678 shareholders, representing 857’176 shares with voting rights, attended the event held at the IWC Arena in Schaffhausen (Switzerland). The independent proxy represented 44’519’967 shares. In total, 72.41% of the registered shares with voting rights were represented at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting.
The Annual Financial Statement and the 2024 Consolidated Financial Statements, the report on non-financial matters ("Sustainability Statement"), and the Compensation Report (in an advisory vote) were all approved. Shareholders also approved an increased dividend of CHF 1.35 per share (2024: CHF 1.30), to be paid on 24 April 2025. The Board of Directors and the Executive Committee were granted discharge for their activities in the 2024 financial year.
All members of the Board of Directors standing for re-election were confirmed for another one-year term. Monica de Virgiliis did not stand for re-election for personal reasons. As a result, the Board now consists of seven members. Yves Serra was re-elected as Chairman of the Board, and Eveline Saupper was confirmed as Vice Chair and Independent Lead Director. She will also assume the chair of the Compensation Committee, which continues to include Annika Paasikivi and Michelle Wen. The composition of the remaining committees was defined by the Board of Directors (see attachment).
As part of its commitment to good corporate governance, the Board of Directors put the audit mandate out for tender after 13 years. The previous auditor, PwC, was no longer eligible to reapply. The shareholders elected KPMG AG as the new external auditor for the 2025 financial year.
The next Annual Shareholders’ Meeting will take place on Wednesday, 15 April 2026.
Photos of the event are available in the GF image database.
