Legal infor­ma­tion

The companies of the FERCHAU Group are committed to complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies and procedures in all business activities. Our “Speak Up” culture, endorsed by the Executive Management, supports this commitment.

Compliance is a prerequisite and the overarching principle governing all activities of the FERCHAU Group, its management, and its employees. It enables us to maintain our licence to operate and to foster trustworthy and credible relationships with our customers and business partners.

Particular emphasis is placed on the following compliance areas:

• Anti-corruption
• Anti-discrimination
• Competition law
• Human rights
• Trade controls
• Data protection and information security
• Occupational health and safety
• Environmental protection

These corporate principles are summarised in the FERCHAU Group’s Code of Conduct.

If you become aware of any action or behaviour that is, or appears to be, inconsistent with our commitment – for example misconduct, questionable practices, or deviations from laws, policies, and procedures – we encourage you to speak up and report your observations. You may do so as an employee, customer, external partner, employee of a supplier within our supply chain, or in any other relationship with the FERCHAU Group.

We place great importance on fairness within our whistleblowing system, both in our dealings with whistleblowers and with employees who are the subject of allegations. We therefore ask you to use the system responsibly. Defamation and violations of personal rights or data protection rights have no place within this process.

As we highly value open communication, we encourage you to provide your name and contact details whenever possible. This enables us to investigate your report as effectively as possible.

Reporting Channels for “Speak Up”

We expect whistleblowers to submit reports solely in good faith and with honest intentions. Employees are encouraged to raise concerns directly with their designated contact person within the FERCHAU Group.

In addition, any individual may contact the Officers of the Internal Reporting Office pursuant to the German Whistleblower Protection Act. In this role, the Officers of the Internal Reporting Office act independently and are not subject to instructions. They can be contacted via the following channels:

• In writing via: https://ferchau.compliance.one
• By telephone: +49 89 693156869
• In person, by appointment, at the offices of FERCHAU Management GmbH, Steinmüllerallee 2, 51643 Gummersbach, Germany
• By post, marked “Personal/Confidential”, to: Officers of the Internal Reporting Office pursuant to the German Whistleblower Protection Act, FERCHAU Management GmbH, Steinmüllerallee 2, 51643 Gummersbach, Germany

Protection of Whistleblowers

Only the Officers of the Internal Reporting Office pursuant to the German Whistleblower Protection Act have access to the communication channels listed above. Access by any other person is excluded.

The anonymity of the reporting person and the confidentiality of all information will be safeguarded under all circumstances. Whistleblowers are also protected against retaliation and reprisals.

Process Following a Report

The handling of reports submitted to the Officers of the Internal Reporting Office is governed by a defined procedure and includes the following steps:

1. Issuance of an acknowledgement of receipt within seven days
2. Ongoing communication with the reporting person
3. Assessment of the reported matter and, where necessary, collection of additional information
4. Implementation of appropriate follow-up measures, where required
5. Feedback to the reporting person within three months
6. Review of the effectiveness of measures taken
7. Periodic reporting to the Managing Shareholder

The Officers of the Internal Reporting Office have the organisational independence and freedom from instructions required to process submitted reports objectively, based on the powers granted under their respective appointments.