Whistleblower protection act

Whistleblower Protection System – COT Reporting Office

Compliance with legal regulations, internal rules, the principles of our code of conduct, i.e., our own corporate code and also the COT supplier code, has the highest priority at COT Computer OEM Trading (hereinafter referred to as COT).
The success of our company is based on integrity and compliance. To meet this standard, it is important to learn about possible misconduct by our own employees or those of our suppliers and to prevent it. Therefore, the COT reporting office operates an independent, impartial and confidential whistleblower system (https://cot.integrityline.com).

The whistleblower system is GDPR-compliant and meets regulatory requirements for whistleblower protection based on the German Whistleblower Protection Act as well as the current EU Whistleblower Directive. Furthermore, we thereby also comply with the complaint procedure under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, although we do not fall under the direct scope of this law.

An important pillar of our whistleblower system is the principle of fair procedure. It guarantees the greatest possible protection for whistleblowers, affected parties and employees who contribute to the investigation of reported misconduct. This also includes offering possibilities for anonymous reporting and communication. We assure that we will not take measures to identify anonymous whistleblowers who do not abuse our whistleblower system. Disadvantages to whistleblowers and all persons who contribute to investigations at COT will not be tolerated. The presumption of innocence applies to affected parties until the violation is proven. Investigations are conducted with utmost confidentiality. Information is processed in a fair, fast and protected procedure.

Qualified and experienced employees of the COT reporting office thoroughly examine all reports for potential rule violations by COT employees and systematically follow up on them. First, you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt. Subsequently, the staff of the COT reporting office evaluates your report. Only if this results in initial suspicion of a potential rule violation will a suitable investigation unit be commissioned to investigate the case. The COT reporting office then evaluates the investigation results and, in the case of established misconduct, issues an appropriate sanctioning recommendation. Information about the processing status* of your report as well as the result of a possible investigation will be communicated to you immediately.

Potential violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners, including serious risks and human rights and environmental violations by direct and indirect suppliers, can also be reported to the COT reporting office. This also applies to other reports that require immediate action by the company. The COT reporting office informs the responsible departments, which process the matter accordingly. This includes, in particular, necessary measures to minimize or end violations and/or risks.

Submitting a report to our whistleblower system

The whistleblower system offers various channels to report potential misconduct by employees or violations of the Code of Conduct for Business Partners in our supply chain that require rapid review and – if necessary – response from our company.

Online reporting channel

You have the possibility to contact the COT reporting or complaint office in different languages via an internet-based communication platform EQS Integrity Line https://cot.integrityline.com. The system is confidential and protected.

Email

You can reach the COT reporting office by email at the following address:

compliance@cot.de

Mail and in person

Postal address:

Compliance Department
Altheimer Str. 4
64807 Dieburg
Germany

In person: Please arrange an appointment in advance via:

compliance@cot.de

By phone

By phone: +49 – 6071-927-0

Documents for download:

Data Protection Information in the Whistleblower System of Computer OEM Trading GmbH

Purpose and Scope of Application of the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG)