Declaration by the Executive and Supervisory Boards of Nemetschek SE on the Recommendations of the Government Commission of the German Corporate Governance Code (Regierungskommission Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex) Pursuant to Section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG)
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board declare:
The recommendations of the Regierungskommission Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex as amended on December 16, 2019 (“DCGK 2020”), published by the German Federal Ministry of Justice in the official section of the Federal Gazette on March 20, 2020 have been followed during the period since the previous Declaration of Conformity on May 12, 2022, save for the recommendations mentioned below for reasons also set out below, and during the specified periods of time.
Furthermore, since the publication of the recommendations of the Government Commission of the German Corporate Governance Code as amended on April 28, 2022, and published in the Federal Gazette on June 27, 2022 (“DCGK 2022”), the company has followed the recommendations of DCGK 2022, save for the recommendations mentioned below for reasons also set out below. The company will also follow the recommendations of DCGK 2022 in the future except for the recommendations mentioned below.
a) DCGK 2022 Recommendation A.1 (Ecological and Social Targets in Corporate Strategy)
The code recommends in section A.1, second sentence, that, in addition to long-term commercial objectives, corporate strategy shall also give appropriate consideration to ecological and social objectives. The Executive Board has taken measures to incorporate ecological and social targets into the corporate strategy and these measures are explained as part of the nonfinancial reporting in accordance with statutory provisions. The corporate and corporate social responsibility strategies are revised continuously. Because it is unclear what DCGK A.1, second sentence, requires for appropriate consideration of ecological and social objectives, the company is taking the precaution of declaring a deviation from A.1 second sentence
b) Recommendations A.1 (DCGK 2020), A.2 (DCGK 2022), B.1, and C.1 Second Sentence (Appointments to Executive Positions in the Enterprise and Composition of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board)
According to DCGK 2022 recommendation A.2, the Executive Board shall consider diversity when making appointments to executive positions. Likewise, the Supervisory Board shall consider diversity for the composition of the Executive Board (B.1) as well as for the definition of targets for the composition of the Supervisory Board and for the creation of a profile of required skills and expertise for the board as a whole (C.1 second sentence).
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Nemetschek SE expressly welcome the objective of the DCGK to ensure diversity and advocate diversity in the composition of the boards and appointments to executive positions. The Supervisory Board attached particular emphasis to diversity in election nominations for the Supervisory Board and in its appointments to the Executive Board during the 2022 fiscal year. Female representation increased significantly in both bodies. The new Supervisory Board elected at the 2022 Annual General Meeting has 33% female representation and, in the assessment of the Supervisory Board, has a composition that meets the diversity criterion. Moreover, there has been 25% female representation on the Executive Board since January 1, 2023. However, when making appointments to leadership roles and Executive Board positions, the Executive and Supervisory Boards continue to primarily value personal aptitude, especially the individual’s experience, skills, and knowledge. The criterion of diversity is additionally considered during such decision-making.
c) Recommendations B.5 and C.2 (Age Limit for Members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board)
According to recommendations B.5 and C.2, an age limit shall be specified for members of the executive board and supervisory board and disclosed in the Corporate Governance Statement. Nemetschek SE does not consider a universally applicable age limit to be a suitable criterion for the selection of members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board. The suitability for discharging the duties of a position on the Executive Board or Supervisory Board is dependent on the experience, knowledge, and skills of the person in question. The specification of an age limit would place general and inappropriate restrictions on the selection of suitable candidates for positions on the Executive Board and Supervisory Board.
d) Recommendation D.1 (Publication of the Rules of Procedure for the Supervisory Board)
The Supervisory Board of Nemetschek SE set rules of procedure for itself. Departing from recommendation D.1, however, the Supervisory Board has not made the rules of procedure accessible on the company’s website. The main rules of procedure for the Supervisory Board are prescribed by law as well as by the Articles of Incorporation and are publicly accessible. It is our opinion that publication of the rules of procedure above and beyond this would not add any value.
e) DCGK 2020 Recommendation D.5/DCGK 2022 Recommendation D.4 (Nomination Committee)
The Supervisory Board is composed solely of shareholder representatives and, as a result, no nomination committee was set up.
f) Recommendation G.4 (Vertical Comparison of Remuneration)
Departing from recommendation G.4, in order to ascertain whether Executive Board remuneration is in line with usual levels, the Supervisory Board did not take into account the relationship between Executive Board remuneration and the remuneration of upper management or the staff of Nemetschek SE as a whole, nor did it take into account how remuneration has developed over time (vertical comparison of remuneration). As a holding company, Nemetschek SE does not offer any appropriate standards of comparison for either upper management or the staff as a whole. Nonetheless, the Supervisory Board used the remuneration of the heads of the most important product organizations as a standard of comparison on which to base its actual remuneration decision-making.
g) Recommendation G.7 First Sentence (Time of Definition of Performance Criteria for Variable Remuneration Components)
According to recommendation G.7, first sentence, the Supervisory Board shall, referring to the upcoming financial year, establish for each Executive Board member performance criteria that cover all variable remuneration components. In accordance with the remuneration system for the Executive Board members, the Supervisory Board will specify the performance criteria for the variable remuneration components and the targets respectively no later than February 28 of a given fiscal year. In individual cases, the Supervisory Board considers it wise to make a decision concerning performance criteria and targets only on the basis of preliminary business figures from the previous fiscal year. Consequently, the company is declaring a provisional departure from recommendation G.7, first sentence.
h) Recommendation G.10 (Form of Investment and Time of Accessibility of Long-Term Variable Remuneration Components)
Departing from recommendation G.10, first sentence, the Executive Board members are under no obligation to invest the variable remuneration amounts granted to them predominantly in company shares.
The Executive Board remuneration system provides for long-term variable remuneration with a three-year term (LTIP), which is paid out in cash in the fourth year, if granted. As a result, we declare a departure from recommendation G.10, second sentence, according to which the granted long-term variable remuneration amounts are intended to be accessible to Executive Board members only after a period of four years. In the case of a cash payment of the long-term variable remuneration under the LTIP, a later payout date has no ongoing incentivizing effect since the amount is determined upon expiration of the corresponding LTIP term and is not subject to any further changes even if the payout date is later. The 2022 remuneration system creates the possibility of granting to Executive Board members virtual stock appreciation rights under the SAR plan as an additional, long-term remuneration element. The development of their value depends on the development of the Nemetschek stock price. This remuneration element corresponds to stock-based compensation with a strong alignment of interests between the company’s shareholders and Executive Board members. The exercise of stock appreciation rights is usually only partially (25%) subject to a four-year waiting period.
Munich, March 9, 2023
For the Executive Board |
For the Supervisory Board |
Corporate Governance Declaration as per § 289f and § 315d of the German Commercial Code (HGB)
The corporate governance declaration required by sections 289f and 315d of the German Commercial Code (HGB) includes the declaration of conformity pursuant to section 161 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), relevant information on corporate governance practices, explanations on compliance and opportunity and risk management, a description of the working methods of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board, the target figures for the proportion of women, and a description of the diversity concept. Our aim is to keep the presentation of corporate governance clear and concise.
Kurt Dobitsch
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Dr. Gernot Strube
Deputy Chairman of the supervisory board
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Iris M. Helke
Member of the supervisory board
Chairperson of the audit committee
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Bill Krouch
Member of the supervisory board
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Christine Schoeneweis
Member of the supervisory board
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Prof. Dr. Andreas Söffing
Member of the supervisory board
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Honorary chairman of the supervisory board
Prof. Georg Nemetschek
Remuneration of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Nemetschek SE have prepared a remuneration report in accordance with Section 162 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) as amended by the German Act Implementing the Second Shareholder Rights Directive (ARUG II) for the 2022 financial year.
As well as providing an overview of the remuneration systems for members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board relevant for the reporting year, the report clearly and transparently sets out and explains the remuneration individually granted and owed to current and former members of the Executive Board and Supervisory Board of Nemetschek SE.
Executive Board Remuneration System
The current remuneration system for the members of the executive board of Nemetschek SE was approved by the annual general meeting on May 12, 2022, with a majority of 68.81% of the valid votes cast.
Remuneration of the Supervisory Board members
The system for compensation of Supervisory Board members submitted to the Annual General Meeting on May 12, 2022, was approved by a majority of 99.86% of the valid votes cast.