If you know of or suspect: (a) a violation of applicable laws or regulations, including laws with respect to (i) fraud, theft or embezzlement, (ii) accounting or auditing irregularities, or (iii) bribery or kickbacks; (b) this Code of Conduct; (c) the Company's related policies,; or (d) high business and personal ethical standards, you must in good faith immediately report that information. Reports can be made, in your discretion, to your immediate supervisor, a Human Resources representative, or to the Company’s General Counsel. You may report such conduct openly on a confidential basis or anonymously. You can also make the required report anonymously through the Whistleblower Hotline which can be found here: report.syntrio.com/acronis*, if doing so makes you more comfortable.
The Company will not retaliate and will not tolerate any form of retaliation against an individual because he or she made a good-faith report, or assisted with or cooperated in an investigation of a report. Employees, officers and directors shall not discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against an employee because he or she reports any such violation, unless it is determined that the report was made with knowledge that it was false. The Company will also not tolerate any other form of retaliation that is prohibited by applicable law.
A. Reporting Concerns
Any concern should be reported as soon as practicable. The recipient of the concern shall acknowledge receipt of each reported concern within five business days, if the reporting person’s identity is disclosed or a return address is provided.
You may report violations of this Code of Conduct by contacting the Company’s General Counsel by e-mail: legal.notice@acronis.com or mail at: Acronis AG, Attention General Counsel, 1 Van de Graaff Drive, Suite 301, Burlington, MA 01803. You can also make the required report anonymously through the Whistleblower Hotline which can be found here: report.syntrio.com/acronis*, if doing so makes you more comfortable. While we prefer that you identify yourself when reporting violations so that the General Counsel may follow up with you, as necessary, for additional information, you may leave messages anonymously if you wish.
B. Recipient
If the recipient of a reported concern is not the General Counsel, the recipient shall immediately notify the General Counsel (or, if the concern involves the General Counsel, notify the Chief Executive Officer, the Chair of the Board of Directors, or the Board of Directors Advisor for Ethics and Judicial Matters), of such reported concern.
If the General Counsel receives information regarding an alleged violation of this Code of Conduct or other matter described in this Section 19, he or she shall present such information and describe the alleged violation to the Chief Executive Officer and the Chair of the Company’s audit committee (excluding either if he/she is the subject of the allegation) (the “Reviewing Authority”). The Reviewing Authority shall determine, after consultation with the General Counsel, whether it is necessary or desirable to conduct an informal inquiry or a formal investigation and, if so, initiate such inquiry or investigation. The Reviewing Authority shall report the results of any such inquiry or investigation, together with a recommendation as to the disposition of the matter, to the Board of Directors. Employees, officers and directors are expected to cooperate fully with any inquiry or investigation by the Company regarding an alleged violation of this Code of Conduct. Failure to cooperate with any such inquiry or investigation may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
C. Violations
The Company shall determine whether violations of this Code of Conduct or other matters described in this Section 19 have occurred and, if so, shall determine the disciplinary measures to be taken against any employee, officer or director who has engaged in such violation. In the event that the alleged violation involves an executive officer or a director, the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, respectively, 17 shall determine whether a violation has occurred and, if so, shall follow the prevailing disciplinary procedure whilst determining the appropriate disciplinary measures to be taken against such executive officer or director.
Failure to comply with the standards outlined in this Code of Conduct will result in disciplinary action including reprimands, warnings, probation or suspension with or without pay, demotions, reductions in salary, discharge and restitution. Certain violations of this Code of Conduct may require the Company to refer the matter to the appropriate governmental or regulatory authorities for investigation or prosecution. Moreover, any supervisor who directs or approves of any conduct in violation of this Code of Conduct, or who has knowledge of such conduct and does not immediately report it, also will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
D. Confidentiality
The Company takes seriously its responsibility to enforce this Code of Conduct, and it therefore encourages any person reporting a concern to identify himself or herself so as to facilitate any resulting investigation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in reporting a concern a reporting person may (a) request that such report be treated in a confidential manner, and the Company then will take reasonable steps to ensure that the identity of the reporting person remains anonymous, or (b) report concerns on an anonymous basis. Reports of concerns shall be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.
E. External Compliance
While it is the Company’s desire to address matters internally, nothing in this Code of Conduct should discourage you from reporting any illegal activity, including any violation of the securities laws, antitrust laws, environmental laws or any other federal, state or foreign law, rule or regulation, to the appropriate regulatory authority. This Code of Conduct should not be construed to prohibit you from testifying, participating or otherwise assisting in any state or federal administrative, judicial or legislative proceeding or investigation.