name: is engaged in the manufacture, sale and distribution of chemical and related products and maintains a set of business principles designed to ensure regulatory compliance, ethical conduct, health, safety and environmental stewardship; and

WHEREAS, Partner Name: seeks to supply services or goods to Company in a manner consistent with the principles set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to record their respective obligations regarding performance standards, confidentiality and payment under the INEOS Principles as set forth herein.

Scope of Work

Contractor shall perform the services and/or deliver the goods described below in accordance with the business conduct and safety standards embodied in the INEOS Principles. The scope shall include compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental and ethical requirements and reporting obligations.

Detailed Scope of Work:

Payment Terms

Company shall pay Partner for the services and goods described in the Scope of Work in accordance with the terms below. All payments are subject to Partner's compliance with applicable laws and the INEOS Principles; Company reserves the right to withhold payment for material noncompliance until corrected.

Total Contract Amount (USD): Payment Schedule / Milestones:

Late payments shall accrue interest at a rate of: on any undisputed overdue amount, calculated monthly and compounded monthly. In addition to interest, the paying party shall be responsible for reasonable collection costs and attorneys' fees.

Term and Termination

This Agreement commences on Start Date: and continues until End Date: unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon written notice delivered to the other party at least days prior to the intended termination date. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach that remains uncured after thirty (30) days' written notice, or immediately for conduct that poses an imminent threat to health, safety, environment or regulatory compliance.

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that in connection with the performance of this Agreement it may receive Confidential Information from the other party. "Confidential Information" means nonpublic, proprietary or commercially sensitive information disclosed in any form, including technical, operational, financial and business information. Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the receiving party; (b) is rightfully received from a third party without breach of any obligation of confidentiality; or (c) is independently developed without use of the disclosing party's Confidential Information.

The receiving party shall hold Confidential Information in strict confidence, shall not disclose it to third parties except to employees, contractors or advisors with a need to know and bound by comparable confidentiality obligations, and shall use such information solely for the purposes of performing this Agreement. Upon termination or upon request, the receiving party shall return or destroy Confidential Information as directed by the disclosing party and certify such return or destruction in writing.

Exchange of Confidential Information?

The parties anticipate the exchange of Confidential Information in connection with the Scope of Work.

Compliance with INEOS Principles

Partner shall comply with the INEOS Principles applicable to suppliers and contractors, including requirements regarding ethics, anti-corruption, human rights, environmental protection, incident reporting and workplace safety. Noncompliance with these Principles constitutes a material breach subject to immediate remedial action or termination as set forth in this Agreement.

Notices

Company Notice Address: Partner Notice Address:

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of without regard to choice-of-law principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts in that jurisdiction for any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, except where injunctive relief is sought for threatened or actual violations of confidentiality or compliance obligations.

Entire Agreement

This Agreement, including the Scope of Work and any attachments executed contemporaneously, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, proposals and understandings, whether written or oral. Any amendment or waiver must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Counterparts and Execution

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures transmitted by electronic means shall be deemed effective as original signatures.

Company Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Partner Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business Principles INEOS Principles Is and When It Applies

The Business Principles INEOS Principles is a corporate conduct and compliance document that sets expected behaviors, governance norms, and operational standards for INEOS entities, suppliers, and contractors. It outlines responsibilities across health and safety, environmental stewardship, anti-bribery, conflicts of interest, and reporting channels, and it is frequently attached to supplier contracts, onboarding files, and procurement records to document acceptance and obligations under corporate policy.

Why the Principles Matter for Compliance and Contracting

Using the Business Principles INEOS Principles provides a consistent baseline for supplier and employee conduct, reduces compliance risk, and documents obligations for contracting, monitoring, and remediation across business units and jurisdictions.

Typical Users and Where Roles Overlap

Common users include internal compliance teams, procurement officers, legal counsel, and external suppliers required to acknowledge corporate principles.

Compliance teams — review, maintain, and enforce principles across business units.
Procurement officers — attach Principles to supplier contracts and monitor adherence during sourcing.
External suppliers — sign or acknowledge acceptance as part of onboarding or contract execution.

Smaller organizations may combine these roles; large enterprises typically assign them to separate functions for segregation of duties.

Step-by-Step: Complete and Record Acceptance Efficiently

Follow these steps to complete and record acceptance of the Business Principles INEOS Principles accurately.

01

Prepare Document: Confirm latest Principles version and include any company-specific addenda before circulation.
02

Identify Signers: List required signatories and their roles; verify authority to bind organization.
03

Send for Signature: Upload PDF, place signature fields, and select signing order if applicable.
04

Record & Store: Export signed copy, retain audit trail, and file with onboarding or contract records.

Configure an Electronic Workflow for Signatures

Configure an online workflow to collect, authenticate, and record signatures for the Business Principles INEOS Principles.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Choose sequential or parallel signing; set routing rules per role.
Authentication	Email + SMS code or KBA for higher assurance.
Reminders	Configure automatic reminders and expiration windows to prevent delays.
Audit Trail	Enable full audit trail capture: IP, timestamps, and action log.

How Electronic Routing Typically Works

Typical routing when collecting signatures electronically for the Business Principles INEOS Principles follows predictable stages.

Upload: Add final PDF and any exhibits or annexes to the envelope.
Place Fields: Insert signature, date, and initial fields where required.
Send: Dispatch signer emails or generate secure links for guest signing.
Complete: Capture signed PDF and certificate of completion with audit data.

Core Components a Professional Principles Document Should Include

A professional Business Principles INEOS Principles document combines clear policy language, defined responsibilities, signature blocks, version control, supporting exhibits, and a retention statement to ensure enforceability and traceability.

Policy Scope

Describe the document's scope, explicitly naming covered parties (employees, contractors, suppliers), geographic applicability, business units included, and whether the Principles supplement or supersede existing corporate policies and codes.

Responsibilities

List roles and obligations for each party, including reporting requirements, escalation paths, compliance obligations, and the frequency of reviews; specify monitoring and enforcement responsibilities.

Signature Blocks

Provide distinct signature lines for individual and corporate signatories, a capacity line for entity signees, and a date field. Clarify whether initials are acceptable for specific pages.

Attachments

Attach exhibits that the Principles reference, such as safety standards, supplier checklists, and certification requirements. Label each exhibit and include an effective date and version number.

Change Control

Include version control, approval history, and a notice section describing how and when the Principles will be updated. Identify the owner for future revisions and a communication plan.

Retention Clause

State retention period and disposition instructions for signed copies and related records, including archival format. Reference applicable legal retention requirements and the responsible records custodian.

Export Formats and Supporting Deliverables to Keep

Supporting documents and export formats ensure the Business Principles INEOS Principles is usable, archived, and distributed in compliant file types for legal and operational workflows.

PDF/A Archive

Export signed documents as PDF/A to preserve visual fidelity and metadata. PDF/A meets archival standards for long-term storage and reduces format obsolescence risk when supported by the repository.

Editable DOCX

Keep an editable DOCX master to make approved updates and to preserve audit trail with timestamps and signer metadata. Convert to PDF for signature copies to prevent post-signature changes.

Signed Certificate

Include a certificate of completion with each signed PDF that lists signers, timestamps, IP addresses, and a hash for verification, and store the certificate alongside the agreement in records.

Accessible Copy

Provide an accessible version (tagged PDF or HTML) to meet WCAG 2.0 AA requirements for users with disabilities. Ensure alternate text for images and logical reading order.

Integration and Technical Requirements for eSigning Workflows

Technical integrations and format support affect where and how you collect signatures for the Business Principles INEOS Principles.

Integrations: CRM, ERP, cloud storage
File Types: PDF, DOCX, HTML, Excel
Authentication: Email, SMS, SSO options

Key Risks and Consequences of Errors

Contract Risk: Unenforceable terms

Compliance Penalty: Fines or corrective orders

Tax Withholding: Backup withholding risk

Operational Delay: Approval hold-ups

Reputational Harm: Supplier trust erosion

Invalid Signature: Authentication failure

Common Preparation Errors to Avoid

Using draft or outdated versions of the Principles leads to conflicting obligations and may invalidate later signed copies in disputes.
Entering abbreviated or inconsistent legal names prevents tax and vendor matching, triggering backup withholding or payment delays.
Failing to record signer capacity (officer, agent) can void a party's authority to bind an entity in contract enforcement.
Omitting an audit trail or storing signed PDFs without metadata complicates verification and undermines evidentiary value in audits or litigation.

Practical Controls to Reduce Risk and Improve Traceability

Apply these best practices to reduce errors and maintain a defensible record of acceptance and obligations under the Principles.

Use a single master template

Maintain one approved master document in DOCX with tracked approvals. Convert only approved versions to PDF for signature to prevent disputes over which text was agreed and ensure consistent exhibits and numbering across copies.

Require signer authentication appropriate to risk

Use email verification plus SMS or SSO for higher-risk signings. Record the authentication method in the audit trail and tailor the strength to the counterparty risk and regulatory requirements such as HIPAA or financial controls.

Maintain version history and approvals

Embed a version table with dates and approvers. Keep obsolete versions in an archive with access controls, and reference the effective version in the signature block to avoid ambiguity in enforcement.

Centralize record storage and access control

Store signed copies and certificates in a managed repository with role-based access. Apply retention schedules, regular backups, and exportable audit logs to support compliance audits and e-discovery requests.

Key Dates, Review Cycles, and Deadlines

Key dates govern when the Principles take effect, when reviews occur, and how long signed records must be retained for compliance.

Effective Date:

Signed date or agreed MM/DD/YYYY establishes obligations.

Supplier Acceptance Deadline:

Suppliers typically return signed acceptance within 10–30 days of request.

Policy Review Cycle:

Annual reviews recommended; record approval date in change control.

Retention Start:

Retention counts from signed date or last effective revision.

Audit Availability:

Make records available within 7 business days for internal audits.

Milestone Sequence from Draft to Archived Record

Milestone sequence for producing and closing the Business Principles INEOS Principles follows drafting, approval, signing, and archiving stages.

01

Drafting

Legal drafts the standard text and business units propose edits.

02

Approval

Senior management and compliance sign off and record approval date.

03

Signature

Signatories execute electronically; authentication and audit trail are recorded.

04

Archival

Store signed PDF and certificate in records repository with retention tags.

How This Document Differs from Other Compliance Documents

Quick comparison between the Business Principles INEOS Principles and similar compliance documents to clarify purpose and legal differences.

Criteria	Business Principles INEOS Principles	Code of Conduct
Notarization
Typical Signers	suppliers, execs	employees, managers
Primary Purpose	supplier obligations	internal behavior standards
Enforceability	contractual attachment	policy enforcement

Baseline eSignature Pricing and Feature Availability Across Vendors

Compare baseline pricing and feature availability for common eSignature vendors; signNow appears first per positioning rules.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes (premium tier)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies by plan
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	No cap	No cap	No cap

Frequently Asked Questions About Signing and Storing the Principles

Answers to common questions about using and signing the Business Principles INEOS Principles, including signature validity, e-submission, recordkeeping, and verification.

Need help? Contact support

Are electronically signed Principles legally binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures generally are legally enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention requirements are met, including consumer disclosure where required.
Do I need notarization or witnesses?
Typically no; the Principles are contractual and do not require notarization or witnesses in most jurisdictions. Exceptions apply for instruments treated as notarial or testamentary—confirm per state law for wills, deeds, or powers of attorney.
Can the document be signed electronically using signNow?
Yes. signNow supports legally binding electronic signatures and follows ESIGN and UETA frameworks. It offers HIPAA-compliant workflows under a BAA, SOC 2 Type II controls, AES-256 at rest, and TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit to support secure e‑signing and audit trails.
What authentication levels are recommended?
Authentication should match transaction risk: email or SMS for low-risk signings, and knowledge-based authentication, SSO, or multi-factor for higher assurance. Record the method in the audit trail to support attribution and regulatory requirements such as 21 CFR Part 11 when applicable.
How should signed records be stored securely?
Store signed PDFs and certificates in a secured repository with encrypted at-rest storage (AES-256) and encrypted transit (TLS 1.2/1.3). Maintain access controls, backups, versioning, and retention policies aligned with IRS and HIPAA obligations.
How can a signed Principles be corrected or revoked?
Corrections require mutual agreement: execute an amendment or replacement and record the revision in version control. To revoke acceptance, follow contract terms or sign a revocation; preserve prior versions to meet retention and audit requirements.

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