Shareholders’ participation rights 

Shareholders’ participation rights (such as rights with respect to voting and required quorums), are set down in the Swiss Code of Obligations, and this legal framework is supplemented by provisions in the Articles of Association of the Company. The Articles of Association can be found on the Company’s website at https://www.comet-group.com/en/investors/downloads.

Voting rights restrictions and representation

Each share that is registered carries one vote, subject to the provisions on nominee shareholders in article 5 of the Articles of Association. The Board of Directors registers nominees as holding voting shares only up to a maximum of 5% of the capital stock recorded in the Swiss commercial register of companies. Further information is provided in the section “Capital structure”/“Limitations on transferability and nominee registration”.

Proxy voting

At the Annual Shareholder Meeting, the shareholders elect an independent proxy. The term of office of the independent proxy is one year, ending at the conclusion of the next Annual Shareholder Meeting. Re-election for consecutive terms is permitted.

A shareholder may be represented at the Annual Shareholder Meeting by the independent proxy, by the shareholder’s legal representative or – under a written power of attorney – by another shareholder entitled to vote. Powers of attorney and instructions may be given in writing or, to the independent proxy, may also be given electronically. The Board of Directors ensures that the shareholders have the opportunity to use electronic means to authorize and instruct the independent proxy.

Calling of the Annual Shareholder Meeting

The Annual Shareholder Meeting is called by the Board of Directors or, if necessary, by the independent auditors. Notice of the Annual Shareholder Meeting is sent to the shareholders of record by mail at least 20 days before the meeting date.

The notice of the Annual Shareholder Meeting states the day, time and place of the meeting, the agenda items as well as the proposals by the Board of Directors and, if applicable, names the shareholders who requested the Shareholder Meeting or the inclusion of a business item on the agenda, and states the nature of the shareholder proposal(s).

Inclusion of items on the agenda

Under the Articles of Association, shareholders representing at least 3% of the total capital stock outstanding at the time may request items of business to be included in the agenda. Shareholders’ requests under article 699 para. 3 of the Swiss Code of Obligations to place business on the Meeting agenda, and the actual shareholder proposal involved, must be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing no later than 35 days before the Shareholder Meeting in question.

Entries in the share register

In accordance with article 11 of the Articles of Association, in the notice of the Shareholder Meeting the Board of Directors announces the record date (at which registration in the share register is required for participation in and voting at the meeting) and the details of the written and electronic proxies and instructions.

The share register is closed to new entries from the record date until and including the day of the Shareholder Meeting. No exception to this rule was made in the year under review nor at any previous Shareholder Meeting. Shareholders who sell their stock before the Shareholder Meeting are not entitled to vote the shares sold.

Further information is provided in the section “Capital structure”/“Limitations on transferability and nominee registration”.