ETHICAL BUSINESS CONDUCT
For Repower, ethical business conduct means adhering to high moral and ethical standards in all business dealings. Repower acts in accordance with applicable law and the company’s code of conduct.
Impacts
Ethical business conduct promotes trust-based cooperation with customers and suppliers, strengthens employee motivation, minimises the risk of corruption, ensures fair competition and overall makes a positive contribution to economic development. It also promotes transparency, integrity and responsibility within the company.
Risks
Unethical business conduct can lead to reputational damage, which in turn can affect stakeholder trust and result in a loss of sales. In addition, legal consequences may arise that could have a financial impact on Repower.
The risk of non-compliance with corporate governance requirements is a component of the Repower Group’s risk and control assessment (see Introduction). If necessary, controls are introduced and the implementation of the agreed measures is monitored. Repower Italia does additional risk analysis and mapping based on Legislative Decree 231 / 2001.
Guidelines and due diligence
The Repower Group has a code of conduct governing ethically correct behaviour in business operations and with business partners. The code of conduct has been approved by the board of directors. The Repower Group also has a speak-up system that is part of the compliance management system. It defines a clear process for internal investigations and provides for preventive measures or process changes to prevent misconduct. Repower’s speak-up system allows employees, business partners, customers and other third parties to report specific or potential violations of legal requirements, the code of conduct or internal guidelines to Repower. To keep the hurdles for reporting as low as possible, Repower offers a range of contacts and channels. All reports are treated in strict confidence. In Italy, reports can also be made anonymously via the whistleblowing platform. If necessary, an external body is called in to investigate. The complaints process is regularly reviewed and adapted if necessary.
The Italian companies in the Repower Group have each introduced an organisational, management and control model in accordance with Legislative Decree 231 / 2001. This governs the conduct to be adopted. The individual companies have each appointed a supervisory board that monitors the application of the model and conducts two audits per year. For reports that are relevant with regard to Legislative Decree 231 / 2001 and could lead to administrative liability for the company, the supervisory board is brought in.
Measures
Within the organisation, employees are informed about ethical business conduct by means of internal communications and training. Where necessary, business partners are informed by the business about the ethical principles at Repower. In 2024, Repower Italia provided e-learning training on the organisational, administrative and control model under Legislative Decree 231 / 2001 for all employees.
When it comes to business partners in trading, the Repower Group does risk-based due diligence. Selected business partners are regularly audited or monitored.
Various documents for preparing public tenders, standardised contracts and checklists exist for business relationships with suppliers. In 2024, Repower Switzerland introduced a self-declaration for new suppliers. Among other things, they must confirm that they have not entered into any unauthorised competition agreements and that they comply with the provisions for combating corruption.
Repower Italia contractually obliges its suppliers to comply with the Repower Italia code of ethics. Since 2010, Repower Italia has had a contractual clause in which the counterparties undertake to comply with the basic principles of the organisational models as per Legislative Decree 231 / 2001.
Measuring effectiveness
The effectiveness of the complaints mechanisms is ensured by means of regular compliance reporting to the executive board and the board of directors. There were no incidents of corruption at the Repower Group in 2024.