Fiscal 2022 Universal Registration Document

6 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

INDEPENDENCE
ANALYSIS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EACH DIRECTOR’S STATUS AS OF AUGUST 31, 2022 BASED ON THE INDEPENDENCE CRITERIA DEFINED IN ARTICLE 9 OF THE AFEP-MEDEF CODE
  AFEP-MEDEF CODE INDEPENDENCE CRITERION
  EMPLOYEE/CORPORATE OFFICER IN THE PAST 5 YEARS CROSS-DIRECTORSHIPS SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS CLOSE FAMILY TIES AUDITOR IN THE PAST5 YEARS PERIOD OF OFFICE EXCEEDING 12 YEARS STATUS OF NON-EXECUTIVE CORPORATE OFFICER STATUS OF MAJOR SHAREHOLDER
Sophie Bellon  

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

 

independence criterion met

 

independence criterion met

 
François-Xavier Bellon

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

 

independence criterion met

  N/A  
Nathalie Bellon-Szabo  

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

 

independence criterion met

  N/A  
Françoise Brougher

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

Jean-Baptiste Chasseloup de Chatillon

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

Federico J. Gonzalez Tejera

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

Véronique Laury

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

Luc Messier

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

Sophie Stabile

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

Cécile Tandeau de Marsac

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

independence criterion met

N/A

independence criterion met

In this table, ✓ indicates an independence criterion that is met.

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SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

In the event of a vacancy in a director’s post or when the decision was made to strengthen certain competencies within the Board of Directors, and in particular when appointing or co-opting an independent director, a procedure for selecting a new director is monitored by the Nominating Committee.

The Committee first identifies the specific needs of the Board of Directors while ensuring compliance with the diversity policy established by the Board (see above).

With the support of internal resources and a firm specializing in the recruitment of directors, it draws up a list of potential candidates.

The Committee examines the situation of each of the potential candidates and makes an initial selection, then organizes interviews with some of the directors in place before retaining the candidate or candidates who seem to best meet the selection criteria that were identified.

Finally, the Nominating Committee makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors, which analyzes the profiles presented and, after having deliberated on the relevance of each candidate, proposes an appointment, if applicable, at the Shareholders’ Meeting.

The same process is also followed for the appointment and/or reappointment of non-independent directors.

Business relationships

During Fiscal 2022, seven(1) Board members were deemed independent directors. No independent director, nor the Group or entity of which he or she is a member and in which he or she exercises executive powers, has any significant business ties with the Company, its group or its management.

When examining the independent status of its members, the Board of Directors paid particular attention to any business relations existing between the Sodexo Group and the entity or group of which each independent director is a member or director.

For Fiscal 2022, the Board carried out a quantitative and qualitative analysis of each directors’ situation and the business relations that their respective groups or entities have with Sodexo. The Board of Directors determined that agreements are negotiated between the parties at arm’s length. The Board also determined that the business flows between these groups (all activities combined and at the global level) are significantly lower than the 1% materiality threshold set by the Board of Directors. Altogether, business conducted between Sodexo and each of the relevant groups represents around 0.3% of Sodexo’s consolidated revenue.

Management of conflicts of interest

In compliance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Board of Directors’ Internal Rules state that each director is required to disclose to the Board any actual or potential conflicts of interest and must abstain from discussing and voting on any matters associated with such conflicts of interest.

Jean-Baptiste Chasseloup de Chatillon has been Chief Financial Officer of Sanofi since 2018 and a director of Sodexo since December 14, 2021. Before recommending his appointment, the Board of Directors conducted an assessment of the existence and extent of the business relationships between Sodexo and Sanofi and concluded that they are not significant in terms of activity.

In accordance with the Internal Rules, however, specific measures have been adopted to ensure, where necessary, that Jean-Baptiste Chasseloup de Chatillon does not take part in any discussions that could be relevant to Sanofi, nor vote in the corresponding deliberations.

Accordingly, the Board of Directors considers that Jean-Baptiste Chasseloup de Chatillon situation complies with applicable regulations.

(1) In accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code, directors representing employees are not included in the calculation of the percentage of independent directors on the Board.