Speak up - We are here to listen!

You may be concerned or aware of harmful behavior that puts Semperit at risk. Your report will enable us to detect integrity and compliance issues early, and help us address your concerns as soon as possible. By reporting, you help protect Semperit from various dangers and risks, ensuring our efficiency and long-term success.

Anyone can make a report, including all Semperit employees, external individuals, and other organizations.

Semperit offers multiple channels for submitting concerns or reports:

• Internal contacts: Feel free to contact Semperit managers, HR representatives, the Group Legal Department, the Group Compliance Department or Local Compliance Coordinator directly.

• The SemperLine is available online to everyone 24/7. You can submit reports anonymously in writing, or by phone if you prefer. The SemperLine is managed by an independent operator and available in multiple languages, with data securely stored on protected servers in Germany.

• Email: You can always use our email address: compliance@semperitgroup.com.

You can report any violations of laws, regulations, our Code of Conduct, or internal guidelines. For further information on issues you can report, click here.

Yes. We need to understand the context. It is therefore essential you provide a thorough description of your concern in the report:

• "Who" – Provide the names of the individuals involved
• "What" – Describe your concern
• "When" – Give an approximate timeframe of when the violation occurred
• "How" – Provide details of how the violation occurred
• "Where" – Explain where precisely the wrongdoing or violation happened

You can also attach relevant documents, images, or videos to support your report.

But remember: You are not an investigator. You should not endanger your life or health or violate any laws or internal rules trying to gather more information. We have an internal process for fact-checking and information-gathering by authorized personnel.

Important considerations:

• Availability: Only provide information and documents that are available to you.
• Accuracy: Only submit accurate and complete information to the best of your knowledge. Providing false or misleading reports is prohibited by law.
• Legal compliance: Do not disclose information that is unlawful to share in your country, including state secrets.
• Serious consequences: Your information can lead to significant decisions impacting the individuals involved. Knowingly providing false or misleading information is prohibited by law, and may result in disciplinary measures.
• For advice and support: Contact us at compliance@semperitgroup.com or use the SemperLine.

Yes. All reports are received and processed according to a transparent and publicly accessible company-wide complaint and reporting procedure. This standardized process is available to everyone, ensuring that every report, whether from employees or third parties, is handled consistently and in full compliance with the legal requirements.

The Group Compliance Department or dedicated Local Compliance Coordinator receives all reports submitted via the SemperLine. All the information provided and case investigations, including the reporting person's identity, are handled discreetly and in strict confidence.

The Group Compliance Department or dedicated Local Compliance Coordinator coordinates the investigation. Depending on the nature of the report, the Group Compliance Department or Local Compliance Coordinator will either lead investigations independently or appoint other departments, such as Human Resources or Internal Audit, to conduct the investigation. Authorized investigators are subject to a special duty of confidentiality, impartial, and have the expertise in handling complaints and reports professionally. The Global Compliance Department reports only general case information to the Compliance Board.

Semperit takes great care to protect you, and keeps your report confidential. These principles apply regardless of the reporting channel or the recipient of your report. Please note that we are only interested in the information provided in the report in order to prevent damage, not in you as a whistleblower.

• If you share your name, the compliance investigator can contact you directly so that you can provide more details. That is why we encourage you to identify yourself when submitting a report, as this sets the best possible parameters for effective examination and investigation of your report. In cases where we do not have enough information, we may not be able to proceed with an investigation, improve our processes, or prevent similar occurrences from happening again.
• If you wish to report anonymously, the SemperLine offers an anonymous dialogue option. You can set up a secure mailbox to which only you have access with your password. Your report will be kept anonymous using encryption and other special security measures certified by an independent body. We only receive the information you provide so we can contact you via the secure mailbox and give you feedback about the processing of your data, or to ask questions if any details in your report are still unclear. Further information about the system can be found here.

The Group Compliance Department or Local Compliance Coordinator ensures that your report is kept confidential. Confidential data may only be disclosed as needed and permitted by law. You can rest assured that any information you report will be checked thoroughly and the steps you have taken will not lead to any repercussions against you. Please trust us. For our part, we trust that you will not give us false or incorrect information.

You can find further information on how we process the personal data you shared with us via the SemperLine, here in the data protection section. 

Semperit processes the personal data of whistleblowers, the individuals involved in reports, and witnesses. This data includes basic personal information (such as their name, position, language, and other information) and details regarding the reported incident or misconduct. Processing this information is essential for safeguarding Semperit's legitimate interests, ensuring compliance with applicable legislation and regulations, and protecting the company's rights.

Semperit's authorized Compliance team manages all reports. If necessary, data may be shared with relevant departments or individuals within the Group as well as with authorities, courts, or legal representatives.

Semperit stores your data only as long as necessary to process your complaint, and then deletes the data as soon as possible.

Please get in touch with Semperit if you have any questions about the processing of your data (compliance@semperitgroup.com).

Yes. We take all reports of concerns, incidents, or violations seriously. The Group Compliance Department examines each report to clarify whether there is sufficient information to process the matter further. We may request additional information from you. We can only check the facts and investigate reports if we get adequate information about your concerns. That is why you need to keep in touch with us - either sharing your name or anonymously via the SemperLine mailbox.

Yes. Within seven days of receipt of your complaint or report, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt from Semperit, provided you allow us to communicate with you via the SemperLine mailbox. 

We handle your report and all submitted information with the utmost discretion and confidentiality. The Group Compliance Department or the Local Compliance Coordinator coordinates the investigation and will only involve trusted and authorized support contacts (such as Human Resources or Internal Audit). Here's how we evaluate and examine the information you provide:

• Initial handling: Upon receiving your report, the recipient will promptly inform the Compliance team.
• Assessment and decision-making: The authorized Group Compliance Department employees or Local Compliance Coordinator will review your concerns and determine if an in-depth internal or external investigation is necessary.
• Further examination: If further investigation is required, your report may be forwarded to another responsible department within Semperit for additional handling and fact-finding or, if mandated by law, to a competent authority. Information will only be shared with individuals directly responsible for further examination and investigation.
• Investigation process: The authorized Group Compliance Department employees or Local Compliance Coordinator will examine relevant documents, analyze data, and interview witnesses and implicated individuals.
• Confidentiality: We will keep your identity confidential. However, if you provided your name in the report and wish to remain anonymous to others, you may indicate this in your report as a safety measure.
• Outcome and follow-up:
  • Reporting results: The investigation findings will be compiled into a report and shared with relevant internal stakeholders, including the Compliance Board.
  • Action and recommendations: The report may include corrective action, recommendations to prevent future violations, process improvements, or disciplinary measures.
  • Feedback: Where possible and legally permissible, we will inform you within three months about the current measures taken in response to your report.

Yes. All employees involved in receiving reports, fact-finding, or internal investigations must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Immediate reporting: They must notify the Compliance Department about the report without delay and follow the department's instructions.
• Whistleblower protection: They must safeguard the whistleblower's identity as well as the details of the report, ensuring confidentiality on a need-to-know basis throughout the process.
• Protection of all parties: They must protect the confidentiality and rights of implicated individuals and witnesses, ensuring information is shared only as needed.
• Objective investigation: They must conduct fact-finding impartially and objectively, without any assumptions.
• Right to be heard: They must ensure implicated individuals have an opportunity to be heard and are treated with respect during interviews.
• Confidentiality of data: They must maintain the confidentiality of personal data and information in compliance with internal policies and legal requirements.
• Conflict-of-interest disclosure: They must disclose any actual, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest to the Compliance team, and withdraw from the case if necessary.

These rules ensure the investigative process is fair, respectful, and confidential.

Semperit does not tolerate retaliation of any kind!

We understand you may be uncomfortable or scared about speaking up if something is wrong. We have established robust protections to prevent any form of retaliation against anyone who raises concerns in good faith or cooperates with an investigation. 

• Zero tolerance of retaliation: Semperit strictly prohibits retaliation against individuals who report misconduct or participate in investigations.
• Dedicated support: If you believe you have experienced retaliation or been treated differently because of your report, contact our Group Compliance Department at compliance@semperitgroup.com. Alternatively, you can report through the SemperLine by selecting the "Other violations and misconduct" category.
• Follow-up and action: We thoroughly investigate all credible allegations of retaliation or mistreatment. If any act of retaliation is substantiated, we will take decisive and severe action against those responsible.

NB: It is illegal to knowingly provide false or misleading information.