At their 87th Ordinary General Meeting, the shareholders of Schindler Holding Ltd. approved the management report, the financial statements and the consolidated group financial statements for 2014 and granted discharge to the members of the Board of Directors and Group Executive Committee. All other motions proposed by the Board of Directors were also approved.
Schindler Holding Ltd. closed the financial year 2014 with a net profit of CHF 761 million (previous year: CHF 765 million). The General Meeting approved the motions regarding the appropriation of profits. As a result, an ordinary dividend of CHF 2.20 and an additional dividend of CHF 1.00 gross per registered share and participation certificate will be paid out on March 30, 2015 (previous year: CHF 2.20 per registered share and participation certificate).
In addition, the shareholders approved the proposed fixed compensation for 2015 and the variable compensation for 2014 for the Board of Directors and Group Executive Committee.
Dr. Hubertus von Grünberg, Member of the Board of Directors since 1999, will not stand for re-election for age related reasons. In his 16 years in office, Dr. von Grünberg has actively supported the company in the conception and implementation of numerous strategic undertakings. He has been a perceptive advisor and valued Member of the Board, particularly in technological issues and in questions of quality, safety and improving efficiency.
Newly elected to the Board of Directors was Patrice Bula, Member of the Executive Board of Nestlé S.A. since 2011 and Global Head of Strategic Business Units, Marketing, Sales and Nespresso.
In his 35-year career at Nestlé, he has held various management positions; for example: Market Head – Nestlé China from 2007 to 2011; Market Head – Nestlé Germany from 2003 to 2007; Head of Strategic Business – Nestlé Chocolate from 2000 to 2003; Market Head – Nestlé Taiwan from 1992 to 1995, and Manager Food Business – Nestlé Japan from 1985 to 1988. Patrice Bula graduated from the Faculty of Business and Economics of the University of Lausanne / HEC with a Master’s Degree in Economics in 1979.
Patrice Bula strengthens the Board of Directors with his many years of industrial management experience as well as distinct and profound knowledge of Asian markets.
In addition, the General Meeting approved until the closure of next Ordinary General Meeting the re-election of Alfred N. Schindler (Chairman), Luc Bonnard, Dr. Rudolf W. Fischer, Jürgen Tinggren, Prof. Dr. Karl Hofstetter, Prof. Dr. Pius Baschera, Prof. Dr. Monika Bütler, Anthony Nightingale, Rolf Schweiger, Carole Vischer and Prof. Dr. Klaus W. Wellershoff. The resolutions and detailed voting results of the General Meeting will be published on March 23, 2015.