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Corporate governance statement

The corporate governance statement (in accordance with Sec. 289a HGB [“Handelsgesetzbuch”:German Commercial Code]) contains the declaration of compliance, disclosures relating to corporate governance practices and a description of the way in which the Managing Board and Supervisory Board work. It can be accessed at group.hugoboss.com/Investor Relations/Corporate Governance.

Declaration of compliance

In accordance with Sec. 161 (1) Sentence 1 AktG the Managing Board and Supervisory Board of HUGO BOSS AG have to issue an annual declaration of compliance stating whether the recommendations of the government commission for the German Corporate Governance Code as published in the Bundesanzeiger [German Federal Gazette] were complied with and whether they will be complied with in the future. The recommendations that were not complied or will not be complied with in the future also have to be indicated stating the reason for non-compliance. The German Corporate Governance Code as most recently revised on June 24, 2014 was published in the Bundesanzeiger on September 30, 2014. Accordingly, the Managing Board and Supervisory Board issued the following declaration of compliance in December 2014:

“Declaration of compliance

Declaration of the Managing Board and Supervisory Board of HUGO BOSS AG pursuant to section 161 AktG (German Stock Corporation Act)

HUGO BOSS AG, Metzingen, Securities ID A1PHFF

The Managing Board and Supervisory Board of HUGO BOSS AG herewith declare pursuant to section 161 para. 1 sentence 1 AktG (German Stock Corporation Act) that since the Compliance Declaration of December 2013 the recommendations of the Government Commission “German Corporate Governance Code” initially as amended on May 13, 2013 – officially published in the Federal Gazette on June 10, 2013 – and since its effectiveness in the version as amended on June 24, 2014 – officially published in the Federal Gazette on September 30, 2014 – have been and are complied with except for:

  • Deviating from the recommendation in section 3.8 sentence 5 GCGC, the D&O- (Directors’ & Officers’-)insurance for members of the Supervisory Board does not contain a deductible. HUGO BOSS AG covers the D&O-risk via an appropriate liability insurance in which also members of the Supervisory Board are included. The members of the Supervisory Board hold their offices responsibly and in the interest of the Group. HUGO BOSS AG is of the opinion that a deductible is no appropriate means for further improving the sense of responsibility. Further, the introduction of a deductible would not lead to a significant reduction of premium payments.
  • Deviating from the recommendation in section 4.2.2 sentence 6 GCGC the total compensation of the members of the Managing Board complies with the statutory criteria without specifically taking into consideration the compensation of senior management and the staff overall, particularly in terms of its development over time, because the Supervisory Board is of the opinion that the statutory criteria, namely the appropriateness of the tasks and the performances, the situation of the Group and the common level of compensation in the industry, are more important.
  • Deviating from the recommendation in section 4.2.3 sentence 7 GCGC a cap is indeed specified regarding the total compensation of the members of the Managing Board. Insofar as section 4.2.3 sentence 7 GCGC must be understood in a sense that it also requires an explicit cap for variable compensation components, HUGO BOSS AG deviates from the recommendation, as it does not comply with this formality. However, materially also a cap for the variable compensation components exists because it can be calculated by deducting the fixed compensation component from the cap of the total compensation.
  • Deviating from section 5.4.6 sentence 4 GCGC the compensation for members of the Supervisory Board based on the success is not oriented toward sustainable growth. The compensation for members of the Supervisory Board was resolved by the general assembly of the shareholders, the compensation based on the success is contained in section 12 para. 2 of the articles of association of HUGO BOSS AG and in the opinion of HUGO BOSS AG appropriate.
  • Deviating from section 5.4.6 sentence 7 GCGC the compensation of the members of the Supervisory Board is not reported individually in the notes nor in the management report. Also, payments made by the enterprise to the members of the Supervisory Board or advantages extended for services provided individually, in particular, advisory or agency services, are not listed on an individual basis. The compensation paid to the members of the Supervisory Board is demonstrated in total in the notes. In the view of HUGO BOSS AG, individual reporting of compensation does not provide information relevant to the capital market.

Metzingen, December 2014”

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