Committees
To assist it in its duties, the board of directors has established three permanent committees:
- the audit, risk & compliance committee (ARCC)
- the nomination committee (NC)
- the compensation committee (CC)
These committees prepare specific issues for discussion
by the board of directors. The overall integral
responsibility of the board of directors is not affected
by the activities of these committees or by any
delegation of tasks to them. Ad hoc committees can
be formed to deal with specific or time-limited projects
or issues. Unless otherwise stipulated by the
articles of association, the board of directors defines
the composition, duties, competencies and compensation
for these committees in the relevant regulations,
which are periodically reviewed by the respective
committee and are amended in accordance
with any proposed amendments submitted to the
board of directors by the latter. With exception to
the CC, the board of directors may dismiss any of the
committees it has appointed at any time.
Certain duties and competencies are assigned to the chairman of the board of directors alone.
The board of directors has additionally delegated operational management and overall leadership of the Bossard Group as well as the related duties and competencies to the CEO. In turn, the CEO is authorized to arrange further delegation.
Detailed information on the division of duties within the board of directors can be found in the OBR.
Working methods of the board of directors
The board of directors normally meets six to eight
times per year, but is available to discuss matters at
short notice should this be required. A member of
the board of directors may request that additional
meetings be convened by providing written justification
to the chairman of the board of directors. The
duration of board and committee meetings depends
on the respective agenda. In 2020, a total of five fullday
board meetings were held (two of them electronically),
as well as a two-day retreat and two conference
calls. Normally, the board of directors holds
a retreat once a year, which lasts for several days
and is used for analyzing the strategic risk/opportunities
mix and for fundamentally reviewing the
strategy and its development. Due to the COVID-19
situation, a shortened retreat of two days was held
at the headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. Thereby,
the board of directors was intensively discussing
with the executive committee the upcoming strategy
cycle (“Bossard 200 Strategy”).
The chairman invites the members to the meetings in writing, enclosing the agenda and any relevant documents. The invitations are sent out at least seven days before the meeting. Each member of the board of directors may request the chairman to add further items to the agenda. The meeting is presided by the chairman of the board or, in his absence, by the deputy chairman. The board of directors is quorate if the majority of its members is present. The board of directors makes decisions based on an absolute majority of the votes cast. Each member of the board of directors has one vote. If a vote is tied, the chairman has the casting vote. Minutes must be taken detailing the negotiations and decisions of the board of directors; these minutes must be approved by the board of directors. In particularly urgent cases the chairman may require the board to reach a decision by conference call. Such decisions must be included in the minutes of the next board meeting. To ensure that the board of directors receives sufficient information to reach decisions, it invites the CEO, the CFO and – if necessary – other members of the executive committee, members of staff or third parties to attend meetings.
The chairman, the CEO, the CFO and other representatives of the executive committee meet regularly to discuss fundamental corporate matters. These include the Group’s strategy, medium-term financial, operational and succession planning, organizational issues and market consolidation. If there is a conflict of interests, the board or executive committee members concerned abstain from voting.
The board of directors evaluates and assesses its own performance at regular intervals (next assessment in March 2021) – of each individual member as well as of the board as a whole – and determines, if necessary, actions to take to improve the in- and output.
Composition/working methods of the board’s committees
The functions of the three permanent board committees
are primarily analytical, advisory and supervisory.
They also have decision-making authority
in
certain individual cases.
Audit, risk & compliance committee (ARCC)
The ARCC consists of at least three members elected
by the board of directors from among its members,
for a period of office lasting from one ordinary annual
general meeting of shareholders until completion
of the next ordinary annual general meeting of
shareholders. As at December 31, 2020, the members
of the ARCC were Dr. René Cotting (chairman),
Dr. Thomas Schmuckli, Martin Kühn and Maria
Teresa Vacalli. The ARCC meets at least three times
per year: in the summer, to define the scope and key
points of the annual audit with the audit company,
in late fall to discuss the findings from the main
audit and the existence and effectiveness of the
internal control system (ICS), and in February, to
discuss the result of the audit of annual accounts.
These meetings are attended by the chairman of the board of directors (unless she or he is already a member of the ARCC), the CFO, the Group controller and at least one representative of the external auditors. The CEO, other members of the executive committee and other persons (internal or external) may be invited to attend the meetings, depending on the agenda. The minutes of these meetings are circulated to all members of the board of directors, the CFO and the CEO, as well as to those who attended the meeting. In addition, the ARCC regularly reports on its activities to the board of directors at meetings of the latter. In 2020, the ARCC held three meetings. On average, the meetings lasted half a day. A conference call was also held.
The ARCC ensures that the board of directors is informed of all matters that could significantly impact the financial situation of the Bossard Group and the business environment. The primary duty of the ARCC is to support the board of directors in its ultimate supervisory role and in its financial management activities. In particular, with the assistance of the external auditor it reviews the structures and processes in the area of finance and accounting, thus ensuring that financial reporting and audit activities are transparent and comply with the related legislation. The ARCC also evaluates the effectiveness of the ICS, risk management and compliance with tax-related and other statutory and regulatory provisions as well as corporate ethics. Furthermore, the ARCC works closely together with the external auditor and evaluates the performance, independence and remuneration of the external auditor. The board of directors has drawn up in the rules and regulations of the audit, risk & compliance committee the detailed regulations on the areas of activity and competencies of the ARCC. To date, the board of directors has refrained from creating an internal audit unit.
Compliance
The board of directors is kept continuously informed
of all major matters affecting the compliance principles.
The statutory auditors additionally inform the
board of directors on reports it has received on matters
of a legal nature. An evaluation of such reports
received in 2020 did not reveal anything new but
confirmed what the board of directors already knew.
Ultimate supervision of compliance matters rests
with the board of directors.
Nomination committee (NC)
The NC consists of at least three members elected by
the board of directors from among its members, for a
period of office lasting from one ordinary annual
general meeting of shareholders until completion of
the next ordinary annual general meeting of shareholders.
A representative of the A shareholder group
on the board of directors is entitled to a seat on the
NC. As at December 31, 2020, the members of the NC
were Dr. Thomas Schmuckli (chairman), Prof. Dr.
Stefan Michel, Patricia Heidtman and Anton Lauber.
The NC meets as required, but at least twice a year.
Normally also the CEO and the chairman of the
board of directors (unless she or he is already a
member of the NC) attend the meeting. Other members
of the executive committee and other persons
(internal or external) may be invited to attend the
meetings, depending on the agenda.
The minutes of these meetings are circulated to all members of the board of directors and the CEO, as well as to those who attended the meeting. The NC also regularly reports to the board of directors at the latter’s meetings on its activities and, at least once a year, in detail on the progress of the nomination process. In 2020, the NC met for six meetings; each of these meetings lasted on average three hours. In addition, two conference calls were held.
The NC prepares all relevant business with regard to the nomination of members at strategic and operational management levels of the Bossard Group for the meetings of the board of directors and has the following main tasks:
- periodically reviewing the composition of the board of directors
- developing criteria and requirement profiles for election/re-elections to the board of directors, the CEO and, in collaboration with the CEO, the other members of the executive committee
- supporting the board of directors in implementing selection processes for the nomination of candidates for the board of directors and, in collaboration with the CEO, the executive committee
- providing possible training to the board of directors in relation to its duties
- ensuring succession planning for members of the board of directors, the executive committee and, in collaboration with the CEO, the deputies on the executive committee
- developing annual objectives to be submitted to the board of directors for the CEO (in collaboration with the chairman of the board of directors), defining the annual objectives of the other members of the executive committee and assessing the performance of the CEO and the other members of the executive committee (with the assistance of the chairman of the board of directors and the CEO). If necessary, the NC requests from the board of directors measures to improve performance
- submitting applications concerning the election and dismissal of members of the board of directors of the more important Group companies
The board of directors has drawn up in the nomination committee regulations the detailed regulations on the areas of activity and competencies of the NC.
Compensation committee (CC)
The CC consists of at least three members of the
board of directors individually elected as members
of the CC by the annual general meeting of shareholders
for a period of office until completion of the
next ordinary annual general meeting of shareholders.
Subject to election by the annual general meeting
of shareholders, the representative of the A
shareholder group on the board of directors is entitled
to a seat on the CC. David Dean (new election),
Anton Lauber (re-election) and Patricia Heidtman
(re-election) were elected to the CC at the annual
general meeting of shareholders on April 8, 2020.
The board of directors appointed David Dean as the
chairman of the CC. The CC meets as required, but at
least twice a year. The members of the executive
committee and other persons (internal or external)
may be invited to attend the meetings, depending
on the agenda. Normally, the CEO attends the meetings
of the CC. The minutes of these meetings are
circulated to all members of the board of directors
and the CEO, as well as to those who attended the
meeting. The CC also regularly reports to the board
of directors at the latter’s meetings on its activities
and, at least once a year, in detail on the progress of
the compensation process. In 2020, the CC held two
meetings, each lasted on average half a day.
The CC prepares all relevant business with regard to the compensation of members at strategic and operational management levels of the Bossard Group for the meetings of the board of directors and has the following main tasks:
- developing the general remuneration principles and the remuneration system for the board of directors, the CEO and the other members of the executive committee for the board of directors to make a decision on
- developing the guidelines governing the structure of the occupational pension scheme for the CEO and the other members of the executive committee for the board of directors to make a
decision on - periodically reviewing the compensation system and proposing any necessary changes to the board of directors
- preparing the annual compensation report to be submitted to the board of directors for the annual general meeting of shareholders and, where applicable, preparing other reports as requested
- submitting proposals concerning the compensation of the individual members of the board of directors, the CEO and the other members of the executive committee
- checking and approving employment contracts as well as other agreements with members of the executive committee
- if the CC considers necessary, the assignment, the supervision and the critical evaluation of the results of advisers or the comparison with third party companies regarding the compensation
practices
The board of directors has drawn up in the compensation committee regulations detailed regulations on the areas of activity and competencies of the CC.