Media release
April 06, 2022Shareholders approve dividend of CHF 3.50 per share and all other proposals at annual general meeting
The shareholders approved the Sulzer Annual Report 2021, including the annual accounts and consolidated financial statements as well as the appropriation of profit. In addition, the shareholders approved Sulzer’s compensation report in a consultative vote.
An ordinary dividend of CHF 3.50 per share will be paid out on April 12, 2022. Discharge was granted to all members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee. The remuneration limits for the Board of Directors concerning the period from AGM 2022 to AGM 2023, and for the Group Executive Committee for the financial year 2023, were approved. KPMG was reelected as auditor for the financial year 2022. Proxy Voting Services was elected as the independent proxy for a term of office until the completion of the next AGM.
Suzanne Thoma was newly elected as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for a term of office until the completion of the next AGM. The shareholders also re-elected Matthias Bichsel, Alexey Moskov, Hanne Birgitte Breinbjerg Sørensen and David Metzger as members of the Board of Directors for a term of office until the completion of the next AGM, David Metzger and Alexey Moskov continue to represent the principal shareholder.
Peter Löscher and Gerhard Roiss announced over the course of last year their decision to retire from the Board following several years of valuable service. Furthermore, Heike van de Kerkhof and Mikhail Lifshitz informed the board before the AGM that they are not standing for election. The Board of Directors thanks Peter Löscher, Gerhard Roiss and Mikhail Lifshitz for their exceptional contribution and dedication to Sulzer during their terms of office.
Mr. Markus Kammüller was newly elected as member of the Board for a term of office until the completion of the next AGM. Mr. Kammüller brings a broad range of expertise and leadership experience in international business and will make a strong addition to Sulzer’s Board.
All members of the Board of Directors were elected by shareholders with strong majorities, ranging from 93.1% to an almost unanimous 99.68% in the case of Suzanne Thoma. Shareholders also approved the business review, financial statements and consolidated financial statements with an exceptionally high majority of 99.78%, in a further display of confidence.
The shareholders elected Hanne Birgitte Breinbjerg Sørensen, Suzanne Thoma, and Alexey Moskov as members of the Remuneration Committee, all for a term of office until the completion of the next AGM.
Following the 2022 AGM, the Board of Directors convened in order to define the new composition of all board committees. Thereby, the Board decided to split the Nomination and Remuneration Committee into two separate committees – a Nomination Committee and a Remuneration Committee. The shareholders will continue to elect the members of the Remuneration Committee, while the Nomination Committee’s composition will be determined by the Board of Directors.
The Board further elected Matthias Bichsel as Vice Chairman and defined the new composition of all committees:
- Remuneration Committee: Hanne Birgitte Breinbjerg Sørensen (Chairwoman), Suzanne Thoma, Alexey Moskov
- Nomination Committee: Suzanne Thoma (Chairwoman), Hanne Birgitte Breinbjerg Sørensen, Markus Kammüller
- Strategy and Sustainability Committee: Suzanne Thoma (Chairwoman), Matthias Bichsel, David Metzger
- Audit Committee: Hanne Birgitte Breinbjerg Sørensen (Chairwoman), David Metzger, Markus Kammüller
In these volatile times of important opportunities and special challenges, the Board will continue – in close collaboration with the Executive Committee – to advance the company‘s vision of a safe, prosperous and sustainable future. Our responsibility is towards Sulzer and its shareholders, our almost 14’000 employees, our customers, suppliers and our many stakeholders in society at large.
Due to the pandemic and in line with the COVID-19 Ordinance 3 of the Swiss Federal Council, shareholders were not allowed to attend the AGM in person. They were advised to authorize and instruct the independent proxy to cast their votes on their behalf. The independent proxy represented 76.32% of the share capital.
This document may contain forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, projections of financial developments, market activity, or future performance of products and solutions containing risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to change based on known or unknown risks and various other factors that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from the statements made herein.
Your spokesperson
Media relations
Marlène Betschart
Head Corporate Communications
Sulzer Management Ltd.
8401 Winterthur
Switzerland
Investor relations
Thomas Zickler
Chief Financial Officer
Sulzer Management Ltd
8401 Winterthur
Switzerland