Corporate governance practices

HUGO BOSS acts responsibly

As an internationally active Group, HUGO BOSS is aware of its corporate responsibility to its employees, society and the environment. Handling core business responsibly is an important prerequisite for ensuring competitiveness and long-term success. Thus, HUGO BOSS employees not only make the highest possible demands of the quality of their own products but also take account of social and ecological factors in all activities along the value chain. Corporate responsibility is divided into six areas: stakeholders, environment, employees, partners, product and society. HUGO BOSS always acts in compliance with the current regulatory frameworks as well as its internal guidelines. Sustainability

Corporate compliance

HUGO BOSS AG and the Group companies operate in many different countries and therefore in different legal systems. For HUGO BOSS, corporate compliance is a key responsibility of the Managing Board covering measures to ensure adherence to legal and official regulations, internal guidelines and codes. This includes antitrust and anti-corruption regulations as well as provisions under capital market legislation. HUGO BOSS expects all employees to act legally in day-to-day business operations.

Chief Executive Officer responsible for compliance

The Compliance department reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer in his function as Chief Compliance Officer and supports the Managing Board in the monitoring of effective compliance management. Together with the compliance officers at the Group companies, it ensures that the compliance program is implemented and continuously updated across the entire Group. The Audit Committee is kept regularly informed of the Compliance department’s activities.

Code of Conduct governs principles of good conduct

HUGO BOSS has embodied Group-wide principles of good conduct in a Code of Conduct as well as more detailed Group policies, thus creating the basis for ensuring the legality of all employee activities. They include in particular rules on conduct in competition, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, the appropriate handling of company information, fair and respectful working conditions and anti-corruption. Employees are familiarized with the provisions of the Code of Conduct and the Group policies on an ongoing basis. To this end, HUGO BOSS runs face-to-face training sessions and has also set up a global e‑learning program that all Group employees must regularly complete. HUGO BOSS does not tolerate any willful misconduct or persistent infringements of the Code of Conduct.

Group-wide ombudsman system established

Employees can obtain support and advice on issues concerning legal conduct from their line managers or the Compliance Officer. As a supplementary reporting channel, HUGO BOSS has also established a Group-wide ombudsman system. Employees, suppliers and wholesale partners can notify an 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 data can be found on the Company’s website.

Capital market communication

Investor relations activities are strengthening the trust of the capital market

The trust of shareholders and investors is strengthened by means of open and transparent communication. HUGO BOSS reports regularly and without delay on its business situation and material changes within the Group. The investor relations activities include regular dialog with institutional investors, financial analysts and private shareholders. In addition to the annual press and analyst conference at which the consolidated financial statements and the annual report are presented, telephone conferences are held for financial analysts and institutional investors to mark the publication of the quarterly statements. The Group’s strategy and relevant developments are discussed in detail at an annual Investor Day. In addition to special information events at which the Company presents itself to private investors, the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting offers an opportunity to obtain information about the Group’s performance comprehensively and effectively, either in person or online. All main corporate information and all publications are available from the Company’s website at group.hugoboss.com.