Grupo La Plana’s Ethics Channel

Frequently asked questions

Here we answer some of the most common questions about the Ethics Channel.

01. What is the ethical channel and what can be reported ?

The Ethics Channel is a corporate tool for you to report any facts that you con sider may represent a violation of the legal regulations, the Code of Ethics or any other internal regulations in force .

This Channel can also be used to seek advice and raise questions or con cerns about ethics or compliance.

02. Where can I find the Code of Ethics?

Anyone can access the Code of Ethics through the Ethics Channel home page (accessible from laplana.com website). Employees can download the Code of Ethics from La Plana Group Employee ’s Portal.

03. I don't know how to use the Ethical Channel, what can I do?

If you do not know how to use our Ethics Channel, please refer to Grupo La Plana Ethics Channel User Manual, accessible through the Ethics Channel home page.

04. Who manages the Ethics Channel?

As a general rule, the Ethics Channel Manager will receive reports and analyze their admissibility. The Ethics Committee will then manage these reports and appoint an investigator to duly investigate the reports. The Ethics Committee will be in charge of supervising and diligently and quickly resolving all the reported violations.

05. How do I contact the Ethics Channel Manager?

We recommend that you always use the Ethics Channel chat, so that we can effectively guarantee the con f identiality of the data and information you provide us with.

Howe ver , you can also do so by writing to [email protected] or by calling +34 644044052.

06. Can I file an anonymous report?

Yes, you may report anonymously. Submitting an anonymous report means that you will not provide any personal information . You will only provide the information you know in relation to the report you want to submit .

Howe ver , in some cases, in order to carry out a proper inv e sti gation, Grupo La Plana may need you to provide more information about your identity. If this is the case, the Ethics Channel Manager will duly inform you. Please remember that all communications are confidential.

07. What happens if I do not provide enough information?

If you have not provided sufficient information, the Ethics Channel Manager will duly inform you, indicating what information is required at any given time. In order to best handle your communication, it is advised to provide the additional information requested as soon as possible. Otherwise, you will provide the information within one month.

To check whether additional information has been requested, you will have to access the system using the password and verification number provided to you when you made your initial report.

08. How will the Ethics Channel Manager contact me if the report is anonymous?

If the report is anonymous, you should monitor it on the ethics channel. In order to access the system, the channel will provide you with an identification code and a password. Only you know this information, so be careful not to lose or misplace it.

09. How is confidentiality ensured?

We understand that confidentiality is key to encouraging people to make reports. We guarantee absolute confidentiality throughout the process and protect your identity.

This Ethics Channel is a confidential channel, which means that your personal data and those of third parties related to the facts you communicate, as well as the content of the reports you make, will not be disclosed to anyone outside the body competent to receive and manage such reports, which is the Ethics Committee.

10. How is my identity protected?

Your identity will not be disclosed without express consent to anyone who is not authorized to manage the Ethics Channel. It will not be disclosed to the party about which the complaint is made . No other information will be disclosed from which your identity might be deduced directly or indirectly .

11. Can I face retaliation for making a report?

It is strictly prohibited to take retaliatory or punitive measures against any individual who, in good faith, discloses to Grupo La Plana through the Ethics Channel any violations of which they may be aware.

12. Can I report any conduct that constitutes harassment on the Ethics Channel?

No, every possible case of harassment should be reported as indicated in the Harassment Protocol.

However, if there are reasons that prevent proceeding as indicated in said protocol, the ethics channel can be used to seek advice on how to proceed .

13. I have supporting documents that I would like to submit with my report. How do I include them?

Before you submit your report, you will be able to attach supporting documents to your report thro ugh an ‘Attachment’ feature which is located on the report form. In order to protect your identity, be sure to remove all personal information from the electronic documents you are attaching .

To attach documents after submission of the report, simply use the Ethics Channel chat. To access the chat, you must first login to your report with your password and identification number.

14. How can I get help if I face any technical issue and I cannot use this channel?

You can ask for help using the following e-mail address: [email protected].

15. I forgot my login and/or password. How do I check the status of my report?

Unfortunately, there is no way to check the status of your report if you lost your login and/or password. For confidentiality and security reasons, we do not provide a password recovery service . If you know the Case ID Number, you can make a new report and refer to this r eference number. This number starts with 000 and can be found in the report that the Ethics Channel generate d at the end of the reporting process.

16. What happens if my login doesn’t work, and I want to provide more information?

If you want to provide more information about the same issue and login doesn’t work, you will have to make a new report. Please refer to the ID Number of your original report in the field designated for the description of the facts. This number starts with 000 and can be found in the report that the Ethics Channel generated at the end of the reporting process of your previous report..

17. Is the Ethics Channel linked with the organization’s server?

No, it is operated independently from our organization and hosted on separate servers .

18. What happens after I file a report?

After receiving reports of any possible violations , those filing reports will receive an acknowledgment of receipt no later than 7 days as of the date their reports are received. The Ethics Channel Manager will carry out an initial analysis of the reports and forward it to the Ethics Committee. This committee will be responsible for deciding whether to initiate an investigation . If the Ethics Committee decides to move forward with the report, it will name an investigator to examine the case, carrying out an objective , exhaustive and professional investigation.

Upon completing the investigation, the Ethics Committee will duly notify the individuals involved in the communication of its decision , and, whenever possible, inform those filing the corresponding reports about the end of the proceedings and the general results of the latter.

If you have filed a report, remember that it is your obligation to access the Ethics Channel on a regular basis in order to be able to respond to the requests of the Ethics Channel Manager.