Integrated Annual Report 2025

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Compensation of the Board of Directors

Set-up of the compensation of the Board of Directors

Compensation set-up

Our remuneration approach is designed to engage qualified independent directors who possess the required balance of personal skills, competencies, and experience. To ensure that we provide a fair and competitive remuneration, we conduct regular benchmarking. It is market practice to review the remuneration of the Board of Directors against practices in the country of domicile, so the companies included in the Swiss Market Index (SMI) serve as the benchmark (excluding companies whose compensation levels are considered materially higher than the SMI companies). The fees set are below the median of the reference group.

The remuneration consists of a Base Fee and Committee Fees to ensure that the Board Members utilize their skills and competences to the maximum extent and to reflect the nature of their responsibilities and time spent. The Chair receives no fees concerning his participation in any Committee. To safeguard independence, fees are not linked to the achievement of any predefined individual or company performance targets. The fees for the Members of the Board of Directors are set and paid in CHF. To align the interests of the Board Members Directors with other stakeholders, half of the Base Fee is awarded in Restricted Share Units (RSUs), i.e., the right to receive a dsm-firmenich share at vesting. It is explicitly noted that RSUs are not tied to any individual or company performance targets. The grant of RSUs is subject to the following guidelines:

  • The number of RSUs granted is calculated considering the share price at grant date (i.e., the day after the AGM of that year)

  • RSUs do not carry voting rights and do not provide eligibility for dividend payments

  • Vesting and holding period: three years, starting at grant date

  • At the discretion of the Board Member, a sell-to-cover transaction may be selected to settle taxes due at vesting

  • Upon leaving the Board, all outstanding RSUs recorded as unvested at termination date shall vest, subject to a holding obligation of the vested shares of a minimum of one year

Annual fees of the Board of Directors

We pay employer contributions to social security systems in line with applicable regulations. These are not included in the maximum amount of remuneration of the Board as approved by the General Meeting. Other than mandatory contributions to the company pension plan (‘second pillar’) applicable because of Swiss regulations, the fees are not pensionable. No mandatory shareholding requirement applies for the Members of the Board, no loans will be provided to Members of the Board of Directors, and expenses incurred in fulfilling duties are reimbursed, paid on submission of a statement of expenses.

Annual Base and Committee Fees Board of Directors

in CHF

 

Base Fee

 

Committee Fee

Chairman Board of Directors

 

800,000

 

 

Vice-Chair Board of Directors

 

245,000

 

 

Member Board of Directors

 

200,000

 

 

Chair Audit & Risk Committee

 

 

 

40,000

Chair other Committees

 

 

 

30,000

Member Audit & Risk Committee

 

 

 

25,000

Member other Committees

 

 

 

20,000

Compensation Board of Directors in 2025

Assignment to Committees

All Members of the Board of Directors were re-elected at the 2025 AGM. The Members of the Board of Directors are assigned to the various Committees, as included in the table below.

Composition of the Committees of the Board of Directors

 

 

Audit & Risk

 

Compensation

 

Governance & Nomination

 

Sustainability

Thomas Leysen (Chairman)

 

 

 

Member

 

 

 

 

Patrick Firmenich (Vice-Chair)

 

 

 

 

 

Chair

 

 

Sze Cotte-Tan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Member

Antoine Firmenich

 

Member

 

 

 

 

 

Chair

Carla Mahieu

 

 

 

Chair

 

Member

 

 

Erica Mann

 

 

 

 

 

Member

 

Member

Frits van Paasschen

 

Member

 

Member

 

 

 

 

André Pometta

 

 

 

Member

 

 

 

 

John Ramsay

 

Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Ridinger

 

 

 

 

 

Member

 

 

Corien Wortmann

 

Member

 

 

 

 

 

Member

Compensation provided to the Members of the Board of Directors in 2025

Considering the decision that 50% of the Base Fee will be awarded in cash and the remaining 50% in equity, the tables below provide an overview of the total cash remuneration and the RSU grant in 2025. The Company did not provide any loans to the Members of the Board of Directors, nor were payments made by subsidiaries of dsm-firmenich (except for payments regarding advisory roles observed by Members of the Board of Directors, including the Scientific Advisory Board, as included under ‘Other’). No loans/credit facilities were granted, nor were payments made (directly or indirectly) to persons closely connected to the Members of the Board of Directors (Closely Associated Persons). (Audited).

Remuneration provided to the Members of the Board of Directors in 2025 (€) – Audited

In €

 

Year

 

Base Fee in cash

 

Committee Fees1

 

Other2

 

Number of RSUs granted

 

Face value at grant3

 

Remuner­ation excl. social security contri­butions

 

Social security contri­butions4

 

Total Remuner­ation

Thomas Leysen (Chairman)

 

2025

 

426,878

 

 

 

4,531

 

428,451

 

855,329

 

 

855,329

 

 

2024

 

419,752

 

 

 

3,857

 

409,036

 

828,788

 

 

828,788

Patrick Firmenich (Vice-Chair)

 

2025

 

130,695

 

32,019

 

6,917

 

1,388

 

131,249

 

300,880

 

12,805

 

313,685

 

 

2024

 

128,566

 

31,489

 

6,619

 

1,181

 

125,246

 

291,920

 

14,303

 

306,223

Sze Cotte-Tan

 

2025

 

106,696

 

21,346

 

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

235,178

 

10,115

 

245,293

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

20,993

 

 

964

 

102,232

 

228,186

 

11,294

 

239,480

Antoine Firmenich

 

2025

 

106,696

 

58,702

 

50,000

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

322,534

 

12,987

 

335,521

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

57,731

 

41,667

 

964

 

102,232

 

306,591

 

14,510

 

321,101

Carla Mahieu

 

2025

 

106,696

 

53,366

 

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

267,198

 

 

267,198

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

52,482

 

 

964

 

102,232

 

259,675

 

 

259,675

Erica Mann

 

2025

 

106,696

 

42,693

 

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

256,525

 

10,055

 

266,580

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

34,604

 

 

964

 

102,232

 

241,797

 

10,316

 

252,113

Frits van Paasschen

 

2025

 

106,696

 

48,029

 

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

261,861

 

 

261,861

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

47,234

 

 

964

 

102,232

 

254,427

 

 

254,427

Pradeep Pant5

 

2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

36,911

 

7,382

 

 

 

 

44,293

 

13,332

 

57,625

André Pometta

 

2025

 

106,696

 

21,346

 

6,917

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

242,095

 

10,115

 

252,210

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

20,993

 

6,619

 

964

 

102,232

 

234,805

 

11,294

 

246,099

John Ramsay

 

2025

 

106,696

 

42,693

 

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

256,525

 

21,685

 

278,210

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

41,986

 

 

964

 

102,232

 

249,179

 

21,026

 

270,205

Richard Ridinger

 

2025

 

106,696

 

21,346

 

53,146

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

288,324

 

7,118

 

295,442

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

20,993

 

41,667

 

964

 

102,232

 

269,853

 

21,102

 

290,955

Corien Wortmann

 

2025

 

106,696

 

48,029

 

40,008

 

1,133

 

107,136

 

301,869

 

7,205

 

309,074

 

 

2024

 

104,961

 

47,234

 

30,006

 

964

 

102,232

 

284,433

 

5,509

 

289,942

Total

 

2025

 

1,517,837

 

389,569

 

156,988

 

16,116

 

1,523,924

 

3,588,318

 

92,085

 

3,680,403

 

 

2024

 

1,529,878

 

383,121

 

126,578

 

13,714

 

1,454,370

 

3,493,947

 

122,686

 

3,616,633

1

Positions of the Members of the Board of Directors as explained in previous paragraph. Committee Fees are provided in cash.

2

Concerns fees for advisory roles or second pillar pension contributions if required.

3

Face value at grant – number of Restricted Share Units (RSUs) granted times opening price at grant date. For the total number of RSUs granted in 2025, the fair value used for accounting purposes in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) amounts to €1,404,671 (CHF Value: 1,308,311) compared to €1,374,966 in 2024. (CHF Value: 1,294,118).

4

Social security contributions by the Employer based on 2025 remuneration in any relevant jurisdiction.

5

Board membership discontinued as of May 8, 2024.

Remuneration provided to the Members of the Board of Directors in 2025 (CHF) – Audited

CHF Value

 

Year

 

Base Fee in cash

 

Committee Fees1

 

Other2

 

Number of RSUs granted

 

Face value at grant3

 

Remuner­ation excl. social security contri­butions

 

Social security contri­butions4

 

Total Remuner­ation

Thomas Leysen (Chairman)

 

2025

 

397,594

 

 

 

4,531

 

399,060

 

796,654

 

 

796,654

 

 

2024

 

395,071

 

 

 

3,857

 

384,984

 

780,055

 

 

780,055

Patrick Firmenich (Vice-Chair)

 

2025

 

121,729

 

29,822

 

6,442

 

1,388

 

122,246

 

280,239

 

11,927

 

292,166

 

 

2024

 

121,006

 

29,637

 

6,230

 

1,181

 

117,881

 

274,754

 

13,462

 

288,216

Sze Cotte-Tan

 

2025

 

99,377

 

19,882

 

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

219,046

 

9,421

 

228,467

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

19,759

 

 

964

 

96,221

 

214,769

 

10,630

 

225,399

Antoine Firmenich

 

2025

 

99,377

 

54,675

 

46,570

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

300,409

 

12,096

 

312,505

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

54,336

 

39,217

 

964

 

96,221

 

288,563

 

13,657

 

302,220

Carla Mahieu

 

2025

 

99,377

 

49,705

 

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

248,869

 

 

248,869

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

49,396

 

 

964

 

96,221

 

244,406

 

 

244,406

Erica Mann

 

2025

 

99,377

 

39,764

 

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

238,928

 

9,365

 

248,293

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

32,569

 

 

964

 

96,221

 

227,579

 

9,709

 

237,288

Frits van Paasschen

 

2025

 

99,377

 

44,734

 

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

243,898

 

 

243,898

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

44,457

 

 

964

 

96,221

 

239,467

 

 

239,467

Pradeep Pant5

 

2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024

 

34,741

 

6,948

 

 

 

 

41,689

 

12,548

 

54,237

André Pometta

 

2025

 

99,377

 

19,882

 

6,442

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

225,488

 

9,421

 

234,909

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

19,759

 

6,230

 

964

 

96,221

 

220,999

 

10,630

 

231,629

John Ramsay

 

2025

 

99,377

 

39,764

 

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

238,928

 

20,197

 

259,125

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

39,517

 

 

964

 

96,221

 

234,527

 

19,790

 

254,317

Richard Ridinger

 

2025

 

99,377

 

19,882

 

49,500

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

268,546

 

6,630

 

275,176

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

19,759

 

39,217

 

964

 

96,221

 

253,986

 

19,861

 

273,847

Corien Wortmann

 

2025

 

99,377

 

44,734

 

37,263

 

1,133

 

99,787

 

281,161

 

6,711

 

287,872

 

 

2024

 

98,789

 

44,457

 

28,242

 

964

 

96,221

 

267,709

 

5,185

 

272,894

Total

 

2025

 

1,413,716

 

362,844

 

146,217

 

16,116

 

1,419,389

 

3,342,166

 

85,768

 

3,427,934

 

 

2024

 

1,439,919

 

360,594

 

119,136

 

13,714

 

1,368,854

 

3,288,503

 

115,472

 

3,403,975

1

Positions of the Members of the Board of Directors as explained in previous paragraph. Committee Fees are provided in cash.

2

Concerns fees for advisory roles or second pillar pension contributions if required.

3

Face value at grant – number of Restricted Share Units (RSUs) granted times opening price at grant date. For the total number of RSUs granted in 2025, the fair value used for accounting purposes in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) amounts to €1,404,671 (CHF Value: 1,308,311) compared to €1,374,966 in 2024. (CHF Value: 1,294,118).

4

Social security contributions by the Employer based on 2025 remuneration in any relevant jurisdiction.

5

Board membership discontinued as of May 8, 2024.

Compensation voting

The General Meeting of DSM-Firmenich AG on May 6, 2025 approved (with 97.48% in favor) a maximum total amount of remuneration for the Board of Directors of €3,682,582 for the period starting May 7, 2025 until the 2026 AGM on May 7. The approved maximum amount was based on the following considerations:

  • The amount does not include the company-related part of social security contributions paid in line with applicable regulations

  • Exchange rate fluctuations are not included

  • Other than mandatory contributions to the company pension plan (‘second pillar’) applicable because of Swiss regulations, the fees are not pensionable

  • A sum was included to cover unforeseen circumstances

The table below provides an overview of the total maximum amount of remuneration as approved by the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the period as of the 2025 AGM until the 2026 AGM and the actual remuneration (excluding social security contributions) awarded as of May 7, 2025 until year-end and the allocated amount to be paid over the period January 1, 2026 until May 7, 2026, thereby considering the Average Fx rate that applied for 2025.

Approved maximum total amount of remuneration and actual/allocated remuneration of the Board of Directors from 2025 AGM until 2026 AGM – Audited

 

 

Approved maximum remuneration excluding social security contributions

 

Actual/allocated remuneration excluding social security contributions

x thousand

 

 

CHF

 

 

CHF

Total Remuneration Assumed Fx rate

 

3,683

 

3,536

 

3,508

 

3,368

Total Remuneration Average Fx rate

 

3,773

 

3,536

 

3,594

 

3,368

The total remuneration provided in 2025 to the Members of the Board of Directors amounted to €3,588,318 (€3,493,947 in 2024), excluding social security charges for the account of the company. This includes the value of the RSU grant: €1,523,924 (€1,454,370 in 2024) based on the face value (i.e., opening price) at the grant date. Because the fee structure has not changed, the differences between 2025 and 2024 are almost exclusively due to the difference in exchange rate between the Swiss Franc and the euro.

It is estimated that the total remuneration for the Board of Directors for the period January 1, 2026 until May 7, 2026 will amount to €724,983. Added to the remuneration provided in 2025 (May 7–December 31, 2025), the total amount of €3,594,456 remains within the approved maximum amount.

In the 2024 Compensation report, it was confirmed that the Board of Directors’ compensation in 2024 and the remuneration allocated at the time for the period January 1 until the 2025 AGM was expected to remain within the approved envelope as approved by the General Meeting. Considering the payments actually made between January 1 and May 6, 2025 (AGM), this is reconfirmed.

Shareholding

By the end of 2025, the Members of the Board of Directors, including Closely Associated Persons, held 16,078,913 (end 2024: 16,078,913) ordinary shares and 46,871 (2024: 30,755) RSUs. The table below provides an overview, detailing:

  • The number of ordinary shares held by each individual Member of the Board of Directors on December 31 of the relevant year

  • The number of outstanding RSUs held by each individual Member of the Board of Directors on December 31 of the relevant year

Shareholdings of the Board of Directors – Audited

 

 

Number of
Shares held on
31 December
2025

 

Number of
Shares held on
31 December
2024

 

Number of
RSUs held on
31 December
2025

 

Number of
RSUs held on
31 December
2024

Thomas Leysen (Chairman)

 

20,035

 

20,035

 

13,179

 

8,648

Patrick Firmenich (Vice-Chair)

 

4,548,829

 

4,548,829

 

4,037

 

2,649

Sze Cotte-Tan

 

 

 

3,295

 

2,162

Antoine Firmenich

 

3,519,236

 

3,519,236

 

3,295

 

2,162

Carla Mahieu

 

 

 

3,295

 

2,162

Erica Mann

 

 

 

3,295

 

2,162

Frits van Paasschen

 

 

 

3,295

 

2,162

André Pometta

 

7,985,012

 

7,985,012

 

3,295

 

2,162

John Ramsay

 

1,801

 

1,801

 

3,295

 

2,162

Richard Ridinger

 

4,000

 

4,000

 

3,295

 

2,162

Corien Wortmann

 

 

 

3,295

 

2,162

Total

 

16,078,913

 

16,078,913

 

46,871

 

30,755

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