Choose topics to filter the report

Your filter results

4. Committees

The Board of Directors may delegate the preparation and execution of its decisions to committees or to its individual members. The Board of Directors has appointed three standing committees: the Audit and Risk Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee. For each of the committees, the Board of Directors elects a chair from the members of the Board of Directors. The period of office of all Committee members is one year. Re-election is possible.

Subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association1, the Audit and Risk Committee and the Compensation Committee shall generally comprise three or more members of the Board of Directors. The Nomination and Governance Committee shall generally comprise two or more members of the Board of Directors.

4.1 Compensation Committee

As required by Swiss law, the members of the Compensation Committee are elected each year by the Annual General Meeting. As of 31 December 2021, the members of the Compensation Committee were Colleen Goggins (chair), Mariel Hoch and Wah-Hui Chu.

Meetings of the Compensation Committee are held as often as required but in any event at least three times a year, or as requested by any of its members.

The members of the Compensation Committee shall be non-executive and independent, and a majority of the members of the Compensation Committee, including its chair, should be experienced in the areas of succession planning and performance evaluation, as well as the compensation of members of Boards of Directors and executive management boards.

The Compensation Committee shall assist the Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board. The Compensation Committee’s responsibilities include, inter alia:

  • issuance and review of the compensation policy and the performance criteria and periodical review of the implementation and submission of suggestions and recommendations to the Board, including as regards compliance with applicable laws;
  • preparation of the Board of Directors’ proposals to the Annual General Meeting regarding the compensation of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board;
  • review of the principles and design of compensation plans, long-term incentive and equity plans, pension arrangements and further benefits for the Group Executive Board, including review of the contractual terms of the members of the Group Executive Board and submission of adjustments to the Board of Directors for approval;
  • for each performance period, preparation of the decisions for the Board of Directors regarding the compensation of the members of the Board of Directors and the Group Executive Board, including the breakdown of compensation elements (within the amount approved by the Annual General Meeting);
  • submission of suggestions to the Board of Directors regarding the recipients of performance-related and/or long-term incentive compensation and submission of suggestions to the Board of Directors regarding the definition of the annual or other targets for performance-related and/or long-term incentive compensation; and
  • review of the compensation report and submission to the Board of Directors for approval.

The Board of Directors may entrust the Compensation Committee with additional duties in related matters. The Compensation Committee is required to report its activities to the Board of Directors on a regular basis and to make recommendations and propose appropriate measures to the Board of Directors.2

4.2 Audit and Risk Committee

The members and the chair of the Audit and Risk Committee are appointed by the Board of Directors. As of 31 December 2021, the members of the Audit and Risk Committee were Matthias Währen (chair), Mariel Hoch and Werner Bauer.

Meetings of the Audit and Risk Committee are held as often as required but, in any event at least four times a year, or as requested by any of its members.

The members of the Audit and Risk Committee shall be non-executive and independent, and a majority of the members of the Audit and Risk Committee, including its chair, must be experienced in financial and accounting matters.

The Audit and Risk Committee (i) assists the Board in fulfilling its supervisory responsibilities with respect to (a) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements and financial reporting process, (b) the Company’s compliance with legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements, (c) the system of internal controls, and (d) the audit process; (ii) monitors the performance of the Company’s internal auditors and the performance, qualification, and independence of the Company’s independent auditors; and (iii) considers the proper assessment and professional management of risks by supervising the Company’s risk management system and processes.

The responsibilities of the Audit and Risk Committee in particular include, inter alia, to review and discuss with the CFO and, both together with the CFO and separately, with the auditors the Company’s annual and semi-annual and quarterly (if quarterly financial statements are prepared) financial statements and reports intended for publication, as well as any other financial statements intended for publication. The Audit and Risk Committee also recommends the annual financial statements for approval by the Board of Directors for submission to the Annual General Meeting, recommends the semi-annual financial statements for approval by the Board of Directors and approves quarterly (if quarterly financial statements are prepared) financial statements for publication. In addition, the Audit and Risk Committee discusses with the CFO and the auditors significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, including any significant changes in the Company’s accounting principles, the selection and disclosure of critical accounting estimates, and the effect of alternative assumptions, estimates or accounting principles on the Company’s financial statements.

In connection with the risk management of the Company, the Audit and Risk Committee discusses with the CFO and, if appropriate, the Group General Counsel any legal matters (including the status of pending or threatened litigation) that may have a material impact on the Company’s business or financial statements and any material reports or inquiries from regulatory or governmental agencies that could materially impact the Company’s business or contingent liabilities and risks. Its members periodically review the Company’s policies and procedures designed to secure compliance with laws, regulations and internal rules regarding insider information, confidentiality, bribery and corruption, sanctions and adherence to ethical standards, and assess the effectiveness thereof. The Audit and Risk Committee obtains and reviews reports submitted at least annually by the Group General Counsel and any other persons the committee has designated as being responsible for assuring the Company’s compliance with laws and regulations. In this context, it informs the Board at least annually about the most significant risks for the Company and the Group and how such risks are managed or mitigated.

The Board of Directors may entrust the Audit and Risk Committee with additional duties in financial matters. In discharging its responsibilities, the Audit and Risk Committee has unrestricted and direct access to all relevant information in relation to the Company and the Group. The Audit and Risk Committee ensures that it is informed by the independent auditors on a regular basis. The Audit and Risk Committee is required to report its activities to the Board of Directors on a regular basis and to make recommendations and propose appropriate measures to the Board of Directors.

4.3 Nomination and Governance Committee

The members and the chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee are appointed by the Board of Directors. As of 31 December 2021, the members of the Nomination and Governance Committee were Andreas Umbach (chair), Nigel Wright, Wah-Hui Chu and Werner Bauer.

Meetings of the Nomination and Governance Committee are held as often as required but, in any event at least two times a year, or as requested by any of its members.

The majority of the members of the Nomination and Governance Committee shall be non-executive and a majority of the members of the Nomination and Governance Committee, including its chair, must be experienced in nomination of members of Boards of Directors and the Group Executive Board and corporate governance matters.

The Nomination and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities and discharging the Board’s responsibility to (i) establish and maintain a process relating to nomination of the members of the Board and the Group Executive Board and (ii) establish sound practices in corporate governance across the Group. Its responsibilities include, inter alia, assisting the Board to identify individuals who are qualified to become members of the Board or qualified to become the CEO when vacancies arise and, in consultation with the CEO, members of the Group Executive Board. Furthermore, the Nomination and Governance Committee reviews the performance of each current member of the Board of Directors, the CEO and each of the other members of the Group Executive Board. It also provides recommendations to the Board of Directors as to how the Board’s performance can be improved.

The Nomination and Governance Committee also develops and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding corporate governance matters and practices, including effectiveness of the Board of Directors, its Committees and individual directors. It also oversees the Company’s strategy and governance in relation to corporate responsibility for environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters, in particular regarding key issues that may affect the Company’s business and reputation. In doing so, the Nomination and Governance Committee may consult with the Responsibility Advisory Group, which consists of external ESG experts and was established to support Group Executive Board with the development of SIG’s Way Beyond Good approach by providing an external perspective.

The Board of Directors may entrust the Nomination and Governance Committee with additional duties in related matters. The Nomination and Governance Committee is required to report its activities to the Board of Directors on a regular basis and to make recommendations and propose appropriate measures to the Board of Directors.

1 https://www.sig.biz/investors/en/governance/articles-of-association.

2 The organisation and responsibilities the Compensation Committee are stipulated in the Articles of Association (art. 21).