Corporate governance

5. Compensations, shareholdings and loans

Contents and method of determining compensation and participation plans

Upon recommendation of the Personnel Committee, the Board of Directors annually determines the remuneration of each member of the Board of Directors and of the individual members of the Group Executive Board. The proposal for Group Executive salaries (excluding the CEO) is drawn up by the CEO and submitted to the Personnel Committee in advance.

In establishing compensation for the Board of Directors, the Board looked to the member industrial companies of SMIM as a reference (SMIM includes the 30 largest mid-cap stocks on the Swiss stock market that are not already listed in the SMI blue chip index). The compensation of the non-executive Board of Directors is paid in the form of shares. The shares are subject to a blocking period of two years. The Board member is granted a discount on the share price. Such discount depends on the results of the Group and corresponds to the discount (between 10% and 50%) granted to employees under the employee participation plans (see  Consolidated Financial Statements of the Geberit Group, Note 18, “participation plans”).

The compensation of the Group Executive Board is paid on the basis of a regulation adopted by the Board of Directors applicable also to the entire Group management of the Geberit Group (approx. 150 persons). The target salary (100%) is composed of a fixed salary (70%), a results-related salary (25%) as well as an individual performance component (5%). The results-related salary is calculated based on four company figures (sales and margin development, return on operating assets, earnings per share) and can exceed the percentage included in the target salary. It reaches a maximum of 60%. The individual performance component is based on the achievement of pre-defined objectives and can be 10% at maximum. The target salaries for the Group Executive Board are regularly benchmarked with those of the boards of comparable Swiss industrial companies in collaboration with an international salary benchmarking service.

The results-related salary and the individual performance component may be received, in whole or in part, in cash and/or in shares (without discount). In case of payment in shares, an additional incentive is granted in the form of one option per share. The shares and options are subject to a blocking period of three years and two years (with a total term of five years), respectively. The exercise price of the option corresponds to the share market price at the time of allotment. Each option entitles to subscribe for one share.

In addition to the salary, there is an annual option plan for the Group Executive Board and other management members (approx. 70 executives). The Board of Directors annually determines the scope of the options granted to management members. In the year under review, the market value of options granted as of the granting date corresponded to 10% of target salary. Half of these options with a total term of five years are subject to a blocking period of two years; the other half are subject to a blocking term of four years. The exercise price of the option is 5% and 10%, respectively in excess of the share market price at the time of allotment. Each option entitles to subscribe for one share.

There are special pension fund regulations for the Group Executive Board and other management members. The company pays for the entire contribution in regard to the part of the salary that exceeds TCHF 146. In addition, each member of the Group Executive Board as well as other management members have company cars at their disposal. Additionally, no other significant payments of any similar kind are made. Details regarding compensation as well as share and option allotments and ownership can be found under  Financial Statements of Geberit AG, 1.8 Remuneration, loans and shareholdings of members of the Board of Directors and of the Group Executive Board.