Annual Report 2021

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As an internationally active Group, HUGO BOSS is aware of its corporate responsibility towards employees, society and the environment. Consequently, responsible corporate action is an important prerequisite for ensuring competitiveness and long-term success. Thus, HUGO BOSS not only places the highest demands on innovation and the quality of its own products, but also takes social and ecological factors into account in all activities along the value chain. As part of its “CLAIM 5” strategy, HUGO BOSS also considers sustainability to be an integral part of its business activities. Corporate responsibility is divided into six fields of actions: we, environment, employees, partners, product, and society. HUGO BOSS always acts in compliance with regulatory frameworks as well as its internal guidelines. Sustainability

Corporate compliance

HUGO BOSS operates in a large number of countries and therefore in different legal systems. At HUGO BOSS, corporate compliance is a key responsibility of the Managing Board, comprising measures to ensure adherence to statutory and other legal requirements, internal corporate guidelines, and codices. This includes, among other things, data protection, antitrust and anti-corruption regulations as well as the provisions of capital market law. HUGO BOSS expects all employees to act in a legally impeccable manner at all times in their day-to-day work.

The Compliance Officer reports directly to the CFO in his role as Chief Compliance Officer and supports the Managing Board in monitoring effective compliance management. Together with the compliance officers in the Group companies, the Compliance Officer ensures that the compliance program is implemented and continuously developed throughout the Group. The Audit Committee is regularly informed about the activities of the Compliance department.

HUGO BOSS has summarized Group-wide principles of conduct in a Code of Conduct and in more detailed Group policies, thus creating the basis for ensuring the legality of all employee activities. The focus is on regulations governing conduct in compliance with competition law, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, the appropriate handling of company information, data protection, respect for fair working conditions and respectful treatment as well as anti-corruption. Employees are continuously familiarized with the regulations of the Code of Conduct and the Group policies. To this end, HUGO BOSS offers face-to-face training sessions as well as an e‑learning program to be completed regularly by all employees with computer access. HUGO BOSS does not tolerate any deliberate misconduct or persistent violations of the Code of Conduct.

Employees can obtain support and advice on matters concerning legal conduct from their supervisors or the Compliance department. As a supplementary reporting channel, HUGO BOSS has also established a Group-wide ombudsman system. Employees, suppliers, and trading partners can contact an external ombudsman in confidence if there are any indications of fraud, infringements of antitrust law or breaches of compliance guidelines. If desired, it is also possible to do this anonymously. The ombudsman’s contact details are available to all employees via the Company’s intranet and can also be found on the Company’s website. The same applies to the whistleblowing portal established in 2021, which also offers the opportunity to report misconduct and criminal offenses confidentially and anonymously. HUGO BOSS has also published important information on the protection of whistleblowers and the handling of reports in its own whistleblower policy on the Company’s website and intranet.

Capital market communication

HUGO BOSS reports regularly, comprehensively, and without delay on its business situation, operational and financial performance, as well as material changes within the Group. The Investor Relations activities include regular dialog with institutional investors, financial analysts, and private shareholders. As part of the annual and quarterly financial results releases, audio or video conferences are held for financial analysts and institutional investors. The Group’s strategy and relevant strategic developments are also discussed in detail at a Capital Markets Day on a regular basis. In addition to dedicated events at which the Company presents itself to private investors, the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting offers an opportunity to obtain comprehensive information about the Company’s performance. All key information and financial releases, such as press releases, voting rights notifications, financial reports, the financial calendar, and presentations of roadshows and conferences, are published on the Company’s website. group.hugoboss.com