Corporate Governance Statement 2018

The Corporate Governance Statement issued pursuant to Section 289f and Section 315d of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch – HGB) includes the Declaration of Conformity in respect of the German Corporate Governance Code, relevant details of corporate governance practices that go beyond the legal requirements, and a description of the composition and procedural methods adopted by the Management Board, the Supervisory Board, and the Committees of the Supervisory Board. Additionally, it provides details of the defined targets and concepts pursued with regard to the composition of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board.

Declaration of Conformity

Pursuant to Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz – AktG), the supervisory board and management board of exchange-listed stock corporations are obliged to issue an annual declaration stating that the recommendations of the "Code of the Government Commission on German Corporate Governance" have been and will continue to be complied with and, if applicable, specifying which recommendations have not been or will not be applied. Any departures from the recommendations must be explained.

The Management Board and Supervisory Board of ElringKlinger AG hereby issue a Declaration of Conformity pursuant to Section 161 AktG, stating that the Company has complied with, currently complies with and will in future comply with the recommendations of the "Government Commission German Corporate Governance Code" in the version dated February 7th, 2017, with the following exceptions.

Section 3.8 paragraph3: The deductibles agreed for the Supervisory Board as part of the company's D&O insurance differ from those specified for the Management Board.
The D&O insurance policy for the Supervisory Board contains a deductible. However, this deductible is lower than that defined for the members of the Management Board. The company is of the opinion that inconsistency in the treatment of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board is objectively justified due to the different functions of the aforementioned bodies. Legislators accept such a differentiation, as they have not specified any regulations for the Supervisory Board that are comparable to the provisions governing deductibles for Management Board members.

Section 4.1.5: When filling managerial positions in the enterprise, suitability and qualification of the candidates were taken into consideration by the Management Board primarily.
When filling managerial positions the Management Board orients itself by requirements of the corresponding position and looks for the best possible individual, fulfilling these requirements. If there are more candidates with similar qualifications, the Management Board takes diversity into consideration and aims for an appropriate consideration of women. The Management Board defined targets for the share of women on the two management levels below the Management Board pursuant to the German stock corporation law.

Section 5.1.2: When appointing the Management Board, the Supervisory Board orients itself by suitability and qualification. No age limit has been set for members of the Management Board.
The members shall be selected prior to their suitability and qualification. In the company’s view, the special weighting of further criteria given by the Code would limit the selection of potential candidates for the Management Board. The Supervisory Board committed targets for the share of women in accordance with the German stock corporation law to zero percent. The definition of another target would have the consequence that a further female member of the Management Board has to be appointed or a change of the current Management Board occupation has to be executed.

There is no general age limit for Management Board members. The main focus for ElringKlinger is on the qualifications as well as the experience required by candidates to be appointed to the board. Given the provisions set out in the German General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG), which does not apply directly to this case but at the very least provides a basis for analogous application, the company is of the opinion that the approach of specifying an age limit is inappropriate.

Section 5.3.3: At present there is no Nomination Committee to propose possible candidates for the election of shareholder representatives to the Supervisory Board.
Given the current size of the company's Supervisory Board, both the Management Board and the Supervisory Board are of the opinion that there is no need to form a Nomination Committee.

Section 5.4.1 paragraph 2: Regarding the composition of the Supervisory Board, concrete objectives will not be predefined. To date, no profile of skills and expertise has been prepared for the entire Board. Neither regular limit of length of membership nor age limit has been set for members of the Supervisory Board.
Relevant selection criteria for the appointment of the Supervisory Board are also suitability, experience and qualification. A commitment to specifications concerning prospective appointments constricts flexibility without ulterior advantage for the company. This applies all the more as the representatives of the shareholders can temporarily only elect six members of the Supervisory Board with codetermination. Within this context, the specifications mentioned in the Code’s recommendation are per se further important criteria for the constitution of the Supervisory Board. So because of the mentioned reasons there is no need of a predefinition of concrete objectives except for the specification of Section 111 (5) AktG. The share of women on the Supervisory Board is already 30 percent. The legal requirements are fulfilled.

In the past, no profile of skills and expertise was prepared for the entire Board. However, the company intends to draw up such a profile in the future. The next Supervisory Board election will take place as scheduled in 2020. The profile of skills and expertise is to be drawn up by this date at the latest.

A regular limit of length of membership in the Supervisory Board is not defined. Each membership in the Supervisory Board is limited until the new election of the Supervisory Board by the Annual General Meeting as specified by the German stock corporation law. It is up to the Annual General Meeting to decide about the reelection of a member of the Supervisory Board or not.

No general age limit has been set for members of the Supervisory Board, as the expertise of the individual members is considered an overriding priority. Within this context, experience in particular is seen as an integral element. Given the provisions set out in the German General Equal Treatment Act (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG), which does not apply directly to this case but at the very least provides a basis for analogous application, the company is of the opinion that the approach of specifying an age limit is inappropriate.

Section 5.4.1 paragraph 4 sentence 1: As no profile of skills and expertise for the entire Board has been prepared to date in accordance with Section 5.4.1 paragraph 2, possible proposals by the Supervisory Board cannot be aimed at fulfilling the overall profile of required skills and expertise.

Section 5.4.3 paragraph 3: Proposals regarding candidates for the Chair of the Supervisory Board are not disclosed to shareholders.
The election of the Chairperson of the Supervisory Board is an internal affair and in the sole responsibility of the Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board is best placed to assess the suitability of the candidates. Against this background, the company is of the opinion that prior disclosure of the names of candidates for the Chair of the Supervisory Board would not be appropriate. 

Section 5.4.6 paragraph 2 sentence 2: Compensation of the members of the Supervisory Board consists of a variable or performance-based component that is determined according to the Group's earnings before taxes in the financial year just ended.
The company is of the opinion that the current structure of Supervisory Board compensation adequately reflects the responsibilities of the Supervisory Board in respect of business performance. Profitability is of key importance to the sustained development of the company. This aspect is to be reflected in the assessment of compensation.

Relevant details of corporate governance practices

Business at ElringKlinger is based on and guided by statutory requirements and the regulations arising from the German Corporate Governance Code, as stated in the Declaration of Conformity issued by ElringKlinger. As part of their responsibilities, the Management Board and Supervisory Board are obliged to ensure compliance with these requirements. ElringKlinger has also adopted more specific internal standards and guidelines, which are outlined below.

Vision and mission

ElringKlinger has developed a vision and a mission statement for the company that define the Group's goals and fundamental values. The company's actions, and the way it treats its customers, staff and suppliers, must be geared fully towards these goals and values, which also serve as a benchmark. The mission statement revolves around the concepts of loyalty and responsibility, reliability, courage, appreciation and cost and quality leadership. The vision and mission statement can be viewed online at www.elringklinger.com.

Code of ethics and code of conduct
ElringKlinger also abides by corporate codes of ethics and conduct derived from its vision and mission statement. These codes can be found online at www.elringklinger.com. The Management Board is accountable for the implementation of these codes, whose principles form an integral part of the company's internal regulations and guidelines. ElringKlinger’s corporate code of ethics includes explicit pledges to uphold human rights and specific social standards, prohibit discrimination and corruption, and act on its responsibility for the environment. The code of conduct, which follows on from the code of ethics, sets out these principles in greater detail and provides further elaboration. The code of conduct also outlines the fundamentals of the compliance system deployed by the ElringKlinger Group. In addition to defining precise requirements for employees, the code of conduct appeals to the sense of responsibility of each individual not to act in a manner that may damage ElringKlinger's corporate values and, instead, to actively protect and promote them.

Management principles

ElringKlinger's management principles shall play a major role in shaping working relationships. Clarity and openness, respect, effectiveness, innovation and training are key elements of these principles. The leadership principles are available online at www.elringklinger.com.

Quality and environmental guidelines

The quality and environmental guidelines for suppliers of the ElringKlinger Group ensure that the company’s products always meet the highest standards of quality and that resources are treated carefully and sparingly. The guidelines are published online at www.elringklinger.com.

In addition to the above-mentioned principles and guidelines, there are further regulations, instructions and rules precisely stipulating how each division should implement both the legal requirements and other, self-imposed standards insofar as this is relevant. This particularly applies to complying with environmental standards, avoiding hazards and preventing corruption.

Procedural methods of the Management Board and Supervisory Board

Management Board

The Management Board directs the company and conducts its business. The Management Board consists of four members with one chairperson. The Management Board's tasks are divided into areas of responsibility according to functional criteria, which in turn comprise the so-called Business Units (operating units with responsibilities for revenue) and the so-called Corporate Units (supporting units). Area of Responsibility 1, directed by the Chairman of the Management Board, Dr. Stefan Wolf, consists of the Aftermarket division and the Sales, Human Resources, Legal & Compliance, Marketing & Communications, and Strategic Communications corporate units, in addition to investees of ElringKlinger AG. Theo Becker oversees Area of Responsibility 2, encompassing the Battery Technology & E-Mobility and Drivetrain business units and the New Business Areas corporate unit with the respective plants and investees assigned to these units as well as the Tool Shop/Technology, Purchasing, and Real Estate & Facility Management corporate units. Within Area of Responsibility 3, Thomas Jessulat directs the Finance, Strategic IT and Operational IT, and Logistics corporate business units as well as Business Development and the Industrial Parks division. Reiner Drews oversees Area of Responsibility 4, consisting of the Cylinder-head Gaskets, Lightweighting/Elastomer Technology, Speciality Gaskets, and Shielding Technology business units and the Quality & Environmental Management and Production corporate units as well as the plants of ElringKlinger AG.

Under the by-laws defined by the Management Board, each member of the Management Board directs his area of responsibility independently. Irrespective of this, the Management Board bears overall responsibility for the management of the company. Fundamental decisions are made jointly or are presented to the Management Board as a whole for the purpose of its decision-making. Management Board meetings are to be held at least twice a month. Decisions are to be made by mutual agreement as far as possible. If this is not possible, the decision is that of the majority of the Management Board members. In the case of a majority decision, the chairperson of the Supervisory Board is to be informed of this situation as well as the underlying circumstances. The chair is responsible for conducting the Management Board meetings and reporting to the Supervisory Board. The by-laws set out in detail the Management Board’s reporting requirement to the Supervisory Board in particular regarding the risk situation, risk management and compliance. Under the provisions of the by-laws, the prior agreement of the Supervisory Board is required for important business such as acquisitions, property transactions or divestments. Beyond this, the Supervisory Board is free to decide that further deals are dependent on its agreement, taking into account the allocation of rights and duties according to stock corporation law. In addition, the by-laws dictate the approach to be taken in the event of conflicts of interest, absence of Management Board members and the taking on of further offices, which always requires the agreement of the chair of the Supervisory Board.

Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board monitors the managerial actions of the Management Board and advises it in particular on issues relating to the strategic direction to be taken by the company. It must be involved in decisions that are fundamental for the company. The Supervisory Board is composed of six shareholder representatives and six employee representatives in accordance with the Codetermination Act (Mitbestimmungsgesetz). The Supervisory Board meets at least once a quarter so that the Management Board can report on business development and significant transactions. To aid preparation, the Management Board shall provide the members of the Supervisory Board with full written information on each of the agenda items at least one week before the arranged meeting. The Supervisory Board shall be convened whenever the Management Board or a member of the Supervisory Board has good cause to request this. Furthermore, the Supervisory Board chairperson remains in regular contact with the Management Board. At the close of the financial year, the Supervisory Board undertakes an efficiency audit regarding its activities by means of a questionnaire. The results are evaluated and discussed. 

The Supervisory Board’s rules of procedure define the election of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson as well as the convening and quorum of the Supervisory Board. Supervisory Board decisions are decided by simple majority. In urgent cases, they may be made by telephone, in writing, or by e-mail, provided that no member of the Supervisory Board objects to the procedure. The Management Board members participate in the Supervisory Board meetings if the Supervisory Board does not make other arrangements on an individual basis. Minutes are to be kept of the Supervisory Board’s meetings.

Committees of the Supervisory Board

From its members, the Supervisory Board has formed an Audit Committee, a Personnel Committee and – pursuant to the provisions set out for codetermined entities – a Mediation Committee.

The Audit Committee is made up of Mr. Diez, Mr. Eberhardt and Mr. Strauß. The chair is held by Mr. Strauß. The Supervisory Board determines the composition of the Audit Committee in accordance with the terms of reference of the Audit Committee. Within this context, the chairperson of the Audit Committee shall have specialist knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles and internal control processes. The chairperson should not have been a member of the Management Board of ElringKlinger AG during any of the previous five years. The Audit Committee convenes at least twice per year, or more frequently if required. Regulations with regard to convening the Audit Committee and passing resolutions therein are largely comparable to those defined within the terms of reference of the Supervisory Board. For a quorum to be formed, all committee members must participate in the act of passing a resolution. The duties of the Audit Committee are defined more closely by the terms of reference. Under these terms, the Audit Committee monitors the financial accounting and reporting and prepares resolutions related thereto for subsequent discussion by the Supervisory Board. It analyzes the controlling and risk management system as well as the efficiency of internal auditing. It also monitors compliance with the German Corporate Governance Code and the work of the auditor. For this purpose, the auditor is required to report to the Audit Committee on the audit itself, the procedures of the audit and its focal points, in addition to any findings it makes. Furthermore, he monitors the independence of the auditor and deals with additional services provided by the audit firm, the definition of auditing focal points, and the negotiation of fees. The Audit Committee is responsible for preparing the audit of the annual financial statements, management report and audit report relating to the separate and consolidated financial statements to be performed by the Supervisory Board and submits recommendations. Finally, it submits to the Supervisory Board a reasoned recommendation for the appointment of an auditor and prepares the audit mandate.

The Personnel Committee is currently made up of three members. These are Mr. Eberhardt, who holds the Chair of this committee, Mr. Siegers and Mrs. Sons. The structure, procedures and duties are defined within the terms of reference. The Supervisory Board is responsible for determining the appointment and chairmanship of the Personnel Committee. The procedures to be applied with regard to convening the Personnel Committee, passing resolutions and forming a quorum are equivalent to those defined for the Audit Committee. Personnel Committee meetings are convened as required. The Personnel Committee is responsible for preparing appointments to the Management Board by selecting and recommending suitable candidates as Management Board members, drawing up suggestions with regard to the structure of the employment contract and compensation, concluding contracts of employment with the approval of the Chairman of the Personnel Committee and the Supervisory Board, conducting meetings with directors, preparing extensions to contracts and reviewing Management Board compensation on a regular basis, which also includes submitting recommendations to the Supervisory Board with regard to the adjustment of compensation levels.

The Mediation Committee, the formation and composition of which conforms with applicable regulations under the German Codetermination Act, essentially comprises four members. They include the ex-officio members Mr. Eberhardt and Mr. Siegers as Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board, as well as Mrs. Monteiro Munz and Mrs. Sons. The sole duty of the Mediation Committee is to submit to the full Supervisory Board recommendations for the appointment of Management Board members if the full Supervisory Board is unable to agree on a candidate with the requisite majority.

Target figures for the appointment of executives

The Supervisory Board has agreed a target figure of 0% in respect of the proportion of women appointed to the Management Board, as the Supervisory Board does not consider it appropriate to set quotas for certain groups of persons on a comparatively small Management Board such as that of ElringKlinger AG and it is in the company's interest to maintain the greatest possible flexibility in this respect. The Management Board has determined target figures of 10% and 15% respectively for the first and second management level below the Management Board; they are to be achieved by June 30, 2022. Irrespective of the attainment of its targets and the definition of target figures, ElringKlinger is committed to steadily increasing the percentage of women appointed to executive and specialist positions. One of the essential prerequisites is that women with relevant qualifications can be attracted for such positions and that their skills can be developed accordingly. ElringKlinger AG will report on the implementation of its target figures in accordance with statutory provisions.

The composition of the Supervisory Board in respect of male and female members was fully compliant with statutory provisions in the reporting period.