Merck KGaA – AGM 28 May 2020
General: The AGM is to be held in the form of a virtual AGM in accordance with the German Law to Mitigate the Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The physical presence of shareholders or their authorised proxies is not possible. The voting rights may therefore be exercised solely by postal vote or by granting authority to the proxies designated by the Company.
Item 2: Unlike at German stock corporations, shareholders of a KGaA are legally required to vote on the annual accounts. We have no concerns and recommend shareholders to approve the Company's annual accounts.
Item 6: KPMG, Berlin, is proposed as auditor for the current financial year. We have no concerns over the ratio of non-audit/audit fees. However, we note that KPMG has audited the Company since the financial year 1995 which exceeds our maximum acceptable term of office. We therefore recommend opposing the re-election of KPMG as auditor.
Merck is a global science and technology company based in Germany. Co. diversifies its activities into four business divisions: Merck Serono, Consumer Health, Performance Materials and Merck Millipore. The Merck Serono develops, manufactures and markets prescription drugs to treat cancer, multiple sclerosis, infertility, growth disorders, and selected cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The Consumer Health manufactures and markets over-the-counter drugs addressing health themes such as mobility, women's and children's health, cough and cold. Performance Materials is a specialty chemicals business. The Merck Millipore is the supplier of products and services for the life science industry.
Founded in 1995, Proxinvest is an independent proxy firm supporting the engagement and proxy analysis processes of investors. Proxinvest mission is to analyse corporate governance practices and resolutions proposed at general meetings of listed firms.
Proxinvest main services are :
- Proxy reports
- Definition and monitoring of client customized voting guidelines
- Corporate Governance Data and Rating
- Thematic research
- Engagement support
Proxinvest has been a pioneer and champion of good corporate governance and has grown into a recognised expert in the field.
Proxinvest is independently-owned and only works for investors : Proxinvest does not provide consulting services to the companies it covers, mitigating related risks to its clients and ensuring the independence of our analysis. As a result Proxinvest is able to take a robust, independent, engaged and unconflicted view of the companies in which our clients invest.
As Managing Partner of Expert Corprate Governance Service Ltd (ECGS), Proxinvest has built a large network of corporate governance experts to support clients in corporate governance analysis worldwide.
Unfortunately, this report is not available for the investor type or country you selected.
Browse all ResearchPool reportsReport is subscription only.
Thank you, your report is ready.
Thank you, your report is ready.