Nominations for the Board of Directors

HOCHDORF Group Press Release: Nominations for the Board of Directors

Hochdorf, 13 March 2019 – The HOCHDORF Group Board of Directors is proposing the re-election of five previous Board members for a period of office of one year at the Annual General Meeting on 12 April 2019: Dr Daniel Suter (Chairman of the Board of Directors), Dr Walter Locher, Michiel de Ruiter, Ulrike Sailer and Niklaus Sauter. Previous board members Dr Anton von Weissenfluh (Vice Chairman) and Prof Dr med Holger Till are not standing for re-election. The Board of Directors is recommending the election of Hans-Peter Hess and Jörg Riboni in their place.

It is the intention of the Board of Directors of the HOCHDORF Group to appoint competent, professionally qualified individuals to the Board of Directors and the senior management team. These individuals must be able to make a contribution to the sustainable development of the company, increase profits and act solely in the overall interest of the company. Where a shareholder group is over-represented, it brings the risk of a strategic orientation that may serve the particular interests of the shareholder group rather than the long-term interests of the company. It is therefore important that the members of the Board of Directors and the senior management team are independent of individual shareholders or groups of shareholders.

The Board of Directors is concerned with the long-term security of HOCHDORF, the satisfaction of shareholders and customers, and the well-being of employees.  

Recommendations for election to the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors recommends the re-election of Dr Daniel Suter (member of the Board since 2016), Dr Walter Locher (member of the Board since 2014), Michiel de Ruiter (member of the Board since 2016), Ulrike Sailer (member of the Board since 2017) and Niklaus Sauter (member of the Board since 2014).

Previous Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Anton von Weissenfluh (member since 2005), is not standing for re-election. Prof Dr med Holger Till (member since 2014) is also no longer available for re-election.

The Board of Directors recommends the following individuals for election as new members: Hans-Peter Hess (1966, Swiss citizen, self-employed entrepreneur, resident in Walchwil) and Jörg Riboni (1957, Swiss citizen, CFO of the Emmi Group until April 2019, resident in Steinhausen).

The shareholder ZMP Invest AG proposes the election of Markus Bühlmann, Bernhard Merki and Jörg Riboni as members of the Board of Directors up to and including the Annual General Meeting 2020. The Board of Directors proposes rejection of the elections of Markus Bühlmann and Bernhard Merki.

The shareholder group Weiss/Maurer proposes the election of Markus Kalberer as a member of the Board of Directors up to and including the Annual General Meeting 2020. The Board of Directors proposes rejection of the election of Markus Kalberer.    

Election recommendations for Chairman of the Board of Directors 
The Board of Directors proposes Dr Daniel Suter as Chairman of the Board of Directors up to and including the Annual General Meeting 2020 (subject to his election to the Board of Directors).

The shareholder ZMP Invest AG proposes the election of Bernhard Merki as Chairman of the Board of Directors, subject to his election as a member of the Board. The Board of Directors proposes rejection of this election.  

Election recommendations for the Personnel and Remuneration Committee of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes the election of Dr Walter Locher, Jörg Riboni and Niklaus Sauter as members of the Personnel and Remuneration Committee (subject to their election to the Board of Directors).

The shareholder ZMP Invest AG proposes the election of Bernhard Merki and Jörg Riboni as members of the Personnel and Remuneration Committee. The Board of Directors proposes rejection of the election of Bernhard Merki. 

Contact:
Dr Christoph Hug, Head of Corporate Communications HOCHDORF Group, Tel: +41 (0)41 914 65 62 / +41 (0) 79 859 19 23, christoph.hug@hochdorf.com

About the HOCHDORF Group
The HOCHDROF Group, based in Hochdorf, achieved a consolidated net revenue of CHF 600.5 million in 2017. It is one of the leading foodstuff companies in Switzerland, employing 695 staff as of 31.12.2017. Made from natural ingredients such as milk, wheat germ and oil seeds, HOCHDORF products have been contributing to our health and wellbeing since 1895 – from babies to senior citizens. Its customers include the food industry and the wholesale and retail sectors and Its products are sold in over 90 countries. The shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Zurich (ISIN CH0024666528).