Reporting Illegal Activities – Whistleblowing
The European Union, through Directive 2019/1937, has updated the regulations concerning the protection of
people who report violations of EU law, with the aim of establishing a minimum standard for protection
on whistleblower rights in all Member States. Italy has implemented the European Directive through Legislative Decree No. 10
March 2023, No. 24.
By adopting this Policy, STONE ITALIANA SPA has sought to comply with the aforementioned
regulatory requirements, as well as the guidelines provided by ANAC in this regard.
The goal is to provide whistleblowers—that is, those who report violations—with clear guidance
operational guidelines regarding the subject matter, content, recipients, and methods of submitting reports.
The procedure for handling reports ensures the confidentiality of the reporter’s identity from the very
upon receipt and in any subsequent contact. Pursuant to Article 5, paragraph 1, subparagraph (e) of the Decree, this
The policy therefore provides information on the channels, procedures, and requirements for filing reports
internal and external.
1. REPORTING ENTITIES
a) Reports may be filed by the following parties:
employees, including those who perform:
– part-time, intermittent, fixed-term, temporary agency, and apprenticeship work ,
casual workers (whose employment relationship is governed by Legislative Decree No. 81/2015);
– occasional services (pursuant to Article 54-bis of Decree-Law No. 50/2017, converted by Law No. 96/2017);
b) self-employed workers
– under a contract for services (Art. 2222 of the Civil Code);
– under a collaborative arrangement (as provided for in Article 409 of the Code of Civil Procedure), such as agency and representation relationships
commercial and other collaborative relationships that result in the provision of services
continuous and coordinated, primarily personal in nature, though not in a subordinate capacity;
– under a collaborative arrangement that involves the performance of work that is exclusively personal in nature,
ongoing, and the details of which are organized by the client;
c) d) e) employees who work for entities that provide goods or services or that
carry out projects that benefit society;
freelancers and consultants who provide services to the Company;
volunteers and interns, both paid and unpaid, who work for the Company;
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230
1SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN SINCE1979
(f) the shareholder and persons holding positions of administration, management, control, oversight, or representation,
even if such functions are performed de facto at the Company (for example, members
(of the Board of Directors).
The protection of whistleblowers (Article 6 of this Policy) also applies if the report or the
Public disclosure of information shall occur in the following cases:
(a) when the legal relationship described above has not yet begun, if the information regarding the violations is
were collected during the selection process or at other pre-contractual stages;
b) during the probationary period;
c) after the termination of the legal relationship, if the information regarding the violations has been
acquired during the course of the employment relationship.
2. SUBJECT OF THE REPORT AND EXCLUDED REPORTS
The reports listed in the following table may be filed:
Number of employees Subject of the report
50 or more
employees
– European and national offenses (see below
items (a) and (b)
(Art. 3, para. 2, subpar. a), Legislative Decree No. 24/2023)
More specifically, the violations listed in the table above may relate to:
(a) violations of national or European provisions consisting of offenses relating to the following areas:
financial services, products, and markets; anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing; security
and product compliance; environmental protection; public health; privacy and data protection
personal data, network and information system security;
(b) violations of European provisions consisting of: (i) acts or omissions that harm financial interests
of the Union; (ii) acts and omissions concerning the internal market; (iii) acts and conduct that undermine
the subject matter or purpose of the provisions of Union acts in the sectors referred to above;
(c) unlawful conduct as defined in Legislative Decree No. 231/2001.
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230
2SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN SINCE1979
3. REPORTING CHANNELS: INTERNAL, EXTERNAL, PUBLIC DISCLOSURE
The Company has established an internal reporting channel that ensures the confidentiality of the reporter’s identity
the person making the report, the person involved, and any person mentioned in the report, as well as the
the content of the report and the related documentation.
Please note that you must first file a report Whistleblowing using the internal channel.
Reports submitted through the external channel, established and managed by ANAC, may only be made under certain
conditions, and public disclosure under even stricter conditions, without prejudice to the possibility of
file complaints with the judicial authorities.
4. CONTENT AND PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING REPORTS
A whistleblowing report may be filed if the following conditions are met:
– when there is information, including reasonable suspicion, regarding violations that have been committed or that, on the
Based on concrete facts, violations of national or EU regulations may be committed
European Union regulations that harm the public interest or the integrity of the Company, as well as those concerning conduct aimed at
to conceal such violations
and
3
– such information was learned, or suspicions arose, in the workplace.
Reports concerning the following will not be considered:
– disputes , claims, or requests related to the reporter’s personal interests;
– the whistleblower’s individual employment or contractual relationships with the Company, or with individuals
hierarchically superior;
– aspects of the reported individual’s private life that have no direct or indirect connection to
business and/or professional activities.
In addition, the following reports are not permitted:
– baseless , defamatory, slanderous, or intended solely to harm the person reported;
– relating to violations that the whistleblower knows to be unfounded.
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No.IT00684880230 – SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN SINCE 1979
Contents of the report
The report must include the following, or it will be deemed inadmissible:
1. the identifying information of the person making the report and a contact address to which subsequent updates can be sent;
2. a clear, complete, and detailed description of the facts that are the subject of the report;
3. the time and place of the incident that is the subject of the report, and, therefore, a
a description of the facts that are the subject of the report, specifying the details regarding the circumstantial evidence and
including, where applicable, how the facts that are the subject of the report came to light;
4. personal information or other details that would allow for the identification of the person(s) believed to be responsible for the
reported incidents;
5. the names of any other individuals who can provide information regarding the facts described in the report;
6. a list of any documents that may confirm the validity of these facts;
7. Any other information that may provide useful insight into whether the reported facts are true.
8. When using the analog channel, an express statement of intent to benefit from the protections in
regarding whistleblowing, e.g., by including the phrase “confidential to the report handler.”
Reporting Procedures
Reports whistleblowing can be submitted in the following ways:
at the request of the whistleblower, through a face-to-face meeting with the Whistleblowing Management Office (Paola
Dalla Valle and Annalisa Dalla Valle)
by regular mail, placing the report in two sealed envelopes and including, in the
First envelope: the reporter’s identifying information along with a copy of their identification document;
in the second envelope, the subject of the report along with the relevant documentation;
Both envelopes must then be placed inside a third envelope with the following text written on the outside:
“For the Attention of the Whistleblower Coordinator” and addressed to Stone’s Whistleblowing Management Office
Italiana, Inc.
Anonymous reports
Anonymous reports, or reports from which it is not
It is possible to identify the person who made the report.
Anonymous reports will be recorded by the report administrator and retained.
In any case, the protective measures for whistleblowers apply only if the whistleblower is
was subsequently identified and suffered retaliation.
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230
4SINCE1979: SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN
Submission of Reports
Whistleblowing reports must be submitted to the Whistleblowing Management Office, in accordance with the
reporting channel used.
Finally, please note that the acceptance of reports is suspended during the company’s closure period.
5. REPORT MANAGEMENT
This procedure governs the process of receiving, analyzing, and handling reports of misconduct
illegal activities of which the reporting individual has become aware in the course of their work.
As part of the management of the internal reporting channel, the reporting administrator (hereinafter also referred to as the
“operator” or “recipient”) operates as described below:
Receipt of the report
The recipient shall issue a notice of receipt of the report to the person who filed it within seven days of the
date of receipt. The notice will be sent to the address provided by the reporter; if no address is provided, the
The report will be closed.
Anonymous reports are recorded and documented.
The Company will file reports received by regular mail using appropriate methods
that ensure confidentiality (e.g., within archives protected by security measures).
A report made verbally—in the manner specified in this Policy—is documented by the
the person handling the report, who will prepare a meeting minutes to be signed by both the person handling the report and the
the person who filed the report, and a copy will be provided to that person.
Relations with the Reporting Party and Additions to the Report
The recipient maintains communication with the reporter and may request additional information, if necessary.
If a report is prepared following a meeting with the person who filed the complaint, that person may correct the report
of the meeting by signing it.
Review of the Report
The recipient follows up on the reports received, assessing whether the reporter has standing and
that the report falls within the scope of the regulation; this is followed by an assessment of the circumstances of
the time and place where the incident occurred.
Following the preliminary review:
– If the requirements are not met, the report isdismissed, with an explanation of the
reasons;
– If the conditions are met,the preliminary investigation is initiated.
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230
5SINCE1979: SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN
Preliminary Investigation
The recipient ensures that the preliminary investigation is conducted properly by:
– the collection of documents and information;
– the involvement of external parties (in cases where it is necessary to seek technical assistance from
third-party professionals) or other company departments, which are required to cooperate with the manager of the
report;
– hearing from any other internal or external parties, as necessary.
The preliminary investigation is conducted in accordance with the following principles:
– the necessary measures are taken to prevent the identification of the whistleblower and the individuals
involved;
– The audits are conducted by individuals with the necessary expertise, and the activities are
properly tracked and archived;
– All parties involved in the evaluation shall maintain the confidentiality of the information received, except
unless otherwise provided by law;
– Audits are conducted in a manner that ensures the adoption of appropriate measures for the collection, use, and
the disclosure and preservation of personal information and ensuring that the needs of the investigation
are balanced against the need to protect privacy;
– Appropriate measures are in place to manage any conflicts of interest should the report
concerned the recipient.
Response to the Reporter
Within three months of the date of the acknowledgment of receipt or, in the absence of such acknowledgment, within three months of the deadline
Within seven days of the submission of the report, the recipient shall provide a response regarding the
report, providing one of the following:
– dismissal of the case, with an explanation of the reasons for the decision, or
– whether the report is well-founded and whether it should be forwarded to the appropriate internal bodies for further action, or
– the activities that have been carried out and those still to be carried out (in the case of reports that, for the purposes of verification,
a more time-consuming investigation) and any measures taken (actions taken or
(Referral to the competent authority).
6. Conflict of Interest
If the person handling the reports has a conflict of interest—for example, because they are the subject of the report or
If you are the person submitting the report, it will be handled by the Administrative Manager—Dr. Luisa Soliman.
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230
6SURFACE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN SINCE1979
7. Protection of the Whistleblower and Their Liability
Whistleblowers must not be subject to any form of retaliation. In fact, the law provides that those who
whistleblowers cannot be penalized, demoted, fired, transferred, or subjected to any other measure
organizational practice that ends up having, directly or indirectly, negative effects on working conditions,
that is, discrimination or retaliation against them.
The reasons that lead a person to report, file a complaint, or make a public disclosure are irrelevant for the purposes of
of his protection.
In the context of judicial or administrative proceedings, or even out-of-court proceedings concerning
With regard to the investigation of prohibited conduct toward whistleblowers, it is presumed that such conduct
were taken as a result of the report, public disclosure, or complaint filed with the authorities
legal or accounting. The burden of proving that such conduct toward whistleblowers is motivated by reasons
Any information unrelated to the report, public disclosure, or complaint remains the responsibility of the person who provided it
to be.
Furthermore, any alleged discriminatory or retaliatory measures must be reported to ANAC, to which
It is solely responsible for determining whether the retaliatory measure is a consequence of the reporting of violations and
apply, in the absence of evidence from the Company that the measure taken is unrelated to the report, a
administrative fine.
Processing of Personal Data. Confidentiality
All processing of personal data will be carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the decree
Legislative Decree No. 196 of June 30, 2003, and Articles 13 and 14 of the Decree; furthermore, failure to comply with the obligations of
Breaches of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action, without prejudice to any additional liabilities provided for by the
law.
The privacy notice regarding the processing of personal data following a whistleblowing report is
available on company bulletin boards and on the website.
Internal and external reports and the related documentation are retained for as long as necessary to
processing of the report, but in any case no later than 5 years from the date of notification
the final outcome of the reporting procedure, in compliance with the obligations of confidentiality and protection of
personal data.
Responsibilities of the Reporting Party
The Company guarantees the person reported the right to be informed (within a reasonable period of time) regarding
to any allegations involving him, ensuring his right to a defense should such proceedings be initiated against him
compare disciplinary measures.
This procedure also does not affect the criminal and disciplinary liability of the
the person making the report in the event of a false or defamatory report under the Penal Code and Article
Section 2043 of the Civil Code.
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230
7SINCE1979: TECHNOLOGY AND SURFACE DESIGN
Any form of abuse is also grounds for disciplinary action and other appropriate measures
of the whistleblowing procedure, such as reports that are manifestly unfounded and/or made
for the sole purpose of harming the person reported or others, and any other instance of misuse or
deliberate manipulation of the procedure itself.
8. Penalty System
With regard to its penalty system, ANAC imposes the following administrative fines:
• from 10,000 to 50,000 euros when it determines that retaliation has occurred, or that the reporting of the incident was obstructed or an attempt was made to
to obstruct it or that the duty of confidentiality has been breached;
• from 10,000 to 50,000 euros when it determines that reporting channels have not been established, that they are not
procedures have been adopted to file and manage reports, or that the adoption of such procedures
is noncompliant, as well as when it determines that reports received have not been reviewed or analyzed;
• a fine of 500 to 2,500 euros against the reporting party, if the party’s civil liability is established, to
for defamation and slander, whether committed with intent or through gross negligence.
9. Effective Date and Amendments
This policy will take effect on December 14, 2023. Upon its entry into effect, all provisions in
Any previous provisions on this matter, regardless of how they were communicated, shall be deemed repealed if
incompatible or inconsistent, as they are superseded by these.
The Company will ensure that the policy is properly publicized and posted on the company bulletin board.
All employees may propose, when deemed necessary, well-reasoned additions to this policy; the
Proposals will be reviewed by the company's senior management.
This policy is, however, subject to periodic review.
Zimella, December 14, 2023 STONE ITALIANA SPA
Rev. 0
STONE ITALIANA S.P.A.
Via Lavagno, 213 – 37040 Zimella – Verona, Italy – Tel. 39.0442 715715 – Fax 39.0442 715000 – stone@stoneitaliana.com – stoneitaliana.com
Share capital: 10,000,000 euros; paid-in capital: 10,000,000 euros – Tax ID and Verona Business Registry No. 00684880230 – VAT No. IT00684880230