Universal Registration Document 2021

3.2 Compensation of corporate officers

Chapter 3. Governance and compensation

3.2 Compensation of corporate officers

3.2 RÉMUNÉRATION DES MANDATAIRES SOCIAUX

In accordance with applicable legal and regulatory provisions, this section sets out the compensation policy for corporate officers for the 2022 financial year as well as the items of compensation for corporate officers for the 2021 financial year.

3.2.1 Compensation policy for corporate officers for the 2022 financial year

Pursuant to article L. 22-10-26 of the French Commercial Code, the General Shareholders’ Meeting of May 25, 2022 will be asked to approve the compensation policy for corporate officers for the 2022 financial year. To this end, four resolutions are presented for, respectively, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, the members of the Supervisory Board, the Chairman of the Management Board and the members of the Management Board. As required by law, the General Shareholders’ Meeting will be asked to vote on this policy at least once a year as well as whenever there is a major change to the compensation policy.

In exceptional circumstances, the Supervisory Board may derogate from the compensation policy where this is temporary, in the best interests of the Company and necessary to ensure the Company’s long-term future and viability. 

3.2.1.1 Principles applicable to all corporate officers
General principles and Governance

The compensation policy for corporate officers is determined by the Supervisory Board, on the basis of proposals from the Compensation Committee.

The Compensation Committee plays a key role in determining the compensation policy and the individual decisions. In this regard, the Compensation Committee meets at least once a year to review the compensation policy for corporate officers, confirm the performance results for the financial and non-financial objectives from the previous year and determine the new performance criteria for the current year. To this end, the Compensation Committee relies in particular on the elements prepared and presented by the Secretary General and also on the analyzes carried out by independent compensation experts. It specifically looks at past practices in terms of the compensation of corporate officers, looks at external benchmarks as well as the terms and conditions of compensation and employment of employees and other executives within the Groupe. In addition, the Compensation Committee takes various measures to avoid or manage conflicts of interest. Chaired by an independent member and composed at 75% of independent members in 2021 (see Section 3.1.2.9 “Specialized Committees of the Supervisory Board”), it ensures the application of the Supervisory Board’s internal rules, notably by asking its members to report any conflicts of interest and, if such a conflict arises, by verifying that the persons concerned abstain from participating in debate or the vote on the matter, that they do not request or communicate any information relating thereto, or that they resign from their position (see Section 3.1.1.2 “Conflicts of interest, family ties and service contracts”). The resulting policy is then submitted to the Supervisory Board before being voted on by the General Shareholders’ Meeting.