Shareholders' rights of participation
Restriction of voting rights, voting by proxy
Holders of registered shares are registered on request in the Company’s share register, subject to their signature of a written statement expressly confirming that they have acquired the shares in their own name and for their own account and that no agreement on the redemption or the return of the corresponding shares has been made and that they bear the economic risk associated with the shares.
Share capital held by any single nominee must not exceed 2% of the Company’s total issued share capital. The Board of Directors can permit registration of nominees holding shares (with voting rights) in excess of this limit, provided that the said nominees disclose the names, addresses, nationalities and shareholdings of the persons for whose account they are holding 2% or more of the Company’s issued share capital. No registrations exceeding the 2% limit were made during the year under review.
At the Annual General Meeting, each share carries one vote. Voting rights can only be exercised if the shareholder is registered (with voting rights) in ORIOR AG’s share register. A shareholder with voting rights can have himself or herself represented at the Annual General Meeting by written proxy, either by a representative appointed by him or her, or by the independent proxy. The Board of Directors ensures that shareholders can also use electronic means to give power of proxy and instructions to the independent proxy. All shares held by a shareholder can only be represented by one person.
Persons who have been involved in the Company’s management in any way whatsoever must abstain from voting on resolutions granting discharge to the Board of Directors. The Company’s Articles of Association contain no other voting restrictions and their provisions on voting by proxy conform to Swiss law.
Statutory quorum
Unless otherwise stipulated by mandatory law or by provisions contained in the Articles of Association, the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders passes its resolutions and confirms elections by an absolute majority of the votes represented. Abstentions are disregarded for the purpose of establishing a majority.
Should the first ballot in any election fail to produce a valid result and if more than one candidate is standing for election, the Chair orders a second ballot, which is decided by a relative majority of the votes represented. Abstentions are disregarded for the purpose of establishing a majority.
Inclusion of agenda items proposed by shareholders
Shareholders whose sole or combined shareholdings represent in the aggregate not less than 0.5% of the Company’s share capital or the voting rights can request inclusion of an item in the agenda of the Annual General Meeting or that a motion relating to an agenda item be included in the notice convening the Annual General Meeting. The respective motion must be submitted to the Board of Directors of the Company in writing no less than 60 days before the date of the meeting, specifying the item and the motions of the shareholder.
Entries into share register
Unless other cut-off dates are stipulated by the Board of Directors, no entries into the share register are permitted as from the date of dispatch of the invitations to the Annual General Meeting until the day after the date of the meeting.