Couchbase Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for Financial Year 2025

COUCHBASE MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATEMENT

Purpose of this Statement

This statement is made by Couchbase, Inc. and its subsidiary Couchbase Limited (collectively, “Couchbase” or “we”) pursuant to section 54(1) of the United Kingdom Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Introduction

Couchbase is committed to the protection of human rights globally and to providing a fair and ethical workplace. We respect the standards embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labor Organization conventions.

Specifically, Couchbase is strongly opposed to slavery and human trafficking and will not knowingly support or conduct business with any organization involved in such activities. Couchbase strives to ensure that its employees and suppliers across the globe follow applicable laws and regulations, including the UK Modern Slavery Act.

Business Activities and Organization

Purpose of this Statement

This statement is made by Couchbase, Inc. and its subsidiary Couchbase Limited (collectively, “Couchbase” or “we”) pursuant to section 54(1) of the United Kingdom Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Introduction

Couchbase is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. We are a global organization with subsidiaries globally, including but not limited to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Israel and India. More information about us can be found at www.couchbase.com.

Couchbase provides a leading cloud database platform for modern applications. Our mission is to simplify how organizations develop, deploy and run modern applications, wherever they are. We have reimagined the database with our fast, flexible and affordable cloud database platform Capella, allowing organizations to quickly build applications that deliver premium experiences to their customers, all with best-in-class price performance.

Values and Employees

Couchbase fosters the highest level of integrity throughout all areas of its business by promoting Our Values:

• Be a Good Human, Always.
• Act with Uncompromising Integrity, Period.
• Serve Your Family, As Defined By You.
• Attack Hard Problems, Driven By Customer Outcomes.
• Play to Win, Together.
• Make Tomorrow Better Than Today, Start Now.

Couchbase is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all its employees. We offer a broad range of benefits to our employees and support global wellness initiatives. To keep employees apprised of their benefits, Couchbase provides employees access to information regarding employee policies, as well as Human Resources specialists who are available to address employee concerns and issues.

Relevant Policies and Programs

Couchbase operates a number of internal policies and processes as well as an Environmental Social Governance program (“ESG Program”) to ensure that it is conducting business in an ethical and transparent manner. At least annually, Couchbase’s internal compliance team reports to the Board of Directors and/or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors on various compliance policies and processes, including:

• Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. All Couchbase officers, directors, employees and contractors/consultants are required to comply with Couchbase’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“Code of Conduct”), which requires compliance with applicable laws, including those prohibiting forced labour, slavery, human trafficking and other human rights violations.
• Whistleblowing Policy. Couchbase’s whistleblowing policy encourages all employees, officers, directors, and contractors/consultants to raise good faith concerns about how colleagues are being treated, practices within our business or supply chain, or violation of any law or Couchbase policies, without fear of reprisals. Couchbase does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who make good faith reports of misconduct, unethical business practices or the violation of any law or Couchbase policies.
• ESG Program. Couchbase’s ESG program supports Our Values by providing a corporate governance framework within which our Code of Conduct and whistleblowing policy are reinforced along with other policies and initiatives. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board is responsible for overseeing our ESG Program. Our Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer is a champion of our ESG efforts and our Chief Legal Officer serves as executive sponsor, providing executive-level oversight of the activities of the ESG working group. The ESG working group consists of a cross-functional team that convenes quarterly to assess program areas and developments, including those relating to our approach against modern slavery.

Recruitment Process

We have a robust and transparent recruitment process to effectively attract, train, and integrate new employees, and continuously look to improve such processes. Couchbase conducts background checks and checks for eligibility to work in the country of employment for all employees in accordance with law to safeguard against human trafficking or individuals being forced to work against their will.

Supply Chain Members

Couchbase conducts business worldwide, and manages its relationships with partners, contractors, vendors, suppliers and other intermediaries, and their respective employees and affiliates (collectively, “Supply Chain Members”), including those involving technology hardware, software applications, technology services, travel-related services, consultancy and other services.

Our vendors are predominantly based in the United States and Europe and we expect that all of our global Supply Chain Members will not tolerate any form of exploitation in their business or any part of their supply chain.

Couchbase is committed to acting in accordance with applicable law and requests its Supply Chain Members to maintain at least the same standards by complying with Couchbase’s Code of Conduct for Partners and Suppliers (“Supplier Code”). The Supplier Code requires our Supply Chain Members to comply with all applicable laws, which includes the UK Modern Slavery Act. Couchbase also may request certain Supply Chain Members to certify that they have implemented a code of conduct with the same effect. Couchbase’s Supply Chain Members are required to report any violation of the Supplier Code or issues related to slavery or human trafficking to the Couchbase Legal Department to ensure that appropriate measures are taken.

Effective Action To Address Modern Slavery

Couchbase has taken the following actions to address Modern Slavery:

• ESG Program: Couchbase has implemented an ESG corporate governance program which reinforces its relevant modern slavery, human rights and human trafficking policies. ESG program updates are regularly reviewed by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board.
• Operationalization of Compliance Database Tool. Couchbase has automated its use of the software tool it procures to perform initial screenings and ongoing monitoring of its customers and commercial partners for legal and sanctions-related violations, including those potentially relating to modern slavery.
• Ethics and Compliance Policies: Couchbase continues to review its Code of Conduct, whistleblowing policy and procedures, and other legal compliance programs on an annual basis with the Audit Committee of its Board of Directors.
• Employee Training Program: Couchbase continues to provide an annual employee training program on its Code of Conduct, and periodically reviews such training program to include updated content. Couchbase employees must complete the training program upon hire and annually acknowledge the Code Of Conduct.
• Employee Recruitment: Couchbase regularly reviews changes to law and has developed procedures to comply with applicable pay transparency laws that have recently come into effect in certain jurisdictions.
• Supply Chain Member Relationships:
  (i) all Supply Chain Members continue to be subject to legal terms and conditions with Couchbase and are expected to comply with the Supplier Code;
  (ii) Couchbase continues to improve its vendor onboarding processes, including encouraging vendors to disclose and certify (if applicable) on their business diversity status; and
  (iii) Couchbase conducts risk-based due diligence on Supply Chain Members through a procured database tool that assesses heightened risks in individuals and organizations around the world.

Couchbase can continue to improve operational and management systems and controls by, among other things:

(i) continually assessing the effectiveness of annual compliance training program for employees;

(ii) continually assessing and improving the effectiveness of ethics and compliance policies and programs; and

(iii) continually assessing Supply Chain Member relationships.

This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes Couchbase’s slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending January 31, 2025. This statement was approved by the Board of Directors of Couchbase Limited on May 30, 2024 and Couchbase, Inc. on May 30, 2024 and was signed by:

Matt Cain
Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer
Couchbase, Inc.

Date: May 31, 2024