170 likes | 284 Views
Dedicated to Health. Corporate Governance and the Shareholders’ Assembly in PLIVA. Barbara Majcen OECD Corporate Governance Roundtable Bucharest, September 2001. Corporate Governance in PLIVA.
E N D
Dedicated to Health Corporate Governance and the Shareholders’ Assembly in PLIVA Barbara Majcen OECD Corporate Governance Roundtable Bucharest, September 2001
Corporate Governance in PLIVA • Corporate Governance policy has been developing since PLIVA became a joint stock company (1993) and its listing on the LSE and ZSE (1996) • These Principles of Corporate Governance were adopted by the Management and Supervisory Boards in 1999 • This was a first in Croatia, especially the introduction of separate governance committees
Origins • The Croatian Corporation Act (based on the German model) • Rules of Stock Exchanges (Zagreb and London) • Recommendations from various expert consultants • Our own experience
Benefits Higher level of accountability and transparency • Increased public confidence in the company • Made the company itself more efficient
The main principles • Generation of shareholder value • Equal treatment of the shareholders • Election of experienced and independent persons as members of the Supervisory Board and skilful management • Clear division of the competencies and responsibilities between the boards • Performance in accordance with legal regulations and high ethical standards • Management of shareholder expectations
Shareholders’ Assembly • Purpose • Role • Competencies • Procedure
Purpose Give an opportunity to the shareholders to exercise their rights: • gather information • meet the management • discuss and ask questions • vote participate in decision-making process • feel like the owners
Role • Company performance • Management effectiveness • Major changes in company status • Distribution of profits
Competencies • Annual reports • Management and Supervisory Board activities and performance • Supervisory Board appointment / dismissal • Appointment of the Company’s Auditor • Change of Articles of Association • Increase and decrease of share capital • Share buy-back • Merger • Acquisition (class 1 and take-over) • Distribution of profits
So, what does it look like? Preparation phase • Notification • Participation requirements • Registration procedure
At the meeting • Opening the meeting • Management Board presentation • Discussion • Voting • Announcement of the results
2001: PLIVA Ownership Structure Shareholders a) Shareholders of the ordinary shares b) GDR Holders Share capital 2,020,940,000 HRK = 20,209,400 shares
PLIVA’s GDR Programme • PLIVA GDRs representing 20% of one ordinary share (1 share = 5 GDRs) • PLIVA’s Depository: Bankers Trust Company (BTC) • BTC as the Depository is the legal owner, while GDR holders are the beneficial owners
Participation of GDR holders in SA • BTC as the legal owner has a role to: • receive the notice of shareholders meeting • pass this information onto GDR holders • grant the proxy for voting, unless it is instructed otherwise by the GDR holders • After reviewing the materials, GDR holders have the options: a) to decide to vote on the agenda cancel or convert their GDRs into ordinary shares, or b) to follow the terms and conditions of the programme
Investors interests • Transparency in disclosure • Following LSE rules on communication • Financial reporting • Press releases • Road shows, conference calls, video conferences • In-house presentations and meetings • Internet web page • Shareholder value
Conclusion • The structures for increased shareholder participation are already in place • Investors needs for corporate democracy expressed through Shareholders Assembly are still developing
Dedicated to Health Corporate Governance and the Shareholders’ Assembly in PLIVA OECD Corporate Governance Roundtable Bucharest, September 2001