SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES Ljubljana, 27 October 2016 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES TABLE OF CONTENTS I. PREAMBLE ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 II. DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................................................................ 5 III. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE ........................................................ 8 APPENDIX A: SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES .............................................................................................29 APPENDIX B: CONFLICT OF INTERESTS .....................................................................................................................31 APPENDIX C: COMPOSITION AND REMUNERATION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY BOARDS ......................................................................................................................................................32 The Slovene Corporate Governance Code for Listed Companies was jointly drawn up and adopted by the Ljubljana Stock Exchange Inc., the Slovenian Directors’ Association and the Managers' Association of Slovenia on 18 March 2004. They agreed to amend and supplement it on 14 December 2005, 5 February 2007 and 8 December 2009. The Code in its current wording was drawn up and adopted by the Ljubljana Stock Exchange Inc. and the Slovenian Directors’ Association on 27 October 2016. This is an English translation of the Code; in case of discrepancies between the translation and the original Slovene version, the Slovene version shall prevail. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 3 I. PREAMBLE Prior to the adoption of this version of the Slovenian tion Guidelines for Supervisory Board Members Corporate Governance Code for Listed Companies at Companies they Supervise, 2014; Guidelines (hereafter: Code), the version of the Code which was for the Functioning of Boards of Directors, 2013; jointly drawn up and adopted by the Ljubljana Stock Practical Guidance for Members of Manage- Exchange Inc., the Slovenian Directors’ Association ment Board Recruitment, 2012; Supervisory and the Managers' Association of Slovenia on 8 De- Board Assessment Manual 2011; Supervisory cember 2009 and entered into use on 1 January 2010 Board Self-assessment Matrix). In addition to was in force. This Code is an amendment to the Code important development of guidelines of good from 2009. practice, also the European commission recom- mendations on the quality of corporate gov- Reasons for the renovation of the Code ernance reporting from 2014 must be empha- sised, which direct the EU member states to There are three reasons for this renovation: monitor and supervise compliance with codes. t *OBMNPTUTFWFOZFBSTTJODFUIFBEPQUJPOPGUIF t 5IFUIJSESFBTPOGPSBNFOEJOHUIF$PEFJTUIF previous version of the Code the regulatory en- conducted analyses on the use and compli- vironment in the field of corporate governance ance with the Code presented in the form of has changed. The key changes in the legisla- the Report on the Analysis of ‘Comply or Ex- ture during this period have been included in plain Statements’ with respect to Deviations the five amending acts to the Companies Act from the Corporate Governance Code for the (ZGD-1), which influenced the field of the com- period 2010 – 2014, which was prepared by the panies' corporate governance, reporting and Ljubljana Stock Exchange and the Slovenian public disclosures on corporate governance. Directors’ Association. The amendments were t *O BEEJUJPO  EVSJOH UIJT UJNF BMTP UIF JOUFSOB- also influenced by feedback provided by is- tional as well as Slovenian recommended prac- suers as the users of the Code. Based on the tice of corporate governance has changed. In analysis of compliance with the Code and issu- 2015 OECD adopted new Principles of Corpo- ers’ feedback it became clear which provisions rate Governance and throughout this period of the Code the companies comply with and many other European countries have adopt- which disclosures of deviations from the Code ed new Codes (i.e. Austria, Germany, Finland, are the most frequent. Moreover, it also be- Sweden, the United Kingdom, Romania, Baltic came clear which provisions were not written countries). The new recommended practice of clearly enough and thus complying with them corporate governance also developed in the and disclosing deviations from them in prac- form of autonomous sources in Slovenia (i.e. tice presented unneeded problems. Corporate Governance Code for Companies with Capital Assets of the State, 2014; Corpo- Substantive changes of the Code rate Governance Code for Unlisted Companies, 2016; Guidelines for Audit Committees, 2016; Most amendments to the Code from the previous Practical Guidelines for Quality Explanations version are editorial and nomotechnical. The Code, and Corporate Governance Statements, 2015; however, also contains some important substantive Guidelines for Selection and Recommenda- changes: tions for the work of Supervisory Board Chair- t *O DIBQUFS  UJUMFE Corporate Governance men, 2014; Guidelines for the Selection and Framework a new institute is added – Diver- Work of the Secretaries of the Supervisory sity Policy, which is already defined in Article Boards and Boards of Directors, 2014; Code of 70 of the Companies Act. The main purpose of Professional Ethics of Slovenian Directors' Asso- this institute is to provide a clearer definition of ciation, 2014; Recommendations for Reporting recommendations in the field of diversity and to Supervisory Boards, 2014; Slovenian Guide- gender balance in management and supervi- lines for Corporate Integrity, 2014; Communica- sory bodies. The companies are encouraged 4 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES to approach the provision of diversity seriously t *NQPSUBOU TVQQMFNFOUT BSF BEEFE BMTP UP without imposing the same solution to differ- chapter 5 titled Independence and Loyalty. ent companies. Furthermore, recommenda- The definition of independence is amended, tions regarding the drawing up of the Corporate and is now more clearly demarcated from the Governance Statement and the supervision of conflict of interest. The criteria for the con- compliance with the Code are supplemented. flict of interest are updated and written more A multiannual analysis of corporate govern- clearly. The meaning of independence is thus ance statements showed that some companies narrowed only to relationships which perma- still do not understand the institute of “comply nently prevent the body’s members from ob- or explain” and that the quality of explanations jectively assessing in the company’s interest. of deviations from the Code in the corporate Not every conflict of interests is automatically governance statements is inadequate, which also a dependent relationship. Therefore, the is neither good for the companies nor for their Code extends the recommendation regarding stakeholders. In accordance with the European the independence of the supervisory board commission recommendations on the quality of members from half to all members of the su- corporate governance reporting from 2014, the pervisory board. Code introduces a recommendation regarding t 'JOBMMZ  BMTP DIBOHFT PG DIBQUFS UJUMFE Trans- an external assessment of the adequacy of the parency of Operations are important. They corporate governance statement. are harmonised with the changes in legislature t *ODIBQUFSUJUMFERelations with Sharehold- and the Ljubljana Stock Exchange Rules and ers the recommendations regarding equal enable better comparability among compa- treatment of shareholders are supplemented. nies as well as provide greater transparency for It has namely been established that the inde- their stakeholders. An example of this is a pro- pendence of supervisory and management posal for unified tables about the composition boards from any individual shareholder and and remuneration of the managing and super- works council still remains a challenge and that visory bodies in Attachment C of the Code. previous provisions of the Code were not al- ways correctly understood and complied with. The purpose of the Code t *ODIBQUFSUJUMFESupervisory Board recom- mendations on self-assessment of supervisory The purpose of the Code has remained the same. boards are updated; recommendations for the The Code defines the governance, management and chairman and secretary of the supervisory board leadership principles based on the “comply or ex- are supplemented; with regards to committees plain” principle of companies listed on the Slovene mainly the provisions on audit committees are regulated market. The recommended practices can harmonised with the new provisions of the Eu- also be applied by other companies, so as to contrib- ropean Directives and the Companies Act; and ute to a transparent and understandable governance recommendations for additional training of system in Slovenia, which promotes both domestic supervisory board members are added. Every- and foreign investor confidence in the Slovene corpo- thing mentioned has an important effect on the rate governance system, as well as the confidence of efficiency of the supervisory board’s work. employees, other company stakeholders (regulators, t *O DIBQUFS  UJUMFE Management Board banks, suppliers, etc.) and the general public. among others the recommendations regard- ing the management board succession plan- ning are supplemented. In addition, the recom- mended management board tasks regarding the company’s management system are the following: the system needs to be transparent with regards to competences, needs to be con- nected to the risk management system and needs to be such as it ensures ethical and re- sponsible behaviour of all authorised persons in the company. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 5 II. DEFINITIONS The definitions of terms refer exclusively to the use of eration with individual groups of stakeholders the respective terms in this Code and are intended to (creditors, controlled undertakings, suppliers, enhance the understanding of the Code’s main and customers, employees, the media, analysts, state supporting principles. They have been taken from the bodies, the local and wider community), valid provisions of the Slovene company law and the 4. the procedure of informing controlled under- Financial Instruments Market Act, and are given in the takings and shareholders of the group’s strategy alphabetic order. and corporate governance standards, 5. the policy of transactions between the com- Committees: the supervisory board or the board of pany and related companies, including their directors may establish special committees, which may members of the management and supervisory be set up for the entire mandate of the board or only boards, at extraordinary events, to effectively resolve complex 6. the commitment that the supervisory board will issues. set up a system of detecting conflicts of inter- ests and independence in members of the su- Company management: a synonym to manage- pervisory/management board, and measures to ment body. Bodies or persons authorised by law or a be applied in case of circumstances that have a company’s acts to run its business; listed companies material effect on their status in relation to the are managed either by the management board (two- company, tier system of governance) or the board of directors 7. the supervisory board’s commitment to assess (one-tier system of governance), which do not del- its efficiency, egate the company’s regular operations and represen- 8. the intent to set up supervisory board commit- tation to executive director(s), who are also member(s) tees, if needed, and an outline of their tasks, of the board of directors. 9. a clear system of division of responsibilities and powers among members of managerial and su- Conflict of interests: a situation when a person's im- pervisory bodies, partial and objective performance of tasks or decision 10. rules governing the relationship between the taking solely in the company's interest within the func- company and related companies, including tion he is performing is compromised due to personal its members of the management/supervisory economic interests, his family members' interests, or board, which are not subject to statutory provi- due to special bias or any other interests related to sions on conflicts of interests, other natural or legal persons. 11. a definition of the company’s communication strategy, including the high quality standards Controlling: the relation between a controlled and a for drawing up and the disclosure of account- controlling undertaking, or a similar relation between ing, financial and non-financial information, any natural and legal persons. 12. the protection of interests of the company’s employees, which is achieved by defining the Corporate Governance Policy: the framework of manner, content and standards of their work as corporate governance as drawn up by the supervisory well as by ensuring an adequate level of ethical board and the management board, wherein they com- conduct in the company, including the preven- mit to and publicly discloses how they will supervise tion of discrimination. and run the company. The Corporate Governance Pol- icy consists of: Corporate governance statement: due to a re- 1. a description of all the prime governance guide- quired higher level of transparency in accordance lines, taking into account the company’s set ob- with Article 70 of Companies Act, all companies jectives, values and social responsibility, subject to audit are required to disclose the corpo- 2. the indication as to which CG code the company rate governance statement, which is a part of the abides by, business report. The content of the corporate gov- 3. an outline of the company’s groups of stake- ernance statement must comply with Article 70 of holders, its communication strategy and coop- Companies Act. 6 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES Counterproposal: enables a shareholder to provide Listed company: a joint-stock company whose well-grounded counterproposals to the proposed reso- shares are listed on a regulated market in compliance lutions that are on the agenda of the company's gen- with the law. eral meeting. A counterproposal cannot constitute a proposal for deciding on an additional item to be put Major holding thresholds: the proportions of vot- on the agenda. Shareholders may present counterpro- ing rights in a listed company held by a single share- posals up to after 7 days following the convocation of holder, representing 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50 and 75 per the meeting as well as at the meeting itself, whereby the cent of all the voting rights in the respective public 7-day period after the published convocation is meant company. In determining major holdings, all the com- to bind the company’s management to notify all other pany’s shares with voting rights are considered, includ- shareholders of the content of the counterproposal. ing own shares and shares with a limited exercise of voting rights either due to the law or the company’s Diversity policy: document defining a company’s articles of association, pursuant to the law. commitments to diversity undertaken with regards to the representation in management and supervisory Manager: an employee leading a business area or an bodies from the perspective of, for example, gender, organisational unit in the company and having the au- age or education. It must contain specific objectives thority to enter into legal transactions or to make inde- and ways of their implementation. pendent human resources and organisational decisions. Expanded/core management: company's expanded/ Managerial and supervisory bodies: the manage- core management as defined by company's internal acts. ment board and the supervisory board. Independence: absence of any influence on a per- In the Slovene corporate governance practice, the son's impartial, professional, objective, honest and two-tier board structure is predominant. As with comprehensive assessment in performing their tasks non-executive directors in the one-tier system of gov- or in their decision taking within the function they are ernance, the supervisory board is nominated by the performing. Persons are considered dependent if they company’s shareholders in order to promote their in- fulfil conditions defined in point 23 of this Code. terests by monitoring the operations of the company’s management board. Members of the management Indirect holding: an indirect holder of shares, partici- board (their counterpart in the one-tier system would pating interests or other rights that ensure participation be executive directors) are responsible for running the in governance or capital is a person for whose account company, and are appointed and discharged by a reso- another person – who is the direct holder – acquired lution of the supervisory board. these shares, participating interests or other rights that ensure participation in governance. A person is the in- Minority shareholders: the lowest percentage of direct holder of shares, participating interests or other shareholders, as stipulated by law or the articles of rights that ensure participation in governance, or of association, who are entitled to the so-called minor- other securities whose direct holder is another person, ity rights (the convening of a general meeting at the whereby the person who is the indirect holder controls initiative of shareholders who represent 5 per cent of the person who is the direct holder. the company's share capital, and the request for the expansion of the agenda of the meeting; voting on Inside information: any accurate information refer- shareholders' election proposals prior to the propos- ring indirectly or directly to one or more issuers of fi- als of the supervisory board or the board of directors, nancial instruments (shares, bonds, etc.) or to one or if so requested by the shareholders who represent 10 more financial instruments, which has not yet been per cent of the company's share capital; recalling of a made available to the public or has not yet been re- supervisory board member or a member of the board leased, and which would, if publicly disclosed, likely of directors through court proceedings, if so requested have a material impact on the prices of these financial by the shareholders who represent 10 per cent of the instruments and on the prices of related derivative fi- company's share capital). nancial instruments. Pre-emptive right: the right of existing shareholders Institutional investors: a legal person whose main to buy, in the event of increase in the company's share activity is investing its own assets to maintain the asset capital, shares of a new issue first (before it is offered to value and generate returns on such investments (insur- any third party), in proportion to their current holding ers, pension funds, asset managers, etc.). of the company’s share capital. The pre-emptive right SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 7 to shares of a new issue is one of the property rights pany in which they perform this function or in carried by shares, which facilitates holders to maintain which they are employed, and the immediate their existing proportionate interest or equity invest- family members of these persons. ment, and thus fosters unchanged internal relations among shareholders upon capital increases. Significant shareholder: a person whose shares in- directly or directly represent 5 per cent or more of a Public disclosure: the adequate disclosure of data or listed company’s share capital, or 5 per cent or more of information, either verbally at the general meeting or the voting powers in a listed company. in writing in the materials for the meeting, in the com- pany's annual report, on its website, in newspapers, Stakeholders: stakeholders in companies are interest electronically or in another prescribed manner pursu- groups that contribute, either voluntarily or involuntar- ant to the law. ily, to the ability and activities of companies to create added value, and are therefore also the vehicle of po- Qualifying holding: a direct or indirect holding of a tential gains and risks undertaken by the company. participating interest, shares or other rights in a legal person that enable the holder to acquire either min. Statement of Compliance with the Corporate 10 per cent of voting rights, or a min. 10 per cent stake Governance Code: once a year the companies listed in the respective legal person's capital, or an amount on the Prime and Standard Markets of the Ljubljana of voting rights or a stake in the legal person's capital Stock Exchange must disclose their compliance with that are less than 10 per cent but nevertheless make the code that applies to the company or that the com- it possible to exert a significant influence over the pany voluntarily decided to apply on the basis of the management of the undertaking in which that hold- “comply or explain” principle. They disclose this in a ing subsists. document, which is defined as a “Statement of compli- ance with a code” in the Ljubljana Stock Exchange Inc. Regulated information: every piece of informa- Rules (Ljubljana Stock Exchange Inc. Rules, Articles 25 tion that the public company, or another person that and 26). This document is an integral part of the corpo- requested admission of securities to trading on a rate governance statement, which is a special part of regulated market without the consent of the public the business report in the companies’ annual reports in company, must disclose pursuant to the Financial In- accordance with Article 70 of the Companies Act. struments Market Act. Statement of Independence: a statement signed by Related persons: legally independent persons all members of a supervisory board in accordance with who are related to each other, either in terms of gov- the recommendation 11 of this Code and Appendix B. ernance, capital or in some other manner, whereby these relations make them cooperate in setting up Supervisory body: bodies authorised by law or a their business policy and act in concert to reach company’s acts to supervise its business and its man- common business objectives, or so that one person agement body; listed companies are supervised either can direct or materially influence the other person(s) by the supervisory board (two-tier system of govern- in deciding on the matters of finance and business ance) or the board of directors (one-tier system of gov- operations, or so that one person's business opera- ernance), which in turn delegate the company’s regular tions or business results materially influence another operations and representation to executive director(s), person's business operations or business results. Re- who are also member(s) of the board of directors. lated persons are persons: t XIPBSFSFMBUFECZXBZPGCFJOHJNNFEJBUFGBN- Transparency: the level of information disclosure ily members; about a securities issuer, which enables the receivers t UIBUQBSUJDJQBUFJOBOPUIFSQFSTPOFJUIFSDPMMFD- of such information (investors) to correctly assess the tively, directly or indirectly; financial position, business operation, risks and the t UIBUQBSUJDJQBUFJOFBDIPUIFS management of the issuer's company, and helps them t UIBUGPSNBHSPVQPGDPNQBOJFT QVSTVBOUUPUIF to take an informed investment decision. It is one of company law; the main components of the corporate governance t XIPBSFNFNCFSTPGNBOBHFSJBMPSTVQFSWJTPSZ system, its key elements being: quality of disclosure, bodies or procurators or employees, who have frequency of information delivery, availability. High entered into employment contracts to which quality disclosure has the following features: compre- the substantive agreement in the collective hensiveness or completeness, reliability, relevance, wage agreement does not apply with the com- timeliness, comparability. 8 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES III. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK 1 The key objective of a joint-stock company engaged in a revenue-generating business is long- term and sustainable maximising of the company's value. Should the company have other ob- jectives, they should be defined in the memorandum of association. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE POLICY 2 The management board works together with the supervisory board in drawing up and adopt- ing a Corporate Governance Policy (“CG Policy”), thereby laying down the major guidelines of corporate governance as compliant with the company’s long-term objectives. The CG Policy is communicated to the stakeholders by being published on the corporate website. 2.1 In drawing up the CG Policy of a company, the management board cooperates with the supervisory board, whereby it takes account of the company’s development needs and its specificities, such as its size and area of business. The supervisory board takes part by drawing up its own activities schedule for each financial year and by defining the issues to be dealt with. These include adoption of a meeting calendar, key contents of supervision, form of communication with the management board, the role of the super- visory board in adopting the Corporate Governance Policy and Diversity Policy, which is performed with regards to the representation in management and supervisory bodies, supervisory board performance assessment, the role of the supervisory board in assessing internal controls system (especially risk manage- ment, internal audit and financial and operative control systems as well as the system of compliance with legislation and relevant standards), and the procedure of drawing up general meeting resolutions, chiefly the proposed appointments of supervisory board members. In drawing up the CG Policy of a company, the company may make reference to other publicly available documents. 2.2 The CG Policy is updated regularly and is always compliant with the company’s latest governance policy. It contains the date of its latest update and is available on the company’s website. COMPANY AND STAKEHOLDERS 3 In relations with its stakeholders, a company exercises its rights with due responsibility and meets the obligations it has undertaken in a manner that is compatible with the company's objectives and that serves its long-term interests. 3.1 The company provides for appropriate communication and mutual protection of confidentiality as well as for the maintenance of best business practice with representatives of individual stakeholders. 3.2 In adopting actual decisions, a company considers the legitimate interests of all stakeholders. Unless con- sidered a business secret or inside information, the company communicates all decisions having a direct impact on a given stakeholder group to the respective group. 3.3 Within the framework of regular reporting, a company also reports about its relationships with Stakeholders. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 9 DIVERSITY POLICY 4 The management board, together with the supervisory board, draws up and adopts the Di- versity Policy performed with respect to the representation in management and supervisory bodies. 4.1 The Diversity Policy defines target diversity pursued with respect to the representation in management and supervisory bodies from the perspective of age, education or other personal characteristics of the members as appropriate for the company with regards to its characteristics. 4.2 The Diversity Policy specifically defines the target diversity pursued with respect to the representation in management and supervisory boards from the perspective of gender. The Policy determines the ratio of both genders in the bodies as appropriate for the company depending on the size of the bodies. 4.3 The Diversity Policy specifically sets out the objectives of diversity for each body and ways of their imple- mentation, as well as the effects on the human resources procedures and other processes in the company. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE 5 The company includes a CG statement in the company’s business report. Until the CG state- ment is drawn up, the supervisory board, within the framework of the adoption of the compa- ny’s annual report, defines its position on the corporate governance in the supervisory board performance report. 5.1 The company which, in addition to this Code, applies any other code, draws up one CG statement, in which it includes as many statements of compliance with a code as the codes it applies. Compliance with rec- ommendations of this Code counts as an adequate explanation as to why the company did not abide by possible different recommendations of the other code. 5.2 The statement of compliance with the Code must be clear, understandable and accurate. It must define deviations from all recommendations of the Code, which the company does not abide by in their entirety. The company also discloses all deviations from the Code, which it failed to comply with during the entire financial year. 5.3 For each deviation the company discloses how and why it deviated from a recommendation of the Code. Explanations of deviations must be substantive. Merely stating the fact that none of the recommendations of this Code are binding for the companies is not an appropriate explanation. 5.4 Should the company, instead of the recommended practice, have its own corporate governance practice, which is more suitable for the company, the company should state and explain the practice, as well as ex- plain these deviations. The company should also state why this practice is more suitable for the company. 5.5 In the CG statement the company discloses the composition of the management and supervisory boards by name in tables, which are in Appendix C1 and C2 herein. For each management or supervisory board member the company completes all data contained in the tables in the Appendix herein. 5.6 In the CG statement the company discloses the composition and amount of the remuneration package of the management and supervisory boards by name in tables, which are in Appendix C3 and C4 herein. 5.7 At least once in every three years a company ensures external assessment of the adequacy of the CG state- ment. An independent institution with relevant professional references must perform the external assess- 10 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES ment. External assessment is not considered as business assurance, which is provided by the accounting experts with public authorisation (auditors) or accounting experts without public authorisation (e.g. internal auditors). It is performed separately from the audit of the annual report and is not performed by the institu- tion, which is the provider of auditing services for the company, or is in any way connected with them. RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS 6 The company ensures a governance system that respects the principle of equal treatment of shareholders and fosters a responsible enforcement of shareholder rights. Under the same conditions, the company exercises equal treatment of all shareholders irrespective of whether they are legal or natural persons, institutional investors, local or international, state or a state capital investment manager. 6.1 The company encourages all shareholders to be active and responsible in enforcing their rights, and to engage in mutual dialogue. 6.2 The company encourages all significant shareholders, institutional investors and the state in particularly, to publicly disclose their investment policy with respect to the stake they hold in the company concerned, i.e. their voting policy, the type and frequency of their engagement in the company’s governance, and the dynamics of their communication with the respective company’s managerial or supervisory bodies. The company is considered to have called its shareholders to make such a disclosure pursuant to this Principle if the convocation of the meeting includes the respective invitation. MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVIOSRY BOARDS’ ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMPANY 7 The management and supervisory boards are obliged to act exclusively in the best interest of the company irrespective of the will or wishes of individual shareholders and other stakehold- ers of the company. The Boards act exclusively at their own discretion in the interest of the company and do not communicate with individual shareholders and other stakeholders about their decisions, their future conduct or company’s performance outside of the mechanisms laid down in laws and recommended in this Code. GENERAL MEETING 8 The company facilitates and encourages shareholders to actively enforce their voting rights by informing them of the convening and progress of general meetings in a timely and accurate manner and by holding general meetings with due responsibility. To facilitate the sharehold- ers’ right to be informed, the company provides them with reliable data on the company and its related companies, as required for shareholders to make informed assessments of the items on the agenda. Each shareholder has the right to attend the general meeting and there discuss the items on the agenda, ask questions and provide proposals, vote on proposals, as well as to be informed of the adopted decisions, on a non-discriminatory basis. The General meeting does not exercise voting rights only, thus also the holders of the preference shares without voting rights may attend the General Meeting. 8.1 Each institution or individual planning an organized collection of proxy notices for the general meeting informs the management board of such an intention in advance of the actual collection. The company SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 11 thereupon posts on its website, along with the other information on the convening, a public announce- ment stating who is organizing the collection of proxy notices and for which general meeting. Such an announcement includes: t BMJTUPGQSPYJFT t UIFJSDPOUBDUEFUBJMT BEESFTTUPXIJDIQSPYZOPUJDFTBSFUPCFNBJMFE  t UIFQFSJPEBWBJMBCMFGPSTFOEJOHQSPYZOPUJDFT t BQSPYZOPUJDF Not later than one month after the general meeting, the company also discloses the costs of the organized collection of proxy appointments. 8.2 On its website, the company provides, together with the convocation of the general meeting, a sample registration to the general meeting. In addition to the sample for direct registration to the general meet- ing, the company also provides a sample registration with authorisation to participate in the general meet- ing and a sample registration through a proxy. 8.3 Not later than upon convening the general meeting, the company provides understandable information about the consequences that the potential adoption of any proposed resolutions might have for the exist- ing and potential shareholders, and substantiates why such resolutions should be adopted – either reso- lutions on changes of the company’s articles of association (capital increase or decrease, waiver of exist- ing shareholders’ pre-emptive right, changes in the nominal value of shares, transformation of the type of shares) or resolutions on the company’s corporate restructuring (division, merger, transfer of property, change in legal form of organization). 8.4 In cases of a proposed resolution on listing, transfer of listing to another regulated market or a proposed resolution on the delisting of shares from the regulated market, the company communicates in a clear manner the consequences of such a proposal and resolution being adopted, both for the existing and potential shareholders, and substantiates the proposed resolution. The company also discloses in due time the presumed activity plan of the delisting from the regulated market. 8.5 If the general meeting is to elect members of the supervisory board, the company’s substantiation of the proposals for such resolutions must include, along with the statutorily required data, at least the informa- tion on proposed nominee’s current and past membership on other managerial or supervisory bodies and any potential conflicts of interests, pursuant to the criteria given in Appendix B of this Code. The company must additionally disclose information whether the proposed nominee is independent in relation to the company in accordance with the criteria in this Code. 8.6 If the general meeting is to elect members of the supervisory board, the proposer must disclose the proc- ess of finding, nomination and evaluation of the nominees for the members of the supervisory board. 8.7 If the general meeting is to decide on the management remuneration policy, it should adopt it at the pro- posal of the supervisory board and align it substantively with the current market situation and the situation in the company in such a way as to promote long-term sustainability of the company and to ensure that the remuneration is in line with the achieved results and financial position of the company. The manage- ment remuneration policy should substantively follow the Companies Act and the provisions of the Code, and should define at least: t UIFMBSHFTUTIBSFPGWBSJBCMFSFNVOFSBUJPOJOSFMBUJPOUPUIFöYFESFNVOFSBUJPO t DSJUFSJBVTFEGPSEFUFSNJOJOHUZQFTPGWBSJBCMFSFNVOFSBUJPO OPUTQFDJöDDSJUFSJB  t UIFNBYJNVNBNPVOUPGUFSNJOBUJPOQBZNFOUJOSFMBUJPOUPUIFöYFESFNVOFSBUJPO t TQFDJöDBUJPO PG UIF IJHIFTU TIBSF PG SFNVOFSBUJPO HJWFO BT TIBSFT  TUPDL PQUJPOT BOE PUIFS UZQFT PG financial instruments, along with any restrictions of such remuneration. 12 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 8.8 The general meeting takes separate votes about the resolution on the distribution of accumulated profit, and about the resolution on formally discharging managerial and supervisory bodies from responsibility, even though both matters are discussed under the same item on the agenda. The general meeting like- wise adopts separate resolutions for discharging the management board on the one hand and the super- visory board on the other. 8.9 If the general meeting is to adopt a resolution on having reviewed the annual financial statements, or if the general meeting has the power to endorse the financial statements, a representative of the company’s certified auditor is summoned to the meeting. 8.10 In the public announcement about the conducted general meeting, the company provides statutorily required information as well as: t BDMFBSJEFOUJöDBUJPOPGUIFöWFMBSHFTUTIBSFIPMEFSTQSFTFOUPSSFQSFTFOUFEBUUIFNFFUJOH BMPOHXJUI their respective numbers of shares held and the numbers of their voting rights; voting rights should also be given as a percentage of the total voting rights in the company and as a percentage of the voting rights in the respective class of shares; t OPUJDFPOUIFEJTUSJCVUJPOPGBDDVNVMBUFEQSPöU BTXFMMBTEBUBPOUIFEJWJEFOEBNPVOU UIFSFDPSEEBUF when the shareholders entitled to dividend payments are to be identified, and the predetermined pay- able date; t XIFOUIFBEPQUFESFTPMVUJPOTSFGFSUPUIFJTTVFPGOFXTFSJBMTFDVSJUJFT BEFUBJMFEBDDPVOUPGUIFSJHIUT and obligations arising from such securities. SUPERVISORY BOARD COMPOSITION AND NOMINATION OF SUPERVISORY BOARD 9 The composition of the supervisory board ensures diligent supervision and decision taking that is in the best interest of the company. Members of the supervisory board are appointed with a view to their complementary professional expertise, experience and skills, and objec- tives of the Diversity Policy implemented from the perspective of gender, age, education and other personal characteristics of the members, if the company adopted such a Policy. 9.1 The supervisory board has a sufficient number of members to facilitate efficient discussions and the adop- tion of quality decisions based on the diversity of its members' experience and skills. 9.2 In the proposed new composition of the supervisory board for the general meeting all nominees for mem- bers of the supervisory board are independent. In the event of changed circumstances that affect the member’s meeting the criteria of independence, such a member immediately informs the supervisory board. The recommendation to appoint independent members applies both to shareholders as well as workers' councils. The fact that a member of the supervisory board nominated by a workers' council is employed at the company does not preclude his/her independence in accordance with the principle 23 and Appendix B3 of this Code. 9.3 If the general meeting or works council do not abide by the recommendations on nomination of inde- pendent supervisory board members and the adopted Diversity Policy, the company discloses this infor- mation in the CG statement. 9.4 When the supervisory board is set up, when the terms of office of new members begin and upon the ap- pointment of special supervisory board committees, the chairman of the supervisory board ensures that newcomers receive an efficient induction to the work on the board, whereby the management board and secretary of the supervisory board provide organizational support. In the event that more than half of the SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 13 members in the composition of the supervisory board are replaced, the supervisory board, in due time after the completed induction to work of the new supervisory board members, confirms or adopts the Cor- porate Governance Policy and makes firm commitments with respect to its activities related to establishing and implementing their key corporate governance institutes. SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR SUPERVISORY BOARD MEMBERS 10 The selection procedure for new supervisory board members, and the procedure of drawing up the related proposal of the general meeting resolution for appointing new board mem- bers, are transparent and defined in advance. In selection, the supervisory board pursues Diversity Policy objectives concerning the representation in the company’s supervisory bod- ies. 10.1 In assessing a candidate's eligibility for a supervisory board member, statutory criteria are applied as well as the following additional criteria, to the greatest possible extent: t BEFRVBUFQFSTPOBMJOUFHSJUZBOECVTJOFTTFUIJDT t NJOVOJWFSTJUZMFWFMFEVDBUJPO PMEQSPHSBNNF PS.BTUFSTEFHSFFJOBQSPGFTTJPO nd Bologna level) , t BEFRVBUFFYQFSJFODFJOTVQFSWJTJPO DPSQPSBUFHPWFSOBODFPSNBOBHFNFOU PSXPSLFYQFSJFODFJOUIF company’s industry, t DPNQSFIFOTJWFCVTJOFTTBOESFMFWBOUQSPGFTTJPOBMLOPXMFEHF t UIFBCJMJUZUPBDUBOENBLFEFDJTJPOTJOUIFDPNQBOZTMPOHUFSNJOUFSFTU UIFSFCZTVCEVJOHUPUIJTDBVTF potential alternative personal or other individual interests (of third persons, employees, the management board, shareholders, the public and the government), t DBOEJEBUFTBSFOPUNBOBHFST TVQFSWJTPST SFQSFTFOUBUJWFTPSDPOTVMUBOUTPGDPNQFUJUJWFDPNQBOJFTJO the industry of the respective company’s primary business, and they are also not significant shareholders or stakeholders in such competitive companies, t UIFZIBWFTVóDJFOUUJNFPSXJMMIBWFTVóDJFOUUJNFPODFUIFZBSFBQQPJOUFE t UIFZBSFDBQBCMFPGFóDJFOUDPNNVOJDBUJPOBOEUFBNXPSL t UIFZBSFQSFQBSFEUPVOEFSUBLFDPOUJOVPVTUSBJOJOHBOEQSPGFTTJPOBMEFWFMPQNFOU t UIFZIBWFBDFSUJöDBUFFWJEFODJOHUIFJSTQFDJBMJ[FEQSPGFTTJPOBMDPNQFUFODFGPSNFNCFSTIJQPOBTVQFS- visory board, such as a Certificate of the Slovenian Directors’ Association or another relevant certificate. 10.2 If a remuneration committee or a nomination committee operate within the supervisory board, the board carefully studies its recommendations and discloses in the materials for the general meeting whether it has applied these recommendations in its appointment of the candidates for supervisory board members. If the supervisory board has no such nomination committee, it conducts the procedures recommended for nomination committees in Appendix A3 of the Code by itself. 10.3 Prior to beginning the assessment of potential candidates for supervisory board members, the supervisory board or nomination committee considers the needed competency and professional profile of the nomi- nee, which comprises the level of professional knowledge, experience and skills necessary for a supervisory board member's high-quality conduct of his function. To this end, the supervisory board draws up in ad- vance an outline of the function as well as the professional knowledge, experience and skills necessary to perform such a function (supervisory board member profile), against which the candidates are assessed. Such a profile is drawn up according to the size, line of business, strategy and other characteristics and needs of the company. 14 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES STATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE 11 All members of the supervisory board sign a statement of independence, in which they declare themselves on their meeting of the criteria of conflict of interest from Appendix B of this Code. In this statement, they also indicate whether they consider themselves independent. Should they recognize any potential conflict of interest and consider themselves independent, they state in the statement why this conflict of interest is not permanent and relevant pursuant to this Code. In the statement they also state explicitly that they have the relevant professional training and know-how to work on a supervisory board. Such signed statements are then post- ed on the company's website. SUPERVISORY BOARD’S TASKS 12 The supervisory board monitors the company throughout the financial year, takes an active part in drawing up the CG Policy of the company and in establishing the corporate governance system, carefully evaluates the work of the management board and performs other tasks pur- suant to the law, company regulations and the Code. 12.1 The supervisory board’s responsibility is to adopt decisions with due care, in good faith and based on ob- tained complete and timely information. For this purpose the members of the supervisory board should make sure that the key corporate information and systems for ensuring compliance are credible and ap- propriate and such as to enable the supervisory board appropriate monitoring and supervision. 12.2 Within a due period after the appointment, the supervisory board either endorses or supplements the existing rules of procedure, or adopts new rules of procedure, as compliant with the needs of the current supervisory board and the Code. The supervisory board rules of procedure govern especially: t UIFNBOOFSPGDBMMJOHNFFUJOHT DPNNVOJDBUJPOBNPOHNFNCFSTBOEEJTTFNJOBUJPOPGNBUFSJBMT t UIFNBOOFSPGWPUJOHBOEEFDJTJPOUBLJOH t UIFGSFRVFODZPGCPBSENFFUJOHT t UIFDPOUFOUBOENBOOFSPGESBXJOHVQ DPPSEJOBUJOHBOEFOEPSTJOHUIFNJOVUFT t UIFUBTLTPGUIFDIBJSNBOBOETFDSFUBSZPGUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSE t DPNNVOJDBUJPOXJUIUIFQVCMJDSFHBSEJOHUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSETSFTPMVUJPOT  t EFUBJMFEDSJUFSJBGPSBTTFTTJOHDPOøJDUTPGJOUFSFTUTBOEQSPDFEVSFTJODBTFTPGQPUFOUJBMDPOøJDUTPGJOUFSFTUT t UIFMJTUPGBMMUZQFTPGUSBOTBDUJPOTGPSXIJDIUIFNBOBHFNFOUCPBSEOFFETQSJPSBQQSPWBMPGUIFTVQFS- visory board based on a supervisory board resolution and the company’s articles of association, t UIFTZTUFNPGPVUTPVSDJOHGPSQVSQPTFTPGUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSE t TVQFSWJTPSZCPBSEFWBMVBUJPO FEVDBUJPOBOEUSBJOJOHPGUIFNFNCFSTPGUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSE 12.3 In its rules of procedure, the supervisory board sets the scope of topics and timeframes to be respected by the management board in its periodic reporting of the supervisory board. The communicated data enable supervisory board members to make an objective and balanced assessment of the company's financial po- sition. The management board provides the materials for supervisory board sessions and other information to the supervisory board in writing. Provided adequate protection and information security are ensured, such notices may be e-mailed. The documents needed by supervisory board members to make quality decisions are made available to them or to the supervisory board committees in due time. 12.4 The company’s supervisory board or board of directors once a year discuss and take a position on the workers' council’s report on the status of workers’ participation in management. In the definition, they also adopt a position on the proposal of measures in the report. 12.5 To distribute materials and convene meetings, the supervisory board makes use of information technology. If the size of the supervisory board or geographical dispersion of the members justifies this, the supervi- sory board uses information technology also for holding meetings and voting on proposed resolutions. The SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 15 company ensures efficient protection and information security when sending materials to supervisory board members, including contemporary approaches of electronic platforms for electronic convening of meetings, sending of materials, document archives and archives of other company or supervisory board acts. 12.6 The supervisory board usually invites management board members to its meetings. In case of an item on the agenda or part of an item of the agenda that would best be discussed in their absence, or in cases where their presence could affect the supervisory board's independent work or open discussion (deciding on the appointment of the chairman of the supervisory board and members of committees, appointment or recall of a member of the supervisory board, deciding on the evaluation and remuneration of the man- agement board, supervisory board evaluation, etc.), the supervisory board discusses and/or adopts deci- sions in the absence of the management board. 12.7 Members of the supervisory board inform the supervisory board of acceptance of membership in the su- pervisory board of another company immediately or as soon as possible. 12.8 The supervisory board rules of procedure stipulate the board's communicating with the public with re- spect to the decisions adopted at its meetings. In exceptional cases, the board adopts a resolution making the passed resolutions either public or confidential, and defining the manner of the board's communicat- ing with the public. Such communication is done by the chairman of the supervisory board, unless other- wise required by a supervisory board resolution or exceptional circumstances. 12.9 The company provides the supervisory board with room and technical means to facilitate its work, includ- ing induction of new members, provision of additional training to existing members of the supervisory board and committees during the term of office, services from external experts, and funds to cover any other reasonable costs related to the board’s work, including remuneration for supervisory board commit- tees and remuneration for external members of such committees. The company has in place appropriate outsourcing procedures needed for the work of the supervisory board, separately for services where the company is represented by the management board and for services where the company is represented by the chairman of the supervisory board. 12.10 The supervisory board ensures the establishment and implementation of a management board remunera- tion system as compliant with Principle 16 of the Code. The supervisory board defines the objectives to be reached by management board members, as well as the criteria for variable remuneration, separately for each financial year and as aligned with the company's annual plans, and assesses the performance of management board members as compliant with these criteria – separately for each year and depending on the company's annual statements. 12.11 The supervisory board’s report presented at the general meeting offers a precise and credible account of the board’s activities during the year. Along with statutorily required items, the supervisory board includes in its report the relevant information about its internal organization and resolving conflicts of interest, as well as presents the board’s operations. The report also states to what an extent the board’s self-assess- ment has contributed to the improvement of supervisory board’s performance. EDUCATION OF SUPERVISORY BOARD MEMBERS 13 The supervisory board members undergo continuous education and ensure that the members’ know-how; experience and skills meet the needs of the company. 13.1 Once a year, the supervisory board defines an education plan for supervisory board members and com- mittees as well as indicative costs of the training. The education plan defines the scope and content areas of training depending on the needs of individual members and the body as a whole. The education costs for the members of the supervisory board and committees fall under operating costs of the company and are not part of the payment for the performance of the function. 16 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES SUPERVISORY BOARD EVALUATION 14 Once a year, the supervisory board evaluates its composition, performance and potential con- flicts of interests of its individual members, as well as the board’s functioning and its coop- eration with the management board. In the process of evaluation, the supervisory board also assesses the work of supervisory board committees. 14.1 The evaluation procedure includes the following activities and positions: t FWBMVBUJPOPGUIFXPSLPGUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSEBOEDPNNJUUFFT t BTTFTTNFOU PG UIF DVSSFOU DPNQPTJUJPO PG UIF CPBSE XJUI SFTQFDU UP UIF SFRVJSFNFOUT SFMBUFE UP UIF company’s regular operations, to the supervisory board performance assessment and to compliance with recommended practices of composition from the perspective of professionalism, independence, and from following the Diversity Policy, t BTTFTTNFOU PG UIF BSFBT PG TVQFSWJTJPO BOE UIF TDPQF PG TVQFSWJTJPO TZTUFN  BT XFMM BT UIF RVBMJUZ PG supervision in financial and non-financial areas, t BTTFTTNFOUPGUIFNBOBHFNFOUCPBSESFQPSUJOHTZTUFNBOEFYBNJOBUJPOPGXIFUIFSUIFDPNNVOJDB- tion and cooperation between the supervisory board and the management board is adequate, t BTTFTTNFOUPGUIFDPOWPDBUJPOPGTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSETFTTJPOTBOEUIFRVBMJUZPGNBUFSJBMT t BTTFTTNFOUPGUIFGVODUJPOJOHPGUIFCPBSEBTBUFBN PGUIFCPEZTEZOBNJD PGUIFQPTTJCJMJUZPGFY- pressing individual opinions and reservations and of resolving conflicts among members, t BTTFTTNFOUPGUIFNBOBHFNFOUPGUIFCPBSETXPSLBOEUIFGVODUJPOJOHPGUIFDIBJSNBOPGUIFCPBSE t BTTFTTNFOUPGUIFMPHJTUJDBOEUFDIOJDBMTVQQPSUPGUIFDPNQBOZBOEUIFXPSLPGUIFTFDSFUBSZBOEQSP- fessional services, t BUUFOEBODFPGNFNCFSTPOTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSETFTTJPOT FYBNJOBUJPOPGTZTUFNTGPSUIFNBOBHFNFOUPG conflicts of interest and dependence. 14.2 Supervisory board evaluation should be performed objectively and professionally according to an ap- propriate methodology, e.g. in accordance with the Slovenian Directors’ Association’s Supervisory Board Assessment Manual1. In order to carry out the evaluation procedure, the supervisory board, if necessary, makes use of an external professional support of suitably qualified experts with references from the area of corporate governance and experience in operating in supervisory boards and committees. 14.3 Depending on the results of such evaluation procedure, the supervisory board takes additional measures as required, and takes account of the related findings in its subsequent work and preparation of proposals for the general meeting. Implementation of measures is regularly monitored. 14.4 At least once in every three years the supervisory board ensures an external assessment in which it cooper- ates with an institution or external experts with relevant experience in supervisory board’s work, in-depth knowledge of corporate governance and the functioning of the supervisory boards and their committees. A report on the external assessment should be drawn up regarding which the supervisory board adopts a position and based on which it adopts a plan of performance improvement measures. CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD 15 Members of the supervisory board elect the chairman of the board by simple majority. The chairman of the board chairs and represents the supervisory board, but cannot adopt deci- sions on its behalf. Before he is entitled to communicate any position to the management board or third parties, the respective issue must first be discussed on the supervisory board, which then adopts requisite resolutions. The same applies to signing of contracts with mem- bers of the board, external auditors or external experts, where the company is represented by the chairman of the supervisory board. 1 http://www.zdruzenje-ns.si/stroka/samoocenjevanje-ns/ SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 17 15.1 Members of the supervisory board elect the chairman of the board by simple majority. The chairman should have adequate knowledge, experience, skills and the ability to mediate and lead, and time availabil- ity. The chairman should be a person with high personal integrity, who has trust of members of the board in his professionalism, communication skills, integration capacity, independence, ethics and moral virtues. 15.2 A person that was on the management board of the company concerned or on the management of a related company in the past year cannot be appointed chairman of the supervisory board. 15.3 The chairman of the board should not be at the same time the chairman of the board’s committees in this company. 15.4 The deputy chairman assumes the chairman’s rights and obligations only if the chairman can no longer exercise them. The deputy chairman of the board should be elected among members of the board who are representatives of the capital. All recommendations for the chairman of the supervisory board also ap- ply to deputy chairman. 15.5 The chairman of the supervisory board ensures that the procedures related to preparatory work, consulta- tions, adopting of resolutions and decision taking are precisely adhered to. The agenda for a supervisory board meeting consists of items to be discussed at the meeting. The agenda also specifies whether an item and corresponding materials are of an informative nature only or whether actual decisions are to be adopted on their basis (adopted report, consent or authorization granted to the management board, etc.). Provided that the members receive adequate materials and have sufficient time to prepare, the supervisory board may add additional items to the agenda on the spot, by a simple majority vote. 15.6 It is the chairman’s responsibility, in cooperation with the secretary of the board, that diligent minutes are taken of each supervisory board meeting, which contain a summary of the discussion and state the potential reser- vations expressed during the meeting by the members with respect to any item on the agenda. The minutes contain a report of voting of members by name on all resolutions, which were not adopted or rejected unani- mously. The secretary of the supervisory board draws up draft minutes and mails them to all supervisory board members within 15 days of the meeting. The chairman includes the comments that arrive in due time into the materials for endorsing the minutes at the next meeting. In accordance with the resolutions of the supervisory board, the chairman of the supervisory board signs the minutes of the supervisory board, resolutions of the supervisory board, employment agreements with the members of the management board, agreements with the external auditor and external experts and other decisions or acts of the supervisory board. 15.7 The chairman ensures that members make knowledgeable and informed contributions to discussions, and that there is sufficient time for reflection and discussion prior to decision taking. 15.8 Each year on the general meeting the chairman of the supervisory board presents to the shareholders the work of the supervisory board and is available for explanations regarding the supervisory board’s opera- tions and supervision of the company. THE SUPERVISORY BOARD SECRETARY 16 At the proposal of the management board, the supervisory board appoints a supervisory board secretary, who takes minutes, attends to the archives, offers organizational support to the board and provides advice on governance matters. Members of the board can also consult the secretary outside supervisory board meetings. 16.1 The role of the supervisory board secretary is to offer organizational and professional support to the super- visory board and its chairman. Along with monitoring supervisory board procedures as stipulated by the rules of procedure, the secretary also fosters a smooth information flow among members; helps organize induction and works toward obtaining outside support for the operations of the supervisory board. 18 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 16.2 The secretary must keep all obtained information and protect the documents as confidential or as a busi- ness secret according to the same standards as are applicable to the supervisory board members. The su- pervisory board ensures the secretary has signed a statement in which he makes a commitment to protect the confidentiality of information on the same level as the members of the supervisory board, unless he has already made such a commitment on a different basis. 16.3 If the functioning of the supervisory board and its committees is so broad and complex as to require a spe- cial organisational unit, this function may be shared between several persons who represent the secretariat of the management board and supervisory board. It is recommended that the supervisory board appoint the supervisory board secretary by name irrespective of the organisation of the said function. 16.4 The supervisory board secretary should regularly undertake professional education and training in the area of corporate governance and topics associated with the performance of the supervisory function and the function of supervisory board secretary. The supervisory board secretary may become a member of professional associations that are associated with the secretary's professional training. The company shall provide funds for the abovementioned purpose as in the case of internal auditor training. PAYMENT OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD 17 Members of the supervisory board receive adequate payment for performing their function. The payment is such that enables an appropriate composition of the board and reflects the responsibilities and tasks endowed to the supervisory board by the law, recommendations of good practice and the Code. 17.1 Aside from attendance fees, members of the supervisory board are also entitled to payment for performing their function, in the amount set by the general meeting. Members of the supervisory board receive strictly cash payments and their remuneration cannot be directly related to the company’s performance as given in the company’s statements. 17.2 Members of the supervisory board that are also members of board committees receive additional payment for their work on the committees, in compliance with a general meeting resolution or based on provisions of the company’s articles of association. This additional payment cannot exceed 80 per cent of the remu- neration for membership on the supervisory board. The general meeting resolution or amendment of the articles of association stipulating such payment shall be adopted in advance. The remuneration for external members of committees comes from the funds set aside for supervisory board activities. The final decision regarding the payment to external members is adopted by the supervisory board in adequate proportion to the payment to the supervisory board members and is independent of general meeting resolutions. SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTES 18 The supervisory board sets up special committees, which analyse specific issues and advise the supervisory board with respect to these issues. Decision taking nevertheless remains the collegiate responsibility of the entire supervisory board. 18.1 Aside from an audit committee, the supervisory board also sets up a remuneration committee and/or nomi- nation committee. Depending on the size of a supervisory board and the complexity of the work, the tasks of the remuneration committee and the nomination committee, as laid down in Appendix A of the Code, may be undertaken by the same committee. Committees are set up as soon as possible after the constitutive meeting of the supervisory board and early enough to be able to diligently undertake their tasks. 18.2 When setting up a committee, the supervisory board defines its tasks. It thereby takes into account the SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 19 company’s specifics as well as the number of members on the board and their professional expertise. The external member of the supervisory board committee must be independent in relation to the company and the management board and have no conflicts of interest in accordance with the criteria in this Code, which apply to the supervisory board members. 18.3 A committee’s mandate is not tied to the mandate of the supervisory board members. The supervisory board may at any time replace an external member of the committee. 18.4 The supervisory board, working with the management board and the secretary of the board, provides a committee with complete materials and documents required for its work. 18.5 In performing their function, all committee members take account solely of the company’s objectives. The rules on conflict of interest, which apply to supervisory board members, also apply, mutatis mutandis, to external committee members (who are not members of the supervisory board). The supervisory board makes sure that all external committee members sign a statement binding them to protect data confiden- tiality according to the same standards as supervisory board members. 18.6 After each committee meeting, the supervisory board receives a report on the adopted resolutions and on the potential positions that the committee adopted for the supervisory board, either spoken or in writing. 18.7 Committee members have professional and personal characteristics of the kind that enable them high- quality and independent work, while primarily enabling: t JOEFQFOEFODF t UJNFBWBJMBCMFGPSXPSLPOUIFDPNNJUUFF t TVóDJFOUFYQFSUJTFJOUIFQSPGFTTJPOBMTVCKFDUöFMEEFBMUXJUICZUIFDPNNJUUFF MANAGEMENT BOARD MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY 19 The management board, whose work, knowledge and experience ensure an optimum fulfil- ment of their function along with risk management and risk assessment, manages the compa- ny thus facilitating the company’s long-term performance. It is the responsibility of the man- agement board that the company defines and stipulates the company’s values and operations strategy, while its organization facilitates an efficient performance of its tasks. The manage- ment board achieves the company’s optimum performance by employing suitable directors as well as engaging other human and financial resources. 19.1 The management board by example promotes and within the framework of its tasks ensures such corpo- rate culture that fosters ethical conduct and commitment to compliance of company operations, compli- ance and ethical conduct in employees and other persons who perform work or services for the company based on an agreement. For this purpose the management board, in the context of the management of the company, adopts a code of conduct or a code of ethics and sets up and guides a system ensuring compliance and business ethics. 19.2 The management board defines and establishes an efficient and transparent management system, under which it provides: t DMFBSBOEUSBOTQBSFOUPSHBOJTBUJPO JODMVEJOHDMFBSBOETQFDJöFEBVUIPSJTBUJPOT SFTQPOTJCJMJUJFTBOEMJOFT of reporting; t FóDJFOUTZTUFNPGSJTLNBOBHFNFOUJOBDDPSEBODFXJUIUIFSFDPNNFOEBUJPOTPGUIJT$PEF t FóDJFOUTZTUFNPGJOUFSOBMDPOUSPMTJOBDDPSEBODFXJUIUIFSFDPNNFOEBUJPOTPGUIJT$PEF 20 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES t FNQMPZFFSFNVOFSBUJPOQPMJDZCBTFEPOUIFDPNQBOZTDBQBDJUZGPSTVTUBJOBCMFSJTLUBLJOH QSPNPUJPO of lawful and ethical conduct and discouragement of breaches of compliance and ethics and excessive risk-taking; t SFHVMBS QFSGPSNBODF BTTFTTNFOU PG UIF NBOBHFNFOU TZTUFN  POHPJOH EFUFDUJPO PG XFBLOFTTFT BOE constant improvement of this system. 19.3 Optimality of adopted management decisions is ensured with an open discussion among management board members on management board sessions and open discussion among management board and supervisory board members on the supervisory board sessions if necessary according to the management rules of an individual company. BRIEFING THE SUPERVISORY BOARD 19.4 The management board briefs the supervisory board regularly, promptly and coherently on all matters relevant for the company’s operations, its strategy, risk management (including all deviations from risk- taking capability, the potential breach of related limits or breaches of compliance and business ethics, and adopted measures), etc. When the supervisory board requests a report or presentation of documentation, the management board complies with such as request as soon as possible. In providing information to the supervisory board, the management board complies with the high standards of confidentiality and infor- mation security. 19.5 The chairman of the management board immediately informs the chairman of the supervisory board of events and circumstances that can have a significant impact on the operations and situation of the company. 19.6 Before being appointed to management or supervisory bodies of other companies, a member of the man- agement board obtains a prior consent of the supervisory board. Members of the management board also inform the supervisory board of assuming functions in other organisations. 19.7 A member of the management board immediately informs the supervisory board in writing of any legal transactions on the basis of which he or his close family members have acquired shares or participating interests in a company, which make their holding in the respective company reach or exceed, or fall below, the qualifying holding. COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD 20 The management board is composed so as to foster the adoption of decisions in the best interest of the company. The management board consists of several members, who ensure a diligent and responsible meeting of the company’s objectives. The management board acts in compliance with high ethical standards and takes into account the interests of all groups of stakeholders. There is mutual trust among members of the management board, which enables open discus- sion and a constructive approach in cases when opinions differ. The competences of members and their methods of work are stipulated in the management board rules of procedure. 20.1 The supervisory board is responsible for appointing and discharging members of the management board. The continuity of their work is ensured by making a prudent and timely selection of a successor for indi- vidual members of the management board within the framework of systemic provision of management board succession. When forming a proposal on the management board succession the supervisory board cooperates with the management board. 20.2 Prior to appointing the management board, the supervisory board examines whether the candidates meet not only statutory conditions but also the additional conditions stipulated by the articles of association and by the management board member competence and professional profile, as defined by supervisory board SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 21 resolutions or proposals of the remuneration committee. 20.3 The supervisory board shall carefully study to what an extent the pre-established criteria and the recom- mendations for appointing management board members, as drawn up by the remuneration committee or another competent body, are met, and compliance with the company’s acts and the Diversity Policy. 20.4 Aside from meeting statutory conditions and the conditions stipulated by the company’s articles of asso- ciation and other by-laws, the chairman of the management board also has leadership and organizational skills as well as the reputation of a good businessperson in the wider social environment. DISTRIBUTION OF MANAGEMENT BOARD TASKS 20.5 Individual members and the chairman of the management board, being a collegiate body, provide full, precise and prompt information to the management board on all relevant business with respect to the areas of their competence. 20.6 The tasks and competences are distributed among management board members by the supervisory board or by the management board rules of procedure or another management board act, and are afterwards communicated to the supervisory board by the management board. If the company has in place a system in which the chairman of the management board proposes management board members, the tasks and competences are distributed to management board members by the supervisory board through coopera- tion with the chairman of the management board. Internal division of tasks and competencies does not affect the question of company representation and does not mean that the management board is not obliged to act in concert. The management board adopts all important decisions together as a collective body and mutually informs its members in accordance with the previous point. CONTRACT WITH A MEMBER OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD 20.7 The supervisory board is obliged to ensure a suitable contract of the company with management board members. Prior to the signing of the contract and each annex by the chairman of the supervisory board, the contract or annex are confirmed by a supervisory board resolution. The contract contains a specific definition of tasks, responsibilities and competencies of a management board member, specifies the re- muneration system and manner and frequency of determining criteria for variable remuneration in detail, specifies a member’s duty with respect to loyalty to the company, methods of discharge and the amount of termination payment. The duration of the contract is subject to the term of office of a member or chair- man of the management board. REMUNERATION OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD 21 Companies have in place a remuneration system that enables them to acquire appropriate members into the management board given the company’s needs, while at the same time en- suring that management board interests are aligned with the company’s long-term interests. 21.1 The management board remuneration package consists of a fixed and variable component. The granting of the variable part is performance-linked and subject to predetermined criteria. Aside from successful op- erations, performance criteria shall also facilitate the company’s sustainable development and include non- financial criteria relevant for generating the company’s long-term value, such as abiding by the company’s valid regulations and ethical standards. The fixed component of remuneration is appropriate to allow the company to withhold variable components of remuneration when performance criteria are not met. 22 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 21.2 When a variable component is granted, the amount of the variable component that exceeds the total fixed component paid over the past year shall be deferred for at least one year. 21.3 Termination payment cannot exceed the total fixed payments received over the past year. 21.4 If the variable part of remuneration is given as shares, the shares do not pay out for at least 3 years after they were awarded. 21.5 Stock option plans and comparable financial instruments do not stand for the majority of a member of the management board’s variable component of remuneration. The criteria for granting stock options and similar financial instruments exclude general market performance, as attested by comparative parameters such as stock index returns or anticipated advances in the price of the company’s share. Claims and cash compensation for un-exercised options are not allowed. The member of the management board who acquires shares on the basis of option rights (stock option plan) or stock purchase plans cannot be entitled to sell these shares for at least 2 years after the end of the mandate in which he acquired them. 21.6 Variable remuneration given as shares, as well as the execution of stock options and any other rights to acquire shares or be remunerated on the basis of share price movements, must not be made possible for at least 3 years after such rights were awarded. INDEPENDENCE AND LOYALTY 22 Members of the supervisory and management board make independent decisions. In taking action and making decisions, members of the supervisory and management board take ac- count of the company’s objectives and subordinate to them the potentially different individ- ual own or third party interests, the interests of the management board, shareholders, the public, and the government. INDEPENDENCE OF SUPERVISORY BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS 23 All supervisory board and committee members are independent. A nominee or supervisory board or committee member shall be deemed dependent if the conflict interest is, in accord- ance with Appendix B of this Code, of a more lasting (and not merely transient) nature and is relevant. Criteria for assessment of the relevance of the conflict of interest are predominantly: t 5ZQFBOEOVNCFSPGBDUJPOTBOEEFDJTJPOTUPXIJDIUIFDPOøJDUPGJOUFSFTU NBZ BQQMJFT t -JLFMJIPPEPGBDUVBMSFBMJTBUJPOPGUIFDPOøJDUPGJOUFSFTUBOE t &òFDUPGUIFDPOøJDUPGJOUFSFTUPOUIFNBOBHFNFOUCPBSETBCJMJUZPGPCKFDUJWFBTTFTTNFOU and on company’s operations. Circumstances listed in Appendices B3 and B4 always assume dependence. Assumptions are rebuttable if the supervisory board member proves that the conflict of interest is not perma- nent and at the same time not relevant despite meeting a criterion from points in Appendices B3 and B4. CONFLICT OF INTEREST 23.1 Members of the supervisory and management board take all precautionary measures to avoid any conflict of interest that might affect their judgement. The criteria pointing to a conflict of interests of supervisory board and committee members are given in Appendix B of the Code. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 23 23.2 Once a year, upon (re)appointment, members of the supervisory board sign and provide the board with their statement of meeting the criteria from Appendix B. They thereby take a position with respect to potential conflicts of interests, including general assessment pursuant to provision B1 and compliance assessment with the criteria stipulated in Appendices B3 and B4, and commit to immediately inform the supervisory board of any potential new conflicts of interests. NON-COMPETE OBLIGATION 23.3 In case of a suspected breach of the non-compete obligation, the relevant member of the supervisory board or management board immediately informs the supervisory board. If the supervisory board deter- mines the case at hand to be a breach of the non-compete obligation, the relevant member of the super- visory board or management board shall stop with the breach immediately and transfer the gains from the relevant deal to the company as well as compensate it for any potential damage. 23.4 Should the member of the supervisory board or management board not inform the supervisory board of his potential breach of the non-compete obligation, or should the said person inform the board but thereafter not comply with the supervisory board’s instructions, the supervisory board deprives the rel- evant member of the management board of his office or proposes to the general meeting for the relevant member of the supervisory board to be deprived of office. MEASURES IN THE EVENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST 23.5 In case of a suspected conflict of interest the relevant supervisory board or management board member immediately informs the supervisory board. If the supervisory board determines the case at hand to rep- resent a material conflict of interests, the relevant member shall immediately terminate the controversial relationship, failing which makes the supervisory board assess the need for the relevant person’s function as member of the supervisory board or management board to terminate, and takes appropriate action. 23.6 Actions in the event of a potential non-relevant conflict of interests of a supervisory board or committee member, are predominantly: t UIFSFMFWBOUNFNCFSPGUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSEEJTDMPTFTUIFDPOøJDUPGJOUFSFTUTUPUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSE t UIFSFMFWBOUNFNCFSBCTUBJOTGSPNWPUJOHPOBMMTVCKFDUTXIFSFUIFNFNCFSJTPSDPVMECFBòFDUFECZ the conflict of interest; t UIFSFMFWBOUNFNCFSMFBWFTUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSENFFUJOHBOEEPFTOPUQBSUJDJQBUFJOUIFEJTDVTTJPO on subjects where the member is or could be affected by the conflict of interest; t CZ NBLJOH BO FYQSFTT XSJUUFO TUBUFNFOU PS B TUBUFNFOU  XIJDI JT PO UIF NFNCFST SFRVFTU SFDPSEFE in the supervisory board meeting minutes, the relevant member in advance waives his right to receive materials and information on the subject in which a conflict of interest is recognised. 23.7 When there are well-founded reasons for this, the chairman of the supervisory board may, prior to hold- ing a vote, ask the members of the board to state their potential conflicts of interests with respect to the subject put up for the board’s vote. Measures related to the prevention of conflict of interest on individual sessions and supervisory board members’ explanations and statements in this regard, are recorded in the minutes of the supervisory board meeting. LIABILITY INSURANCE 24 Companies should enter into an agreement for liability insurance for damages for members of the management and supervisory body. The agreement should abide by legal limitations and at the same time effectively protect the company against damage. 24 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES AUDIT AND SYSTEM OF INTERNAL CONTROLS EXTERNAL AUDITOR 25 By selecting an auditor through a process in which the company’s management and super- visory bodies as well as the audit committee take an active part, the company fosters the ap- pointment of an auditor that can ensure an independent and impartial audit of the company’s financial statements pursuant to the professional and ethical principles of audit as well as other auditing rules. To meet these requirements, the company facilitates all the conditions necessary for a quality communication flow with the auditor during the course of the audit. 25.1 Prior to embarking on the process of selecting an auditor, the audit committee and the supervisory board that proposes to the general meeting the auditor to be appointed set up the appointment criteria and the minimum conditions for cooperation with the auditor. These include the mandatory disclosure of any non- audit services the auditor has performed for the company or its related companies in the past year. 25.2 The audit committee examines the managerial bodies’ responsiveness to the issues stated in the letter to the management, as drawn up by the auditor during the pre-audit or after the conducted audit. 25.3 At least once every seven years, the company hires a different audit firm. SYSTEM OF INTERNAL CONTROLS 26 The company sets up an efficient system of internal controls, which fosters quality risk man- agement. In cooperation with the audit committee, the company ensures a substantive, pe- riodical and impartial professional surveillance over the works of the system of internal con- trols, tailored to the company’s business and scope of operations. 26.1 The management board ensures that adequate organization and competent human resources are in place for timely risk detection and assessment, and for adequate risk management, with respect to the risks the company is exposed to owing to its business operations. INTERNAL AUDIT 26.2 The internal audit shall be established in accordance with the rules laid down by International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. The main task of persons in charge of internal audit is independent monitoring of the orderliness and cost-effectiveness of the company’s operations, and of its compliance with the regulations and the company’s internal acts, with special emphasis on the quality and adequacy of the system of internal controls. Their conduct encourages quality valuations and improve- ment of risk control and risk management procedures, and contributes to added value by providing inde- pendent and impartial guarantees to the management and supervisory bodies. 26.3 The audit committee offers professional support to the supervisory board in approving the annual internal audit plan, ensuring prompt monitoring of risk management. 26.4 The company makes sure the reports and findings of the internal audit are available to members of the audit committee and to the auditor of the company’s financial statements. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 25 TRANSPARENCY OF OPERATIONS COMPANY’S CORPORATE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY 27 The CG Policy defines the company’s corporate communication strategy, which dictates high quality standards with respect to the drawing up and preparation of accounting, financial and non-financial information. 27.1 The company provides information to the public in a manner that ensures equal, transparent and prompt informing. A public announcement contains all the information necessary for a securities investor to assess the situation and estimate the effect of a business or other event and circumstances on the price of the company’s security. The wording of the public announcement is clear, comprehensible and not mislead- ing. The company publishes announcements on a pre-selected place of publication, and periodic and internal information additionally on the company’s webpage. 27.2 The company’s management is responsible for drawing up and implementing a corporate communication strategy that prevents insider dealing (abuse of inside information) and market manipulation. The com- pany’s management adopts a Corporate Communication Rulebook, which contains in particular: t BTFUPGSVMFTPOUIFQSPUFDUJPOPGDPOöEFOUJBMJUZ CVTJOFTTTFDSFUBOEJOTJEFJOGPSNBUJPOGPSNFNCFSTPG management and supervisory bodies and for other persons having access to inside information during their mandate and after it expires; the rules lay down how this type of information is to be labelled and protected as well as provide for sanctions in case of potential breaches; t BDMFBSEFöOJUJPOPGUIFJOGPSNBUJPOøPXJOTJEFUIFDPNQBOZ BMPOHXJUIUIFSFDPSEJOHBOETVQFSWJTJPO of access to inside information from origin to public announcement, as well as warnings that the relevant information has not been publicly disclosed yet and therefore constitutes inside information; t BMJTUPGUIFBQQPJOUFEQFSTPOTSFTQPOTJCMFGPSDPNNVOJDBUJOHXJUIJOWFTUPSTBOEUIFQVCMJDT UIFSFDPN- mended persons to organize internal procedures are management board members or executive directors, financial directors or IR officers; for the supervisory board this person is the chairman of the board); t UIFDPOUFOUTBOEQSPDFEVSFTPGDPNNVOJDBUJOHXJUIUIFQVCMJD FHQSPNQUEJTDMPTVSFPGJOGPSNBUJPO through public announcements, publications, press conferences, the company' website, provision of materials, open-door day). TRADING RESTRICTIONS WITH SHARES 27.3 The company lays down rules on trading restrictions with the company’s shares, stipulating trading restric- tions, temporal restrictions for trading (closed trading windows) and ordering members of the company’s bodies as well as related natural persons, legal entities and other persons with access to inside information to disclose their transactions in the company’s shares and in the shares of related companies. FINANCIAL CALENDAR 27.4 Prior to the beginning of the year, the company draws up its financial calendar, in which it provides the ex- pected dates of its significant announcements in the coming financial year (general meetings, announce- ment of the record date for dividend payments, dividend payment date, annual and interim reports, etc.). The financial calendar is published and publicly available on the company's website. 26 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES INFORMING THE PUBLIC 28 The company sets up a manner of informing the public that provides for equal, timely and eco- nomical access to all relevant information to both the shareholders and the public. 28.1 The company publishes regulated and other important information on a chosen place of publication, which enables quick and non-discriminatory access to the information (such as for example the Ljubljana Stock Exchange information dissemination system SEOnet) and submits the information into the system for the central storage of regulated information (such as the Ljubljana Stock Exchange system for the cen- tral storage of regulated information – INFO STORAGE). The company strives for its official website to be as transparent as possible. The company’s website contains all the key information about the company and its operations. 28.2 The company’s website includes the name and contact information of its IR and PR officers. 28.3 The company provides its regulated and other important information not only in Slovene but also in a language of international finance. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION 29 The company provides for a prompt and precise public announcement of information related to all the relevant aspects of the company, its financial situation, operations, ownership, gov- ernance and expectations for the future, as well as other information, which affects the status of investors (regulated and other important information). 29.1 The company provides prompt information about its financial and legal situation, and about its operations, by publishing: t "OOVBM IBMGZFBSBOEJOUFSJNSFQPSUT XIJDIUIFDPNQBOZDPNNJUUFEUPDPNQMZXJUI t 1MBOTBOEFYQFDUBUJPOTXJUISFTQFDUUPGVUVSFPQFSBUJPOT DPNQBOZEFWFMPQNFOUBOEDPNQBOZPCKFDUJWFT t 0QFSBUJPOFTUJNBUFT QPUFOUJBMEFWJBUJPOTGSPNGPSFDBTUTBOEDIBOHFEPQFSBUJOHDPOEJUJPOT t *OGPSNBUJPOBCPVUUIFTJHOJöDBOUSJTLTBOEVODFSUBJOUJFTUIBUUIFDPNQBOZJTFYQPTFEUP BTXFMMBTBJNT with respect to risk management and related measures, t *OGPSNBUJPOBCPVUBMMCVTJOFTTFWFOUTBOEDJSDVNTUBODFTXIJDIDPVMEIBWFBTJHOJöDBOUJNQBDUPOUIF business situation of the company and investors, t *OGPSNBUJPOBCPVUUIFJNQBDUPGFWFOUTGSPNUIFFOWJSPONFOU XIJDIDBOBòFDUUIFDPNQBOZTMFHBMBOE financial situation. 29.2 The company also publishes a corporate sustainability report, posting it on its website as a separate re- port or as a part of the annual report. The sustainability report includes a report on social responsibility (responsibility to employees, consumers, the local community and environmental protection). An auditing firm reviews whether the corporate sustainability report was submitted in the form of a statement on non- financial operations in the annual report or as a separate report on the company’s website. If the company performs the corporate sustainability reporting according to GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) guidelines or other international standards of corporate sustainability reporting, another institution suitable for inde- pendent external assessment of corporate sustainability reporting verifies the correctness of information in the corporate sustainability report. 29.3 The company draws up and publicly publishes a programme of acquisition of own shares and discloses any acquisition or disposal of own shares promptly or not later than at the time when the acquired or disposed shares make up for 1 per cent of the company's share capital, and upon each subsequent exceeded whole per cent. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 27 29.4 As soon as possible, the company publicly announces information on executed transactions of managers (i.e. persons who perform managerial jobs) and persons closely related to them, of which these persons must inform the company. 29.5 In the annual report in the corporate governance statement (as part of the table in appendices C1 and C2), the company discloses for its members of the management board and the supervisory board their mem- berships on the managerial or supervisory bodies in non-related companies. 29.6 In the annual report, the company discloses any potential cross-holdings with other companies (i.e. the company has a substantial holding with attached voting rights in another company, whereby the latter company also holds a substantial number of shares with voting rights in the former company). 29.7 The company discloses the remuneration of each member of the management board and of the supervi- sory board broken down to all items that are contained in the tables in the Appendices C3 and C4. 29.8 To facilitate comparability of financial statements, the company draws up and publishes its annual and half-year consolidated financial statements pursuant to the International Financial and Reporting Standards (IFRS). 29.9 On its webpage, the company publicly publishes rules of procedure of its bodies (management and super- visory bodies and general meeting). The documents are published in a user-friendly form, which enables normal reading and searching through the document. PUBLICATION OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 30 The company makes a detailed account of its governance practice in the Corporate Govern- ance Statement, which it draws up pursuant to the Companies Act. The Corporate Governance Statement is made part of the company's annual report and is also an independent document posted on the company’s official place of publication and the company's website. 28 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES ADOPTION, AND ENTRY INTO FORCE ADOPTION OF THE CODE The Corporate Governance Code has been drawn up and adopted through common accord by the Ljubljana Stock Exchange and the Slovenian Directors’ Association. ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE CODE The Code takes effect on 1 January 2017. The Code shall be published in the newsletters and on the websites of both organisations responsible for the Code. Ljubljana, 27 October 2016 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 29 APPENDIX A: SUPERVISORY BOARD COMMITTEES A.1 Audit committee The supervisory board establishes an audit committee, which is composed and has the tasks as stipulated by the law and the guidelines of the company’s CG Policy. The number of members is determined based on the com- pany’s specific characteristics, whereby the following should be observed: t TJ[FBOEDPNQMFYJUZPGUIFDPNQBOZ t SFMFWBOUSJTLBSFBT t UIFDPNQPTJUJPOBOEUIFUPUBMOVNCFSPGTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSENFNCFSTBOEUIFFYJTUFODFPGPUIFSTVQFSWJ- sory board committees whose work is related to the work of the audit committee, t MFHBMQPTTJCJMJUZUIBUBMTPBSFQSFTFOUBUJWFPGFNQMPZFFTJTBNFNCFSPGUIFDPNNJUUFF t BWBJMBCJMJUZPGTVJUBCMZRVBMJöFETVQFSWJTPSZCPBSEBOEPUIFSNFNCFST When composing an audit committee the following should be achieved: a continuity and balanced level of experience in various areas, professional knowledge, characteristics and skills. For all members the following is required: independence, personal integrity and fairness, good communication skills, capability of constructive dialogue and critical assessment and trustworthiness. For assessment of independence of supervisory board members who are also members of the audit committee provisions of point 23 of this Code apply. As a member of the audit committee an “Independent expert” in the sense defined by the Companies Act is an external expert and is thus not a supervisory board member. External expert should, in addition to required pro- fessional competencies, meet the criterion of independence, meaning independence in relation to the company and its management and other circumstances, which could affect judgement. Assessment of independence of external expert should be substantive and not only formal. The external expert’s mandate is not linked to the supervisory board members’ mandate. The Audit committee carries out its work on the request of the supervisory board and is not directly accountable to anyone. The audit committee especially has no direct contacts with the public through the media or through other channels. The audit committee monitors the establishment and efficiency of operations of the so-called whistleblowing system and warning procedures in the company, i.e. the policies and procedures in place for easier acquisition and consideration of the alerts on irregularities in financial reporting or other matters anonymously communi- cated to the company by its employees. The audit committee cooperates with the external and internal auditor even in the absence of the manage- ment board, and ensures a continuous and efficient exchange of opinions. The audit committee is operationally responsible and the supervisory board is fully responsible for the selection procedure of the proposed external auditor. The audit committee shall inform the external auditor of the criteria for monitoring its success, which it must monitor in accordance with the law. The audit committee is responsible for monitoring effectiveness and success of the internal audit of the company. 30 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES A.2 Remuneration committee The supervisory board forms a remuneration committee, the competences of which include primarily: t t TVQQPSUUPUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSE BOEESBXJOHVQPGQSPQPTBMTSFMBUFEUPUIFDSJUFSJBBOEDBOEJEBUFT for membership on the management board, whereby the committee shall evaluate the balance between skills, knowledge and experience, and shall draw up a description of their roles and qualifications required for an individual appointment, t QFSJPEJDBTTFTTNFOUPGUIFTJ[F DPNQPTJUJPOBOEXPSLPGUIFNBOBHFNFOUCPBSE t TVQQPSUJOUIFFWBMVBUJPOPGUIFNBOBHFNFOUCPBSETXPSL BOEESBXJOHVQPGTVCTUBOUJBUFESFBTPOTGPS the recall of individual members of the management board in case they appear, t TVQQPSUJOUIFESBXJOHVQBOEJNQMFNFOUBUJPOPGUIFNBOBHFNFOUCPBSESFNVOFSBUJPOTZTUFN Members of the committee have expert knowledge and experience in the areas, which enable the committee to effectively perform its responsibilities. The chairman of the remuneration committee is not a former member of the management board if at least 3 years did not pass since his mandate. When the remuneration committee employs the services of a consultant, it must make sure that the same person does not at the same time advise the HR department in the company or its executive directors (or members of the management board). The remuneration committee shall regularly monitor the implementation of the management board remunera- tion policy, when the policy is adopted by the general meeting, including share-based remuneration, and its implementation. A.3 Nomination committee The supervisory board establishes a nomination committee, the competences of which include primarily: t t TVQQPSUUPUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSE BOEESBXJOHVQPGQSPQPTBMTSFMBUFEUPUIFDSJUFSJBBOEDBOEJEBUFTGPS membership on the supervisory board, whereby the committee shall evaluate the balance between skills, knowledge and experience, and shall draw up a description of their roles and qualifications required for an individual appointment, t TVQQPSUJOUIFFWBMVBUJPOPGFóDJFODZBOETFMGFWBMVBUJPOPGUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSETXPSLQVSTVBOUUPUIJT Code, t TVQQPSUJOUIFESBXJOHVQBHFOFSBMNFFUJOHTQSPQPTBMGPSUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSESFNVOFSBUJPO t BTTJTUBODFJOUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSETPUIFSEFDJTJPOTUIBUBSFSFMBUFEUPUIFTVQFSWJTPSZCPBSEJUTFMGBOE that may give rise to a conflict of interest in members of the supervisory board. Members of the committee have expert knowledge and experience in the areas, which enable the committee to effectively perform its responsibilities. In performing its functions, the committee shall exercise independent judgement and integrity. SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 31 APPENDIX B: CONFLICT OF INTERESTS B.1 A conflict of interests exists when the impartial and objective performance of tasks and decision taking on part of a member of the supervisory board or management board is compromised due to personal busi- ness interests being involved, their family's interests, emotions, political or national bias or any other related interests with other natural or legal persons. B.2 Each member of the management board and supervisory board individually, shall avoid circumstances, which could lead to a conflict of interest. If such circumstances arise, the member shall disclose the conflict immediately in accordance with the law and this Code and propose or adopt measures to eliminate the conflict of interest. B.3 To avoid conflicts of interests in a member of the supervisory board, the following requirements shall be taken into account: a) Members of the supervisory board shall neither be executive directors or members of the management board in the company concerned nor in any related company, and shall not have occupied such a posi- tion over the past three years. b) Members of the supervisory board shall not be employed in the company and should not have occu- pied such a position over the past three years, except if they were appointed into the board of directors or supervisory board as employee representatives, pursuant to the law, and are not managers. c) Members of the supervisory board shall not receive, and should not have received, substantial sums from the company or related companies aside from the payment or extra payment for the function of the chairman, deputy chairman and membership in committees which they receive for being members of the supervisory board. These additional sums refer mainly to any form of stock options or any other form of performance-related remuneration. d) Members of the supervisory board are not and do not represent, in any way, controlling shareholders. e) Members of the supervisory board shall not have, and have not entered over the past year, in significant business contacts with the company or a related company, either directly or as partners, shareholders, di- rectors or managers of a person that has entered into such contacts. Having entered into business contacts implies being a supplier of goods or services (including financial, legal, consulting services), an important client or an organization that is a recipient of substantial sums from the company or the group. f) Members of the supervisory board shall not be, and have not been over the past years, partners or em- ployees of the company’s or related company’s current or former external auditor. g) Members of the supervisory board shall not be executive directors or members of the management board in another company in which an executive director or member of the management board is a member of the supervisory board in the company concerned. Members of the supervisory board may also not be related in any other way with executive directors or members of the management board on account of cooperating with them in other companies or bodies. h) Members of the supervisory board shall not be on the same supervisory board for longer than 3 man- dates (or for more than 12 years in cases when the company’s articles of association provides for a man- date of less than 4 years). i) Members of the supervisory board are not close family members of the members of the management board or persons occupying the positions from (a) to (h). B.4 Aside from the situations from B.3, a conflict of interests may occur for a member of the supervisory board also if the respective person: t JTBNFNCFSPGUIFFYQBOEFENBOBHFNFOUJOBSFMBUFEDPNQBOZ t DPPQFSBUFEJOESBXJOHVQUIFQSPQPTFEDPOUFOUPGUIFDPNQBOZTBOOVBMSFQPSU 32 SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES APPENDIX C: COMPOSITION AND REMUNERATION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY BOARDS2 C.1: Composition of the management board in the financial year _____ First and last Function Area of First Termination of Gender Nationality Year of birth Education Professional Membership in name (chairman, work in the appointment to office/mandate profile supervisory bodies member) management the office of non-related board companies C.2: Composition of the supervisory board and committees in the financial year _____ First Function First Termination Capital / Attendance on Gender Nationality Year Education Professional Independence Existence Membership and last (SB chairman, appointment of office/ workers' the SB sessions of profile according to of a conflict in name deputy to the office mandate representative according to the birth Article 23 of of interest supervisory chairman, total number of the Code in financial bodies member) sessions (e.g. 5/7) (YES /NO) year of other (YES/NO) companies Chairman / Attendance on member the committee Membership in committees (audit, sessions according remuneration, nomination, etc.) to the total number of sessions (e.g. 5/7) External committee member (audit, remuneration, personnel, etc.) First and last name Committee Attendance on the Gender Nationality Education Year of birth Professional profile Membership in committee sessions supervisory bodies according to the of non-related total number of companies sessions (e.g. 5/7) 2 Board of Directors (executive / non-executive members) SLOVENIAN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE FOR LISTED COMPANIES 33 C.3: Composition and the amount of remuneration* of the management board members in the financial year _____ First and Function Fixed Variable remuneration - gross Deferred Termination Benefit Clawback (6) Sum gross Sum net last name (chairman, remuneration remuneration (3) payments (4) (5) (1+2+3+4+5-6) member) – gross (1) Based on Based on Sum (2) quantitative qualitative criteria criteria * For purposes of this disclosure travel expenses, costs of accommodation and subsistence allowance do not need to be disclosed as by nature they do not represent management board remuneration. C.4: Composition and the amount of remuneration of the supervisory board and committee members in the financial year First and last name Function (chairman, Basic SB payment – gross Attendance fees (2) Sum gross (1+2) Sum net* Travel expenses deputy chairman, member, annual (1) external member of a committee) * Amount paid to an individual’s account as remuneration after prepayment of income taxes, which does not take into account potential subsequent surcharge of prepayment . Slovenian Directors’ Association Ljubljana Stock Exchange Dunajska cesta 128, SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenska cesta 56, SI-1000 Ljubljana +386 1 530 86 40 + 386 1 471 0211 info@zdruzenje-ns.si info@ljse.si www.zdruzenje-ns.si www.ljse.si