Whistleblower Protection Act

Schukat electronic places the highest value on integrity, transparency and compliance with legal regulations. We are proud of our corporate culture and want to ensure that employees and customers alike have confidence in our business practices. Therefore, we strive to create an open and safe environment where potential grievances, irregularities or violations of laws and regulations can be reported.

The Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) is an important piece of legislation designed to ensure that whistleblowers are able to expose wrongdoing in organisations without having to worry about negative consequences. These wrongdoings can cover offences against criminal and fine regulations under German law and range from theft to corruption.

At Schukat electronic, we endeavour to protect the identity of whistleblowers and to ensure that they are protected from discrimination. The HinSchG requires companies like ours that reach a certain number of employees to set up a reporting centre. This reporting centre receives reports of irregularities and ensures that they are thoroughly investigated in accordance with legal requirements.

Implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Act was delayed for some time in Germany. On 12 May 2023, the Federal Council approved the Whistleblower Protection Act, and due to this delay, the law will enter into force on 2 July 2023. The deadline for setting up a reporting centre depends on the number of employees:

For Schukat, the following applies: 50 to 249 employees: by 17 December 2023 at the latest.

At Schukat electronic, we are proud to emphasise our commitment to integrity and transparency through the Whistleblower Protection Act. We encourage employees and customers to play an active role in protecting our corporate culture and to submit reports when necessary.

Please note the following information before submitting your report:

• Read the general explanations and information on our website
• Internal reports are the best way to investigate and rectify information as quickly as possible. In cases where effective internal action can be taken against the offence and you do not fear reprisals, you should prefer to make an internal report.
• Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or uncertainties.
• Please only send us information where you have reasonable grounds to believe that the information you have reported is true.
• If you knowingly report false or misleading information, you must expect consequences. Information that you provide to the best of your knowledge will not have any negative consequences.
• You must have factual evidence to support the assumption of an offence, so if possible provide all the evidence available to you (e.g. documentation, other documents, witnesses, certificates, photos, etc.)

Notes on our authority

• You must have obtained the information about the offence to be reported in connection with or prior to your professional activity. It must be information that constitutes a criminal offence, is subject to a fine, insofar as the violating provisions serve to protect the life and health or to protect the rights of employees or their representative bodies or that violate the EU or federal law listed in Section 2 (1) nos. 3 to 10 and (2) HinsSchG.

Further information:

• Your report will be processed confidentially. Your report will be forwarded to the responsible office for further processing.
• We would be pleased if you would consider open communication with us, as the principle of confidentiality and the prohibition of reprisals are at the heart of the protection of whistleblowers.
• The internal reporting centre also processes information received anonymously. If you wish to remain anonymous and do not provide a contact option, we will not be able to contact you in the further process if we have any queries or inform you of the outcome of the investigation.
• If you do not provide a contact option, you cannot claim in the event of a disclosure that no suitable follow-up action was taken or that you did not receive any feedback on the follow-up action taken.
• Please note that the documentation of your report is usually deleted three years after the procedure has been completed. After this time, the documents are no longer available for evidence purposes.
• Pure speculation is not covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act.
• Please note that the internal reporting centre is not intended for reporting suggestions for improvement. To submit suggestions for improvement, please contact the relevant department

1. Via our mailbox at Hans-Georg-Schukat-Straße 4

The use of the mailbox is 100% anonymous, but no feedback can be sent to unknown persons.

2. By e-mail to: ethics@schukat.com

Please note that the use of the e-mail address is not 100% anonymous, as tracing is possible and feedback can be provided.

3. By Phone

Ms Grit Schadow
Phone: 02173 950 932

Our internal reporting office representatives are Mrs Grit Schadow, deputised by Mrs Isabel Fechtner.

We would also like to inform you that there are also external reporting of concerns and incidents is also possible. The external reporting centres are independent and serve to provide an additional layer of protection for reports. However, we would like to point out that before making a report, you should check whether an internal report is an option. Internal reporting is the best way to investigate and rectify information as quickly as possible. In cases where effective internal action can be taken against the offence and you do not fear reprisals, you should prefer an internal report.

In addition to our internal reporting centres, we also refer you to the federal and state reporting centres:

• External Reporting Office of the Confederation at the Federal Office of Justice

Bundesamt für Justiz
Externe Meldestelle des Bundes
53094 Bonn

Phone: 0228 99 410 - 6644

• Federal Financial Supervisory Authority

By post:
Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht
Hinweisgeberstelle
Graurheindorfer Straße 108
53117 Bonn

Phone:
0228 41 08 – 2355

In person:
Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht
Hinweisgeberstelle
Dreizehnmorgenweg 44-48
53175 Bonn

• Federal Satellite Office