• Compensation Report
• A The compensation system of Arbonia
• 1. Principles of the compensation system
• 2. Organisation and competencies
• 3. Compensation of the Board of Directors
• 4. Compensation of Group Management
• B Compensation paid to members of the Board of Directors and Group Management in 2018
• 5. Board of Directors
• 6. Group Management
• Report of the Statutory Auditor

1.Principles of the compensation system

The compensation system and the structure of the occupational pension scheme are based on the conviction that the success of a company depends to a considerable extent on the quality and dedication of its personnel. Arbonia wants to leverage its compensation system and the total compensation paid on this basis to attract and retain people with the necessary skills and qualities and to motivate them to deliver a consistently high level of performance. The compensation system is designed to ensure that the interests of top managers are consistent with the interests of the Group and its shareholders.

Compensation model for the Board of Directors and Group Management during the year under review

3.1Fixed compensation

The members of the Board of Directors receive fixed compensation for all of their work for the Board of Directors. This remained unchanged for the year of office 2018/2019. The basic fee for the office of Chairman of the Board of Directors is CHF 240 000. The Vice-Chairman receives a fee of CHF 80 000, with the other members of the Board of Directors receiving a fee of CHF 60 000 each. In addition to this compensation, the Chairman of the Nomination and Compensation Committee and the Chairman of the Audit Committee each receives CHF 20 000 for their activity on the respective committee. Every other committee member is entitled to CHF 10 000 per year of office. The Chairman of the Board of Directors waives compensation for his activity on both committees and considers it to be included in his aforementioned fee of CHF 240 000.

The fees paid to members of the Board of Directors are reviewed periodically and were last adjusted in 2015 (in relation to the Chairman of the Board of Directors).

3.2Variable compensation

The members of the Board of Directors do not receive any variable compensation.

3.3Allowances and in-kind benefits

The members of the Board of Directors are paid lump-sum allowances. The Chairman of the Board of Directors receives a lump-sum allowance amounting to CHF 15 000 per annum; members of the Board of Directors resident in Switzerland receive a lump-sum allowance of CHF 6 000 per annum and members of the Board of Directors resident outside of Switzerland receive a lump-sum allowance of CHF 12 000 per annum.

These allowances cover minor expenses and travel costs within Switzerland. Costs of overseas trips and overnight stays are borne by the company. The allowances are included in the presented other compensation of the term of office. The members of the Board of Directors do not receive any in-kind benefits.

3.4Shares and options

At least 50% of the compensation paid to the members of the Board of Directors, including the compensation paid to committee members, is paid in the form of restricted Arbonia shares. The remaining 50% can either be paid out in cash or up to another 30% in restricted Arbonia shares. Members of the Board of Directors who are resident outside of Switzerland and the European Union receive their full Board of Directors fee in cash.

Making the Board of Directors take their fees in the form of restricted shares is designed to ensure that the incentive system is consistent with the long-term prosperity of the company, encourage a management philosophy which takes due account of risk, and reflect shareholder interests. According to the Board Member Share Plan approved by the Board of Directors, at least 50% of the net fees for the Board of Directors, i.e. the Board of Directors fees minus lump-sum allowances and withholding taxes, takes the form of restricted Arbonia shares. When members of the Board of Directors are domiciled in the European Union, the Swiss withholding tax is treated as compensation paid in cash. The number of shares is calculated based on the volume-weighted average share price of 20 trading days, less a 20% discount for the restriction period. The 20-day trading period for calculating the fair market value shall begin on the tenth trading day following the publication of the annual results. Shares allocated in this way are subject to a restriction period of four years, which can, however, be lifted for those leaving the Board of Directors.

Arbonia does not have any option programme for the members of the Board of Directors.

3.5Attendance fees

The members of the Board of Directors do not receive any attendance fees. No additional compensation is paid for the preparation and attendance of the ordinary and extraordinary meetings of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee and the Nomination and Compensation Committee.

3.6Loans and credit

According to Art. 26 of the Articles of Association (www.arbonia.com/en/company/corporate-governance), no loans, credit or pension benefits outside the occupational pension scheme or collateral shall be granted to the members of the Board of Directors. Exempt from this are advances of social security and tax charges for persons subject to withholding tax. The Chairman of the Board of Directors exercised this exemption in the reporting year, with no advance payments outstanding as of 31 December 2018. 3.7 Compensation, loans and credit to related parties

No loans or credit are granted to any parties related to the members of the Board of Directors. Moreover, no compensation is paid to any parties related to the members of the Board of Directors.

3.8Signing bonus and termination benefits

No signing bonus or termination benefits are paid to the members of the Board of Directors.

4.1Fixed compensation

The compensation of the members of Group Management depends on the individual function as well as the qualification and experience of the person that assumes the function. In the reporting year, a role evaluation for management and key Group functions was conducted using the HAY assessment system. These functions have subsequently been assigned to one of the newly defined Arbonia job grades. The CEO's function and the functions of the Board of Directors were exempt from this evaluation. The Arbonia Group conducted a role evaluation for the first time in 2014. In this case too, the functions of CEO and the Board of Directors were exempt. Based on the job grades, the included functions were compared on a country-specific basis with comparable functions at international companies in the Hay databases to enable a fair, external wage comparison to be carried out. One of the Arbonia Group's aims for this project was to establish a fair compensation system in line with market requirements in order to retain members of the Management Board over the long term.

The fixed compensation for the members of Group Management is paid out in cash, while the fixed compensation for the delegate of the Board of Directors and interim CEO is paid out in cash and in shares. In the reporting year, the fixed compensation paid out to the delegate of the Board of Directors was made up of a cash element amounting to CHF 280 000 as well as 60 000 in shares. The shares are subject to the provisions of the share-based payment programme (see 4.4) and are restricted for four years.

4.2Variable compensation

In the reporting year, the variable compensation accounted for up to 55% of the fixed compensation for members of Group Management. In his function as interim CEO, the current Chairman of the Board of Directors and delegate of the Board of Directors waives any variable compensation.

According to the bonus regulations valid for the reporting year, the amount of the variable compensation depends on the achievement of financial targets. If a member of Group Management meets his targets in full, he receives a variable payment (nominal bonus) laid down in his individual agreement. The financial targets are assessed on the extent to which they have been met, with the relevant bonus component rising to 125% at most. If the targets for a bonus component of 125% are met, a pro rated share based on 150% of the nominal bonus is paid out. As a general rule, failure to meet at least 75% of a financial target will mean that none of the respective bonus component is paid. In the reporting year, quantitative targets relating to the organic growth, EBITDA margin, cash flow from operations, return on assets, company result and holding costs were determined for the members of Group Management.

In the reporting year, one member of the Group Management received 63% of the contractually agreed nominal bonus due to extraordinary performance and extraordinary overtime work, even though the divisional financial targets were not achieved to the same percentage.

4.3Allowances and in-kind benefits

The members of Group Management receive lump-sum allowances amounting to CHF 21 600 p.a. The lump-sum allowances for the delegate of the Board of Directors and interim CEO are CHF 6 600 a year.

Additionally, the members of Group Management are provided with a company car and a mobile phone. The private use of the company car is offset for members of Group Management according to the respective tax regulations applicable in the country.

4.4Shares and options

During the reporting year, 50% of the variable compensation was paid out in cash and 50% was paid out in the form of an allocation of shares under the share-based payment programme approved by the Board of Directors on 1 May 2014. The number of shares is calculated based on the volume-weighted average share price of 20 trading days, less a 20% discount for the vesting period. The 20-day trading period for calculating the fair market value shall begin on the tenth trading day following the publication of the annual results. The restricted shares are subject to a four-year restriction period. The restriction period applies even if the employee leaves the company. The Board of Directors may, however, lift the restriction on the transfer of shares allocated under the share-based payment programme in certain cases, such as in the event of a change of control.

Arbonia does not have any option programme for the members of Group Management.

4.5Privileges

Like all other employees, the members of Group Management can benefit from various employee privileges, e.g. from REKA cheques up to CHF 600 with a discount of 20% (only members with Swiss employment contracts) or from discounts on Arbonia products.

4.6Loans and credit

According to Art. 26 of the Articles of Association (www.arbonia.com/en/company/corporate-governance), no loans, credit or pension benefits outside the occupational pension scheme or collateral shall be granted to the members of Group Management. Exempt from this are advances of social security and tax charges for persons subject to withholding tax. The delegate of the Board of Directors and interim CEO exercised this exemption in the reporting year, with no advance payments outstanding as of 31 December 2018.

4.7Contract term

The contracts of the members of Group Management have, with one exception, been concluded for an unlimited term with a notice period of six months. A member of Group Management has a contract that has been concluded for an unlimited term and also has a notice period of twelve months.

4.8Compensation, loans and credit to related parties

No loans or credit are granted to any parties related to the members of Group Management. Moreover, no compensation is paid to any parties related to the members of Group Management.

4.9Signing bonus, termination benefits and change-of-control clauses

No member of Group Management is entitled to a signing bonus, termination benefit or compensation due to a change of control ("golden parachute").

4.10Pension benefits

Group Management members with Swiss employment contracts are insured under the Arbonia pension scheme and the Arbonia senior management pension scheme. The Arbonia senior management pension scheme covers the fixed salary not covered under the basic scheme and 80% of the contractual nominal bonus against old age, death and incapacity risks. According to the Swiss Occupational Pensions Act (OPA), the maximum salary including bonus to be considered is limited to CHF 846 000 (as of 1 January 2018, corresponds to ten times the upper limit amount specified by the OPA), and the insured salary including bonus element is limited to CHF 636 800 (as of 1 January 2018). The employer contribution is the same for all three available plans and amounts to 25% of the insured salary (as of 1 January 2018). The delegate of the Board of Directors and interim CEO is not insured under the Arbonia senior management pension scheme. The only member of Group Management with a German employment contract has a pension commitment according to the regulations of the "Essener Verband".

5.1Changes in the Board of Directors

At the end of the year of office 2017/2018, Dr Rudolf Huber decided not to stand for re-election to the Board of Directors. This reduced the size of the Board of Directors to seven members. There were no other changes in comparison to the previous year. This means that Alexander von Witzleben is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Peter Barandun is Vice-Chairman. Alexander von Witzleben has been the delegate of the Board of Directors and interim CEO since 1 July 2015.

Despite the described reduction in the size of the Board of Directors, the total fee of the Board of Directors increased slightly compared to the 2017 financial year. This can be attributed to the fact that in, the reporting year, Peter E. Bodmer respectively the BEKA Group acted as broker on behalf of Arbonia on one occasion in relation to the sale of non-essential property and received CHF 115 000 (incl. allowances) in compensation for this work. The amount of the aforementioned compensation was directly dependent on the price achieved for the sale of the property. The Board of Directors approved this brokerage agreement, whereby Peter E. Bodmer withdraw from the resolution.

5.2Table

6.1Changes in Group Management

Alexander von Witzleben has been delegate of the Board of Directors and interim CEO of Group Management since 1 July 2015.

As of 1 January 2018, the former Building Technology Division was split into the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Division and the Sanitary Equipment Division. In parallel with this decision to create the two new divisions, Ulrich Bornkessel was appointed Head of the new Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Division and therefore also became a member of Group Management. The size of Group Management has therefore increased from five to six since the previous year.

Despite the fact that Group Management has increased by one member, the total compensation for the members of Group Management has not significantly changed compared with the previous year. Although the annual salary increased, the lower level of variable compensation in the reporting year compared with the previous year meant that the total compensation remained approximately the same.

6.2Table