2020 Annual Financial Report

Chapter 3 : Governance and compensation

In addition, Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner is also a beneficiary of the LTIP 2019-2021 Directoire, which is currently in its final year of vesting.

In each of these plans, assuming the performance conditions are met, entitlement to receive shares is subject to continued employment until the end of the vesting period.

In the event of forced departure or a departure due to a change in control or strategy and except in the event of serious or gross misconduct, shares awarded may be retained prorata temporis, subject to performance conditions.

In the event of retirement, she may, at the end of the vesting period and upon approval by the Supervisory Board, in accordance with the compensation policy approved by shareholders and applicable at that time, receive the shares granted to her prorata temporis.

It should be noted that, in accordance with the compensation policy applicable at the time of the award of shares under the LTIP 2019-2021, the prorata temporis mechanism for this plan only applies to shares awarded more than two years previously.

Benefits in kind

The use of one of the Company cars.

Moreover, Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner is covered by the job-loss insurance taken out by Publicis Groupe for its corporate officers, as the French unemployment office (Pôle Emploi) does not cover this.

Collective health and welfare insurance plans

Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner benefits from the coverage applicable to executives of her level under the French system.

Employment contract

Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner continues to benefit from an employment contract with one of the Groupe’s subsidiaries.

Severance payment

The current commitments to Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner provide that in the event of a forced departure due to a change in control or strategy and other than in the case of serious or gross misconduct, Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner would be entitled to a severance payment.

Provided that Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner does not continue to be employed by Publicis Groupe, the amount of the severance would be equal to one year’s total gross compensation (fixed and variable compensation paid). She would also have the right to exercise the options to subscribe to and/or to purchase the shares that have been awarded to her, and to retain, prorata temporis, the performance shares already granted to her, subject to the performance conditions set out in the regulations for the plan in question (in accordance with the decision of the Supervisory Board of November 25, 2020).

In addition, the payment of the severance amount would be subject to a performance condition: the severance amount would only be due in its full amount if the average annual amount of the variable compensation acquired by Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner for the three years prior to the termination of her duties is equal to at least 75% of her “target variable compensation”. If the average annual amount is less than 25% of the “target variable compensation”, no sum or benefits will be due. If the average annual amount is between 25% and 75% of the “target variable compensation”, payments and benefits will be calculated on a proportional basis between 0% and 100% using the rule of three.

The severance amount may only be paid after the determination by the Supervisory Board that the performance condition had been achieved at the date on which her term as a member of the Management Board ended.

The severance payment and any compensation under the employment contract may not exceed two years of total compensation (fixed and variable compensation paid).

These commitments were authorized by the Supervisory Board on September 12, 2018 and approved by the Combined Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of May 29, 2019 in its seventh resolution for commitments formerly subject to the procedures on related-party agreements.

Non-compete agreement

She is subject to a non-compete clause in her employment contract concluded on her arrival at Publicis Groupe in 2012, i.e. before her appointment as a member of the Management Board. This non-compete clause is valid for a maximum of two years and provides a maximum financial compensation to be paid equal to 30% of the gross salary, excluding variable elements. Publicis Groupe may waive this clause.

It is recalled that the compensation policy for members of the Management Board for the 2020 financial year as well as the items paid or allocated to Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner for the same financial year were widely approved by the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 27, 2020 (ninth and fourteenth resolutions) pursuant to article L. 225-82-2 II (now article L. 22-10-26 II) of the French Commercial Code (ex-ante and ex-post votes).

The compensation policy of Anne-Gabrielle Heilbronner for the 2021 financial year will be submitted for approval to the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 26, 2021 in its thirteenth resolution pursuant to II of article L. 22-10-26 of the French Commercial Code.

3.2.1.7 Compensation policy for Steve King, member of the Management Board

The compensation policy for Steve King is based on the same items as those for all corporate officers set out in Section 3.2.1.1 and includes the items applicable to Management Board members presented in Section 3.2.1.4 as well as the specific items presented below.