Compensation of the Managing Board

Decisions concerning the compensation of Managing Board members (including former Managing Board members and their surviving dependents) as well as regular deliberation on and the review of the compensation system are the responsibility of the full Supervisory Board. However, the Personnel Committee submits proposals in preparation for decisions on these matters. The personnel matters dealt with by the Supervisory Board and the Personnel Committee during the reporting year and compensation-related topics are explained in the Supervisory Board’s report. Report of the Supervisory Board

The compensation structure is geared toward the sustainable growth of the Company by factoring in compensation components with a multiple-year assessment basis. The total compensation of individual members of the Managing Board is specified by the Supervisory Board based on a performance assessment, taking into account any payments made by Group companies. Criteria for determining the appropriateness of the compensation are the responsibilities of the individual member of the Managing Board, their personal performance, the economic situation, the performance and outlook of the Company, as well as the level of compensation usually paid, taking into account peer companies and the compensation structure in place in other areas of the Company. At its professional discretion, the Supervisory Board can make decisions as regards special payments for the outstanding achievements or successes of a member of the Managing Board.

Main features of the compensation system for the Managing Board

The compensation system aligns the Managing Board’s compensation to the Company’s sustainable growth by means of setting relevant targets for long-term variable compensation. At the same time, sales, EBIT and trade net working capital in proportion to sales are the target components of short-term variable compensation. This is intended to ensure a better response to short-term developments. Also, during the design process, a great deal of importance was attached to the fact that above-average performance would be rewarded more comprehensively, but variable compensation would cease to be paid in the event of below-average performance.

In addition to non-performance-related (fixed) compensation components, the compensation structure has provided for core performance-related (variable) compensation components in the form of a short-term incentive program (STI) and a long-term incentive program (LTI). In this regard, the average share of the fixed compensation components in the total target compensation amounts to 44%, while the average share of compensation from the STI and from the LTI come to 26% and 30% respectively, whereby a target achievement of 100% each is assumed for the information for the STI and the LTI.

Non-performance-related (fixed) compensation components

The fixed compensation components consist of a fixed basic compensation, fringe benefits and contributions to retirement benefits. The fixed basic compensation is paid as a monthly salary. Members of the Managing Board also receive fringe benefits to a small extent which they individually pay tax on as per the applicable tax regulations if they derive any financial advantage from private use of the same. The fringe benefits primarily include private use of the company car, supplementary payments to health and nursing care insurance, the conclusion of and contributions to accident and directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability insurance as well as, to a small extent, other equipment and services needed to fulfill their duties as members of the Managing Board. In accordance with Sec. 93 (2) Clause 3 AktG [“Aktiengesetz”: German Stock Corporation Act], the deductible for the D&O insurance is 10% of the relevant loss, but no more than one-and-a-half times the fixed annual compensation.

Performance-related (variable) compensation components

Short-term variable compensation – short-term incentive program (STI)

As a short-term performance-related compensation component, the STI is tied to the development of certain quantitative targets. In accordance with the Group’s management system, the Supervisory Board has determined the following indicators as targets:

• Sales (the sales proceeds recognized in the consolidated financial statements using the exchange rates underlying the budget)
• EBIT (Group net income before interest and taxes)
• Trade net working capital (sum of raw and finished goods and trade receivables less trade payables) in proportion to sales Group Management

The targets for sales and trade net working capital are weighted at 30% each. The EBIT is included in the STI’s target achievement with a weighting of 40%.

As part of the orientation toward EBIT, the Managing Board compensation system was also converted in fiscal year 2019 from EBITDA before special items to EBIT. For the annual bonus in a fiscal year, the targets to be achieved are set in a target-setting agreement between the Managing Board and the Supervisory Board at the start of the fiscal year and by March 31 at the latest. All targets may be replaced by other Group targets or weighted differently for the respective financial year in the context of the target-setting agreement. It is therefore possible to respond to short-term developments at the start of one performance period following the completion of another. The Supervisory Board thus has the opportunity to regularly align the Managing Board’s compensation so that it is directly geared toward the Company’s strategy and its successful implementation. The Managing Board and the Supervisory Board should reach an agreement concerning the targets and their weighting in this regard. The Supervisory Board shall only make decisions at its professional discretion if this does not happen.

If the agreed targets are fully achieved on average, the respective member of the Managing Board shall be paid 100% of the contractually agreed amount. Target achievement above the maximum target of 150% or below the minimum target of 75% agreed for the individual target shall not be taken into account when calculating the average. If the average target achievement comes to 150% or more, a maximum amount (cap) of 150% is paid out. If, on the other hand, the average degree of target achievement is below 75%, no annual bonus will be paid. Between the minimum target and the maximum target, target achievement shall be determined in each case by linear interpolation. The annual bonus is payable within a week of the Supervisory Board approving the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year in question.

If the target were achieved in full (100%) for the 2019 STI, a total amount of EUR 1,611 thousand would be paid out (Mark Langer EUR 700 thousand, Yves Müller EUR 450 thousand and Ingo Wilts EUR 461 thousand).

The degree of target achievement for the individual target components for fiscal year 2019 is summarized in the table below.

For fiscal year 2019, the average degree of target achievement is 24% and thus below the minimum target of 75%. Thereof no payment will be made for the STI 2019.

Long-term variable compensation – long-term incentive program (LTI)

Under the LTI program, the members of the Managing Board receive a defined number (“initial grant”) of virtual shares (“tranches”) at the beginning of the plan or at the start of their activity. The initial grant is based on an amount (“LTI budget”) defined in the respective service agreement or by an additional agreement. The initial grant is calculated by dividing the LTI budget by the share price for the last three months preceding the awarding of the initial grant. Each tranche has a three-year performance term. A one-year qualifying period follows the expiry of a tranche’s performance term. Following the expiry of the performance term, the final number of virtual shares (“final grant”) is calculated based on the achievement of certain target components. The final entitlement to payment is calculated by multiplying the final grant by the Company’s share price during the last three months of the qualifying period.

The Supervisory Board has defined the following as target components for the 2016 to 2018 tranche, the 2017 to 2019 tranche, the 2018 to 2020 tranche and the 2019 to 2021 tranche:

• Shareholder return for the HUGO BOSS share compared to the MSCI World Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods Performance Index (relative total shareholder return (RTSR))
• Return on capital employed (ROCE)
• Employee satisfaction
• The Company’s performance in the field of sustainability

The “relative total shareholder return” target component is measured based on the increase in the Company’s enterprise value, comprising the share performance and hypothetically reinvested dividends, compared to the MSCI World Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods Performance Index. The return on capital employed is based on the development of the ROCE (return on capital employed) profitability indicator versus the budget. The degree of employee satisfaction is measured by an employee survey conducted annually by an independent institute, for the LTI 2019. The degree of employee satisfaction is measured by an employee survey conducted annually by an independent institute, and the resulting “Employee Trust Index” is compared with the German top 100 companies, for the LTI 2016, 2017 and 2018. The sustainability performance is determined by the Company’s improvement in the Dow Jones Sustainability Assessment, in which the sustainability performance of listed companies is assessed by an index provider. The composition of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is defined based on this assessment. The targets for the RTSR and ROCE performance criteria each account for one third of the LTI program, while the targets for employee satisfaction and sustainability each account for one sixth.

Specific target, minimum and maximum values are defined for each target component and are used to calculate the entitlement to payment. The targets are set on March 31 at the latest of the first year of the performance term in a target-setting agreement concluded between the Managing Board and the Supervisory Board. The Managing Board and the Supervisory Board should reach an agreement in this regard. The Supervisory Board shall only make decisions at its professional discretion if this does not happen.

A target achievement of only 50% minimum and 200% maximum is taken into account for each target component for the purposes of calculating the final grant. A one-year qualifying period follows the expiry of the performance term. The entitlement to payment is based on the Company’s share price during the last three months of the qualifying period and the amount is limited to 250% of the individual LTI budget for each member of the Managing Board (cap). Under certain circumstances (particularly when service agreements are terminated for due cause or when members of the Managing Board resign before a tranche’s term has expired), entitlements of members of the Managing Board may expire under the LTI program.

The individual LTI budget in relation to fiscal year 2016 is EUR 850 thousand for Mark Langer, EUR 458 thousand for Bernd Hake and EUR 206 thousand for Ingo Wilts. In the case of Mr. Hake and Mr. Wilts, the LTI budget is determined from the start of their Managing Board activities in 2016 on a pro rata basis.

The individual LTI budget in relation to fiscal year 2017 is EUR 900 thousand for Mark Langer, EUR 592 thousand for Bernd Hake, EUR 54 thousand for Yves Müller and EUR 569 thousand for Ingo Wilts. In the case of Yves Müller, the LTI budget is determined on a pro rata basis from the start of his Managing Board activities in 2017.

The individual LTI budget in relation to fiscal year 2018 is EUR 900 thousand for Mark Langer, EUR 654 thousand for Yves Müller and EUR 638 thousand for Ingo Wilts. The individual LTI budget in relation to fiscal year 2018 was  EUR 683 thousand for Bernd Hake.

The individual LTI budget in relation to fiscal year 2019 is EUR 980 thousand for Mark Langer, EUR 700 thousand for Yves Müller and EUR 711 thousand for Ingo Wilts. The individual LTI budget in relation to fiscal year 2019 was  EUR 716 thousand for Bernd Hake.

Pension provision and provision for surviving dependents

All active members of the Managing Board have received pension commitments which are regulated in individual contracts and the amounts of which are measured as a percentage of the contractually agreed pensionable income depending on their duration of membership of the Managing Board. The basis for determining the pensionable income is defined as the basic salary under the service agreement.

For Mark Langer, the Chairman of the Managing Board, this is in the form of a benefit-based commitment.

The members of the Managing Board appointed from fiscal year 2016 were granted contribution-based pension commitments. This form of pension commitment also applies to any future appointments to the Managing Board.

The Supervisory Board received guidance from an independent compensation expert when designing the contribution-based pension scheme for the new members of the Managing Board.

Contribution-based pension commitments

As of fiscal year 2016, every year, for newly appointed members of the Managing Board, HUGO BOSS pays a pension contribution into an employer’s pension liability insurance scheme taken out on the life of the member of the Managing Board. The contribution corresponds to 40% of the pensionable income, which is determined based on the basic salary under the service agreement.

The amount of retirement benefit in this regard corresponds to the amount accumulated by means of the individual employer’s pension liability insurance. This results from the total unpaid pension contributions per year plus an annual interest rate depending on the insurance tariff in question. A member of the Managing Board shall be entitled to retirement benefit at or after a fixed age limit of 65 years or if they become permanently unable to work due to illness or accident and leave the Company before reaching the age limit. In the event of the death of the member of the Managing Board, their spouse or registered civil partner under the German Civil Partnership Act and their surviving children shall be entitled to a survivor’s pension.

If the member of the Managing Board leaves the Company before becoming eligible for a pension, the benefits shall still become vested if their pensionable service was longer than three years. If the member of the Managing Board leaves the Company before reaching the fixed age limit, the entitlement amount corresponds to the benefits arising from the premium-free employer’s pension liability insurance at the time of departure.

Ongoing pension payments are adjusted annually by at least 1%.

Benefit-based pension commitments for Mark Langer, Chairman of the Managing Board

A pension commitment exists through the Company for Mark Langer, the Chairman of the Managing Board, in the form of a benefit-based pension commitment. The amount of the subsequent post-employment benefit is limited to 60% of the pensionable income in this regard. Post-employment benefits are paid when the employment relationship ends at or after a fixed age limit of 60 years or if the Chairman of the Managing Board becomes permanently unable to work due to illness or accident and leaves the Company before reaching the age limit. Furthermore, in the event of the death of the Chairman of the Managing Board, a post-employment benefit shall be paid to the surviving dependents in the form of a widow’s or an orphan’s pension.

If the Chairman of the Managing Board leaves the Company before becoming eligible for a pension, the period by which the benefits become vested is agreed in accordance with the statutory regulations. However, there is no pro rata temporis reduction of the pension entitlement as provided for under legal provisions.

Ongoing pension payments are adjusted annually by at least 1%.

Supplementary pension plan

In addition, the HUGO BOSS Group offers the members of the Managing Board the option of acquiring additional pension benefits under deferred compensation agreements. This supplementary pension plan can take the form of retirement benefits or, alternatively, the form of occupational incapacity benefits and/or surviving dependents’ benefits and/or the form of a lump-sum death grant. The pension benefits take the form of monthly payments, while surviving dependents’ benefits can also be granted in the form of a lump-sum capital payment. The contributions from deferred compensation agreements are included in the disclosure about total compensation. Provisions and plan assets are recognized at the same amount.

Benefits in the event of premature termination of employment

In the event of premature termination of the service agreement (without there being due cause for termination of the service agreement on the Company’s part), the member of the Managing Board in question shall receive severance pay amounting to their total compensation (including fringe benefits) for the duration of the original remaining term, but for no longer than 15 months, starting from the time the service agreement is terminated (severance payment cap). For these purposes, the total compensation is calculated on the basis of the total compensation received for the last full fiscal year and, where appropriate, on the basis of the predicted total compensation for the current fiscal year.

The service agreements do not provide for any severance payment in the event of premature termination of the service agreement for due cause for which the member of the Managing Board in question is responsible. The service agreements do not stipulate any provisions in the event of regular termination, with the exception of the provisions governing pensions.

The service agreements with the members of the Managing Board each contain a provision under which, in the event of a change of control (acquisition of more than 30% of the voting rights in HUGO BOSS AG), the member of the Managing Board in question is granted an extraordinary right to termination and, if the service agreement is indeed terminated, a severance payment must be made to said member of the Managing Board. In principle, the amount of severance pay corresponds to the severance payment to be made in the event of the service agreement being terminated prematurely and is therefore subject to the same severance payment cap. The Company has not entered into any other compensation arrangements with members of the Managing Board or employees in the event of a takeover bid.

Total compensation of members of the Managing Board for the fiscal year 2019 under GAS 17

Benefits granted for fiscal year 2019 under GCGC

Benefits received for fiscal year 2019 under GCGC

Other compensation components

As of December 31, 2019, no advance payments were made to the Managing Board.

Total compensation of former members of the Managing Board

Bernd Hake left the Managing Board on July 2, 2019, and his employment contract ended with effect as of February 29, 2020. Up to this point, Mr. Hake receives his contractually agreed fixed compensation of EUR 433 thousand. A separation agreement dated September 2019 also provides for payments in the amount of EUR 3,080 thousand in accordance with the employment contract and the agreed severance pay cap, which are due as of February 29, 2020. These are comprised of a severance payment of EUR 846 thousand for the fixed salary for the period from March 2020 to May 2021, a payment in the amount of EUR 1,192 thousand for the short-term incentive program (STI) for 2019 to May 2021, and payments in the amount of EUR 664 thousand for the vested pro-rata long-term incentive program (LTI) compensation for 2018/2019/2020 and severance pay for the period from March 2020 to May 2021, in the amount of EUR 338 thousand for pension contributions, and in the amount of EUR 40 thousand for the company car and other fringe benefits.

The claims from the LTI instalments for 2016-2018 and 2017-2019 will be paid out in March 2020 and/or 2021 at the end of the one-year qualifying period. The final payout entitlement arises from the final target achievement of the target components and the Company’s share price during the last three months of the qualifying period.