Learnings form the Swiss AGM Season 2022:
More women directors, higher management compensation, unexplained ESG compensation criteria and more pressure on boards
Zurich, June 30th, 2022 – Elections of board members account again for the majority (67%) of the most contested agenda items during the Swiss AGM Season 2022. The focus was particularly on directors’ individual roles, such as board or committee chairs. Nomination committee chairs of companies with fewer than 30% women board members received more than twice as many AGAINST votes. This concerns 5 SMI (2021:11) and 51 (2021: 64) non-SMI companies. The average female board representation reached 28.5% for SPI100 companies (34.4% in SMI companies, breaking the 30% hurdle for the first time, and 27.0% in non-SMI companies). CEO compensation levels increased by 27.3% in SPI100 companies on average, driven by higher bonus payments, whereas the multiple of CEO to average employee pay (“Pay ratio”) increased from 24.4x to 29.9x. The fraction of SPI100 companies including ESG-indicators in executive compensation increased from 24% in 2021 to 47%, but these criteria remain unexplained in close to 60% of the cases. Globally, investors’ and proxy advisors’ scrutiny in assessing sustainability reports or policies increased, leading to levels of AGAINST votes more than twice as high as in previous years. Past AGM outcomes may thus be a bad predictor for coming sustainability votes in Switzerland. More Non-SMI companies reported in line with the GRI (62%, up from 52%) and CDP standards (30%, up from 14%), while TCFD only gained followers amongst SMI companies (85%, up from 65%). The consultation process on the Federal Council's ordinance to introduce TCFD as a mandatory standard for climate reporting is still ongoing. However, there is apparently little support for the TCFD standard amongst non-SMI companies.
Previous years
SWIPRA AGM Analysis 2021: Newsletter
SWIPRA AGM Analysis 2020: Newsletter
SWIPRA AGM Analysis 2019: Newsletter
SWIPRA AGM Analysis 2018: Newsletter
SWIPRA AGM Analysis 2017: Newsletter
SWIPRA AGM Analysis 2016: Newsletter