– Corporate governance – Capital structure
Capital structure
Share capital
The fully paid-up share capital of Sulzer Ltd amounts to CHF 342’623.70 and is divided into 34’262’370 registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.01 per share. The shares are issued in the form of uncertificated securities within the meaning of art. 973c of the Swiss Code of Obligations and are held as intermediated securities within the meaning of the Swiss Federal Act on Intermediated Securities of October 3, 2008. Each registered share entitles the holder to one vote at the Shareholders’ Meeting and all shares have equal dividend rights. The Company’s Articles of Association provide for the possibility of a share capital increase in a maximum amount of CHF 17’000 through the issuance of up to 1’700’000 registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.01 per share (corresponding to 4.96% of the current share capital) through the voluntary or mandatory exercise of certain conversion, option or similar rights for the subscription of shares granted to shareholders or third parties in connection with bonds, loans or other financial market instruments of Sulzer Ltd or any of the companies controlled by it (for more details, see § 3a of the Articles of Association). The introduction of this conditional capital was approved by Sulzer Ltd’s shareholders at the AGM on April 14, 2021. There is no authorized capital, nor are there any participation or dividend certificates.
Restrictions on transferability and nominee registrations
Sulzer shares are freely transferable provided that, when requested by the Company to do so, buyers declare that they have purchased and will hold the shares in their own name and for their own account. Nominees shall only be entered in the share register with the right to vote if they meet the following conditions: the nominee is subject to the supervision of a recognized banking and financial market regulator; the nominee has entered into a written agreement with the Board of Directors concerning its status; the share capital held by the nominee does not exceed 3% of the registered share capital entered in the commercial register; and the names, addresses and number of shares of those individuals for whose accounts the nominee holds at least 0.5% of the share capital have been disclosed. The Board of Directors is also entitled, beyond these limits, to enter shares of nominees with voting rights in the share register if the above-mentioned conditions are not met (see also § 6a of the Articles of Association. On December 31, 2022, ten nominees holding a total of 1’499’005 shares (4.38% of total shares) had entered into agreements concerning their status. No exceptions were granted. All of those shares were entered in the share register with voting rights. Other than these restrictions on nominee voting, there are no transfer restrictions and no privileges under the Articles of Association. A removal or amendment of the nominee voting restrictions requires a shareholders’ resolution with a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes represented.
Convertible bonds and options
No convertible bonds or warrants are currently outstanding. Details of the restricted share units (RSUs) issued to the members of the Board of Directors as well as performance share units (PSUs) and RSUs issued to the members of the Executive Committee are set out under note 32 to the “consolidated financial statements” and under note 12 to the “financial statements of Sulzer Ltd”.