Governance

Schedule of matters reserved for the board

Adopted by the Board on 25 October 2022

The following are the matters which are reserved for the Board of Convatec Group plc (the Company).  In this schedule ‘Group’ means the Company and its subsidiary undertakings.

For the purposes of this schedule, any reference to ‘material’ shall be interpreted to include but not limited to any matter involving expenditure or any other financial commitment in excess of $25 million.

Division of responsibilities

(adopted by the Board on 25 April 2023) 

1. BACKGROUND

1.1        This document sets out: (a) the division of responsibilities between the roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; and, (b) the responsibilities of the Senior Independent Director, in accordance with Section 2 of 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code. 

1.2       Only the board may change any of these provisions

1.3        In this document ‘Group’ means the Company and its subsidiary undertakings.

2. ROLE OF CHAIRMAN

2.1       To conduct the affairs of the group in accordance with the highest standard of integrity, probity and applicable principles and rules of the UKLA and the Company’s articles of association and the resolutions of the board from time to time and to also have regard to the UK Corporate Governance Code.

2.2      The Chairman reports to the board and is responsible for the leadership and overall effectiveness of the board and setting the board’s agenda. The Chairman is not responsible for the day-to-day management of the Group.

Main Responsibilities

2.3      To run the board effectively by ensuring meetings are held with appropriate frequency and that the board agenda is forward-looking and reflects the important issues facing the Group, with an emphasis on strategic rather than routine issues.

2.4      To ensure the frequency and depth of evaluation of the performance of the board and its committees is in compliance with best practice and appropriate action, if required, is taken on the results of any such evaluation and confirm that an individual’s performance continues to be effective and to demonstrate commitment to the role when they are proposed for re-election.

2.5      To ensure appropriate delegation of authority from the board to executive management.

2.6      To chair the nomination committee to lead the process for board appointments and identify and recommend candidates for the approval of the board to fill board vacancies and as additional board members to enhance the effectiveness, skills, knowledge, leadership and experience of the board (but the Chairman shall not act in relation to the appointment of a successor chairman).

2.7      To ensure that clear and timely board and board committee succession plans are in place.

2.8      To promote a culture of openness and debate, in particular by facilitating the effective contribution of non-executive directors, and ensuring constructive relations between executive and non-executive directors.

2.9      To ensure the board receives accurate, clear and timely information to support sound decision-making and enable individual directors to fulfil their duties as directors.

2.10    To manage the board in a way which allows enough time for discussion of issues, especially those that are complex or contentious.

2.11     To ensure, with the support of the company secretary, compliance with board approved procedures, such as the schedule of matters reserved to the board and the terms of reference of each board committee, and to ensure that they are reviewed by the board at least annually.

2.12     To oversee the company secretary’s responsibilities for ensuring good information flows within the board and its committees and between senior management and non-executive directors, as well as facilitating induction and assisting with personal development as required.

2.13     To hold meetings with the non-executive directors without executive directors or senior management present.

2.14    To ensure, with the support of the company secretary, that new directors are provided with a full, formal and tailored induction programme on joining the board.

2.15     To ensure, with the support of the company secretary, that the development and ongoing training needs of individual directors and the board as a whole are reviewed at least annually and agreed.

2.16     To ensure effective communication by the Group with its shareholders, including discussing governance, remuneration and strategy with major shareholders, and by chairing shareholder meetings.

2.17     To ensure that shareholders’ views are communicated to the board as a whole so that all directors develop an understanding of their views.

2.18     To arrange for all directors to attend the AGM and for the chairmen of the audit, remuneration and nomination committees to be available to answer questions at the AGM.

2.19   With the assistance of the company secretary, to promote high standards of corporate governance, in compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

2.20   To ensure the effective implementation of the board’s decisions and strategy for the company.

2.21     To be available for consultation with the Chief Executive on relevant issues raised by the Chief Executive and to support and advise him while respecting executive responsibility.

2.22    To lead, with the Chief Executive, the Group’s relationships with governments, authorities, regulators and stakeholders.

2.23    To secure the necessary authority from the board or Chief Executive when entering into any commitment on behalf of the Company that does not fall within the Chairman’s authority.

3. ROLE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

3.1       The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Chairman and to the board directly and is responsible for all executive management matters of the Group. All members of executive management report directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Main Responsibilities

3.2      To manage the Group on a day-to-day basis within the authority delegated by the board.

3.3      To conduct the affairs of the Group in accordance with the highest standard of integrity, probity and applicable principles and rules of the UKLA and the Company’s articles of association and the resolutions of the board in effect from time to time and to also have regard to the UK Corporate Governance Code.

3.4      To develop and propose Group strategy, annual plans and commercial objectives to the board, having regard to the Company’s responsibilities to its shareholders and the Group’s responsibilities to its customers, employees and other stakeholders.

3.5      To lead the executive team in the day-to-day management of the Group to pursue the Group’s commercial objectives and execute Group strategy, as approved by the board.

3.6      To identify and execute strategic opportunities for the Group, whilst optimising as far as possible the use of the Group’s resources.

3.7      To set an example and to communicate to the Group’s employees the expectations of the board in relation to the Group’s culture, value and behaviour.

3.8      To manage the Group’s risk profile, including the health and safety performance of the business, in line with the extent of risk identified as acceptable by the board and to ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place.

3.9      To keep the Chairman informed of all important matters.

3.10    To review regularly the Group’s operational performance and strategic direction.

3.11      To ensure, with the executive team, that board decisions are implemented effectively and that significant decisions made by the executive committee are communicated to the board.

3.12   To ensure the executive team gives appropriate priority to providing accurate, clear and timely reports to the board.

3.13   To maintain a dialogue with the Chairman and the board on important and strategic issues facing the Group.

3.14     To ensure the Chairman is alerted to potential complex, contentious or sensitive issues affecting the Group.

3.15     To make recommendations on remuneration policies, executive remuneration and terms of employment for senior employees.

3.16     To advise and make recommendations in respect of board nominations and succession planning.

3.17     To ensure, with the support of the company secretary, that the executive team complies with the terms on which matters are delegated by the board, and the terms of reference of board committees, and to ensure matters outside the authority of the executive team are escalated to the board.

3.18     To ensure that the development needs of the executive directors and senior management are identified and met.

3.19     To ensure that the Company and Group develop strategies and make plans for the succession and replacement of key personnel.

3.20    To support the Chairman in order to ensure that appropriate governance standards are applied throughout the Group.

3.21     To lead communications with shareholders and other stakeholders, ensuring that appropriate, timely and accurate information is disclosed to the market, with issues escalated promptly to the Market Disclosure Committee where appropriate.

3.22    To develop Group policies for board approval and implement them, including the share dealing code and communications policy.

3.23    To provide, with the Chairman, coherent leadership of the Company and the Group, including representing the Group to customers, suppliers, shareholders, financial institutions, employees, the media, the community and the public, and keeping the Chairman informed on all important matters.

4. SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR (“SID”)

4.1       To be available to shareholders if they have concerns which contact through the normal channels of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or executive directors has failed to resolve or for which such contact is inappropriate.

4.2      To attend sufficient meetings with and listen to the views of major shareholders to help to develop a balanced understanding of the issues and concerns of major shareholders.

Main Responsibilities

4.3      To chair the nomination committee when it is considering succession to the role of chairman of the board.

4.4      To provide a sounding board for the Chairman and serve as an intermediary for the other directors when necessary.   

4.5      To meet other non-executive directors without the Chairman present at least once a year to appraise the Chairman’s performance, taking into account the views of executive directors, and on such other occasions as are deemed appropriate.

4.6      To provide feedback to the board on the independent non-executive directors’ collective views on the following:

(a)       the perceived quality of the relationship between the Chairman and the             Chief Executive Officer;

(b)       the degree of openness between the Chief Executive Officer and the                        board;

(c)       the visibility of checks and balances within the executive directors’ team;                      and,

(d)       whether  all  questions  asked  by  the  non-executive  directors have            been adequately addressed.

Legal advisers

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

65 Fleet Street
London
EC4Y 1HS

Reporting accountants

Deloitte LLP

Athene Place
66 Shoe Lane
London
EC4A 3BQ

Registrars

Computershare Investor Services PLC

The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol
BS99 6ZZ