Each registered share of the Company entitles the owner/beneficiary of the share to one vote at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, provided that they are registered in the share register of the Company as a shareholder with voting rights.
There are no statutory restrictions on voting rights. All shareholders, provided that they are registered in the share register of the Company as shareholders with voting rights, have the same right to attend the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders or to be represented by a legal representative or, with written authorization, by another person or by the independent voting proxy.
The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders passes its resolutions with the absolute majority of the votes allocated to the shares represented. If a second ballot is required, the relative majority of the votes allocated to the shares represented is sufficient for the adoption of an agenda item. In the event of equality of votes, the Chairman has the casting vote. According to the Articles of Incorporation, a resolution of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders passed by at least two thirds of the votes represented and the absolute majority of the par value of shares represented are required for:
Shareholders’ Meetings are convened by the Board and, if required, by the auditors at the latest 20 days before the date of the meeting. The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders is held at the latest within six months of the close of the financial year. Shareholders registered in the share register with voting rights representing an aggregate of at least 10 % of the share capital may request in writing, setting forth the items to be discussed and the proposals to be decided, that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders is convened.
The Company publishes the invitation to the Shareholders’ Meeting in the “SOGC,” as well as in other publications as decided by the Board of Directors. Simultaneously, the written invitation is sent to the shareholders or beneficiaries who are entered in the share register of the company.
The invitation contains details of the day, time and place of the meeting as well as the agenda and the proposals of the Board and the shareholders who have requested the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders or an item to be included on the agenda.
Shareholders registered in the share register with voting rights, whose combined shareholdings represent an aggregate nominal value of at least CHF 1 million, may request that an item be included in the agenda of a Shareholders’ Meeting. Such a request shall be made in writing at least 60 days before the meeting and shall specify the items and motions to be included in the agenda.
Computershare Schweiz AG keeps the Company’s share register which contains the names and addresses of shareholders and the number of shares they have registered. After dispatch of the invitation to the Shareholders’ Meeting, no entries can be made in the share register until the day after the Shareholders’ Meeting has taken place.