Registration Form • Apr 8, 2019
Registration Form
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| Editorial from the Chairman and CEO |
2 |
|---|---|
| An extensive and diversified offering | 4 |
| Business model | 6 |
| Corporate Social Responsibility | 8 |
| Board of Directors | 10 |
Key figures 2018 12
| 1.1. Business sector | 16 |
|---|---|
| 1.2. A profi table growth strategy | 19 |
| 1.3. Organization and internal control | 29 |
| 1.4. Risk factors | 36 |
| 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Corporate governance | 53 | |
| 2.1. Implementation framework for corporate | ||
| governance principles | 54 | |
| 2.2. Management structure | 54 | |
| 2.3. Composition, organization and operation | ||
| of the Board of Directors | 55 | |
| 2.4. Group management bodies | 82 | |
| 2.5. Remuneration policy | 83 |
| 3.1. Commitment and management | 114 |
|---|---|
| 3.2. Non-Financial Performance Statement | |
| (DPEF) & Duty of Vigilance | 117 |
| 3.3. Stakeholders | 123 |
| 3.4. Reporting process | 127 |
| 3.5. People matter | 129 |
| 3.6. Cooking for good | 158 |
| 3.7. Better homelife | 161 |
| 3.8. Circular revolution | 163 |
| 3.9. Climate action | 167 |
| 3.10. Report by one of the Statutory Auditors, | |
| appointed as an independent third party, | |
| on the consolidated non-fi nancial statement | |
| included in the Group management report | 178 |

| 4.1. 2018 highlights | 186 |
|---|---|
| 4.2. Commentary on consolidated sales | 191 |
| 4.3. Commentary on the consolidated results | 196 |
| 4.4. Commentary on SEB S.A.'s results | 198 |
| 4.5. Outlook | 200 |
| 4.6. Post-balance sheet events | 201 |
| 5.1. Financial Statements | 200 |
|---|---|
| 5.2. Notes to the Consolidated Financial | |
| Statements | 205 |
| 5.3. Statutory Auditors' report | |
| on the consolidated fi nancial statements | 268 |
| 5.4. History of signifi cant consolidated items | |
| and ratios | 273 |
| 6.1. Financial statements | 276 | |
|---|---|---|
| 6.2. Notes to the SEB S.A. fi nancial statements | 278 | |
| 6.3. Five-year fi nancial summary | 294 | |
| 6.4. Statutory auditors' report on the fi nancial statements |
295 | |
| 7.1. Information concerning the company | 300 |
|---|---|
| 7.2. Information on share capital | 303 |
| 7.3. Financial authorizations | 309 |
| 7.4. Employee shareholding | 310 |
| 7.5. Stock market and dividend information | 313 |
| 8.1. Agenda for the Combined Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019 |
316 |
|---|---|
| 8.2. Draft resolutions and Board of Directors' report to the Combined Annual General |
|
| Meeting of 22 May 2019 | 317 |
| 8.3 Statutory Auditor's Report on Regulated | |
| Agreements and Commitments | 334 |
Registration Document & Annual Financial Report 2018




Groupe SEB pursues a multi-specialist strategy with top-ranking positions in small electrical appliances and a strong global leadership in cookware. Its mission is making consumers' everyday lives easier and more enjoyable and contributing to better living all around the world.
Operating in nearly 150 countries, Groupe SEB has built strong positions across continents through a product offering, both global and local, addressing consumer expectations throughout the world.
This offering is enhanced by an exceptional brand portfolio.
The Group's success is rooted in its long-term vision, committed to achieving the right balance between growth and competitiveness in order to create value for all its stakeholders.
On top of the Consumer business, Groupe SEB has recently moved into the professional segment, and in particular the professional coffee market.
This Registration Document was fi led with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers or AMF) on 1 april 2019 , in accordance with Article 212-13 of the AMF's general regulations. It may be used as a basis for fi nancial transactions if it is accompanied by an AMF information memorandum. This document was drawn up by and is the responsibility of the issuer and its Chairman and CEO.
This Registration Document is available on Groupe SEB's website, www.groupeseb.com and on the AMF website, www.amf-france.org.

In an overall environment that was more complicated than expected, Groupe SEB delivered a good 2018 performance, with organic growth of nearly 8%, an Operating Result from Activity up 2.5% – despite negative commodity and currency effects of more than €100 million – and a Net Profi t above €400m for the fi rst time. Continued debt reduction refl ected in a net debt / adjusted EBITDA ratio below 2 at end December, in line with the target we had set.
Our main growth engines / drivers have been leveraged successfully: China, of course, where Supor continues to outperform a still promising market, Japan, South Korea, Central Europe, Ukraine and Russia. On the activity side, the dynamic was robust in Home Care, Electrical Cooking, Food Preparation and Professional Coffee. Lastly, e-commerce was a strong contributor to the increase in sales and now accounts for nearly 25% of Group revenue.
Our profitable growth strategy, which is based on the strength of our brand portfolio, solid product momentum, and a foothold in all distribution channels across the globe gives us a major competitive advantage. This strategy is implemented daily by our dedicated teams who are always ready to meet new challenges. I would like to thank them for their professionalism and commitment. This strategy is designed for the long-term through a responsible approach on the social, societal and environmental fronts which is widely recognized and creates value for everyone.
2019 has started with an environment that remains uncertain. Yet the Group is well prepared and aims in 2019 to achieve further organic sales growth and improve Operating Result from Activity.
Thierry DE LA TOUR D'ARTAISE Chairman Chief Executive Offi cer
Electrical cooking: deep fryers, rice cookers, electrical pressure cookers, informal meal appliances, waffle makers, grills, toasters, multicookers…
Beverage preparation: coffee makers (filter and pod), espresso machines, electrical kettles, home beer-taps, soy milk makers…
Food preparation: blenders, cooking food processors, kitchen machines, mixers, beaters…

Linen care: irons and steam generators, garment steamers...
Home care: canister vacuum cleaners with or without dust bag, steam and upright vacuum cleaners, vacuum sweepers, versatilevacuums…
Home comfort: fans, heaters, air treatment appliances…
Personal care: hair care appliances, depilators , bathroom scales...

Frying pans, saucepans, pressure cookers, bakeware, kitchen utensils, food storage containers, vacuum fl asks and mugs...


34,000 employees
19 hours/year of training per employee in average
38% female managers
1,400 people in the innovation community
3.6% of sales reinvested in innovation (2)
40% of media investment in digital
2/3 of products manufactured in-house
28% of production performed in Europe
€1.9 bn direct purchasing
€213 m invested (3), i.e. 3.1% of sales
Sales of: €6,812 m ORfA of: €695 m and profi t of: €419 m
Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA = 1.90 at 31 December 2018 Long-term, major shareholders
100 % of sites ISO 14001 certifi ed
~ €3 m spent on philanthropy
1 Code of Ethics with 18 sections, translated into 11 languages



(1) Data 2018. (2) Net investments in R&D, strategic marketing and design. (3) Cash outflow for capital expenditures .
Groupe SEB is the world leader in Small domestic equipment, a steadily growing global market, estimated at over €75bn in 2018: around €45bn for small electrical appliances, €23bn for Cookware and €8bn for the p rofessional Coffee market.

Presence in nearly 150 countries Leadership positions in over 25 countries


* Acquisitions of the last 5 years
1 global social protection fl oor Workplace accidents(4) halved in 5 years Recognized as the best employer in the sector(5 )
70% of direct purchasing covered by the supplier panel

Annual organic sales growth of 7% in 5 years
10.2% operating margin
Profi t up by a factor of 2.1 in 5 years
Dividends +9% per year over 10 years
500 projects supported by the Fonds Groupe SEB in 10 years
(4) Lost-time injuries with temporary replacements. (5 ) Electrical materials and equipment sector – Ranking by Capital magazine and the Statista Institute.

Demonstrating every day our respect for each person and our utility to society

Helping everyone to live better in a healthy home, regardless of age or health
100 % of sites ISO 14001 certifi ed
93% of electrical appliances are mostly repairable




A global e-learning campaign for the Code of Ethics

THIERRY DE LA TOUR D'ARTAISE Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer

DELPHINE BERTRAND Director − member of the Founder Group, member of FÉDÉRACTIVE

INVESTISSEMENT Director – member of the Founder Group DAMARYS BRAIDA Permanent representative
VENELLE
Director – member of the Founder Group, member of GÉNÉRACTION


FÉDÉRACTIVE Director – member of the Founder Group
SARAH CHAULEUR Permanent representative of FÉDÉRACTIVE on the Board of Directors
FFP Invest Independent director
BERTRAND FINET Permanent representative of FFP Invest on the Board of Directors

BRIGITTE FORESTIER
YSEULYS COSTES Independent director


WILLIAM GAIRARD Director − member of the Founder Group, member of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT

JEAN-NOËL LABROUE Independent director


CÉDRIC LESCURE Director − member of the Founder Group, member of GÉNÉRACTION
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee
Family directors Independent directors Employee directors

LAURENT HENRY Employee director

Fonds Stratégique de Participations (FSP) Independent director
CATHERINE POURRE Permanent representative of FSP on the Board of Directors


1/3 independent directors
46% of women
8 meetings in 2018
97% attendance rate (with a minimum individual attendance rate of 87.5%)


During the General Meeting of 16 May 2018, reappointment as directors for a 4-year term of offi ce of:



FLOW (IN €M)


GENERATION OF OPERATING CASH IINVESTMENTS (IN €M) NET DEBT AND DEBT RATIOS AT 31/12

* Excluding one-off impacts of the WMF purchase price allocation: - €17m.
** Net debt / Proforma adjusted EBITDA (with WMF).

CHANGES IN THE SHARE PRICE SINCE 31/12/2015
| DATA SHEET | PERFORMANCE 2018 | PER SHARE AND DIVIDEND | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LISTING | STOCK MARKET INDEXES | Closing price at | 8.38 | |
| Eu ronext Paris, | CAC®Mid 60, SBF® 120, | 31/12/2018: ………….… €112.80 | 7.50 | |
| Compartment A | CAC® Mid & Small, CAC® All-Tradable, |
Stock Market Capitalization | ||
| ISIN CODE | STOXX® Europe 600, | at 31/12/2018 € 5,659M | 5.15 2.14* 2.00 |
|
| FR0000121709 | Vigeo Europe 120, | Highest price mid-session: €175.90 | 1.72 | |
| MSCI Global, FTSE4Good | Lowest price mid-session: €105.60 | |||
| LEI CODE | ||||
| 969500WP61NBK098AC47 | OTHER INFORMATION | Average for the year | ||
| IAS index – | (closing price): €149.66 | |||
| LISTING DATE | Eligible in SRD | Average of the last | ||
| 27 May 1975 | 30 prices for 2018 €116.91 | 2016 2017 |
2018 | |
SEB Euronext volumes SEB SBF 120
NUMBER OF SHARES
50,169,049 shares with a par value of €1
TICKERS
Reuters: SEBF.PA Bloomberg: SK.FP
| Closing price at 31/12/2018: ………….… €112.80 |
|---|
| Stock Market Capitalization at 31/12/2018 € 5,659M |
| Highest price mid-session: €175.90 |
| Lowest price mid-session: €105.60 |
| Average for the year |
| (closing price): €149.66 |
| Average of the last 30 prices for 2018 €116.91 |
| Average daily trading volume (number of shares): 56,108 |


| 1.1. | Business sector | 16 |
|---|---|---|
| The Small Domestic Equipment market | 16 | |
| Multiple forms of competition | 17 | |
| The professional coffee market | 17 | |
| 1.2. | A profi table growth strategy | 19 |
| A strong product innovation dynamic | 19 | |
| An unrivaled brand portfolio | 23 | |
| A global and diversifi ed presence | 23 | |
| A multi-channel distribution strategy | 24 | |
| An active acquisition policy | 25 | |
| The need for competitiveness | 26 | |
| 1.3. | Organization and internal control | 29 |
|---|---|---|
| Organization of internal control and key players | 29 | |
| 1.4. | Risk factors | 36 |
| Risk identifi cation and control process | 36 | |
| Description of main risk factors and associated management plans |
38 | |
Over the years, Groupe SEB has forged a leadership position and is a world leader in Small Domestic Equipment. This sector covers Cookware and small electrical appliances, accounting respectively for approximately 35% and 65% of its consumer sales.
The global Small Domestic Equipment market is divided into many distinct national and regional markets with their own local consumer cooking, eating and product utilization habits. It also lacks comprehensive coverage by research panels (primarily GFK) or other market research bodies. This, at times, makes it diffi cult to reconcile industry fi gures (inclusion of new categories or geographic segments, for example) in order to produce a global picture of the sector. Based on the latest available statistics and Group estimates, the size of the market addressed is currently estimated at approximately €45 billion for small electrical appliances and €23 billion for Cookware (including kitchen utensils).
The small electrical appliances market targeted by Groupe SEB includes several segments varying considerably in size, and ranked below in decreasing order of their importance in the Group's revenue:
■ personal care: hair care appliances, depilators , bathroom scales... Groupe SEB has become a world leader in the small electrical appliance market that it targets. This position is based on number one rankings in several categories, top-tier positions in others, and a reinforced presence in new product families.
The cookware and kitchen utensil market breaks down more or less evenly between the two segments. For cookware (mainly frying pans, saucepans, stewing pots, pressure cookers, bakeware and oven dishes) Groupe SEB is the undisputed global leader and is continuing to expand its product offering by regularly introducing new materials. The kitchen utensil and accessories market includes, for example, spatulas, ladles, skimmers, kitchen knives, vacuum fl asks and mugs, food storage boxes and containers, etc. By combining sustained organic growth and a strategy of industry consolidation, Groupe SEB now ranks among the top fi ve global players in this segment. However, its share of this highly fragmented but extremely promising market remains limited.
At worldwide level and from a long-term perspective, the Small Domestic Equipment sector has demonstrated its resilience during periods of crisis and solid growth within a neutral or positive economic environment. This performance reflects the combined impact of various factors:
■ strong contributions for many years from products and solutions developed in partnership with major consumer goods players, as for example in the case of single-serve coffee making.
On top of these specifi c moves, changes in distribution are playing a crucial role in the emergence of new consumer purchasing behavior: the rapid development in many countries – mature and emerging – of alternative distribution networks, in particular e-commerce, has profoundly transformed the market, boosting online sales (particularly for small electrical appliances), sometimes to the detriment of retailers with a traditional physical presence. As a result, growth in this market is currently being broadly driven by e-commerce: major online specialists (pure players like Amazon, Tmall, JD.com, Cnova , etc.) as well as the websites of initially "physical" retailers ("bricks-and-mortar" retailers).
In a global context, the very nature of the Small Domestic Equipment market requires a strategy that is both global and local in order to effectively address the expectations of consumers around the globe. The expansion of international brands, which can in some cases be marketed under strong local/regional brands in their domestic market, falls in line with this two-pronged approach and combines the benefi ts of both economies of scale and solid positions in local markets. On this basis, Groupe SEB is the only player boasting such broad international reach, supported by a portfolio containing a wealth of global brands and brands with local leadership positions. This gives it a strategic advantage versus a very disparate range of competitors consisting of:
Generally speaking, in both small electrical appliances and Cookware, competition is intense and has been reinforced by additional pressure on prices exerted by retailers in order to maintain or boost traffi c in stores in response to strong momentum in e-commerce.
The acquisition of WMF in 2016 represented a gre at opportunity for Groupe SEB to enter the highly attractive market of professional automatic coffee machines for hotels, restaurants, cafés, bakeries and convenience stores, sometimes in partnership with coffee roasters. At the same time, it represents a complementary strategic diversifi cation from the consumer business focused on the Small Domestic Equipment market.
Professional coffee machines are worth nearly €8 billion globally (2017 data , source: Estin & Co.), €5 billion for equipment and €3 billion for service activities. Although automatic beverage/coffee vending machines make up most of the equipment, the fi lter coffee segment represents around 10% of the global market (excluding services) and the specifi c segment of full-automatic espresso machines around 25% of the total equipment market.
Through its two brands, WMF and Schaerer, Groupe SEB is the world leader in the highly concentrated market of full-automatic espresso machines, in which Franke, Thermoplan and Melitta are also international benchmark players. Cimbali, Rancilio (Egro brand) and Jura also hold strong positions in specifi c segments.
The automatic espresso machines market is characterized by solid momentum in sales, led by marked growth in out-of-home consumption of specialty and premium coffees. A solidly growing core business is regularly boosted by signifi cant equipment or machine replacement contracts with major fast food chains, convenience stores or service stations, which has an accelerator effect on growth but also creates volatility.
Through the acquisition of Wilbur Curtis in the United States in early 2019, the Group has also gained a foothold in the professional fi lter coffee segment – a mature market with regular growth – which is still a major coffee consumption benchmark in the US, with trends moving towards the premium segment, led by the younger generation. Wilbur Curtis' recognized expertise, its very broad customer portfolio and its huge US presence have made it the number two in the professional US fi lter coffee segment, with around one-quarter of the market .
In general terms, the professional coffee machine market is diversifying in terms of offering, meeting a demand that is both wider (extension of coffee ranges offered) and more specifi c (increased customization). Demand is therefore now often for a dual fi lter/espresso machine. Against this background, all the machines rely on cutting-edge technology to guarantee fully automatic preparation and stable quality to produce a good cup of coffee, every time. They are also increasingly connected, to optimize customer relations, enable provisional maintenance operations, manage a fl eet of machines and organize marketing events (happy hours, drink of the day, etc.).
On the one hand, Groupe SEB's expansion is based on a strategy of steady organic growth, driven by a strong product innovation policy, a global presence, an unrivaled brand portfolio within the industry and a capacity to work with all distribution channels. On the other hand, it relies on a constant search for competitiveness, which is achieved via a complete manufacturing base and a rigorous and responsible purchasing policy.
Innovation is fi rmly rooted in the Group's values and is a key driver of development and differentiation. It gives the Group the leading edge required to stay ahead of the competition and fi ght commoditization. The Group uses innovation to offer new products, designs, or differentiated marketing approaches. This provides real added value for consumers, allowing Groupe SEB to stand out in an effective way and thus strengthen its positioning and conquer new markets.

The Group's history is one of continual innovations and breakthroughs incorporating unique concepts, new features and ingenious discoveries. These innovations have been reflected in tangible advances in the everyday life of consumers. Iconic products, such as the Seb pressure cooker or the Moulinex hand-crank food mill, paved the way for the fi rst electrical appliances in the 1950s and 1960s: irons, coffee grinders, the Charlotte and Marie multi-purpose food processors, etc. The design of products making everyday life easier and eliminating tedious tasks continued to develop at a faster pace in the 1960s and 1970s with new steam irons, vacuum cleaners, kitchen machines and the launch by Seb of odorless deep fryers. The 1970s and 1980s marked the arrival of more sophisticated functions with the introduction of many electronically enhanced products: bathroom scales, programmable coffee machines, etc. This era also saw the emergence of new lifestyles, refl ected in the launch of user-friendly appliances such as the raclette grill and home espresso coffee makers. In the decade from 1990 to 2000, both Groupe SEB and Moulinex brought new simplicity to the world of small electrical appliances, including pressure cookers with simplified closing mechanisms, removable handles for frying pans and saucepans, compact vacuum cleaners with triangular-shaped heads, coffee makers incorporating doser-grinders, frying pans with a visual heat indicator, food processors including storage systems, etc.
In recent years, there has been a new acceleration in the product offering renewal process through:
the Air Force 460 versatile handstick vacuum, the Clean and Steam vacuum cleaner, the Access Steam portable garment steamers, the Ixeo all-in-one ironing solutions (ironing and steaming combined with an adjustable, portable ironing board); or the Cake Factory (fi rst home cake-making machine – LSA Innovation Award 2018).
■ the introduction of new product features such as the pure Ultimate Iron in 2018, which features the new patented micro-limescale fi lter (fi lters limescale particles as the steam is diffused) or the fi rst silent high-speed blender from Supor.
Innovations are now largely based on digital technology, with the development of connected products to improve consumers' daily lives, plus associated services offered as part of a global ecosystem, such as cooking recipes updated on a mobile app. Groupe SEB's new connected devices aim to provide more customization, effi ciency and immediacy. The most recent launches include: Cookeo Connect by Moulinex (recipe creation monitoring and guidance from tablet or mobile), i-Companion (connected version of the Cuisine Companion cooking food processor by Moulinex), Cooking Connect by Tefal (connected kitchen scales), Body Partner by Tefal (connected bathroom scales) or the Intense Pure Air range of connected air purifi ers (remote management and checking of interior air quality in the home).
Through these product/application pairings, the Group now brings together a community of over 5 million members. The acquisition of 750g International in November 2018 will reinforce this community even further, with increased expertise in digital cooking. 750g International is a publisher of cooking websites and services in Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, the USA and the UK. With a community of 10 million Facebook fans, 450,000 members and 5,000 bloggers, it focuses on several key sectors: digital content publishing technologies, a portfolio of 90,000 recipes in fi ve languages, and several related services (printed recipe books or content creation on digital platforms).

Groupe SEB's innovation strategy is consistent with a pragmatic approach to creation of the product offering; the launch of new products is the result of in-depth analysis of consumer needs (both expressed and latent needs), the invention of breakthrough concepts, the use of new technologies and the creation of differentiating or oneof-a-kind designs. For Groupe SEB, innovation is part of a virtuous circle: as a creator of value for customers/retailers and a source of progress and satisfaction for consumers, it generates profi table growth, making it possible to reinvest in innovation to restart the cycle.
In 2017, in order to accelerate new product development and launches, Groupe SEB decided to set up a Global Innovation Hub for the small electrical appliance business in Écully, France. Around 230 employees from the marketing and research teams now work on a single site. In addition, the Rumilly site (France) is still the Global Innovation Center for the Cookware business: to accelerate developments in the coatings and materials sector, at the end of 2018 it gained a new tool, inaugurating the joint Research Laboratory built in partnership with University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and the CNRS (French National Center for Scientifi c Research).
The Group also plans to involve all its staff in its innovation strategy. It has therefore structured relations within its innovation community of 1,400 employees, using collaborative tools that make it possible to promote the sharing of knowledge and best practices. The All innovators challenge is the cornerstone of this process; its purpose is to enable everyone to see their ideas become a reality, inventing the world of the future. Following a pilot in 2017, a new challenge was launched in France at the end of 2018: 476 applications were submitted, 63 were shortlisted and 5 winners will see their projects become reality.
This approach is also open to external partners. In 2013, the Group launched an open site for innovators, Innovate with Groupe SEB, targeting inventors, scientists, researchers and designers who want to propose an innovation to the Group. The site offers three ways of working together: propose an invention, join the Groupe SEB innovation network or take part in challenges based around themes set by the Group. The SEB&You community launched in December 2015 also directly involves consumers in the innovation process, inviting them to test new concepts or areas of innovation. This community has grown rapidly since late 2015, to 3,800 members, and 2,140 products have been tested.
At the same time, the Group has developed partnerships with universities, schools, engineering fi rms, testing laboratories, research institutes and other companies with which it cooperates on major projects. Collaboration with these research networks allow it to accelerate its innovation process, expand its scope of intervention and benefi t from additional tools and expertise in a broad range of fi elds (materials, information and communications technologies, electrical engineering, food sciences and technologies, etc.). Examples include projects in the fi eld of health and nutrition, such as Nutrition-Santé-Longévité, Vitagora and Q@limed. The Group also contributes to better living and general health as an EIT Knowledge Innovation Community member and is a major stakeholder in France and international markets within the FoodTech ecosystem that seeks to anticipate new food-related trends. In association with many other companies specialized in different sectors (food industry, consumer goods, digital transition, etc.), the Group takes part in these projects by designing and marketing connected objects, developing a culinary platform with Orange, launching an online cooking platform (www.foodle.fr) and developing partnerships with both large groups and startups.
Lastly, inspired by the idea of fab labs (labs dedicated to creativity and materialization), Groupe SEB now has a SEBLab at the headquarters, on the Écully campus, gathering the various tools conducive to new product creation. This space for experimentation brings together mixed teams (marketing, research, design, internal and external experts) to work on the same project in short sessions (four days on average): the aim is to shorten the innovation cycle for certain products and identify the potential of new ideas more quickly. A new SEBLab was opened in 2018 at EMSA's production site in Emsdetten (Germany). This should reinforce EMSA's role as a Groupe SEB skills center for food storage (storage containers), vacuum mugs and jugs.
Each year, the Group invests significant amounts in strategic marketing, R&D, product design and range optimization in order to better target consumer expectations, enabling it to stand out as one of the most innovative players in its industry. In 2018, gross investment in R&D excluding CIR (research tax credit) and capitalization amounted to €144 million (€138 million in 2017). Investment in strategic marketing stood at €103 million (compared with €97 million in 2017). The R&D teams have been signifi cantly strengthened over the last few years, in terms of both employee numbers and employee qualifi cations, with the hiring of highly specialized engineers, for instance. These specialists bring expertise in cutting-edge fi elds such as coatings and materials, connected products, batteries, motors, food processing, sensors, etc.
In May 2011, the Group created an investment company, SEB Alliance, to improve its technology monitoring system by investing in innovative, technology-focused companies in areas such as connected home and digital applications, robotics, well-being and population aging, and reducing the environmental footprint.
In this context, SEB Alliance favors acquiring initial minority stakes. SEB Alliance has invested directly in around 10 companies since it was created, in areas that are consistent with Groupe SEB's strategic areas for innovation and could result in consumer applications, such as:
These companies provide technological "bricks" that the Group can use to accelerate in certain areas of innovation. For example, the collaboration with Ethera has resulted in the creation of a new range of air purifi ers (Intense Pure Air by Rowenta); and, more recently, the new range of robot vacuum cleaners by Rowenta has been launched, incorporating RobArt navigation technology.
In order to further expand the scope of its watch and its ecosystem (in the United States, in China and in very specifi c sectors), SEB Alliance has also forged strategic partnerships with four innovation investment funds (Cathay Innovation, Technocom 2/Innovacom, Xange Digital 3, ARAC 3/Kreaxi ) that the company may accompany in co-investment.

the US and China
The Group has a portfolio of 30 brands, the largest in its industry, which is a powerful asset in its strategy of profi table growth. This multibrand strategy gives it both broad and deep coverage of its markets.
Each brand has a clearly defi ned identity that is expressed through its product selection, functionalities and the look of its products, or its communication platform. There are three main sub-groups:
Over the last 40 years, the Group has successfully developed strong positions across all continents with a commercial presence in nearly 150 countries as a result of an expansion strategy combining internal growth with acquisitions. It has leading positions in Western Europe, Central Europe, Russia, Turkey, China, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, etc.
The Group's strong local presence is due to the relevance of its offering and its capacity to adapt to the needs of different markets. Its global presence enables it to seize opportunities for profi table growth in the various countries in which it has a presence, and to diversify its exposure to different economies. In 2018, 56% of its sales were generated in mature countries and 44% in emerging countries.
The Group's digitization strategy is fully integrated with the positioning and communication of these brands in their markets. In this context, the global Consumer brands have overhauled their platforms, websites and social networks in order to be perfectly in line with their target consumers. This project, which was launched in 2015, is now completed and the new brand platforms are fully operational.
In addition to the management of its brand portfolio, the Group pursues a strategy of partnerships to develop new concepts and step up its sales through the co-branding of two high-profi le brands. Accounting for between 5% and 10% of revenue , these partnerships are major drivers of innovation and growth for the Group. Joint development agreements have also been signed with major names in the food industry, such as Nestlé for Nespresso and Dolce Gusto, and Heineken for BeerTender and The SUB, and in the cosmetics industry, such as L'Oréal for Steampod. Some partnerships also impart image, associating our products with other brands or organizations (WWF, etc.), with licensing agreements with brands such as the Elite modeling agency (Rowenta), or with endorsement contracts, like cookware lines are developed in collaboration with renowned chefs such as Jamie Oliver (Tefal) or Thomas Keller (with All-Clad in the United States).

The Group works with an extremely large and diverse network of distributors, giving it a decisive competitive edge. It develops constructive long-term relationships with customers on the basis of the most extensive product offering on the market and with strong brands, which are vectors of growth and profi tability for each of the parties.
The network mainly comprises mass food retailers, specialist retailers as well as convenience stores or groups of independents, which are still overweighted in most emerging markets. The percentage of online sales continues to grow rapidly (around one quarter of revenue in 2018), driven by both e-commerce specialists (pure players) and bricks-and-mortar retailers, including specialist brands, as they ramp up their online presence (Click & Mortar ) .
In addition, the Group also has a network of stores, either directly operated or under franchise, numbering more than 1,300 at the end of 2018: their positioning may be multi-brand (Home & Cook and Tefal Shops) or mono-brand (Supor Lifestores and, more recently, WMF). This network, which is the Group's biggest customer, represents nearly 7% of total consolidated revenue, but its contribution may exceed more than 20% in some countries (e.g. Turkey and Japan). This network allows the Group to better understand consumer expectations, to adjust offers to market trends and to optimize marketing with our distribution partners.

Customer relations is one of the Group's core concerns and it seeks operational excellence both in the supply chain, to guarantee the best levels of service, and in-store, to ensure that its products are promoted on its customers' shelves and websites. This approach is supported by investment in marketing and advertising, which has been signifi cantly strengthened in recent years, amounting to around €430 million in 2017 and 2018. The objectives remain as follows:

1
United States
Acquisitions complement the Group's organic growth strategy. As an operator in the Small Domestic Equipment market, which is still highly fragmented, the Group has positioned itself as the industry consolidator in recent years and its many acquisitions have enabled it to achieve leadership status in many countries and product categories.
In addition to accurately identifying the target company and having the necessary fi nancial capacity, external growth requires an ability to integrate new acquisitions effectively and to generate synergies. Groupe SEB has built up considerable experience over the years in integrating new acquisitions. Following the takeover of Moulinex-Krups in 2001-2002 after it fi led for bankruptcy, it acquired All-Clad in the United States in 2004, Panex in Brazil and Lagostina in Italy in 2005, and a controlling interest in China-based Supor in late 2007. The latter stood out because of the major challenges it presented (geographical and cultural remoteness, language barrier, more complex integration, coordination of communications between two listed companies, etc.). Subsequently, the Group increased its controlling interest in several stages (+20% in December 2011, +1.6% in January 2015, and +7.91% in June 2016) bringing our current holding up to 81.18 %.
Furthermore, in February 2011, the Group acquired Imusa, a Colombian cookware company. In May 2011, it took control of a Vietnamese company – Asia Fan – specializing in the production and sale of fans, and in December, it acquired a 55% stake in an Indian company – Maharaja Whiteline – specializing in small electrical appliances. In 2014, it announced the acquisition of the remaining shares of Maharaja Whiteline and Asia Fan. In 2015, it acquired OBH Nordica, a major operator in small electrical appliances in the Scandinavian markets.
2016 marked a new stage for the Group with two strategic acquisitions in Germany in May.
The Group first acquired EMSA, specialized in the design, manufacturing and distribution of kitchen utensils and accessories. EMSA is a well-known brand in German-speaking countries and is the market leader in thermoware and food storage containers in Germany. It is also present in the rest of Europe and the Middle East.
The Group then acquired WMF, a German industrial fl agship with two major business lines: coffee machines and hotel equipment, as well as consumer equipment(cookware and small electrical appliances). Through this strategic acquisition, Groupe SEB:
■ acquired a solid worldwide leadership in the very attractive professional automatic espresso machines market characterized by strong growth, high profi tability and signifi cant recurring revenue refl ecting important contributions from after-sales operations;
This vital element to all industrial groups is complementary to growth. The Group's competitiveness is based on a powerful and versatile manufacturing base, continuous improvement of industrial productivity, optimization of purchasing and supply chain and continual simplifi cation of structures and processes.
Throughout the world, the Group's manufacturing base is set to respond to market characteristics:
In 2017, the Group continued its expansion in kitchen utensils with the acquisition of Swiss company Swizzz Prozzz, a specialist in mini hand choppers. 2018 was notable for two operations: fi rstly, the launch of a joint venture with our long-term local partner in Egypt, Groupe SEB Egypt Zahran, 55%-owned by the Group and 45% by Zahran; secondly, the acquisition of 750g International, which publishes cooking services websites, thus opening up new opportunities for the Group's digital approach.
In February 2019, the Group announced the acquisition of the US specialist in professional fi lter coffee machines, Wilbur Curtis, number two in the market, bringing a solid complementary range of products, prices, customers and territorial coverage to WMF-Schaerer's footprint in automatic espresso machines in the United States.
Following the acquisition of Wilbur Curtis in early 2019, the Group's production facilities include 41 industrial sites, producing around 65% of the products sold by the Group worldwide. The other 35% are outsourced, in particular in China.

The Group's industrial strategy aims to best serve markets by continuously improving competitive performance and quality over the long term.
The Group's industrial competitiveness comes from its edge as a designer of products, especially through its centers of expertise and technological centers:
At relevant sites, project platforms foster collaboration between marketing teams and centers of industrial expertise in the development of the product offering. This makes it possible to promote the concept of the "technical basis" to standardize sub-assemblies and components, in order to be more responsive to customer demand.
To ensure and optimize the competitiveness of its manufacturing base, the Group continues to adapt its factories, taking account of economic market realities by adjusting production volumes or rescaling sites, transferring operations from one entity to another, refi tting sites, strict control of manufacturing costs, refocusing production and outsourcing according to needs.
In 2016, the Group undertook a significant reorganization of its industrial facilities in Brazil, combining the Brazilian production activities of Mooca and São Bernardo do Campo within a single, newly constructed industrial site at Itatiaia in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The small electrical appliances plant at Mooca, in the heart of the São Paulo megalopolis, was suffering from productivity levels below Group standards as well as major logistical limitations. The same was true of the São Bernardo site (cookware), which was suffering from a lack of competitiveness.
The new plant in Itatiaiais located in a fast-growing industrial area with a design that is fully in line with all of the Group's industrial and environmental standards. A new logistics center is located nearby, which is helping to optimize customer service across Brazil's entire South Region. The transfer of operations took place in several phases and generally went very well and within the time allowed, for the small electrical appliances segment. However, it was much more diffi cult and much slower for cookware, delaying the ramping up of production, with signifi cant impacts on sales in 2018.
In February 2018, the Group also announced the transfer of the linen care plastics activity from the historical Saint Jean de Bournay site to the linen care assembly site in Pont-Évêque. This project, requiring an investment of around €15 million, is currently underway and should be completed in spring 2020 with the transfer of equipment and staff, all of whom will keep their jobs. The project is intended to increase productivity by shortening flows, improve flexibility by bringing together the production teams on a single site, thus making them more versatile, and fi nally improve working conditions, in a modern, high-performance production environment.
In early 2013, the Group introduced the PCO (Product Cost Optimization) project which aims to reduce the cost price of current products, optimize the future product offering, and increase perceived value. The approach consists in applying a method for analyzing products and taking into account consumer concerns by involving experts (R&D, marketing, design, manufacturing, etc.) as part of multidisciplinary group workshops, to challenge existing solutions and invent new ones.
In parallel, the global industrial and operational excellence program, OPS (Opération Performance SEB), launched in 2011, continued to roll out "fundamentals" (5S, TPM, etc.) to achieve further improvements in the productivity of the Group's sites. This practical program of continuous performance improvement:
Since its launch, the OPS program has enabled the Group to ensure a high level of quality in both its processes and its products. The commitment of the new sites acquired by the Group to incorporating these principles is a highly effective way of introducing a shared global approach of excellence and continuous performance improvement. In China, this has helped with the ramp-up of the Supor Shaoxing site, which is the Group's largest small electrical appliance site.
Now in its mature phase, the OPS project has now entered phase 2, which aims to involve and grow the teams beyond the scope of industrial activities and maintenance: it now covers logistics, human resources, control and purchasing.
Focusing on the involvement and empowerment of teams across all areas of the value chain, the program now relies on a matrix: health and safety, quality, cost, time, involvement and environment. For each business, maturity grids by process were developed according to 5 levels. These grids, which were updated and evaluated in 2017, were rolled out across all sites in 2018, with a dual objective: standardize measurement approaches and improve performance and, by the end of 2019, achieve the level of maturity required for all businesses to enter the Industry of the Future.
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This entry into the Industry of the Future will allow us to take yet another step in terms of industrial and logistic performance in order to improve our response to the needs of our customers. Digitizing the processes from our suppliers to our customers will accelerate the transmission of information, improve responsiveness for greater agility and effi ciency. The digitization of our OPS production system through a monitoring system will make performance even more visible thanks to the information gathered in real time, and allow to better empower our operators who will have the right information, at the right time, to react quickly. Finally, the systematic analysis of data will allow us to launch preventive and predictive actions to increase the utilization rates of equipment, as well as the quality of our products.
For Groupe SEB, the Industry of the Future program relies on technological projects or building blocks:
These projects were entrusted to pilots chosen for their expertise and having the means to explore and implement concrete solutions. The pragmatic approach uses test and learn mode by experimenting with new approaches through POC (Proof of Concept). Once the solution is validated, it can easily be standardized and deployed at a low cost.
One of the key projects, involving both the industrial and information systems teams, is the establishment of a futuristic factory model using supervisory and data processing systems to improve the quality, the traceability, the availability of the means of production, the anticipation of breakdowns, but also to optimize energy consumption. The Group will also develop new automation models, using collaborative robots (cobots) and auto-guided vehicles (AGV) to reduce the diffi culty of tasks, and fi nally, augmented reality systems will be tested to help operators achieve their goals and to gain performance.
All these improvement plans are systematically supported by the Group's approach to health and safety, as safety of personnel in the workplace is a key priority for the Group. A three-year plan has been launched in this regard, with the aim of steadily decreasing the number of workplace accidents. This plan must enable the Group to cut by half the number of accidents at the end of this period. For further details, refer to Chapter 3 on Corporate, Social and Environmental Responsibility on pages 141 to 144.
Another key component of the Group's competitiveness is Planning and Logistics, which is managed on a global level with the aim of improving the service to our customers and ensuring their satisfaction while optimizing our fi nished product stocks. To achieve this, the Group has deployed a transversal and collaborative S&OP (Sales and Operating Planning) process, from sales forecasting in market companies to capacity planning, production and delivery to the customer. In parallel, a supply chain optimization project was launched, as well as a Supply Chain School to develop our dedicated teams' skills.
Purchasing combines both production procurement, which covers requirements for materials (metals, plastics, paper/cardboard packaging, etc.) and components (parts, sub-assemblies, etc.) for manufacturing, non-production purchasing (transport and logistics, services, information systems, travel, etc.) and purchases of sourced fi nished products. Generally speaking, and for a number of years, purchases have increasingly been managed at Group level, through a panel of approved suppliers and the use of shared global product family platforms making it possible to consolidate volumes and standardize materials and components. This approach makes it possible to optimize negotiations (on price, quality, on-time delivery, etc.) and to develop pooled procurement offering greater fl exibility between manufacturing sites and increased synergies within the Group.
The Group's direct spend policy is based on the best possible balance of cost, quality and availability, by seeking out and selecting the most competitive suppliers at the same time as introducing suppliers to the Group's approach to innovation and its required quality standards. Amongst other things, this policy makes it possible to establish and maintain a real partnership with the best-performing suppliers and to closely involve them in the improvement process and the Group's objectives in terms of competitiveness. In 2018 , the panel of direct suppliers for manufacturing supplies comprised 440 suppliers(463 in 2017) with global purchasing coverage of 70% (compared with 72% in 2017 ).
Non-production purchases continue to follow the same process aimed at better qualifying approved suppliers and building an across-theboard Group purchasing methodology with a panel of approved suppliers representing 37% of non-production purchases (identical to 2017 ).The purchasing offi ce team undertakes to cover a very broad range of expenditures and an increasingly large international scope for sourcing. Calls for tender are launched on a regular basis and crossfunctional teams thoroughly rework our specifi cations to optimize purchasing in new fi elds.
For sourced fi nished products, the organizational set-up strengthens purchasing quality processes by ensuring technical and methodological assistance from Group teams for suppliers. At the same time, it demonstrates the Group's desire for upstream integration of suppliers in the product development processes in order to foster greater fl uidity in creating the product offering. The Group has thus ranked its fi nished-goods suppliers according to threecategories, based on its strategic goals, performance criteria (e.g., timeliness, quality, costs) and social and environmental responsibility (environmental impact, respect for human rights , etc.), namely: (i) preferred suppliers; (ii) recommended suppliers; and (iii) non-recommended suppliers . In 2018, 65 companies represented 80% of purchases.
The nature of Groupe SEB's business and its large international presence opens up signifi cant development opportunities, but also exposes it to various types of internal and external risks. These risks may adversely affect the Group's results, fi nancial position or assets, or have consequences for its various stakeholders – consumers, employees, shareholders, customers, suppliers, partners, the local ecosystem (public authorities and civil societies), etc. The Group implements a range of measures to identify risks and measure their potential impacts and probability of occurrence. These risks are then managed according to risk control plans that are regularly reviewed and involve the players concerned in the Group's various departments. As with any control system, however, it cannot provide an absolute guarantee that all risks are fully controlled or eliminated.
The scope of application of internal control and risk management procedures encompasses all of the Group's companies and employees, from governance bodies to individual employees. The operational and functional management structures are responsible for implementing these procedures.
Groupe SEB is an international entity, organized primarily into geographical zones by continent, each with their own ranges of products to sell. In addition, operations are managed by activity, covering a group of product lines and trademarks. Lastly, functional management supports operations transversally across all of the Group's businesses. The primary aim of this functional management is to ensure that activities are consistent and effective and to oversee the control functions (e.g. by means of fi nancial standards, IT tools, quality rules, etc.).
The Group's conduct and operational processes are based on two key documents: the Group's Code of Ethics and the Internal Control Manual, which sets out what is expected of employees.
The key control activities are identifi ed within the functional departments described below, which report directly to a member of the Group Executive Committee.

The Audit and Internal Control department is tasked with evaluating compliance with the Group's internal rules and procedures, detecting non-compliance with local legislation and ensuring that Group assets are protected. This department is also required to evaluate the effi cient conduct of operations and to ensure that business risks are anticipated and mitigated.
To achieve this, the Audit and Internal Control department is focused on three parallel activities:
The Group's audit team comprised 13 auditors as at 31 December 2018.
The Financial Communication and Investor Relations departmentworks closely with the other departments within the Finance Function , with the operational, functional and continental management structures, and with the Sustainable Development and Corporate Communications departments, in order to carry out two key tasks related to the status of SEB S.A. as a listed company:
All the Group's fi nancial information is constantly updated and is available on the website at www.groupeseb.com.
The role of the Group Legal department is to ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in the various countries, to protect the Group's assets (and particularly its intellectual assets) and businesses, and to protect the interests of the Group.
Its main tasks are based on the following activities:
The Group's Finance and Treasury department is tasked with ensuring the liquidity of Group operations, the security, transparency and efficiency of treasury and finance operations, and hedging against all fi nancial risks. Its areas of work are as follows:
The Group Controlling department coordinates budget planning and control, using a handbook of management procedures and rules applicable to all entities, including Group budgeting, re-projections and management reporting methods.
Its key oversight responsibilities are as follows:
The Accounting and Tax department is responsible for ensuring that the Group's accounting principles and standards are compliant with commonly accepted international accounting standards. It defi nes the Group's accounting standards and oversees their distribution and application, particularly through training courses. It is responsible for preparing the Group's Consolidated Financial Statements and closes the Group's Financial Statements, in collaboration with the entities, in a timely manner.
The Group Accounting and Tax department oversees and coordinates the Shared Service Centers for Accounting and Management Services. These entities, in France, Poland, Germany, the United States, and China, help improve the Group's internal control system through the sharing of best practices and standardization of procedures, and through the positive effect of the work of the Shared Service Centers on the division of tasks.
The Group Accounting and Tax department also ensures compliance with tax regulations and obligations in all countries where the Group operates, by (i) monitoring tax inspections carried out by tax authorities in all of the Group's entities, (ii) ensuring consistency in the tax procedures used by the entities, and (iii) liaising with tax consultants to verify that the Group's main activities are compliant with current legislation.
The Sustainable Development department drives and coordinates the sustainable development policy. It documents and rolls out short- and medium-term action plans, in line with the Group's priority criteria, in each division and on every continent, thus promoting appropriate conduct. It is supported by a dedicated Steering Committee, described on p. 34 . In addition, the Sustainable Development department is responsible for the content of the Group's Code of Ethics and ensures that it is properly circulated and understood in all the entities. As the principles of the Code of Ethics are included in the Internal Control Manual, the ethical compliance of our subsidiaries is regularly checked on site by the internal audit teams. Conformity to the values mentioned in the Code of Ethics does not stop with the company: the Sustainable Development department also monitors the application of these principles by suppliers, by means of a Responsible Purchasing Charter, which is circulated to and signed by all its partners, and regular outsourced audits. This last measure is fully in keeping with our action plans for compliance with the "SAPIN II" and "Duty of Vigilance" laws.
Each of the Group's plants is organized to prevent any pollution (of air, water, or soil) or environmental accidents and to reduce its carbon and environmental impact (particularly in terms of energy, water, and waste). To achieve this, each plant complies with local environmental regulations as well as standards shared by all Group sites. The regulations, and changes in them, are monitored locally by Health, Safety and Environment coordinators. Measures to assess risks, prevent pollution and reduce environmental impact are implemented locally and coordinated at Group head offi ce: a dedicated staff member is responsible for setting environmental goals and defi ning shared standards. The Sustainable Development department also ensures the implementation of performance indicators, which are then monitored and consolidated.
Environmental risk is overseen by a dedicated Group team which regularly monitors changes in regulations and transcribes these regulations into the Group's standards. The processes are then rolled out to the plants.
As part of its compliance policy, the Sustainable Development department appoints an external service provider to audit the Group's industrial sites in countries presenting ethical, social and environmental risks.
The Group had 32,690 employees in its workforce at 31 December 2018, divided between more than 100 operational entities worldwide. The Personnel Administration department is responsible for ensuring the consistency of personnel management processes. It is organized around the following main areas:
The scope of the Purchasing department includes the purchasing of components and raw materials required to manufacture products, purchases of fi nished products, and indirect purchases. The scale of the fi nancial fl ows involved means that the Purchasing department is central to the Group's internal control process:
Improving the quality of its products and processes has always been a central concern for Groupe SEB. Groupe SEB uses a Quality Management System (QMS), a key pillar of any business, implemented through a shared tool available on the Group Intranet.
This system includes all the procedures, tools and methods relating to the Group's key processes:
Monthly reporting allows the Quality department to accurately track key indicators and adjust its actions.
The distribution of the Group's businesses across all continents requires constant optimization of the production sites, of logistics, of fl ows and procurement. The Supply Chain department's task is to meet these needs while securing processes:
Groupe SEB's information systems are designed to guarantee the security, integrity, availability and traceability of information.
Several priority areas within the Information Systems department help to improve the Group's control environment, including:
Industrial activity has been a central part of the Group's activities since its creation. The health and safety of people working at the sites is a top priority and the responsibility of all Group employees. It is coordinated by the Group Health and Safety department.
The oversight of the health and the safety of people is based on six key points which are continually emphasized at all our sites:
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Alongside these departments overseeing the Group's control activities, Committees have been set up spanning various control topics. These Committees meet two to four times a year and involve managers from the aforementioned departments. Each are responsible for identifying, in their respective areas, any situations requiring action at the central level (regulatory changes, evolution of the market context, etc.). In this case, each Committee will report to the Group Executive Committee.
Stanislas de Gramont Chief Operating Offi cer
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer Vincent Léonard Senior Executive Vice-president, Finance Harry Touret Senior Executive Vice-president, Human Ressources Alain Leroy Executive Vice-president, Industrial Operations Philippe Crevoisier Executive Vice-president, Products and Innovation Cyril Buxtorf Executive Vice-president, EMEA Luc Gaudemard Executive Vice-president, Americas Vincent Tai Executive Vice-president, Asia
In particular, the Compliance Committee implements measures relating to recent regulatory developments. A cross-functional action plan involving several Group departments has been drawn up to address the requirements of the SAPIN II law and the Duty of Vigilance law relating to parent companies and principals.
This action plan focuses on the following key points, most of which are already in place:
Lastly, to ensure effi cient overall management, Groupe SEB relies on the decentralization of operational responsibilities and clearly defi ned rules of operation and delegation. It also benefi ts from a wellestablished corporate culture, rooted in shared fundamental human values that foster an ethical working environment: Entrepreneurial drive, Passion for innovation, Professionalism, Group spirit, and Respect for people.
Groupe SEB has been a signatory of the Global Compact since 2003 and supports the values set out in this document, promoting them throughout the company. The Group Human Resources department states in its guiding principles: "The Group is a community of men and women who share the same objectives and values".
The Code of Ethics, published in September 2012, serves as the frame of reference for Groupe SEB's values and standards. It defi nes individual and collective rules of conduct to guide the actions and inspire the decisions of each employee. It is supplemented by a whistle-blowing system that allows any employee to report a serious violation of the Code of Ethics.
More details on the whistle-blowing system are provided in Chapter 3.2 page 121 .
The risk identifi cation and control process is an ongoing process incorporated within the Group's operations. In order to provide comprehensive information, the various stages of collecting and processing information were defined as follows: operational approach, Group approach at Executive Committee level and, fi nally, consolidation by key theme.
COLLECTION OF OPERATIONAL RISKS
Operational risks are identifi ed and reviewed annually by means of data collection grids sent to all entity managers (sales subsidiaries, factories, Shared Service Centers) and to all function managers. Questionnaires are partially guided (based on the usual risk typologies) and partially open to ensure the broadest possible range of information.
The questionnaires are then consolidated by the Audit and Internal Control department to identify the main issues by theme.
On the basis of this consolidation, each function director meets individually with the Audit and Internal Control Director so as to assess thoroughly the main risks and associated risk management plans.
An annual working meeting is held with the Executive Committee members on the basis of the above elements. This meeting covers all the information from the operational collection as well as those stemming from the previous year's risk mapping. Each risk is reviewed in detail, to evaluate how it has evolved and its relevance in terms of both potential fi nancial impact for the Group and probability of occurrence.
For each residual risk, after taking mitigation measures into account, a degree of exposure is defi ned, with level 1 corresponding to the risks to which the Group is least exposed, and level 3 to the risks to which the Group is most exposed.

For each of these risks, the risk management action plan is reviewed by the Executive Committee twice a year: an assessment of what has been achieved during the past year and an action plan for the year to come; plus a mid-year review to ensure that the various topics are being monitored and executed properly.
Lastly, the review of the Group's risk mapping activity is included as a specifi c agenda item at an annual meeting of the Audit Committee (review of methodology, risks, their assessment by Group management and the associated action plans).
When the information relating to potential risks for the Group has been collected and analyzed, the Audit and Internal Control department consolidates it by key theme for circulation to the Group's various stakeholders.
RISKS INVOLVING EXTRA-FINANCIAL ISSUES (DESCRIBED IN CHAPTER 3, " CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ")

Fluctuations in currencies and raw materials
The Small Domestic Equipment market is still fragmented on a global level, particularly in certain sectors/geographic areas. There is a risk that one of our competitors will become active in consolidating the sector through acquisitions and therefore strengthen its positions in the relevant markets to the detriment of Groupe SEB, whether in small electrical appliances, cookware or the BtoB market (coffee in particular).
■ This risk can also be seen as an opportunity for the Group, which keeps an active watch on the different markets it operates in, by identifying players who could become acquisition targets. This watch prioritizes the most strategic sectors/geographic areas.
The retail sector has undergone major changes in recent years, which have had repercussions on the Group's business: the emergence and rapid growth of e-commerce specialists have profoundly changed the business environment.
Although the Specialists channel has been able to develop its online sales through Click & Mortar in consumer electronics, some of the Group's long-standing customers, mainly traditional retailers in mature markets, have not yet completed their transformation to adapt to this trend.
This transition phase can have a signifi cant impact on footfall in stores, and on stock levels, and may be accompanied by fi nancial diffi culties: arbitrage within the portfolio of products sold, limited restocking, plans for store closures or even bankruptcies in the most extreme cases.
This profound change in distribution could negatively rebound on the Group in terms of revenue and/or market share, leading to nonrecovery of debts if some customers default.
Changes in raw material prices, currencies and production costs, combined with demand and product supply, can create vulnerabilities to the Group's competitiveness and industrial structure. Similarly, our ability to optimise the productivity of our manufacturing base and the management of our industrial investment is a key element for the Group.
The product life cycle has become shorter in recent years and agile players have emerged with short-lived product offerings (even monoproducts) delivered through an innovative marketing and distribution approach, a phenomenon that is in tune with new consumer trends and rapid technological developments, especially "digital" products, connected products and related services.
These changes could have an impact on our sales and market share in the relevant sectors.
■ Our product teams are continually improving our agility in the product development process, to shorten the time to market of product innovations.
New information technologies are considerably changing purchasing habits and methods of communication, rapidly increasing the amount of information to be processed and resulting in more personalized relationships with consumers. At the same time, these developments are generating new approaches to our business relationship with our customers (management of logistics, sales planning, for example). These developments represent a potential risk to sales.
Groupe SEB is renowned for its 30 brands, its unique know-how and specifi c production methods, and for its products sold throughout the world. The reputation of our brands is based on the quality and exclusivity of our products and their distribution methods, as well as on the communication and promotion policies that we implement. Products or a communication policy that is inappropriate to the image of the brands, improper conduct by the Group's brand ambassadors, employees, distributors or suppliers, as well as the circulation of damaging information in the media could affect the brand's reputation, have an adverse effect on sales or negatively impact the brands' valuation on the balance sheet (over €1 billion at 31 December 2018 ).
In an environment where information circulates more and more rapidly (through news sites, instant messaging, social networks, etc.), any information with negative connotations may have an impact on the Group's image, at the level of a country, a region, or even globally, with repercussions on sales, income or its share price. These situations may arise due to information that is well-founded or not, on topics as diverse as product quality or safety, the health effects of food materials, business practices, ethical behavior or compliance with regulations (tax, social security).
Groupe SEB supports and develops the reputation of its brands by collaborating with reputable and innovative professionals in their fi elds (Agencies, Ambassadors, Infl uencers, Research, etc.), while respecting and promoting the personality of each brand.
In addition to its organic growth targets, the Group is implementing an external growth strategy to accelerate its expansion and strengthen its position. This strategy has resulted in the acquisition of companies that are complementary in terms of market (geographical or product category), in somewhat different ways: Supor in China, OBH Nordica in the Scandinavian countries, and more recently WMF in Germany in high-end consumer segments, professional products, etc.
Each of these acquisitions has specifi c features in terms of corporate culture, structure, operational processes and distribution channels. Failing to identify these specifi c features or not taking them into account could have an adverse effect on the integration process and the value creation expected from these operations, in particular:
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Groupe SEB pursues a product partnerships policy to develop new concepts and contribute to sales growth.
These partnerships can take the form of a distribution, license and co-development contract, and result in a co-branding between two well-known brands: Krups with Nespresso and Dolce Gusto, Heineken for BeerTender and The SUB, Rowenta and L'Oréal for Steampod straightener, Rowenta for Elite in hairdressing, Tefal with Jamie Olivier in cookware.
However, such partnershipscan be volatile and may represent a risk to revenue.
For several years, Groupe SEB has been involved in one-off consumer loyalty programs with major distributors in a number of countries. These programs, led by the distribution retailers, consist in major promotional offers in a product category to loyal consumers who have made a series of purchases within a short period of time. The promotional programs enable distributors to boost footfall in their stores, and consumers to access our products at discounted prices. However, they cause sales volatility from one period to the next, and may dry up the market in the months following the campaign, impacting on future sales.
puts the relative action plan in place.
■ The main measure of risk management is based on sustainability of the relationship (the major partnerships are more than 10 years old) and on the diversifi cation of partnerships that allows portfolio balancing in this activity.
■ The Audit and Internal Control department implements its standard processes and carries out an audit mission during the integration phase, to make an inventory of processes with shortcomings and
■ Moreover, the teams involved implement actions with our current partners to boost commercial activities and develop products, solidifying the viability of the partnerships concerned.
Information systems are embedded within the Group's businesses, in terms of both operational processes (production management, accounting, reporting, etc.) and means of communication (telephone, mail, networks, tablets and objects connected to the mobile network). Any failure of these tools would have a potentially signifi cant impact on the Group (including in the case of intentional or unintentional contamination of systems by a computer virus).
Moreover, the sharp increase in the volume of information processed and the development of connected objects are making data management processes and tools more complex and more technical. Combined with the reinforcement of international regulations on personal data protection (particularly in Europe with the General Data Protection Regulation ), this signifi cantly increases the impact that a security breach could have on data. A specifi c "Personal Data Protection Risk" is detailed in the Legal Risks section.
Finally, our infrastructure and applications are constantly renewed and upgraded, which may affect operational functioning. This risk is more specifi cally addressed in the "Risk associated with the development of information systems" section.
■ A coordinated watch with several suppliers specializing in systems protection and security aims to monitor developments and actions to counter cybercrime (antivirus, fi rewalls, and user identifi cation processes). The Information Systems department draws up an annual IT risk map, in collaboration with the Audit and Internal Control department.
The Group's expansion (geography, size, business sector) frequently requires us to upgrade or develop our management systems (ERP). This may necessitate minor (adaptation of systems in place) or major changes (definition, construction and implementation of a new system). Each of these developments causes complexity and disruption in the existing IT environment with, in particular, risks to the resources affected by implementation and to operations, if the migration is not effective. Both these risks may lead to signifi cant costs and may result in loss of revenue.
The international regulatory environment has tightened over the years, with a proliferation of directives, laws and regulations on various subjects: Personal data protection (GDPR), anti-corruption (SAPIN II law, UK Bribery Act, US Bribery Act), cash fl ows (countries under embargo), stock market regulations (MIFID II, MAR, etc.), taxation (tax evasion, "black-listed" countries, tax changes, customs duties, etc.), the duty of vigilance of parent companies and principals, rules on competition, etc.
Any deviation from these regulations constitutes a risk factor on two levels: fi rst, there is a risk of conviction or fi nes, for potentially very signifi cant amounts; then there is also a risk of damage to the image and reputation, in the event that a proven breach is made public, with the consequences described above, vis-à-vis our partners and consumers.
■ Compliance with international and local regulations is a Group priority, and compliance with the law is part of our Code of Ethics. All Group operations must comply with local regulations on employment, accounting, tax, the environment, etc.
Groupe SEB is present in nearly 150 countries, through its subsidiaries or distributors. The Group's activities, including industrial operations, distribution and sale, are liable to risks of corruption (in relation to public or private offi cials). As indicated in the compliance risk, any proven corruption could have signifi cant consequences for the Group, in terms of a potential fi ne from the authorities concerned, but also in terms of image and reputation.
The management policy for this risk is presented in the Extra-Financial Performance Declaration in Chapter 3 "Corporate Social Responsibility ".
The Group's expansion into new geographical areas, the development of technological resources , and greater competitive pressure, are all factors that increase the risks of fraud situations, whether originating internally or externally, occurring within Group entities.
In addition, the attempted "fake President" frauds (involving, for example, the theft of identities of members of the Group's Executive Committee) are steadily growing and more sophisticated.
■ With respect to the fight against external fraud, a process of systematically reporting information on attempted fraud to the Audit and Internal Control department allows the Group to analyze these situations, inform all entities of the risks and respond quickly by implementing new checks (particularly updating our fi rewalls). A major initiative to raise awareness among fi nancial employees
The Group has a large portfolio of international and regional, premium and core registered brands. This portfolio gives the Group a competitive advantage and continues to grow as a result of the acquisitions. Product innovations give rise to industrial patent applications (492 fi lings in 2018 worldwide – 542 in 2017) and the fi ling of designs and pattern (240 fi lings worldwide in 2018) along with other intellectual property assets protected by copyright (such as a large database of cooking recipe photographs, for example).
The recognition enjoyed by Groupe SEB's brands and the success of its innovations lead to the infringement of various of its intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, designs), cybersquatting (registration of a domain name that matches a protected trademark), and phishing.
Conversely, the Group's active innovation approach is likely to invite criticism if one of its new products is positioned in confl ict with a patent or a design already fi led by a competitor. This would result in a litigation, reputational or fi nancial risk in the event of a recall of the product concerned.
and the systematic implementation of dual checks, for example, have enabled the Group to fi ght against attempts of identity theft of customers, suppliers and Group senior managers through technological means.
As shown in several risk factors, market trends and consumer habits generate a growing amount of customer information and therefore personal data, used to communicate effectively with our consumers. This new aspect involves new responsibilities and risks to protect and use this data appropriately, in particular within the framework of European regulation (GDPR). As indicated in the compliance risk, any failure to protect personal data could have signifi cant consequences for the Group, in terms of a potential fi ne , but also in terms of image and reputation.
The Group has established an ad hoc organization to understand the needs and constraints associated with using personal data and with its protection. This organization encompasses a number of key functions: legal department, human resources department, information systems department and marketing department. This team drew up the management rules in place within the Group for the proper management and optimization of our customer / consumer database.
Moreover, processes to respond to security breaches in our IT applications impacting personal data have also been drawn up and rolled out across the organization to ensure a rapid and effective response to the risk.
At the end of 2018, the Group counted 34,000 employees, dealing with over 4,000 suppliers . Being at the center of such a large, complex human environment means that the Group is faced with risks relating to the respect of Human Rights, which are also intrinsically linked to the Group's founding values. In terms of the Group's operations, this risk can be represented by failure to comply with the working conditions recommended by the World Trade Organization: failure to respect local labor laws or failure to respect differences in the company, in terms of gender or orientation.
A number of risks may arise from the Group's operations: litigation connected to our relationships with suppliers, customers and competitors. These disputes are mostly related to the Group's ongoing activities, but may have significant consequences: court costs, fi nancial convictions, criminal convictions, operational blockages, damage to image and reputation.
■ The Group's approach to minimizing potential disputes and putting in place in most of our commercial relations comprehensive contracts covering precisely business relations and thus avoiding a dispute cannot be solved simply on the basis of the initial agreements.
Any breaches in this area could incur fi nancial consequences from the competent authorities, and above all have an impact on the Group's reputation.
The management policy for this risk is presented in the Extra-Financial Performance Declaration in Chapter 3 "Corporate Social Responsibility ".
Because of its size and product diversity, Groupe SEB manages an increasingly complex procurement process that includes raw materials, components and fi nished products. Given the Group's significant purchasing volumes, an excessive concentration of suppliers could result in dependence and therefore a substantial risk to business continuity in the event of default (delay, interruption in activity, termination of commercial relationship, major incident, e.g. fi re, etc.).
As the Group operates on a global scale, the logistics fl ows in place are increasingly complex. The Group's factories supply a large number of markets, leading to a strong dependence on certain logistics routes (China to Europe, China to the United States, Europe to the Middle East or the Americas, etc.). Particularly in the event of natural risks, a failure of the factories, modes of transport or warehouse operations could have a signifi cant impact on the Group's activity and profi tability.
In addition, a high percentage of products are sold during holiday periods or for special events (back to school, Black Friday, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Ramadan, Singles' Day in China, etc.). A substantial proportion of revenue is therefore generated at the end of the year. Thus, both sales and earnings are traditionally heavily weighted towards the fourth quarter. Any disruption affecting our plants and/ or the general environment during these periods of consumption (manufacturing problem, transport strikes, demonstrations, etc.) could therefore have an adverse effect on Group results.
Some products are marked by strong seasonality and also dependent on weather conditions such as, for example, fans in Latin America and Southeast Asia.
The health and safety of its employees are among Groupe SEB's foremost concerns. Nonetheless, the risk of work-related illnesses or workplace accidents damaging physical integrity or posing a threat to human life cannot be ruled out. With 41industrial sites worldwide and just over 24,000 employees at these sites, there is a constant risk of accidents (particularly minor accidents). Despite the Group's efforts to limit such workplace accidents and work-related illnesses, their occurrence cannot be completely ruled out, and could have a detrimental effect on the Group's operations and results in the event of civil or criminal sanctions, and on its reputation.
The management policy for this risk is presented in the Extra-Financial Performance Declaration in Chapter 3 "Corporate Social Responsibility " .
Due to its industrial and commercial activity, Groupe SEB is exposed to a certain number of risks that are directly related to weather conditions (storms, droughts, fl ooding, heat waves, etc.), and therefore, more widely, to climate change.
The management policy for this risk is presented in the Extra-Financial Performance Declaration in Chapter 3 "Corporate Social Responsibility ".
The Group is particularly vigilant in matters of consumer safety and pays the utmost attention to the safety of raw materials, components and fi nished products. It may, however, have to accept liability or witness its image, or that of its brands, being tarnished as a result of a product malfunction. Instances of users being hurt when a product malfunctions or is used inappropriately cannot be ruled out. The Group is, therefore, exposed to risks of warranty or liability claims from customers and consumers. Product recalls may prove necessary in some cases, harming the brand image and generating signifi cant costs.
Meanwhile, regulations regarding food products and materials liable to create a health risk are constantly changing (generally moving towards a tightening of regulations) and are sometimes preceded by media campaigns about the harmfulness of certain materials. Any of these situations might generate a risk zone for the Group if one or more of the materials concerned were used in the production of our products.
■ The Group's quality policy is fully incorporated into the design and manufacture of all products: each stage of product design is part of a standard quality process and is subject to successive approvals, particularly with regard to the components used, the materials implemented, and the suppliers selected.
The Group's international presence exposes it to the risk of security for the organization: operations in high-risk countries, frequent travel by the Group's teams to different locations, sudden geopolitical changes in some areas involving physical risks to local teams. These risks, if they occur, can have an impact on the Group's human resources and, to a lesser extent, a fi nancial impact on operations.
The Group has fi rst and foremost put in place a permanent security monitoring process that triggers alerts at various levels depending on the risks and how they evolve in the various countries. This monitoring, combined with control of travel within the various countries, makes it possible to identify all risky situations and implement a rapid protection solution: repatriation of the staff in question, team travel, security of people and families.
Moreover, the program also covers those one-off situations that can occur when traveling and in particular medical issues, with coverage allowing for rapid and effective local care of teams in diffi culty, up to and including repatriation where necessary.
Groupe SEB has a commercial presence in nearly 150 countries. With production rather concentrated in Europe and in China, its business is, therefore, highly exposed to transaction currency risk when its products are billed to its customers in a currency that is different from that used in production. This makes managing foreign exchange fl uctuations a competitive priority. There is also a translation effect when converting revenues and earnings from different countries into euros on consolidation. Currency fl uctuations may thushave a signifi cant impact on the Group's results.
Moreover, Groupe SEB uses a certain number of raw materials in its manufacturing processes: aluminum (for cookware), nickel (for certain steel alloys, mainly stainless steel), copper (mainly wire for motors and electric cords), plastics (a key material in small electrical appliances) and paper/cardboard products for printed documents and packaging. These materials and components vary as a percentage of direct purchases for the Group: in average over the last two years, aluminum has accounted for 13% direct purchases for manufacturing, steel and metal parts for 18%; plastic materials and parts for 20%; and electrical and electronic components for 24%.
The Group is therefore exposed to risks concerning the availability of raw materials and fl uctuations in their prices. These include both a risk of shortages and of being forced to pass all or part of price increases on to consumers. This could affect performance (sales and earnings).
As at 31 December 2018, Groupe SEB held 575 888 treasury shares with an acquisition cost of €82 654 366 . This treasury stock is deducted from shareholders' equity at acquisition cost.
■ Based on the closing SEB share price on 31 December 2018 (€112.8 ), the market value of shares held in treasury at that date
The Group's presence in nearly 150 countries exposes it to currency risk (described on p. 49 ) but also to risks of political, economic, monetary or social instability, especially in emerging countries, where it achieves a signifi cant percentage of its turnover. Any major political, economic or social change in countries where the Group is established could have a direct impact on its business, locally or globally (if its industrial activities are taken into consideration). In particular, periods of deep economic recession in some countries, or protectionist policies, could have a signifi cant impact on the Group's operations, and therefore on its results, in the countries concerned.
■ Further information on equity risks is given in Note 26.2.4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. This data also includes the risk regarding fi nancial instruments and the Supor share, which is listed on the Shenzhen stock market.
The Group uses various forms of financing (bank loans, private placements of the Schuldschein type, bonds, commercial paper , NEU MTN , etc.), and is therefore subject to interest rate, liquidity and counterparty risk.
■ The Group uses mostly fi xed-rate loans, in euros, in particular with long maturities.
The longest maturity among these loans (2026) is fi xed-rate, making it possible for the Group to protect itself against the likelihood of interest rate rises. Details of interest rate risks are given in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (Note 26.2.2).
Groupe SEB's policy concerning insurance coverage (Fire, Accidents and Miscellaneous Risks) is, on the one hand, to protect its assets against risks that could affect the Group and, on the other, to cover its liability for any damages caused to third parties. This transfer of risk to insurance companies is nonetheless accompanied by risk protection and prevention measures. For confi dentiality reasons, the amount of the premiums is not disclosed. Acquired companies are incorporated into global insurance programs.
The Group has established worldwide insurance plans with major international insurers to protect itself against major risks, which include damage to property and loss of earnings, civil liability, environment, transport and inventory, cybercrime and customer risks.
Coverage for risk of property damage and consequent loss of earnings resulting from common risks (fi re, fl ooding, etc.) amounts to €250 million per claim for factories and warehouses, with an additional €150 million for certain strategic sites.
This fi gure was calculated using the "Maximum Foreseeable Loss" hypothesis in consultation with the insurer and its assessors, who analyzed the impact of the total destruction of one of the Group's main production centers. Lower thresholds are in place for other types of more specifi c or localized risk, such as the risk of earthquake in certain regions where the Group operates abroad.
This policy takes into consideration additional risk protection measures at Group sites, which are regularly visited by specialist risk prevention assessors from the insurance companies concerned.
All the Group's subsidiaries are included in a worldwide civil liability insurance plan that covers liability relating to their operations and the products that they manufacture or distribute, as well as the cost of product recalls.
The amounts of coverage are based on the quantifi cation of the risks to which the Group is exposed in view of its business.
The Group also covers its senior managers for civil liability under a specifi c insurance policy.
A multi-risk environmental insurance policy covers environmental risks on all Group sites.
Coverage applies to:
The Group's transport insurance covers damage to transported merchandise for all types of transport: sea, road/rail or air transport anywhere in the world.
This insurance covers transport risks up to an amount of €10 million per occurrence.
It also covers incidents occurring at warehouses up to a maximum of €15 million, with any amount over this limit being covered by the policy for damage to property and loss of earnings.
Financial protection held by Groupe SEB against attacks on its IT systems covers damage and liability for a total amount of €15 million. This broad-scope insurance policy also covers attacks on personal data.
With rare exceptions relating to local issues, the Group's subsidiaries hold credit risk insurance under a Group plan to cover the majority of their risk on customer receivables.
More specifi c insurance policies are taken out locally by each of the Group's companies, as appropriate.
Introduction to the Group

| 2.1. | Implementation framework for corporate governance principles |
54 |
|---|---|---|
| 2.2. | Management structure | 54 |
| Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer Chief Operating Offi cer |
54 54 |
|
| 2.3. | Composition, organization and operation of the Board of Directors |
55 |
| Composition of the Board of Directors About the directors |
55 57 |
|
| Organization and operation of the Board of Directors |
75 |
| Group management bodies | 82 |
|---|---|
| Remuneration policy | 83 |
| Remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors |
83 84 |
| Remuneration of members of the Group Executive Committee |
99 |
| Say on Pay: Remuneration due or awarded to executive offi cers in respect of the year ended 31/12/2018 |
102 |
| Components of remuneration for the Chief Operating Offi cers submitted for approval by the shareholders |
105 |
| Remuneration of executive offi cers |
Groupe SEB adheres to the June 2018 version of the AFEP-MEDEF Corporate Governance Code for listed companies (the "AFEP-MEDEF Code"), which can be consulted on the MEDEF website (www.medef. com).
Pursuant to the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, as well as Article L. 225-37-4 paragraph 8 of the French Commercial Code, this Chapter reports on the application of the provisions adopted and explains why some provisions were not applied. In accordance with Article L. 225-37, paragraph 6 of the French Commercial Code, amended pursuant to order no. 2017-1162 of 12 July 2017, this Chapter includes a portion of the Corporate Governance Report, appended to the Management Report, as shown in the cross-reference table available on page 344.
It should be noted that the information referred to in Article L. 225- 37-5 of the French Commercial Code and, in particular, information concerning the capital structure of the company and factors which could affect a hypothetical takeover bid, appears in Chapter 7, "Information concerning the company and its share capital".
The company is managed by Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer. He is assisted by Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Offi cer, who took offi ce on 3 December 2018, replacing Bertrand Neuschwander, whose term ended, following a meeting of the Board of Directors, on 10 October 2018.
In a unitary management structure, the Board of Directors is responsible for deciding whether or not the General Management of the company can be entrusted to the Chairman of the Board or to a third party, in accordance with Article L. 225-51-1 of the French Commercial Code and the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code.
At the end of its meeting on 21 June 2002, the Board of Directors unanimously decided that the General Management of the company would be assumed, under its responsibility, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise.
Each time Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise was reappointed, in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, the Board of Directors confi rmed this structure for the company's management authority, deemed to be the most appropriate given the company's organizational structure and operating methods, offering faster and more effi cient decision-making.
Moreover, the Board of Directors applied no limits to the powers of the Chairman and CEO, which are described on page 76 .
Following its meeting of 10 October 2018, the Board of Directors, on the proposal of the Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer and after studying the recommendations of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, appointed Stanislas de Gramont as Chief Operating Offi cer, replacing Bertrand Neuschwander.
As Chief Operating Offi cer, Stanislas de Gramont's role is to assist Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise in his Group management tasks, in accordance with the law and the Company's bylaws.
He has the same powers as Chairman and CEO Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise with respect to third parties.
The Board of Directors is a collective body that represents all the shareholders and acts solely in the Company 's interests.
According to the AFEP-MEDEF Code: "the organization of the Board's work, and likewise its membership, must be suited to the shareholder make-up, to the size and nature of each firm's business, and to the particular circumstances facing it. Each Board is the best judge of this, and its foremost responsibility is to adopt the modes of organization and operation that enable it to carry out its mission in the best possible manner".
The Companywas inspired by these recommendations to organize a Board of Directors, with a membership and organizational structure which enable it to effectively perform its corporate missions, in line with the various interests at stake.
The Company 's governance is based on the existence of a family base that has evolved and adapted to the challenges, business activities and requirements of all stakeholders.
This family heritage is reflected in the composition of the Board of Directors, on which the presence of directors from the Founder Group responds to the family group structure while complying with the principles of corporate governance, particularly thanks to the presence of independent directors.
In order to comply with the applicable laws on employee representation and the increased participation of women, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, decided in 2017 to change its composition while ensuring that its agility was maintained.
Since the Annual General Meeting of 11 May 2017, the Board of Directors has 14 members, whose terms of offi ce are set at four years in accordance with the bylaws.
The composition of the Board of Directors is as follows:
One-third of the Board members are independent, as recommended by the AFEP-MEDEF Code.
The Board of Directors strives to maintain a balance in its composition and that of its committees, particularly when it comes to diversity.
As such, the presence of six women, i.e. 46% of the members of the Board of Directors, ensures that the representation of women is compliant with law no. 2011-103 of 27 January 2011 relating to the gender balance on Boards of Directors and Supervisory Boards and gender equality in the workplace.
In addition, the international experience acquired by certain directors during their professional careers or as a result of their residency abroad ensures that the Board of Directors takes greater account of international practices and issues, thus allowing for richer discussions.
This diversity is particularly ensured by the strong complementarity between the different expertise of independent directors (distribution, fi nance, data, marketing), employee representation and experience, the long-term vision of representatives of family shareholding.
During the 2018 evaluation of the Board of Directors, the members were able, through various questions on this subject, to express their satisfaction with the diversity in the composition of the Board and with the resulting enrichment and effi ciency.
The directors together hold 19.49% of the company's share capital and 25.45% of the effective voting rights (i.e., 25.26% of the theoretical voting rights), thereby adhering to the terms of the Directors' Charter and internal rules of the Board of Directors (the "Charter and internal rules") under which each director is required to hold a minimum number of pure registered SEB S.A. shares equivalent to about two years of attendance fees (except for directors representing employees and employee shareholders).
2

Frédéric Lescure † Henri Lescure † Emmanuel Lescure †

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 64
Nationality: French
Committee member: No
Number of SEB shares held: 528,002
Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer
The Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer of Groupe SEB, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, was born in October 1954 in Lyon. He graduated from the ESCP in 1976 and is a chartered accountant. He is also an Offi cer of the French Legion of Honor.
He began his career at Allendale Insurance in the US in 1976 as a Financial Controller, before joining the audit fi rm Coopers & Lybrand in 1979 as an Auditor, and then a manager. He moved to Groupe Chargeurs in 1983, where he was appointed Chief Financial Offi cer of Croisières Paquet, before becoming Chief Executive Offi cer.
In 1994, he came to Groupe SEB as Chief Executive Offi cer, then Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer of Calor S.A. (1996). In 1999, he was appointed Vice-Chairman and CEO of Groupe SEB, and has been its Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer since 2000.
| Other current offices and positions | Other current offices and positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
Legrand* | Director and member of the Nominations and |
| SEB Internationale (wholly-owned | Chairman | Governance Committee | |
| subsidiaries of SEB S.A.) | CIC – Lyonnaise de Banque | Permanent representative of | |
| Zhejiang Supor Co, Ltd* (China – a subsidiary 81.18% owned |
Chairman of the Board of Directors |
Sofi naction on the Board of Directors |
|
| by SEB Internationale S.A.S.) | Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
| Company | Functions and current |
| mandates | |
|---|---|
| Club Méditerranée S.A. | Director |

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 53
Nationality: French
120,141 (including 9,825 full-ownership and 110,316 bare-ownership shares)
Director − member of the Founder Group, member of FÉDÉRACTIVE
Delphine Bertrand has a degree in Japanese, holds a CPEI qualifi cation from the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO) and is a Master Practitioner of neurolinguistic programming. She has served as communication offi cer of FÉDÉRACTIVE since 2013.
She is a co-founder of the Première Pierre foundation (FPP), which was set up in 2007 to support charitable organizations that help vulnerable people to rebuild their lives, in the areas of housing, employment, disability and education.
Delphine Bertrand is certifi ed in corporate governance: "objectif administratrice" from EM Lyon.
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
None |
|---|---|---|
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | Member of the Advisory Board |
| Yseulys COSTES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Independent director | ■ Date of fi rst appointment: AGM of 14 May 2013 ■ Date of last reappointment: AGM of 11 May 2017 ■ End date of term of offi ce: 2021 AGM |
|
| Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 46 Nationality: French Committee member: Audit Committee Number of SEB shares held: 750 |
Biography Yseulys Costes holds a Master's degree in Management Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Marketing and Strategy from Université Paris-IX Dauphine and is Chairwoman and CEO and founder of the 1000mercis Group. She discovered the internet in 1995 during her MBA studies at the Robert O. Anderson School in the US. Given her interest in Data and Marketing, she founded 1000mercis to offer its clients innovative digital strategies with a high return on investment, through targeted, multi-channel solutions with a measurable impact. As an Interactive Marketing researcher, she spent time at Harvard Business School, in the US, and has taught at several institutions (HEC, ESSEC and Paris Dauphine). Before founding 1000mercis, she wrote many works and articles on marketing and databases, and was the coordinator of the IAB France on its creation. In 2014, she moved to Palo Alto in California, the heart of Ad Tech, to develop Numberly, the Group's international subsidiary. She is a member of the Strategy Board of the City of Paris. |
| Functions and current Functions and current Company Company mandates mandates |
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |
|---|---|---|
| 1000mercis* Chairwoman and CEO Member of the Supervisory Numergy |
||
| Board Chairwoman of the |
||
| Ocito (Groupe 1000mercis) Supervisory Board Member of the Supervisory Vivendi* |
||
| Board Kering S.A.* Director |
* Listed company.
| Registered offi ce : 66, avenue des Champs-Élysées – 75 008 Paris 487 544 223 RCS Paris Number of SEB shares held: 4,257,996 (including 3 full-ownership and 4,257,993 bare-ownership shares) |
FÉDÉRACTIVE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Director – member of the Founder Group ■ Simplifi ed joint-stock company with share capital of €5,084,597.85 |
■ Date of fi rst appointment: AGM of 11 May 2006 ■ Date of last reappointment: AGM of 16 May 2018 ■ End date of term of offi ce: 2022 AGM |
||
| INFORMATION FÉDÉRACTIVE is a controlling holding company which mainly represents the equity interests of the founding family, registered on 14 April 2006. The company has been represented on the Board of Directors of SEB S.A. by Sarah Chauleur, replacing Pascal Girardot, since the Annual General Meeting of 11 May 2017. |
|||
| It is represented on the Nominations and Remuneration Committee by Pascal Girardot. | |||
None

Committee member: No (Pascal Girardot is FÉDÉRACTIVE's permanent representative on the Nominations and Remuneration Committee)
Permanent representative of FÉDÉRACTIVE on the Board of Directors
None
Sarah Chauleur has a postgraduate degree in Information and Communication Sciences and an "objectif administratrice" corporate governance diploma from EM Lyon. She has served as Communications Manager for FÉDÉRACTIVE since 2009. She is also co-convener of the Première Pierre foundation (under the auspices of the Fondation de France).
| Other current offices and positions | |
|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | Member of the Advisory Board |
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired
None
Registered offi ce: 66, avenue Charles de Gaulle 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine 535 360 564 RCS Paris Number of SEB shares held: 2,521,522
FFP Invest has been a registered company since 17 November 2011. It is wholly owned by FFP, a holding company listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, which is majority owned by the Peugeot family group.
It is represented by Bertrand Finet.
| Other current offices and positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| Immobilière Dassault* | Member of the Supervisory Board |
|
| IDI* | Vice-Chairman and member of the Supervisory Board |
|
| Financière Guiraud | Chairman | |
| IDI Emerging Markets (Luxembourg) Member of the Supervisory | Board | |
| Orpea* | Director | |
| Lapillus II | Director | |
| FFP Les Grésillons | Managing Director | |
| LDAP | Member of the Executive Committee |
|
| SPIE* | Director | |
| Total Eren | Director on the Board of Directors |
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| Zodiac Aerospace* | Member of the Supervisory Board |
|
| LT Participations | Director | |
| IPSOS* | Director | |
| ONET | Member of the Supervisory Board |
|
| SANEF* | Director | |
| Gran Via 2008 | Director | |
| Valmy FFP | Managing Director |
* Listed company.

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 53 Nationality: French Committee member: Nominations and Remuneration Committee
Permanent representative of FFP Invest
After graduating from ESSEC in 1988, Bertrand Finet started his career in 1991 at 3i Group, where he was appointed Chief Investment Offi cer. He held this post for two years in London before joining the Group's French subsidiary.
He was appointed Managing Director of CVC Capital Partners France in 1996, before heading the Paris offi ce of Candover France starting in 2006.
In 2009, Bertrand Finet was made a member director of the Fonds Stratégique d'Investissement's (FSI) Executive Committee, then in 2013, Executive Director at Bpifrance in the Fonds Propres PME department, before being appointed Executive Director of Bpifrance's Mid & Large Cap department in April 2015.
He was appointed Chief Operating Offi cer of FFP in January 2017.
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
|---|---|---|
| FFP* | Chief Operating Offi cer | |
| FFP Invest | Chief Executive Offi cer | |
| FFP Investment UK Limited (Royaume-Uni) |
Director | |
| LDAP | Permanent representative of FFP Invest on the Executive Committee |
|
| SPIE* | Permanent representative of FFP Invest on the Board of Directors |
|
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| Bpifrance Investissement | Executive Director within Mid & Large Cap Equity department |
|
| Bpifrance Investissement | Executive Director within SME Equity department |
|
| Assystem* | Permanent representative of FSI on the Supervisory Board |
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired (continuation ) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| Bpifrance Participations SA | Director and member of the Executive Committee |
|
| Mersen* | Member of the Supervisory Board |
|
| Sequana* | Permanent representative of Bpifrance Participations on the Board of Directors |
|
| Constellium* | Permanent representative of Bpifrance Participations on the Board of Directors |
|
| Vallourec* | Permanent representative of Bpifrance Participations on the Board of Directors |
|
| Technicolor* | Permanent representative of Bpifrance Participations on the Board of Directors |
|
| Consolidation et développement gestion |
Chairman of the Supervisory Board |
|
| CDC Entreprise Capital Investissement |
Chairman and CEO |

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 54 Nationality: French Committee member: Audit Committee Number of SEB shares held: 20,000
Director − member of the Founder Group, member of GÉ NÉ RACTION
Hubert Fèvre, who is a chartered accountant, created the company FB Conseils & Investissements, a s wiss company specializing in wealth advisory and management services, in 2016. He has held fi nancial management positions in Geneva with Banque Pasche (CM-CIC), and a number of financial positions with Sonatrach Petroleum Corporation, VSNL International, Addax & Oryx and Finacor in London.
| Other current offices and positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| FB Conseils & Investissements SA | Senior manager | |
| FCL Investissements S.A. | Director & member of the Diversifi cation Committee |
|
| GÉNÉRACTION | Member of the Executive Committee |
|
| GFA Ferme du Château à Soirans | Managing Director |
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |
|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | Member of the Advisory Board |

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 47 Nationality: French Committee member: No Number of SEB shares held: /
Director representing employee shareholders
Brigitte Forestier has a Master's in Human Resources from the Institut de Gestion Sociale in Lyon. She joined Groupe SEB in 1997. She held various Human Resources positions at Calor, followed by Groupe SEB France and Groupe SEB Retailing. In November 2018, Brigitte Forestier was appointed Director of Human Resources of Campus SEB.
None
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired
None
47, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré – 75008 Paris 753 519 891 RCS Paris Number of SEB shares held: 2,633,876
Independent director
FSP was registered on 14 September 2012. It is represented by Catherine Pourre.
| Other current offices and positions | |
|---|---|
| mandates | |
| Director | |
| Director | |
| Director | |
| Director | |
| F u n c t i o n s a n d c u r r e n t |
| F&P (director of Safran*) | Director | |
|---|---|---|
| Tikehau Capital SCA* | Member of the Supervisory Board | |
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
| Company | F u n c t i o n s a n d c u r r e n t mandates |

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 61 Nationality: French Committee member: Chairwoman of the Audit Committee
Permanent representative of FSP on the Board of Directors
A graduate of the ESSEC business school and with a degree in Accounting and Law from the Catholic University of Paris, Catherine Pourre began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she was Partner from 1989 to 1999. She then worked for Cap Gemini as President in charge of the High Growth Middle Market, and was a member of the French Group Executive Committee.
She subsequently joined the Unibail-Rodamco Group in 2002, where she served as Senior Executive Vice-president, Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Organization and Property Engineering She then became General Manager of Core Businesses and a member of the Management Board from 2007 to 2013, and Director of U&R Management BV, a subsidiary of the Unibail-Rodamco Group, until 2015.
| Other current offices and positions | Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Functions and current mandates |
(continuation ) | |||
| Company | Company | Functions and current | ||
| Neopost S.A.* | Director until 31 July 2018* | mandates | ||
| Beneteau S.A.* | Member of the Supervisory Board | Comexposium Holding | Director | |
| Crédit Agricole S.A.* and its subsidiary | Director | Unibail-Rodamco Participations | Director | |
| Crédit Agricole CIB | Viparis Holding | Director | ||
| CPO Services SARL (Luxembourg) | Director | Uni-Expos | Member of the Supervisory Board | |
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | Union Immobilière Internationale | Director | ||
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
Rodamco Europe Beheer B.V. (Netherlands) |
Director | |
| Unibail-Rodamco S.E.* | Member of the Management Board and General Manager |
Unibail-Rodamco S.E. in the Netherlands Director | ||
| Mfi AG (Germany) | Director | |||
| Unibail Management S.A.S. | Chairwoman then Chief Operating Offi cer |
Rodamco Europe N.V. (Netherlands) | Director of the permanent establishment |
|
| Tayninh S.A.* | Chairwoman and CEO | Rodamco Europe N.V. (Netherlands), | Permanent representative | |
| Doria S.A.S. | Chairwoman | herself senior manager of eight | ||
| Espace Expansion Immobilière | Chairwoman | Unibail-Rodamco subsidiaries | ||
| U&R Management B.V. (Netherlands) | Director |
* Listed company.

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 38 Nationality: French Committee member: No
Number of SEB shares held: 425,500 shares (including 135,106 full-ownership and 290,394 bare-ownership shares)
Director − member of the Founder Group, member of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT
A graduate of EM Lyon and holder of an IUP Master's in Management Sciences from the Université Jean Moulin Lyon III, William Gairard spent seven years as Management and Auditing Controller at Pernod Ricard S.A.
In 2012, he founded Ecopro Solutions S.A. de C.V., a Mexican company which promotes responsible plastic use and which he now heads. In 2017, he joined and became head of the Finance department of Minimalist Technology, a digital marketing agency in Mexico.
| Other current offices and positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates | ||
| Ecopro Solutions S.A. de C.V. (Mexico) |
Sole Director |
Minimalist Technology (Mexico) Chief Financial Offi cer
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates | |
| None | ||
| Laurent HENRY |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee director | ■ Date of fi rst appointment: 13 October 2017 (elected by the France Works Council) ■ Date of last reappointment: None ■ End date of term of offi ce: 2021 FWC meeting |
||
| Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 51 Nationality: French Committee member: No Number of SEB shares held: / |
Biography Laurent Henry has a Master's in Logistics from the École Supérieure in Brest and a Master's in Economic Sciences from the University of Caen. He began his career at Moulinex and joined the Group in 2001. He has held various logistics positions and was appointed Head of Logistics at the Mayenne plant in 2012. |
||
| Other current offices and positions | Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
None

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 71 Nationality: French
Committee member: Chairman of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee Number of SEB shares held: 1,250
A graduate of an engineering school, he holds a Master of Science degree from Northwestern University Chicago. Jean-Noël Labroue has spent almost all of his career at the Darty Group. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Darty Group, CEO of Kingfi sher Electricals UK and Managing Director of Kesa Plc until 2009.
| Other current offices and positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | F u n c t i o n s a n d c u r r e n t mandates |
|
| Generix S.A.* | Non-voting director | |
| Kiabi France | Non-executive Chairman |
| JNL Conseil | Chairman | |
|---|---|---|
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
| Company | F u n c t i o n s a n d c u r r e n t mandates |
|
| Generix S.A.* | Director |
| Cédric LESCURE |
||
|---|---|---|
| Director − member of the Founder Group, member of GÉNÉRACTION |
■ Date of fi rst appointment: AGM of 12 May 2010 (director of SEB S.A. from 1998 to 2005) ■ Date of last reappointment: AGM of 12 May 2015 ■ End date of term of offi ce: 2019 AGM |
|
| Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 51 Nationality: French Committee member: No Number of SEB shares held: 530,801 (including 116,648 full-ownership and 414,153 bare-ownership shares) |
Biography A graduate of the Nantes veterinary school, Cédric Lescure is a veterinary surgeon. He is currently Managing Director of the Clos Guillaume veterinary clinic, which he set up in 2000 in Fontaine-lès-Dijon, in the Côte-d'Or region of France. In 2010, he created the company Vetshop 21, which sells veterinary food online. He is a member of its Executive Committee. |
|
| Other current offices and positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| Clos Guillaume veterinary clinic | Managing Director | |
| Limited company Cabinet Vétérinaire Medico-Chirurgical du Cap Vert |
Managing Director | |
| S.A.S. Vetshop 21 | Member of the Executive Committee |
| Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
|---|---|---|
| Functions and current Company mandates |
||
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | Member of the Advisory Board | |
| Vetshop Création | Managing Director | |
| S.A.S. Vetshop 21 | Chief Executive Offi cer |
2
* Listed company.

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 58 Nationality: French Committee member: Audit Committee Number of SEB shares held: 64,052
Director − member of the Founder Group, member of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT
An architecture graduate of the Paris École Spéciale d'Architecture, with a Master's degree in industrialized construction from the École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and an MBA from HEC. Jérôme Lescure had various management and oversight roles in Anglo-Saxon groups prior to becoming a partner at A.T. Kearney, a strategy consultancy company. He then joined Accenture as director of Consulting for France.
Since 2013, Jérôme Lescure has been an entrepreneur and investor. He is now Chairman and CEO of Neofor, an industrial wood-processing group.
| Other current offices and positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| Lavilla S.A.R.L. | Co-Managing Director | |
| NEOFOR S.A.S., | R epresentative of Chairman Lavilla |
|
| Additio S.A.S. | Chairman | |
| APICAP (former OTC Asset Management S.A.S.) until 30 September 2018 |
Chairman | |
| APICAP | Permanent representative – until June 2018 |
|
| Groupe Archimen S.A.S. | Director until June 2018 | |
| MANUTAN INTERNATIONAL S.A.* |
Director |
| Company | F u n c t i o n s a n d c u r r e n t mandates |
|---|---|
| Trois Rivières Holding | Co-Managing Director |
| CAMSEL S.A.S. | Chairman |
| Brassac Holding S.A.S. | Chairman |
| Les Bois du Midi S.A.S. | Chairman |
| Ymagis S.A.* ; Active 3D ; Inspirational Stores S.A. ; D3T |
Director, permanent representative of APICAP |
* Listed company.
Registered offi ce : 72, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré – 75008 Paris 414 738 070 RCS Paris
Number of SEB shares held: 17,902
Director – member of the Founder Group
■ Simplifi ed joint-stock company with share capital of €3,750,736.68
VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT is a controlling family holding company which was registered on 9 December 1997.
It is represented by Damarys Braida.
2
Other current offices and positions
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired
None

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Age: 51 Nationality: French Committee member: Nominations and Remuneration Committee
Damarys BRAIDA
Permanent representative of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT on the Board of Directors
A graduate of the École des Mines engineering school in Paris, Damarys Braida joined L'Oréal in 1991 to set up the capillary asset laboratory. Between 1997 and 2004, she led the Effi ciency Evaluation departments. From 2005 to 2009, she ran the color development laboratory, then from 2010 to 2012, the global make-up development laboratory. In 2012, she became Head of Make-up Research Strategy, then Head of Cosmetics Strategy at L'Oréal, a position that she has held since 2016.
| Other current offices and positions | |
|---|---|
| Company | F u n c t i o n s a n d c u r r e n t mandates |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT | Chairwoman |
| Venelle Plus | Chief Executive Offi cer |
Other offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired
None
| Nationality | Age Start date |
Independent | Committee | Individual attendance rate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surname – First name | director | member | Committee | Board | |||
| THIERRY DE LA TOUR D'ARTAISE |
French | 64 | 03-05-1999 AGM Ratifi cation of co-optation |
No | No | 100% | |
| DELPHINE BERTRAND | French | 53 | 11-05-2017 AGM Ratifi cation of co-optation |
No | No | 100% | |
| YSEULYS COSTES | French (a) | 46 | 14-05-2013 AGM | Yes | Audit | 75% | 100% |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE (Sarah Chauleur) |
French | 48? | 14-05-2013 AGM | No | Nominations and Remuneration (b) |
100%(b) | 100% |
| HUBERT FÈVRE | French Swiss resident |
54 | 13-05-2003 AGM | No | Audit | 100% | 87.5% |
| FFP INVEST (Bertrand Finet) |
French | 53 | 11-05-2017 AGM (c) | Yes | Nominations and Remuneration |
100% | 100% |
| BRIGITTE FORESTIER | French | 47 | 11-05-2017 AGM | No | No | 100% | |
| FSP (Catherine Pourre) | French Luxembourg resident |
61 | 15-05-2014 AGM Ratifi cation of co-optation (d) |
Yes | Audit | 100% | 100% |
| WILLIAM GAIRARD | French Resident of Mexico |
38 | 12-05-2015 AGM | No | No | 87.5% | |
| LAURENT HENRY | French | 51 | Appointment by the France Works Council on 13-10- 2017; joined the BoD on 14-12-2017 |
No | No | 87.5% | |
| Nominations and | |||||||
| JEAN-NOËL LABROUE | French | 71 | 12-05-2010 AGM | Yes | Remuneration | 100% | 100% |
| CÉDRIC LESCURE | French | 51 | 12-05-2010 AGM Ratifi cation of co-optation |
No | No | 100% | |
| JÉRÔME LESCURE | French | 58 | 19-05-2016 AGM | No | Audit | 100% | 100% |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT (Damarys Braida) |
French | 51 | 27-04-1998 AGM Ratifi cation of co-optation |
No | Nominations and Remuneration |
100% | 100% |
| DIRECTORS WHOSE TERMS OF OFFICE ENDED DURING THE YEAR | |||||||
| None |
(a) Yseulys Costes previously resided in the USA; she is a French resident since 27/07/2018.
(b) FÉDÉRACTIVE is represented on the Nominations and Remuneration Committee by Pascal Girardot.
(c) FFP Invest was co-opted by decision of the BoD on 23 July 2013 to replace FFP.
(d) FSP was co-opted by decision of the BoD on 25 February 2014 to replace Philippe Lenain.
In accordance with Article 17 of the Company's bylaws and with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the duration of directors' terms of offi ce is staggered, enabling shareholders to vote regularly and frequently on the composition of the Board of Directors and avoid any mass reappointments.
This system ensures the continuity of operation of the Board of Directors and encourages the smooth and regular reappointment of its members.
During the last year, the Annual General Meeting of 16 May 2018 renewed the directorships of FÉDÉRACTIVE, represented by Sarah Chauleur, Delphine Bertrand and Jean-Noël Labroue, for four years.
No directors resigned in 2018.
| DIRECTOR | 2019 AGM | 2020 AGM | 2021 AGM | 2022 AGM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THIERRY DE LA TOUR D'ARTAISE | • | |||
| DELPHINE BERTRAND | • | |||
| YSEULYS COSTES | • | |||
| FÉDÉRACTIVE (Sarah Chauleur) | • | |||
| HUBERT FÈVRE | • | |||
| BRIGITTE FORESTIER | • | |||
| FFP INVEST (Bertrand Finet) | • | |||
| FSP (Catherine Pourre) | • | |||
| WILLIAM GAIRARD | • | |||
| LAURENT HENRY | * | |||
| JEAN-NOËL LABROUE | • | |||
| CÉDRIC LESCURE | • | |||
| JÉRÔME LESCURE | • | |||
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT (Damarys Braida) | • |
* The France Works Council is responsible for appointing and reappointing the employee director, in accordance with Article 16 of the bylaws.
In order to rebalance the representation of all stakeholders and to take into account the provisions relating to employee representatives, the Board of Directors, at its meeting of 19 December 2018, examined and at its meeting of 25 February 2019 approved the changes in its composition as set out below:
In 2019, the Board of Directors will thus be composed of 17 members, compared to 14 previously.
As set out above, in agreement with the family's concerted voting block , with a view to rejuvenating and renewing their representatives, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, decided to replace Mr Cédric Lescure and Mr Hubert Fèvre, whose terms of offi ce will expire at the Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019.

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully − France Age: 66 Nationality: French Number of SEB shares held: 25
Jean-Pierre Duprieu is an agronomic engineer with a Master's Degree in Food Industry from the Institut National Agronomique de Paris-Grignon. He is also a graduate of the Institut de Contrôle de Gestion de Paris and the International Forum. He joined the Air Liquide G roup in 1976. He spent his entire career at Air Liquide until his retirement on September 1, 2016, holding various commercial, operational, strategic and general management positions, fi rst as International Marketing Director, then as Sales and Marketing Director for France and then as Executive Vice-president of Air Liquide France. In 2000, Jean-Pierre Duprieu was appointed Senior Vice President and member of the Group's Executive Committee. For fi ve years, he was based in Tokyo as a member of the Executive Committee, Director of the Asia Pacifi c region and of the World Electronics Business Line. Upon returning from Asia in 2010, he was named Deputy Chief Executive Offi cer of the Air Liquide Group.
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELIN* | Member of the Supervisory Board and Audit Committee |
||
| KORIAN Group* | Director, member of theAudit Committee and Chairman of the Compensation and Appointments Committee |
| Offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
||
| Air Liquide* | Deputy Chief Executive Offi cer | ||
| Air Liquide Welding | Director | ||
| Air Liquide Eastern Europ | Chairman | ||
| Air LiquideSanté International | Director |

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully − France Age: 44 Nationality: French (Swiss resident) Number of SEB shares held: 1,250
Thierry Lescure holds a Master's degree in Business Law and Taxation from the University of Paris, Panthéon Assas Faculty, and a Master's in Business Administration from IAE Paris. He also completed an Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management program at Wharton School and an Advanced Asset Management program at INSEAD. After working as a consultant at Tefal UK in London, Thierry Lescure joined Yahoo! France in 2001 as a Finance Producer in charge of the Yahoo! Finance channel, before serving as Head of E-Commerce. In 2004, he joined Yahoo! Europe where he was in charge of Yahoo! automotive channels. He left this company in 2006 to become Chief Digital Offi cer at Reed Business Information to create new growth drivers in France and Europe. He then went on to invest in an coach innovative start-ups as owner of Aucelha. In 2016, he joined the family offi ce of Geneva-based Premium Assets as Senior Asset Manager.
| Other current offices and positions | Offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates |
Company | Functions and current mandates |
|
| FCL Investissements | Member of the Diversifi cation Committee |
Aucelha SARL | Managing Director | |
| 50 Partners | Member of the Committee Capital II |
|||
| GÉNÉRACTION | Member of the Executive Committee |
* Listed company.
Main professional address : 5 A Chemin du Pâquier, 1231 Conches, Switzerland
Director - shareholders' association
GÉNÉRACTIONis an association of Swiss shareholders of SEB SA, registered on 16 April 2017 in the Trade and Companies Register. It is represented by Caroline Chevalley.
| Other current offices and positions | Offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company Functions and current mandates |
Company | Functions and current mandates | ||
| None | None |

Main professional address : Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully − France Age: 55 Nationality: French & Swiss Number of SEB shares held: 12,164
P ermanent representative of GÉNÉRACTION
Caroline Chevalley holds a law degree from the University of Lausanne and is Chairwoman of FCL Investissements S.A., a fi nancial holding company. She is co-founder and Chairman of GÉNÉRACTION , an association of shareholders of SEB SA, created in May 2017.
| Other current offices and positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates | ||
| FCL Investissements | Director and member of the Diversifi cation Committee |
||
| CompanyCivile Immobilière Evermont |
Manager |
| GÉNÉRACTION | Chairman of the Executive Committee |
|
|---|---|---|
| Offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | ||
| Company | Functions and current mandates | |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | Chairwoman of the Advisory Board |

Campus SEB 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully − France Age: 41
Nationality: French Number of SEB shares held: 39,765 fullownership and 26,875 bare-ownership shares
Aude de Vassart, has an engineering degree from ISEP and an MBA from HEC Business School. She is currently Director of the Transport Business Line at IDEMIA (created by the merger of Oberthur Technologies and Morpho), where she is responsible for driving the business strategy worldwide . Previously, in 2001, Aude began her engineering career in England at STMicroelectronics, followed by a role at a start-up company. She then joined Texas Instruments where she held various R&D and Marketing positions for seven years. She was also a Marketing Manager for six years at Oberthur Technologies in charge of payment cards.
| Other current offices and positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates | ||
| Alliance OSPT (Germany) | Director | ||
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT | Member of the Supervisory Board |
| Offices and positions held in the last five years and now expired | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Functions and current mandates | ||
| None |
All directors belonging to the Founder Group are descendants, directly or by marriage, of the Founder-Chairmen Frédéric Lescure and Henri Lescure.
There is no family connection between Board members and members of the Executive Committee, with the exception of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise.
To the best of the company's knowledge, in the last fi ve years, none of the directors or executive offi cers (Chief Executive Offi cer and Chief Operating Offi cer):
As far as the company is aware, and in line with its confl ict of interest management policy outlined below, there is no potential confl ict of interest between the duties, vis-a-vis SEB S.A., of the members of the administration bodies and the General Management and their private interests.
No member of the Board of Directors or the General Management has any contractual service relationship with SEB S.A. or its subsidiaries that provides for benefi ts to be granted when the contract ends.
The existing related party agreements have been authorized in advance in accordance with the law and are described in Chapter 2.5, "Remuneration policy", as well as in the statutory auditors' report on regulated agreements. Pursuant to Article L. 225-40-1 of the French Commercial Code, agreements signed and authorized in prior years which continued in 2018were reviewed at the Board of Directors' Meeting on 26 February 2019 . The directors had no comments to make, particularly with regard to their purpose or their fi nancial conditions.
Pursuant to Articles L. 225-38 and L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, the Board of Directors authorized a new regulated agreement entered into between the company and Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Officer, on 19 December 2018, which sets out in particular his benefi ts in terms of pension, retirement and post-employment as well as the performance criteria governing his severance compensation and the conditions for paying any non-compete compensation. These items are described in detail in Chapter 2.5 "Remuneration policy" and in the statutory auditors' Special Report on regulated agreements. In accordance with the law, this agreement will be the subject of a resolution for approval at the Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019.
Under the Directors' Charter and internal rules, the Board of Directors are subject to trading regulations and, in particular, rules relating to the use and disclosure of inside information.
Groupe SEB has also adopted a Market Ethics Charter that details the obligations of directors and persons with whom they have close personal ties, the company's senior managers, and certain employees that may hold sensitive information, in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. This was updated to incorporate the changes introduced by the entry into force of regulation no. 596/2014 of 16 April 2014 on market abuse, which came into effect on 3 July 2016. It was also translated into English in order to expand its distribution.
At the end of the Board of Directors' Meeting on 19 December 2013, the Secretary of the Board of Directors, Philippe Sumeire, was appointed as Ethics Offi cer, to advise any directors or employees who may have doubts as to the application of the provisions applicable to them.
With four independent directors, i.e. one-third of the directors (the employee directors and employee shareholder directors are not included in this calculation), the composition of the Board of Directors meets the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, according to which, "in controlled companies, independent directors should account for at least a third".
The independent status of each individual director is examined by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee prior to their appointment or reappointment. To this end, a "Selection guide" is used, which aims to ensure that the candidate meets all the independence criteria defi ned by the AFEP-MEDEF Code before any proposal for appointment or reappointment is made, as described below:
The conclusions of the review conducted by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee are then sent to the Board of Directors so that it can review the status of each of its members.
The procedure for managing conflicts of interest (set out below) enables the Committee to rule, on a yearly basis, on any confl icts of interest and to ensure that independent directors have no connection with the company, its Group or its Management team that is likely to compromise them in exercising freedom of judgment.
Therefore, after examining the findings of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and the individual status of the members of the Board of Directors as regards the criteria set out by the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Board of Directors found that Yseulys Costes, Bertrand Finet (permanent representative of FFP Invest), Jean-Noël Labroue and Catherine Pourre (permanent representative of FSP), were qualifi ed as independent directors.
Moreover, the independent status of Jean-Pierre Duprieu was examined by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee prior to its appointment proposal, which concluded that the candidate meets all the independence criteria defi ned by the AFEP-MEDEF Code as described above.
| Criterion 1 | Criterion 2 | Criterion 3 | Criterion 4 | Criterion 5 | Criterion 6 | Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yseulys Costes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | Independent |
| Bertrand Finet | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | Independent |
| Jean-Noël Labroue | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | Independent |
| Catherine Pourre | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | Independent |
In addition to the criteria laid down by the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the company takes an active interest in ensuring that the operation and organization of the Board of Directors' work allows all its members to make full use of their freedom of judgment.
Pursuant to the Charter and the internal rules, the directors undertake "to maintain their independence of analysis, judgment, decision and action and to reject any pressure, direct or indirect, which may come to bear on them".
Following the evaluation of the Board of Directors in 2018, the directors declared themselves to be mostly satisfi ed with the number and role of the independent directors and stressed the added value brought to the Board's discussions by their presence.
Various procedures have been formalized to prevent and identify any risk of confl icts of interest, at the time of appointment, during the term of offi ce or on the reappointment of directors.
When a director is appointed, or reappointed, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee checks compliance with the criteria defi ned by the AFEP-MEDEF Code as outlined above, identifi es confl icts of interest and ensures that any risks identifi ed are unlikely to create a confl ict of interest.
The individual status of directors is also reviewed on a yearly basis using an individual questionnaire analyzed by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. The latter reports its fi ndings to the Board of Directors, which is consequently informed about the status of each director.
The annual declarations submitted for review at the Nominations and Remuneration Committee Meeting of 4 December 2018 and the Board of Directors' Meeting of 19 December 2018 did not reveal any confl icts of interest.
During their term of offi ce, directors are also obliged to perform their duties in strict compliance with the corporate interest. Directors are therefore obliged to inform the Board of Directors should a confl ict of interest occur when a meeting agenda is published, or during the course of a meeting. The Board must then decide, if necessary without the director concerned being present, whether they should take part in the debate and/or vote on the agenda items in question, pursuant to the provisions of the Directors' Charter and the internal rules.
As in previous years, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee reviewed the business fl ow between some Groupe SEB entities and 1000mercis, of which Yseulys Costes is Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer. This business flow corresponds to interactive advertising and marketing services requested by Groupe SEB to support it in its digital development. In 2016, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee examined the history of this business relationship and the way in which it was managed by the operational teams. The selection process was also checked and the reasons behind the decision to collaborate with 1000mercis, as well as the prior existence of calls for tender. During the review conducted in 2018, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee found that:
Given the above, the Board of Directors, at its meeting of 19 December 2018, found that this business relationship was unlikely to compromise Yseulys Costes' independence of judgment and ruled out the possibility of a confl ict of interest, thus confi rming her status as an independent director.
Pursuant to Article 225-35 of the French Commercial Code and the Company's bylaws, the Board of Directors determines the company's business strategies and ensures that they are implemented; it deals with all matters regarding the proper functioning of the company and acts on all matters in its purview, to the extent of the corporate purpose and subject to the powers explicitly assigned by the law to General Meetings of shareholders. The Board of Directors also carries out the checks and verifi cations that it deems to be appropriate.
The prior approval of the Board is required to decide on the Group's strategy, budgets, management structures and acquisitions, on the proposal of the Chairman and in accordance with the internal rules of the Board of Directors.
With regard to decisions relating to the possible use of Annual General Meeting authorizations to increase the capital, the Board of Directors nevertheless decided, as an internal rule and in view of the importance of such authorizations, that decisions should be made by a qualifi ed majority vote of 14/17 ths of the members present or represented. Previously set at 12/14th, the Board of Directors decided to bring this majority into line with the new make-up of the Board of Directors.
As regards strategic matters, the Charter and internal rules state that "the Board of Directors determines the Group's strategy". It is therefore consulted and invited to give an opinion before any strategic decisions are made about the Group. This role positions the Board of Directors as the focus of strategy and ensures an appropriate balance of power.
The Board of Directors is given detailed information about the Group's activity and results at every meeting to give it a better understanding of strategic issues. It also receives information about its fi nancial performance, its stock market and fi nancial universe, its products and its competitive universe throughout the year.
The systematic presence of the Group's principal senior managers at meetings allows directors to benefi t from any additional information required, and from accurate and useful answers to any questions that may arise during discussions.
The role of the Board of Directors is not restricted to acquisitions. It remains at the heart of any plans outside the framework of the announced strategy if the investment is signifi cant.
In accordance with the suggestions for improvements following the evaluation of the Board of Directors in 2016, the Board is now more involved in strategic deliberations, thanks to an additional presentation of the Group's long-term strategy, and invited to discuss them.
The Board of Directors met eight times in 2018. The attendance rate was 97%. The individual attendance rate of each director is shown in the summary table of directors included in section 2.3 of this chapter.
The meetings are generally arranged as follows:
The Board of Directors may meet as often as the interests of the company require, in accordance with the law and the bylaws. The Board of Directors met in an extraordinary capacity on 10 October 2018 to approve the change of Chief Operating Officer and on 15 November 2018 to approve the proposed acquisition of Wilbur Curtis.
A meeting is traditionally held each year at one of Groupe SEB's sites in France or abroad, so that directors can visit industrial sites and commercial subsidiaries and meet Group employees. This initiative promotes understanding of the challenges and problems faced by the Group and the inclusion of historical, human and cultural dimensions in their discussions.
To facilitate certain deliberations, meetings of the Board of Directors and its committees may take place without the presence of the CEO, as necessary. This is the case for the annual assessment of the Chairman and CEO's performance by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, whose fi ndings are submitted to the Board of Directors. The latter are free to deliberate in the absence of the interested party.
To encourage directors to attend meetings, the company has introduced the following:
Following the Board of Directors' evaluation, which took place between October and November 2018, the directors expressed their satisfaction with the organization of the meetings, in particular with the meeting schedule, the materials made available, the improvement in the time needed to make the documents available, and also with the annual meeting held abroad.
The Chairman and CEO represents the company in its relations with third parties. He has the broadest powers to act under all circumstances on the company's behalf in accordance with Article L. 225-56 of the French Commercial Code.
The Board of Directors has not set any limits on the powers of the CEO.
Pursuant to the Directors' Charter and internal rules, the Board of Directors is responsible for deciding on any proposals relating to Groupe SEB strategy, on the recommendation of the Chairman and CEO.
As Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chairman and CEO's role is to represent the Board of Directors. To this end, he is notably responsible for:
In addition, to ensure that members of the Board of Directors are fully informed, the Chairman of the Board of Directors may be asked by the members to obtain additional information when relevant and necessary to perform their duties, in accordance with the Directors' Charter and the internal rules.
To ensure the smooth operation of the Board of Directors, it appoints a Secretary, who does not have to be a director. Philippe Sumeire, the Group's General Counsel, is therefore Secretary of the Board of Directors, having been appointed on 16 December 2011. He is tasked with helping the Chairman and CEO to organize the work of the Board of Directors and the specialized committees. His role is to plan meetings, defi ne agendas, disseminate information and draft minutes.
Since 1995, the Board of Directors has had two specialized Committees to help it in areas for which specifi c skills and meetings are required. These are the Audit Committee and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
The Board of Directors laid out the principles for the composition of its specialized Committees at its meeting on 11 December 2009. They are now composed of four members, i.e. two directors representing the family shareholders and two independent directors. This composition is justifi ed by the need to ensure the strong presence of independent directors and to take account of the company's shareholder base.
The operation of the specialized Committees is specifi cally assessed as part of the procedure for the annual evaluation of the Board of Directors. After the evaluation was conducted in 2018, the directors again said that they were satisfied with the number of Board of Directors' Committees and with the way that they operate.
Catherine Pourre, independent director, permanent representative of Fonds Stratégique de Participation Yseulys Costes, independent director Hubert Fèvre, member of GÉNÉRACTION Jérôme Lescure, member of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT
CHAIRWOMAN
The Audit Committee is chaired by Catherine Pourre, an independent director, who is responsible for coordinating its activities and whose powers are strengthened by having the deciding vote in the event of a tied vote on a recommendation.
50% – The Chairman, who is an independent director, has the deciding vote
To better perform their specifi c roles, and in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, each member has fi nancial or accounting skills.
The work of the Audit Committee is based on the following responsibilities:
The Audit Committee may request opinions or consultations from external experts on specifi c points. Last year, the Committee did not believe that it required such outside expertise.
Audit Committee Meetings are usually held in the presence of the statutory auditors, the Senior Executive Vice-president, Finance and Internal Control Audit Director and the Accounting and Taxations Director. However, when the tasks accomplished by the statutory auditors are examined, the Management withdraws.
For logistical and organizational reasons, Audit Committee Meetings are generally held one day prior to the examination of the half-yearly and annual fi nancial statements by the Board of Directors. However, any documents that are useful for Audit Committee Meetings are sent in advance of the meetings, so that members of the Audit Committee can familiarize themselves with the documents in advance of the meeting and prepare for the Board of Directors' deliberations on the fi nancial statements. Following the 2018 evaluation of the Board of Directors, the directors confi rmed that this way of operating was satisfactory and was not detrimental to the standard of discussions during meetings.
The review of the financial statements is accompanied by a presentation from the statutory auditors stressing the key points identifi ed during their audits, their procedures, the accounting options selected and a report describing the exposure to risks and signifi cant off-balance sheet commitments.
At the end of its meetings, the Audit Committee prepares a detailed report which is sent to all the directors, informing them fully of the content of its discussions as well as its conclusions and recommendations.
Since 2018, given the increase in the powers granted to the Audit Committee, it has been decided that an additional meeting will be arranged each year to dedicate more time to issues relating to risk mapping and across-the-board compliance issues, particularly in the fi ght against corruption. The fi rst additional meeting was held on 3 October 2018.
As is its prerogative, in 2018, the Audit Committee audited the following, as it does every year:
Jean- Noël Labroue, independent director Bertrand Finet, independent director, permanent representative of FFP Invest Pascal Girardot, member of FÉDÉRACTIVE Damarys Braida, member of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT
The Nominations and Remuneration Committee is chaired by Jean Noël Labroue, an independent director, who is responsible for coordinating its activities and whose powers are strengthened by having the deciding vote in the event of a tied vote on a recommendation.
5
100%
50% – The Chairman, who is an independent director, has the deciding vote
The work of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee is based around the following:
In addition, if necessary, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee may request opinions or consultations from external experts on specifi c points. This was the case particularly in 2017 for the issue of the remuneration and pensions of the Group's senior managers due to the changes in the regulations.
Meetings of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee are usually attended by the Chairman and CEO. He withdraws, however, if certain issues are examined, and especially when his annual performance evaluation is carried out.
In its work on the composition of the Board of Directors, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee examines each candidacy based on the following criteria:
Following the evaluation of the Board of Directors in 2018, the members of the Board declared that they were satisfi ed, but asked for more detailed reporting on the Committee's work.
At the end of its meetings, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee produces a detailed report to which members of the Board of Directors can have access at any time, so that they are fully aware of the content of its discussions and its conclusions and recommendations.
In 2018, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee:
Pursuant to the Charter and internal rules, "directors shall receive all the relevant information needed to perform their role". The Chairman ensures that the directors have the information and documents required to fully perform their role at all times during their term of offi ce.
To optimize the transmission of information, ensure its confi dentiality and make the Board more effi cient, in 2017 the company introduced a new application enabling simple and secure access to documents using digital tablets. Directors thus have permanent access to preparatory documents for meetings and recurring information left at their disposal, and can follow meetings on their digital tablets. This system is in keeping with plans for the Group's sustainable development and digitization.
The Chairman thus ensures that information on General Meetings, fi nancial publications, sales and results, consensuses and summaries of fi nancial analysts' recommendations, as well as press releases by the Group, are brought to their attention through this application. A press review is also published once a month, in which the directors can fi nd comprehensive information about the Group and its economic and competitive universe. In addition, the press review contains a section on sustainable development to raise the directors' awareness of Group economic and social responsibility issues.
The application is regularly updated and improved with new features in order to better meet the directors' requirements.
A section on corporate governance also allows them to refer to the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Charter and internal rules, the Group's Code of Ethics, the Stock Market Ethics Charter and the Company's bylaws at any time.
Before each meeting, the directors can also read the documents relating to items on the agenda.
Following the 2018 evaluation of the Board of Directors, the members of the Board again said that they were satisfi ed with the information that they had been provided with in order to perform their duties and expressed their complete satisfaction with the tool made available to them.
In accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Charter and the internal rules, since 2003, the Board of Directors has conducted a formal annual evaluation of its operation. This ensures especially that the Board of Directors is operating as well as it can and that the duties with which the Board is entrusted are in line with the expectations of directors and are in the company's interests.
The evaluation conducted between October and November 2018 was completed using a questionnaire duly adapted to the context and new governance issues. This questionnaire focuses, in particular, on the meetings, reporting, composition and operation of the Board of Directors, as well as its committees. It also makes it possible for questions on governance and CSR to be raised as well as issues relating to interactions with the Management.
The answers given by directors were analyzed by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, whose fi ndings were presented to the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018. As in previous years, the comments and discussions showed that directors were, on the whole, very satisfi ed with the way in which the Board of Directors and its committees operate and, particularly:
Some optimization options were also discussed and adopted and are designed particularly:
The evaluation of the Board of Directors has been supplemented by a directors' self-assessment questionnaire, adopted by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 18 December 2014. This was intended to improve the understanding of the involvement and actual contribution of each director in the work of the Board of Directors.
The answers given by directors were analyzed by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, whose findings were presented to the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018. In particular, the comments and discussions showed that the directors have a very good understanding of the role of the Board of Directors and its duties and have complementary skills and experience that enable them to contribute in a meaningful and diverse way.
The fi rst version of the Directors' Charter and internal rules of the Board of Directors was prepared in 2003. This is a single document in two parts, one on the rules of conduct applicable to members of the Board of Directors, the other on the operational rules of the Board of Directors and its Committees.
This document is regularly updated, and was updated in 2017 due to the change in the Board of Directors' composition and the inclusion of employee directors.
The main provisions of the Charter and internal rules are covered or set out in this chapter of the Registration Document (Chapter 2).
The Directors' Charter specifi es the role and duties of each member of the Board of Directors that they accept from the beginning of their term of offi ce.
The main points of this Charter are: respect for and protection of the company's interests, attendance, dealing with any confl icts of interest, access to information, confi dentiality, independent analysis and a reminder of the laws regarding insider information.
As the internal rules are designed to ensure the smooth operation of the Board of Directors, each member of the Board of Directors is informed of them at the start of their term of offi ce.
The internal rules cover the composition, operation, role and mission of the Board and its Committees and the director remuneration policy.
Note that Articles 32 and 33 of the bylaws defi ne the procedures for shareholder participation in Annual General Meetings in accordance with the current regulations. All shareholders are entitled to participate in Annual General Meetings, or to be represented at such meetings, under the terms and conditions laid down by the bylaws, a summary of which is given in Chapter 7, "Information concerning the company and its share capital".
With regard to the "Apply or Explain" rule provided for in Article L. 225-37 of the French Commercial Code and Article 27.1 of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the company believes that its practices comply with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code. However, some recommendations were not applied, for the reasons explained below:
| AFEP-MEDEF recommendations not applied | Reason |
|---|---|
| Article 10.3: Board and Committee Meetings It is recommended that a meeting not attended by the executive offi cers be held each year. |
Issues relating to the Chairman and CEO's performance are discussed by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee in his absence. For this reason, and given the collective nature of the Board of Directors, there are no plans to hold formal meetings of the non-executive directors not attended by the Chairman and CEO. The Board remains free to hold discussions at any time in the absence of the Chairman and CEO if this is necessary, however. |
| Articles 15.1 and 17.1: Proportion of independent directors on Committees At least two-thirds of the members of the Accounts Committee must be independent directors. The Nominations and Remuneration Committee must include a majority of independent directors. |
Given the shareholder base of the company, controlled on 31 December 2018, by shareholders members of the Founder Group acting jointly, the Audit Committee and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee are made up of four members, including two independent members, and Board member representing major shareholder. |
| Article 17.1: Composition of the Compensation Committee It is recommended that the committee chair be independent and that an employee director be a member of the committee. |
Both Committees are chaired by an independent director who leads and steers the Committee's work. They have the deciding vote in the event of a tie. In view of the current composition of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and in order not to increase its size, there is no employee director on this committee. |
| Article 20: Remuneration of the directors The largest portion of the total attendance fees is variable. |
Variable attendance fees were introduced by the company in 2013. A consensus was reached at this time in view of the directors' high attendance rate. Namely, raising the attendance share to 50% was considered to meet the largest portion requirement. |
| Article 21: Chief Executive Offi cer's employment contract When an employee is appointed as Chief Executive Offi cer of the company, it is recommended that its employment contract with the company or with a company affi liated to the Group be terminated, whether through contractual termination or resignation. |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise began his career with the Group in 1994 and was appointed Vice-Chairman of SEB S.A. in 1999, before becoming Chairman and CEO in 2000. In accordance with changing governance practice, his employment contract has been suspended since 2005. The Board of Directors' Meeting of 17 February 2012, having re-examined the circumstances of the Chief Executive Offi cer, considered that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract, which had been suspended since 2005, should remain suspended, in light of his age, personal situation, and seniority within the Group. The same decision was made following the Board of Directors' Meeting on 23 February 2016, with a view to reappointing Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise. |

The Executive Committee incorporates three Continental General Management structures. Each of these three Continents is then organized into Regions.
The Executive Committee was organized as follows at 1st February 2019:
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise | Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer |
|---|---|
| Stanislas de Gramont* | Chief Operating Offi cer |
| Vincent Léonard | President, Finance, Group Senior Executive Vice-president |
| Harry Touret | President, Human Resources, Group Senior Executive Vice president |
| Alain Leroy** | President, Industry |
| Philippe Crevoisier | President, Innovation and Products |
| Luc Gaudemard | President, Americas |
| Vincent Tai | President, Asia |
| Cyril Buxtorf | President, EMEA |
* Stanislas de Gramont took offi ce on 3 December 2018, replacing Bertrand Neuschwander.
** Alain Leroy took offi ce on 1 February 2019, replacing Stéphane Lafl èche, who retired in March 2018.
The Group Executive Committee defi nes and implements overall Group strategy. It meets roughly once a month to defi ne the consolidated targets, monitor strategic projects, decide on priorities and allocate the necessary resources to the Strategic Business Areas and the Continental General Management and other Group management structures.
The terms of directors' remuneration are set by the Board of Directors on a proposal from the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. In 2018, the attendance fees received by directors obeyed the same allocation rules as for the previous year, namely a fi xed portion and a variable portion, calculated according to directors' attendance at Board and Committee Meetings.
The directors receive no remuneration other than attendance fees. The travel expenses incurred as a result of their participation in meetings are paid for.
In accordance with the increase in the overall amount of the attendance fees adopted at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 19 May 2016, intended to partly compensate for the difference in the attendance fees paid by comparable companies, the authorized overall amount totals €540,000.
| Function | Fixed portion | Variable portion |
|---|---|---|
| Director | €15,000 | €15,000 |
| Committee Chairman | €7,500 | €7,500 |
| Committee member | €5,000 | €5,000 |
In 2018, the overall attendance fees paid to Board members totaled €490,000 (gross amount before deductions and/or withholdings), compared with €507,917in 2017, as shown in the table below:
| Board members | Attendance fees paid in 2016/2017 |
Attendance fees paid in 2017/2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| Delphine Bertrand | N/A | 30,000 |
| Bruno Bich | 38,125 | N/A |
| Tristan Boiteux | 30,000 | N/A |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE (Sarah Chauleur) | 28,125 | 30,000 |
| Yseulys Costes | 24,375 | 37,500 |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE (Pascal Girardot) | 38,125 | 10,000* |
| Hubert Fèvre | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| FFP (Bertrand Finet as from 2017/2018) | 31,041.7 | 37,500 |
| Brigitte Forestier | N/A | 30,000 |
| William Gairard | 26,250 | 30,000 |
| Laurent Henry | N/A | 15,000 |
| Jean-Noël Labroue | 45,000 | 45,000 |
| Cédric Lescure | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| Jérôme Lescure | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| FSP (Catherine Pourre) | 36,875 | 45,000 |
| Laure Thomas | 30,000 | N/A |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT (Damarys Braida) | 40,000 | 40,000 |
| TOTAL | 507,916.7 | 490,000 |
* With respect to its participation on the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.
This section constitutes the ex-post "Say on Pay" report on the principles and criteria for determining, distributing and awarding the fi xed, variable and extraordinary components of the total remuneration and benefi ts in kind awarded to the company's executive offi cers in consideration for their duties as provided for by Article L. 225-37-2 of the French Commercial Code.
In line with the ex-post voting principle, the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 will be asked to approve, based on this report, the remuneration paid for the past year, in accordance with the policy approved by the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018 when the ex-ante vote was held.
The Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 must also approve, in respect of the ex-ante vote and based on the corporate governance report, the principles and criteria for determining, distributing and awarding the fixed, variable and extraordinary components of the total remuneration and benefi ts in kind awarded to the company's executive offi cers that will apply for 2019.
The information presented below covers remuneration and benefi ts of every kind (performance shares, severance payments, benefi ts in kind and supplementary pension benefi ts) concerning Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Stanislas de Gramont and Bertrand Neuschwander, the sole executive offi cers receiving remuneration. Board members only receive the attendance fees referred to above.
The remuneration policy for Groupe SEB executive offi cers is set by the Board of Directors on a proposal from the Nominations and Remuneration Committee. It is reviewed on a regular basis and aims to provide balanced and consistent remuneration in line with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code as updated in June 2018, to which the Group refers.
According to these principles, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee proposes to the Board of Directors the components of the remuneration of each senior manager, while remaining attentive to maintain a balance and taking quantifi able and qualitative performance criteria into account.
The remuneration of executive offi cers is intended to ensure simplicity, transparency and consistency over time. It comprises a fi xed portion, an annual variable portion, and performance shares, subject to the fulfi llment of performance criteria set in advance by the Board of Directors. The total remuneration granted to executive offi cers is determined by taking all the remuneration and benefi ts into account, including the supplementary pension plan.
The remuneration of executive offi cers is consistent with the overall remuneration policy for Group senior managers and employees and the interests of both the company and its shareholders. It also takes account of market practices as well as the performance of executive offi cers.
To motivate executive offi cers and encourage them to meet shortand long-term targets, the Board of Directors ensures that a variable portion is evenly allocated between annual and longer-term targets. Performance criteria are set with the aim of contributing, year on year, to the implementation of a long-term growth strategy.
According to the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the various components of executive offi cers' remuneration are contained in a statement which is issued on the company's website after the Board Meeting that adopted the relevant decisions.
Pursuant to the measure introduced by the law of 9 December 2016 on transparency, the fi ght against corruption and the modernization of the economy (Sapin 2 law), the principles and criteria applicable to the components of remuneration for 2019 as they are set out below will be submitted to a vote at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 22 May 2019.
The components of remuneration due or awarded to each executive officer for 2018 are, for their part, subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 22 May 2019, under a specifi c resolution for each executive offi cer (see "Say on Pay" tables on pages 102 and following, below) in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code.
The payment of variable remuneration for 2019 will be submitted to a vote at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders called to approve the fi nancial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019.
The fi xed portion of remuneration should refl ect the executive offi cer's responsibilities, level of experience and skills and be in line with market practices.
The fi xed remuneration is analyzed and discussed by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, which takes into account the personal qualities of the executive offi cer in question, all the components of the remuneration, as well as the positioning of the executive offi cer's remuneration compared with the practices identifi ed in comparable companies.
The fi ndings of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee are discussed by the Board of Directors. The latter ensures that the fi xed remuneration of executive offi cers remains stable over several years and takes account of any supplementary remuneration.
The fi xed remuneration serves as a reference basis for determining the annual variable remuneration.
The variable portion of the executive offi cers' remuneration obeys the general principles applicable to all Group senior managers. These criteria, which have been constant for many years, are analyzed and discussed each year by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, which regularly consults studies of practices identifi ed in comparable companies conducted by external consultants. The Board of Directors sets the criteria at the start of each year and makes sure that they constitute an incentive mechanism intrinsically linked to the Group's performance and strategy.
At its meeting scheduled at the beginning of the year, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee assesses the quantifiable and qualitative performance criteria and checks that they are in line with Groupe SEB's strategic priorities as well as with the principles referred to above. The fi ndings are then submitted to the Board of Directors, which discusses and approves these criteria at the meeting called to review the annual fi nancial statements and the budget.
The quantifiable criteria are linked to the Group's economic performance. They represent 60% of variable remuneration and are assessed against a matrix composed of the following targets:
The targets set are not made public in order to maintain the confidentiality inherent in the Group's strategy. Historically, the percentage fulfi llment of these combined criteria has varied between 72% and 161% over the last seven years.
The qualitative criteria are linked to collective and individual performance. They represent 40% of variable remuneration and are assessed with regard to strategic targets relating to changes to the Group's organizational structure and management.
Annual variable remuneration is expressed as a percentage of annual fi xed remuneration:
■ for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer: annual variable remuneration may vary from 0% to 100%, if all of the quantifi able and qualitative targets are met (target level), and rise to 150% (maximum level) if fi nancial performances are exceptional compared with the targets set;

To the exclusion of all other plans, Groupe SEB has been awarding performance shares to Group employees and executive officers since 2013, in accordance with Articles L. 225-197-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code. This system replaced stock option grants, the last of these plans having been submitted to the Annual General Meeting on 10 May 2012.
Performance share awards aim to promote the meeting of Groupe SEB's long-term targets and the value creation expected by stakeholders.
Based on this logic, the Board of Directors decided, on a proposal of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, that performance shares should be awarded entirely based on performance criteria. This favors simple principles and rules that remain stable over time and long-term and demanding performance criteria.
These cover revenue and Operating Result from Activity targets and are assessed on an annual basis over a three-year period. The achievementrates are set each year by the Board of Directors on a proposal of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee but cannot be made public for confi dentiality reasons.
They meet the dual necessity of being suffi ciently stringent while remaining a source of motivation.
With regard to the 2018 plan, the performance calculation depends on the rate of achievementof the revenue and Operating Result from Activity target assessed over the three-year vesting period (i.e. 2018, 2019 and 2020):
| Average achievement rate over three years |
Performance shares awarded |
|---|---|
| 100% or more | 100% |
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive |
Pro rata of the achievement rate |
| Less than 50% | None |
Awards have been made as follows:
Executive offi cers are also bound by the following obligations:
Awards of performance shares have no dilutive effect on earnings insofar as all shares awarded are existing shares bought back by the company. As recommended by the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Board of Directors makes the annual awards in the same calendar period each year.
Following the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018, the Board of Directors decided to use the authorization granted by the shareholders to implement the performance share plan approved at the Board of Directors' Meeting on 26 February 2018.
In addition, the Board of Directors' Meeting of 27 February 2019, after examining the fi ndings of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, reviewed and approved the proposed performance share award plan for 2019, in line with the arrangements established by the Board of Directors on 16 December 2011.
The performance shares awarded will not be subject to any additional lock-up period for either French or foreign residents. This practice complies with statutory provisions and current practice and takes account of the tax constraints on foreign residents (particularly in the US, Brazil and Germany).
Authorization for the award will be submitted to the shareholders at the next Annual General Meeting (draft twenty-second resolution).
The Board of Directors may decide to pay attendance fees to the executive offi cers, according to the same rules applicable to all the directors as set out above.
The executive offi cers have company cars. The Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer also benefi ts from compensation for the use of an apartment in Paris.
Groupe SEB's remuneration policy aims to attract and retain talented senior and other managers. The Group's policy has always been to encourage internal promotion and sustainable management. The Board of Directors does not wish to see executive offi cers, after several years of service with Groupe SEB, deprived of benefi ts they would have continued to receive had they remained employees.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise began his career at Groupe SEB in 1994 and was appointed Vice-Chairman in 1999. He was appointed Chairman and CEO in 2000. In accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, his employment contract was suspended on 1 March 2005, following the Board of Directors' decision on 17 December 2004.
The Board of Directors' Meeting of 23 February 2016, in the context of the reappointment of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, reviewed the situation and agreed that his employment contract should remain suspended due to his age, his personal situation and his seniority within Groupe SEB.
Stanislas de Gramont entered into an executive offi cer agreement on 12 December 2018 and does not have an employment contract.
For Bertrand Neuschwander, Chief Operating Officer, the Board of Directors decided on 22 April 2014 that the suspension of his employment contract was in line with the AFEP-MEDEF Code and consistent with Group policy.
In addition to the statutory basic and supplementary pension plans (AGIRC/ARRCO) of which they are members, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Stanislas de Gramont and Bertrand Neuschwander were authorized by the Board of Directors to join the collective supplementary pension plan set up within Groupe SEB.
This plan for senior managers whose duties justify the application of Article L. 3111-2 of the French Employment Code, and who fall within the scope of Article 4 of the national collective agreement of 14 March 1947 on senior managers pensions and incapacity, disability and death insurance, comprises the following:
■ a deferred defi ned-benefi t pension plan set up in accordance with Article L. 137-11 of the French Social Security Code.
Potential benefi ts under this plan may be paid out if benefi ciaries have served on the Executive Committee for at least eight years and leave the company to exercise their right to claim retirement benefi ts.
Beneficiaries are, however, still entitled to benefits should a benefi ciary aged 55 leave the Group under an early retirement plan or at the Group's behest, provided that the interested party does not perform any professional activity between the date of departure and the receipt of benefi ts and, in the event the benefi ciary is classifi ed as category 2 or 3 disabled.
In addition, should the potential benefi ciary die before receiving the benefi t entitlement, the benefi ts derived from said entitlement pass to any surviving spouse or children.
Potential entitlements under this plan may amount, including pensions due under the statutory basic and supplementary pension plans (AGIRC/ARRCO), to a maximum of 25% of the reference salary (1).
They are funded by contributions paid to an insurance company which are deductible from the taxable base for corporation tax and liable for the 24% contribution provided for by Article L. 137- 11, I, 2, a) of the French Social Security Code;
■ a supplementary defi ned-benefi t pension plan set up in accordance with Article L. 137-11 of the French Social Security Code.
Potential entitlements under this plan may be paid out if benefi ciaries have served on the Executive Committee for at least eight years, stay with the company until the end of their career, and take their entitlements under the statutory basic and supplementary pension plans.
Beneficiaries are, however, still entitled to benefits should the benefi ciary be classifi ed as category 2 or 3 disabled or in the event of departure at the Group's request after the age of 55, provided that the interested party does not perform any other professional activity between the date of departure and receipt of benefi ts.
In addition, should the potential benefi ciary die before receiving the benefi t entitlement, the benefi ts derived from said entitlement pass to any surviving spouse or children.
Potential entitlements enable benefi ciaries to receive a pension that equates to 0.80% of the reference salary (1), multiplied by the number of years of service on the actual retirement date, capped at 20 years.
They are funded by contributions paid by Groupe SEB to an insurance company which are deductible from the taxable base for corporation tax and liable for the 24% contribution provided for by Article L. 137-11, I, 2, a) of the French Social Security Code;
■ a defi ned-contribution pension plan set up in accordance with Article L. 242-1, paragraphs 6 and 7 of the French Social Security Code.
Pension entitlements under this plan may be paid no earlier than the date on which the general social security pension is drawn.
The entitlements resulting from this plan have been frozen since 2012, in accordance with Decree 2012-25 of 9 January 2012.
Executive offi cers continue to benefi t from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees.
They also benefi t from individual life insurance. This policy is intended to cover part of the remuneration not covered by the collective plans as described for each of the executive offi cers below.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Stanislas de Gramont and Bertrand Neuschwander were authorized by the Board of Directors to benefi t:
These contributions are not included in the social security contribution base, capped at 6% of the annual social security ceiling (€2,384in 2018 ) and 1.5% of the remuneration fi gure used, capped at 12% of the annual social security ceiling (€4,768 in 2018 ).
This insurance plan includes, in particular, the payment of supplementary daily allowances in the event of incapacity, a disability pension and a death benefi t whose amounts are stated for each of the executive offi cers below;
■ from specifi c life insurance cover under "tranche D incapacity, disability and death insurance", which is funded by a contribution paid by Groupe SEB of 6.25% of the portion of the remuneration that is between 8 and 12 times the annual social security ceiling and deductible from the taxable base for corporation tax.
These contributions are partially excluded from the social security contribution base, including contributions paid under the aforementioned "incapacity/disability/death" insurance plan, capped at 6% of the annual social security ceiling (€2,384in 2018 ) and 1.5% of the remuneration fi gure used, capped at 12% of the annual social security ceiling (€4,768 in 2018 ).
This insurance plan includes, in particular, the payment of a death benefit, the amounts of which are stated below for each of the executive offi cers.
Severance payments are subject to performance conditions and may not exceed 24 months' remuneration, in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code (including, in the case of Stanislas de Gramont and Bertrand Neuschwander, compensation for a non-compete agreement or any other compensation paid).
Details related to these payments are described in the section below and all benefits subject to the procedures set out for regulated agreements are described in the statutory auditors' special report.
In the event of dismissal, Bertrand Neuschwander will be entitled to severance payment equal to two years' remuneration, minus the amounts paid under the non-compete clause and termination benefi ts connected to the termination of the employment contract.
The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Bertrand Neuschwander received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
Furthermore, the severance allowance shall be paid since this is an involuntary termination and remains capped at two years' remuneration (fi xed and variable received), including the non-compete clause and any contractual indemnities for dismissal.
This severance allowance will also be submitted to the shareholders for approval at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019.
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in the event of termination of his term of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, through removal or resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB.
This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above were approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014. They were also disclosed as part of the permanent information related to remuneration and benefits. Furthermore, they were submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
In 2018, the fixed remuneration for Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise amounted to €900,000. Previously set at €850,000, the increase in the fi xed remuneration of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise was approved by the Board of Directors on 23 February 2016 to take account of the infl ation rate since this remuneration was last reviewed in 2011.
Based on the quantifi able and qualitative criteria used by the Board of Directors and set at the start of the year, the amount of variable remuneration was measured as follows:
Consequently, the variable remuneration paid in 2019 for 2018 was €1,099,238 , or 122.1 % of his fi xed remuneration. Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's variable remuneration for 2017 was 134.9% of his fi xed remuneration, or €1,214,100.
He does not benefit from any deferred or multi-year variable remuneration or any other remuneration from the company or other Groupe SEB companies.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise receive attendance fees as a member of the Board of Directors according to the rules applicable to all its members. In 2018, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise received €30,000 as a director of the company, unchanged from 2017.
In accordance with the authorization granted by the seventeenth resolution of the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018, the Board of Directors, at its meeting held on the same day, decided to award 18,000 performance shares to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise for 2018.
The shares granted to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise under the 2018 performance share plan equate to 0.0359% of the share capital.
Shares resulting from the exercise of stock options and performance shares awarded to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise must be held in registered form for a certain period, under the following terms and conditions:
At its meeting on 17 February 2016, the Board of Directors, on a proposal of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, reviewed the terms of the holding requirement with regard to the situation of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise and decided that they were still appropriate.
Once the number of shares held by Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise reaches the equivalent of two years' remuneration (fi xed and target bonus), the quantity of shares to be held is reduced to 20%. This condition has, to date, been met in full.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise has a company car, representing a benefi t of € 8,892 for the year, and receives € 15,200per year for the use of an apartment in Paris.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise is a member of the collective supplementary pension plan set up for Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive Committee) in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, as described above.
The various conditions of the pension plan imply that, at the legal retirement age, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will be able to receive a gross replacement ratio (including statutory plans) of 33.2% of his reference remuneration.
Entitlements estimation at 31 December 2018:
| Regime | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deferred defi ned-benefi t pension plan | €219,628 gross per year |
| Supplementary defi ned-benefi t pension plan |
€222,295 gross per year |
| Defi ned-contribution pension plan (the entitlements resulting from this plan have been frozen since January 2012) |
€11,123 gross per year |
Other lifetime benefi ts: incapacity, disability and death and health insurance and individual life insurance
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise continues to benefi t from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees.
■ This plan notably includes the payment of supplementary benefi ts for Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, set at a maximum annual amount as follows:
| In the event of incapacity | €238,392 |
|---|---|
| In the event of fi rst degree disability | €143,035 |
| In the event of second and third degree disability |
€238,392 |
| Less social security benefi ts for the 3 items. |
■ a death benefi t set at a maximum of €1,334,995 .
In addition to the collective incapacity, disability and death insurance plan, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise also benefi ts from an individual life insurance policy with a capital amounting to €3,652,134. The expense recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018 totals €71,077 . The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans.
In accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements and commitments, this commitment was approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2016, when Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise was re-elected (eighth resolution).
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise is only entitled to the severance pay owing under his employment contract, to the exclusion of any other benefi t, in the event of termination of his corporate offi ce.
Under the provisions of his employment contract, which was suspended on 1 March 2005, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will receive, by way of settlement, a total termination benefi t to be paid only under the following circumstances:
Pursuant to Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, an addendum to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract was signed making the termination benefi t subject to performance conditions. The termination benefi t is set at two years' remuneration (calculated based on the average remuneration earned during the last two fi nancial years), and is adjusted for the rate of achievement of his targets for the last four years of service:
| 100% or more | 100% |
|---|---|
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive |
Between 75% and 100%, according to a straight-line calculation |
| Less than 50% | None |
If the previous year-end presents a net loss, the Board of Directors reserves the right to reduce such termination benefi ts by a maximum of one half, without such benefi ts falling below the fi xed salary plus bonuses of the previous financial year, should application of the performance criteria based on the achievement of targets confer entitlement to the payment of such benefi ts.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract does not contain a non-compete clause.
Entitlement to stock options in the event of termination:
In the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated, except for serious misconduct or gross negligence, he will be entitled to all the share purchase or subscription options granted to him under the same terms and conditions of exercise that would have applied had he remained in offi ce. This provision shall also apply in the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated following his resignation from the Group, were such a decision to arise from a change in the control of the Group. However, he will forfeit the options that would have been granted to him over the 18 months prior to the termination of his term of offi ce as executive offi cer should he resign on his own initiative.
The total retirement lump-sum payment entitlement of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise amounts to €559,817 due to his seniority.
At its meeting on 26 February 2019, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, re-evaluated Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's fi xed remuneration. In order to take into account the higher cost of living, this remuneration, which was last revised in 2016, was set at €1,000,000, subject to the approval, by ex-ante vote, of the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019.
Following the increase voted for at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 19 May 2016, attendance fees will rise to €15,000 for the fi xed portion and €15,000 for the variable portion.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's annual variable remuneration will be set according to the same principles, i.e., it may represent a maximum of 150% of his fi xed remuneration, or €1,500,000, according to the rate of achievement of his quantifi able and qualitative targets. These targets are divided, as previously stated, as follows: 60% relates to quantifi able criteria and 40% to qualitative criteria.
The performance evaluation criteria were renewed for 2019 using the quantifi able targets set by the Board of Directors' Meeting of 26 February 2019, which are based on Groupe SEB's targets for Revenue and Operating Result from Activity. Qualitative targets relate to the integration of the new Chief Operating Offi cer, improvement of Groupe SEB's profi tability, the integration of the latest acquisitions and the consideration of Corporate Social Responsibility criteria.
In accordance with the ex-post voting principle, the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 will be asked to approve the annual variable remuneration to be paid for the previous year.
The Board of Directors reserves the right to decide to implement a new performance share award plan, under the authorization that will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019.
Should the Board of Directors be granted the necessary powers to award performance shares, it would decide to award performance shares to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise in the same proportions as previously granted, in line with the plan described in the draft twentysecond resolution.
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise – Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Remuneration due for the period | € 2, 168, 192 | €2, 053, 330 |
| Value of the options awarded over the period* | € - | €- |
| Value of the performance shares awarded over the period* | €2, 624, 924 | €2, 774, 765 |
| Value of the other long-term remuneration plans | N/A | N/A |
| TOTAL | €4, 793, 116 | €4, 828, 095 |
* On each award date, the fair value carrying amount of the options and shares is determined in accordance with IFRS. This is the historical value on the award date, calculated for accounting purposes using the method described in the Consolidated Financial Statements section. This value represents neither the current market value, nor the discounted value of these options and shares, nor the actual amount that may be generated upon exercise of these options, if they are exercised or on the vesting of these performance shares, if they are vested.
| Amounts relating to 2017 | Amounts relating to 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise – Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer |
Due | Paid | Due | Paid | |
| Fixed remuneration | €900, 000 | €900, 000 | €900, 000 | €900, 000 | |
| Annual variable remuneration | €1, 214, 100 | €1, 255, 500 | €1, 099, 238 | €1, 214, 100 | |
| Extraordinary remuneration | none | none | none | none | |
| Attendance fees | € 30, 000 | 24 000 € | € 30, 000 | € 30, 000 | |
| Benefi ts in kind: | |||||
| • car | €8, 892 | €8, 892 | €8, 892 | €8, 892 | |
| • housing | €15, 200 | €15, 200 | €15, 200 | €15, 200 | |
| TOTAL | €2, 168, 192 | €2, 203, 592 | €2, 053, 330 | €2, 168, 192 |
| Date of the plan |
Type of option |
Valuation of the options based on the method used in the Consolidated Financial Statements |
Number of options awarded |
Exercise price | Exercise period |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise | No options were awarded in 2018 |
| Number of options exercised during the |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of the plan | fi nancial year | Exercise price | Year awarded | |
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise | No options were exercised in 2018 |
| Number of shares | Performance | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of the plan | awarded | Value of shares | Vesting date | Availability date | conditions | |
| Achievement of Revenue and Operating Result from |
||||||
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise | 16/05/2018 | 18,000 | 2,774,765 | 16/05/2021 | 16/05/2021 | Activity targets |
| Date of the plan | Number of available shares |
Vesting date | Availability date | Acquisition conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise 12/05/2015 |
18,000 | 12/05/2018 | 12/05/2020 | Achievement of Revenue and Operating Result from Activity targets |
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer | Financial year |
|---|---|
| No multi-year variable remuneration paid |
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, the Board of Directors determined the payments and benefi ts to which Stanislas de Gramont would be entitled in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer, while respecting the specifi c procedure for regulated agreements. The agreement providing terms of Stanislas de Gramont's remuneration will be approved by the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019.
It should be noted that Stanislas de Gramont received no compensation or payment of any kind at the time he assumed his duties, in accordance with the policy on remuneration for senior managers laid down by the Board of Directors.
In 2018, the fi xed remuneration paid to Stanislas de Gramont was €62,500for the month of December, in accordance with the amount set by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018.
Based on the quantifi able and qualitative criteria used by the Board of Directors and set at the start of the year, the amount of variable remuneration was measured as follows:
Consequently, the variable remuneration paid in 2019 for 2018 was €58,400, or 116.8% of his fi xed remuneration.
He does not benefit from any deferred or multi-year variable compensation or any other compensation from the company or other Groupe SEB companies .
Stanislas de Gramont will have a company car as from April 2019 .
As he does not have an employment contract with the Group, Stanislas de Gramont benefits from unemployment insurance for company directors and senior managers, representing an annual benefi t of €1,040.
Stanislas de Gramont did not receive any performance shares for 2018.
Shares resulting from the exercise of stock options and performance shares awarded to Stanislas de Gramont must be held in registered form for a certain period, under the following terms and conditions:
Once the number of shares held by Stanislas de Gramont reaches the equivalent of one year's remuneration (fi xed and target bonus), the holding requirement no longer applies.
Stanislas de Gramont is a member of the collective supplementary pension plan set up for Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive Committee) in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, as described above.
The value of the pension benefi ts that Stanislas de Gramont may enjoy at the statutory retirement age were being calculated as of the date of fi ling of this document.
Stanislas de Gramont continues to benefi t from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees.
He also benefi ts from individual life insurance. The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans.
This plan for Stanislas de Gramont notably includes the payment of:
■ supplementary benefits, set at a maximum annual amount as follows:
| In the event of incapacity | €238,392 |
|---|---|
| In the event of fi rst degree disability | €143,035 |
| In the event of second and third degree disability |
€238,392 |
Less social security benefi ts for the 3 items.
■ a death benefi t set at a maximum of €1,694,650.
In addition to the collective incapacity, disability and death insurance plan, Stanislas de Gramont is the benefi ciary of an individual life insurance policy with a capital amounting to €2,239,424. The expense recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018 totals €5,935. The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans.
This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018, will be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements.
In the event of dismissal, he will be entitled to severance pay capped at two years' fixed and variable remuneration, including, where appropriate, the amounts paid under the non-compete clause.
The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Stanislas de Gramont received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
In both situations, performance is assessed as follows:
| Average rate of achievement over the previous four fi nancial years |
Amount of benefi t paid | |
|---|---|---|
| 100% or more | 100% | |
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | Between 75% and 100%, according to a straight-line calculation |
|
| Less than 50% | None |
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointment of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissalor resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period, renewable once, from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB.
In consideration for this non-compete clause and for its entire duration, Stanislas de Gramont will receive a monthly non-compete payment amounting to 50% of his monthly average fi xed and variable remuneration paid over his last 12 months of service within the Group.
The Board of Directors may release Stanislas de Gramont from this obligation by waiving the non-compete clause.
This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above were approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018. They were also disclosed as part of the permanent information related to remuneration and benefi ts. Furthermore, it will be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
The total retirement lump-sum payment entitlement of Stanislas de Gramont amounts to €114,075 due to his seniority.
Stanislas de Gramont's annual fi xed remuneration, approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018 when he was appointed, i.e. €750,000, will remain the same in 2019.
Stanislas de Gramont's annual variable remuneration will be set according to the same principles, i.e. that it can represent a maximum of 120% of his fi xed remuneration, or €900,000 according to the rate of achievement of his quantifiable and qualitative targets. These targets are divided, as previously stated, as follows: 60% relates to quantifi able criteria and 40% to qualitative criteria.
The performance evaluation criteria were renewed for 2019 based on the quantifi able targets set by the Board of Directors' Meeting of 26 February 2019. Qualitative targets relate to the improvement of Groupe SEB's profi tability and the consideration of extra-fi nancial performance criteria (Corporate Social Responsibility). They will also include elements linked, in particular, to Stanislas de Gramont's performance in implementing specifi c Group projects .

In accordance with the ex-post voting principle, the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 will be asked to approve the annual variable remuneration to be paid for the previous year.
The Board of Directors reserves the right to decide to implement a new performance share award plan, under the authorization that will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019.
Should the Board of Directors be granted the necessary powers to award performance shares, it would decide to award performance shares to Stanislas de Gramont in the same proportions as previously granted, in line with the plan described in the draft version of the twenty-second resolution.
| M. Stanislas de Gramont Chief Operating Offi cer |
2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Remuneration due for the period | €- | €121, 940 |
| Value of the options awarded over the period* | €- | €- |
| Value of the performance shares awarded over the period* | €- | €- |
| Value of the other long-term remuneration plans | N/A | N/A |
| TOTAL | €- | €121 940 |
* On each award date, the fair value carrying amount of the options and shares is determined in accordance with IFRS. This is the historical value on the award date, calculated for accounting purposes using the method described in the Consolidated Financial Statements section. This value represents neither the current market value, nor the discounted value of these options and shares, nor the actual amount that may be generated upon exercise of these options, if they are exercised or on the vesting of these performance shares, if they are vested.
| Amounts relating to 2017 | Amounts relating to 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Stanislas de Gramont Chief Operating Offi cer |
Due | Paid | Due | Paid |
| Fixed remuneration | €62, 500 | €62, 500 | ||
| Annual variable remuneration | €58, 400 | €- | ||
| Extraordinary remuneration | none | none | none | none |
| Attendance fees | €- | €- | ||
| Benefi ts in kind: | ||||
| • car | €- | €- | ||
| • housing | €- | €- | ||
| • GSC benefi t in kind | €1, 040 | €1, 040 | ||
| TOTAL | €121, 940 | €63, 540 |
| Date of the plan | Type of option | Valuation of the options based on the method used in the Consolidated Financial Statements |
Number of options awarded |
Exercise price | Exercise period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanislas de Gramont | No options were awarded in 2018 |
| Date of the plan | Number of options exercised during the fi nancial year |
Exercise price | Year awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanislas de Gramont | No options were exercised in 2018 |
| Date of the plan | Number of shares awarded |
Value of shares | Vesting date | Availability date | Performance conditions |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanislas de Gramont | No performance shares were awarded in 2018 |
| Date of the plan |
Number of available shares |
Vesting date | Availability date |
Acquisition conditions |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanislas de Gramont | No performance shares were awarded in 2018 |
Stanislas de Gramont
Chief Operating Offi cer Financial year No multi-year variable remuneration paid
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, the Board of Directors determined the payments and benefi ts to which Bertrand Neuschwander would be entitled in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer, while respecting the specifi c procedure for regulated agreements. The agreement providing terms of Bertrand Neuschwander's remuneration was thus approved by the Annual General Meeting on 12 May 2015.
It should be noted that Bertrand Neuschwander received no compensation or payment of any kind at the time he assumed his duties, in accordance with the policy on remuneration for senior managers laid down by the Board of Directors.
In 2018, the fi xed remuneration paid to Bertrand Neuschwander up until the date of his termination in October of that year, was €390,660 , in accordance with the amount set by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014 until october 10th 2018, date of the termination.
Based on the quantifi able and qualitative criteria used by the Board of Directors and set at the start of the year, the amount of variable remuneration was measured as follows:
Consequently, the variable remuneration paid in 2019 for 2018 was €467,200, or 93.4% of his fixed remuneration. Bertrand Neuschwander's variable remuneration for 2017 was 106.9% of his fi xed remuneration, or €534,600.
He does not benefit from any deferred or multi-year variable compensation or any other compensation from the company or other Groupe SEB companies.
Bertrand Neuschwander has a company car, representing a benefi t of €6,029 for the year.
In accordance with the authorization granted by the seventeenth resolution of the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018, the Board of Directors, at its meeting on the same day, decided to award 9,000 performance shares to Bertrand Neuschwander for 2018.
The portion granted to Bertrand Neuschwander under the 2018 performance share plan equates to 0.0179% of the share capital.
Shares resulting from the exercise of stock options and performance shares awarded to Bertrand Neuschwander must be held in registered form for a certain period, under the following terms and conditions:
Once the number of shares held by Bertrand Neuschwander reaches the equivalent of one year's remuneration (fi xed and target bonus), the holding requirement no longer applies.
2
Bertrand Neuschwander is a member of the collective supplementary pension plan set up for Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive Committee) in accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, as described above.
The various conditions of the pension plan imply that, at the legal retirement age, Bertrand Neuschwander would be able to receive a gross replacement ratio (including statutory plans) of 30.2 % of his reference remuneration as set until July 2024.
Entitlements estimation at 31 December 2018:
| Regime | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deferred defi ned-benefi t pension plan | €85,934 |
| Supplementary defi ned-benefi t pension plan |
€64,800 |
| Defi ned-contribution pension plan (the entitlements resulting from this plan |
|
| have been frozen since April 2014) | €4,795 |
Other lifetime benefi ts: incapacity, disability and death and health insurance and individual life insurance
Bertrand Neuschwander continues to benefi t from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees.
He also benefi ts from individual life insurance. The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans.
■ supplementary benefits, set at a maximum annual amount as follows:
| In the event of incapacity | €238,392 |
|---|---|
| In the event of fi rst degree disability | €143,035 |
| In the event of second and third | |
| degree disability | €238,392 |
Less social security benefi ts for the 3 items.
■ a death benefi t set at a maximum of €1,694,650.
In addition to the collective incapacity, disability and death insurance plan, Bertrand Neuschwander is the benefi ciary of an individual life insurance policy with a capital amounting to €942,581. The expense recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018 totals €3,597. The purpose of this specific life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans.
This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014, was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements, and was ended on 10 October 2018, the date of his termination.
In the event of dismissal, Bertrand Neuschwander will be entitled to severance pay capped at two years' compensation (fi xed and variable received), including, where appropriate, the amounts paid under the non-compete clause and any termination benefi ts connected to the termination of his employment contract.
The reference compensation used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fixed and variable remuneration that Bertrand Neuschwander received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
In both situations, performance is assessed as follows:
| Average rate of achievement over the previous four fi nancial years |
Amount of benefi t paid | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% or more | 100% | ||
| Between 75% and 100%, according to a straight-line |
|||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | calculation |
Less than 50% None
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointment of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissalor resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period, renewable once, from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB.
In consideration of this non-compete clause and for its entire duration, Bertrand Neuschwander will receive a monthly non-compete payment amounting to 50% of his monthly average fi xed and variable remuneration paid over his last 12 months of service within the Group.
The Board of Directors may release Bertrand Neuschwander from this obligation by waiving the non-compete clause.
This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above were approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014. They were also disclosed as part of the ongoing information related to compensation and benefi ts. Furthermore, they were submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
The total retirement lump-sum payment entitlement of Bertrand Neuschwander amounts to €179,550 due to his seniority.
| Bertrand Neuschwander – Chief Operating Offi cer | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Remuneration due in respect of the period (a) | €1, 042, 340 | €863, 889 |
| Value of the options awarded over the period* | €- | €- |
| Value of the performance shares awarded over the period* | €1, 312, 462 | €1, 387, 382 |
| Value of the other long-term remuneration plans | N/A | N/A |
| TOTAL | €2, 354, 802 | €2, 251, 271 |
(a) Appointment as Chief Operating Offi cer as from 22 April 2014, termination on 10 October 2018.
* On each award date, the fair value carrying amount of the options and shares is determined in accordance with IFRS. This is the historical value on the award date, calculated for accounting purposes using the method described in the Consolidated Financial Statements section. This value represents neither the current market value, nor the discounted value of these options and shares, nor the actual amount that may be generated upon exercise of these options, if they are exercised or on the vesting of these performance shares, if they are vested.
| Amounts relating to 2017 | Amounts relating to 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertrand Neuschwander – Chief Operating Offi cer | Due | Paid | Due | Paid | |
| Fixed remuneration | €500, 000 | €500, 000 | €390, 660 | €390, 660 | |
| Annual variable remuneration | €534, 600 | €556, 200 | €467, 200 € | €534, 600 | |
| Extraordinary remuneration | none | none | none | none | |
| Attendance fees | none | none | none | none | |
| Benefi ts in kind: | |||||
| • car | €7, 740 | €7, 740 | €6, 029 | €6, 029 | |
| TOTAL | €1, 042, 340 | €1, 063, 940 € | €863, 889 € | €931, 289 € |

| Date of the plan |
Type of option | Valuation of the options based on the method used in the Consolidated Financial Statements |
Number of options awarded |
Exercise price | Exercise period |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertrand Neuschwander | No options were awarded in 2018 | |||||
| Date of the plan | Number of options exercised during the fi nancial year |
Exercise price | Year awarded | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertrand Neuschwander | 15/06/2012 | 260 | €54.12 | 2012 |
| Date of the plan |
Number of shares awarded |
Value of shares | Vesting date Availability date | Performance conditions |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertrand Neuschwander | 16/05/2018 | 9,000 | 1,387,382 | 16/05/2021 | 16/05/2021 | Achievement of Revenue and Operating Result from Activity targets |
| Date of the plan | Number of available shares |
Vesting date | Availability date | Acquisition conditions |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bertrand Neuschwander | 12/05/2015 | 9,000 | 12/05/2018 | 12/05/2020 | Achievement of Revenue and ORfa targets |
| Bertrand Neuschwander Chief Operating Offi cer |
Financial year | |
|---|---|---|
No multi-year variable remuneration paid
In 2018, the total overall remuneration of Groupe SEB's current Executive Committee amounted to €9,065,000 , including €4,667,000 in fi xed remuneration and €4,398,000 in variable remuneration. This change in the Executive Committee's total overall remuneration is mainly due to the retirement in 2018 of Frédéric Verwaerde, Executive VP Asia, who was replaced by Vincent Tai, and the retirement of Stéphane Lafl èche, Executive VP Industry, who was not immediately replaced. The new Executive VP Industry, Alain Leroy, took offi ce on 1 February 2019. Moreover, there was the remuneration of two Chief Operating Offi cers for the period from 12 December 2018 to 31 December 2018 following the appointment of Stanislas de Gramont.
As with all executive officers, the senior managers' variable remuneration is determined so as to align remuneration with Groupe SEB's annual performance and to support the execution of a long-term growth strategy, year after year. It is set at the start of the fi nancial year, by the Board of Directors.
It is expressed as a percentage of the fi xed remuneration for the reference year and corresponds, for the achievement of all the targets, to a target of 60% for all the members of the Executive Committee.
It is capped and may represent up to 100% of the base remuneration if the quantifi able and qualitative targets are met. The criteria are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they adhere to the principles referred to above and are only amended should this prove necessary.
In 2018, the quantifi able and qualitative performance criteria were assessed and discussed by the Nominations and Remuneration Committee and approved by the Board of Directors at its meeting on 27 February 2018.
Quantifi able criteria linked to Groupe SEB's economic performance account for 60% of variable remuneration and are assessed according to the following objectives:
The qualitative criteria, linked to individual performance, account for 40% of variable remuneration and are assessed according to specifi c strategic objectives. In particular, they enable performance to be measured against fi xed targets, not only in terms of changes to the Group's organizational structure and management, but also in terms of the integration of the latest acquisitions.
The members of the Group Executive Committee are awarded performance shares, according to the same principles and conditions as those presented for executive offi cers above.
With regard to the 2018 plan, the performance calculation depends on the rate of achievementof the revenue and Operating Result from Activity target assessed over the three-year vesting period (i.e. 2018, 2019 and 2020):
| Average achievement rate over three years | Performance shares awarded |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% or more | 100% | ||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | Pro rata | ||
| Less than 50% | None |
In accordance with the authorization granted by the seventeenth resolution of the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018, the Board of Directors, at its meeting on the same day, decided to award 38,750 performance shares to the members of the Executive Committee for 2018 (excluding executive offi cers).
Shares resulting from the exercise of stock options and performance shares awarded to members of the Executive Committee must be held in registered form for a certain period, under the following terms and conditions:
Once the number of shares held by members of the Executive Committee reaches the equivalent of one year's remuneration (fi xed and target bonus), the holding requirement no longer applies.
Senior managers have company cars.
| At 31 December 2018 | Subscription plan |
Purchase plan | Purchase plan | Purchase plan | Purchase plan | Purchase plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Meeting date | 04/05/2000 | 03/05/1999 | 14/05/2002 | 14/05/2002 | 06/05/2004 | 06/05/2004 |
| Date of Board of Directors' Meeting | 14/06/2001 | 19/04/2002 | 17/10/2002 | 18/06/2003 | 18/06/2004 | 04/08/2005 |
| Total number of shares granted | 493,500 | 417,450 | 598,125 | 612,150 | 539,100 | 554,700 |
| Of which awarded to executive offi cer Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise (a) |
66,000 | 49,500 | 6,600 | 115,516 | 104,989 | 105,000 |
| Stock option exercise start date | 14/06/2005 | 19/04/2006 | 17/10/2006 | 18/06/2007 | 18/06/2008 | 04/08/2009 |
| Expiration date | 14/06/2009 | 19/04/2010 | 17/10/2010 | 18/06/2011 | 18/06/2012 | 04/08/2013 |
| Subscription or purchase price (in €) (a) | 18.18 | 27.88 | 25.15 | 24.24 | 31.67 | 28.00 |
| Average of last 20 prices prior to Board Meeting (in €) (a) |
17.95 | 27.78 | 26.65 | 24.03 | 31.52 | 28.2 |
| Number of options exercised (a) by Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
66,000 | 49,500 | 6,600 | 115,516 | 104,989 | 105,000 |
| Number of options canceled (a) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALANCE OF STOCK OPTIONS NOT YET EXERCISED AT 31/12/2018 (a) |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| At 31 December 2018 | Purchase plan |
Purchase plan |
Purchase plan |
Purchase plan |
Purchase plan |
Purchase plan |
| General Meeting date | 11/05/2006 | 11/05/2006 | 13/05/2008 | 13/05/2009 | 12/05/2010 | 10/05/2012 |
| Date of Board of Directors' Meeting | 16/06/2006 | 20/04/2007 | 13/05/2008 | 12/06/2009 | 18/06/2010 | 15/06/2012 |
| Total number of shares granted | 589,798 | 579,150 | 1,005,900 | 371,300 | 412,592 | 408,925 |
| Of which awarded to executive offi cer Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise (a) |
105,012 | 105,000 | 105,000 | 71,250 | 59,942 | 54,000 |
| Stock option exercise start date | 16/06/2010 | 20/04/2011 | 13/05/2012 | 12/06/2013 | 18/06/2014 | 15/06/2016 |
| Expiration date | 16/06/2014 | 20/04/2015 | 13/05/2016 | 12/06/2017 | 18/06/2018 | 15/06/2020 |
| Subscription or purchase price (in €) (a) | 29.33 | 44 | 38.35 | 28.05 | 53.86 | 54.12 |
| Average of last 20 prices prior to Board Meeting (in €) (a) |
29.01 | 43.73 | 38.35 | 28.05 | 53.85 | 54.12 |
| Number of options exercised (a) by Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
105,012 | 105,000 | 105,000 | 66,922 | 55,978 | 51,449 |
| Number of options canceled (a) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4,328 | 3,964 | 2,551 |
| BALANCE OF STOCK OPTIONS NOT YET EXERCISED AT 31/12/2018 |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(a) Takes into account the award of bonus shares in March 2004 (1 for 10) and the 3-for-1 stock split on 16 June 2008.
| General Meeting date | 13/05/2009 12/05/2010 12/05/2010 14/05/2013 15/05/2014 12/05/2015 19/05/2016 11/05/2017 16/05/2018 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Board of Directors' Meeting |
12/06/2009 18/06/2010 15/06/2012 23/07/2013 22/07/2014 12/05/2015 19/05/2016 11/05/2017 16/05/2018 | ||||||||
| Number of shares granted: |
50,472 | 58,363 | 63,938 | 233,475 | 169,175 | 169,450 | 171,075 | 193,450 | 185,330 |
| Of which to executive offi cers |
5,938 | 4,995 | 4,500 | 18,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 |
| • Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer |
5,938 | 4,995 | 4,500 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 |
| • Chief Operating Offi cer |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 6,750 * | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 | 9,000 |
| Performance condition | Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
Revenue and Operating Result from Activity |
| Award date | 12/06/2009 18/06/2010 15/06/2012 23/07/2013 22/07/2014 12/05/2015 19/05/2016 11/05/2017 16/05/2018 | ||||||||
| Vesting date | 12/06/2011 18/06/2012 15/06/2014 23/07/2016 22/07/2017 12/05/2018 19/05/2019 11/05/2020 16/05/2021 | ||||||||
| Number of shares earned by executive offi cers |
|||||||||
| • Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer |
5,938 | 4,395 | 3,850 | 18,000 | 18,000 | 18,000 | - | - | - |
| • Chief Operating Offi cer |
N/A | N/A | N/A | 6,750 * | 9,000 | 9,000 | - | - | - |
| Expiry of lock-up period |
12/06/2013 18/06/2014 15/06/2016 23/07/2017 22/07/2019 12/05/2020 19/05/2021 11/05/2020 16/05/2021 | ||||||||
| Number of shares canceled or lapsed |
0 | 600 | 650 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - |
| BALANCE OF SHARES YET TO BE VESTED |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 27000 |
* 2013 award as a member of the Executive Committee (non-executive offi cer).
| Employment contract | Supplementary pension plan |
Compensation or benefi ts due, or likely to be due as a result of termination or a change of roles |
Compensation relating to a non-compete clause |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | |
| Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise | suspended* | X | X | X | ||||
| Stanislas de Gramont | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Bertrand Neuschwander | suspended** | X | X | X |
* The Board of Directors' Meeting of 23 February 2016, in accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code, reviewed the situation and considered that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract should remain suspended, in light of his age, personal situation, and seniority within the Group.
** The Board of Directors decided on 22 April 2014 that the suspension of Bertrand Neuschwander's employment contract was in line with the AFEP-MEDEF Code.

| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed remuneration | €900,000 (amount paid) €1,000,000 as from 2019 subject to the approval, by ex-ante vote, of the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 |
At its meeting on 23 February 2016, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, revised the fi xed remuneration of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise to €900,000. This proposal was made to adjust the amount, which has not changed since 2011, for infl ation. At its meeting on 26 February 2019, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, re-evaluated Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's fi xed remuneration. In order to take into account the higher cost of living, this remuneration, which was last revised in 2016, was set at €1,000,000 . |
|
| Annual variable remuneration |
€1,099,238 (amount to be paid after being approved by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 in accordance with the ex-post voting principle) (No deferred portion of this remuneration) |
At its meeting on 26 February 2019, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, measured Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's variable remuneration. Given the quantitative and qualitative criteria set by the Board of Directors on 27 February 2018 and the rate of achievement noted at 31 December 2018, the variable remuneration was measured as follows: • based on quantifi able criteria: the variable portion is 110.5% of his fi xed annual remuneration with a target of 100%. The Board of Directors judged Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's performance based on Group revenue and Operating Result from Activity growth targets; • based on qualitative criteria: the variable portion is 139.6% of his fi xed annual remuneration with a target of 100%. The Board of Directors judged Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's performance based on collective and individual targets such as the structural improvement of the Group's profi tability, changes to its organizational structure and the active pursuing of the acquisition strategy. The variable component can amount to no more than 150% of his annual fi xed remuneration. Consequently, the variable remuneration paid in 2019 for 2018 was €1,099,238, or 122.1% of his fixed remuneration. Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's variable remuneration for 2017 was 134.9% of his fi xed remuneration, or €1,214,100. |
|
| Multi-year variable remuneration in cash |
N/A Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise receives no multi-year variable remuneration. | ||
| Performance share awards Performance shares: €2,774,765 (carrying amount) |
In accordance with the authorization granted by the seventeenth resolution of the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018, the Board of Directors, at its meeting held on the same day, decided to award 18,000 performance shares to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise for 2018. The shares granted to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise under the 2018 performance share plan equate to 0.0359% of the share capital. The performance criteria for the 2018 plan were assessed with regard to the rate of achievement of a matrix composed of the following: • Revenue growth target; and • Operating Result from Activity growth target, over the three-year vesting period (namely 2018, 2019 and 2020): |
||
| Average achievementrate over three years Performance shares awarded |
|||
| 100% or more 100% |
|||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive Pro rata |
|||
| Less than 50% None |
|||
| Note that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise must hold shares resulting from option exercises and free share awards for a certain period in registered form (see page 89 ). |
|||
| Shares: N/A Other securities: N/A |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise receives no other awards of shares or other securities. | ||
| Extraordinary remuneration | N/A | Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise receives no multi-year variable remuneration. |
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance fees | €30,000 (amount paid) |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise receives attendance fees as a member of the Board of Directors under the rules applicable to all its members. In 2018, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise received €30,000 as a director of the company. |
|
| Value of benefi ts in kind | €24,092 (carrying amount) |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise has a company car, representing a benefi t of €8,892 for the year, and receives €15,200 per year for the use of an apartment in Paris. |
|
| Severance payments | None received | Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise is only entitled to the severance pay owing under his employment contract, to the exclusion of any other benefi t, in the event of termination of his corporate offi ce. Under the provisions of his employment contract, which was suspended on 1 March 2005, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will receive, by way of settlement, a total termination benefi t to be paid only under the following circumstances: • termination of the employment contract at the employer's initiative, except on the grounds of serious misconduct or gross negligence; • forced departure as a result of a change in the control of Groupe SEB. Pursuant to Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, an addendum to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract was signed making the termination benefi t subject to performance conditions. The termination benefi t is set at two years' remuneration (calculated based on the average remuneration earned during the last two fi nancial years), and is adjusted for the rate of achievementof his targets for the last four years of service: |
|
| Average rate of achievement over the previous four fi nancial years |
Amount of benefi t paid | ||
| 100% or more | 100% | ||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | Between 75% and 100%, according to a straight-line calculation |
||
| Less than 50% | None | ||
| If the previous year-end presents a net loss, the Board of Directors reserves the right to reduce such termination benefi ts by a maximum of one half, without such benefi ts falling below the fi xed salary plus bonuses of the previous fi nancial year, should application of the performance criteria based on the achievement of targets confer entitlement to the payment of such benefi ts. Entitlement to stock options in the event of termination: In the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated, except for serious misconduct or gross negligence, he will be entitled to all the share purchase or subscription options granted to him under the same terms and conditions of exercise that would have applied had he remained in offi ce. This provision will also apply in the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated pursuant to resignation from the Group, were such resignation to arise from a change in the control of the Group. However, he will forfeit the options that would have been granted to him over the 18 months prior to the termination of his term of offi ce as executive offi cer should he resign on his own initiative. At the reappointment of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, the continuation of this commitment was approved by the Board of Directors on 23 February 2016 and by the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2016 (8th resolution). |
|||
| Non-compete payments | N/A | Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise has no non-compete clause. | |
| Retirement lump-sum payment |
None received | Due to his seniority and in accordance with the Metallurgical industry collective agreement, the total retirement lump-sum payment entitlement would amount to €559,817. |

| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplementary pension plan | None received | Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise is a member of the collective supplementary pension plan set up for Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive Committee). The plan complements the statutory schemes and is composed as follows: • a defi ned-benefi t deferred compensation plan, under which benefi ciaries are subject to seniority and presence conditions. The amount of benefi ts payable under this plan in addition to the applicable statutory schemes represents up to 25% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years; • a defi ned-benefi t supplementary pension plan, under which benefi ciaries are also subject to seniority and presence conditions. Entitlements under this plan vest at an annual rate of 0.8% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years and capped at 20 years' seniority, i.e. a maximum of 16% of the reference remuneration; • a collective defi ned-benefi t plan available to senior managers, with a contribution equal to 8% of their salaries. Pensions earned under this plan are deducted from the supplementary pension originating from the defi ned-benefi t supplementary pension plan. Entitlements estimation at 31 December 2018: |
|
| Regime | Amount | ||
| Deferred defi ned-benefi t pension plan | €219,628 gross per year | ||
| Supplementary defi ned-benefi t pension plan | €222,295 gross per year | ||
| Defi ned-contribution pension plan (the entitlements resulting from this plan have been frozen since January 2012) |
€11,123 gross per year | ||
| Executive offi cers are potentially eligible for defi ned-benefi t plans after 8 years of service and attendance at Executive Committee Meetings. The plan is capped at 41% of the reference remuneration, i.e. both fi xed and variable remuneration (including the income from compulsory plans), in accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code. This reference remuneration is itself capped at 36 times the annual social security ceiling in force at the time of retirement. As a result, the supplementary pension plan for executive offi cers complies with AFEP-MEDEF Code recommendations as updated in June 2018: • seniority required: minimum 8 years of service; • rate of progression: entitlements based on seniority up to a maximum of 3.925% annually, reduced to 3.0% in 2016, and capped after 20 years' seniority in accordance with the plan introduced by law 2015-990 of 6 August 2015 on growth, activity and equal economic opportunities; • reference period used: average of the target remuneration for the past three years; • maximum of 41% including benefi ts from the statutory program. Groupe SEB intends to outsource the entire commitment through matching payments to a fund into which the pension contributions are made on a regular basis. At the reappointment of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, the continuation of this commitment was approved by the Board of Directors on 23 February 2016 and by the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2016 (8th |
resolution). | ||
| Other lifetime benefi ts: incapacity, disability and death and health insurance and individual life insurance |
None received | Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise continues to benefit from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees. This plan notably includes for Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise: • supplementary benefi ts, set at a maximum annual amount as follows: |
|
| In the event of incapacity | €238,392 | ||
| In the event of fi rst degree disability | €143 035 | ||
| In the event of second and third degree disability |
€238,392 | ||
| Less social security benefi ts for the 3 items. | |||
| • a death benefi t set at a maximum of €1,334,995 . In addition to the collective incapacity, disability and death insurance plan, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise also benefi ts from an individual life insurance policy with a capital amounting to €3,652,134. The expense recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018 totals €71,077 . The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans. At the reappointment of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, the continuation of this commitment was approved by the Board of Directors on 23 February 2016 and |
by the Annual General Meeting on 19 May 2016 (8th
resolution).
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed remuneration | €62,500 (amount paid) |
When Stanislas de Gramont was appointed, the Board of Directors' Meeting of 19 December 2018 set the amount of his yearly fi xed remuneration at €750,000. |
|
| Annual variable remuneration |
€58,400 (amount to be paid after being approved by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 in accordance with the ex-post voting principle) (No deferred portion of this remuneration) |
At its meeting on 26 February 2019, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, measured Stanislas de Gramont's variable remuneration. Given the quantifi able and qualitative criteria set by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018, and the rate of achievement noted at 31 December 2018, the variable remuneration was measured as follows: • based on quantitative criteria: the variable portion is 88.4% of his fi xed annual remuneration with a target of 80%. The Board of Directors measured Stanislas de Gramont's performance with respect to Groupe SEB's growth targets for Revenue and Operating Result from Activity; • based on qualitative criteria: the variable portion is 126.3% of his fi xed annual remuneration with a target of 80%. The Board of Directors measured Stanislas de Gramont's performance based on collective and individual targets such as changes to the Group's organizational structure, the structural improvement of its profi tability and the completion of specifi c operational projects. The variable component can amount to no more than 120% of his annual fi xed remuneration. Consequently, the variable remuneration paid in 2019 for 2018 was €58,400, or 116.8% of his fi xed remuneration. |
|
| Multi-year variable remuneration in cash |
N/A | Stanislas de Gramont receives no multi-year variable remuneration. | |
| Performance share awards | Performance shares: | Stanislas de Gramont did not receive any performance shares for 2018. | |
| N/A (carrying amount) |
Note that Stanislas de Gramont will be required to hold shares resulting from option exercises and free share awards for a certain period in registered form (see page 92 ). |
||
| Shares: N/A Other securities: N/A |
Stanislas de Gramont receives no other awards of shares or other securities. | ||
| Extraordinary remuneration | N/A | Stanislas de Gramont receives no multi-year variable remuneration. | |
| Attendance fees | N/A | Stanislas de Gramont is not a director of SEB S.A. | |
| Value of benefi ts in kind | €1,040 (carrying amount) |
Stanislas de Gramont will have a company car as from April 2019 . As he does not have an employment contract with the Group, Stanislas de Gramont benefits from unemployment insurance for company directors and senior managers , representing a benefi t in kind of €1,040. |
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severance payments | None received In the event of dismissal, he will be entitled to severance pay capped at two years' fi xed and variable remuneration, including, where appropriate, the amounts paid under the non-compete clause. The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Stanislas de Gramont received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer. In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner: • if he is dismissed within four years of his appointment as executive offi cer, the severance allowance will be adjusted for the rate of achievementof his targets over the last four full years of service, as follows: • as an executive offi cer, for the period following his appointment, and • if he is dismissed after four years from his appointment as executive offi cer, the severance allowance will be adjusted for the rate of achievementof his targets, in said capacity, over the last four full years of service; In both situations, performance is assessed as follows: |
||
| Average rate of achievement over the previous four fi nancial years |
Amount of benefi t paid | ||
| 100% or more | 100% | ||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | Between 75% and 100%, according to a straight-line calculation |
||
| Less than 50% | None | ||
| This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018, will be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements. |
|||
| Non-compete payments | None received | Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointment of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissalor resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period, renewable once, from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB. In consideration for this non-compete clause and for its entire duration, Stanislas de Gramont will receive a monthly non-compete payment amounting to 50% of his monthly average fi xed and variable remuneration paid over his last 12 months of service within the Group. The Board of Directors may release Stanislas de Gramont from this obligation by waiving the non-compete clause. This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above were approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018. They were also disclosed as part of the permanent information related to remuneration and benefi ts. Furthermore, it will be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements. |
|
| Retirement lump-sum payment |
None received | Due to his seniority and in accordance with the Metallurgical industry collective agreement, Stanislas de Gramont's total retirement lump-sum payment entitlement amounts to €114,075. |
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplementary pension plan | None received | Stanislas de Gramont is a member of the collective supplementary pension plan set up for Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive Committee). The plan complements the statutory schemes and is composed as follows: • a defi ned-benefi t deferred compensation plan, under which benefi ciaries are subject to seniority and presence conditions. The amount of benefi ts payable under this plan in addition to the applicable statutory schemes represents up to 25% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years; • a defi ned-benefi t supplementary pension plan, under which benefi ciaries are also subject to seniority and presence conditions. Entitlements under this plan vest at an annual rate of 0.8% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years and capped at 20 years' seniority, i.e. a maximum of 16% of the reference remuneration; The value of the pension benefi ts that Stanislas de Gramont may enjoy at the statutory retirement age were being calculated as of the date of fi ling of this document. |
|
| Executive offi cers are potentially eligible for defi ned-benefi t plans after 8 years of service and attendance at Executive Committee Meetings. The plan is capped at 41% of the reference remuneration, i.e. both fi xed and variable remuneration (including the income from compulsory plans), in accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code. This reference remuneration is itself capped at 36 times the annual social security ceiling in force at the time of retirement. As a result, the supplementary pension plan for executive offi cers complies with AFEP-MEDEF Code recommendations as updated in June 2018: • seniority required: minimum 8 years of service; • rate of progression: entitlements based on seniority up to a maximum of 3.925% annually, reduced to 3.0% in 2016, and capped after 20 years' seniority in accordance with the plan introduced by law 2015-990 of 6 August 2015 on growth, activity and equal economic opportunities; • reference period used: average of the target remuneration for the past three years; • maximum of 41% including benefi ts from the statutory program. Groupe SEB intends to outsource the entire commitment through matching payments to a fund into which the pension contributions are made on a regular basis. This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014, was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements. |
|||
| Other lifetime benefi ts: incapacity, disability and death and health insurance and individual life insurance |
None received | Stanislas de Gramont continues to benefi t from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees. He also benefi ts from individual life insurance. The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans. This plan for Stanislas de Gramont notably includes the payment of: • supplementary benefi ts, set at a maximum annual amount as follows: In the event of incapacity |
€238,392 |
| In the event of fi rst degree disability | €143,035 | ||
| In the event of second and third degree disability |
€238,392 | ||
| Less social security benefi ts for the 3 items. | |||
| • a death benefi t set at a maximum of €1,694,650. In addition to the collective incapacity, disability and death insurance plan, Stanislas de Gramont is the benefi ciary of an individual life insurance policy with a capital amounting to €2,239,424. The expense recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018 totals €5,935. The purpose of this specific life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans. This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018, will be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements. |
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed remuneration | €390,660 (amount paid) |
When Bertrand Neuschwander was appointed, the Board of Directors' Meeting of 22 April 2014 set the amount of his yearly fi xed remuneration at €500,000. |
||
| Annual variable remuneration |
€467,200 (amount to be paid after being approved by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 in accordance with the ex-post voting principle) (No deferred portion of this remuneration) |
At its meeting on 26 February 2019, the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, measured Bertrand Neuschwander's variable remuneration. Given the quantifi able and qualitative criteria set by the Board of Directors on 27 February 2018 and the rate of achievement noted at 31 December 2018, the variable remuneration was measured as follows: based on quantitative criteria: the variable portion is 88.4% of his fi xed annual remuneration with a target of 80%. The Board of Directors measured Bertrand Neuschwander's performance with respect to Groupe SEB's revenue and Operating Result from Activity growth targets; based on qualitative criteria: the variable portion is 126.3% of his fi xed annual remuneration with a target of 80%. The Board of Directors judged Bertrand Neuschwander's performance, in particular, based on collective and individual targets such as changes to the Group's organizational structure, the structural improvement of its profi tability and the completion of specifi c operational projects. The variable component can amount to no more than 125% of his annual fi xed remuneration. Consequently, the variable remuneration paid in 2019 for 2018 was €467,200, or 93.4% of his fi xed remuneration. Bertrand Neuschwander's variable remuneration for 2017 was 106.9% of his fi xed remuneration, or €534,600. |
||
| Multi-year variable remuneration in cash |
N/A | Bertrand Neuschwander receives no multi-year variable remuneration. | ||
| Performance share awards | Performance shares: €1,387,382 (carrying amount) |
In accordance with the authorization granted by the seventeenth resolution of the Annual General Meeting on 16 May 2018, the Board of Directors, at its meeting on the same day, decided to award 9,000 performance shares to Bertrand Neuschwander for 2018. The portion granted to Bertrand Neuschwander under the 2018 performance share plan equates to 0.0179% of the share capital. The performance criteria for the 2018 plan were assessed with regard to the rate of achievement of a matrix composed of the following: • Revenue growth target; and • Operating Result from Activity growth target, over the three-year vesting period (namely 2018, 2019 and 2020): |
||
| Average achievementrate over three years | Performance shares awarded | |||
| 100% or more | 100% | |||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | Pro rata | |||
| Less than 50% | None | |||
| Note that Bertrand Neuschwander must hold shares resulting from option exercises and free share awards for a certain period in registered form (see page 96 ). |
||||
| Shares: N/A Other securities: N/A |
Bertrand Neuschwander receives no other awards of shares or other securities. | |||
| Extraordinary remuneration | N/A | Bertrand Neuschwander receives no multi-year variable remuneration. | ||
| Attendance fees | N/A | Bertrand Neuschwander is not a director of SEB S.A. | ||
| Value of benefi ts in kind | €6,029 (carrying amount) |
Bertrand Neuschwander has a company car, representing a benefi t in kind of €6,029 for the year. |
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severance payments | €1,260,500 (amount to be paid after being approved by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019 in accordance with the ex-post voting principle) (No deferred portion of this remuneration) |
In the event of dismissal, he will be entitled to severance pay capped at two years' fi xed and variable remuneration, including, where appropriate, the amounts paid under the non-compete clause and any termination benefi ts connected to the termination of the employment contract. The reference compensation used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Bertrand Neuschwander received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer. In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner: if he is dismissed within four years of his appointment as executive offi cer, the severance allowance will be adjusted for the rate of achievement of his targets over the last four full years of service, as follows: • as executive offi cer, for the period following his appointment, and • as a salaried employee, for the preceding period; • if he is dismissed after four years from his appointment as executive offi cer, the severance allowance will be adjusted for the rate of achievement of his targets, in said capacity, over the last four full years of service. In both situations, performance is assessed as follows: |
||
| Average rate of achievement over the previous four fi nancial years |
Amount of benefi t paid | |||
| 100% or more | 100% | |||
| Between 50% and 100% inclusive | Between 75% and 100%, according to a straight-line calculation |
|||
| Less than 50% | None | |||
| This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014, was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements. |
||||
| Non-compete payments | €517,300 | Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointement of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissalor resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period, renewable once, from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB. In consideration of this non-compete clause and for its entire duration, Bertrand Neuschwander will receive a monthly non-compete payment amounting to 50% of his monthly average fi xed and variable remuneration paid over his last 12 months of service within the Group. The Board of Directors may release Bertrand Neuschwander from this obligation by waiving the non-compete clause. This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above were approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014. They were also disclosed as part of the ongoing information related to compensation and benefi ts. Furthermore, they were submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements. It was activated in November 2018 for one year. |
||
| Retirement lump-sum payment |
None received | Due to his seniority and in accordance with the Metallurgical industry collective agreement, Bertrand Neuschwander's total retirement lump-sum payment entitlement amounts to €179,550. |

| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplementary pension plan | None received | Bertrand Neuschwander is a member of the collective supplementary pension plan set up for Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive Committee). The plan complements the statutory schemes and is composed as follows: • a defi ned-benefi t deferred compensation plan, under which benefi ciaries are subject to seniority and presence conditions. The amount of benefi ts payable under this plan in addition to the applicable statutory schemes represents up to 25% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years; • a defi ned-benefi t supplementary pension plan, under which benefi ciaries are also subject to seniority and presence conditions. Entitlements under this plan vest at an annual rate of 0.8% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years and capped at 20 years' seniority, i.e. a maximum of 16% of the reference remuneration; • a collective defi ned-benefi t plan available to senior managers, with a contribution equal to 8% of their salaries. Pensions earned under this plan are deducted from the supplementary pension originating from the defi ned-benefi t supplementary pension plan (rights frozen in April 2014). Entitlements estimation at 31 December 2018 to July 2024: |
||
| Regime | Amount | |||
| Deferred defi ned-benefi t pension plan (rights frozen on 8 March 2019) |
€85,934 gross per year | |||
| Supplementary defi ned-benefi t pension plan (rights frozen on 8 March 2019) |
€64,800 gross per year | |||
| Defi ned-contribution pension plan (the entitlements resulting from this plan have been frozen since April 2014) |
€4,795 gross per year | |||
| Executive offi cers are potentially eligible for defi ned-benefi t plans after 8 years of service and attendance at Executive Committee Meetings. The plan is capped at 41% of the reference remuneration, i.e. both fi xed and variable remuneration (including the income from compulsory plans), in accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code. This reference remuneration is itself capped at 36 times the annual social security ceiling in force at the time of retirement. As a result, the supplementary pension plan for executive offi cers complies with AFEP-MEDEF Code recommendations as updated in June 2018: • seniority required: minimum 8 years of service; • rate of progression: entitlements based on seniority up to a maximum of 3.925% annually, reduced to 3.0% in 2016, and capped after 20 years' seniority in accordance with the plan introduced by law 2015-990 of 6 August 2015 on growth, activity and equal economic opportunities; • reference period used: average of the target remuneration for the past three years; • maximum of 41% including benefi ts from the statutory program. Groupe SEB intends to outsource the entire commitment through matching payments to a fund into which the pension contributions are made on a regular basis. This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014, was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements. This amounts will be paid upon retirement, provided he does not take up any job between now and July 2024. |
| Remuneration due or awarded for the year ended |
Amounts submitted to a vote |
Presentation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other lifetime benefi ts: incapacity, disability and death and health insurance and individual life insurance |
None received | Bertrand Neuschwander continues to benefi t from supplementary social protection, notably as regards the incapacity, disability and death and health insurance that covers the company's employees. He also benefi ts from individual life insurance. The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans. This plan notably includes for Bertrand Neuschwander: • supplementary benefi ts, set at a maximum annual amount as follows: |
|
| In the event of incapacity | €238,392 | ||
| In the event of fi rst degree disability | €143,035 | ||
| In the event of second and third degree disability |
€238,392 | ||
| Less social security benefi ts for the 3 items. | |||
| • a death benefi t set at a maximum of €1,694,650. In addition to the collective incapacity, disability and death insurance plan, Bertrand Neuschwander is the benefi ciary of an individual life insurance policy with a capital amounting to €942,581. The expense recorded for the year ended 31 December 2018 totals €5,935 . The purpose of this specifi c life insurance policy is to cover the portion of remuneration that is not covered by the collective plans. This agreement, approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014, was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure for regulated agreements. This |
| Identity | Function | Number of shares purchased or subscribed |
Average purchase price |
Number of shares sold |
Average sale price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BERTRAND NEUSCHWANDER | Member of the Executive Committee |
260 | €54.1200 | ||
| Cyril Buxtorf | Member of the Executive Committee |
8,633 | €53.860 | ||
| Luc Gaudemard | Member of the Executive Committee |
1,000 | €54.1200 | 4,338 | 152.7237 € |
| Stéphane Lafl èche | Member of the Executive Committee |
1,500 | €54.120 | 1,500 | 158.8934 € |
| Vincent Tai | Member of the Executive Committee |
7,300 | €54.056 | 7,300 | 124.7909 € |
| Individual linked to Hubert Fèvre | Director | 1,000 | €144.326 | 5,000 | 160.0000 € |
| William Gairard | Director | 447 | 162.8993 € | ||
| Jérôme Lescure | Director | 10,000 | 113.8532 € |
Gouvernement d'entreprise


| 3.1. | Commitment and management | 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Commitment at the highest level | 114 | |
| Our evolving sustainable development strategy | 114 | |
| Dialog with stakeholders | 115 | |
| Raising employee awareness | 115 | |
| Internal audit and sustainable development | 115 | |
| External verifi cation of data | 116 | |
| An established CSR policy | 116 | |
| 3.2. | Non-Financial Performance | |
| Statement (DPEF) & Duty of Vigilance 117 | ||
| Business model DPEF | 117 | |
| Risks DPEF DV |
117 | |
| Actions tailored to mitigate risks or prevent | ||
| serious harm DV | 119 | |
| Regular evaluation procedures DV | 120 | |
| Warning and reporting mechanism DV | 121 | |
| Monitoring of the effectiveness of measures DV 122 | ||
| 3.3. | Stakeholders | 123 |
| Lobbying activities | 124 | |
| 3.4. | Reporting process | 127 |
| Measuring of societal, employment-related and environmental performance |
127 | |
| 3.5. | People matter | 129 |
| Ethical compliance | 129 | |
| A responsible employment policy | 132 | |
| A corporate citizen | 154 | |
| 3.6. | Cooking for good Making homemade food easier for everyone Healthy, tasty meals Food with a lower environmental impact |
158 158 159 160 |
|---|---|---|
| 3.7. | Better homelife Inclusive-design products A healthy home Taking care of yourself at any age |
161 161 161 162 |
| 3.8. | Circular revolution Repairing products Pooling product use Giving products more than one life Reinforcing the recycling loop |
163 163 164 165 165 |
| 3.9. | Climate action Analysis of the Group's greenhouse gas emissions Short and long-term targets Eco-design Eco-manufacturing Eco-logistics Tertiary sites and IT |
167 167 168 169 171 175 177 |
| 3.10. Report by one of the Statutory Auditors, appointed as an independent third party, on the consolidated non-fi nancial statement included in the Group management report |
178 |
DPEF The elements related to the Extra-Financial Performance Declaration are identified in the summary using the pictogram.
DV The elements related to the Duty of Vigilance are identified in the summary with the help of the pictogram.

Corporate social responsibility is an essential component of Groupe SEB's strategy, and is driven by top management. For a great many years, Groupe SEB has been committed to an approach that strives to be ethical, economically profi table, socially fair and environmentally responsible. There are regular presentations on this policy to the Board of Directors and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee is responsible for monitoring it.
In line with this commitment, the Group supports initiatives designed to get a growing number of companies to begin their CSR journey. It is with this in mind that its Chairman, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, and four other business leaders in the Lyon region established the Mix-R network in October 2018. Mix-R aims to be an "activist for responsible companies". It offers its members various activities to stimulate collective intelligence and joint development: experience sharing, conferences, inter-company thematic programs, promotion of proven CSR initiatives, etc.
From 2012 to 2018, the Group's sustainable development strategy focused on the basics: ethics and human rights, responsible employment policy, solidarity, sustainable innovation, the environment. Building on the work done in these various areas, the Group wanted to take this a step further to proactively incorporate the challenges associated with its businesses.
The new strategy, completed in 2018, is the result of a major internal consultation in 2017 that involved the various Group businesses and teams across a dozen countries. In line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it aligns the vision of all teams. It is built on 5 pillars that underpin the "business" challenges:
The sustainable development strategy is implemented under the oversight of the Sustainable Development department, which reports to the Senior Executive Vice-president, Human Resources, who is a member of the Executive Committee. Made up of a team of seven people, two of whom are seconded to the Fonds Groupe SEB, it coordinates and drives Group-wide participatory efforts with the support of a dedicated Steering Committee. In order to instill sustainable development criteria at all levels of the company and on all continents, this Steering Committee is composed of around 20 members hailing from a variety of core business areas and divisions (communications, quality/environment, innovation, purchasing, logistics, marketing, etc.) and meets twice a year. The Sustainable Development department also relies on the network of continental Human Resources Managers who act as contacts with the countries.
2018 was mainly spent rolling out the five pillars of the evolving sustainable development strategy. A dozen thematic road maps were developed together with the representatives of the relevant businesses. All functions were involved in the process: Purchasing, Quality, Environment, R&D, Marketing, Trademarks, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Production, IT and Digital, Logistics, Consumer Satisfaction, Design, etc. Each road map is built around projects with targets and quantitative indicators. Twice a year a progress report is put together by the Sustainable Development department with the "business" contributors.
In parallel, the country teams started to determine their areas of priority, in line with the direction of the new strategy. The "country" road maps are steered by the sustainable development contact, typically the subsidiary's Human Resources Manager. The Sustainable Development department also supports the local teams with project planning and aims to create a network of best practice-sharing to drive momentum.
Paying close attention to the Group's "ecosystem", the Sustainable Development department has been holding a series of discussions with a panel of the Group's stakeholders since 2013, to gather their opinions and suggestions about its sustainable development policy. This panel was mainly comprised of external experts: expert in positive branding, Santé Environnement France association, expert in responsible consumption, expert in environmentally-friendly design, representative from Ademe (Agence de l'environnement et de la maîtrise de l'énergie – French Agency for Environment and Energy Management), cooking blogger, etc. and an employee representative, member of the European Works Council. The meeting organized at end-January 2019 mainly looked at the corporate social responsibility of brands and specifi cally Tefal and Rowenta. At the previous meeting in 2018, panel members had discussed the Group's new strategic direction in terms of sustainable development and the vigilance plan designed to identify and anticipate risks. In 2016, they had worked on circular economy projects.
The Group uses a number of communication methods to increase employee awareness of sustainable development issues, including a dedicated section on the Group's intranet, which is regularly updated with news, articles in site newspapers, telexes and events. There is also the Yammer internal social network's Sustainable Innovation community, which is a forum for discussions on sustainable innovation. Many sustainable development-related themes are also dealt with in the Group's Code of Ethics, which regularly inspires training and awareness-raising initiatives (see page 129 ).
Every year, a sustainable development week is organized worldwide and is a special opportunity to enlist the cooperation of employees. The 2018 theme was the circular economy, one of the fi ve pillars of the Group's evolving sustainable development strategy. The activities on the program took varied forms including for example: quiz on the circular economy available on the intranet; repair cafe and no-waste cooking workshop (France); paper recycling awareness through the installation of a "green box" (Egypt); replacing plastic cups with mugs and raising awareness about food waste (Brazil); "no print day" challenge (Chile and Argentina); educational games on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (WMF), etc.
In 2019, the Group will roll out a major communications campaign on the Group's evolvingsustainable development strategy to share it with all employees worldwide. This campaign uses a wide range of tools with a view to making it accessible to everyone: videos, website, booklet, on-site events, etc. It also provides "business" sheets giving each person a view of their personal contribution, and places great importance on education, in particular to explain concepts such as the circular economy.
The remuneration of all managers who have a certain level of responsibility comprises a variable portion related to the results of the Group and those of the entity in which they work. In 2018, the Group decided to include environmental, social and ethical performance criteria when calculating the bonuses awarded to its 690 top managers. The goal is to embed the Group's non-fi nancial performance in all businesses and levels of the company, as part of an overall value creation approach. A portion of the bonus will thus be subject to the achievement of the Group's carbon emission goals, from its plants to its logistics chain, to the number of workplace accidents and social compliance rating awarded to Group sites in the course of social audits of emerging markets .
In 2013, the Audit and Internal Control department included the Code of Ethics and the Responsible Purchasing Charter in the internal control manual used when auditing subsidiaries. Since 2016, the Sustainable Development department has also sent it the action plans implemented by the subsidiaries as part of the new ethical, social and environmental audit procedure (see page 131 ). This strengthens the ethical, social and environmental monitoring within all the Group's processes. Sites that are not audited by the Audit and Internal Control department during the year are sent a self-assessment questionnaire through reporting software. This covers the same checkpoints audited during on-site audits and includes the internal control manual and also the rules contained in the Code of Ethics and the Responsible Purchasing Charter. Both sets of guidelines are therefore fully harmonized and ensure that the audit process is fully consistent. Furthermore, when studies take place prior to company acquisitions, the Strategy department conducts a review of social and environmental issues using a questionnaire that covers the key points in the Code of Ethics.
3

Groupe SEB has been a pioneer in this regard since 2011, and had a selection of corporate social responsibility indicators for the 2010 financial year audited by one of its statutory auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit. It continued this voluntary commitment and PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit issued a limited assurance report for the 2011 and 2012 fi nancial years on a selection of social and environmental indicators. Finally, to comply with what are now legal obligations, every year since 2013 the Group has had the completeness and fairness of the social, employment-related and environmental information in the Registration Document audited. In 2017, Groupe SEB changed its audit company to Mazars (see a detailed description of the reporting process on page 127 and Mazars' report for 2018 on page 178 ). Since 2010, 74 audits have been carried out on 25 different sites in seven countries (Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, China and the United States) .
A growing number of management companies are basing their investment decisions on the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of listed companies, or including this factor in their stock-picking process. Several dedicated funds are Groupe SEB shareholders as a result. The CSR policy is regularly included in the Group's fi nancial communication, and the Sustainable Development department meets with specialized CSR investors at least once a year, at conferences or dedicated roadshows.
At the same time, several non-fi nancial rating agencies assess the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) performance of Groupe SEB.
This performance is increasingly gaining recognition by the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) agency, which manages the largest database of company environmental data in the world. In 2018, the Group's rating improved from B- to B in the Supply Chain category, which is above the sector.
The Group's commitments and initiatives are also assessed every two years by Vigeo-Eiris (1), the leading agency in Europe. Its 2018 rating, up 7 points on 2016, makes Groupe SEB the leader in its sector in Europe ranked against 32 other companies. It is also ranked 29th out of 4,159 companies globally, outpacing some main competitors such asPhilips and Electrolux. With respect to human rights (+9 points), the report highlighted the Group's structured approach, in particular as part of its responsible purchasing policy, as well as its commitment to combat discrimination and encourage diversity within the company. The Group also increased its environmental score by 19 points and its community involvement score by 10 points, with a special mention for its support for combating social exclusion.
Vigeo-Eiris also published a study at end-2018 entitled "Human rights in a globalised world: why do companies need to pay more attention?", which puts Groupe SEB in the top 1% of the best performing companies in the world in terms of human rights.
The SEB share is also included in several SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) indices. The Group has kept its place in Vigeo-Eiris's Europe 120 and Eurozone 120 indices, composed of the companies with the highest scores based on more than 330 indicators. Groupe SEB has also confi rmed its place in the FTSE4Good international index, a global benchmark in the fi eld, with a score of 4/5. It is listed in the Personal & Household Goods category. The SEB share also features in Forum Ethibel's Excellence Europe index.
When it comes to its CSR reputation, Groupe SEB was ranked 4th in the Rep Track survey, out of a panel of 200 large companies active on the French market. This survey, conducted in 2018 with 38,000 participants, is based on three aspects: working environment, governance and social commitment. The Group is also on the research panels of Gaïa Rating, Sustainalytics and Oekom, which has awarded it "Prime" status.
The Group's CSR approach won numerous awards throughout 2018 (CSR Award, École des Mines / CEGOS, LSA «Development of Environmental Responsibility» Award, Special Award at the Trophées Défis RSE 2018). The Group won the Social Responsibility and Environmental Awareness Award at the European Business Awards. Selected from 112,000 competing companies in 34 European countries, Groupe SEB stood out by virtue of its reparability policy for it Rowenta, Tefal, Moulinex, Krups, Calor and SEB brands.
Giving consideration to social and environmental issues is also a winning strategy for the brands, as shown by Havas Media Group's Meaningful Brands study, which in 2017 examined the performance of brands with regard to the quality of life and well-being of consumers (1,500 brands in 33 countries). For the fi rst time, two Groupe SEB brands were included in the French selection (Seb and Moulinex). Both went straight to the top of the national brands most trusted by French consumers (4th and 6th place respectively).
In accordance with the French law no. 2017-399 of 28 March 2017 on the duty of vigilance of parent companies and ordering companies ("Duty of Vigilance") and Order no. 2017-1180 of 19 July 2017 on the disclosure of non-fi nancial information by certain large companies and major corporate groups, the Vigilance Plan and the Non-Financial Performance Statement (Déclaration de Performance Extra Financière, OR "DPEF") are intended to present the measures implemented within the Group to identify risks and prevent serious harm to the human rights and fundamental freedoms, health and safety of individuals and the environment, related to our activities as well as those of our subcontractors and suppliers.
Corporate social responsibility has been an essential component of the Group's strategy for many years, and these risks have been identifi ed over time and form the basis for the implementation of all the Group's sustainable development actions and policies. The new legal requirements relating to the duty of vigilance therefore refl ect the values and actions defended by the Group for many years.
The Group SEB business model is presented in pages 6-7 of this registration document .
The Group's risk management method (see methodology described under "Risk Factors" Chapter 1 of the 2018 Registration Document) has been applied to the areas covered by the Duty of Vigilance law and the Non-Financial Performance Statement, namely: CSR risks – social, environmental, societal, human rights and the fi ght against corruption.
As part of this process, the Audit and Internal Control department brought together the Group's Sustainable Development, Legal, Financial Communication, Environment, Health & Safety departments to identify and integrate these risks into the company's overall mapping of risks already completed elsewhere.
Groupe SEB operates in nearly 150 countries in a variety of complex economic and socio-cultural environments. The CSR risks identifi ed are intrinsically linked to our operations but also the risks inherent to the countries in which our subsidiaries and suppliers operate. On the basis of this frame of reference, the Group identifi ed that its main CSR risks are concentrated in the emerging countries. That is why the ethical, social and environmental audits are primarily done in these high-priority areas.
In order to consider both the company's vision and stakeholder expectations, this identifi cation of CSR risks was also cross-checked against the materiality matrix. The whole thing was approved by the Group's stakeholder panel in January 2018.
The main CSR risks were presented and validated by the stakeholder panel in January 2018 and presented to the Audit Committee in October 2018.
| Area | Risks | Policies | Key performance indicators | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social and societal | Health and safety of staff safety of the employees thanks to the |
Protect and ensure the health and | Lost time injuries rate* | Chap 3.5 / Health and safety / p. 141 |
| Health and safety policy of the Group | Rate of OHSAS 18001 certifi ed entities |
|||
| Ethics and corruption |
Corruption | Ensuring ethics and transparency of our business as well as respect for the laws through the implementation of a : • Code of Ethics • Code of Ethics training (e-learning and classroom) • Anti-corruption e-learning module planned for H2 2019 |
Rate of roll-out of Code of Ethics e-learning training * |
Chap 3.5/ Ethics compliance / p. 129 |
| Ethics and corruption |
Human Rights |
Ensure respect Human Rights, in our activities, everywhere where the Group is established, thanks to the implementation of : • a Code of Ethics • a responsible purchasing policy |
Rate of employee self assessment Intertek audit of plants in emerging countries (Group-wide) * Proportion of plants with an aggregate compliance score of over 80% * |
Chap 3.5/ Ethics compliance / Code of Ethics / p. 129 |
| Environmental | Climate change |
Réduire l'impact du Groupe sur le changement climatique grâce à la mise en place : Reduce the Group impact on climate change thanks to : • A Circular economy policy • the 4x20 objectives |
Rate of recycled material in new products Rate of recyclability of electrical products Rate of repairable products Rate of energy improvement of production sites Rate of improvement of energy consumption by electrical products Proportion of recycled and reused waste out of total waste Rate of ISO 14001 certifi ed entities Electricity consumption Natural gas consumption Greenhouse gas emissions associated with product and component transportation Greenhouse gas emissions generated by our plants and logistics platforms |
Chap 3.8/ Using recycled materials / p. 165 Chap 3.8/ Reparability / p. 163 Chap 3.9 / Eco -production / p. 171 Chap 3.9 / Eco- logistics / p. 175 Chap 3.9 / Eco-design / p. 169 |
* Data audited by Mazars
Over the last 10 years, Groupe SEB has more than doubled in size, acquiring several companies (including EMSA and WMF in 2016), and has continued its international expansion . It now has some 34,000 employees around the world, with around two-thirds of its workforce located outside of Europe. Since a common culture and a shared set of values are essential to a successful ethical approach, Groupe SEB has structured and formalized its policy in the form of a Code of Ethics, which was drafted in 2012. Translated into the Group's 11 main languages, it has been distributed to all employees worldwide and is now available online on the Group's intranet. This document addresses 18 key areas, including child labor, anticorruption measures, non-discrimination, environmental protection and the prevention of confl icts of interest.
The roll-out of the Code of Ethics, in 2012, involved nearly 10,000 hours of training. In 2018, the Group launched a new training campaign to ensure that every employee understands the key concepts and knows how to deal with an ethical dilemma. 91.5% of 11,000 connected employees have done an e-learning program between December 2018 and February 2019, which is available in seven languages (French, English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Japanese) on the RH iGrow@SEB online platform. This six-module curriculum is both interactive and engaging. Each module includes a theoretical portion followed by a quiz and a practical example where the employee is presented with an ethical dilemma. For employees without online access, classroom training will be rolled out in 2019, facilitated by Human Resources supervisors and site managers. In order to make it as real-world as possible, this training was developed jointly by various Group departments: Sustainable Development, Training, Human Resources, Quality Standards & Environment, Audit and Internal Control, Purchasing, Legal, and Health and Safety. It is one of several mandatory training courses for all new employees.
To ensure that the principles of the Code of Ethics are effectively implemented and complied with, the Internal Audit department has incorporated verifi cation elements from the Code of Ethics into its Internal Control Manual.
We also have numerous action plans involving the Group's various teams to mitigate these CSR risks:
Since 2003, the Group has adopted a worldwide environment management system. Its main objectives are the prevention of pollution, the control of resource consumption (energy and water) and the reduction of waste. This approach has resulted in the gradual certification of the sites in accordance with ISO 14001, whose guidelines the Group undertakes to adhere to, namely compliance with current regulations and laws, and the principle of continuous improvement of its already-strong environmental performance pollution prevention. In 2017, the Group adopted the new version of this standard, which emphasizes the concept of leadership, within an increased role for management, up to site director level. It also refl ects a more global approach to the impact of the site's operation on a product's life cycle. This change has meant that the teams tasked with environmental management in the fi eld have had to acquire new expertise. This has been achieved through training, support for the sites, and through greater contributions from the international network of Health, Safety and Environment coordinators.
Teams involved: Industry, Environment
Since 2007, the Group has set all its sites to work on the certifi cation of its Health and Safety management system (OHSAS 18001). At the end of December 2018, 100% of the Group's industrial and logistics entities had this workplace Health/Safetycertifi cation.
Teams involved: Health and Safety, Industry, Human Resources
In 2016, Groupe SEB laid the groundwork for an international health plan (Health in SEB). An analysis was performed on all the industrial sites to identify the main health risks (dust, noise, repetitive work, etc.). This inventory was used as a basis for the creation of Group standards and to defi ne health targets, accompanied by monitoring indicators.
Teams involved: Human Resources, Health and Safety, Industry
Groupe SEB's approach to Safety is refl ected in its worldwide Safety in SEB program. The 2020 road map emphasizes the involvement of employees as participants in their own safety.
Teams involved: Human Resources, Health and Safety, Industry
Groupe SEB has a great responsibility to ensure that its products are manufactured under ethical conditions. It follows a responsible purchasing policy that includes reporting and control systems to ensure that its suppliers comply with its ethical, social and environmental requirements. This policy has been consistently reinforced since 2012. It is the subject of a shared road map between the Purchasing and Sustainable Development departments. It is implemented by teams that are well-versed in responsible purchasing: this issue is integrated into the various training courses and activities of the purchasing community, such as web forums that are regularly held on specifi c topics.
The Responsible Purchasing Charter, which is based on the Group's Code of Ethics, is available in French, English, German, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese. Sent to all suppliers on the panel, it explains the Group's requirements in terms of respect for human rights and its ethical, social and environmental principles, with a specifi c focus on the fi ght against corruption. Ninety percent of suppliers are signatories or are considered to comply with the Group's requirements thanks to their own policies in this area.
Respect for Human Rights forms an integral part of the Groupe SEB Code of Ethics as well as the training offered in this regard to international HR Managers. As a signatory of the Global Compact since 2003, the Group decided to evaluate its teams' practices in relation to Human Rights in subsidiaries employing more than 10 people, starting in 2007. Up until 2014, it used the HRCA (Human Rights Compliance Assessment) Quick Check self-assessment tool, developed by the Danish Institute for Human Rights and for sites operated by its Chinese subsidiary Supor, the CBSSC (China Business and Social Sustainability Check). These self-assessments, which were carried out every couple of years or so, covered almost 99% of the workforce and fostered a dynamic of improvement.
In 2015, Groupe SEB took things to another level by applying the same (2) ethical, social and environmental audit procedure that it operates with its suppliers (WCA – Workplace Condition Assessment) to its industrial sites in risky areas, using the same specialist consulting fi rm (Intertek – see below).
The audits (conducted once every three years) are accompanied by action plans to rectify any non-compliances, and sites with a compliance score of less than 70% must undergo a follow-up audit. The action plans are submitted to the Sustainable Development department. This department shares them with the Industry department (including the Health, Safety and Environment managers), the Human Resources department and the Audit and Internal Control department, which are therefore able to verify their implementation. An annual summary of the audit results is also sent to the Executive Committee. This monitoring system, similar to the one used for the Group's suppliers, allows external comparisons to be made and the generating of audits that can be used in dealings with customers.
To ensure that the principles of the Code of Ethics are effectively implemented and complied with, the Internal Audit department has incorporated verifi cation elements from the Code of Ethics into its Internal Control Manual.
In the preliminary evaluation of any new supplier of raw materials/ components and finished products, 25% of the score depends directly on social and environmental criteria. Moreover, since 2013, if just one of the major social or environmental criteria is rated unsatisfactory, the supplier will be discarded. For the environmental aspect, these criteria primarily include the following factors: ISO 14001 certifi cation, visible pollution (water, ground and air), and use of hazardous products. For the social aspects, the main criteria are: existence of a formal ethical/social policy or the signature of Groupe SEB's Responsible Purchasing Charter, working conditions, observance of employment law (age, working hours, etc.) and of safety rules. To evaluate new indirect (non-production) suppliers, the CSR criteria account for a minimum of 10% of the score, depending on the purchasing category.
In the interests of transparency, the Group has drawn up an Ethical, Social and Environmental Audit Charter for its suppliers. This Charter is shared with them, along with the points that are evaluated during the audits. To help suppliers make progress in social and environmental matters, the Group offers training sessions on this topic. It thus makes sure that they have properly understood the Group's responsible purchasing policy and the checkpoints audited as part of the WCA, especially in the areas of Health, Safety and working conditions.
(2) Risky areas as defined by the Amfori/Business Social Compliance Initiative – Country Risk Classification.
17 Purchasing Directors from Asia (8), South America (4) and Europe (5) make up the network of Social Audit Leaders, which gained 5 new members in 2017 (OBH, WMF, EMSA, Groupe SEB India and Supor Vietnam). They are responsible for the completion of audits in their areas and for progress plans undertaken by suppliers. This network is coordinated by the social compliance manager (based in Hong Kong) and through regular meetings (web conferences) attended by the Group's Purchasing Director, covering audit reviews, the analysis of results, exchanges of good practices, and so on.
Ethical, social and environmental audits are carried out by the Intertek consulting fi rm. A global audit management tool ensures immediate and specifi c listed supplier monitoring and also makes it possible to compare the results obtained by the Group's suppliers with those of companies listed in the Intertek database (more than 30,000 audits).
The procedure is very formal. During an initial in-depth audit (involving one to three days on site, depending on the size of the company), the auditor reviews nearly 300 checkpoints taken from the WCA (Workplace Condition Assessment) audit criteria. Each checkpoint is assessed according to a four-level scale of compliance ranging from "zero tolerance" (forced labor, blocked emergency exits, excessive weekly working time, etc.) to minor non-compliances, with moderate and major non-compliances (no pay slip, no emergency exit signs, etc.) in between. The fi nal score, calculated out of 100, is ranked according to four performance levels: high performance (85 to 100), average (71 to 84), poor (51 to 70) and very poor (0 to 50). The audit report is sent to the Group's Purchasing department. A single "zero tolerance" noncompliance (e.g. failure to comply with the legal working age) triggers the following actions: a letter from the Purchasing Director or Sourcing Director requiring the implementation of a corrective action plan within two weeks, immediate suspension of any new consultations and a follow-up audit (by Intertek) one month later (3) to check that the issue has been resolved. If not, the Group ends the collaboration. With scores of less than 50, the regional Purchasing or Sourcing manager sends a formal letter warning the company to remedy the defi ciency and checks that the situation has been rectifi ed through a follow-up audit in the months to come.
Some companies newly acquired by Groupe SEB (such as OBH in 2015, WMF and EMSA in 2016) already had a social audit procedure, based on the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative). These audits are added to the Intertek database, and so the Group has signed up to the BSCI in order to better monitor them. The BCSI's compliance scale has 5 levels ranging from A (Very good) to E (Unacceptable) and a 6th reserved for zero tolerance cases. The Group considers A, B and C results to be acceptable. Zero tolerance cases are managed according to the Group procedure defi ned for WCA, as are D and E ratings, which are managed in the same way as WCA scores of between 0 and 50% (very low performance). The Group's approach is still focused on WCA, however.
Every year the Group audits about a quarter of its listed suppliers of raw materials/components in terms of their compliance with its ethical, social and environmental requirements. Initial audits are paid for by the Group. Suppliers with a score of over 70% are audited every four years, and the others once a year or every two years, depending on the volume of business they have with the Group. In 2018, it completed 173 initial audits (177 in 2017) of suppliers in Asia (124), South America (43) and Europe (6). All suppliers that had a "zero tolerance" noncompliance level and those that scored less than 50% have taken corrective actions as part of the Group's established procedure. The 64 follow-up audits carried out in 2018 showed the effectiveness of the action plans implemented: more than three-quarters of the suppliers concerned achieved the two highest levels of compliance performance (85-100% high performance/71-84% medium performance).
Intertek also hands out an Achievement Award (AA) label to suppliers who have an overall score of at least 85% and do not present any major or zero tolerance-type non-compliances . In 2018, 39 Group suppliers received the AA label (20 in 2017).
As part of the measures introduced to ensure that the Code of Ethics' commitments are properly applied, in 2012 the Group set up a whistleblowing system so that any employee or person from outside the Group can report situations that violate the Code. The system is also shared with suppliers through the Responsible Purchasing Charter and a clause included in supplier agreements whenever these are renewed.
This system has been supplemented by a recently updated whistleblowing procedure. This procedure sets out in detail the various steps to be followed when exercising rights as a whistleblower, the people to be contacted, the information to be provided, the way in which reports are handled, the confi dentiality rules and protection for whistleblowers, insofar as they come forward disinterestedly and in good faith. It is explained in the Code of Ethics as well as in the new Code of Ethics training program and made available to employees on the Group's intranet.
For example, when faced with an ethical dilemma, the following questions should be asked:
Is the law being obeyed? Is the situation in line with Groupe SEB's values and Code of Ethics? Am I comfortable talking to my friends and family about it?
If the answer to any of these questions is negative or if there is any doubt as to how to proceed, we ask employees to discuss the matter with one of the three Ethics Advisers, namely:
The Audit and Organization Director may be contacted in the event of an exceptional situation that cannot be resolved by the fi rst two levels of Ethics Advisers. As necessary, this person will involve the Groupe SEB Ethics Committee, of which he or she is a member, together with the Senior Executive Vice-president of Human Resources, the General Counsel, the Sustainable Development Director, and the Secretary of the European Group Works Committee, which represents the employees. The Audit and Internal Control Director is also Secretary of the Compliance Committee of the Groupe SEB Board of Directors, which annually receives a report on the ethics warnings received and dealt with.
This whistleblowing procedure has been widely communicated through the publication of the Code of Ethics, training on the Code of Ethics and a posting on the Group's intranet site. It is also included in the Group's internal regulations.
In 2018, we had 35 returns, all of which were analyzed. Detailed action plans were prepared for 5 of them.
To address internal and external risks and uncertainties, Groupe SEB has set up a Compliance Committeewhose objective is to identify, quantify, prevent and control these risks as much as possible.
This committee includes members from the:
■ Audit and Internal Control department;
and meets two to four times a year to review the actions taken, discuss the challenges encountered, and formalize corrective action plans.
Generally speaking, Groupe SEB conducts a transparent dialog with all of its stakeholders through various communication media, annually via the publication of the Business and Sustainable Development report and the Registration Document, and on an ongoing basis thanks to a dedicated section of the Group's website and the publication of news items. Stakeholders are identifi ed using the methodology described in paragraph 5.3.2 of the ISO 26000 standard.
| Stakeholders | Modes of dialog |
|---|---|
| Employees Employees (managers and non managers) |
Intranet site, welcome booklet, internal communications initiatives, Annual Appraisal Interviews (AAIs), employee survey (Great Place to Work), site newspapers and documents on a range of topics (Code of Ethics, Management Values and Practices, etc.). |
| Future employees | Website, careers site, social networks, school forums, outreach meetings, etc. |
| Employee representatives Employee representative bodies |
Labor relations agenda, employee-management dialog bodies, dedicated intranet, signing of collective agreements, etc. |
| Consumers | Group and brand websites, social networks, Groupe SEB TV, media and non-media communications, marketing research, Home & Cook stores, consumer service, etc. |
| Suppliers and subcontractors | Discussions with Group and local purchasers, Responsible Purchasing Charter, Code of Ethics, annual evaluation, regulatory compliance via the EcoMundo platform, social and environmental audits, etc. |
| Public authorities | Participation in working groups, conferences, partnerships/local projects, public/private research partnerships, competitiveness clusters, etc. |
| Shareholders | Business and Sustainable Development report, Registration Document, letter to shareholders, website, webzine, Annual General Meeting, information meetings, etc. |
| Customers Distributors |
Code of Ethics, sales meetings, partnerships and multi-year action plans, etc. |
| Professional associations CECED , Gifam, Unitam, Medef, Afep, Demeter, Éco-Systèmes, FIEEC and other eco-organizations, etc. |
Participation in working groups, involvement in governance, etc. |
| Civil society NGOs, associations, communities |
Business and Sustainable Development report, selection and support of projects via the Fonds Groupe SEB or subsidiaries, partnerships, cause-related marketing products, etc. |
| Financial and non-fi nancial bodies Rating agencies, fi nancial analysts , institutional investors, banks, funds, etc. |
Business and Sustainable Development report, Registration Document, website, SRI meetings, road shows, responses to questionnaires, press releases, communication on progress of the UN Global Compact, Investor Days, formal meetings, etc. |
The breakdown of revenue by stakeholder is shown in ourBusiness and Sustainable Development report.

Groupe SEB sees lobbying as a positive approach that consists of communicating its opinion to the authorities about the potential consequences of an action or a decision. It provides insights through professional associations of which it is an active member and which intervene in the same way as other stakeholders such as consumer associations and other NGOs. The aim is for the authority concerned by a given subject to have all the data at hand to make the best decision with respect to the desired aim and expectations of the various stakeholders. The Group bases its analysis on its industry expertise and its market knowledge. Since 2015, it has structured its lobbying activities in the European Affairs department, reporting to its Head of Quality, Standards and Environment. The department is tasked with transmitting to the authorities the information needed to defi ne regulations and standards that may impact the Group's product designs.
In 2018, Groupe SEB continued to act to promote the circular economy by highlighting the importance of producing products that can be repaired. In particular, it calls for the creation of a tax incentive for repair sector operators, and the use of recycled materials. It has also been involved in challenges such as:
■ the regulations on materials in contact with food;
To contribute to discussions about its industry, Groupe SEB plays an active role in various French and European professional associations such as:

Environmental issues
Ethical issues
Social issues
Societal issues
Consumer-related issues

To make it easier to read the information contained in this chapter, the table below summarizes the 20 issues identifi ed by Groupe SEB, defi nes them and lists the number(s) of the pages on which the issue is addressed.
| Challenges | Defi nitions | Page no. |
|---|---|---|
| PEOPLE MATTER/ETHICS | ||
| Human Rights | Fight against any form of forced or compulsory labor, concealed work, child labor, inhuman working conditions and excessive overtime. |
130 |
| Responsible purchasing |
Require our suppliers to respect Human Rights and essential ethical, social and environmental principles. |
130-131 |
| Anti-corruption measures |
Prohibit strongly any kind of corruption in our relationships, not only with our commercial and institutional partners, but also with the Government. |
132 |
| Governance | Work in favor of a more responsible governance: diversity and independence of the Board of Directors, increased female participation in key positions, transparency about the pay of executive offi cers, etc. |
Chapter 2 |
| PEOPLE MATTER/A RESPONSIBLE EMPLOYMENT POLICY | ||
| Equality and Diversity |
Ensure equal treatment between employees. Only take into account their professional skills when it comes to their recruitment, pay and development within the Group. |
138-140 |
| Employee management dialog |
Respect for freedom of association and union representation while encouraging employee-management dialog on both an individual and collective basis. |
140 |
| Health and Safety | Provide each employee with a safe and healthy working environment. | 141-144 |
| Global social protection fl oor |
Ensure fair pay, minimum social cover and decent working conditions for all employees. | 145-146 |
| PEOPLE MATTER/A CORPORATE CITIZEN | ||
| Dialog with stakeholders |
Take into account the expectations of all our stakeholders in the conduct of our activities: consumers, associations/NGOs, municipalities/public authorities, suppliers, customers, shareholders, employees, etc. |
115 |
| Social commitment | Fulfi ll our economic and social responsibilities in the territories in which we operate: creating jobs, taking part in the development of local companies and supporting local associations acting against exclusion. |
151-153 |
| SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION AND RESPECT FOR CONSUMERS | ||
| Respect for consumers |
Propose high-standard products with all the guarantees in terms of safety and harmlessness. Be very demanding about the quality of the information given to consumers through our call centers, and via our brands' websites and our after-sales service. |
156 |
| CIRCULAR REVOLUTION / A MORE CIRCULAR ECONOMY | ||
| Circular economy | Make the circular economy central to our sustainable innovations. The circular economy requires a chain structuring approach (e.g. recycling chain and reuse chain). This economic system is based on exchanges and production. At every stage of the life cycle of the products, goods and services, it aims to increase the effi ciency of the resources and reduce the impact on the environment while enabling the well-being of individuals. |
163-166 |
| Repairability | Facilitate the repair of our products: design, availability and price of spare parts, training of approved service centers, etc. |
163-164 |
| BETTER HOME LIFE / PRODUCTS ACCESSIBLE FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE & A HEALTHY HOME | ||
| Product accessibility |
Promote the accessibility of products by as many people as possible by working on the price, ergonomics and distribution networks. |
161 |
| COOKING FOR GOOD / HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE HOMEMADE FOOD | ||
| Sustainable eating | Promote consumption modes favoring healthy and sustainable eating by innovating and supporting consumers. |
160 |
| CLIMATE ACTION / REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT | ||
| Eco-design | Reduce the environmental footprint of products through eco-design. | 169-170 |
| Water | Limit the water consumption of our sites together with their emissions to water. | 174 |
| Waste management |
Limit and recover waste from production by favoring solutions with a smaller impact on the environment. |
173-174 |
| Greenhouse gas emissions reduction |
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to the production process (optimization of energy consumption, use of renewable energies, etc.) and the transport of products, raw materials and components. |
171-172; 175-177 |
| Biodiversity | Promote ordinary biodiversity and limit the impacts of our processes and our products on biodiversity. |
174-175 |
Since 2002, Groupe SEB has been committed to reporting on its social, employment-related and environmental performance. To this end, it has established a set of monitoring indicators and reporting procedures that are regularly reviewed as part of a continuous improvement process. The indicators and procedures are set out in an internal document entitled "Reporting process for CSR steering indicators".
The indicators used by Groupe SEB to measure its performance in 2018cover all of the items listed in Article 225 of French law no. 2010- 788 of 12 July 2010, known as the Grenelle 2 law. The Group goes beyond this legal requirement by reporting other indicators that fall particularly under Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) recommendations. Based on these guidelines, which are an international standard for the reporting of non-fi nancial information, Groupe SEB has incorporated the materiality approach within its reporting process in order to identify the main sustainable development priorities and the related indicators.
In keeping with the development of national and international requirements and the Group's philosophy of continuous improvement, it has therefore added new indicators. It has also specified the components of certain indicators to improve the reliability of published data, and in many areas has extended the reporting scope, including new acquisitions where possible.
All of the indicators reported aim to track the Group's progress in relation to its corporate responsibility commitments. The procedure for defi ning and/or calculating these indicators is explained whenever useful or necessary.
The Sustainable Development department coordinates the Groupwide reporting of social, employment-related and environmental information. It develops formal processes for every relevant division and consolidates all the data collected in a specifi c non-fi nancial reporting system.
Since 2012, Groupe SEB has used Tennaxia's reporting system for sustainable development reporting. Its fl exibility will make it easy to incorporate future developments: adding indicators, modifying reporting scopes, etc. It also makes it possible to create analysis reports and dashboard charts that are useful for management and decision-making. Its international roll-out was completed during 2013.
3
The processes and tools used to collect data for the various indicators vary from one theme to the next and between regions (France and World):
| Theme/Region | France | World (excluding France) |
|---|---|---|
| Breakdown of workforce by gender, age, region and classifi cation; external labor |
Data extracted from SAP BW imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
SAP BW data imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
| People with disabilities | Data compiled in a spreadsheet and imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Absenteeism rate | Data extracted from SAP BW imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data extracted from SAP BW imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Collective agreements | Data compiled in a spreadsheet and imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Overtime | Data extracted from SAP BW imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Health | Data compiled in a spreadsheet using Winlassie software then imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (quarterly) |
| Safety | Data compiled in a spreadsheet using Winlassie software then imported into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (quarterly) |
| Training | Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Corporate sponsorship expenses | Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Environmental data excluding direct raw materials | Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
Data input directly into Tennaxia (annual) |
| Direct raw materials | Data compiled in a spreadsheet (annual) |
Data compiled in a spreadsheet (annual) |
The reporting of these data involves more than 200 correspondents from different divisions on all Group SEB's sites
Groupe SEB is committed to ensuring that the data it publishes are accurate by carrying out a number of consistency tests. The Tennaxia reporting system provides an automatic consistency checking functionality to limit data entry errors. It also allows users to attach fi les and add comments. Any potential inconsistencies or errors fl agged are reviewed with the sites and corrected. The Group also strives to maintain uniformity across its reports, presenting its indicators over a period of three years when data are available.
The social, employment-related and environmental indicators may present methodological limitations due to the lack of standard definitions and national/international laws (e.g. for workplace accidents) and/or the qualitative nature of certain data. Given these limitations, as well as potential diffi culties with data collection, the reporting scope may vary depending on the indicator. Whenever the scope of an indicator is limited, this is explicitly stated. Any other variations in scope may be related to the creation, acquisition, sale or closure of sites.
Data on absenteeism came with a methodological limit in 2015. Due to the lack of any offi cial international defi nition of absenteeism, information from international subsidiaries is not subject to formal monitoring and controls at Group level. Groupe SEB has worked on its own international defi nition in order to be able to monitor and report on absenteeism worldwide since 2016.
Regarding Health and Safety reporting, a limitation has been identifi ed in the recording of work-related illnesses on a global scale. Some legal systems (such as Germany) recommend medical secrecy and fi gures are therefore unavailable and treated as null for these specifi c cases.
The period used for annual sustainable development reporting is the fi nancial year, which corresponds to the calendar year in Groupe SEB's case (1 January to 31 December).
To comply with what are now legal obligations, Mazars's auditors verifi ed the completeness and fairness of the social, employmentrelated, and environmental information in this Registration Document.
The top priority when it comes to ethics is to apply the laws in force in each country where Groupe SEB operates. Groupe SEB also adheres to the international standards set out by the UN, and particularly to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the OECD's guidelines for multinational enterprises. It is also a signatory of the UN's Global Compact and the APPLiA's (4) Code of Conduct.
The Group's tangible commitments in terms of human rights put it in the top 1% of the best performing companies worldwide in this sphere, according to the "Human rights in a globalised world: why do companies need to pay more attention?" study published at end-2018 by the non-fi nancing rating agency Vigeo-Eiris. This study was published to mark the 70th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights and looks at companies in 60 countries and 38 sectors, tracking their performance from April 2016 to October 2018.
Over the last 10 years, Groupe SEB has more than doubled in size, acquiring several companies (including EMSA and WMF in 2016), and has become an increasingly international group. It now has close to 34,000 employees around the world, with around two-thirds of its workforce located outside of Europe. Since a common culture and a shared set of values are essential to a successful ethical approach, Groupe SEB has structured and formalized its policy in the form of a Code of Ethics, which was drafted in 2012. Translated into the Group's 11 main languages, it has been distributed to all employees worldwide and is now available online on the Group's intranet. This document addresses 18 key areas, including child labor, anticorruption measures, non-discrimination, environmental protection and the prevention of confl icts of interest.
The implementation of the Code of Ethics in 2012 was backed up with close to 10,000 hours of training. In 2018, the Group launched a new wave of training to ensure that every employee understood the key concepts and knows how to act when faced with an ethical dilemma. 91.5% of the 11,000 connected employees have done an e-learning program between November 2018 and February 2019, which is available in seven languages (French, English, Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Japanese) on the RH iGrow@SEB online platform. It consists of 6 modules designed in an interactive and fun manner. They comprise a theoretical component followed by a quiz and a case study where the employee is faced with an ethical issue. For employees who are not connected, an equivalent classroom-based training will be organized in 2019, coordinated by the Human Resources managers and site managers. In order to make it as real-world as possible, this training was developed jointly by various Group departments: Sustainable Development, Training, Human Resources, Quality Standards & Environment, Audit and Internal Control, Purchasing, Legal, Health and Safety. This is included in the mandatory training for new employees.
As part of the measures introduced to ensure that the Code of Ethics' commitments are properly applied, in 2012 the Group set up a whistleblowing system so that any employee or person from outside the Group can report situations that violate the Code. It was also communicated to suppliers through the Responsible Purchasing Charter.
This system is supplemented by a whistleblowing procedure, which has recently been updated. It clearly sets out the various steps for whistleblowers to follow to exercise their right, the people to be contacted, the information to be provided, the way in which reports are handled, the confi dentiality rules and protection for whistleblowers, assuming they come forward disinterestedly and in good faith. It is explained in the new training program on the Code of Ethics and made available to employees on the Group's intranet.
In 2018, we had 35 returns, all of which were analyzed. Detailed action plans were prepared for 5 of them.
The various points in the Code of Ethics are included in the internal audit manual and are verifi ed during site audits .
More information about risk factors can be found from page 36 onwards.

Respect for Human Rights forms an integral part of the Groupe SEB Code of Ethics as well as the training offered in this regard to international HR Managers. As a signatory of the Global Compact since 2003, the Group decided to evaluate its teams' practices in relation to Human Rights in subsidiaries employing more than 10 people, starting in 2007. Up until 2014 it used the HRCA (Human Rights Compliance Assessment) Quick Check self-assessment tool, developed by the Danish Institute for Human Rights and, for sites operated by its Chinese subsidiary Supor, the CBSSC (China Business and Social Sustainability Check). These self-assessments, which were carried out every couple of years or so, covered almost 99% of the workforce and drove improvements.
In 2015, Groupe SEB took things to another level by applying the same ethical, social and environmental audit procedure that it operates with its suppliers (WCA – Workplace Condition Assessment) to its industrial sites in risky areas (5), using the same specialist consulting fi rm (Intertek – see below).
The audits (conducted once every three years) are accompanied by action plans to rectify any non-compliances, and sites with a compliance score of less than 70% must undergo a follow-up audit. The action plans are submitted to the Sustainable Development department. This department shares them with the Industry department (including the Health, Safety and Environment managers), the Human Resources department and the Audit and Internal Control department, which are therefore able to verify their implementation. An annual summary of the audit results is also sent to the Executive Committee. This monitoring system, similar to the one used for the Group's suppliers, allows external comparisons to be made and the generating of audits that can be used in dealings with customers.
In 2018, 6 sites were audited in the Czech Republic, India, China and Brazil. The average compliance score was 80.7%, and no zero tolerance non-compliances were identifi ed. The 2 sites that received less than 80% implemented a corrective action plan .
Groupe SEB bears great responsibility in terms of the manufacturing of its products under ethical conditions. It follows a responsible purchasing policy that includes reporting and control systems to ensure that its suppliers comply with its ethical, social and environmental requirements. This policy has been continually reinforced since 2012. It is covered by a shared road map between the Purchasing and Sustainable Development departments. It is implemented by teams trained in responsible purchasing: this area is incorporated into various trainings and events run by the Purchasing community, such as web forums, that are regularly run on specifi c issues.
The Responsible Purchasing Charter, which stems from the Group's Code of Ethics, is available in French, English, German, Chinese, Spanish and Portuguese. Sent to all listed suppliers (including Supor) (6), it explains the Group's requirements in terms of respect for human rights and its ethical, social and environmental principles, with special mention for efforts to combat corruption. 90% of suppliers have signed up or are deemed to be compliant with Group requirements thanks to their policy in this area.
When doing the preliminary evaluation of any new supplier of raw materials/components and fi nished products, 25% of the rating is directly dependent on social and environmental criteria. Moreover, since 2013, if just one of the major social or environmental criteria is rated unsatisfactory, the supplier will be discarded. For the environmental aspect, these criteria primarily include the following factors: ISO 14001 certifi cation, visible pollution (water, ground and air), and use of hazardous products. For the social aspects, the main criteria are: existence of a formal ethical/social policy or the signature of Groupe SEB's Responsible Purchasing Charter, working conditions, observance of employment law (age, working hours, etc.) and of safety rules. To evaluate new indirect (non-production) suppliers, the CSR criteria account for at least 10% of the score, depending on the purchasing category.
In addition to the compliance requirement, the Group is striving to strengthen the sustainable development component of its purchasing. In order to identify opportunities for improvement, it has mapped out the social and environmental issues for its main purchasing families. This study notably led to the insertion of environmental and social clauses into calls for tender. These are designed, for example, to favor suppliers offering environmentally friendly solutions or who are committed to employing disadvantaged people.
This impetus is a game-changer: for example, FM Logistic France, which manages the Group's product logistics at its Saint-Cyr-en-Val platform, near Orléans, created FMEA, a company providing work to people with disabilities, on this site in 2015. This organization employs people with disabilities to perform repackaging operations (such as adding starter kits or samples to packaging). At the end of 2018, work subcontracted to the disability and inclusive employment sector totaled more than€3 million, equal to 301 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) jobs, across all of the Group's French sites.
(5) Risky areas as defined by amfori/Business Social Compliance Initiative – Country Risk Classification, 2018./Risky areas as defined by the firm Maplecroft in the Human Rights Risk Index.
(6) Groupe SEB's listed suppliers comprise a selection of circa 440 direct suppliers (of materials and components), and 700 indirect suppliers (non-production). Listed suppliers account for over 70% of the Group's purchases in the raw materials/components categories. These preferred suppliers are considered to be particularly effective, based on criteria of quality, cost and corporate social responsibility.
For the sake of transparency, the Group has put together an Ethical, Social and Environmental Audit Charter for its suppliers. It is sent to them, along with the points on which they will be rated during audits. To help suppliers make progress in social and environmental matters, the Group offers them training sessions on this topic. It thus makes sure that they have properly understood the Group's responsible purchasing policy and the checkpoints audited as part of the WCA, especially in the areas of health, safety and working conditions. In 2018, the representatives of 128 Asian suppliers (China and Vietnam) attended four sessions, along with the Group buyers responsible for monitoring them. Numbers at these sessions are continually rising (83 suppliers in 2016, 101 in 2017).
17 Purchasing Directors from Asia (8), South America (4) and Europe (5) make up the network of Social Audit Leaders, which gained 5 new members in 2017 (OBH, WMF, EMSA, Groupe SEB India and Supor Vietnam). They are responsible for the completion of audits in their areas and for progress plans undertaken by suppliers. This network is coordinated by the social compliance manager (based in Hong Kong) and through regular meetings (web conferences) attended by the Group's Purchasing Director, covering audit reviews, the analysis of results, exchanges of best practices, and so on.
Ethical, social and environmental audits are done by Intertek. A global audit management tool ensures immediate and specifi c listed supplier monitoring and also makes it possible to compare the results obtained by the Group's suppliers with those of companies listed in the Intertek database (more than 30,000 audits).
The procedure is very formal. During an initial in-depth audit (involving one to three days on site, depending on the size of the company), the auditor reviews nearly 300 checkpoints taken from the WCA (Workplace Condition Assessment) audit criteria. Each checkpoint is assessed according to a four-level scale of compliance ranging from "zero tolerance" (forced labor, blocked emergency exits, excessively long hours, etc.) to minor non-compliances, with moderate and major non-compliances (no pay slip, emergency exit signs, etc.) in between. The fi nal score, calculated out of 100, is ranked according to four performance levels: high performance (85 to 100), average (71 to 84), poor (51 to 70) and very poor (0 to 50). The audit report is sent to the Group's Purchasing department. A single "zero tolerance" noncompliance (e.g. failure to comply with the legal working age) triggers the following actions: a letter from the Purchasing Director or Sourcing Director requiring the implementation of a corrective action plan within two weeks, immediate suspension of any new consultations and a follow-up audit (by Intertek) one month (7) later to check that the issue has been resolved. If not, the Group ends the collaboration. With an aggregate score of less than 50, the Regional Head of Purchasing or Sourcing sends a formal letter warning the company to correct the breach and checks that the situation has been rectifi ed through a follow-up audit in the following months.
Some companies newly acquired by Groupe SEB (such as OBH in 2015, WMF and EMSA in 2016) already had a social audit procedure, based on the BSCI (8) (Business Social Compliance Initiative). These audits are added to the Intertek database, and so the Group has signed up to the BSCI in order to better monitor them. The BCSI's compliance scale has 5 levels ranging from A (Very good) to E (Unacceptable) and a 6th reserved for zero tolerance cases. The Group considers A, B and C results to be acceptable. Zero tolerance cases are managed according to the Group procedure defi ned for WCA, as are D and E ratings, which are managed in the same way as WCA scores of between 0 and 50% (very low performance). The Group's approach is still focused on WCA, however.
Every year the Group audits about a quarter of its listed suppliers of raw materials/components and fi nished products in terms of their compliance with its ethical, social and environmental requirements. Initial audits are paid for by the Group. Suppliers with a score of more than 70% are audited every four years, and the others once a year or every two years, depending on the volume of business carried out with the Group. In 2018, it completed 173 initial audits (177 in 2017) of suppliers in Asia (124), South America (43) and Europe (6). All suppliers with a "zero-tolerance" non-compliance and those with a score under 50% took corrective actions in line with the procedure set out by the Group. The 64 follow-up audits carried out in 2018 showed the effectiveness of the action plans implemented: over ¾ of the suppliers in question achieved the highest compliance performance levels.
Intertek also hands out an Achievement Award (AA) label to suppliers who have an overall score of at least 85% and do not present any major or zero tolerance non-compliances. In 2018, 39 Group suppliers received the AA label (20 in 2017).
To help suppliers guarantee compliance with regulations relating to the non-use of hazardous substances, Groupe SEB works with EcoMundo, a consulting fi rm specializing in regulatory compliance in relation to chemical substances. Almost 1,000 Groupe SEB suppliers can access a dedicated Internet portal, which makes it easier for them to write their eco-declarations. The Group is also making continuing efforts to monitor certain substances, in anticipation of future regulatory changes (particularly in Europe, i.e. RoHS (9) and REACH (10));
For further information on how purchasing is organized within Groupe SEB, see page 28 .
(7) With respect to non-compliance regarding weekly working time, the follow-up audit may take place within 3 to 6 months as the case may be
(8) Business Social Compliance Initiative (2003).
(9) Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances.
(10) Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals.

This topic was incorporated in the Code of Ethics that applies to all employees worldwide. It provides, in particular, that Groupe SEB strictly prohibits any form of corruption in its dealings with commercial and institutional partners as well as with the government. No fi nancial rewards or other types of benefi ts may be offered in an effort to seek an advantage or be received in exchange for preferential treatment. In addition, in 2003, the Group signed up to the UN's Global Compact, whose tenth principle requires businesses to work against corruption.
The Audit and Internal Control department includes the risk of fraud and corruption in its assessments. Given the economic environment in which Groupe SEB subsidiaries operate, the principal risks are related to the purchasing process (passive bribery of the purchaser) and sales (active bribery of customers' employees). These risks are mitigated for each of these two processes by specifi c rules; compliance with these rules is checked when the subsidiaries are audited. The great majority of subsidiaries have retailers as their customers (often several hundreds), with whom they deal directly without an intermediary.
Lastly, the various points of consideration of the SAPIN II Act were taken into account, in particular with the strengthening of the whistleblowing system, the establishment of an e-learning program that will include an anti-corruption module and fi nally a focus on supplier management.
Groupe SEB's Human Resources policy aims to consolidate a worldwide human resources based on the Group's values (entrepreneurial drive, passion for innovation, group spirit, professionalism and respect for people). It is based on major focal points such as respect for Human Rights, the development of skills, health and safety in the workplace, employee-management dialog and diversity and equality.
In the 2019 Best Employers in France awards run by the Capital magazine and Statista institute, Groupe SEB was ranked no. 1 in the electrical equipmentsector for the second year running, with special mention of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and Quality of Life at Work (QLW) . All sectors combined, it is in the Top 20 of 2,100 companies with over 500 employees best rated by their employees (survey of 20,000 employees). It is 17th, up three places on 2018 when it had already surged 50 places on 2017.
The data given below are for a worldwide scope, excluding EMSA ASIA and excluding WMF Heshan. Data concerning new acquisitions will be included progressively, as and when they are integrated into the various Group processes.
To support its international growth and ensure equal treatment for all, Groupe SEB draws on human resources processes that are harmonized worldwide. These are integrated within a dedicated information system that incorporates the latest generation of digital tools. This increased digitization enables more automated tasks and connects up the various processes more easily, improving global Human Resources management .
The Managerial Competency Model, rolled out in 2016 in every country (11), was integrated in 2017 into the framework of the Annual Appraisal Interview (AAI). It was incorporated into the Group's leadership training programs and is used to evaluate the managerial competency of external and internal candidates when hiring or moving internally. This framework, based on the Group's values and written in a language that is understandable by all, explains the managerial conduct that should be adopted to achieve the desired performance. To help managers implement it day-to-day, in 2018 the Group organized workshops for various entities' Management Committees: Egypt, South Korea, Hong Kong, Brazil, Cookware business, Group's Health and Safety department, various French industrial sites, etc. This operation will continue in 2019. Moreover, a special e-learning module is available to all employees to enable everyone, from the moment they join the Group, to share these core managerial practices and become familiar with this shared language.
Of the 5 personal targets defi ned in an AAI, 1 or 2 are linked to the personal development of the manager, directly linked to the Managerial Competency Model. In 2017-2018, 95.33% of the 2,900 or so managers eligible for an AAI received such an interview worldwide. For the second time, the managers were given the opportunity to self-assess ahead of the AAI with a view to improving the discussion at interview-time.
After managerial skills, in 2018 Groupe SEB completed the mapping of technical skills relating to the company's various divisions (marketing, sales, fi nance, purchasing, industry, and so on). This framework of professional skills and the associated jobs was produced thanks to contributions from expert employees from each function who will later take part in its updating. It is now incorporated into the AAI as a basis for assessing job competency. At the end of 2018, some 250 generic job descriptions were available to all employees, including via the intranet.
(11) Excluding Supor, which already had a managerial competency model
The professional and personal development prospects offered by Groupe SEB are the basis of its appeal, both internally and externally.
Internal promotion remains a priority for the Group: in 2018, most managerial positions were fi lled by Group employees, both in France and worldwide, and 80% of key positions, succession plans being driven internally. Internal job offers are published on the iMove@SEB website accessible on the intranet, which employees can use to apply for jobs. Geographic and job transfers are a component of internal promotion. The Group reviewed its international transfer policy in 2017 to clarify and formalize the rules.
The Group launched a mentoring program in 2017, to develop and retain talented individuals while promoting women's access to positions of responsibility, initially in France. The principle is for an experienced manager to support and advise a "high potential" employee for a year to help them to succeed in their career within the Group. The gender parity of the pairings is ensured with regard to both mentors and mentees. In 2018, this program was rolled out internationally with three cohorts of 20 pairings (EMEA; Asia; Asia/ EMEA/Americas). Since its inception, a hundred or so managers benefi ted from it.
When it comes to external recruitment, the Group relies heavily on digital tools. It is increasing its presence and activity on targeted social media/networks, led by LinkedIn, but also Twitter, JobTeaser, Instagram, YouTube, Glassdoor, SlideShare and Wikipedia. Its followers continue to grow. At end-2018, they totaled 87,000 on LinkedIn (+22.5% compared with 2017) and close to 3,000 on Twitter (+18%). On Instagram (#InsideGroupeSEB), the popularity of stories led to a 54% increase in followers. Awareness of the Group on social networks is growing thanks to a diversifi ed editorial line, with contributors from all backgrounds from within the company (at least one publication a day). It is also boosted by the activity of a community of around 50 Groupe SEB employee ambassadors, from every entity and every division, who relay the Group's messages on the networks to which they belong. The Group's attractiveness has also been enhanced by a Careers website tailored to 17 geographic regions and a "Careers" section on the Groupe SEB TV channel (YouTube).
All external applications, wherever they come from, are gathered on a single, scalable e-recruitment platform appropriate to the Group's global structure (Taleo). This platform has been introduced in 46 countries, where it collected more than 30,000 applications in 2018, a fi gure that is constantly growing (15,000 applications in 2015). In France, North America and Scandinavia, between 15% and 20% of new hires came from LinkedIn. Taleo also manages internal transfer requests (iMove@SEB ). It is a key tool for HR teams responsible for recruitment.
To widen its pool of young talent, the Group maintains close ties with specifi c higher education establishments, specializing in Marketing/ Business and Engineering. It has in particular partnered with the ESSEC's Chair of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (Paris) and, since 2018 AgroParisTech's Chair of Food, Nutrition and Eating Behavior. In addition to strengthening its "employer brand", these partnerships give it access to the work of researchers in these fi elds that are vital for its growth strategy.
To make itself more attractive to students of engineering schools and scientifi c universities, the Group established the Tech Challenge in September 2018. As part of this international challenge, 179 teams submitted innovative projects on the theme of "Home Robotics". 10 of them were pre-selected to present their project in March 2019 on the SEB Campus in Écully, prototypes in hand.
Groupe SEB's ties with students are also fi rming up internationally through the partnership with the CEMS Global Alliance, which brings together some 30 leading management and business schools (30 countries, 1,000 students, 65 nationalities).
In 2018, the Group took another step in the on-boarding of talented young graduates by launching its fi rst Graduate Program. It targets young people graduating from business and engineering schools and from universities and offers them the chance to join a dedicated program within the Group involving three successive assignments: an initial 12-month assignment in France, followed by two six-month international assignments in the subsidiaries. There are various programs: Manufacturing, R&D, Marketing, Finance or indeed IT. The recruitment of the second class began in January 2019. On average, the Group takes in about 300 interns and work-study trainees every year. In 2018, for the fi fth year running, it was awarded the Happy Trainees (France) label, which recognizes excellence in its commitment to these students. Groupe SEB was then ranked one of the Top 10 companies awarded the label in the category of 100 to 499 interns/work-study trainees. The Happy Trainees survey, based on the responses of 280 students, revealed that 9 out of 10 would recommend Groupe SEB as a place to carry out an internship or workstudy training. This is based on six criteria: professional advancement, work environment, management, motivation, pride and friendliness.
This "Young talents" policy, which includes interns, work-study trainees and participants in the Graduate Program and VIEs (12) is producing results: the Group recruits nearly 70% of its young graduate employees by drawing on this pool.

Starting in 2018, as part of measures to hire interns, the Group worked in France with the social start-up "Vendredi" to offer internships shared with charitable organizations. Interns spend four days a week at the company and one day working for a charitable organization, on an assignment with a high social impact. This program, which is in keeping with the Group's societal commitment focused on combating exclusion, will be deployed more widely in 2019.
The prizes and awards received by the Group are also measures of its appeal. In 2017, the Reputation Institute included it in its "Reptrak France" ranking for the fi rst time. This index assesses the reputation of companies operating on the French market. In the 2018 awards of the top 100 companies, Groupe SEB was in 4th position behind Décathlon, Lego and Google.
Worldwide (excl. EMSA Asia, WMF Heshan)
| (number of individuals) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 5,882 | 5,771 | 5,716 |
| Other EMEA countries | 9,711 | 8,170 | 2,768 |
| Americas | 2,707 | 2,736 | 2,773 |
| Asia | 14,390 | 14,266 | 14,728 |
| WORLD | 32,690 | 30,943 | 25,985 |
The total workforce includes those working under permanent contracts, fi xed-term contracts or other similar contracts, as well as work-study trainees. Temporary employees are not included in this fi gure. At 31 December 2018, Groupe SEB had 32,690 employees based on the scope defi ned in the introduction in page 132. Including WMF Asia, EMSA Asia and the total headcount of Groupe Seb Egypt Zahran, the Group has around 34,000 employees.
Worldwide (excluding EMSA ASIA, WMF ASIA, SSEAC, GS BRASIL RETAILING, SCHAERER CH, WMF CH, WMF EMEA (excluding DACH), GROUPE SEB EGYPT, SCHAERER USA, WMF USA)
| (number of individuals) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCE | |||
| Recruitment (a) | 710 | 645 | 536 |
| Fixed-term contracts | 357 | 340 | 271 |
| Permanent contracts | 353 | 305 | 265 |
| Departures (a) | 603 | 562 | 558 |
| Economic redundancies | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| Terminations for other reasons | 55 | 70 | 29 |
| AVERAGE STAFF TURNOVER RATE (b) (%) | 1.08* | 1.33 | 1.17 |
| OTHER EMEA COUNTRIES | |||
| Recruitment (a) | 2,423 | 816 | 546 |
| Fixed-term contracts | 1,247 | 397 | 298 |
| Permanent contracts | 1,176 | 419 | 248 |
| Departures (a) | 1,978 | 553 | 476 |
| Economic redundancies | 49 | 50 | 54 |
| Terminations for other reasons | 151 | 54 | 117 |
| AVERAGE STAFF TURNOVER RATE (b) (%) | 6.93* | 9.42 | 6.86 |
| AMERICAS | |||
| Recruitment (a) | 661 | 1,342 | 703 |
| Fixed-term contracts | 129 | 256 | 268 |
| Permanent contracts | 532 | 1,086 | 435 |
| Departures (a) | 751 | 1,367 | 714 |
| Economic redundancies | 270 | 646 | 302 |
| Terminations for other reasons | 121 | 182 | 62 |
| AVERAGE STAFF TURNOVER RATE (b) (%) | 8.09* | 8.18 | 6.09 |
| ASIA | |||
| Recruitment (a) | 8,546 | 10,163 | 10,582 |
| Fixed-term contracts | 8,347 | 9,591 | 9,918 |
| Permanent contracts | 199 | 572 | 664 |
| Departures (a) | 8,476 | 10,540 | 10,409 |
| Economic redundancies | 62 | 37 | 2 |
| Terminations for other reasons | 12 | 9 | 17 |
| AVERAGE STAFF TURNOVER RATE (b) (%) | 13.5* | 12.2* | 15.76* |
| WORLD | |||
| Recruitment (a) | 12,340 | 12,966 | 12,367 |
| Fixed-term contracts | 10,080 | 10,584 | 10,755 |
| Permanent contracts | 2,260 | 2,382 | 1,612 |
| Departures (a) | 11,808 | 13,022 | 12,157 |
| Economic redundancies | 388 | 734 | 363 |
| Terminations for other reasons | 337 | 315 | 225 |
| AVERAGE STAFF TURNOVER RATE (b) (%) | 5.57* | 5.48* | 4.62* |
(a) Excluding internal transfers and the return of expatriates.
(b) Number of resignations of permanent contract employees/Average number of permanent employees.
* Turnover rate scope: ASIA FAN, SUPOR ASIA, EMSA ASIA, WMF ASIA, SSEAC, GS BRASIL RETAILING, SCHAERER CH, WMF CH, WMF EMEA (except DACH), GROUPE SEB EGYPT, SCHAERER USA, WMF USA.
As in previous years, the consolidation of Supor in the Asia data leads to a high number of fi xed-term or similar contracts, which are very common in China and are often for long terms, especially for manual workers. The high number of departures in the Asia region therefore refl ects the expiry of these fi xed-term contracts.
In 2018, the turnover rate was 5.57% (5.48% in 2017).
In Brazil, in 2016, Groupe SEB began transferring its industrial electrical product (Mooca) and cookware (São Bernardo do Campo) activities to Itatiaia, a new plant in the state of Rio de Janeiro, 350km north of São Paulo. The Mooca and São Bernardo site closures took place at the end of 2017, and were prepared for and carried out in line with the Group's values. The redundancy plans, which affected 498 and 188 people (50 key jobs were transferred), were approved by the union organizations and 90% of employees. These plans go far beyond the regulations and local practices, as they were announced eight months before the fi rst production line was transferred and are accompanied by a large bonus in addition to the statutory redundancy compensation (nearly nine months' additional pay for a worker). They also provide for the maintaining of the meal allowance for eight months and health insurance for six months after departure, although this is not required by law.
This move is part of Groupe SEB's industrial investment program in Brazil, whose aim is to revive its activity and restore its competitiveness in this country. The location of the Itatiaia plant, which is a modern and competitive production facility, means it is able to serve its customers in the best possible conditions. The new teams have received many hours of training, including quality, safety, continuous improvement and professional technical training.
In France, the consolidation of all the small electrical appliance innovation teams at the SEB Campus in Écully began in 2017, with a view to improving effi ciency. This implies transferring the electrical cooking business's strategic marketing teams from their current base in Selongey. This transfer, affecting 71 jobs, began in September 2017 and was completed in the summer of 2018. It was covered by a company redundancy plan unanimously approved by the employee representatives. The Group has done everything possible to ensure that non-mobile employees are not left without a solution.
Worldwide
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCE | |||
| Permanent contracts, fi xed-term contracts or other short-term contracts |
5,590 | 5,512 | 5,489 |
| Full-time | 89.9% | 89.7% | 89.6% |
| Part-time | 10.1% | 10.3% | 10.4% |
| Work-study trainees (a) | 292 | 259 | 227 |
| OTHER EMEA COUNTRIES | |||
| Permanent contracts, fi xed-term contracts or other short-term contracts |
9,482 | 7,956 | 2,759 |
| Full-time | 75.2% | 75.3% | 85.3% |
| Part-time | 24.8% | 24.7% | 14.7% |
| Work-study trainees (a) | 229 | 214 | 9 |
| AMERICAS | |||
| Permanent contracts, fi xed-term contracts or other short-term contracts |
2,623 | 2,680 | 2,732 |
| Full-time | 99.6% | 99.4% | 99.5% |
| Part-time | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Work-study trainees (a) | 84 | 56 | 41 |
| ASIA | |||
| Permanent contracts, fi xed-term contracts or other short-term contracts |
14,339 | 14,266 | 14,728 |
| Full-time | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Part-time | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Work-study trainees (a) | 51 | 0 | 0 |
| WORLD | |||
| Permanent contracts, fi xed-term contracts or other short-term contracts |
32,034 | 30,414 | 25,708 |
| Full-time | 90.8% | 91.6% | 96.1% |
| Part-time | 9.2% | 8.5% | 3.9% |
| Work-study trainees (a) | 656 | 529 | 277 |
(a) Working under apprenticeship/professional training contracts.
Worldwide, 62.8 % of the workforce are on permanent contracts, 35.2% on fi xed-term contracts and 2% are work-study trainees. Excluding Supor, where fi xed-term contracts are normal and often for long periods, particularly for manual workers, 89.7% of the workforce are on permanent contracts.

Because diversity is a source of vitality, creativity and innovation, the Group promotes it in all its aspects: gender equality, social and cultural mix, age-group balance, inclusion of people with disabilities, etc. Groupe SEB has a non-discrimination policy to ensure that all employees are treated equally as regards their recruitment, pay and career development within the Group, in accordance with our Code of Ethics. In France, the Human Resources teams received awarenessraising training in stereotypes, diversity and gender equality in 2017. This approach was pursued in 2018 with a session dedicated to the Group Executive Committee. More specifi c training was developed on the theme "Recruiting and managing without discriminating, harassing or slandering" for Human Resources Managers and people responsible for recruitment. It will continue in 2019 and 2020 and will be rolled out to all managers and social partners.
In France, Groupe SEB has been a signatory of the Diversity Charter since 2005. Numerous actions have been implemented to support this policy at local sites and raise employee awareness. Diversity is monitored by specific committees covering signed collective agreements on this issue. More specifi cally regarding gender equality, a Group committee tasked with monitoring the collective agreement (France) analyzes the actions taken in this regard. Moreover, the sites must roll out local action plans on various issues: professional development, access to training, equality in terms of remuneration, work-life balance and recruitment.
To improve the diversity of work-study trainee applicant profi les, and particularly increase the share of young people from poor districts, in 2017, in France, the Group began a partnership with recruitment fi rm Mozaïk RH, a specialist in the promotion of diversity. In 2018, this relationship made it possible to hire some 20 young work-study trainees using a new job dating format during which managers met candidates without having fi rst reviewed their CVs. The partnership will continue in 2019.
G ender equality in the workplace is an integral part of the nondiscrimination and diversity promotion policy followed by Groupe SEB. In France, it was the subject of a collective agreement, which was renewed at end-2018. It details and amplifies actions already taken, in particular to refl ect societal developments, and includes tools and methods for achieving the targets set. Firstly, the Group reaffi rms its commitment to guarantee wage equality between men and women from hiring, to maintain it over time and not to penalize employees on maternity leave, adoption leave or child-care leave. Equal opportunity in terms of recruitment, professional development and training represents another avenue of attack, in particular to encourage the diversity of the businesses and expand access for women to managerial positions. The agreement also defi nes various areas for improvement in terms of working conditions and the worklife balance. For the purposes of implementing this agreement, every French site is required to put together an action plan that includes at least one action per annum that is specifi c to the local situation. The results of these actions are included in the Comparative annual report, which measures actual progress.
Among the measures taken to help people balance their work and personal lives, employees were given the option of fl exible work scheduling, and several sites introduced child-care or concierge service arrangements (Rumilly and Écully). In France, the agreement on quality of life at work, signed in June 2016, took up a number of suggestions from the Forum on gender equality in the workplace held in March of the same year, attended by 150 employees from all the French sites, and the Group's Chairman and CEO and the Senior Executive Vice-president, Human Resources. The proposals taken up in the quality of life at work agreement include tele-commuting, ensuring the diversity of applications transmitted by recruitment fi rms, and the paying of child-care costs during training, under certain conditions. (See Quality of Life at Workon page 140 ).
The Group is also endeavoring to improve the balance between men and women in management worldwide: in 2018, 37 .5% of managers were women (29% in 2007) and 40% of the external new hires in this category (51% in France). So me entities are performing particularly well in terms of equality, like the Southern Central Europe cluster: women hold 5 of the 11 seats on its Management Committee, 19 of the 28 managerial positions and represent 50% of employees. In France, they accounted for 60% of managerial hires in 2018. They also accounted for 30% of expatriate managers. They still only make up 18.5% of the Group's 180 or so key managers, however, although this percentage is rising, standing at 12% in 2015.
To accelerate the rise of women to senior management positions, the Human Resources department is planning to have at least one woman in the short list of applicants for key posts. The mentoring program launched in 2017, based on strict gender parity, is also contributing (see Attractiveness section, page 133), as is the joint development program tested in France in 2018. This collective coaching (groups of 7 to 8 people) is intended for "high potential" women and places great importance on the ideas of trust and solidarity. In 2018, the Group also decided to bring on board Alliance pour la Mixité en Entreprise (AME). This association brings together the networks of some 20 large companies with a view to encouraging experience sharing, benchmarking and mutual assistance on this matter.
To m ake it easier for women to move into technical jobs, traditionally held by men, since 2016 the Group has asked all the French sites to introduce specifi c training (awarding academic credits) for them, accompanied by offers of higher grade jobs. Production operators can in this way become line supervisors, machinists or welders. 21 women took such training over the past three years. The Group is also doing its bit to promote gender equality in the workplace by being a partner in the digital platform Egalitées.fr, where it presents the profi les of several women within the Group with jobs that have traditionally been considered to be masculine roles ("The gender of my job" heading). Since 2018, it has also been part of the Femmes@Numérique group, which brings together some 40 associations and as many large French companies to increase female representation of the digital businesses.
Groupe SEB pays very close attention to the issue of sexual harassment, an issue on which many countries have passed specifi c laws. In the Scandinavian countries, for example, it updated its policy in this area in 2017, and disseminated it to all its employees through the intranet. In India, where the government also legislated against sexual harassment in the workplace, Groupe SEB has introduced a very detailed policy to prevent such behavior, along with a procedure for fi ling complaints. In 2016, the subsidiary organized awarenessraising sessions on this policy for all its staff. It has created a sexual harassment committee, one of whose tasks is to manage complaints. In France, the updating of the internal rules of all sites makes it possible to raise awareness and to refl ect, in all entities, the new legislative provisions designed to combat all forms of harassment.
| (in %) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEN | |||
| Manual workers | 29.5 | 32.2 | 34.9 |
| Employees | 20.4 | 18.5 | 17.7 |
| Managers | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| TOTAL | 57.8 | 58.1 | 60.1 |
| WOMEN | |||
| Manual workers | 17.2 | 18.5 | 20.4 |
| Employees | 20.2 | 19 | 15.1 |
| Managers | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| TOTAL | 42.2 | 41.9 | 39.9 |
At the end of 2018, 46.7% of the Group's workforce were manual workers, 40.6% were employees and 12.7% were managers, 37.5% of whom were women. Excluding Supor, manual workers, both male and female, represented 32% of the workforce, while the percentage of managers totaled 19%.
Worldwide

The inter-generational contract, renewed in France in 2016 with the employee representatives, aims to bring young people, and particularly those without qualifi cations, into the workforce, to hire and keep older employees and to ensure that knowledge is transferred. Under this agreement, between 250 and 290 new hires are planned in France by 2019, 25% of whom will be young people, rising to 33% in the case of new hires to replace retired employees at industrial sites. The new contract also includes a systematic ergonomic analysis of the jobs held by employees over 57, so as to reduce physical hardship as much as possible. Over the period covered by the previous contract (2013- 2016), the Group largely exceeded the recruitment forecasts, including for young people who received training and assistance, primarily through mentorships. The average age of Group employees is 41.8.
Disability represents a two-fold challenge for Groupe SEB, which works to prevent it through its health and safety policy, while providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities. The three-year collective agreement on people with disabilities was renewed by Groupe SEB in France in 2017. It aims to deliver better conditions for disabled workers joining the workforce and ensure their long-term integration within both industrial and tertiary companies through a number of practical measures. Under the terms of this agreement, disabled workers undergo frequent monitoring during their induction within the Group and possible adaptations to improve their workstations are examined. They also receive increased specifi c fi nancial assistance, training to develop their employability and, if they wish, mentoring by a Group employee, organized on a voluntary basis.

Disabled employees reaching the end of their careers may reduce their working hours by 20% by producing a doctor's note, while keeping the same rate of pay and benefi ts. Specifi c training has also been designed for managers to make it easier for disabled employees to return to work after a long absence. The agreement also provides for the extending of leave to take care of sick children to disabled children, with no age limit. Groupe SEB has informed its partner schools of the signing of the agreement and works with specialized organizations to act from the recruitment stage.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | France | World | France | World | France | |
| Number of disabled employees | 405 | 312 | 439 | 311 | 453 | 326 |
| % of disabled employees (a) | 1.6 | 5.36 | 1.42 | 5.39 | 1.77 | 5.70 |
(a) Ratio between the number of employees with disabilities and the total number of employees as of 31 December excluding temporary employees and ESAT (sheltered employment center) employees.
With the exception of Supor, where the number of physically disabled employees is relatively low, the number of disabled employees stood at 2.0% in 2018 (2.3% in 2017) .
Groupe SEB is committed to respecting freedom of association everywhere in the world and encourages employee-management dialog at its subsidiaries, on both an individual and collective basis. It also works to create employee representation bodies in all the countries in which it operates. This commitment was reaffi rmed in the Group's Code of Ethics.
In France, to encourage the exercise of trade union rights, in 2007 Groupe SEB signed a specifi c agreement with employee representatives. Team managers also receive training in employeemanagement dialog.
Groupe SEB has a European Group Committee with employee representatives from 14 European Union countries and the United Kingdom.
(Worldwide, excluding WMF, EMSA, GS India, GSE Morocco, GSE Israel, GSE Ivory Coast, Tefal-OBH Nordica Group China and GSE BRASIL RETAILING)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 38 | 38 | 51 |
| Other EMEA countries | 24 | 35 | 32 |
| Americas | 19 | 12 | 12 |
| Asia | 41 | 37 | 38 |
| WORLD | 122 | 122 | 133 |
A total of 122 collective agreements were signed in 2018. 41.0% of these agreements related to remuneration (50), 21% to health and safety (26), 6% to diversity (7) and 22% to employee-management dialog (27).
The Group signed three major agreements in France in 2018. The fi rst covers employee-management dialog. It supplements the agreement signed in 2007 to encourage the exercise of trade union rights and the new operating guidelines for employee representative bodies included in the 2017 orders. It specifi cally strengthens the measures for safeguarding and promoting careers of social partners. The second agreement renews for a period of 4 years (2018-2022) the gender equality agreement (see page 138). The third covers disability and death and emphasizes fairness with in particular a single contribution rate regardless of the status and remuneration of the employee, and harmonization of death benefi ts.
At the end of 2018, 67% of Groupe SEB's workforce was covered by a collective agreement signed in the course of the year.
The Group also pays close attention to its employees' Quality of Life at Work . In order to make progress, since 2012 it has used a survey (64 questions) conducted by the Great Place To Work institute to assess employees' perceptions in this area. This employee survey was fi rst introduced in France and has now been extended to all the continents, such that it covered around 40 countries in 2018. It is done every two years. In 2018, 13 entities responded to the survey, with a higher average completion rate of 80% (76% in 2017). Over the 2016-2018 period, 68% of employees felt Groupe SEB was a good place to work (i.e. 4 points above the industry average) and 71% of them said they were proud of working for the Group. Based on the detailed results of the survey, each entity puts in place an action plan to improve its weak areas, by actively involving the teams. Progress is in fact being made: in 2018, countries that carried out the survey for the second time improved their overall score by 3 points on average. The best improver was Canada, which rose 19 points, with 75% of employees broadly satisfi ed, followed by Austria (+13 points, overall satisfaction rate of 92%). This country is in the DACH zone (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) where the 2016/2017 survey had found a sense of lack of recognition of certain teams for the work they had done. In 2018, the Group responded to this expectation by introducing a profi t-sharing system for people not receiving a bonus.
Managers are invited to get involved so that the actions produce results and ultimately employees' perceptions improve. In France, for example, the sales subsidiary included the Great Place To Work survey in the management and monitoring tools for its companywide project Be One. In this country, numerous actions have been undertaken since 2015 to improve managerial communication and information about career development. Several sites have launched initiatives to present the various businesses to encourage transfers and raise knowledge between teams.
The actions carried out by subsidiaries to improve the Quality of Life at Work differ according to local priorities. A number of subsidiaries emphasize health. Thus, in the US, the Living Healthy program is run by the Well-being committees, which relay more than 100 initiatives, such as weight-loss competitions, online stress management seminars, sports activities, cooking and health workshops, help giving up smoking, etc. Poland also pushes the adoption of a healthy lifestyle with its Get healthy, stay healthy program, which includes among other things a sports challenge per team. In 2018, over 100 employees participated in it. Colombia has developed a well-being at work improvement plan named "Groupe SEB te consiente" (Groupe SEB takes care of you) along three main lines: "care for myself , other people and the world around me". In Scandinavia, the teams felt a little unsettled following the integration of OBH Nordica in 2015 and the resulting reorganization, as was evidenced in the Great Place To Work 2017 survey. Management focused efforts on six priority areas, involving employees in the action plans and carrying out satisfaction surveys to confi rm progress. Within 12 months, the average satisfaction rate in the six areas went from 45% to 59%.
The Great Place To Work Institute picks out certain entities because of their score. This happened to Groupe SEB Korea in 2018 when it was awarded the Grand Prix. This subsidiary undertakes a series of internal communication actions and social activities. They foster team motivation, which can be seen in ongoing sales growth.
A collective agreement on Quality of Life at Work was signed in France. Signed in 2016, it took practical form with the introduction of various measures such as tele-commuting, which has been a real success with employees: at end-2018, close to 500 of whom had already adopted it. The actions taken also include a social assistance hotline rolled out to all the sites, or indeed, on some sites, physiotherapy, osteopathy and occupational psychology services, as well as easier access to intercompany nursery facilities and the offering of concierge/personal services. Another measure considered to be very positive by its users is the telephone support service for employees and their spouses who are caring for an elderly or disabled loved one (Responsage). Moreover, the improvements to break rooms continued in 2018, particularly for production staff.
As part of the prevention of psychosocial risks, in 2012 Groupe SEB set up a counseling offi ce in France, outsourced to the specialist fi rm Turka. The aim is to offer assistance and support to any employee who becomes the victim of or witness to such situations as harassment, discrimination and workplace violence or the stress resulting from them. The employee may remain anonymous if he or she wishes. In any event, the Turka counselor assists the employee and/or puts them in contact with the person in the best position to help. Over the past three years, 37 employees contacted the counseling offi ce, which is less than the national average according to Turka.
For several years, Groupe SEB has been developing measures to reduce the number of workplace accidents and limit the number of work-related illnesses (and particularly musculoskeletal disorders in France). To step up the implementation of this policy globally, the position of Group Health and Safety Director, reporting directly to the President for Industry, was created in 2017.
The health and safety policy draws on a global network of 32 Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Coordinators, who cover all of the industrial and logistics sites (more than 40) in 13 countries. This network met at end-October 2018 in Germany for the second EHS Net international seminar. Over three days, the participants discussed the Group's strategies in this fi eld, shared some 50 best practices and worked on the managerial stance and the professional skills of the EHS coordinator. These annual seminars make it possible to strengthen the international dynamic of the network, something that is also supported by the Yammer community (Groupe SEB social network). The Group has also undertaken to certify its health and safety management system (OHSAS 18001), with 100 % of its industrial and logistical entities certifi ed at the end of 2018.
Groupe SEB's safety approach is refl ected in the worldwide Safety in SEB program. The 2020 road map emphasizes the involvement of employees as participants in their own safety. At the plants, for example, safety is one of the points that is reviewed daily by the production teams as part of the OPS (Operation Performance SEB) initiative, via Frequent Events. The Group has set itself a target of halving the number of accidents (LTI – Lost Time Injuries) between 2017 and 2020, while including temporary employees. All accidents occurring within the Group are summarized monthly in a newsletter sent to all managers (including the Executive Committee) and the Health and Safety community.

In 2018, the Group continued to roll out its safety standards worldwide. These procedures formalize the Group's minimum requirements, above and beyond compliance with national and international regulations. These standards are incorporated into safety management procedures and are written in English, French and Chinese. They apply to all teams worldwide. Some standards concern safety organization and management, while others target the prevention of specifi c risks. Internal audits are conducted to ensure their application. At end-2018, 23 standards were operational, the most recent one covering the applicable rules in the event of exposure to noise. Of the new standards rolled out in 2017-2018, the new version of the behavior-based safety inspection (VCS) standard is of particular importance. As more than 75% of accidents could be avoided by making behavioral changes, the aim of the VCS is to eliminate dangerous practices and conditions on the basis of a discussion between the employee "inspected" and a line manager. The health and ergonomic aspects of the new VCS standard have been strengthened, notably by including new checkpoints relating to postures. Every industrial or logistics site employee is inspected twice a year on average for risky sectors. In 2018, WMF and Emsa continued to roll out VCS and the "inspector" training plan.
In 2018, security specifi c checkpoints were incorporated into day-today fi eld visits by local managers. It feeds into the Safety Pyramid. This is a tool designed to detect hazardous situations ahead of time to quickly remedy them so as to anticipate accident risks. No initiative is off the table when it comes to raising the alarm: in Colombia, for example, in 2018 the industrial sites launched a mobile app to encourage the teams to report safety risks and environmental hazards.
The number of VCSs and the number of reports in connection with the Safety Pyramid are used by the Group as safety policy management indicators, along with the accident rate.
Any accident where feedback can be helpful to the action plan is communicated to all managers and to the Groupe SEB safety community (Safety Vigilance Flash system). In 2018, noting that 40% of accidents were linked to non-compliance with rules, the Group decided to review the defi nition of "mandatory rules" required at each manufacturing and logistics site and on the SEB Campus (Group HQ), to make them more exact and better suited to the reality on the ground. Developed together with the operating teams, the new "mandatory rules" are now defi ned per business. Their review started on the French sites in 2018 and is being progressively extended to other countries. These supplement the six universal "golden rules" that are designed to ensure that everyone within the Group contributes to the safety of all. The golden rules, illustrated through a cartoon, are available in 10 languages.
Since 2016, the Group has strengthened the safety culture in its tertiary and commercial entities (offi ces and shops). The golden rules are systematically communicated and some sites have introduced their own unbreakable rules. These entities are also now part of the Safety Vigilance Flash system.
In the health fi eld, Groupe SEB focuses a large part of its efforts on combating musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the upper limbs, and lower back pain. The aim is to prevent them from appearing and slow their deterioration. This is a major issue for the industrial sites, particularly in Europe, exacerbated by the aging of the workforce and extensions to the pension age. The Group's response involves awareness-raising and training measures, taking MSD prevention into account from the design phase of products and processes as well as the carrying out of specifi c measures on the sites.
In 2016, Groupe SEB laid the groundwork for an international health plan (Health in SEB). An analysis was performed on all the industrial sites to identify the main health risks (dust, noise, repetitive work, etc.). This inventory was used as a basis for the creation of Group standards and to defi ne health targets, accompanied by monitoring indicators. This is particularly true of ergonomics where the indicator measures improvements that are deemed signifi cant using specifi c analysis methods, scoring grids, a decision-making tool developed by ergonomists and the person's experience. All industrial and logistics sites worldwide have taken steps to improve workstation ergonomics in order to achieve the target of 25% of workstations to be improved in 2018.
In France, the Group launched the Health Plan 2 (2017-2020) in 2017, following on from the fi rst health plan in 2009. Its aim is to pass a new milestone by combining health with performance and prioritizing prevention and the well-being of employees. It has three focal areas: reducing physical and psychological risks (and especially MSDs); making health dashboard charts more reliable and developing communication; and improving safety management. A multidisciplinary Health Steering Committee makes it possible to share best practices and the focal areas for development of the Group's health policy, to monitor health-related issues in the workplace, and manage the measures taken, with the promotion of investments that combine health with performance.
Every French industrial and logistics site has a Steering Committee for Musculoskeletal Disorders and one or more MSD Specialists who ensure that risks are taken into account upstream, at the product design stage, and downstream, by amending hard-pressed workstations. In 2018, the Group had 42 MSD Specialists in France. Ergonomic improvements of workstations, training and staff rotations, warm-up and cool-down exercises, as well as a quick response whenever an employee indicates discomfort while working are all actions that have been taken to prevent the emergence of MSDs.
Since 2015, the Groupe SEB University and the Industry department have offered a training program, primarily for the methods teams, several modules of which are devoted to the prevention of MSDs (School of Methods).
(Worldwide, excluding GS India, WMF and EMSA)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANCE | |||
| Number of workplace accidents with days lost | 41 | 40 | 48 |
| Number of days lost | 2,217 | 2,160 | 2,588 |
| LTIR (a) | 4.9 | 4.8 | 5.8 |
| Severity rate (b) | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.31 |
| Number of workplace fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| OTHER EMEA COUNTRIES | |||
| Number of workplace accidents with days lost | 13 | 9 | 6 |
| Number of days lost | 131 | 143 | 101 |
| LTIR (a) | 2.6 | 2 | 1.4 |
| Severity rate (b) | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Number of workplace fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AMERICAS (C) | |||
| Number of workplace accidents with days lost | 8 | 12 | 11 |
| Number of days lost | 147 | 362 | 436 |
| LTIR (a) | 1.6 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| Severity rate (b) | 0.03 | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| Number of workplace fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ASIA | |||
| Number of workplace accidents with days lost | 14 | 21 | 34 |
| Number of days lost | 1,382 | 1,113 | 2,357 |
| LTIR | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| Severity rate (b) | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| Number of workplace fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| WORLD | |||
| Number of workplace accidents with days lost | 76 | 82 | 99 |
| Number of days lost | 3,877 | 5,482 | 5,482 |
| LTIR (a) | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| Severity rate (b) | 0.07 | 0.07 | 0.10 |
| Number of workplace fatalities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(a) Lost Time Injury Rate.
(b) Number of days lost per thousand hours worked.
All the data shown in the table exclude temporary employees.
The frequency rate of workplace accidents (TF1), used by the Group until 2013, corresponds to the number of occupational accidents with days lost per million hours worked. It counts all types of accidents with days lost including those that are not directly related to working conditions. In 2014, Groupe SEB adopted a new system of accounting for accidents that includes the idea of a link with work. This is the one used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of United States of America (OSHA) and is applied in many large groups. Accidents which have no direct causal link with work are no longer counted in the Group's Lost Time Injury Rate (LTIR). The internal recording system has no effect on local legal declarations, which remain unchanged.
It should be noted that beginning in 2018, the Group's Health and Safety targets include temporary employees as well as the whole WMF and EMSA scope.
Accordingly, the 2018 target for LTIRi (Lost Time Injury Rate including temporary employees) was 2.5 Worldwide, 5.5 in France and 7.1 in WMF.
The 2018 results were: 2.6 Worldwide, 6.0 in France and 7.6 in WMF.
France recorded 59 lost-time injuries with temporary replacements , as well as 184 work-related accidents with and without days lost, including temporary employees. The LTIRi is 6.0 and the severity rate is 0.24.
WMF recorded 59 LTIi, as well as 109 work-place accidents with and without days lost, including temporary employees. The LTIRi is 7.6 and the severity rate is 0.16.
These two Group entities, France and WMF thus account for close to 65% of the total number of workplace accidents with days lost.
Lastly, overall including GS India and EMSA, Groupe SEB recorded 182 workplace accidents with lost time injuries and 221 workplace accidents without lost timein 2018, including temporary employees. The LTIRi is 2.6 and the severity rate is 0.08.
Even if the targets are not met, the Group's results are once again on the right track. Thanks to the multiplication of global prevention efforts, standards and tools, Groupe SEB recorded 10 fewer workplace accidents with days lost than in 2017, and 39 fewer than in 2016, including temporary employees.
The lower severity rate reflected a 3,193 reduction in days lost compared with 2017 and 8,459 days lost compared with 2016.
A worldwide survey of occupational illnesses has been conducted since 2013. 28 new cases of occupationalillnesses were recognized throughout the Group in 2018, excluding temporary employees. This number is significantly lower than the 66 and 62 cases reported in 2017 and 2016.
| Number of new occupational illness cases recognized in the year | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 27 | 55 | 57 |
| Other EMEA countries | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Americas | 1 | 11 | 4 |
| Asia | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| WORLD | 28 | 66 | 62 |
Groupe SEB is aware of the importance of the issue of occupational illnesses, especially Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), and has taken health measures in France, such as ergonomic improvements to workstations on production sites, with the introduction of an indicator monitored monthly, training in manual handling, for example, staff rotations where this is permitted by the organization of the workstation, warm-up and stretching exercises and a quicker response when an employee reports that they are experiencing pain. Several sites in France also pay for visits to a physiotherapist and offer a hotline to an osteopath.
(Worldwide)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of certifi able entities | 4 | 35 | 36 |
| Entities holding OHSAS 18001 certifi cation (a) | 100% | 97% | 92% |
(a) Based on industrial and logistics entities at the end of the year concerned.
Since 2007, the Group has set all its sites to work on the certifi cation of its health and safety management system (OHSAS 18001). At the end of December 2018, 100% of the Group's industrial and logistics entities had this workplace health and safety certifi cation.
Egypt and India EMSA siteswere recently included in the scope of certifi able sites. The certifi cations are planned for 2020 and 2021.
The WMF sites were certifi ed in 2018.
In terms of social protection, in 2017 the Group launched an initiative designed to offer its employees, throughout the world, a high level of coverage compared to the local context, beyond regulatory obligations. A worldwide inventory of practices, produced in 2016 in the 73 countries where the Group has employees, already showed that 85% of them had death insurance cover. In 2018, the Group started to roll out the global social protection fl oor, which is built on three pillars:
Every employee, regardless of his/her country and level, will enjoy this coverage at the very least. This will be progressively rolled out by 2020, with life insurance being effective for all as of 1 January 2019 (except for WMF, which will be covered from January 2020).
The Group also looks to review employment contracts on a regular basis in order to supplement and/or improve existing insurance coverage. In 2017, for instance, medical insurance was extended in several countries, including Poland, Ukraine and Canada.
Groupe SEB is committed to the implementation of a fair and transparent remuneration policy that is understandable by all. It is committed to paying wages in every country in line with current regulations and minimum industry standards, enabling employees to cover their basic needs and to benefi t from disposable income. Using job evaluation tools, every employee's position can be assessed in relation to others in terms of remuneration and responsibility.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | World | France | World | France | ||
| Remuneration (a) | 951.3 | 252.3 | 921.1 | 244.8 | 601.7 | 242.7 |
| Payroll taxes (b) | 181.3 | 66.3 | 185.8 | 69.0 | 125.9 | 68.0 |
| Pension and other post-employment benefi t plan costs |
70.4 | 43.8 | 56.9 | 42.7 | 55.5 | 41.3 |
(a) Excludes bonuses and profi t-sharing – includes provisions for paid holidays, excludes employee benefi ts. (b) Includes provisions for payroll taxes on paid holidays.
WMF and EMSA joined the consolidation scope in 2017. "Worldwide" data include "France" data.

In the area of profi t sharing, Groupe SEB has been a pioneer: for over 50 years it has tied employee pay to the company's fi nancial performance and does so in most countries in which it operates. In France, 50% of the total bonuses paid by the Group is distributed evenly across all employees in France. In addition, since it was listed on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1975, the Group has had employee shareholders. In 40 years, it has implemented 13 employee shareholding operations, gradually extending beyond France starting in 1992. The last operation, in 2012, covered 30 countries and the plan was taken up by over 30% of the employees concerned. At the end of 2018, there were 804 direct employee shareholders (shares managed by the Group's shareholder department directly), plus 1,486 former employee shareholders.
(France)
| (in € thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provision for bonuses | 16,117 | 19,058 | 19,337 |
| Provision for profi t sharing | 17,500 | 18,498 | 17,458 |
| TOTAL | 33,618 | 37,556 | 36,795 |
Amounts paid over the year in question for the previous year.
In 2019, the amount paid in profi t-sharing and bonuses will amount to €33.6 million in respect of 2018. Please note that fi gures include the employer's social tax contribution.
Training is essential to skills development. It covers all Group employees and most training programs are organized in a decentralized manner. Every year, the Human Resources department defines the Group's training priorities. Using this frame of reference, each subsidiary develops its own training plan based on the employees' needs and expectations. In the case of managers, these expectations are expressed during the Annual Appraisal Interviews, carried out worldwide. In France, all non-managerial employees have an Annual Appraisal and Personal Development Interview, which includes a training and skills development component. A global reporting system makes it possible to track the training provided throughout the world.
In 2018, the Group continued to enhance the trainingpart of its digital HR platform iGrow@SEB, translated into fi ve languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese). All connected employees worldwide included in the SAP HR databases (excluding Supor) now have access to this platform and to the 160 e-learning modules offered, regardless of their job or place in the reporting line. New training courses were added to it, such as the Compliance program, which already includes three modules on the Code of Ethics, followed by 91.5 % of the 11,000 connected employees (see page 129), on IT security and anti-competitive practices, followed respectively by 75% and 88% of the 8,000 employees targeted. This will shortly be supplemented by anti-corruption, personal data protection and internal control modules. Another new program offered on iGrow@ SEB: SEBOPOLY, which allows people to become familiar with the Group's economic environment and its specifi c language.
Aside from this free access for all to e-learning modules, iGrow@SEB now allows connected employees at various entities and countries to access a personalized training catalog and to submit training requests online, after which the process continues automatically (approval by the employee's line manager and the HR department and setting up of the training). This service is operational in France, the United States, Mexico, Hong Kong and at WMF. Moreover, since 2018, line managers can, in just a few clicks, assign certain training to their team members and query their past trainings via reports and dashboards. Lastly, special algorithms have been developed to automatically assign certain mandatory trainings to newcomers.
(Worldwide, excluding WMF and EMSA)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| World (c) | World (b) | World (a) | |
| Number of training hours | 507,870 | 489,628 | 401,810 |
| Number of employees trained | 29,316 | 29,954 | 25,015 |
| Number of women trained | 11,010 | 12,954 | 8,663 |
| Number of men trained | 18,305 | 16,999 | 16,352 |
(a) Excluding Groupe SEB Korea
(b) Data updated to correct a calculation error
(c) Excluding GS Belgium
Of the total hours of training completed in 2018 including Supor (and excluding WMF and EMSA), 44% was for manual workers, 36% for offi ce employees and 20% for managers. WMF entities in Germany organized 54,825 hours of training and trained 2,626 people in 2018.
In addition to the training referred to above, 7,477 connected employees (excluding Supor, Vietnam Fan, non-managers, Groupe SEB Hellados, WMF and EMSA) spent more than 22,000 hours on the iGrow@SEB platform through the various e-learning modules.
Groupe SEB management and the social partners are cooperating on the Forward Planning of Employment and Skills (GPEC). The goal is to anticipate business trends and foster skills development in light of changes in Groupe SEB's environment and strategic direction.
At end-2017, Groupe SEB management and the Trade Unions renewed this commitment by means of an agreement, designed to give employees some control over their professional development, to maintain and increase their employability. From training to mobilitycareer zones, not forgetting gateways between professions, a broad range of tools is available to Group employees. To ensure a shared vision of the employment and skills transformation challenges and ensure the fairness of the opportunities given to employees, the Social partners and Management attend twice yearly Career Centers.
There was fresh impetus in May 2018. All French sites did the same forward-looking analysis, involving the HR teams, Management Committees, operational staff and the elected members of the Career Centers. On the basis of Group jobs mapping, each site was able to identify emerging jobs, those under pressure (recruitment diffi culties) and those in transformation. On the basis of this, specifi c measures were defi ned across all French sites and presented at the Career Centers in October and November.
In terms of training, Groupe SEB added operational and structural tools to:
In 2019, the addition of the training component to the Forward Planning of Employment and Skills (GPEC) initiative will include the creation of Jobs Schools while the number of technical mentors is expected to double within a year. Technical mentoring allows an experienced employee to pass on his/her knowledge to a mentee, over a period of a number of months. 15 pairings were in place in 2018. The other mentoring systems in place within the Group are work-study training (355 pairings in 2018) and the on-boarding of new employees (514 in 2018).

(Worldwide, excluding WMF and EMSA)
| (as a % of payroll) | 2018 (c) | 2017 (b) | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 4.63 | 4.33 | 3.90 |
| Other EMEA countries | 1.74 | 1.52 | 2.15 |
| Americas | 2.4 | 2.73 | 0.89 |
| Asia | 1.54 | 0.88 | 1.03 |
| WORLD | 2.88 | 2.59 | 2.38 |
(a) Teaching costs + expenses, wages for interns.
(c) Excluding GS Belgium.
The Group's training expenses represented 2.88% of its payroll in 2018. For the Supor subsidiary, these expenses amounted to 1.64% of its payroll for this year. WMF's training expenses for the German entities accounted for 2.70% of its payroll.
(Worldwide, excluding WMF and EMSA)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of trainees | 1,294 | 1,112 | 900 |
| Number of training sessions | 186 | 157 | 95 |
| Number of training hours | 32,710 | 31,681 | 25,306 |
The increase in the number of hours and the number of people trained is linked to the creation and roll-out of new training programs. The Groupe SEB University offers high-level training to employees, in France and elsewhere. It continued to focus on leadership, digital tools and "professional" sales and marketing skills in 2018 .
2018 saw the introduction of 3 digital training campaigns covering various different aspects of compliance: Code of Ethics, IT security, Competition law. The training teams were actively involved in these campaigns in 2018, in close cooperation with the business teams, which jointly developed these modules in 7 languages. From February to December, over 7,000 employees took at least two of these trainings in 28 countries. The content on the Digital Academy platform has also been expanded. It offers over 80 e-learning modules covering 10 different themes: Digital culture, Well-being at work, Future of work, Future of Sales, Management and Leadership… In 2018, over 900 employees took at least one course on this platform, which is available on a self-service basis.
On the theme of leadership, the UGS training range was expanded in 2018 with a new program for middle managers: Management & Leadership in Action. Offered in fi ve languages, it takes 5 months, alternating between face to face and e-learning. Following two pilot sessions in 2018, it started its international roll-out in January 2019 and should involve some 1,300 Group managers over 4 years. Two other programs supplemented the 2018 leadership training: Developing Your Leadership Impact and Developing Our Talents, which both target talented young people (its content was extensively reviewed in 2018). More than 150 people completed one of these three programs in 2018.
Within the Sales & Marketing School, the UGS developed new trainings in 2018 including a module focused on new marketing approaches (classroom based) and a cooking course (e-learning + face to face) intended for the Marketing and Innovation teams working on food issues.
The program on the OPS (Opération Performance SEB) initiative for the local management of industrial sites, launched in 2017 in France, is being progressively extended to other countries.
(b) Excluding All-Clad.
The Group is stepping up its digital transformation in every fi eld, including to optimize the "employee experience" of its employees: after having rolled out Microsoft Offi ce 365 in all entities worldwide in 2017, in 2018 the Group began developing a customized and personalizable interface. This will allow its 11,000 connected employees to, from a single welcome page, access all the collaborative tools and functionality of Offi ce 365, their Yammer communities and the business tools and information needed in their work. This single welcome page will be customized to refl ect the user's profi le and personalizable on the basis of their interests, regardless of their location and the device that they use. The Group is also examining the potential of digital technology to offer improved access to Group information and services for employees in the field and on the production fl oor. The fi rst version of this new work environment was launched in early 2019.
Aside from the e-learning platform which is constantly seeing new modules on the digital sphere, the Group's digital transformation is going hand-in-hand with various communications initiatives targeted at employees: "Chroniques du Digital" (Digital Chronicles) on the Intranet publishing articles and video interviews on digital developments within the Group; "Digital Digest" offering a twice monthly review of key digital events in the market; themed conferences in the "Digital Room" on the SEB Campus, refurbished and expanded in 2018 to accelerate the digital assimilation of its employees and allow them to experiment with new ways of working.
The almost daily publication of "télex" on the Intranet keeps employees informed about the Group's news across the world. The Group also helps employees to use social media appropriately, both in the professional sphere and in their private activities on the internet, especially when they refer to the Group. This is the purpose of the Guide to Social Media Best Practices. The in-house press also plays an important role. Tempo, the magazine published by the Corporate Communication department, is provided in electronic format to all of the Group's connected employees. In parallel, many sites and subsidiaries publish their own in-house newspaper.
SEB Campus, in Écully, where circa 1,200 people work, saw very active local communication in 2018: cycle of conferences with wellknown speakers ("SEB Talks"), management workshops to share best practices between team managers, a job and internal transfer week, a Quality of Life at Work week, and other events.
On the external communications front, in addition to the usual publications (Business and Sustainable Development report, Group business card, etc.) and social media work where the pace has picked up even more (see page 133), 2018 saw the launch of the Group's new website www.groupeseb.com. Offering enhanced content – news feed, infographics, visuals, testimonials, videos, etc. – it was completely overhauled, in particular to offer improved navigation and smartphone and tablet compatibility.
(Worldwide excluding EMSA ASIA, WMF, GS BELGIUM, SSEAC, GS BRASIL RETAILING, SEB SERVICOS BRASIL, GSE ISRAEL)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World | France | World | France | France | ||
| Absenteeism rate (a) | 4.2 | 3.49 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.0 |
(a) Ratio between the number of days absent and the hypothetical number of days present.

(Worldwide)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide excluding Supor |
Supor | Worldwide excluding Supor |
Supor | Worldwide excluding Supor |
Supor | |
| Number of overtime hours (in thousands) | 587 | 11,796 | 652 | 11,268 | 874 | 10,469 |
| Full-time equivalent (in persons) | 264 | 5,646 | 291 | 5,400 | 381 | 5,014 |
For the Chinese subsidiary Supor, these figures reflect the local context, where work is highly seasonal, and there are pressures on the recruitment of labor in eastern China. France accounted for 56,610 hours of overtime (equal to 31 full-time equivalent jobs).
Given the diversity of the Group's sites and local regulations governing working time, Groupe SEB's aim is not to exceed 48 hours in a standard working week and 60 hours including overtime. Every employee must also have at least one day off each week, except in exceptional circumstances, as explained in the Group's Code of Ethics. Groupe SEB is actively working to achieve these objectives, particularly in its Chinese plants.
(Worldwide)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 639 | 851 | 635 |
| Other EMEA countries | 175 | 651 | 441 |
| Americas | 627 | 699 | 1,560 |
| Asia | 3,491 | 431 | 406 |
| WORLD | 4,932 | 2,632 | 3,042 |
(a) Temporary full-time equivalent employees.
The Group's commitment to social issues is refl ected both in its corporate philanthropy initiatives, primarily focused on combating exclusion, and in its contribution to the economic and social growth of the regions where it operates.
Groupe SEB's corporate philanthropy policy is an integral part of its corporate social responsibility approach. Its objective is to harmonize the various subsidiaries' philanthropic commitments and encourage employee involvement. The Fonds Groupe SEB endowment fund team is tasked with implementing the corporate philanthropy policy, ensuring the coherence of the various projects worldwide and coordinating the Group's community actions.
The Group formalized and clarifi ed its corporate philanthropy policy in a document disseminated in 2017 to all the Corporate Philanthropy Correspondents (one correspondent per subsidiary). This document sets out the corporate philanthropy mission and strategic focuses, the participants involved (subsidiaries and Fonds Groupe SEB), their roles, and the various possible forms of contribution. These include fi nancial
donations, donations of products, philanthropy based on providing expertise, and cross-partnership or product-sharing operations. To encourage employee involvement, the subsidiary may give every permanent employee one day a year of working time to work on a public interest project linked to the fi ght against exclusion.
The social purpose of Groupe SEB's corporate philanthropy policy is the fi ght against exclusion, in four areas of action:
The people helped may be homeless, excluded from the world of work or in a very vulnerable position.
| (in €) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial donations | 2,345,656 | 2,165,756 | 1,925,452 |
| including Fonds Groupe SEB | 345,000 | 352,000 | 360,000 |
| Product donations | 561,944 | 509,309 | 551,184 |
| including Fonds Groupe SEB | 356,142 | 308,065 | 246,955 |
| TOTAL CORPORATE PHILANTROPY EXPENSES | 2,907,599 | 2,675,064 | 2,476,636 |
Overall, the Group allocated €2.91 million to corporate philanthropy activities in 2018, up over €230,000 compared with 2017. This change is mainly due to the increase in financial donations by the SEB Développement subsidiary and exceptional donations of Groupe SEB France products to the Fonds Groups SEB. This includes donations to public-interest organizations and cross-partnerships that are more like sponsorship, having a strong impact for the brand or company in terms of communications or public relations. Cause-related marketing products, where a product is sold and part of the proceeds go to charity, are an example of cross-partnerships. Donations of less than €10,000 for a single public-interest organization are reportable.

Every year, the Charity Week, which is coordinated by the Fonds Groupe SEB, is a high point of employees' worldwide involvement in community actions. In 2018, the theme of the event, held at end-November/early December, was "Working together to combat exclusion". It resulted in the participation of employees from 53 sites and 32 countries in a wide range of actions. Some teams participated for the fi rst time, like the ones from WMF, Emsa and Thailand. Each entity was able to share its initiatives with the whole Group thanks to the Charity Week community on the internal social network Yammer.
In France, the SEB Campus organized a series of actions including 10 team solidarity days involving 122 employees: a painting workshop in an accommodation center, furniture refurbishment with employees of an integration workshop, day of sharing with refugees, etc. Most sites worldwide did collections of food, toys and clothing, and "homemade" cake sales for local voluntary associations.
Many actions targeted support for children in need. In Brazil, for example, employees in Recife rebuilt a struggling small neighboring school; in Mexico, the subsidiary supported the Fondation Renaissance, which helps street children; in Germany, employees did up the garden of a school teaching children in diffi cult circumstances.
Various initiatives were also undertaken for people with disabilities and social events with Group employees, often involving the preparation of meals or snacks. This happened in Turkey, the Czech Republic, Poland… In the United Kingdom, 40 volunteers restored an activity center for young people with disabilities.
During Charity Week, many Group employees also chose to share in the day-to-day work of an association that supports the poorest and weakest in society. In Hong Kong, for example, 24 SEB Asia employees prepared over 2,000 hot meals with the Food Angel association, while volunteers from Tournus and Lourdes also spent a day with Restos du Cœur and Secours Populaire, respectively.
Another example of team solidarity: in Colombia, at the initiative of Fondation Imusa Samurai, 60 employees helped build 7 houses for poor families in the vicinity of Bogota and Medellin, in partnership with Fondation Techo.
The Group's subsidiaries also directly support and initiate projects all over the world outside Charity Week.
In China, for example, since 2006, Supor has pressed ahead with a vast construction program, building schools for disadvantaged children in rural areas. 22 schools have opened since the project's launch (including two in 2018 in the Hubei and Yunnan provinces) and four are under construction. In addition to funding schools and organizing training sessions for teachers, this program asks employees to volunteer through leadership, learning support and book donation initiatives, including in particular during Charity Week.
In South Korea, in 2012, the Groupe SEB subsidiary entered into a partnership with the American NGO Child Fund, supporting disadvantaged children. This includes a charity sale held every year in September, whose proceeds go to the organization, and a festive event for children living in hostels at Christmas time. The staff of the subsidiary are widely involved during these two busy periods.
In the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland), Groupe SEB continued the partnership begun more than 10 years ago by OBH with the Star of Hope organization, which is working for education, healthcare and food for orphans. The four subsidiaries are currently sponsoring 30 children in the Philippines, who receive support until they reach adulthood. They receive individual fi nancial support and school books, food products, leisure activities, etc.
In France, 150 employees participated in March 2018 in the fi rst Charity Days event run by Groupe SEB France, which came out of the Be#One company-wide project. Goal: to get to know each other better, join together in a community project. More than a third of the subsidiary's employees took part in the national collection for Restos du Cœur and many other actions: clothes sorting, furniture refurbishment, painting or gardening as part of integration projects, landscaping of green areas, events in social housing, distribution of foodstuffs, etc.
More over, as part of measures to hire interns, the Group worked in France with the social start-up "Vendredi" to offer shared internships with charitable organizations. Interns spend four days a week at the company and one day working for a charitable organization, on an assignment with a high social impact.
In Egypt, during Ramadan, the subsidiary supported various charitable organizations in partnership with Fondation Misr el Kheir which helps a series of causes. The teams worked on fi ve initiatives: distribution of 25 tons of food parcels, preparation of 600 meals, assumption of the debt of two poor families and handing out of clothing to 100 people for the Aïd-el-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan. These actions were publicized every month on the local Facebook pages of Moulinex and Tefal.
Cause-related marketing products represent another form of philanthropy performed by Groupe SEB. In France, Tefal and Carrefour did something along these lines in 2018: for every product purchased, another product was gifted to Agence du Don en Nature, an association supported by Fonds Groupe SEB (see next page ). By the same token, Groupe SEB partnered with Camif, an online sales specialist, for the "Acheter, c'est aussi donner" campaign. Every purchase of a Seb pressure cooker resulted in an item of Group cookware being gifted to Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement, run by the Emmaüs Défi association.
In Poland, the 15 Group stores, operating under the Home&Cook brand, took an original initiative: for 6 months, they suggested that buyers add €1.2 to the price of a frying pan in the Expertise range to help fund a charitable association chosen by each store.
Aside from its duties leading and coordinating the annual Charity Week and its role advising on and steering the subsidiaries' corporate philanthropy initiatives, the Fonds Groupe SEB provides fi nancial support for various projects focused on inclusiveness, mainly in France. In 2018, the Fonds Groupe SEB supported 18 projects from a support budget that amounted to €400,000 in cash and €356,000 in product donations.
Governance of the Fonds Groupe SEB is split between two key entities: the Board of Directors and the Operational Committee, supported by a team dedicated to the Fonds.
The Board of Directors sets the strategy for the Fonds. Its members are:
The Operational Committee reviews and selects the projects submitted to the Fund. It monitors their implementation, thereby contributing to the steering and improvement of future philanthropic programs.
It has 10 members, who are Group employees, selected for the diversity of their skills (management, HR, communication, union representatives, etc.) and their commitment to solidarity.
An operational team of two people delivers and assesses the projects and develops the network of employee volunteers.
Since 2007, the Fonds has supported 413 projects in France aimed at "better living for all", conducted by charitable organizations with which it has close links, such as Emmaüs Défi , the Agence du Don en Nature (ADN), Énergie Jeunes, the Institut Télémaque and others.
Énergie Jeunes, for example, works to encourage children to continue with their studies at priority assisted schools in disadvantaged areas through input from volunteers primarily from the corporate world. These volunteers instill in young people the desire to learn, using highly interactive teaching methods. Since 2013, around 20 employees have taken part in initiatives in the Lyon, Isère and Burgundy regions. The arrangement has proven to be highly effective: a study (2016) has shown that high school students who take part get much higher grades than other students. Also in the area of education, the Fonds has supported the Institut Télémaque since 2011 and acts as the President of the Rhône-Alpes branch. The organization works with deserving and motivated young people from modest backgrounds until the age of 18, through a school corporate mentorship program. In 2018, 12 Group employees acted as tutors to one young person each to help them prepare for the future. The young people assisted through this project were invited in October to a participative cooking workshop run by the La Légumerie association on the SEB Campus. They also prepared remarkable recipes with local, organic and seasonal products.
In the area of household equipment and providing access to a healthy diet, the Fonds renewed its support, in 2018, for the Agence du Don en Nature (ADN – the Agency for Donations in Kind), of which it has been a founding member since 2008. The ADN collects new, unsold non-food products from manufacturers for redistribution to organizations assisting people in diffi culty. Since its inception, support for the Fonds has translated into the donation of 281,000 products, fi nancial assistance totaling €255,000, and the provision of skills.
The new projects supported in 2018 included one on exclusion because of illness. It is run by the Clubhouse association that helps vulnerable people suffering from severe mental illness socialize and get back into the workforce thanks to day centers. Fonds Groupe SEB supported the development of the center opened in Lyon in 2017. Another new project designed to combat the isolation of people living in areas defi ned as priority by the French City Ministry: the VoisinMalin association works through a network of residents who inform and support, basically by knocking on doors, to reconnect and build some positive momentum. Fonds Groupe SEB supports this project in the Lyon region.
The Fonds also runs programs to encourage employees to get involved in community projects. For the sixth year running, it organized the API Sol' in-house call for projects. The aim of this initiative is to support projects sponsored by the Group's employees. In 2018, the Fonds supported 16 projects selected by the sites' local juries. The Fonds also started the "Défi s Solidaires en Équipe" (Team Community Challenges) in France in 2017, again to get employees involved. The movement continued in 2018 in various guises: solidarity days during Charity Week on SEB Campus, Charity Days at Groupe SEB France, selection day for Institut de l'Engagement prizewinners for the Group Finance department, a day in the Emmaüs bric à brac for the Linen Care Marketing department… All Group subsidiaries are encouraged to set solidarity challenges for their teams.
Fonds Groupe SEB has been in partnership with the Life Proj ect 4 Youth association since 2014, fi rstly in Vietnam and then in India from 2016. It supports the development of occupational training centers (3 in Vietnam and 4 in India) to help marginalized young people create a life plan. Aged from 17 to 24, they go on an 18-month employment program. Beyond developing their basic knowledge, they experience the creation, development and management of an economic microinitiative. They are provided with support for their personal plans, whether this involves creating their own business, joining a company or continuing their schooling. In Vietnam, one of the training centers is in Ho Chi Minh City, close to the Asia Fan site. Called Lanterns & Lights, it makes lanterns from recovered materials. At end-2018, the association hosted 541 young people in India and Vietnam. Since 2009, it has supported close to 2,000 young people in Asia, more than half of whom are now in employment.
Groupe SEB fulfi lls its economic and social responsibilities in the regions where it is located. In addition to the jobs it generates, it supports the development of local businesses, especially players in the non-profi t and social sectors. Whenever possible, it favors the use of companies that support disadvantaged people looking for employment. Social clauses have been added to calls for tender to extend this responsible purchasing policy (see page 130). At the local level, a lot of the Group's sites are already working towards this goal. In France, for example, the Is-sur-Tille plant has worked for many years now with the Groupe Coopératif Demain (formerly Juratri), a company specifi cally specializing in recycling that has over 140 employees, around half of whom are part of an inclusive employment program. Ten companies from the protected sector (companies providing work to people with disabilities and sheltered employment centers) provide catering, cleaning, reception and gardening services to the Group's head offi ce in Écully. The head offi ce has also strengthened its partnership with Handishare, a company providing work to disabled workers, in subcontracted Human Resources services (responses to job applications) and general services. At Pont-Évêque, the plant subcontracts the assembly of plastic parts, labeling and product
Although the Group has become more international in recent years, it has maintained a fi rm local footing in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where more than 3,800 employees work at six sites: Écully, Pont-Évêque, Mions, Saint-Jean-de-Bournay, Saint-Priest and Rumilly. Internal promotion and skills development are priorities for the Group, whose commitment to the Lyon area is shown particularly in its membership of the "Alliance et Territoires" network, led by the Maison de Lyon pour l'Emploi. The aim of this network is to bring down barriers between member companies and create an intercompany GPEC (Forward Planning of Employment and Skills) and regional GPEC dynamic in the Lyon area.
More generally, the Group is an active member of the community in every region in which it operates. It maintains a number of links with local operators, and particularly with educational establishments, providing classroom talks and inviting students to take part in site visits or work experience programs. In the US, for several years now the industrial site of Canonsburg (All-Clad) has been working with three high schools on manufacturing and engineering-related topics. Students analyze the site's complex issues, look for alternative packaging to the Ateliers de l'Isère Rhodanienne ESAT (sheltered employment center) and employs 30 people on a full-time equivalent basis. In 2018, the work subcontracted to the disability and inclusive employment sector totaled more than €3 million, equal to 301 FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) jobs, across all of the Group's French sites.
In Colombia, the Group works through its Imusa brand to support ti nteros who live and work in impoverished conditions. These street vendors of coffee and snacks are Group customers because they mostly use Imusa vacuum fl asks. To help them, Imusa's teams have designed a model for them that is better suited to their need to keep the coffee hot for as long as possible, as well as a special trolley to transport them and a folding chair. Through its "Tinteros de corazón" program, Imusa also takes various steps to improve their circumstances. It particularly offers them training on the management of their activity and health and safety. Following each course, the tinteros are invited to visit the Rionegro plant where the fl asks are manufactured. Every year, Tintero's Day is an opportunity for Imusa teams to show solidarity with the tinteros, for example by providing school supplies. Imusa has supported around 2,000 tinteros for many years.
solutions and make recommendations. This initiative, which benefi ts dozens of high school students every year, won recognition for the Canonsburg site in 2015 at the Champions of Learning Awards, held in Pennsylvania by the Consortium for Public Education. In Germany, WMF has a partnership with the University of Geislingen in areas relating to eco-design and sustainable development.
Groupe SEB also takes part in events on topics related to its business or commitments. In November 2018, it participated in the Journées de l'Economie conference in Lyon, where 40,000 participants contributed to around 60 seminars and discussions. Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise took part in the round table discussion "Is there a model for Asian business development?" using the example of the acquisition of Supor. At another round table discussion on the circular economy, Joël Tronchon, Sustainable Development Director, presented the Group's strategy in this area.
Groupe SEB regularly takes part in discussions on social issues, such as nutrition, health and aging. These topics are also handled by its Research and Development teams (see page 160).
Joint introduction to the Cooking for Good, Better Homelife, Circular Revolution sections.
Since the outset, Groupe SEB has always placed innovation at the heart of its strategy, in order to better meet and anticipate consumer expectations. Innovation also helps consumers move towards more responsible habits, an idea that increasingly strikes a chord with many consumers, especially in terms of nutrition, health and ecological footprint. The convergence between innovation and sustainable development is gradually becoming a reality.
The Group's innovation teams are currently opening up to new methods, incorporating new skills and taking on technological challenges in fields such as materials, energy consumption and ergonomics. They are making particular progress with circular economy solutions, designed to save the planet's resources (see pages 163 - 166 ).
This strong innovation policy relies on frequent and extensive discussions between the Research, Marketing, Design, Development, Quality, Consumer Support and Sustainable Development teams. It also draws on external collaborations, particularly through collaborative research programs in which public and private partners share their skills to achieve a common target (see page 21). "Open innovation" also includes start-ups, in which the Group acquires stakes through the SEB Alliance Fund (see page 22). It invests in emerging businesses that offer disruptive technologies and/or new business models. The sectors targeted match the Group's strategic areas of innovation, with applications in three main fi elds: well-being (protecting health and beauty, solutions for an aging population); the connected world (the home and connected objects, robotics and digital applications and services); and sustainable development (new forms of energy and new materials, reduction of carbon footprint).
The Group sees social issues as an opportunity for exploring new business models that deliver social utility. In this spirit, in 2017 it launched the BiiS ("Boost innovation with a Societal impact") program, led by the Research and Sustainable Development departments. The program gives multidisciplinary teams of six to eight volunteer employees the chance to experiment with an intrapreneurship assignment for three months, working on it for two to four hours a week. Their aim is to develop an idea that meets a social need and may result in a sustainable business model. Several projects dreamed up by these BiiS teams are currently being examined in-depth, including solutions enabling people to remain at home and a set of breakfast products specially adapted for people with specifi c needs (people with disabilities, elderly people, etc.) (see page 161). In addition to the societal focus of these research areas, the relevance of the BiiS program lies in its assimilation of agile methodologies similar to a start-up strategy, with multidisciplinary teams, following a user-centered (design thinking), pragmatic (test & learn), iterative approach with regular validations (scrum). These methods and tools are innovation accelerators and are implemented across the Group's Research teams, in addition to the tools already offered by SEBLab.
As innovation is one of Groupe SEB's key values and all employees are users of its products, the Research department, via SEBLab, launched the All Innovators Challenge in 2017, inviting all staff to put forward product and/or service innovation ideas related to the Group's business. Following an initial test edition on the Écully Campus in 2017, the challenge was extended to all the French sites in 2018. Of the 476 ideas proposed, 169 were chosen by staff votes, 63 were selected by a preliminary panel of Research and Marketing managers and 5 were chosen by the Innovation panel at the end of 2018. During 2019, the fi ve winners will see their ideas turned into reality, with the help of SEBLab, and the All Innovators Challenge will be rolled out globally.
(For more information on Groupe SEB's innovation strategy, see Chapter 1.2 , page 21)
Groupe SEB is committed to offering consumers high-quality products that are guaranteed to be safe and harmless. In each country, the Group complies with all the standards and regulations governing the products it sells. Responsible products are the fi rst theme addressed in Groupe SEB's Code of Ethics, evidence of the importance that it places on respect for the consumer.
Groupe SEB's Quality Management System (QMS) describes the steps to be taken, at every level, to ensure the quality of products and related services. The QMS covers all Groupe SEB activities, processes and sites throughout the world. Every Group operation, every site, every function and every employee is responsible for the quality of the work performed and for compliance with the rules contained in the Quality Assurance documentation. Regular examination of the various components of the System during Management Reviews makes it possible to check the effi ciency of Group processes and to manage the actions needed for the ongoing improvement of product and process quality.
For products, the Group controls quality at each stage of the design and manufacturing process, including with subcontractors. The fi rst quality tests are carried out from the design phase, on all products (excluding purely aesthetic variants): pre-production runs are tested in testing rooms close to the design teams. For endurance tests, products are subjected to an intensive sequence of operating cycles in standard conditions of use, which may be spread over several weeks, without interruption. At the Shaoxing (China) site, for example, endurance tests on kettles were carried out in 2017 on 248 products, which each ran for 2000 to 6000 heating cycles, depending on the range. In Is-sur-Tille, 208 toasters were tested over 5,360 cycles each on average. Other tests cover shock resistance, functionalities, behavior in a wet environment, the performance of packaging, and so on. In the case of innovative products, the Group also conducts tests in the homes of volunteer consumers to take all possible methods of use into account, even the most unlikely ones.
Commencement of new product manufacturing is preceded by a Pilot Run Validation. This involves the pre-production of an additional 100 or so products, with extremely demanding quality criteria, so as to reduce the scrap rate as much as possible. In four years, the number of products not considered "good the fi rst time round" has fallen by 36%, highlighting the progress made in the upstream development phase. During production, accelerated operating tests (short live tests lasting a few days) are carried out on randomly selected products to identify any faulty components that may have slipped through the quality control conducted by the supplier undetected.
The Group also incorporates consumer comments gathered by Call Centers within a continuous improvement loop. These are forwarded to the marketing teams, who factor them into product development. Proof of the continuous improvement in quality is that returns under warranty have continued to fall since 2009 and have dropped by a factor of more than 2 in 9 years. Finished product quality indicators are also continuing to improve, such as the percentage of potentially faulty products, which has decreased by 60% in fi ve years (Group and subcontractors' plants, excluding WMF).
Finally, the Group takes monitoring measures and proactive steps to raise quality standards in the interests of consumers (see page 96).
Product safety is ensured by a rigorous set of procedures implemented at every stage of product development and production. During development, each project review (RP1 to RP4) includes formal checking of product compliance via a series of validations listed in the EMQS (Environment, Marketing, Quality and Standards) reference document. Several of these validations make a direct contribution to product safety, such as robust design analysis or fi eld tests which validate the design under real conditions. During the production phase, lots of tests are carried out on the production lines (electrical insulation, sealing tightness, etc.) and samples are taken on a regular basis for accelerated functional testing which could reveal possible anomalies not detectable on the new product. A fi nal check is made at the end of the production line, after packaging (test of fi nished product quality), when sample products are unpacked and tested to check that all the production tests have been carried out.
With regard to product harmlessness, the Group is particularly vigilant when it comes to selecting component materials, going beyond regulatory requirements. As part of its commitment to quality, the Group has introduced a "Health & Environment" notice which has been in use for several years now on Tefal/T-fal non-stick cookware. This commitment gives a guarantee that there is no PFOA (1), Lead or Cadmium and therefore that the coatings are safe for both the consumer and the environment.
With regard to unpopular substances, the Group classifi es in this category substances that, although not banned by the regulations, are considered by some stakeholders, such as NGOs, to be potentially hazardous. On this basis, the Group is working on plans to replace a number of these substances and materials, even though they are not currently covered by the regulations, in order to stay a step ahead of future directives. Phtalates, for example, which are included in the RoHS European Directive (2), were already viewed as unpopular substances by Groupe SEB in 2012.
(1) PFOA: Perfluorooctanoic acid is a substance used as an aid to polymerization in many polymer manufacturing processes.
(2) Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances.
To answer consumers' questions, Groupe SEB has multi-channel contact centers (telephone, e-mail, brand websites, social media, etc.) in most of the larger countries. In 2014, it set up multi-country call centers to provide a better service to the greatest number of consumers. In 2017, it expanded the call center in Sofi a, which now covers Australia and New Zealand, as well as nine countries in Eastern and Central Europe. This center has a team that is able to respond in every language within the region in question and to cater for the various time zones. A second multi-country call center has been up and running in Lisbon since 2016 for Spain and Portugal. In India, the after-sales service structure was completely overhauled in 2015/2016 to bring it up to Group standards. There is now a professional, effective network there of nearly 250 repair technicians, who are selected then trained. The Group has also developed a smart phone application for the country, allowing customers to book a repair time slot, as repairs at home are very common practice in India. In France, Groupe SEB once again won "Customer Service of the Year" in 2018 for its quick responses and the quality of its customer relations on all communication channels.
Keen to help the consumer in all circumstances, the Group continues to expand the services it offers. Since 2015, it has developed new product use and maintenance videos (on average, 3-4 a month), which are posted on YouTube and can be accessed via brand websites. Consumers can also access a large mutual assistance community via the brands' websites. In France, this community now numbers over 700,000 users of the Group's products, willing to exchange advice and tips.

The "Cooking for Good" pillar of the Group's Sustainable Development strategy is driven by its ambition to make homemade, healthy, tasty food accessible to everyone, via products and services that make everyday cooking easier and promote sociable dining. All over the world, we help people answer the question "what's for dinner?", knowing that they can offer a balanced, tasty, healthy meal, with easy, stress-free preparation. Our solutions are also designed to promote a more responsible diet, encouraging practices with a lower environmental impact.
Nutritionists all agree: reducing our intake of ultra-processed food and eating homemade dishes, where possible using fresh ingredients, plays a signifi cant part in achieving a balanced diet. Nine out of ten French people think that "cooking healthy, balanced meals" and "sharing meals with family or friends" are the activities that contribute the most to their general well-being (3). At the same time, however, 50% of them say they don't have the time to prepare meals. By their very nature, the Group's products and services make homemade cooking easier, with solutions that simplify life, save time and produce recipes that help people eat well and enjoy their food.
Over the years, thanks to its innovations, the Group has proved that home cooking does not need to be complicated or time-consuming. For example, the famous Super Cocotte Seb pressure cooker (1953) was the fi rst in a long line of pressure cookers, including Nutricook and its four cooking programs that preserve vitamins and other nutrients. More recently, in 2012, Cookeo enabled time-strapped cooks to put together dishes quickly, with hundreds of step-by-step recipes that could be made in less than 20 minutes. Cuisine Companion then raised the bar even higher: as well as cooking, it makes the preparation of ingredients, pastry or sauces easier, using a range of accessories for chopping, mixing, beating, kneading or grating. Now connected, all these products are continually receiving digital enhancements, to offer consumers an infi nite quantity of recipes and a variety of delicious meals.
It was with this in mind that in September 2017 it got involved in the French Malinqui program designed to help very young children from poor families get access to a balanced diet and good quality food, as well as infl uence family eating habits. This program is run by a pediatric society partner organization (AFPA, SFP), the French Red Cross, Blédina and Danone Communities (Danone), Lesieur, Accenture and Groupe SEB through its Tefal, Seb and Moulinex brands.
The Malin program is part of the French government's Strategy to Combat Poverty, offi cially launched in September 2018. Many studies show that healthy eating from a young age helps to signifi cantly reduce diet-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity. As part of this program, the Group is offering a whole series of cookware and electrical appliances at affordable prices for families who would not be able to purchase them at the usual price (30-60% discount). It also helps by providing advice on healthy eating, good deals and tips.
The objective is to offer a useful range of family products while reinforcing family home cooking habits and developing a sustainable business model. At end-2018, the Malin program had already helped over 12,000 families since its launch and ultimately hopes to roll out the Program to the 480,000 eligible families throughout France with the goal of reaching at least 160,000.
(3) BVA survey conducted for Groupe SEB in July 2018, on a sample of 1,104 people representative of the French population, aged 18 and over
To promote healthy eating, in 2018 the Group began working on a "Healthy Recipe Charter", based on recommendations from France's National Health and Nutrition Program (PNNS – France). This Charter, which is due to be fi nalized in 2019, will be used as a benchmark for increasing the number of healthy meals in the hundreds of recipes offered to consumers via the product apps.
Groupe SEB is also involved in raising awareness about nutrition among the general public. It is in this spirit that, in 2018, it became a partner of the "Diet, nutrition and eating behavior" Chair at the AgroParisTech University (France). This Chair develops innovative, fun food education activities using new educational tools, often based on digital technologies.
Eating quality food is the key focus of the Group's brands, which develop new solutions to promote healthy eating and enjoy food at the same time. Tefal and Moulinex are the Group's international brands most involved in this area.
Since its early days, Tefal's innovations have always focused on healthy eating. It all began with the invention of the non-stick frying pan, meaning that people could cook using very little oil, or even none at all. In the cookware section, the Preserve frying pans range, launched in France in 2018, is specifi cally designed for cooking at low temperature, conserving up to 30% more Vitamin C than cooking at high temperature.
In electrical products, the Actifry fryer (sold under the Seb brand in France and Belgium), in which healthy, tasty meals can be made using only a spoonful of oil, has been developed to make the consumer experience even easier with the My Actifry application. As well as providing "step by step" help to make dishes successfully, it also offers several hundred recipes so that people can vary their menus and enjoy a healthy, balanced diet. It encourages consumers to eat fresh produce, particularly fruit and vegetables. In 2019, My Actifry will go even further with a new customized nutritional coaching service. In many countries, Actifry is at the heart of operations to raise awareness of healthier ways of living and a better diet.
Optigrill, another flagship Tefal product designed for cooking meat and fish, protects consumers' health through its exclusive grilling technology, which signifi cantly limits the formation of toxic compounds (polyaromatic hydrocarbons, including benzopyrene, which is carcinogenic). The effectiveness of this technology, based on the cooking temperature, has been proven through polyaromatic hydrocarbon assays by an independent laboratory.
The iconic "homemade" brand, Moulinex has strengthened its support to help consumers move towards better diets by offering services related to its connected products. In early 2019, a new app, Cookeo Healthy, was launched for the Cookeo multicooker, providing detailed nutritional information on recipes made using the appliance. It classifi es recipes into food groups – v egetables, animal proteins or starches for example – indicating the number of daily portions they offer. The aim is to help consumers know whether their diet is meeting their needs. This service is now available for 400 existing Cookeo recipes. The range of recipes will soon be expanded, placing greater emphasis on vegetables.
Moulinex also trialed a program to get children interested in taste, named Kiddy Cookeo, in 2016. The brand intends to roll it out on a wider scale very soon. Kiddy Cookeo gets children, along with their parents, to prepare recipes using the Cookeo multicooker. It also offers introductory workshops on textures and fl avors and includes educational content for parents.
In 2017, Supor introduced vacuum technology to its blenders: by removing air from the bowl while mixing, Vacuum Nutrition Plus reduces the oxidization of food, conserving its full nutritional value. Moulinex followed suit in 2018 on the European market with Freshboost, using the same technology.

The themes of nutrition and food are at the center of Groupe SEB's business and therefore also of its research policy. To demonstrate the importance it places on the issue of diet and eating well, in 2017 the Group created a Food Sciences unit within its Research department, bringing together agro-food engineers and a nutritionist, who joined the team in 2018.
On the issue of diet, the Group belongs to a "hard core" of members of the European consortium InnoLife (more than 130 companies, research organizations and top-fl ight universities) selected in 2014 by the European Union (EU) to conduct the EIT Health program on the subject of "Healthy living and active aging". Within this framework, the Group manages the Cook2Health project, launched in 2016 with doctors, nutritionists and digital operators. This project consists in measuring the impact on people's health of regular use of connected
In addition to the impact on health and well-being, the preparation and choice of food has an impact on our ecological footprint. Growing awareness of this has led to new dietary trends, to which Groupe SEB has contributed. For example, Multicook & grains (Moulinex/ Tefal) offers specifi c cooking programs for pulses. This food group is becoming popular again with the rise of fl exitarianism (4), based on the fact that the production of plant proteins has a lower environmental impact than the production of animal proteins. The Group also supports people who want to grow their own herbs or vegetables: with the Click & Grow (EMSA) indoor vegetable gardens, they can pick vegetables and herbs all year round, whenever they need them. The correct combination of water, oxygen and nutrients guarantees optimum growth. Other advantages include no transport, less waste, and 100% natural food. This home farming concept is one of the areas of innovation being explored by the Group.
Another trend that demonstrates awareness of responsible consumption is the prevention of food waste, an issue of growing concern in many countries. Groupe SEB contributes to this through its core business, promoting "homemade" meals, which by their nature kitchen appliances through an extensive program of clinical trials (monitoring of 30 health parameters). The most recent wave of trials, which ended in October 2018, covered 160 people whose daily cooking habits, at home, were monitored over one year (France and United Kingdom). The aim is to demonstrate the value of personalized assistance in changing behavior towards a healthier diet, with the goal of prevention. The results of the study will be revealed in 2019.
In France, Groupe SEB is involved in the Proveggas (Gastronomic Vegetable Proteins) research project focused on leguminous plants. These foods are attracting growing interest with a view to stabilizing, or even decreasing, the consumption of animal proteins. The aim of the program is to make pulses more appealing to consumers, through simpler preparation (faster cooking), easier digestion and improved sensory properties. Supported by French public funds, the project was launched in 2017 for a three-year period.
tend to limit waste, as the food is prepared when needed. The Group also offers advice on how to make maximum use of food, through the recipes it offers with its products. The recipe book included with the Moulinex juicers (Juice & Clean, Juiceo, Power Juice) for example gives lots of ideas on how to cook the pulp instead of throwing it away. Several subsidiaries also carry out awareness-raising actions on the topic of food waste. For several years now, Groupe SEB Brazil, for example, has held cooking classes showing how to use fruit and vegetables in their entirety, including peelings. The Group's product range also includes food storage boxes.
The Group also promotes more responsible everyday habits: for example, its range of thermo cupsand mugs (EMSA, Supor brands) offer an alternative to plastic cups and other containers that pollute the planet.
The impact of the Group's products on the environment has long been one of the Group's priorities. A specifi c chapter of this document is dedicated to its policy in this area (see pages 166-167 ).
(4) A flexible vegetarian diet (or semi-vegetarianism).
This pillar of the Group's Sustainable Development strategy concentrates on offering solutions to enable everyone to enjoy a better homelife, whatever their age or physical condition.
As well as permanent disabilities, anyone, at any time of their life, might experience limited sensory, physical or cognitive ability, due to injury, illness or old age. As part of its commitment to make its products accessible to as many people as possible, in 2018 the Group launched a Good Design Guide, which will be completed in 2019. The guide sets out the rules to be followed when designing products or services, such as legibility (print size and color/contrast) based on recognized rules or standards. This guide also includes good practices aimed at improving the ergonomics of products for which no standards exist. With the aim of going even further in this area, the Design department has been working with the internal BiiS team, which uses its innovative methodology to produce innovation projects with a social impact (see page 155 ). One of the 2018 projects focused on inclusive design, looking at how to improve the ergonomics of breakfast products to make them accessible to people with temporary or permanent disabilities. The team worked in partnership with the Humanity & Inclusion association. The groups of people chosen by the association tested the use of existing products to identify the "friction points" that could make them complex to use. The project resulted in prototypes that will be used for future product development and recommendations to be included in the Good Design Guide. Following on from this project, at the end of 2018 the Group and APF France Handicap were selected by the Caisse Nationale de Solidarité pour l'Autonomie (National Disability Autonomy Fund) as part of a call for proposals on "Disability and loss of autonomy: innovation through design."
In addition to this design work, in 2018 the Group also organized inclusive communication training for the Brand department teams. These training sessions raised awareness about all kinds of stereotypes related to age, gender, origins or culture.
Although the Group placed a stronger emphasis on product accessibility in 2018, this issue was already a part of its product design. Of the most recent examples, the Air Force Flex vacuum cleaner, launched in spring 2019, easily vacuums under furniture without the user having to bend down, something that is much appreciated by people with back pains . It is also very easy to maneuver, wireless and all the controls are on the upper part of the machine.
A better homelife also means a healthy environment, starting with the quality of the air we breathe. This can be damaged by multiple pollution sources such as animal hair, dust and pollen, which cause respiratory allergies, as well as volatile organic compounds including formaldehyde, specifi cally found in paint or glue used in furniture, and recognized as one of the most dangerous pollutants in the home. Since 2015, the Group has responded to this need for air purifi cation with the Intense Pure Air range, an ultra-effective fi ltration system containing four fi lters. The Allergy+ fi lter, for fi ne particles, captures allergens, while another fi lter equipped with exclusive NanoCapturTM technology, defi nitively destroys formaldehyde. Thanks to its intelligent purifi cation system, the appliance automatically starts working once it detects pollution. It can also be connected to an app that lets you view the indoor air quality and manage the appliance remotely, providing more information on air pollutants.
In 2018, the Alyatec Research Center, located in the new Strasbourg hospital, conducted a world fi rst with Groupe SEB: a clinical trial aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of the Intense Pure Air purifi ers on respiratory allergies. Twenty-four patients suffering from allergy-related asthma spent two sessions, a maximum of two hours each time, in a sterile exposure chamber. Air containing extremely fi ne particles of cat allergens was introduced into the chamber, fi rstly in the presence of placebo purifi ers (no fi ltration), then with active Intense Pure Air purifi ers. During the fi rst test, all the participants had allergic reactions, causing them to leave the room before the end of the session. By contrast, the results of the second test showed that the use of Intense Pure Air purifi ers could reduce the risk of allergic reaction by a factor of 10. The results of this trial were presented in May 2018 at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Conference in Munich. In 2019, they are also due to be published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, a leading publication from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

With regard to home cleaning, a growing number of consumers are looking for ways to limit their use of detergents, which cause chemical pollution. Here again, Groupe SEB has come up with an innovative solution for keeping fl oors clean without using these products. The Clean & Steam vacuum cleaner, launched in 2017, vacuums and steam cleans the fl oor in one go. Besides saving time, cleaning in this way eliminates up to 99% of bacteria, which are destroyed by the heat. This is especially good for people suffering from allergies and parents of young children.
As part of its focus on personal care, in addition to its existing product range, the Group wants to develop products and solutions that help people stay fi t and in good health, for better homelife at any age.
In France in 2017, Tefal launched the Body Partner, smart bathroom scales that incorporate a unique and exclusive body shape tracker device. As well as measuring the user's weight and fat mass/lean mass ratio, Body Partner shows their hydration rate and integrates body shape data captured by a smart tape measure. All of this information is sent to a smart phone application, where it generates dashboard charts that allow the user to track the various parameters over time.
In2018, the Group worked on fall prevention as part of its BiiS program (see page 155 ), in partnership with the Research and Marketing teams. This project led to a prototype solution related to balance, which will soon enter the development phase.
Through the Group's open innovation approach, it has also invested in the SeniorAdom start-up through its SEB Alliance fund (see page 22). SeniorAdom offers a new-generation, non-intrusive remote assistance solution that detects falls and illness without the user having to wear any particular device. In this way, it helps elderly people or people with reduced mobility stay in their own homes.
The Group is increasingly making more of its products and services part of the circular economy. The aim is to save the planet's resources by operating on several levers: extending product life and re-use, promoting recycling and the use of recycled materials, and prioritizing product use rather than product ownership.
To reinforce this approach, in 2016 the Group signed a three-year partnership between the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and its Rowenta brand, extending the joint actions that began in 2014. Two of the three working areas relate specifi cally to the circular economy: repairability and use of recycled materials in products and packaging. The third covers energy effi ciency. The WWF's support covers both
Product repairability is a vital aspect of the circular economy, as by increasing the lifetime of products it helps to reduce both the resources consumed and waste, and therefore preserve the environment. It is also benefi cial for consumers (economic advantage) and keeps users of the Group's products loyal by extending service lives as much as possible.
Reparability is an approach that ensures:
The Group is a pioneer in this fi eld. Its repairability policy, initiated in 2008, reached maturity in 2015 with its "10-year repairable product" commitment. Since 2016, this logo has been displayed on more than 90% of the new electrical appliances sold in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa for the four brands Tefal, Rowenta, Moulinex and Krups, and for Seb and Calor in France and Belgium. In 2018, in Europe, the logo appeared on 98.7% of the electrical appliances released on the market, excluding Personal Care. In early 2019, the commitment was extended to all new ranges of WMF small electrical appliances. Extension to the OBH Nordica and Arno brands is currently under examination.
Product repairability starts from product design, and is one of the priority areas in the Group's Eco-design Guide . Right from the start, products are designed to be easily disassembled and reassembled so that only the worn parts have to be replaced. In 2016, the Group adopted a stringent method for calculating of the level of repairability of its electrical appliances. In addition to the criteria of availability and price of parts, this defi nition now includes the percentage of repairable technical issues and measures to raise the awareness of consumers and other stakeholders.
The Group also contributes to the development of the circular economy through several initiatives involving various stakeholders. Since 2018, for example, it has been director of the Urban Mines Chair, founded in partnership with three French "Grandes Écoles" universities (Arts et Métiers, Chimie ParisTech and Mines ParisTech) and the environmental organization Éco-Systèmes. The Chair focuses on implementing a circular economy model that is profi table for everyone – citizens, manufacturers, recycling organizations and local authorities.
faults. The Group considers a product to be mostly repairable if at least 80% of faults are repairable (one or two parts at most are not available or cost more than half of the product's price, and this/these part(s) account for less than 20% of the risk of faults). A product is fully repairable (100% of faults are repairable) if all the components that can be replaced are available and none cost more than half the price of the product.
In 2018, 93.1% of the total volume of electrical appliances sold worldwide were repairable (75.3% fully and 17.8% mostly). In parallel, the repaired products rate is increasing in approved centers: in Europe for example, for products under warranty, it increased from 70.3% in 2012 to 82.10% in 2017, and for products not under warranty, it increased by 39% over the same period.
In 2018, Groupe SEB introduced a new initiative to encourage more consumers to repair their products after the warranty period, when they are responsible for the cost of repair. To remove the main obstacles, the fear of a high repair cost or the risk of paying for a quote "for nothing", the Group has introduced a fi xed repair offer with a single, fi xed rate for each product category. The consumer has the assurance that they can get their product repaired for less than a third of the price of an equivalent new product from the brand, whatever the malfunction, age of the appliance (the repairability guarantee lasts for up to 10 years) and the spare parts needed. They also benefi t from a guarantee covering the whole appliance for six months after the repair has been done. This offer was launched in September 2018, initially in France for the Rowenta brand. Consumers can purchase the repair package directly on the Rowenta.fr website then follow the instructions to send the product or take it to an approved repair center. The service will be extended to other brands in France during 2019 and will gradually be rolled out in other European countries, starting with Spain, Portugal and Italy.
* mostly repairable, on small electric appliances .

To ensure that repairs are of optimum quality, Groupe SEB uses a network of approved repair centers, which has gained in strength over the last 10 years. There are now over 6,200 worldwide, including 2,800 in China. The Group's local after-sales service teams in the different countries are responsible for training and supporting the repair centers.
The Group guarantees the repair centers that some 40,000 listed spare parts will be available for as long as 10 to 15 years after products cease to be manufactured, including sourced products, at the cheapest possible price (this price has not increased since the 30% reduction in 2012). In Western Europe, spare parts are delivered to repair centers within 24 to 48 hours, rising to a maximum of four days in other parts of the world.
Nearly six million spare parts are stored at the Group's central warehouse in Faucogney (15,000 m2 ) in the east of France. In addition, in a growing number of countries, consumers can directly order accessories, consumables and spare parts on the brand websites. In 2018, direct orders were possible on 57 brand websites across the world. Since 2016, the Group has used a second spare parts and accessories warehouse in Hong Kong to deliver parts to repair centers or consumers in Asia more quickly.
The Group is also exploring new methods such as the 3D printing of spare parts. Manufacturing parts on demand will simplify stock control and extend availability almost indefi nitely. A project relating to this issue was launched in 2015 and qualifi cation testing is underway with initial repairs for volunteer "pilot" consumers. These consumers
The Group is at the forefront of new, more sustainable, consumer models similar to product-service systems, and since 2015 has been testing an innovative kitchen appliance rental service in France to respond to ad hoc consumer requirements. Christened "Eurêcook", it was initially rolled out in the Dijon area in partnership with a network of public and private sector operators such as Ademe, the ENVIE association and Groupe Casino. In October 2018, it was launched in Paris, this time in partnership with ENVIE and Monoprix, the leader in city center shopping. The principle is simple: the consumer reserves their Seb, Tefal or Moulinex appliance on the www.eurecook.fr website or in one of the fi ve Parisian Monoprix stores initially participating in the campaign. They choose the length of the rental (from a weekend to a regularly provide the Group with information about how the parts hold up over time. At the end of 2018, 50 3D-printed parts were being tested by consumers in Western Europe. This program will continue in 2019.
Whether or not products are under warranty, the Group encourages consumers to have them repaired instead of exchanging them by directing them to the approved repair centers using several information methods: product documentation, brand websites, explanatory videos, etc.
More generally, since 2016, Groupe SEB has intensified its communication on the repairability policy to all stakeholders in European countries (press, NGOs, consumer associations, public bodies, etc.). Its "10-year repairable product" commitment is now largely relayed on social networks in Spain, Portugal, Romania, Poland, and other countries. As the Group is considered to be the European leader in repairability, it has been invited to present its approach at conferences organized by various public institutions, such as the Belgian Senate, the European Court of Justice and the Métropole du Grand Paris.
This commitment to repairability has won the Group many awards. In May 2018, it won the award for "Social and Environmental Responsibility" at the European Business Awards in Warsaw, having been selected from 112,000 companies from 34 European countries.
week) then pick up the appliance at one of the collection points or with their shopping delivery. Once they have been returned, the products are systematically cleaned, checked and re-packaged.
The Eurêcook service is part of our sustainable consumption initiative for more than one reason. From an ecological perspective, it is in keeping with the optimization of natural resources (a single product is used more often) and the packaging is re-usable and eco-designed (cellular polypropylene). From an affordability perspective, due to its lower cost of use, Eurêcook makes appliances more affordable for economically vulnerable people. Lastly, it uses a local inclusive employment company (ENVIE) to take care of product cleaning, testing, repackaging and logistics, from its workshop in Trappes.
The All-Clad brand extends the lifetime of products with an unprecedented product line. Since 2015, it has offered its catering customers secondhand pans reconditioned at the Canonsburg plant in the United States. The All-Clad pans, recovered from chefs, are disassembled, cleaned, returned to their original condition, brushed, and polished for a pristine result. They leave the plant looking as good, and working as well, as when they were new, but at half the price and with much less of an impact on the environment (95% less energy consumed). This ENCORE range has received support from a number of chefs. 2,098 pans were reconditioned in 2018.
RE-USE
Although Groupe SEB is working hard to encourage the repairing of products under warranty, some customers or consumers prefer to opt to exchange their products for new ones. Products that are returned to the Group's site in Alençon through distributors' after-sales services have mostly not been used much and have a single fault. Instead of sending them for disassembly and recycling, Groupe SEB France has decided to give them a second life by allowing the association ENVIE Anjou to recycle them under a partnership concluded in 2017. ENVIE
Improving product recyclability is included in the Group's eco-design guide and all products are assessed for their potential recyclability using a standardized method. When designing a product, the Group gives preference to materials that can be recycled (metallic components, certain plastics like polypropylene), seeking to reduce the number of different materials to facilitate sorting. It also makes sure that products can be disassembled quickly and easily. For example, the Tefal Turbo Pro Anticalc steam iron, launched at the end of 2016, has a heat shield (the part above the sole-plate) made from recyclable plastic PBT, rather than non-recyclable BMC, which was the case for previous ranges. Thanks to this change, this iron's recyclability percentage is 82%, compared with 76% for an equivalent iron with a BMC shield. The same change was made to the Calor Express Compact steam ironing station. In 2018, the recyclability of Linen Care products continued to improve, for example in Erbach (Germany), with a new co-injection process that removes the use of non-recyclable glue.
The average potential recyclability rate for new electrical product families designed in 2018 reached around 85%.
Anjou, an inclusive employment operator, collects faulty products at the Alençon site, and disassembles and repairs them at its workshop near Angers before reselling them at a modest price in its store with a one-year warranty. Through this partnership, the association has already created three permanent jobs and taken on three people on short-term contracts under its inclusive employment scheme.
In the United States, the Group has introduced a similar scheme, which it manages internally. After checking and any repackaging, products without defects are put back into stock for sale through the traditional channels, whereas products classed as seconds are resold through specialist channels (e.g. wholesalers) and products that cannot be repaired are given to disassembly/recycling companies.
Again with a view to extending the lifetime of products, this time in terms of combating technological obsolescence, the Group offers owners of a Cuisine Companion food processor (Moulinex) the opportunity to enhance their appliance with the new i-Companion functionalities, the connected version of this product. This is for a cost limited to the difference between the prices of the two products, with no additional transport costs.
Groupe SEB uses more and more recycled materials in its products. It focuses its efforts on plastics, particularly for electrical products. Cookware (non-electrical) already contains a high level of recycled materials, mostly metals (aluminum and steel). The Resource frying pan range (Tefal), launched in 2018, is made from 100% recycled aluminum. The recycled plastics strategy began in 2009 with the Enjoy utensils, made from 95% recycled PET. For several years, the Group has intensifi ed its efforts in this area, led by the Purchasing, Quality, Standards and Environment and Research departments, in liaison with the Industry and Marketing departments. This has involved collaboration with recyclers to improve the quality of plastics, checking their compliance with regulations, performing injection and prototype testing, launching pre-production runs, and so on.
In 2015, it set up the fi rst circular economy loop in France for small electrical appliances, with Veolia and Éco-Systèmes. This cooperation led to the marketing of a steam generator (Silence Steam) with a casing made of polypropylene recycled from electrical and electronic devices. Compared to plastics from oil, the use of recycled plastics has reduced the impact on global warming by nearly 70%. In 2018, Rowenta extended use of this material to the Silence Force Compact vacuum cleaner bases, through specifi c investment in production lines at the Vernon site. Preparations are also being made to integrate this same recycled material in the steam irons produced in Erbach (Germany). Since 2016, other products integrating recycled plastics have been produced, including a raclette grill and a coffee machine, and a dozen new projects are underway.
Aside from its partnership with Veolia, the Group has developed its dealings with other recyclers with the aim of increasing its expertise to meet its needs. It carries out training and awareness-raising operations in-house for the relevant teams (design teams, laboratories, quality, marketing, etc.).
At the end of 2018, for products manufactured in-house, it had already exceeded its target set in 2013 of incorporating 20% recycled materials in new products by 2020, with a rate of 38%. It has therefore made a new voluntary commitment to maintain this momentum: doubling the annual use of recycled plastics in France by 2025 compared to 2017 (subject to any changes in applicable regulations that might impact this strategy).
Th e use of recycled plastic also extends to the bags offered by the Group's stores to their customers. In Europe, in 2018, these were reviewed from an ecological and economic point of view. Made from 80% recycled plastic and 100% recyclable, the new bags have been awarded the Blue Angel environmental label. In addition to the use of recycled plastic, the reduction in the number of suppliers (from 10 to 4, including 1 covering 75% of needs) also helps to reduce the carbon footprint involved in transporting the materials. In early 2019, these bags were available in nearly all countries in the EMEA zone where the Group has stores (Home&Cook and WMF). Extension of the program to other countries is being examined.
In recognition of all its efforts in recycled plastics, the Group received the LSA Award for "Development of environmental responsibility" in France, beating around 100 other candidates.
What happens to products once they come to the end of their life? In Europe, collection and processing of small electrical appliances are managed by national eco-organizations. Groupe SEB is particularly involved in this in France, as part of Éco-Systèmes, the country's largest eco-organization for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
As y et, there is no specifi c channel for aluminum pans, saucepans or stew pots, however. In France, for example, 60% end up as household waste (6,000 tons per year), even though they are 80% recyclable. Since 2012, Groupe SEB has introduced even more initiatives to promote the recycling of end-of-life cookware, in Europe especially (France, Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, etc.) with the Tefal brand. The operations involve a partnership between the Group, specialist recycling companies and partner distributors. Consumers are encouraged to bring their old products back to the store, in exchange for a discount voucher to purchase a new item. In 2018, the offer was extended for the fi rst time to recycled aluminum items (Resource and So Recycled ranges). The used products are collected before being sorted and crushed. The main materials (aluminum, stainless steel and plastic) are separated, then recycled to manufacture new products, including cookware.
In 2018, in France, this campaign was organized on two occasions in 550 Leclerc stores (a campaign partner since the beginning). The 225 tons of collected and processed cookware produced around 80 tons of recycled aluminum, all of which was used to make new Tefal products. Several Galeries Lafayette and BHV stores also participated in the campaign. Since 2012, all these campaigns have resulted in the collection and recycling of over one million cookware items. In the Netherlands, 430 stores (Blokker and Marskamer) have taken part in the campaign, collecting around 40 tons. Norway has also contributed, via a hundred or so stores. In Asia, Thailand has been running similar campaigns since 2013. In this country, the products collected are given to a local association which makes prostheses (artifi cial legs), mostly from aluminum.
From the design of a product to the end of its life, the Group takes measures to limit its environmental footprint (eco-design, eco-manufacturing, eco-logistics, recycling, etc.) and contribute to combating climate change. It does so by means of its product eco-design guide and ISO 14001 international certifi cation. In the factories, offi ces, laboratories and warehouses, all Group employees and contractors are made aware of the importance of respecting the environment. Groupe SEB's environmental strategy is supervised by the Quality, Standards and Environment department and is coordinated across the sites by Environment, Health and Safety Coordinators. Information on Groupe SEB's environmental expenditure is available on page 258.
The data given below are for a worldwide scope for ISO 14001-certifi ed entities (5). They include the Vietnam Binh Duong and Seb Do Brasil Jaboatão plants, certifi ed in 2017.
The SEB Campus head offi ce in Écully joined the reporting scope in 2015.
Data concerning new acquisitions will be included progressively, as and when they are integrated into the various Group processes, and therefore exclude EMSA and WMF.
In 2017, Groupe SEB launched an assessment of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted along the entire length of its supply chain. This analysis was performed according to data for 2016 with the help of the consultancy fi rm Deloitte. It distinguishes scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions that are directly linked to the Group's activities from so-called indirect scope 3 emissions.
Scope 1: emissions linked to the consumption of fossil fuels (mostly natural gas) used for certain industrial processes or to heat buildings on the Group's ISO 14001-certifi ed industrial and logistics sites.
Scope 1: 58,049 tCO2eq
Scope 2: emissions caused by the consumption of electricity bought on the Group's certifi ed industrial and logistics sites.
ISO 14001
Scope 2: 149,106 tCO2eq
Scope 1 and 2 emissions (207,155 tCO2eq) consist of the Group's emissions from its industrial and logistics sites (see eco-manufacturing section on page 167 ).
Scope 3: indirect emissions that are not directly linked to the manufacture of products (e.g. purchases of goods and services, the use of products sold, and downstream and upstream transport).
Scope 3: 15,473,978 tCO2eq
Groupe SEB's total emissions in 2016 amounted to 15.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent. These break down as follows:

(5) Certificates obtained by sites prior to their acquisition by Groupe SEB were not taken into consideration.

Raw materials, components and upstream transport: emissions linked to the extraction of raw materials and the processing of materials and components by Groupe SEB. This includes emissions generated by purchasing services such as upstream transport.
Production: emissions linked to the energy consumed by the Group's industrial and logistics sites (combustion of fossil fuels and electricity consumption) = scopes 1 and 2.
Downstream transport: emissions linked to transportation of the Group's fi nished products from the plant to customers' warehouses.
Use of products: the calculation of emissions linked to the use of products takes into account the electricity consumed by small electrical appliances, the gas and electricity required for operation, and the washing (in hot water) of cookware. For every product category, the calculation considers their hypothetical use over the year and the sales volume.
Other: this emissions item covers various types of emissions that are not very signifi cant if taken separately. It includes, for example, emissions linked to Group employees' journeys to work, business travel, and consumers' trips to stores. It also includes emissions linked to the end of life of products.
Groupe SEB has set itself ambitious targets to reduce its carbon footprint:
In 2013, the Group set out an initial series of 2020 targets:
■ 20% lower energy consumption by electrical products (base year: 2013).
Progress at the end of 2018: -5% compared to reference products. The Group is involved in the international Science-Based Target initiative to reduce the environmental footprint of its electrical products during use. Eco-design projects and developments in technology will enable signifi cant reductions in product energy use. This has already been done with steam generators and hair dryers and will continue in 2018 with kettles, for example;
The emissions factors used are taken from databases (that of the International Energy Agency and the carbon database of ADEME – the French Environment and Energy Management Agency). There is a degree of uncertainty in the GHG Protocol's calculation method, since it is based on average emissions factors and given the number and type of data requested. It nevertheless provides information about the proportions of the Group's main emissions items, which serve as a useful guide for its strategies to reduce its carbon footprint.
To calculate the Group's carbon footprint, the teams used the ecoproduction reporting data for scopes 1 and 2, and the life cycle studies for the different product families for scope 3. The emissions generated by product manufacture, described in the "Eco-manufacturing " section, and the GHG emissions linked to logistics presented in the "Eco-logistics" section, are monitored by a dedicated reporting system.
Products that have contributed to GHG emissions account for 94% of sales by volume and 98% by revenue. This assessment confi rmed that the main priorities for improving the Group's carbon footprint are:
Progress at the end of 2018: 20.5% reduction at constant scope (6);
■ 20% minimum recycled materials in the new products and their packaging.
Progress at the end of 2018: 38% for products manufactured by the Group;
■ 20% fewer greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation of products and components (per product sold) (base year: 2013).
Progress at the end of 2018: 26% reduction.
(6) Covers all the industrial and logistics sites within the 2010 sustainable development reporting scope.
In 2016, as part of its commitment to strengthen its contribution to combating climate change, Groupe SEB joined the Science Based Targets initiative launched by the WWF, alongside the Global Compact (UN), the WRI (World Resources Institute) and the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project). This initiative encourages large companies worldwide to align their greenhouse gas emission reduction targets with the IPCC's recommendations for limiting the average global temperature rise to below 2 °C by the end of the century. In 2018, therefore, the Group set out its own short and long-term SBT targets, validated by the SBT Initiative (SBTIi). These follow on from the 2020 Targets and include:
Groupe SEB's eco-design policy aims to reduce the environmental footprint of the Group's products throughout their life cycle. To move forward with this policy, it is supported by an eco-design guide that clearly incorporates every stage of the life cycle of products and their packaging (extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use and end of life). It is structured around the Group's eco-design priorities: energy effi ciency, recyclability, repairability, use of recycled materials and bio-sourced polymers, reduction of carbon footprint during transport, replacement of unpopular substances, etc. For each eco-design priority, the guide states the Group's ambitions and defi nes performance levels based on measurable criteria. Ecodesign is embedded within the product design process and allows project teams to select the appropriate performance level for each new product based on the specifi cations.
This guide is a key tool in meeting the Group's environmental targets. It has been distributed to the entire innovation community, i.e. the Marketing, R&D, Design, Purchasing, Quality and Legal teams. Its introduction was underpinned by a major training initiative in 2014/2015, and additional training is regularly organized for the development teams. In 2017, for example, around 50 people at the Brazilian subsidiary benefi ted from a refresher training course on the guide, at the subsidiary's request. In 2018, training of this kind was organized for the Personal Care Marketing, Quality and Development teams and the Linen Care Marketing teams, complemented by three webinars for the whole of the Quality and Development community.
To reinforce its environmental approach, the Group is also working with the WWF, which is supporting it through a partnership with the Rowenta brand (see page 163 – Circular Economy chapter) and on several specific projects such as the formalization of the ecopackaging policy in 2018 (see page 170).
The Group regularly updates its product life cycle studies. These signifi cant studies (8), which measure the various impacts of products on the environment, enable us to focus our research on reducing their ecological footprint. In 2018, 83% of the 48 product families defi ned as the most signifi cant by the Environment department were covered by a life cycle study. The studies of kettles and toasters were fully reviewed. A special effort was made to make the methodology more robust and to include new data from recyclers, particularly in partnership with Éco-Systèmes, the main French eco-organization for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
In 2016, the Group undertook to establish the environmental profi le of each product family through summary fact sheets for internal use that answer three key questions: Which stage of the product life cycle affects climate change the most? What resources are required to manufacture the product and make it work? What ways are there to reduce the impact on the climate and resources? These fact sheets, designed with the participation of the Development,Marketing and Qualityteams, are both awareness-raising materials and a tool to assist with targeting eco-design efforts. Two new fact sheets, covering kettles and toasters, were disseminated in 2018 with the support of an e-learning module (in French and English) and are available on the Intranet. This raises the number of environmental profi les produced to date to 10.
(7) Carbon offsetting solutions, for example reforestation.
(8) Life cycle studies conducted on the most representative models of each of the Group's product families in terms of technical features, sales and geographic distribution.

Over the whole product life cycle, three-quarters of the energy impact comes from their energy consumption during the use phase, which far outstrips the fi gure for the manufacturing phase. Aware of the importance of the energy issue, in 2015 the Group decided to ramp up its coordination of these types of initiatives. The Smart Energy Products project was created by a team combining the Quality, Standards and Environment department, the Sustainable Development department and the Research department, working closely with the strategic business areas. The fi rst stage consisted in identifying the product families with the greatest impact in terms of energy consumption, given their individual consumption and the volumes sold, in order to concentrate the project's efforts on them. The Group defi ned a standard method for calculating consumption and energy effi ciency for each of these families, and one or two standard products that will be used as a benchmark for measuring progress.
In 2018, the Group concentrated more specifi cally on kettles, one of the product families with the highest energy impact. Several areas of action have been identifi ed so that new generations of this product family can gradually be introduced. Hair dryers were also studied in a specifi c session at SEBLab, focusing on energy effi ciency. At the same time, the Group is continuing its research work, particularly on new motor technologies.
In previous years, the Group had focused on vacuum cleaners, making signifi cant progress: in three years (2014-2017), the Marketing and R&D teams redesigned all the cylinder vacuum cleaner ranges, reducing energy consumption by 70% with no trade-off in terms of cleaning power ornoise level. The Group has thus gained a head start on the European regulations, which reduced the maximum power of vacuum cleaners to 900 watts in 2017. As of 2015, all new Rowenta models have had ratings below 900 watts. To achieve this level of performance, the Group developed low input/high output motors, designed more effective suction nozzles and improved all air fl ows to reduce charge losses. Other product families such as hair dryers and fans have also improved their energy profi le. For example, the Air Protect Eco (Samurai) fan uses 50% less energy than the benchmark model, achieving the same performance.
In terms of energy consumption on standby, all the Group's products are below the thresholds set by the European regulations, applicable since 07/01/2013 (0.5 W on standby without display and 1 W with display). This indicator is therefore no longer an issue for the Group and is no longer included in reporting.
The Group's eco-design policy also includes product packaging, aimed at ensuring that it correctly fulfi lls its protective, storage, transport, information and handling functions while minimizing its environmental impact. In 2018, the Group standardized and formalized its responsible packaging policy with the support of the WWF (WorldWide Fund for Nature). The policy has 10 targets and was produced and co-signed by the Sustainable Development department and the Purchasing department.
With regard to materials, the target is to use at least 90% recycled fi ber in all packaging by 2023 and to stop all use of expanded polystyrene by the same date, using alternative materials for padding. Suppliers are also strongly encouraged to use FSC certifi ed cardboard sources. The packaging must be designed along with the product, minimizing empty space and the amount of materials needed, while guaranteeing product quality. Packaging that is diffi cult to recycle must be limited and any superfl uous packaging avoided. For printing, inks must be water or plant based, without mineral oils. With regard to inserted documents (user instructions, safety recommendations, etc.), the Group wants to make these paperless and so reduce the amount of paper used. Consumers will be made more aware of waste sorting and recycling, through information given on the packaging.
Formalization of the eco-packaging policy backs up an approach that has already started on the Group's industrial sites. Rowenta vacuum cleaners made on the Vernon site are not padded with polystyrene but with cardboard and "honeycomb" packaging. Likewise, a study is being carried out on the packaging of Tefal frying pans made in Rumilly, to remove plastic bags for shipments to distributors or consumers.
See page 165.
See page 163.
See page 156.
Since 2003, the Group has adopted a worldwide environment management system. This system aims, fi rst and foremost, to prevent pollution, control the use of resources (energy and water) and reduce waste. The approach has resulted in the gradual certifi cation of the sites in accordance with ISO 14001, whose guidelines the Group undertakes to adhere to, namely compliance with current regulations and laws, and the principle of continuous improvement of good environmental performance and pollution prevention. In 2017, the new version of this standard was adopted, which stresses the concept of leadership, within an increased role for management, up to Site Director level. It also refl ects a more global approach to the impact of the site's operation on a product's life cycle. This change has meant that the teams tasked with environmental management in the fi eld have had to acquire new expertise. This has been achieved through training, support for the sites and through greater contributions from the international network of Health, Safety and Environment coordinators. This network, which facilitates the sharing of good practices, met for the second time with all the international coordinators, in Germany in October 2018 (see page 119).
In order to share good practices, each industrial and logistics site worldwide is invited each year to present at least one "eco-innovative" project designed to reduce environmental impact. Five areas of action are identifi ed: reducing energy consumption and using renewable energy; energy and environment management; reducing waste and recycling; reducing water use; biodiversity protection.
At the end of 2018, there were 42 projects from 27 sites and entities, over half of which related to energy. Four projects were judged to be particularly remarkable for their innovative and reproducible nature, the signifi cant environmental benefi t that they offer and their quick return on investment. Two are energy-related. In Selongey, optimization of the dust suction system from the sanding of pressure cooker pots has signifi cantly reduced energy use, both from the electrical energy used by the three suction units and the savings on heating related to the reduction in external air fl ow during winter. The operation has therefore signifi cantly reduced both CO2 emissions and energy bills. In the same way, in 2018 the WMF/Silit de Riedlingen site (Germany) installed a new energy-saving ventilation system that captures the warm air going out, reducing the need for heating. The combination of the two has enabled the site to signifi cantly reduce its energy use.
In Vietnam, the Binh Duong (Asia Fan) site has focused on reducing waste. It has removed all the plastic covers used to package the fan components stored in the warehouse. At the same time, it has fi tted storage installations that are more ergonomic, more effi cient and of higher quality, whilst lowering costs. In China, the Hangzhou site has produced a practical guide on Environment/Health/Safety matters to be used at daily meetings with production line operators (OPS approach, see page 27).
When it comes to energy, the Group's strategy for reducing its carbon footprint involves two areas: reducing energy consumption and using renewable energy. Energy is one of the components of the Plant of the Future project launched by the Group in 2016. A cross-functional working group, led by the Sustainable Development department, manages the action plans and explores the implementation of neutral or positive energy solutions, with a two-fold economic and ecological objective. In 2017, an Environment (energy and waste) component was incorporated in the industrial sites' dashboard charts, alongside Safety, Quality, Cost, Time and Commitment indicators.
In early 2019, the Group formalized an energy management standard, based on the essential requirements of ISO 50001. It will be gradually applied to all the sites, harmonizing practices in terms of organization, energy monitoring and training. Several of the Group's sites that are already ISO 50001 certifi ed have made considerable advances in this area: Erbach (Germany), Rumilly and Tournus (France), most of WMF's European sites and the EMSA site in Emsdetten.
On the Group's sites worldwide, the search for energy effi ciency has led to a multitude of actions that can be shared as good practices. In China, for example, the Supor site in Shaoxing has around 170 plastic injection machines. These usually use a highly energy-intensive heating collar . The local teams have opted for an alternative technique: a new heating strip that consumes 30% less energy. Its surface temperature is also a lot lower, making working conditions more comfortable for operators. At the end of 2018, all the presses were equipped with this strip and other Group sites are experimenting with the adoption of the solution.
Another remarkable initiative is in Omegna (Italy), where the site has taken advantage of two existing 80m wells (used for its industrial processes) to introduce a reversible cooling/heating system for its offi ces. The system is based on the fact that, at that depth, water remains at a stable temperature (around 10°C), whatever the season. Passing through a circuit which does the rounds of the site premises, the water cools the buildings in summer and can heat them in winter. Meanwhile, the new site in Itatiaia (Brazil) has incorporated environmental considerations from its construction (natural ventilation and lighting and mist cooling system, etc.).
Generally speaking, all the sites are continuing to gradually replace their existing lights (particularly including fl uorescent tubes) with LED systems (50% to 75% lower consumption). This operation will not only reduce the energy footprint, but also generate signifi cant savings.
The Is-sur-Tille site (France) was the fi rst in the Group to install a solar power-based air-conditioning system for an assembly workshop where the temperature was very high in the summer. Photovoltaic panels supply the electricity needed by the air-conditioning units, and when these units are not in use, it is used for other purposes. This initiative improves working conditions using a carbon-neutral solution.
Several green energy generation experiments are in progress in the Group: solar panels will be installed in 2019 at the SEB Campus in Écully, and other projects are under review, including in France, Egypt, Colombia and Brazil.
Since 2010, the Group has reduced the energy consumption of its industrial and logistics sites by 20.5%, at constant scope. It is therefore on its way to achieving the target of a 20% reduction that it has set itself for 2020.
(Worldwide)
Groupe SEB's goal is for all of its industrial and logistics entities to be ISO 14001 certifi ed worldwide.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of certifi able entities | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Entities holding ISO 14001 certifi cation (a) | 100% | 97% | 94% |
(a) Based on industrial and logistics entities at the end of the year considered (including the Group's head offi ce).
The Groupe SEB Brésil sites in Mooca and São Bernardo Do Campo have been transferred to the new Itatiaia site. The transfer was completed in the second half of 2017. Action plans are in place to bring entities that are not yet certifi ed up to Groupe SEB standards.
(ISO 14001-certifi ed entities)
| (in tons) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total consumption of metals | 165,758 | 161,731 | 145,461 |
| Total consumption of plastics * | 94,247 | 89,315 | 83,183 |
| Total consumption of packaging | 114,370 | 105,775 | 96,930 |
* This indicator consolidates polymers including plastics and rubber.
Several sites have introduced innovations to reduce the amount of materials used by changing their processes. In Rionegro (Colombia), for example, the optimization of the aluminum smelting process has halved the quantity of material needed to produce a caldero (pressure cooker) and the energy consumption per unit produced has been reduced by nearly 10%.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total consumption of natural gas (in GWh) | 213,5 | 230.5 * | 224.9 |
| Total consumption of liquefi ed gas (in tons) | 4,857 | 3948.7 * | 2,966.4 |
| Total consumption of electricity (in GWh) | 372 | 366.6 | 355.6 |
| Total consumption of water (in thousands of m3 ) |
3,402 | 3533.7 * | 3,338.8 |
| Total consumption of heating oil excluding fuel (in m3 ) |
17.8 | 14.9 | 18.8 |
* data updated due to reporting error.
Total natural gas consumption fell 7% this year. This was partly due to the efforts to optimize processes using natural gas at our plants, particularly in China. With natural gas being the main source of energy for heating at the Group's plants, weather patterns have a signifi cant effect on consumption.
The commencement of the cookware business at the Itatiaia plant in Brazil contributed to the increase in liquefi ed gas consumption. The increase in electricity consumption resulting from an overall increase in production was limited thanks to a series of energy efficiency measures at our production facilities, particularly in China.
Total water consumption fell 4% despite an overall increase in production. This was achieved thanks to water saving measures at the heaviest using plants. The Wuhan plant in China has for example optimized its processes to reduce water consumption. The Rumilly plant in France carried out a series of water saving measures in 2018.
In 2018 , Groupe SEB consumed more than 3.4 million m3 of water worldwide, mainly in cookware manufacturing processes. In addition to the volumes consumed, it is of paramount importance, however, to consider the location of consumption, in order to look at consumption in relation to regions under water stress where water is a sensitive resource. In 2015, the Group, wishing to assess the risks relating to water and its availability, carried out an analysis of its industrial plants according to the geographic location of the sites in question, using the World Resources Institute's (WRI) reference tool, the "Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas". This assessment was updated in 2016.
This analysis showed that none of the Group's industrial or logistics sites is in a region under "extreme" or "high" water stress according to the "Overall Water Risk" indicator, which measures availability, quality and water-related dispute risks on an aggregate basis. In addition, 20 of the Group's industrial or logistics sites are located in regions exposed to a risk which is considered to be "low" or "low to medium". In the future, the Group will pay particular attention to the 12 industrial and logistics sites located in regions where the risk is considered to be «medium» or «high».
The Group is therefore attentive to the preservation of water resources. Good practices aimed at reducing water consumption and recycling effl uents have been introduced on the industrial sites. These are shared through eco-innovative projects (see page 171). The All-Clad site (Canonsburg) has therefore implemented a program to eradicate excessive water consumption, while the sites in Hangzhou (China) and Rionegro (Colombia) recycle waste water which, after treatment, is re-used in production or to supply the washrooms. The Rionegro site has also put in place a system for capturing and storing rainwater, covering over half of the site's water needs. In Itatiaia (Brazil), some of the wastewater treated by the water treatment plant is used to clean tools.
Besides metal stamping (pressure cookers, frying pans and saucepans), surface treatments (non-stick) and the manufacture of certain components that occupy less than 10% of total production staff, most of Groupe SEB's production involves assembly operations. Groupe SEB therefore believes it has no signifi cant impact on or material use of land. In addition, where industrial restructuring resulted in plant closures, Groupe SEB ensured that sites were reclaimed in accordance with local legislation. Where appropriate or required by law, the Group conducts soil and sub-soil surveys, even though the majority of sites are not subject to any such compulsory assessments. Pollution studies carried out at sites that have been operational long term, confi rmed that the Group's business does not have any notable impact on the soil and sub-soil.
Progress is being made in the reduction of industrial waste, capitalizing on practical initiatives. On many of the Group's industrial sites, the largest volume of non-hazardous waste comes from the packaging of delivered components. To reduce this, some packaging is now being sent back to suppliers to re-use for future deliveries: in Erbach (Germany) for the cardboard that protects the iron sole-plates (6.4 tons of waste saved per year), in Selongey (France) for the containers of pressure cooker modules and handles, and also in Is-sur-Tille, Vernon, Shanghai, and elsewhere. Pallets are also re-used: in Lourdes and Vernon (France), component delivery pallets have been aligned with the palletization standards of the Group's fi nished products so that they can be re-used for shipments to customers. Some initiatives also relate to production methods, such as in Erbach where optimization of the assembly process of some irons has reduced the amount of glue waste from the rinsing cycles by a factor of three.
Waste reduction also concerns everyday actions. In 2017, to encourage staff to keep hydrated without disposing of large quantities of plastic cups, the Group's new site in Itatiaia (Brazil) gave everyone a reusable water bottle. Simple and effective: 2.9 tons of plastic waste prevented every year.

(ISO 14001-certifi ed entities)
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-hazardous waste (NHW)* (in tons) | 26,602 | 25,002 * | 21,203 |
| Percentage of NHW recycled* (as a %) | 58.4% | 61.4%* | 68.8** |
| Percentage of NHW used for energy* (as a %) | 18.1% | 16.1%* | 6.7** |
| Production of Hazardous Waste – excluding waste oil, effl uent and sludges (in tons) |
1,954 | 1,912 * | 1,421** |
| Sludges produced by internal wastewater treatment plants (in tons) | 3,712 | 4,132 * | 3,945.0 |
* Excluding Oils, Metals and Sludges.
** Data updated to correct a calculation error.
In 2018, 76.4% of the non-hazardous waste was treated through recycling or used to produce energy. The proportion of waste recycled fell for two reasons. Firstly, the reduction in the quantity of recyclable waste, in particular thanks to actions to reuse component packaging. Secondly, the infl uence of the international environment on the waste recycling constraints, which particularly affect plants in the EMEA zone. The Group also records its metal waste at 18,414 tons.
Groupe SEB's sites and activities are not directly impacted by climate change given the nature of its current plants. The Group has set up a climate change-related risk assessment, however, and has all the necessary insurance to cover any fi nancial consequences.
(ISO 14001-certifi ed entities)
| (in tons of CO2equivalent) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse gas emissions | 218,851 | 218,426 * | 229,728* |
* Data updated following a review of the greenhouse gas emission factor framework.
Greenhouse gas emissions remained stable between 2017 and 2018 (+0.2%), despite an increase in operating activities across the data scope. Greenhouse gas emissions were stable as a result of the reduction in electricity consumption at the Chinese plants as well as the overall reduction in natural gas consumption. (see indirect resource consumption table on page 173 ).
With regard to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Groupe SEB regularly tests its emissions (which are relatively small in terms of volume) in order to treat and control these emissions. The Group has made signifi cant investments, totaling several million euros, to improve the sites most concerned by VOCs (e.g. Rumilly). These investments aimed to treat emissions as well as to overhaul processes in order to very substantially reduce VOCs.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) represents the amount of oxygen necessary to oxidize the organic matter and mineral content in a body of water. It is used to measure the degree of organic and chemical pollution of the water. In 2018, Groupe SEB emitted 208 tons of COD from its own wastewater treatment plants.
At many sites, management of noise pollution must comply with regulations and any complaints in this regard must be managed in accordance with ISO 14001. All certified sites therefore have procedures in place to deal with these complaints. Furthermore, noise pollution, light pollution and odors from the Group's sites are insignifi cant given its operations.
Prevention of air, soil and water pollution is the fi rst pillar of the Group's environmental policy, designed to protect the ecological balance around our sites. In 2018, the Group strengthened its tools in this area, putting in place an environmental risk assessment methodology common to all the sites and defining a common standard for emergency response situations. All the sites have preventive systems, for example water reservoirs for extinguishing fi res and pipe cut-off systems. In 2018, several sites also made signifi cant investments in modernizing their wastewater treatment plants, particularly Hangzhou and Shaoxing in China.
Some industrial sites, especially in France, have also launched local initiatives to promote biodiversity. The Is-sur-Tille site, for instance, has created a flower meadow and installed a nesting tower for swallows. This tower was used by a colony of swallows as a place to give birth and set up a home in a place where they were not usually found. Between 50 and 150 hatchlings take fl ight from there each year. At the Pont-Évêque site, the traditional upkeep of its green spaces has been replaced by a partnership with the association Naturama. As a result, Soay sheep, a race threatened with extinction, have taken possession of 17,000 m2 of greenery. This has reduced the site's ecological footprint through natural maintenance by sheep, and increased the fauna and fl ora thanks to the manure produced. At the Group's new head offi ce in Écully, a 300 m2 conservation garden was created in 2016, in partnership with the Vavilov Institute (Saint
The transportation of products, as well as the raw materials and components used to make them, is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions within Groupe SEB, which clearly aims to reduce them: it has set itself a target of reducing these emissions per product sold by 20% by 2020 (base year 2013). Reducing the carbon footprint is one of the main priorities of the eco-design guide.
An initial assessment of greenhouse gas emissions related to logistics transport was conducted by the Group in 2009 and its reliability is steadily improving. To improve the carbon footprint of its logistics activities, Groupe SEB is focusing on two main areas: increasing the loading rate of transport units (trucks or containers) and developing new, low-impact transport methods as alternatives to road transport (river transport, rail, etc.).
Groupe SEB's Supply Chain department oversees the Group's ecologistics policy and strategy. Its eco-logistics unit coordinates all actions, in France and internationally, and consolidates annual data using the Tennaxia sustainable development reporting system. It relies on the logistics managers of the plants and commercial subsidiaries in carrying out this work. In 2018, the eco-logistics unit and the Purchasing teams prepared a checking procedure for environmental criteria during transport calls for tender. The aim is to favor, at the same cost, suppliers who perform best in this area. The criteria examined cover fuel-saving equipment, eco-driving, use of alternative fuels, route optimization software, etc.
In 2017, Groupe SEB signed up to the Fret 21 scheme launched by the ADEME (10) and the AUTF (11) to help companies incorporate the impact of transport within their sustainable development strategies. This three-year commitment initially applies to the Groupe SEB France subsidiary, which is acting as a pilot. Efforts are concentrated on four areas for the improvement of product import and distribution fl ows. Petersburg), the world's oldest plant gene bank. Groupe SEB decided to join the network of Vavilov gardens in line with its sustainable development commitment, particularly to contribute to maintaining biodiversity and developing healthy and sustainable eating. The garden has three collections: a collection from Lyon of varieties created in the Rhône-Alpes region in the 19th and 20th centuries; a Russian collection of ancient varieties brought back from a botanical expedition in Russia with the Vavilov Institute in 2015; a collection of wild species, the origin of cultivated food and ornamental plants. To introduce people to the conservation garden and allow the Campus staff to perfect their gardening techniques, workshops are held once a month, between March and November. The garden can also be visited independently, thanks to a set of information panels.
The actions undertaken since 2017 resulted in the following progress at the end of 2018:
As part of its commitment, Groupe SEB has decided to adopt the Fret 21 calculator for assessing GHG emissions linked to the global transportation of its products and components. It began to apply it at the end of 2017, with support in the form of training for the people responsible for reporting. The roll-out of this new tool was completed in 2018. It will gradually make the Group's carbon analysis more reliable, in particular by reducing the extrapolation aspect.
Since 2005, Groupe SEB has also been part of the Club Déméter, alongside distributors, logistics partners, manufacturers and public bodies such as Ademe (10), the University of Aix-Marseille and Mines Paris. As a place in which to share thoughts and experiences, the aim of this club is to promote environmentally-friendly logistics and to implement operational solutions designed to reduce environmental impacts.
(10) French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management.
(11) French Association of Freight Transport Users.

| (in tons of CO2 equivalent) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average value of greenhouse gas emissions | 228,744 | 205,596 | 202,764 |
The fl ows concerned in the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions are:
All modes of transport are included: road, rail, sea, river and air.
Each year, a new audit is carried out and the Supply Chain department seeks to expand the calculation scope for CO2 emissions to cover new countries. The share of extrapolated emissions is therefore steadily declining.
In 2018, Groupe SEB emitted 228,744 tons of CO2 equivalent: 23% from maritime transport, 71% from road transport, 5% from air transport and 1% from rail and river transport.
As part of a continuous improvement approach, Brazil and Supor China's carbon emissions are no longer extrapolated.
To reduce CO2 emissions from the transportation of products and components, the Group is continuing to improve the loading rate of transport units. It makes particular use of the EffyPACK (PACKaging system for supply chain EFFiciencY) approach, and the PackSoft software which optimizes palletization. The Group is also endeavoring to reduce the empty space inside packaging as much as possible. Transporting less empty space means emitting less CO2 while cutting costs. Since 2017, this parameter has been part of the product design/ development process and the teams concerned (R&D, Marketing, Quality, etc.) have been trained in this topic via e-learning. In 2018, the eco-logistics unit developed a tool for estimating the economic (avoided expenses in € ) and ecological (avoided CO2 kg) savings obtained by optimized product design aimed at minimizing empty space in the packaging. This was tested with several teams in 2018. It turned out that a minor change could have great impact, even without modifying the product design. Therefore, in the case of an offi ce fan (project currently being studied), simply separating the head and base of the fan during packaging (by removing a screw that is then reinserted by the consumer) makes it easier to arrange the different product components. This results in a signifi cant reduction in packaging volume and empty space, and a net increase in number of products per pallet. The approach will be continued in 2019.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container loading rate | 84.1% | 84.2% | 85% |
| Truck loading rate (intergroup shipments)* | 62.1% | 65% | 65% |
* Intergroup shipments refer to shipments from plants to consolidation platforms (Rumilly P2 and Mions) or subsidiaries' warehouses, as well as to shipments between consolidation platforms and subsidiaries' warehouses.
Containers departing from China have a loading rate of 83.7%. Containers departing from Europe have a loading rate of 87.1%. These performances are close to the optimum for maritime transport.
The Group also fosters research into transportation solutions with a lower environmental impact. For long distances, primarily departing from China, the maritime route emits the lowest levels of CO2 and is the least costly. Emissions have also been improved by the use of new high-performance container ships: in 15 years, they have cut CO2 emissions per ton transported by half.
In other cases (pre- and post-shipments to/from ports, transport between the Group's plants and platforms or those of its subsidiaries), the Group prioritizes non-road transport, i.e. transport by rail and river. To improve oversight of this initiative, the Group created a tracking chart to monitor the percentage of non-road transport for pre- and post-shipment to/from ports. For each entity (plant, warehouse, commercial subsidiary, etc.), changes in this percentage have a two-fold impact in terms of cost and CO2 emissions. This dashboard chart, introduced in 2015, was extended to all the European entities in 2016. In Europe (EMEA), the non-road transport rate reached 41% in 2018. Compared to a "100% road" option, this reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30%, at the same time as reducing logistics costs by 17%. In Germany, for instance, the review, in 2016, of the transportation of containers from the port of Hamburg to the Duisburg platform resulted in all the traffi c being switched from road to rail: instead of arriving in Hamburg then being transported to Duisburg by road (330 km), containers now arrive in Rotterdam and travel by rail to the platform (120 km). Results: 98% fewer CO2 emissions, at a lower cost (-41%). An operation of the same type was completed in the UK, and in Spain the previous year. In France, Groupe SEB has had the "MedLink Port" label since 2015. This distinction is given to the biggest users of the river route (the Rhône) departing from the port of Fos (Groupe SEB is in the top 3).
In 2015, the Group also conducted tests on rail transport between China and Europe. The objective is to be able to use this solution rather than using air travel in the event of urgent demand for supplies. Transport by rail cuts the maritime freight time by almost half, which is often enough, and savings in terms of cost and carbon footprint are more favorable than air travel (CO2 emissions down by 98%).
Groupe SEB is implementing an eco-responsible IT policy based on the 72 Green IT good practices benchmark drafted by the collaborative platform Opquast (Open Quality Standards). Its activities in this regard strive to make progress in several areas:
In 2018, the Group completely renewed all its multi-functional printers in Europe (730 machines). The new generation of printers have improved environmental performance, particularly in terms of energy use (optimized standby mode). Moreover, the program to reduce the number of printers in service and make the shared use of multi-functional machines more widespread is gradually being extended internationally. It helps to reduce the amount of printing, which fell by 12.7% in 2018 in comparison to 2017 (the equivalent of 210 trees saved).
In France, computers and telephones at the end of their useful lives have been given, since 2012, to the company Dataserv, which calls on companies working in the protected sector to dismantle the products. In seven years, more than 10,400 devices have been managed in this way. The Group also donates some equipment to associations or schools that request it. The practice is governed by a procedure that was formalized in 2018 and will be rolled out to all the entities worldwide by the end of 2019. It specifi es the technical and administrative rules to follow (formatting, data erasure, licenses, etc.) and aims to ensure that the benefi ciaries match the Group's values.
The Group's IT infrastructure rationalization project, launched in 2016, has resulted in its applications being hosted in two data centers operated by Equinix, in the Paris region. These two sites are committed to an energy effi ciency approach, as attested by their ISO 50001 certifi cation. They are 100% powered by renewable energy from hydroelectric power stations.
The growing use of the instant communication software Skype had a signifi cant effect on reducing travel: in 2018, it meant that over 10,700 meetings could be held on average each month (up 88% in two years), plus more than 450,000 one-to-one connections. The videoconferencing system, for its part, recorded an average of 146 video conferences a month (average length: 2 hours 40 minutes).
At the end of 2018, the Group carried out a self-assessment of 72 good practices from the Opquast benchmark, to measure how far it had traveled since the previous assessment (2013) and identify areas for improvement. In fi ve years, the Group had increased the number of good practices implemented from 39% to 69.5%. Of the areas still needing improvement, several involve staff awareness (good practices in terms of printing, messaging, using chargers and search engines, etc.).
All over the world, the Group encourages its staff to adopt more ecofriendly behavior and the sites take initiatives to promote eco-friendly actions. For example, the replacement of plastic cups with reusable water bottles, initiated in Itatiaia in 2017, is being extended across the Group. In 2018, the GS Latin America head offi ce in São Paulo and the SEB Campus in Écully also stopped the use of plastic cups, encouraging all staff to use a washable cup, glass or mug. In the same way, at the International Product Conference (IPC) 2018, reusable EMSA bottles were distributed to all participants , instead of disposable PET bottles. These can be used for several years. In some cases, the initiative comes from the employees themselves: for example, the Kitchenware team in Rumilly (France) has come up with several internal challenges to reduce waste.
The many awareness raising actions carried out during sustainable development week (see page 115) also help to promote eco-friendly actions.
This is a free translation into English of the Statutory Auditor's report issued in French and is provided solely for the convenience of English speaking readers. This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law and professional standards applicable in France.
For the year ended December 31st, 2018
To the Shareholders,
In our capacity as Statutory Auditor of your company, appointed as an independent third party and accredited by COFRAC under number 3-1058 (whose scope is available at www.cofrac.fr), we hereby report
Pursuant to legal and regulatory requirements, the Board of Directors is responsible for preparing the Statement, including a presentation of the business model, a description of the principal nonfi nancial risks, a presentation of the policies implemented considering those risks and the outcomes of said policies, including key performance indicators. to you on the non-fi nancial statement for the year ended December 31st 2018, included in the management report pursuant to the legal and regulatory requirements of articles L. 225102-1, R. 225-105 and R. 225-105-1 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce).
The Statement has been prepared in accordance with the entity's procedures (hereinafter the "Guidelines"), the main elements of which are presented in the Statement (or which are available online or on request from the Sustainable Development Department.
Our independence is defi ned by the requirements of article L. 822-11-3 of the French Commercial Code and the French Code of Ethics (Code de déontologie) of our profession. In addition, we have implemented a system of quality control including documented policies and procedures regarding compliance with the ethical requirements, French professional guidance and applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
On the basis of our work, our responsibility is to provide a report expressing a limited assurance conclusion on:
However, it is not our responsibility to comment on:
The work described below was performed in accordance with the provisions of articles A. 225-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code determining the conditions in which the independent third party performs its engagement and with the professional guidance of the French Institute of Statutory Auditors ("CNCC") applicable to such engagements, as well as with ISAE 3000 – Assurance engagements other than audits or reviews of historical financial information.
Our procedures allowed us to assess the compliance of the Statement with regulatory provisions and the fairness of the Information:
We believe that the work performed, based on our professional judgement, is suffi cient to provide a basis for our limited assurance conclusion; a higher level of assurance would have required us to carry out more extensive procedures.
1. Social information: Total workforce as of December 31st, 2018; LTIR and Severity rate directly related to work; Number of new occupational diseases recognized in the year (France perimeter); E-Learning Code of Ethics Training Deployment Rate (Corporate perimeter). Environmental information: Percent of recycled and recovered wastes on the total waste; Electricity consumption by finished products manufactured; Natural gas consumption by finished products manufactured; Emissions due to ecologistic by finished products manufactured; Water consumption. Societal information: Percent of sites with an overall compliance score greater than 80% (Intertek audit on industrial entities located in emerging countries, Group perimeter); Total expenditure on corporate philanthropy (including financial donations and product donations) (China perimeter); Donations from the Groupe SEB Foundation (China perimeter).
Our work was carried out by a team of 5 people between December 2018 and March 2019 and took a total of 8 weeks.
We were assisted in our work by our specialists in sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. We conducted some thirty interviews with the people responsible for preparing the
Statement, representing in particular Human Ressources Department, Training Department, Health and Safety Department, SEB Foundation, Environmental and Ecologistical Departments.
Based on our work, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the non-fi nancial statement is not in accordance with the applicable regulatory requirements and that the Information, taken as a whole, is not presented fairly and in accordance with the Guidelines.
Paris La Défense, March 25, 2019 The independent third party
Thierry COLIN Edwige REY
Partner Partner CSR & Sustainable Development

| General environment | 182 | |
|---|---|---|
| Currencies | 182 | |
| Raw materials and transport | 183 | |
| Change in the composition of the Board of Directors |
183 | |
| Appointment of a new Chief Operating Offi cer | 183 | |
| Investments in the linen care business in France 184 | ||
| Strengthening of the partnership with Zahran in Egypt |
184 | |
| Acquisition of 750g International | 184 | |
| Financing | 185 | |
| Awards for Groupe SEB | 185 | |
| 4.2. | Commentary on consolidated sales | 187 |
| Product sales performance | 188 | |
| Geographical performance | 189 | |
Consumer business 189
| 4.3. | Commentary on the consolidated results |
192 |
|---|---|---|
| Income statement Balance sheet |
192 193 |
|
| 4.4. | Commentary on SEB S.A.'s results | 194 |
| Presentation of SEB S.A.'s results Acquisitions of equity investments Dividends paid out in the last three fi nancial years 194 Breakdown of trade payables by due date Sumptuary expenses and non-tax deductible expenses |
194 194 195 195 |
|
| 4.5. | Outlook | 196 |
| 4.6. | Post-balance sheet events Wilbur Curtis |
197 197 |
| Family concert reaffi rms its long-term support to SEB |
197 |
In 2018, the environment proved more diffi cult and uncertain than in 2017, due in particular to the volatility of oil and raw material prices, political and social tensions in Europe and the trade war between the United States and China. Despite these events, global growth stayed solid over the year, based on relatively high historical comparatives.
In Europe, the business climate and levels of confi dence struggled to stabilize following a period of erosion over several quarters. While European domestic demand held up well, some countries were heavily affected by specifi c issues (Brexit in the United Kingdom, political uncertainties in Italy, social tensions in France at the end of the year).
The highly-mixed Small Domestic Equipment market in Europe maintained its overallgrowth momentum, though on a smaller scale than in previous years. This growth was boosted by innovation and upgrading, albeit in a highly competitive and promotion-driven environment.
In the United States, the Small Domestic Equipment market was markedby a major divergence between the fast-growing online business and the struggles of traditional brick-and-mortar retail. The consequences have been many, ranging from tighter inventory management, massive destocking, and store closures to the fi nancial collapse of some brands. In Canada, the trend towards consolidation in the sector has led to increased competitive and promotional pressure.
In China, 2018 was marked by the slower growth of the main macroeconomic indicators, which nevertheless remained at high levels. More specifi cally, the Small Domestic Equipment market is still boosted by growing urbanization, the increased purchasing power of the expanding middle classes and the impetus of e-commerce. In Japan, external events (mainly natural disasters) have somewhat overshadowed the improving economic conditions.
In 2018, other emerging countries displayed signs of visible weakness, although in diverse ways. On top of political uncertainties, some emerging countries, such as Turkey and Argentina, experienced serious change crises, urgently forcing them to signifi cantly tighten their monetary policies in order to halt the fall in currency and the rise in infl ation. In Russia, with the depreciation of the ruble and associated price increases, the slowdown in activity has been signifi cant since the summer, contrasting with the recovery of the last two years. In Brazil, the economic climate was volatile to say the least (default by distributor clients, strong competition), however, following the uncertainties related to the Presidential election, the macro-economic environment seemed to be showing signs of improvement at the end of 2018.
In 2018, the Small Domestic Equipment market was relatively dynamic in local currency, most countries having moved into positive territory. A geographically diverse market, its growth was also highly diverse in terms of product category. The market was particularly dynamic for fans (primarily in Europe), home care and electrical cooking (notably in Asia and in Central and Eastern Europe ). On the other hand, it experienced a slight decline in linen care, beverage preparation and food preparation (downturn in Asia and some European countries, not offset by strong performances in Eastern Europe).
It should be remembered that the US dollar and the Chinese yuan are currencies for which the Group is "short", i.e. the weight of its purchases denominated in these currencies is greater than that of its sales. In 2018, the euro rose close to 5% against the dollar, primarily as a result of the rise during the fi rst half of the year (+12%). By comparison with the euro, the yuan depreciated by 2% in 2018.
For the currencies in which the Group is "long", in which its sales exceed its costs, 2018 was mainly marked by a general weakening in emerging currencies. The largest movements affected Latin America (Brazilian real down -19% and the Argentine peso down -76%), as well as the Russian ruble (down -12%), and the Turkish lira (down -38%).
In response to constant exchange rate volatility, for several years the Group has hedged certain currencies to limit sudden effects on its performance or to smooth out its impact over time. At the same time, it implements an agile pricing policy, passing on higher prices to compensate for the adverse effects of weakened currencies on local profi tability.
In 2018, exchange rate fl uctuations had a total negative impact of €211 million on the Group's revenue (compared with an impact of -€98 million in 2017) and -€45 million on the Operating Result from Activity (-€10 million in 2017).
The Group is exposed to fluctuations in the price of certain raw materials, including metals such as aluminum, nickel (used in stainless steel) and copper. It is also exposed to price changes in plastics used in the manufacture of small electrical appliances and paper and cardboard for packaging. These exposures are direct (for in-house production), or indirect if the manufacturing of the product is outsourced to subcontractors. In order to spread over time the effects of sometimes abrupt fl uctuations in metal prices, the Group partially hedges its requirements (aluminum and nickel) which protects it in the event of a sharp rise in prices, but which results in some inertia in the event of decline.
Following a sharp increase in the fi rst half of 2018 (compared to 2017), the price of raw materials moved downwards during the second half of the year, while remain on an uptrend overall for the whole year. Aluminum prices therefore increased by 7% on average in 2018 (i.e. an average price of \$2,110 per ton, compared with \$1,970 in 2017). Likewise, the price of copper recorded an increase of around 6% in 2018, an average price of \$6,520 per ton compared to \$6,170 in 2017. As for nickel, its price rose even more sharply: +26% in 2018, an average price of \$13,120 compared to \$10,400 in 2017.
Due to the specifi c effect of the fall in Iranian exports – as a result of US sanctions – in October 2018, the price per barrel of oil reached its highest point about 4 years, slightly exceeding \$85, before falling back to \$50 at the end of the year. The average price per barrel was \$72 over 2018, up by around 30% on the previous year. In parallel, following a volatile second half of 2018, plastic material prices were relatively stable on average over the year.
Paper prices, which rose sharply in 2017, continued to climb in the fi rst half of 2018, before falling in the second half, ending the year up slightly.
In addition, while shipping costs rose only modestly in 2018, the same cannot be said for road freight, which was adversely impacted by both the rise in fuel prices and a shortage of drivers in some geographical areas.
On 16 May 2018, the Annual General Meeting of SEB S.A. approved the reappointment of 3 directors whose terms of offi ce had expired, for a 4-year term:
Groupe SEB appointed Stanislas de Gramont as Chief Operating Offi cer. Reporting to the Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Stanislas de Gramont joined the Group on 3 December 2018, assuming responsibility for the Group's global sales and marketing functions, among other duties. Stanislas de Gramont has spent most of his career at Danone, where he held several different General Management posts. For four years, he was CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food Europe.

As part of its strategy of strengthening its competitiveness in linen care, Groupe SEB announced capital expenditure in France of nearly €15 million in early 2018.
By 2020, this project will involve the transfer of the activity and all employees from the Saint-Jean-de-Bournay site to the nearby Pont-Évêque site, while maintaining jobs.
These two sites, which are 18 km apart, are inter-dependent, and are the Group's only sites engaged in the industrial production of irons and steam generators in France. Saint-Jean-de-Bournay (162 permanent employees) is dedicated to plastics processing and produces injectedmolded parts for the neighboring site in Pont-Évêque (619 permanent employees), dedicated to the manufacture and assembly of these products. The new product ranges use increasingly innovative plastic injection processes and require new high-tonnage injection molding machines that the Saint-Jean-de-Bournay site is not able to accommodate.
Groupe SEB has therefore begun to extend the current Pont-Évêque site by building a 7,300 m2 injection molding machine shop and two storage buildings. These new facilities, designed with worker comfort and safety in mind, will improve working conditions for employees and optimize logistics fl ows.
On 8 January 2018, Groupe SEB announced that it had signed an agreement with its long-standing partner in Egypt, the Zahran family, to combine the small electrical appliances and Cookware activities to consolidate its industrial base in Egypt in order to serve the local and export markets.
Founded in 1967, the Zahran Group is the leading cookware manufacturer in Egypt. It has two manufacturing sites and operates 11 stores, employing more than 700 people. Since 1973, it has produced and distributed cookware under the Tefal and Zahran brands in Egypt. In 2013, Groupe SEB had set up a joint venture with Zahran, "Groupe SEB Egypt", in which it has a 75% controlling interest, to manufacture and market small electrical appliances (e.g.
On 13 November 2018, Groupe SEB announced the acquisition of 750g International, a publisher of cooking websites and services in Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, the USA and the United Kingdom. This acquisition confi rms the Group's intention to accelerate rollout of its brands in the online cooking sector, making use of 750g International's expertise in four key areas:
vacuum cleaners, blenders, small food processors) mainly under the Moulinex and Tefal brands.
To further strengthen the existing partnership, Groupe SEB and the Zahran family decided to set up a new entity, Groupe SEB Egypt Zahran, which is 55%-owned by Groupe SEB and 45% by Zahran. Bringing together the small electrical appliances and Cookware businesses, the company aims to:
The acquisition will enable convergences with products, websites and apps developed by the Group. Our dual objective is to enrich our digital ecosystem and strengthen the international appeal of our brands.
Further to its transactions in 2017, in 2018 the Group made new successive acquisitions for a total of 130,000 US call options on its own shares. At the end of 2018, the Group possessed 190,000 call options on its own shares.
The acquisition of these call options allows Groupe SEB to partially cover its obligations to deliver existing treasury shares for the possible exercising of the exchange right on the ORNAE bonds redeemable for cash and/or existing shares, maturing on 17 November 2021.
During the year, the Group placed its fi rst NEU MTN, a medium-term negotiable securities issue, for an amount of €30 million, as part of a €500 million program. This new instrument will enable the company to diversify its fi nancing sources.
Groupe SEB received a wide variety of awards in 2018. Here are some examples:
The award was given to Isabelle Bissey-Pierre, Head of Legal, Intellectual Property and Digital, and Géraldine Guéry Jacques, Head of Patents, at a ceremony held on 6 June in Paris, during the World Anti-Counterfeiting Day. Given the increase in patent counterfeiting, staff were recognized for defending the Group's fl agship products in China, Europe and the United States. These lengthy disputes require optimum coordination between teams in multiple countries to uphold the validity of patents and combat counterfeiting. The Research Industrial Property team developed a strategy for registering patents that goes beyond the scope of traditional technology, to also include patents for inventions implemented by computer.
Groupe SEB has climbed to the top spot in the ranking of 32 European companies produced by the rating agency VIGEO-EIRIS. The Group is also 29th out of 4,159 companies worldwide. The report covers 6 non-fi nancial categories, namely Human Rights, human resources, the environment, community involvement, business behavior and corporate governance. The Group's performance was rated "advanced" or "robust" in each of the categories. The Group improved its Human Rights score by 9 points and the report emphasized its structured approach and its commitment to preventing discrimination and promoting diversity within the company. It also made progress on issues concerning the environment (+19 points) and on community involvement (+10 points), with a special mention for its support for combating social exclusion.
Supor presented its AURORA vacuum mug, in competition with competitors from 59 countries, to a jury of 60 design, industry and architecture experts, in a bid to win a prize at the "IF design awards" 2018. Supor was given its award, which is one of the most prestigious in the world in the design fi eld, at an offi cial ceremony held on 10 March in Munich. The range of AURORA vacuum mugs has been a roaring success with consumers since it was launched in June 2017, with more than 750,000 units sold. These mugs are mainly sold in mainland China .
The Group's Financial Communication and Investor Relations department, represented by Isabelle Posth, was recognized in 2018 by Extel, a leader in fi nance profession rankings. The Extel Survey has produced an annual ranking of the best banks, brokers and portfolio managers in Europe since 1974. The survey was recently expanded to include Investor Relations professionals and, in 2018, Groupe SEB secured fi rst place in the Household Products & personal care sector.

The ESSEC Chair of Change Management rewards "companies that have conducted signifi cant change actions, both in terms of results and how they are achieved." The award was given to Ambition Be#One, a project constructed with 43 managers, launched in early 2016 by André Dot, CEO of Groupe SEB France. This Ambition has two objectives: to strengthen business growth while developing a working environment that improves everyone's well-being at work and the group dynamic in a sustainable way. Of the 30 companies that entered the competition, the transformation led by Groupe SEB France was recognized for its collective dimension (inclusion of managers and staff), the rollout of new managerial practices taken from the MCM – Managerial Skills Model (with support from managers) – and practical implementation of actions recommended by employee working groups.
At this ceremony held at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, awards were presented to 10 companies/organizations, selected from 45 candidates, recognizing the most remarkable solutions and good practices put in place. In addition to 7 initial award categories (environment, human resources, dialog with stakeholders, health, community involvement, VSB-SME-family company and the Non-Profit and Social sector), the Jury awarded a Special Prize to 2 candidates equally, plus its "Favorite Prize" to a start-up association. Groupe SEB was awarded one of the Special Jury Prizes for its global sustainable development actions.
| Change 2018/2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales (in € million) | 2017 | 2018 | As reported | Like-for-like* |
| EMEA | 3,170 | 3,223 | 1.7% | 3.3% |
| Western Europe | 2,424 | 2,430 | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| Other countries | 746 | 793 | 6.4% | 12.5% |
| AMERICAS | 946 | 887 | -6.3% | 0.4% |
| North America | 579 | 547 | -5.5% | -4.4% |
| South America | 367 | 340 | -7.4% | 8.2% |
| ASIA | 1,806 | 2,067 | 14.5% | 17.6% |
| China | 1,286 | 1,554 | 20.9% | 24.3% |
| Other countries | 520 | 513 | -1.2% | 0.9% |
| TOTAL CONSUMER | 5,922 | 6,177 | 4.3% | 7.2% |
| Professional | 563 | 635 | 12.8% | 14.3% |
| GROUPE SEB | 6,485 | 6,812 | 5.1% | 7.8% |
* Like-for-like: at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation.
Rounded fi gures in €M.
% calculated on non-rounded fi gures.
| Fourth quarter 2017 |
Fourth quarter 2018 |
Change 2018/2017 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales (in € million) | As reported | Like-for-like* | ||
| EMEA | 1,137 | 1,171 | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| Western Europe | 901 | 894 | -0.8% | -0.7% |
| Other countries | 236 | 277 | 17.3% | 17.2% |
| AMERICAS | 292 | 314 | 7.8% | 12.1% |
| North America | 184 | 190 | 3.7% | 0.1% |
| South America | 108 | 124 | 14.8% | 32.4% |
| ASIA | 461 | 523 | 13.5% | 13.9% |
| China | 313 | 362 | 15.6% | 17.1% |
| Other countries | 148 | 161 | 9.1% | +7.0% |
| TOTAL CONSUMER | 1,990 | 2,008 | 6.3% | +7.0% |
| Professional | 136 | 176 | 29.6% | 27.4% |
| GROUPE SEB | 2,026 | 2,184 | 7.8% | 8.4% |
* Like-for-like: at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation.
Rounded fi gures in €M.
% calculated on non-rounded fi gures.

For the year as a whole, Group revenue came out at €6,812 million, up 5.1%, of which organic growth of +7.8% (+€505 million) and a -3.2% currency effect (-€211 million, resulting primarily from the Chinese yuan, Brazilian real, Turkish lira, Russian ruble and US dollar).
Consumer sales amounted to €6,177 million, up 7.2% on a like-for-like basis. The different product categories contributed to this growth in contrasting ways.
■ Cookware, which accounts for around 30% of Consumer sales, was down slightly from 2017. This modest decline should be viewed in the context of the strong performance in 2017. This refl ects the unfavorable impact of the discontinuation of some loyalty programs (LPs) in 2017 – particularly in Europe and Taiwan (WMF products) – as well as disparate performances among product families and geographical areas. China posted continued strong momentum, driven in particular by woks and sets, as well as kitchen utensils, with strong, fast-paced growth in the sales of cups, mugs, isothermal bottles and food storage containers. Business in the US (T-fal, Imusa, All-Clad), while still complicated, was nevertheless slightly positive, in a context of sweeping changes in the retail sector. Brazil had a very challenging year, due to the problems of transferring production to the new Itatiaia site. And Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Turkey and Japan saw strong growth in the sales of pans and saucepans (excluding LPs) thanks to new advances, such as the highly popular stackable models with removable handles.

Fourth-quarter sales amounted to €2,184 million, up 7.8%, including organic growth at 8.4% and a currency effect at -1.6% (mainly due to the Brazilian real, Turkish lira, Russian ruble and Chinese yuan).
Organic growth factors in non-recurring events and items in Brazil and France, which impacted the regions concerned but whose net effect on Group revenue was not material.
evidenced by a sharp upturn in sales in France, Italy, Germany, Korea and Spain. In the innovative robotic vacuum cleaner segment, the Group also performed well, particularly in Spain and Germany.
Sales in the Professional business (Coffee Machines and Hotel Equipment) totaled €635 million for the full year, representing organic growth of 14.3%, following an extremely buoyant fourth quarter, at +27.4%, after a very similar performance in the third quarter.
In addition to the very good performance in our core business - in Germanic countries and internationally - the strong acceleration in the second half of the year stemmed from the delivery of major coffeemachine contracts signed at the start of the year in the United States and China. A further large contract was signed with another American customer. Deliveries started in the fourth quarter and will be stepped up in 2019.
In the Hotel Equipment business, sales for the year were slightly down, mainly refl ecting the discontinuation of some unprofi table partnerships.
4
In 2018, the European small electrical appliance market grew more modestly on the whole than in previous years. Following a 0.7% downturn like-for-like in the fourth quarter, the Group posted slight positive organic growth for the full year. This performance is notably owing to a decline in loyalty programs (LPs) and business activity in France.
Performances were contrasted from one country to the next.
In France, Group sales were down 3.4% for the year, with a 7.3% decline in the fourth quarter in the context of demanding 2017 comparatives (+4.7%). On top of a sluggish environment and diffi culties in the offl ine retail industry, the fourth quarter was impacted by the yellow vest demonstrations. The latter affected the Group's core activity (including cookware, ironing, deep fryers and breakfast ranges) and penalized a loyalty program. Nevertheless, it should be highlighted that our recent innovations remain our main commercial successes, particularly Cuisine Companion, versatile "all-in-one" vacuum cleaners and the Cake Factory cake maker.
Performance outside France was more positive. In the German market, less buoyant, our core business excluding loyalty programs remained brisk, fueled by our fl agship products (vacuum cleaners, full-automatic espresso machines, Optigrill) and by continued growth in online sales. Momentum also remained solid in Spain - thanks to vacuum cleaners (particularly versatile and robot models), full-automatic espresso machines, cookware, and WMF products - and in Portugal and Italy, where it was also boosted by loyalty programs. The Group achieved an excellent performance in the Netherlands, combining growth in core activity, bolstered by new launches (vacuum cleaners) and a major end-of-year loyalty program. Lastly, our revenue was down in the UK owing to a complicated and lackluster market ahead of Brexit.
Against this backdrop, the Group strengthened its positions in most Western European countries.
In the other EMEA countries, organic sales growth came out at +12.5% for the year and +17.2% in the fourth quarter. This solid performance was driven by practically all the major countries in the region and refl ected in the overall strengthening of our market positions. The negative currency effect, which was substantial for the year as a whole and more limited in the fourth quarter, led to offsetting price increases in s everal countries.
Central Europe played a key role in sales development in 2018. Poland was a strong and steady growth driver throughout the year (approximately up 30% like-for-like), while Romania and Slovakia posted a very good year, bolstered by a sharp acceleration in the fourth quarter. The Group also continued its rapid expansion in Ukraine, with considerable market share gains. Brisk revenue growth was also confi rmed in Russia, against demanding 2017 comparatives. The main growth contributors were our usual mainstays, notably cookware, vacuum cleaners, full-automatic espresso machines, and kettles. WMF products also made encouraging headway thanks to extended distribution. Hence, the Group once again consolidated its positions in Russia both in small electrical appliances and cookware.
In Turkey, in an economic environment that has deteriorated since the summer, the Group succeeded in maintaining a solid level of business activity while setting price increases to offset the weakening of the currency. We continued to outperform a downwards trending market (in volume) in the fourth quarter thanks to the implementation of our growth drivers, including: a well-balanced product offering combining innovations and a tactical line-up of core-range locally-produced products at attractive prices, as well as a multi-channel distribution policy and gradual, profitable development of WMF business in premium store networks.
While sales fell sharply in the Middle East in a context of severe recession, the Group achieved an excellent year in Egypt.
Group sales were down 4.4% on a like-for-like basis. After a stable fourth quarter, the second half of the year was positive, but failed to offset the shortfall posted at the end of June (-11.5% in organic terms) that stemmed from high 2017 comparatives in the United States and diffi cult business activity in Canada. Generally speaking, 2018 was a year of highly contrasted performances in terms of countries and quarters.
Our business activity in the United States in 2018 was disrupted by diffi culties in the retail industry, resulting from the continued rise of online sales, with its attendant effects on brick-and-mortar retail outlets: an increase in promotional deals, stock reductions, store closures and bankruptcies. In this context, annual revenue remained down, following a fourth quarter that turned out to be less penalizing. The decrease resulted mainly from small electrical appliances (despite very good performances in Rowenta garment steamers), with cookware sales (T-fal, Imusa, All-Clad) practically stable.
The retail sector is also massively transforming in Canada, where the strong trend in consolidation is ultimately refl ected in heightened competitive and promotional pressure. Against this background, the Group ended the year with a substantial fall in revenue despite strong performances in cookware.
In the buoyant Mexican market, the robust growth achieved in the quarter and for the full year was fueled by fl agship products (cookware, blenders, the confi rmed strong debut of recently launched fans) and the introduction of new fi lter coffee and espresso machine product listings with major customers. These performances helped the Group to increase its market share.
Currencies continued to play an unfavorable role in sales in South America, particularly owing to the continued depreciation of the Brazilian real and the Colombian and Argentine pesos. The sharp increase in revenue in the fourth quarter was primarily due to the recognition of a tax receivable in Brazil amounting to €32 million. Excluding this non-recurring item, sales would be down 2.8% in the quarter on a like-for-like basis. Over the year, the impact of all non-recurring items in Brazil (tax receivable, impact of a defaulting customer, truck drivers' strikes, formatting of cookware production chain at Itatiaia) was marginal on sales' development in South America.
In Brazil, after a period of uncertainty relating to the presidential election, the macro-economic environment is showing signs of improvement. Yet, for the year as a whole, the environment was volatile, one of our customers defaulted and the competitive environment in small household equipment proved particularly harsh. In Cookware, the slower-than-expected ramp-up at the new Itatiaia plant weighed signifi cantly on our performance. In small electrical appliances, business was practically stable in 2018 but contrasted based on product category. Business activity increased slightly in fans (in a market that fell sharply) on the success of new, silent and compact models, as well as in food preparation (notably thanks to the PowerMax blenders), but decreased for beverage preparation devices (Dolce Gusto) and in linen care.
In Colombia, the Group ended the year on a positive trend, with a sustained sales dynamic (against demanding fourth-quarter 2017 comparatives) and strengthened its leadership in cookware and small electrical appliances. For the year as a whole, we achieved solid and high-quality growth, driven in particular by fans, blenders, frying pans, saucepans and pressure cookers. In Argentina, in an environment that has worsened, the downturn in our sales continued in the fourth quarter.
In 2018, the Group achieved an excellent performance, posting vigorous organic growth quarter after quarter and constantly outperforming the market. The remarkable vitality of Supor's sales must be attributed to innovation, an expanded product offering, signifi cant marketing and advertising investment as well as an effective "on the ground" execution, in stores and online.
Cookware business' growth remained well-oriented, with, as in the fi rst 9 months, a strong contribution from fl agship product families – pressure cookers, pots, pans, and woks, supplemented by the rapid growth of kitchen utensils and accessories (thermal mugs in particular).
In small electrical appliances, activity remained highly favorable, with revenue growth in Yuan of approximately 30% over the year, driven by almost all categories in small kitchen electrics (rice cookers, electric pressure cookers, mobile induction hobs, kettles, and highspeed blenders) and boosted by new models. In addition, Supor has made rapid and continuous progress in non-kitchen electrics, with a threefold increase in sales in the fourth quarter in garment steamers and confi rmed strong momentum in vacuum cleaners, notably the versatile models.
Large kitchen appliance business (extractor hoods and gas stoves) has also accelerated. Moreover, the market welcomed Supor's launch of a range of water purifi ers.
E-commerce, whose growth is normalizing somewhat, based on very high historical comparatives, remained the main growth driver.
Excluding China, revenue was up 7% on a like-for-like basis in the fourth quarter, fueled by the success of our mainstays, the continued expansion of our product offering and the opening of new proprietary stores (Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong). The more modest growth over the year (+0.9%) relates, in particular, to the non-repeat of a WMF loyalty program in Taiwan in 2017.
In Japan, the solid sales momentum continued in the fourth quarter, propelled by the confi rmed success of our pillars – cookware, kettles, and garment steamers – but also by the more recently launched categories, such as Cook4me multi-cookers. In South Korea, our performance was also quite positive, thanks in particular to further progress in home cleaning (rapid increase in sales of the all-in-one Air Force 360 vacuum cleaner) and in ironing (Freemove range of irons and Access Steam garment steamers), which benefi ted from strong marketing activation. Conversely, activity over the last three months continued to trend downwards in Australia. There was robust growth in Thailand and Malaysia, driven by cookware and kitchen tools, high-speed blenders and steam generators. However, as in the third quarter, sales declined in Vietnam, due to retail inventory reductions, mainly of fans.
Operating Result from Activity (ORfA) came out at €695 million in 2018, up 2.5% vs 2017 before the non-recurring impacts of the WMF purchase price allocation. At constant scope and exchange rates, ORfA totaled €736 million, up 8.5%. The FY 2018 currency effect was -€45 million, compared with -€10 million in 2017. The most negatively impacting currencies were the Turkish lira, Russian ruble, Argentinian peso and Brazilian real. Non-recurring items mentioned in the comments on sales in Brazil offset each other at the ORfa level. The positive trend in ORfA in 2018 should also be appreciated in the light of exceptionally demanding comparatives in 2017. In this respect, it stands as a solid performance.
Organic growth of 8.5% in ORfA in 2018 can be broken down as follows:
Groupe SEB reported Operating profit of €625 million in 2018, versus €580 million in 2017. The total includes a discretionary and non-discretionary profit-sharing expense of €34 million, versus €38 million last year, as a result of lower performance in France. It also comprises other operating income and expense of -€36 million (-€44 million in 2017), including notably the end of the industrial and logistics reorganization plan in Brazil, costs linked to the integration of WMF and an additional goodwill depreciation for Maharaja Whiteline.
Net financial expense came out at -€32 million in 2018, versus -€72 million in 2017. This change refl ects a decrease in the fair value of the optional part of the ORNAE bonds (bonds redeemable in cash and/ or in existing shares) and the recognition of positive interest income on the tax receivable in Brazil.
Net profi t attributable to the owners of the parent rose 11.8% to €419 million. It includes a tax expense of €131 million, corresponding to an effective tax rate of 22.1% in 2018. As a reminder, the effective rate for 2017 (19.5%) benefi tted from non-recurring effects stemming from tax reform in the United States and the restitution of the tax on dividends in France. Group net profi t is net of non-controlling interests of €43 million (€34 million in 2017), the increase in which is linked to Supor's excellent performance in China.
At 31 December 2018, equity totaled €2,307 million, up €343 million on end-2017.
At end-2018, net debt amounted to €1,578 million, versus €1,905 million a year earlier, decreasing by €327 million. The drop comes from a strong generation of operating cash fl ow, at €552 million for the year (€322 million in 2017). The working capital requirement, at €1,120 million, represented 16.4% of sales, benefi ting from continued efforts to optimize various items and from higher mobilization of trade receivables.
The Group's debt ratio was 68% at 31 December 2018 (97% at end-2017) and the net debt/adjusted EBITDA ratio was 1.9, versus 2.4 at 31 December 2017.

Capital expenditure was €213 million, compared with €192 million in 2017; it was, overall, in line with the average for previous years, representing approximately 3% of consolidated revenue. The main capital expenditure was on molds and tooling for new products, production equipment (e.g. injection molding machines, new assembly lines) and the renovation of certain buildings. This comes on top of capital expenditure on production-related computer software, capitalized development costs and the refurbishing of the Group's proprietary stores.

SEB S.A., the parent company of Groupe SEB, is a holding company. It therefore defi nes and implements the Group's development strategy. It holds fi nancial interests that enable it to have direct and indirect control over Group companies. SEB S.A. also manages the Group's cash, implements the fi nancing policy and centralizes the management of the market risks to which the subsidiaries and the Group are exposed.
The financial statements of SEB S.A. at 31 December 2018 are characterized by the following amounts and transactions:
An operating expense of €18.8 million in 2018, compared with an expense of €17.1 million in 2017.
Net financial income of €101.2 million in 2018, compared with €268.9 million in 2017, representing a decrease of €167.7 million yearon-year. This net fi nancial income mainly comprises:
Profi t from ordinary activities before tax was therefore €82.5 million in 2018, compared with €251.8 million in 2017. An extraordinary net expense of €12.8 million was registered, compared with an expense of €9.5 million in 2017.
As SEB S.A. is the lead company of the tax consolidation group, it posted a tax income of €29.9 million in 2018 (compared to €26.5 million in 2017), corresponding to the tax saving related to the deduction of the losses of the loss-making subsidiaries from the overall group's tax result of €22.8 million in 2018.
SEB S.A.'s net profit for 2018 was €99.6 million, compared with €268.8 million for 2017.
At 31 December 2018, total assets amounted to €4,680.4 million, compared with €4,699.5 million at the end of 2017, representing a slight decrease of €19.1 million.
Non-current assets amounted to €4,305.0 million, down €36.5 million compared with 31 December 2017. They mainly comprised equity investments for a net amount of €1,609.0 million, compared with €1,574.2 million in 2017, and long- and medium-term loans granted for €2,693.4 million, compared with €2,766.1 million in 2017.
In terms of liabilities, the company's equity stood at €1,220.2 million at 31 December 2018, compared with €1,224.0 million in 2017. SEB S.A.'s total borrowings amounted to €3,193.2 million at 31 December 2018, compared with €3,207.6 million in 2017.
SEB S.A. did not acquire any signifi cant equity investments in 2018 in companies with their registered offi ces in France.
| Dividends | Share premium | |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 75,896,898 | 2,936,383 |
| 2017 | 85,347,160. | 3,236,360 |
| 2018 | 99,677,218 | 3,727,112 |
Article D. 441 I.-1°: Invoices received and not settled at the closing date of the fi nancial year
| that are in arrears | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | 0 days (indicative) |
1 to 30 days | 31 to 60 days | 61 to 90 days | 91 days or more |
Total (1 day or more |
| (A) Late payment tranches | ||||||
| Number of invoices concerned | 32 | |||||
| Total amount of invoices concerned excl. VAT | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Percentage of total amount of purchases excl. VAT for the year |
0 % | 0 % | 0 % | 0 % | 0 % | 0 % |
| (B) Invoices excluded from (A) relating to debts and receivables that are disputed aor not reported | ||||||
| Number of invoices excluded | 8 | |||||
| Total number of invoices excluded | 0. 1 | |||||
| (C) Payment deadlines for references used (contractual or statutory deadline – Article L. 441-6 or Article L. 443-1 of the French commercial code) |
||||||
| Payment deadlines used to calculate late payments |
Statutory deadlines: The payment deadlines range from 30 days to 60 days. Contractual deadlines: The payment deadlines conform to the legal deadlines. |
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 223 quater of the French Tax Code, it is specifi ed that the fi nancial statements for the last fi nancial year contain sumptuary expenses of €23,763 corresponding to the depreciation of passenger vehicles. This expense is not deductible from the tax result according to Article 39-4 of the French General Tax Code.

In a complicated environment, Groupe SEB posted solid performances in 2018.
2019 started in a still uncertain macro-economic environment. More specifi cally, the Group is expecting a continued penalizing impact of raw materials and currencies, but to a lesser extent than in 2018.
Against this backdrop, Groupe SEB in 2019 aims to achieve further organic sales growth and improve Operating Result from Activity.
For the Consumer business, this organic growth is expected to be more balanced across Europe – particularly France –, Eurasia and China, which should remain with favorable momentum. In the Americas, our priority for the United States will be to maintain good profi tability, in a still diffi cult market. In Brazil, we will capitalize on our regained competitiveness at Itatiaia in small electrical appliances. In Professional Coffee, the Group should continue its growth and benefi t in the United States from the initial effects of the integration of Wilbur Curtis.
201 9 will also be marked by sustained capital expenditure in our manufacturing base. In China, the Group has initiated the expansion of its Shaoxing site to notably accommodate the production of large kitchen appliances (extractor hoods, cooking hobs) and its Yuhuan site for cookware. In Switzerland, in Zuchwill, the plant will be reorganized to optimize the management of Schaerer signifi cant professional coffee machine contracts. In France, in linen care, the Pont-Évêque site will benefi t from investment dedicated to plastic processing lines.
On 8 January 2019, the Group announced the acquisition of 100% of the activities of Wilbur Curtis, the no. 2 manufacturer of professional fi lter coffee machines in the United States. The transaction, subject to customary regulatory clearances, was fi nalized on 8 February 2019.
Founded in 1941, Wilbur Curtis manufactures and markets equipment for the preparation of hot and cold beverages, mainly fi lter coffee and cappuccino machines. Its sustained investments, especially in innovation, have allowed it to offer one of the most sophisticated and high-quality ranges on the market.
Wilbur Curtis sales have risen steadily, amounting to more than \$90 million, primarily in the US. Major customers include coffee roasters, specialty coffee retailers, convenience stores, fast-food chains, hotels and restaurants. Wilbur Curtis maintains long-term relationships with its customers and is supported by an experienced sales force that gives it national coverage. Its high-performance production facility located in Montebello, California, employs 300 people.
Already present in professional coffee with Schaerer and WMF full-automatic espresso coffee machines, Groupe SEB confi rms its determination to continue expanding in this high-potential sector. Wilbur Curtis, a fi lter coffee specialist in the United States, brings the Group a very valuable strategic complement to its product offering and customer portfolio. The Group is targeting leadership status in professional coffee in the United States.
Family shareholders gathering over 260 people (3/4 of the capital held by the Founder Group), grouped with their entities, VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT and GÉNÉRACTION *, signed a new shareholders' agreement replacing the various existing agreements, in order to strengthen their ties and the stability of SEB's capital.
This agreement was communicated to the AMF, which published it in accordance with regulations on 7 March 2019**.
Along with other family shareholders, the parties signing this agreement thereby continue their declared concert initiative, confi rming their ambition to implement a shared sustainable management policy as regards SEB, for the purpose of ensuring continuity in their controlling position.FÉDÉRACTIVE and its members did not wish to sign this agreement and have stated they are leaving the concert.
As a result, the family concert holds 32.27% of the capital and 40.15 % of SEB's voting rights following the signature of the Shareholders' Agreement on February 27, 2019.***
4
* Association of family shareholders created in May 2017.
** Opinion of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers No. 219C0415 of 7 March 2019.
*** Based on capital and theoretical voting rights in the Extraordinary General Meeting following the signing of the Agreement on 27 February 2019.
Commentary on the financial year

| 5.1. | Financial Statements | 200 |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidated income statement | 200 | |
| Consolidated statement of comprehensive income |
200 | |
| Consolidated balance sheet | 201 | |
| Consolidated cash fl ow statement | 202 | |
| Consolidated statement of changes in equity | 203 | |
| 5.2. | Notes to the Consolidated | |
| Financial Statements | 205 |
| 5.3. | Statutory Auditors' report on the consolidated fi nancial statements |
268 |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4. | History of signifi cant consolidated items and ratios |
273 |
| History of signifi cant consolidated items History of consolidated ratios |
273 274 |

Year ended 31 December
| (in € millions) | 31/12/2018 | 31/12/2017 | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (Note 3) | 6,812.2 | 6,484.6 | 4,999.7 |
| Operating expenses (Note 4) | (6,117.4) | (5,824.0) | (4,494.5) |
| OPERATING RESULT FROM ACTIVITY | 694.8 | 660.6 | 505.2 |
| Statutory and discretionary employee profi t-sharing(Note 5) | (33.6) | (37.6) | (36.7) |
| RECURRING OPERATING PROFIT | 661.2 | 623.1 | 468.5 |
| Other operating income and expense (Note 6) | (35.6) | (43.6) | (42.2) |
| OPERATING PROFIT | 625.6 | 579.5 | 426.3 |
| Finance costs (Note 7) | (32.8) | (34.9) | (29.8) |
| Other fi nancial income and expense (Note 7) | 0.9 | (36.7) | (28.2) |
| Share of profi ts of associates | |||
| PROFIT BEFORE TAX | 593.7 | 507.9 | 368.3 |
| Income tax (Note 8) | (131.2) | (99.3) | (77.7) |
| PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD | 462.5 | 408.6 | 290.8 |
| Non-controlling interests (Note 20) | (43.5) | (33.6) | (32.2) |
| PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT | 419.0 | 375.0 | 258.6 |
| PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT PER SHARE (IN UNITS) |
|||
| Basic earnings per share (Note 9) | 8.44 | 7.56 | 5.20 |
| Diluted earnings per share (Note 9) | 8.38 | 7.50 | 5.15 |
The accompanying Notes 1 to 33 are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
| (in € millions) | 31/12/2018 | 31/12/2017 | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profi t before minority interests | 462.5 | 408.6 | 290.8 |
| Exchange differences on translating foreign operations | (18.7) | (147.9) | (32.3) |
| Gains (losses) on cash fl ow hedges | 8.1 | (21.1) | (16.8) |
| Restatement of employee benefi t obligations, net of tax (a) (b) | (0.7) | 14.0 | (17.4) |
| Change in fair value of fi nancial assets (a) | 13.3 | ||
| Other comprehensive income | 2.0 | (155.0) | (66.5) |
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 464.5 | 253.6 | 224.3 |
| Non-controlling interests | (42.9) | (24.2) | (22.0) |
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT |
421.6 | 229.4 | 202.3 |
(a) Items that will not be reclassifi ed to profi t or loss.
(b) The pre-tax effect of this restatement is shown in Note 22.4 Change in other comprehensive income.
Year ended 31 December
| ASSETS (in € millions) |
31/12/2018 | 31/12/2017 | 31/12/2016* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodwill (Note 10) | 1,484.9 | 1,467.5 | 1,515.0 |
| Other intangible assets (Note 10) | 1,183.2 | 1,170.6 | 1,201.6 |
| Property plant and equipment (Note 11) | 839.5 | 820.5 | 836.8 |
| Investments in associates (Note 13) | 11.1 | ||
| Other investments (Note 13) | 51.0 | 33.8 | 18.0 |
| Other non-current fi nancial assets (Note 13) | 16.9 | 15.4 | 13.3 |
| Deferred taxes (Note 8) | 79.2 | 62.9 | 89.1 |
| Other non-current assets (Note 17) | 57.1 | 10.6 | 13.3 |
| Long-term derivative instruments – assets (Note 25) | 2.5 | 3.4 | 0.5 |
| NON-CURRENT ASSETS | 3,714.3 | 3,584.7 | 3,698.7 |
| Inventories (Note 15) | 1,180.5 | 1,112.1 | 1,067.0 |
| Trade receivables (Note 16) | 1,087.2 | 1,015.8 | 1,052.9 |
| Other receivables (Note 17) | 144.7 | 100.0 | 100.6 |
| Current tax assets | 36.3 | 73.5 | 59.6 |
| Short-term derivative instruments – assets (Note 25) | 40.1 | 45.6 | 50.6 |
| Other fi nancial investments (Note 24) | 260.7 | 216.8 | 204.6 |
| Cash and cash equivalents (Note 18) | 612.7 | 538.7 | 414.5 |
| CURRENT ASSETS | 3,362.2 | 3,102.5 | 2,949.8 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 7,076.5 | 6,687.2 | 6,648.5 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1).
| LIABILITIES (in € millions) |
31/12/2018 | 31/12/2017 | 31/12/2016 * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share capital (Note 19) | 50.2 | 50.2 | 50.2 |
| Reserves and retained earnings (Note 19) | 2,130.2 | 1,806.6 | 1,677.6 |
| Treasury stock (Note 19) | (82.4) | (67.3) | (56.8) |
| Equity attributable to owners of the parent | 2,098.0 | 1,789.5 | 1,671.0 |
| Non-controlling interests (Note 20) | 208.6 | 174.8 | 165.2 |
| CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | 2,306.6 | 1,964.3 | 1,836.2 |
| Deferred taxes (Note 8) | 235.8 | 216.7 | 272.5 |
| Long-term provisions (Note 21) | 334.1 | 354.0 | 384.1 |
| Long-term borrowings (Note 24) | 1,857.9 | 2,067.3 | 1,553.6 |
| Other non-current liabilities (Note 23) | 45.8 | 47.3 | 45.7 |
| Long-term derivative instruments – liabilities (Note 25) | 7.9 | 20.7 | 10.5 |
| NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES | 2,481.5 | 2,706.0 | 2,266.4 |
| Short-term provisions (Note 21) | 73.9 | 90.0 | 112.5 |
| Trade payables (Note 23) | 1,029.9 | 905.8 | 915.4 |
| Other current liabilities (Note 23) | 519.3 | 351.7 | 380.0 |
| Current tax liabilities | 52.6 | 51.7 | 42.3 |
| Short-term derivative instruments – liabilities (Note 25) | 25.7 | 39.5 | 23.0 |
| Short-term borrowings (Note 24) | 587.0 | 578.2 | 1,072.7 |
| CURRENT LIABILITIES | 2,288.4 | 2,016.9 | 2,545.9 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 7,076.5 | 6,687.2 | 6,648.5 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1).
The accompanying Notes 1 to 33 are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Year ended 31 December
| (in € millions) | 31/12/2018 | 30/12/2017 | 31/12/2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT | 419.0 | 375.0 | 258.6 |
| Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses | 179.0 | 177.9 | 122.9 |
| Change in provisions | (29.2) | (11.4) | 2.9 |
| Unrealized gains and losses on fi nancial instruments | (7.7) | (0.4) | 6.9 |
| Income and expenses related to stock options and bonus shares | 29.4 | 17.7 | 13.1 |
| Gains and losses on disposals of assets | 0.7 | 1.8 | 1.1 |
| Other | 0.1 | ||
| Non-controlling interests | 43.5 | 33.6 | 32.2 |
| Current and deferred taxes | 139.2 | 98.2 | 78.5 |
| Finance costs | 32.5 | 34.3 | 36.1 |
| CASH FLOW (a) | 806.4 | 726.9 | 552.3 |
| Change in inventories and work in progress | (73.9) | (109.9) | (0.5) |
| Change in trade receivables | 72.6 | (12.0) | 39.1 |
| Change in trade payables | 74.7 | 38.6 | 87.0 |
| Change in other receivables and payables | (21.8) | (40.8) | 23.0 |
| Income tax paid | (105.8) | (116.9) | (88.7) |
| Net interest paid | (28.4) | (29.1) | (36.1) |
| NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | 723.8 | 456.8 | 575.9 |
| Proceeds from disposals of assets | 11.1 | 13.7 | 6.6 |
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | (175.8) | (165.0) | (162.4) |
| Purchases of software and other intangible assets | (37.7) | (27.4) | (19.0) |
| Purchases of fi nancial assets | (60.0) | (30.7) | 20.5 |
| Acquisitions of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired | (19.4) | (8.1) | (1,695.2) |
| Effect of other changes in scope of consolidation | |||
| NET CASH USED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES | (281.8) | (217.4) | (1,849.5) |
| Increase in borrowings (b) | 557.2 | 515.5 | 846.6 |
| Decrease in borrowings (b) | (758.7) | (487.9) | 395.4 |
| Issue of share capital | |||
| Transactions between owners | (27.5) | (196.1) | |
| Change in treasury stock | (35.0) | (27.2) | (2.7) |
| Dividends paid, including to non-controlling interests | (126.6) | (101.1) | (92.0) |
| NET CASH USED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES | (363.1) | (128.3) | 951.2 |
| Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates | (4.9) | 13.0 | (33.9) |
| NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 74.0 | 124.2 | (356.4) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 538.7 | 414.5 | 770.8 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 612.7 | 538.7 | 414.5 |
(a) Before net fi nance costs and income taxes paid.
(b) As from 2018, because of the change in the statutory consolidation tool, the increase and decrease in fi nancial debt is presented differently. For the comparative periods of 31/12/2017 and 31/12/2016, the data have not been restated. The amounts therefore correspond to the previous presentation of the cash fl ow statement .
| (in € millions) | Share capital |
Share premiums |
Reserves and retained earnings |
Translation differences |
Treasury stock |
Equity attributable to owners of the parent |
Non controlling interests |
Consolidated shareholders' equity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT 31 DECEMBER 2015 | 50.2 | 88.1 | 1,464.0 | 176.6 | (71.1) | 1,707.6 | 200.1 | 1,907.7 |
| Profi t for the period | 258.6 | 258.6 | 32.2 | 290.8 | ||||
| Other comprehensive income | (34.2) | (22.1) | (56.3) | (10.2) | (66.5) | |||
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 224.4 | (22.1) | 202.3 | 22.0 | 224.3 | |||
| Dividends paid | (78.8) | (78.8) | (13.1) | (91.9) | ||||
| Issue of share capital | ||||||||
| Reduction of share capital | ||||||||
| Changes in treasury stock | 14.4 | 14.4 | 14.4 | |||||
| Gains (losses) on sales of treasury stock, after tax |
(11.2) | (11.2) | (11.2) | |||||
| Exercise of stock options | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | |||||
| Other movements | (176.2) | (176.2) | (43.9) | (220.1) | ||||
| AT 31 DECEMBER 2016 | 50.2 | 88.1 | 1,435.1 | 154.5 | (56.6) | 1,671.0 | 165.2 | 1,836.2 |
| Profi t for the period | 375.0 | 375.0 | 33.6 | 408.6 | ||||
| Other comprehensive income | (7.1) | (138.5) | (145.6) | (9.4) | (155.0) | |||
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 367.9 | (138.5) | 229.4 | 24.2 | 253.6 | |||
| Dividends paid | (88.6) | (88.6) | (12.4) | (101.0) | ||||
| Issue of share capital | ||||||||
| Reduction of share capital | ||||||||
| Changes in treasury stock | (10.6) | (10.6) | (10.6) | |||||
| Gains (losses) on sales of treasury stock, after tax |
(12.9) | (12.9) | (12.9) | |||||
| Exercise of stock options | 17.7 | 17.7 | 17.7 | |||||
| Other movements | (16.5) | (16.5) | (2.1) | (18.6) | ||||
| AT 31 DECEMBER 2017 | 50.2 | 88.1 | 1,702.6 | 16.0 | (67.2) | 1,789.4 | 174.9 | 1,964.3 |
| Profi t for the period | 419.0 | 419.0 | 43.5 | 462.5 | ||||
| Other comprehensive income | 20.7 | (18.1) | 2.6 | (0.6) | 2.0 | |||
| COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 439.7 | (18.1) | 421.6 | 42.9 | 464.5 | |||
| Dividends paid | (103.3) | (103.3) | (23.3) | (126.6) | ||||
| Issue of share capital | ||||||||
| Reduction of share capital | ||||||||
| Changes in treasury stock | (15.2) | (15.2) | (15.2) | |||||
| Gains (losses) on sales of treasury stock, after tax |
(19.4) | (19.4) | (19.4) | |||||
| Exercise of stock options | 27.6 | 27.6 | 1.8 | 29.4 | ||||
| Other movements* | (35.1) | 32.4 | (2.7) | 12.3 | 9.6 | |||
| AT 31 DECEMBER 2018 (NOTE 19) | 50.2 | 88.1 | 2,011.8 | 30.3 | (82.4) | 2,098.0 | 208.6 | 2,306.6 |
| DIVIDENDS PROPOSED FOR 2018 |
(110.4) | (110.4) | (110.4) | |||||
| BALANCE AFTER APPROPRIATION AT 31 DECEMBER 2018 |
50.2 | 88.1 | 1,901.4 | 30.3 | (82.4) | 1,987.6 | 208.6 | 2,196.2 |
* Reclassifi cation of €32 million carried out following the change in the statutory consolidation tool.

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 205 Note 1.1. Basis and scope of consolidation 206 Note 1.2. Translation of foreign financial statements and currency transactions 206 Note 1.3. Use of estimates 206 Note 1.4. Accounting policies and valuation methods 207 Note 1.5. Income statement presentation 212 NOTE 2. CHANGES IN SCOPE OF CONSOLIDATION 213 Note 2.1. Transactions in 2018 213 Note 2.2. Transactions in 2017 and 2016 213 Note 2.3. 2016 pro forma financial statements 214 NOTE 3. SEGMENT INFORMATION 217 Note 3.1. Geographical segment information (by location of assets) 217 Note 3.2. Revenue by geographical location of the customer and business sector 220 NOTE 4. OPERATING EXPENSES 220 NOTE 5. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSES 221 NOTE 6. OTHER OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES 221 Note 6.1. Restructuring costs 222 Note 6.2. Impairment losses 222 Note 6.3. Gains and losses on asset disposals and other 222 NOTE 7. FINANCE COSTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INCOME AND EXPENSES 223 NOTE 8. INCOME TAX 223 Note 8.1. Income tax expense 223 Note 8.2. Analysis of income tax expense 224 Note 8.3. Deferred tax assets and liabilities on the balance sheet 224 Note 8.4. Other information 225 NOTE 9. EARNINGS PER SHARE 226 NOTE 10. INTANGIBLE ASSETS 226 NOTE 11. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 230 NOTE 12. LEASES 233 NOTE 13. INVESTMENTS IN OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS 233 Note 13.1. Investments 233 Note 13.2. Other non-current financial assets 233 NOTE 14. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COSTS 234 NOTE 15. INVENTORIES 234 NOTE 16. TRADE RECEIVABLES 234 NOTE 17. OTHER RECEIVABLES AND NON-CURRENT ASSETS 235 NOTE 18. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 235 NOTE 19. EQUITY 235 Note 19.1. Share capital 235 Note 19.2. Share-based payments 236 Note 19.3. Reserves and retained earnings (before appropriation of profit) 237
Note 19.4. Treasury shares 237
204
SEB S.A. and its subsidiaries (together "Groupe SEB" or "the Group") are a world reference in the design, manufacture and marketing of cookware and small domestic equipment: pressure cookers, irons and steam generators, kettles, coffee machines, deep fryers, toasters and food processors. The Group is also world leader of the professional automatic coffee machine market.
SEB S.A.'s registered offi ce is at Chemin du Moulin Carron, 69130 Écully, France and it is listed on the Euronext-Paris Eurolist market (ISIN code: FR0000121709).
The Financial Statements were authorized for publication by the Board of Directors on 26 February 2019.
As a company listed in a European Union member state and pursuant to regulation (EC) no. 1606/2002 of 19 July 2002, the Group's published Consolidated Financial Statements for FY 2018 and the comparative financial statements for FYs 2017 and 2016 were prepared in accordance with the IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) as adopted by the European Union at 31 December 2018. These guidelines can be downloaded from the European Commission's website http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/accounting/ias_en.htm. This includes the standards published by the IASB (International Accounting Standards Board), namely the IFRS, IAS (International Accounting Standards) and the interpretations from the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) and the former Standard Interpretations Committee (SIC).
The Group adopted the following standards, amendments and interpretations applicable as of 1 January 2018. Their date of application matches that of the IASB.
These new standards and amendments had no material impact on the Group's fi nancial statements.
The Group did not early-adopt any standards, amendments or interpretations in 2018 that are mandatory as from 1 January 2019 or that are applicable despite not having been adopted by the European Union as they do not contradict any existing standards. These texts concern in particular:
In addition, the impacts on Groupe SEB's fi nancial statements of IFRS 16 – Leases, whose fi rst application date is 1 January 2019, are still being analyzed. Nevertheless, the work done allowed us to highlight:
The Group decided to apply the simplifi ed retrospective method. Discount rates have been determined based on the remaining term of existing leases as at 1 January 2019.
The estimated amount of the liability at 1 January 2019 should equate to more or less 10% of the operating lease commitments presented in Note 12 of this document.
Material companies that are exclusively controlled by SEB S.A. either directly or indirectly are fully consolidated.
The profi ts of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are recognized in the consolidated income statement from the acquisition date or up to the disposal date.
Where necessary, the fi nancial statements of subsidiaries are restated to comply with Group accounting policies.
Material companies over which SEB S.A. exercises significant infl uence, directly or indirectly, are accounted for by the equity method.
Certain companies fulfi lling all of the above criteria are not consolidated because they are not material to the Group:
The list of consolidated companies is presented in Note 32.
All material intra-group transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The financial statements of foreign entities are prepared in their functional currency, corresponding to the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates. The functional currency of most foreign entities is their local currency.
The Group's functional and reporting currency is the euro.
The fi nancial statements of the Group's subsidiaries are translated into euros by the closing rate method, as follows:
The fi nancial statements of subsidiaries whose functional currency is not the local accounting currency are initially translated into the functional currency using the historical rate method, as follows:
These financial statements in the functional currency are then translated into euros using the closing rate method.
In accordance with the option available to fi rst-time adopters under IFRS 1, Groupe SEB elected to reset to zero at 1 January 2004 the cumulative translation differences arising on consolidation of foreign entities.
Foreign currency transactions are recognized and measured in accordance with IAS 21 – Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates. Transactions in currencies other than the euro are initially recognized at the exchange rate prevailing on the transaction date.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the euro are translated at the closing exchange rate. The resulting exchange gains and losses are recognized in the income statement except where they are recognized directly under other comprehensive income or refer to eligible cash flow hedges or hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity.
Non-monetary foreign currency assets and liabilities carried at historical cost are translated using the exchange rate on the date of the transaction. Non-monetary assets and liabilities measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated at the exchange rate on the date on which this fair value was measured.
Where a profi t or a loss on a non-monetary item is recognized under other comprehensive income, any exchange component of this profi t or loss is recognized directly under other comprehensive income. In contrast, where a profi t or a loss on a non-monetary item is recognized directly in the income statement, any exchange component of this profi t or loss is recognized in the income statement.
The Group's exposure to certain currency risks is hedged using forward contracts and options (see below for the accounting methods applicable to hedging positions).
The preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of estimates and assumptions that have an impact on the reported amounts of assets and liabilities – such as accumulated depreciation, amortization and impairment losses – and contingent assets and liabilities on the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as on income and expenses for the year.
These estimates are made on a going concern basis and reflect amounts and assumptions that management considers relevant and reasonable given the Group's operating environment and past experience. Forecasting and producing medium-term plans are rendered difficult by the current economic environment. The Consolidated Financial Statements for the period were prepared on the basis of fi nancial parameters for the market available at the end of the period. The value of certain assets, such as goodwill and trademarks, is estimated at the year-end based on the long-term economic outlook and management's best estimates, taking into account the reduced visibility of future cash fl ows.
The assumptions used – which mainly concern impairment tests on non-current assets – and the sensitivity of reported amounts to changes in these assumptions, are presented in the relevant notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements, in accordance with IAS 36.
Estimates are adjusted following any change in the circumstances on which they were based or when any new information comes to light. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions.
The main estimates and assumptions used to prepare the Consolidated Financial Statements concern the measurement of pension and other post-employment benefit obligations (Note 22.1), deferred taxes (Note 1.4.10), property, plant and equipment (Note 1.4.3), intangible assets (Notes 1.4.1 and 10), investments in associates and other investments, impairment of current assets (Notes 1.4.5 and 1.4.6), short and long-term provisions (Notes 1.4.11 and 1.4.12), certain fi nancial instruments (Note 1.4.4 – Derivative instruments) and sharebased payments (Note 1.4.11 – Share-based payments).
The financial statements of Group companies are prepared in accordance with local generally accepted accounting principles. They are restated to comply with Group accounting policies.
The notes to the Financial Statements include analyses of assets and liabilities by maturity where disclosure of this information is required.
Under IAS 38 – Intangible Assets, research costs are recognized as an expense and development costs are recognized as an intangible asset when the Group can demonstrate (IAS 38, paragraph 57) (nonexhaustive list):
Development costs that do not fulfi ll the above criteria are expensed during the year in which they are incurred.
In Groupe SEB's Consolidated Financial Statements, qualifying development costs incurred after the advance design phase and before the manufacturing phase are recognized as intangible assets.
Development costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over three to fi ve years, corresponding to the same useful life as that applied to specifi c tooling.
Software licenses and internal software development costs are recognized as intangible assets when it is probable that they will generate future economic benefi ts. They are amortized by the straightline method over useful lives ranging from three to fi ve years. Other software licenses and software development costs are expensed as incurred.
Patents, licenses and trademarks with a fi nite useful life are amortized over the shorter of the period of legal protection and their expected useful life, not to exceed 15 years.
Trademarks with an indefi nite useful life are not amortized but are tested for impairment.
In business combinations, order books and customer relationships are recorded as recurring transactions with existing customers at the date of acquisition.
Goodwill arising from consolidated companies is recognized as a balance sheet asset under "Goodwill".
It is measured as the excess of the Group's interest in the net fair value of the identifi able assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination over the consideration transferred. The consideration transferred is measured as the fair value of assets transferred, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred by the acquirer to the former owner on the acquisition date, plus any contingent consideration. In the case of an acquisition carried out in stages, the difference between the carrying amount of the previously held interest and its acquisitiondate fair value is recorded directly in the income statement on the acquisition date under "Other operating income and expenses".
For each business combination, any non-controlling interest in the acquired company may be measured either at fair value on the acquisition date (full goodwill method) or at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the acquired company's identifi able net assets (partial goodwill method).
The fair values provisionally attributed to identifiable assets and liabilities, non-controlling interests measured at fair value and the various components of the consideration transferred may be adjusted by the acquirer for a period of twelve months after the acquisition date. After that period, any adjustments are recognized prospectively in profi t or loss with no adjustment to goodwill.
Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment at least once a year. For impairment testing purposes, goodwill is classifi ed by cash generating units, which correspond to uniform groups jointly generating independent cash fl ows.
The method used to test cash generating units for impairment is described in Note 1.4.3.
When impairment is noted, the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its recoverable amount is recognized in other operating expenses. Impairment losses on goodwill are not reversible.
Badwill (negative goodwill) is recognized directly in the income statement under "Other operating income and expenses" and is attributed in full to the acquirer.
Property, plant and equipment are initially recognized at cost and are depreciated by the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives.
Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.
The useful lives are as follows:
Each asset component with a useful life that is different from that of the asset to which it belongs is depreciated separately. Useful lives are reviewed at regular intervals and the effect of any adjustments are recognized prospectively.
No items of property, plant or equipment have been revalued.
In accordance with IAS 17 – Leases, fi nance leases that transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of an asset are recognized in property, plant and equipment for an amount corresponding to the lower of the fair value of the leased asset and the present value of the minimum lease payments.
A liability for the same amount is recorded under "Finance lease liabilities".
In accordance with IAS 36 – Impairment of Assets, the net carrying amount of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets is tested at the appearance of impairment and reviewed at each closing. Assets with an indefi nite useful life – corresponding in the case of the Group to goodwill and trademarks – are tested for impairment at least once a year, irrespective of whether there is any indication of impairment.
Assets with a fi nite life are tested whenever events or circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recovered.
Impairment tests are performed at the level of each Cash-Generating Unit (CGU). A CGU is defi ned as an identifi able group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash infl ows from other groups of assets. The value in use of these units is determined by reference to net discounted future cash flows. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in an asset's carrying amount over its recoverable amount. Recoverable amount corresponds to the higher of the asset's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use, calculated using the discounted cash fl ows method. The impairment loss thus determined is fi rst allocated against goodwill and then pro-rata to the other assets based on their carrying amounts.
The capitalized amount of development projects in progress is also tested for impairment.
Impairment losses on CGUs and on assets with an indefi nite useful life is recorded in "Other operating income and expenses".
Following the acquisition of the WMF Group at the end of 2016 and taking into account its impact on the Group's general organization, the CGUs have been redefi ned.
In fact, Groupe SEB has identifi ed three distinct categories of CGU:
Impairment losses recognized for non-fi nancial assets other than goodwill are reviewed at each annual and interim period end and adjusted as necessary.
Financial instruments are accounted for in accordance with IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments.
Financial assets and liabilities are recognized in the balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. They are recognized at the fair value of the consideration given or received. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition or issue of the fi nancial asset or liability are included in the initial measurement of all fi nancial assets and liabilities. Acquisition costs include direct external transaction costs.
Financial assets consist of shares in subsidiaries and affi liates as well as operating receivables, debt securities and other cash equivalents classifi ed as current assets.
The classifi cation of fi nancial assets into each of the categories defi ned by IFRS 9 (amortized cost, fair value through other comprehensive income, fair value through profit or loss) is dependent on the management systems put in place by the Group and their contractual cash fl ow characteristics.
These assets are measured at fair value through profi t or loss or for those not held for trading designated at fair value through other comprehensive income (cannot be reclassifi ed to profi t or loss). This classifi cation is irrevocable.
These assets are presented on the "investments in non-consolidated companies" line in the balance sheet.
These assets include loans and receivables and held-to-maturity investments.
Held-to-maturity investments are fi nancial assets with a fi xed maturity that the Group has the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity. They are measured at amortized cost, determined by the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities comprise borrowings and other fi nancing, including bank overdrafts, and operating liabilities.
Borrowings and other fi nancial liabilities are measured at amortized cost, determined by the effective interest method.
Any fi nancial liabilities hedged by interest rate swaps are hedged against future cash fl ows. Changes in the fair value of the swap are recorded in the balance sheet, with the effective portion recognized in equity.
Market risks (interest rate, currency and commodity price risks) are hedged, generally through the use of derivative instruments.
In accordance with IFRS 9 and IAS 32, derivative instruments are measured at fair value.
The accounting treatment of changes in fair value depends on the future use of the derivative and the resulting accounting classifi cation.
Derivative instruments designated as the hedging instrument in a hedging relationship may be classifi ed as either fair value or cash fl ow hedges:
The gain or loss arising from remeasurement at fair value of derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges is recognized in profi t, offsetting all or part of the gain or loss recognized on the hedged item.
In the case of cash fl ow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss arising from remeasurement of the derivative instrument at fair value is recognized in equity and the ineffective portion is recognized in profi t. The cumulative gains and losses on cash fl ow hedges recognized in equity are reclassifi ed into profi t when the hedged item affects profi t.
Hedge accounting is applied when:
At the inception of each hedge, the hedging relationship is formally documented by the Group, specifying in particular its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge. The Group also documents how it will assess the hedging instrument's effectiveness throughout its useful life in offsetting exposure to changes in fair value or cash fl ows attributable to the hedged risk.
Changes in the fair value of derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognized in profi t.
The amendments to IFRS 9 on hedge accounting are mainly intended to harmonize the accounting rules for business risk management. The main amendment primarily concerns the method of accounting for the time value of currency and interest rate options Time value adjustments recognized during the life of the option are now recorded in other comprehensive income.
Raw materials and goods purchased for resale are measured at purchase cost, using the weighted average cost method.
Work-in-progress and finished products are measured at cost, including raw materials and labor and a portion of direct and indirect production costs.
In accordance with IAS 2, inventories are measured at the lower of cost, determined as explained above, and net realizable value.
Net realizable value corresponds to the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale (mainly distribution costs).
The carrying amount of inventories does not include any borrowing costs.
Trade receivables are measured at their nominal amount, which is equivalent to their fair value in view of their short-term maturity. These receivables are impaired, on the basis of the credit losses expected at maturity in accordance with the asset impairment model introduced by IFRS 9.
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand and short-term investments in money market instruments. These instruments have maturities of less than three months; they are readily convertible into known amounts of cash and are subject to an insignifi cant risk of changes in value.
The consolidated cash fl ow statement is presented using the indirect method and cash fl ows are analyzed between operating, investing and fi nancing activities.
IAS 7 – Statement of Cash Flows was amended following the publication of IAS 27R. The aggregate cash flows arising from obtaining or losing control of a subsidiary are classifi ed as investing activities while cash fl ows arising from changes in ownership interests in a fully consolidated subsidiary are classifi ed as fi nancing activities. Transactions with jointly controlled entities or entities accounted for by the equity method continue to be classifi ed as investing activities.
Net debt corresponds to total long-term and short-term borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and derivative instruments related to Group fi nancing. It also includes potential short-term fi nancial investments with no signifi cant risk of a change in value but whose maturity on the subscription date is longer than three months.
Treasury stock is deducted from equity at cost. Any gains or losses arising from the purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of treasury stock are recognized directly in equity without affecting profi t.
Income tax expense reported in the income statement corresponds to current tax for the period and changes in deferred taxes.
In accordance with IAS 12 – Income Taxes, deferred taxes are recognized, using the liability method, for temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax base. They are determined using tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
Temporary differences include:
Deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and tax loss carryforwards to the extent that it is highly probable that future taxable profi ts will be available in the foreseeable future against which they can be utilized.
Deferred tax assets previously unrecognized at the date of a business combination or during the 12-month purchase price allocation period are subsequently recognized as an adjustment to profit or loss provided they meet the recognition criteria.
In accordance with IAS 12, deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
In some countries, the Group is required to pay length-of-service awards to employees on retirement or pension benefi ts under formal pension plans. The Group also pays contributions to governmentsponsored pension plans in its various host countries. The accounting treatment of these pension and other post-employment benefi t plans depends on the type of plan, as follows:
Contributions to these plans are recognized as an expense for the period to which they relate.
In accordance with IAS 19, as amended – Employee Benefits, obligations are calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected Unit credit method based on fi nal salaries. This method sees each period of service as giving rise to an additional Unit of benefi t entitlement and measures each Unit separately to build up the fi nal obligation. The fi nal obligation is then discounted. The actuarial assumptions used to calculate the obligation include staff turnover rates, mortality rates, the discount rate and the retirement age.
The assumptions vary according to local laws and regulations in the host countries concerned.
A provision is recorded in the balance sheet for any unfunded obligations, corresponding to defi ned benefi t obligations not covered by plan assets.
Current service cost, corresponding to the increase in the present value of the defined benefit obligation resulting from employee service in the current period, and the effect of plan amendments and reductions, are recognized in the Operating Result from Activity.
Actuarial gains and losses, resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions and experience adjustments (i.e. the effects of the differences between the previous actuarial assumptions and what has actually occurred) are recognized in "Other comprehensive income".
Interest income or interest expense calculated on the defi ned benefi t obligation net of the value of plan assets by applying the discount rate used to determine the defi ned benefi t obligation is recognized in "Other fi nancial income and expenses".
The difference between the actual return on plan assets and the interest income calculated by applying the discount rate is recorded in other comprehensive income.
For plans that have a surplus – corresponding to the excess of plan assets over the defi ned benefi t obligation – the Group applies the limit provided for in IAS 19, as amended in determining any asset recognized in the balance sheet.
Certain subsidiaries pay jubilees to employees who have completed a certain number of years' service or offer employees "time savings accounts". The cost of these long-term benefi ts is calculated on an actuarial basis and recognized in profi t over the service lives of the employees concerned. Actuarial gains and losses are recognized immediately in profi t during the period in which they are generated, as their deferral is not allowed under IFRS.
Pension and other post-employment benefi t costs are classifi ed as operating expenses, except for the interest cost, which is included in other fi nancial income and expenses in accordance with the alternative treatment allowed under IAS 19.
Contributions to external funds and payments to employees are reported in the cash fl ow statement under "Cash fl ows from operating activities".
In accordance with IAS 19, which was early-adopted on 1 January 2012, unrecognized actuarial gains and losses on defi ned benefi t obligations at 31 December 2009 and past service costs were recognized in equity in the opening balance sheet starting 1 January 2010.
Stock option plans are measured and recognized in accordance with IFRS 2 – Share-Based Payment. Stock options represent a benefi t for the grantee and, accordingly, are treated as part of the Group's compensation costs. Option grants are not cash-settled, and the benefi t is therefore recognized as an expense over the vesting period by adjusting equity for an amount corresponding to the fair value of the underlying equity instruments. As the stock options granted to employees of Group subsidiaries are only exercisable for SEB S.A. shares, they are deemed to be equity-settled share-based payments.
The fair value of stock options at the grant date is determined using the Black & Scholes option pricing model. This model takes into account the option exercise price and period, market data at the grant date (risk-free interest rate, share price, volatility, expected dividends) and grantee behavior assumptions (average holding period of the options). The fair value of performance shares corresponds to the share price on the grant date less a discount covering the lock-up feature and the value of future dividends that will not be received during the vesting period.
The compensation cost recorded for each plan is determined by multiplying the fair value per option or performance share by the estimated future number of shares to be delivered. The estimated number of shares is adjusted at each balance sheet date, as necessary, based on a revised estimate of the probability of non-market-based performance criteria being met, leading to an adjustment of the compensation cost.
The compensation cost is recognized in employee benefi ts expense on a straight-line basis over the option or performance share vesting period by adjusting equity. When a grantee leaves the Group before the end of the vesting period, resulting in the rights to the options or performance shares being forfeited, the cumulative compensation cost is canceled by recording an equivalent amount in income. Conversely, if a grantee leaves the Group earlier than originally expected, while maintaining his or her rights to the stock options held, amortization of the cost of his or her options or performance shares is accelerated.
When employee rights issues are carried out, if the shares are offered at a discount to market price, the difference between the offer price and the market price is recorded as an expense. The expense is measured on the date the rights are granted, corresponding to the point at which both the Group and the employees understand the characteristics and terms of the offer.
It takes into account matching employer contributions to the plan and any discount offered on the shares, less the deemed cost to the employee of the lock-up applicable to the shares.
It is recognized in full in the income statement in the year of the rights issue, provided the shares are not subject to any vesting condition, as in this case the shares are issued in exchange for employee services rendered in prior periods. The charge is recognized on the income statement, under "Discretionary and non-discretionary profi t-sharing."
In accordance with IAS 37 – Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets, a provision is recognized when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outfl ow of resources embodying economic benefi ts will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation:
The Group provides a warranty on its products. The estimated costs of the warranty are accrued at the time of sale, based on historical data.
This item also includes provisions for product recalls, which are set up when the recall is decided by Groupe SEB.
As a general principle, all known claims and litigation involving the Group are reviewed by management at each period end. All necessary provisions have been recorded to cover the related risks, as estimated after obtaining advice from outside legal advisors.
The Group is considered as having a constructive obligation when management has a detailed formal plan for the restructuring, or has raised a valid expectation in those affected that it will carry out the restructuring by starting to implement that plan or announcing its main features and no infl ow of economic benefi ts is expected that would offset the costs of the plan.
The amount of the related provision corresponds to forecast cash outfl ows under the plan.
In a business combination, a contingent liability will be recognized where there is a current obligation arising from past events and its fair value can be measured reliably.
For several years now, the Group's reporting system has included detailed reporting of off-balance sheet commitments. The process provides for the reporting by consolidated subsidiaries, in their consolidation packages, of information about the following commitments that they have given:
Acquisitions or disposals of non-controlling interests that do not affect the Group's control of a subsidiary are treated as transactions between owners and accounted for in equity. The carrying amounts of the subsidiary's assets (including goodwill recognized upon obtaining control) and liabilities remain unchanged.
In the event of the disposal of non-controlling interests resulting in a loss of control of a subsidiary, a gain (loss) on disposal is recognized for the difference between the selling price, the fair value of the interest retained in the subsidiary and the carrying amount of all the assets (including goodwill) and liabilities as well as non-controlling interests in the subsidiary, following reclassifi cation in profi t or loss of the gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income attributable to owners of the parent. The remeasurement at fair value of the retained investment therefore affects profi t or loss.
Revenue corresponds to the value, excluding tax, of goods and services sold by consolidated companies in the course of their ordinary activities, after eliminating intra-group sales.
Revenue is recognized on the date of transfer of control over a good or service, generally when the customer receives a product.
This business encompasses the sales and marketing of cookware and small electrical appliances. Revenue from this business is recognized upon transfer of control of the product and is assessed for an amount corresponding to the fair value of the consideration received or receivable as determined after deducting rebates and discounts.
Advertising expense contributions billed by customers and the cost of consumer promotions that do not fulfi ll the criteria for recognition as revenue are recognized as a deduction from revenue. The reported amount of revenue also includes miscellaneous revenues.
Freight and other costs billed to customers are treated as an integral part of revenue.
Accruals are booked for deferred rebates granted to customers on the basis of contractual or constructive commitments identifi ed at the period- end.
This business encompasses the sales and marketing of professional automatic coffee machines and hotel equipment.
Revenue from the sales and marketing of machines is recognized upon transfer of control of the product and is assessed for an amount corresponding to the fair value of the consideration received or receivable as determined after deducting rebates and discounts.
Revenue from the sales and marketing of annual or multi-year maintenance contracts is recognized as the service is provided.
Freight and other costs billed to customers are treated as an integral part of revenue.
The Group's main performance indicator is the Operating Result from Activity (ORfA). Operating Result from Activity corresponds to sales less operating expenses. Operating expenses comprise the cost of sales, research and development costs, advertising costs and distribution and administrative expenses. ORfA does not include discretionary and non-discretionary profi t-sharing or other non-recurring operating income and expense. These are defi ned in section 1.5.4.
Recurring Operating profi t corresponds to Operating Result from Activity less statutory and discretionary employee profi t sharing.
Operating profi t is comprised of all the recurring and non-recurring income and expenses generated in the course of the Group's ordinary activities, including income and expenses resulting from one-off decisions or transactions that are unusual in terms of their amount. Other non-current items, reported under "Other operating income and expenses", mainly include the following (see Note 6 for details):
Accrued interest on interest-bearing instruments is recognized by the effective interest method based on the purchase price.
Dividend income is recognized when the shareholder's right to receive payment is established.
Finance costs are recognized in the income statement in the period in which they are incurred.
Basic earnings per share correspond to profi t attributable to owners of the parent divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period, excluding treasury stock.
Diluted earnings per share are calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of shares outstanding to take into account the dilutive effect of stock options and other consolidated equity instruments issued by the company.
On 8 January 2018, Groupe SEB announced the signing with its long-standing partner in Egypt, the Zahran family, of an agreement to combine the small electrical appliances and cookware businesses to consolidate its industrial base in Egypt in order to serve the local and export markets.
Founded in 1967, the Zahran Group is the leading cookware manufacturer in Egypt. It has two manufacturing sites and 11 stores, and employs more than 700 people. Since 1973, it has produced and distributed cookware under the Tefal and Zahran brands in Egypt. In addition, in 2013, Groupe SEB had set up a joint venture with Zahran, "Groupe SEB Egypt", in which it has a 75% controlling interest, to manufacture and market small electrical appliances (e.g., vacuum cleaners, blenders, small food processors, etc.) mainly under the Moulinex and Tefal brands.
To further strengthen the existing partnership, Groupe SEB and the Zahran family had decided to set up a new entity, Groupe SEB Egypt Zahran, which is 55%-owned by Groupe SEB and 45% by Zahran. By bringing together the small electrical appliances and cookware businesses, the company aims to:
After fi nalizing the purchase price allocation entries, the fi nal net fair value of the identifi able assets and liabilities at the time of the acquisition of control on 1 January 2018 breaks down as follows:
| (in € millions) | 01/01/2018 |
|---|---|
| Non-current assets | 4.5 |
| Inventories | 2.9 |
| Trade receivables | 2.5 |
| Net cash and cash equivalents | 0.9 |
| Trade payables | (0.7) |
| Other net assets | (1.1) |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 9.0 |
| PERCENTAGE INTEREST | 55% |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS ACQUIRED | 5.0 |
| Non-controlling interests | 4.1 |
| OUTFLOW AND ALLOCATION OF SHARES IN THE JV |
25.3 |
| Goodwill | 20.4 |
On 13 November 2018, Groupe SEB announced the acquisition of 750g International, digital media publisher and food services provider in Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, USA and UK. This reaffi rms its desire to accelerate the roll-out of its brands in the culinary world, building on 750g International's expertise in 4 key areas:
This acquisition will make it possible to drive convergence with the products, websites and applications developed by the Group. There is a twin objective: enhance our digital ecosystem and increase the appeal of our brands globally.
Given its non-material nature, the stake in this company was recognized at 31 December 2018 under "other investments" in the consolidated balance sheet.
On 30 November 2016, Groupe SEB completed the acquisition of the German group WMF.
After fi nalizing the WMF purchase price allocation entries, the net fair value of the identifi able assets and liabilities at 31 December 2016 broke down as follows:
| 31/12/2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | (b) | (a) | |
| Non-current assets | 876.5 | 365.8 | |
| Inventories | 219.7 | 229.0 | |
| Trade receivables | 192.1 | 199.3 | |
| Net debt | (564.7) | (563.0) | |
| Trade payables | (111.9) | (108.1) | |
| Other net liabilities | (482.2) | (324.3) | |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | 129.4 | (201.3) | |
| PERCENT INTEREST | 100% | 100% | |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS ACQUIRED | 129.4 | (201.3) | |
| Non-controlling interests | |||
| CASH OUTFLOW FOR THE WMF | |||
| GROUP ACQUISITION | 1,080.2 | 1,081.5 | |
| Final goodwill | 950.8 | 1,282.8 |
(a) Provisional estimate at 31 December 2016.
(b) After fi nal allocation of the purchase price.
GROUPE SEB - REGISTRATION DOCUMENT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2018 213
The following intangible assets were identifi ed as a result of the work carried out by an independent expert to allocate the purchase price:
This work also resulted in the revaluation of some property, plant and equipment for approximately €30 million. Provisions for contingencies and liabilities were also recorded for approximately €48 million relating to ongoing disputes or tax and environmental risks.
The pro forma income statement for 2016 presented in Note 2.2 was prepared in line with the provisions of AMF recommendation 2013-08. Its purpose was to present the results for 2016 as if the acquisition of WMF had been completed as at 1 January 2016.
On 28 June 2016, Groupe SEB completed the acquisition of EMSA.
After fi nalizing the purchase price allocation entries, the fi nal net fair value of the identifi able assets and liabilities at the time of the acquisition of control on 30 June 2016 broke down as follows:
| (in € millions) | 30/06/2016 |
|---|---|
| Non-current assets* | 34.3 |
| Inventories | 20.7 |
| Trade receivables | 10.3 |
| Net debt | (36.2) |
| Trade payables | (11.0) |
| Other net liabilities | (20.1) |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS | (2.0) |
| PERCENTAGE INTEREST | 100% |
| TOTAL NET ASSETS ACQUIRED | (2.0) |
| Non-controlling interests | |
| CASH OUTFLOW FOR THE EMSA ACQUISITION |
21.9 |
| Goodwill | 23.9 |
* Comprising the EMSA brand estimated at €10.7 million by an independent assessor.
In view of the immaterial amounts, comparative fi gures at 31 December 2016 had not been restated.
In the fi rst half of the year, WMF sold its 24.9% stake in BHS Tabletop AG. This company was accounted for using the equity method in the fi nancial statements at 31 December 2016. Because of the immaterial nature of the remaining interest in Bauscher Hepp Inc., which was also accounted for using the equity method at 31 December 2016, it was deconsolidated during the fi rst half of 2017.
On 31 May 2017, Groupe SEB acquired control of Ethera by exercising the convertible bonds it held in the company. Prior to this transaction, Ethera was owned by SEB Alliance, an investment company of Groupe SEB. Ethera develops and markets high-performance solutions for indoor air quality diagnosis, monitoring and treatment. The goodwill generated by this takeover amounts to approximately €1.4 million. After buying out some non-controlling interests, the Group now owns 95.4% of this company.
On 1 June 2017, Groupe SEB fi nalized the acquisition of Swizzz Prozzz, a Swiss company specializing in small manual food choppers equipped with high-performance multi-blade systems. Because of the immaterial nature of this acquisition, the investment in this company was provisionally presented as of 31 December 2017 under "Other investments" in the consolidated balance sheet. The goodwill generated by this acquisition amounts to €8 million, allocated to the new EMEA Consumer CGU.
Legal restructuring measures initiated in Scandinavian countries in 2016 were fi nalized during the fi rst half of 2017. These operations had no impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In addition, as part of the merger of the consumer activities of WMF and Groupe SEB, certain legal restructuring measures were initiated in the second half of 2017. This restructuring had no impact on the Group's consolidated fi nancial statements.
The pro forma income statement presented below was prepared in accordance with AMF recommendation 2013-08. It was included in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2016 and was intended to present the 2016 profi t or loss as if WMF had been acquired on 1 January 2016.
Certain income statement items were directly related to the fi rst year of consolidation and were therefore considered as non-recurring items. In addition, given that the fair value measurement of the identifi able assets and liabilities of WMF was provisional at the time of preparation of these pro forma fi nancial statements, the effects of the fi nal measurement of the fair value of these assets and liabilities would have had an impact on these fi nancial statements.
| (in € millions) | SEB reported |
WMF 2016 | Group fi nancing |
Intercompany elimination |
Pro forma recurring |
Stock step-up |
Pro forma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 4,999.7 | 1,099.7 | (4.3) | 6,095.1 | 6,095.1 | ||
| Operating expenses | (4,494.5) | (1,006.2) | 4.3 | (5,496.4) | (13.9) | (5,510.3) | |
| OPERATING RESULT FROM ACTIVITY | 505.2 | 93.5 | 598.7 | (13.9) | 584.8 | ||
| Statutory and discretionary employee profi t-sharing |
(36.7) | (36.7) | (36.7) | ||||
| RECURRING OPERATING PROFIT | 468.5 | 93.5 | 562.0 | (13.9) | 548.1 | ||
| Other operating income and expenses | (42.2) | (15.6) | (57.8) | (57.8) | |||
| OPERATING PROFIT | 426.4 | 77.9 | 504.3 | (13.9) | 490.4 | ||
| Finance costs | (29.8) | (8.0) | (5.5) | 8.0 | (35.3) | (35.3) | |
| Other fi nancial income and expenses | (28.2) | 0.1 | (28.1) | (28.1) | |||
| Share of profi ts of associates | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | ||||
| PROFIT BEFORE TAX | 368.4 | 70.5 | (5.5) | 8.0 | 441.4 | (13.9) | 427.5 |
| Income tax | (77.7) | (25.5) | 1.4 | (2.4) | (104.2) | 4.2 | (100.1) |
| PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD | 290.8 | 45.0 | (4.1) | 5.6 | 337.3 | (9.7) | 327.6 |
| Non-controlling interests | (32.2) | (0.4) | (32.6) | (32.6) | |||
| PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT |
258.6 | 44.6 | (4.1) | 5.6 | 304.7 | (9.7) | 295.0 |
| PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT PER SHARE (IN UNITS) |
|||||||
| Basic earnings per share | 5.20 | 6.12 | 5.93 | ||||
| Diluted earnings per share | 5.15 | 6.06 | 5.87 |
The "WMF 2016" income statement represented the consolidated income statement prepared by WMF plus a series of reclassifi cations made to bring it into line with the Groupe SEB accounting policies as detailed in Note 1 "Summary of signifi cant accounting policies" herein. In addition, these fi nancial statements were adjusted to offset the impact of intangible assets in the process of being measured and to eliminate the entries that should have impacted the opening balance sheet and not the 2016 profi t (loss). Finally, the WMF cost of debt in 2016 was replaced by a standard borrowing cost determined on the basis of the fi nancing arranged by Groupe SEB.
| Sales (in € millions) |
2016 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported | WMF 2016 | Eliminations | Pro forma | |||||
| EMEA | 2,494.9 | 848.0 | (4.3) | 3,338.6 | ||||
| Americas | 918.7 | 186.0 | 1,104.7 | |||||
| Asia | 1,586.1 | 65.7 | 1,651.8 | |||||
| TOTAL | 4,999.7 | 1,099.7 | (4.3) | 6,095.1 |
| Sales (in € millions) |
2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reported | WMF 2016 | Eliminations | Pro forma | |||
| Cookware | 1,626.1 | 603.5 | 2,229.6 | |||
| Small electrical appliances | 3,373.6 | 75.5 | (4.3) | 3,444.8 | ||
| Professional coffee machines | 420.7 | 420.7 | ||||
| TOTAL | 4,999.7 | 1,099.7 | (4.3) | 6,095.1 |
| 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Reported | WMF 2016 | Consolidation entries | Pro forma | ||
| Purchased raw materials and goods | (2,427.0) | (432.7) | (9.6) | (2,869.3) | ||
| Labor costs | (205.2) | (145.7) | (350.9) | |||
| Freight costs | (121.7) | (121.7) | ||||
| Other production costs | (267.3) | (267.3) | ||||
| COST OF SALES | (3,021.2) | (578.4) | (9.6) | (3,609.2) | ||
| Research and development costs | (92.2) | (20.7) | (112.9) | |||
| Advertising | (130.9) | (32.2) | (163.1) | |||
| Distribution and administrative expenses | (1,250.2) | (383.9) | (1,634.1) | |||
| OPERATING EXPENSES | (4,494.5) | (1,015.2) | (9.6) | (5,519.3) |
| 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Reported | WMF 2016 | Pro forma | ||
| Restructuring costs | (19.0) | (8.5) | (27.5) | ||
| Impairment losses | (0.8) | (0.8) | |||
| Gains and losses on asset disposals and other | (22.4) | (7.1) | (29.5) | ||
| OTHER OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES | (42.2) | (15.6) | (57.8) |
The main components of other operating income and expenses of WMF related to the restructuring of logistics activities and extraordinary costs related to the transaction.
In accordance with IFRS 8 – Operating segments, fi nancial information is presented by geographical segment, which is the basis of the internal information reviewed and used by the chief operating decision makers, i.e. the members of the Executive Committee.
In 2017, data for the WMF Group was presented separately. Since 1 January 2018, these are distributed within each segment to which they belong.
| "Consumer" business | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | EMEA | Americas | Asia | "Professional" business |
Intra-Group transactions |
Total |
| 31/12/2018 | ||||||
| Revenue | ||||||
| Inter-segment revenue | 3,198.3 | 862.0 | 2,058.5 | 634.6 | 6,753.4 | |
| External revenue | 323.6 | 0.3 | 1,231.8 | (1,496.9) | 58.8 | |
| TOTAL REVENUE | 6,812.2 | |||||
| Profi t (loss) | ||||||
| Operating Result from Activity | 206.7 | 72.8 | 313.4 | 98.2 | 3.7 | 694.8 |
| Operating profi t | 151.0 | 60.9 | 313.3 | 96.6 | 3.7 | 625.5 |
| Finance costs and other fi nancial income and expenses |
(31.8) | |||||
| Profi t (loss) attributable to associates | ||||||
| Income tax | (131.2) | |||||
| PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD | 462.5 | |||||
| Consolidated balance sheet | ||||||
| Segment assets | 3,294.1 | 823.1 | 1,457.7 | 695.5 | (293.3) | 5,977.1 |
| Financial assets | 983.9 | |||||
| Tax assets | 115.5 | |||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 7,076.5 | |||||
| Segment liabilities | (994.3) | (224.0) | (819.9) | (187.9) | 223.1 | (2,003.0) |
| Borrowings | (2,478.5) | |||||
| Tax liabilities | (288.4) | |||||
| Equity | (2,306.6) | |||||
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | (7,076.5) | |||||
| Other information | ||||||
| Capital expenditure and purchases of intangible assets |
120.0 | 15.7 | 47.1 | 30.7 | 213.5 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expense | (98.2) | (15.1) | (34.5) | (20.9) | (168.7) | |
| Impairment losses | (12.3) | (12.3) |
Inter-segment revenue corresponds to sales to external customers located within the geographical segment.
External revenue corresponds to total sales (within the Group and to external customers) generated outside the geographical segment by companies within the geographical segment.
Intra-group transactions are carried out on an arm's length basis, under terms and conditions that are similar to those that would be offered to third parties.
| (in € millions) | EMEA | Americas | Asia | WMF | Intra-Group transactions |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2017 | ||||||
| Revenue | ||||||
| Inter-segment revenue | 2,685.0 | 921.8 | 1,700.9 | 1,147.7 | 6,455.4 | |
| External revenue | 214.6 | 1.4 | 1,143.4 | (1,330.2) | 29.2 | |
| TOTAL REVENUE | 2,899.6 | 923.2 | 2,844.3 | 1,147.7 | (1,330.2) | 6,484.6 |
| Profi t (loss) | ||||||
| Operating Result from Activity | 190.9 | 65.8 | 331.1 | 77.6 | (4.8) | 660.6 |
| Operating profi t | 137.3 | 48.9 | 330.8 | 67.4 | (4.9) | 579.5 |
| Finance costs and other fi nancial income and expenses |
(71.8) | |||||
| Profi t (loss) attributable to associates | ||||||
| Income tax | (99.2) | |||||
| PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD | 408.6 | |||||
| Consolidated balance sheet | ||||||
| Segment assets | 1,799.2 | 822.3 | 1,212.2 | 2,168.7 | (305.3) | 5,697.1 |
| Financial assets | 853.6 | |||||
| Tax assets | 136.5 | |||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 6,687.2 | |||||
| Segment liabilities | (333.3) | (231.7) | (471.5) | (971.0) | 258.8 | (1,748.7) |
| Borrowings | (2,705.7) | |||||
| Tax liabilities | (268.4) | |||||
| Equity | (1,964.4) | |||||
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | (6,687.2) | |||||
| Other information | ||||||
| Capital expenditure and purchases of intangible assets |
93.0 | 17.1 | 42.5 | 39.7 | 192.3 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | (78.2) | (17.7) | (31.5) | (41.3) | (168.7) | |
| Impairment losses | (5.6) | (2.9) | (0.7) | (9.2) |
In 2017, data for the WMF Group was presented separately. As from 1 January 2018, these are distributed within each segment to which they belong.
| (in € millions) | EMEA | Americas | Asia | WMF | Intra-Group transactions |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2016 | ||||||
| Revenue | ||||||
| Inter-segment revenue | 2,487.3 | 899.9 | 1,574.9 | 4,962.1 | ||
| External revenue | 212.7 | 0.6 | 1,032.3 | (1,208.0) | 37.6 | |
| TOTAL REVENUE | 2,700.0 | 900.5 | 2,607.2 | (1,208.0) | 4,999.7 | |
| Profi t (loss) | ||||||
| Operating Result from Activity | 168.6 | 58.3 | 304.7 | (26.4) | 505.2 | |
| Operating profi t | 105.9 | 42.5 | 304.4 | (26.4) | 426.4 | |
| Finance costs and other fi nancial income and expenses |
(57.9) | |||||
| Profi t (loss) attributable to associates | ||||||
| Income tax | (77.7) | |||||
| PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD | 290.8 | |||||
| Consolidated balance sheet | ||||||
| Segment assets | 1,650.5 | 922.3 | 1,270.2 | 2,056.1 | (274.1) | 5,625.0 |
| Financial assets | 712.4 | |||||
| Tax assets | 130.9 | |||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 6,468.3 | |||||
| Segment liabilities | (294.2) | (258.4) | (484.2) | (996.4) | 214.4 | (1,818.8) |
| Borrowings | (2,659.9) | |||||
| Tax liabilities | (153.5) | |||||
| Equity | (1,836.1) | |||||
| TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES | (6,468.3) | |||||
| Other information | ||||||
| Capital expenditure and purchases of intangible assets |
87.6 | 60.5 | 33.4 | 181.5 | ||
| Depreciation and amortization expenses | (70.7) | (16.4) | (35.0) | (122.1) | ||
| Impairment losses | (0.7) | (0.7) |
Data for 2016 have been modifi ed to be consistent with the WMF 2017 presentation. Since 1 January 2018, entities of the WMF subgroup have been presented within each location to which they belong.
| YTD 12 (€M) | 2018 | 2017 (a) | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western European countries | 2,429.9 | 2,424.5 | 1,833.8 |
| Other countries | 793.4 | 745.9 | 661.1 |
| TOTAL EMEA | 3, 223.3 | 3,170.3 | 2,494.9 |
| North America | 546.7 | 578.6 | 563.2 |
| South America | 340.1 | 367.4 | 355.4 |
| TOTAL AMERICAS | 886.8 | 945.9 | 918.7 |
| China | 1, 554.4 | 1,286.2 | 1,123.1 |
| Other countries | 513.1 | 519.6 | 463.1 |
| TOTAL ASIA | 2,067.5 | 1,805.8 | 1,586.2 |
| TOTAL CONSUMER | 6,177.6 | 5,922.0 | 4,999.7 |
| TOTAL PROFESSIONAL | 634.6 | 562.6 | |
| TOTAL | 6,812.2 | 6,484.7 | 4,999.7 |
| YTD 12 (€M) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
| Cookware | 2,196.1 | 2,231,2 | 1,626.1 |
| Small electrical appliances | 3,981.5 | 3,690.8 | 3,373.6 |
| Professional coffee machines and hotels | 634.6 | 562.6 | |
| TOTAL | 6, 812. 2 | 6, 484. 7 | 4,999. 7 |
(a) 2017 data has been restated to include WMF.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 (a) | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchased raw materials and goods | (3,265.5) | (3,069.1) | (2,427.0) |
| Labor costs | (314.7) | (322.8) | (205.2) |
| Freight costs | (135.5) | (150.3) | (121.7) |
| Other production costs | (406.3) | (324.6) | (267.3) |
| COST OF SALES SUB-TOTAL | (4,122.0) | (3,866.8) | (3,021.2) |
| Research and development costs | (131.9) | (128.9) | (92.2) |
| Advertising | (123.5) | (134.4) | (130.9) |
| Distribution and administrative expenses | (1,740.0) | (1,693.9) | (1,250.2) |
| OPERATING EXPENSES | (6,117.4) | (5,824.0) | (4,494.5) |
(a) There were reclassifi cations within 2017 operating expenses following the split of the WMF package by entities.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wages and salaries (excluding temporary staff costs) | (951.3) | (921.1) | (601.7) | |
| Payroll taxes | (181.3) | (185.8) | (125.9) | |
| Pension and other post-employment benefi t plan costs | (70.4) | (56.9) | (55.5) | |
| Service cost under defi ned benefi t plans | (12.9) | (15.7) | (1.9) | |
| Discretionary and non-discretionary profi t-sharing | (33.6) | (37.6) | (36.7) | |
| TOTAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS EXPENSES | (1,249.5) | (1,217.1) | (821.7) | |
| Breakdown by geographical segment 2018 | EMEA | Americas | Asia | Total |
| Employee benefi ts expense (excluding temporary staff costs) |
(896.0) | (105.3) | (248.2) | (1,249.5) |
| Average number of employees (in units) | 15,365 | 2,712 | 14,291 | 32,368 |
| Breakdown by geographical segment 2017 | EMEA | Americas | Asia | Total |
| Employee benefi ts expense (excluding temporary staff costs) |
(905.9) | (101.2) | (210.0) | (1,217.1) |
| Average number of employees (in units) | 14,364 | 2,892 | 14,252 | 31,508 |
| Breakdown by geographical segment 2016 | EMEA (a) | Americas (a) | Asia (a) | Total |
| Employee benefi ts expense (excluding temporary staff costs) |
(524.9) | (102.2) | (194.6) | (821.7) |
| Average number of employees (in units) | 8,801 | 2,833 | 14,275 | 25,909 |
| (a) Excluding WMF. | ||||
| Employees by category (%) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| Labor costs | 47.0 | 48.0 | 48.0 | |
| Employees | 40.0 | 40.0 | 40.0 | |
| Managers | 13.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restructuring costs | (15.8) | (30.6) | (19.0) |
| Impairment losses | (9.7) | (6.1) | (0.8) |
| Gains and losses on asset disposals and other | (10.1) | (6.9) | (22.4) |
| OTHER OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES | (35.6) | (43.6) | (42.2) |
TOTAL 100.0 100.0 100.0
Restructuring costs in 2018 amounted to €15.8 million and mainly concerned:
Restructuring costs in 2017 amounted to €30.6 million, primarily including:
Restructuring costs in 2016 amounted to €19.0 million, and mainly concerned:
In application of the principle described in Note 1.4.3, certain manufacturing CGUs were tested for impairment by comparing the carrying amount of the assets of each CGU with their value in use. The main tests and CGUs are discussed in Note 10 "Intangible assets."
Since the end of 2016, our activities in India have been challenged by a major reform of the "GST" VAT and a demonetization law that had a major impact on consumption during 2017. At end-2017, the Group had factored this impact into the business plan used as a basis for the impairment test, which led it to recognize a partial goodwill impairment of €5.4 million. These disruptions having persisted, the assumptions in the business plan had to be further updated at the end of 2018 and led the Group to recognize a further impairment loss of €9.7 million. The remaining goodwill connected with our operations in India is now only €6.6 million.
In 2016, no material impairment losses had been recognized.
In 2018, this item mainly includes expenses relating to the integration of WMF into Group processes and tools for approximately €4 million, the costs associated with the departure of the Chief Operating Offi cer and various expenses that are not material in their own right.
In 2017, the Group incurred residual expenses relating to the WMF acquisition, along with expenses relating to the integration of WMF into its processes and tools for approximately €4 million.
In 2016, acquisition costs of €15 million were incurred for the acquisitions of WMF and EMSA. Furthermore, a €6 million expense was recognized for a customs dispute in Turkey detailed in Note 29.1.2 "Litigation".
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FINANCE COSTS | (32.8) | (34.9) | (29.8) |
| Interest cost on long-term employee benefi t obligations | (3.9) | (3.5) | (3.9) |
| Exchange gains and losses and fi nancial instruments | (18.5) | (13.7) | (8.9) |
| Other | 23.3 | (19.5) | (15.4) |
| OTHER FINANCIAL INCOME AND EXPENSES | 0.9 | (36.7) | (28.2) |
The interest costs on long-term employee benefi ts represents the difference between the annual discounting of commitments and the expected return on the corresponding fi nancial assets held in a hedging contract for these commitments, as well as the discounting charges for other long-term liabilities and provisions.
Exchange gains and losses on manufacturing and sales transactions denominated in foreign currencies and their related hedging transactions are included in Operating Result from Activity. Gains and losses on borrowings in foreign currencies and related hedges are reported under "Other fi nancial income and expenses".
The "others" item includes the change in the fair value of the ORNAE option portion net of the effects of its partial hedging, namely income of €12.5 million in 2018 versus an expense of €9.3 million in 2017. This item also includes interest on arrears relating to the PIS COFINS tax receivable recognized in Brazil (Note 29.1.1. Signifi cant events) for €20 million. In 2016, the item included notably the impairment loss on Key Ingredient's shares and current account for €7.5 million.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current tax assets and liabilities | 134.4 | 120.4 | 82.9 |
| Deferred tax assets and liabilities | (3.2) | (21.1) | (5.2) |
| INCOME TAXES | 131.2 | 99.3 | 77.7 |
Current income tax expense corresponds to taxes paid or payable in the short term on profi t for the year, based on local tax rates and tax laws in the Group's host countries.
Group companies in France, Italy and the United States have elected for group relief. The agreements guarantee neutrality for each of the companies included in the scope (Note 32) and generate no signifi cant tax savings apart from the immediate offset of the defi cits on profi ts.
The difference between the effective tax rate of 22.1% (19.5% in 2017 and 21.1% in 2016) and the statutory French tax rate of 34.43% in 2018 (including additional contribution) breaks down as follows:
| (in %) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| STATUTORY FRENCH TAX RATE | 34.4 | 34.4 | 34.4 |
| Effect of differences in tax rates (a) | (15.9) | (18.4) | (14.2) |
| Unrecognized and relieved tax loss carryforwards | 2.0 | 5.3 | 3.8 |
| Prior period tax loss carryforwards recognized and utilized during the period (b) |
(2.9) | (3.2) | (7.3) |
| Other (c) | 4.5 | 1.4 | 4.4 |
| EFFECTIVE TAX RATE | 22.1 | 19.5 | 21.1 |
(a) The "Effect of differences in tax rates" line is affected by the large share of profi ts made in China. In 2017, the tax reform in the US had also resulted in a sharp fall in the deferred tax liabilities in this country (3.3%).
(b) The change in this line is mainly due to the strong performance in the United States, a country in which the Group is using its tax loss carryforwards and the partial recognition of our tax loss carryforwards in Germany.
(c) The "Other" line primarily includes withholding tax (1.8%), the non-deductibility of the impairment of the goodwill of Maharaja (0.6%), the impairment of temporary differences in Brazil (1%) and the non-deductibility of the change in fair value of the ORNAE option portion (-0.7%). In 2017, this line primarily included the refunding of the dividend tax for 2011 to 2017 (1.9%), withholding tax (1.3%), tax risks that are not individually material (0.6%), the non-deductibility of the impairment of the goodwill of Maharaja (0.4%) and the non-deductibility of the change in fair value of the ORNAE option portion (0.8%). In 2016, this line primarily included the dividend tax (0.7%), withholding tax (1.2%), unrecognized temporary differences (1.4%), tax risks that are not individually material (0.4%) and the non-deductibility of the impairment loss on the shares and current account of Key Ingredient (0.7%).
Profi t (loss) before tax amounted to €593.7 million versus €507.9 million in 2017 and €368.5 million in 2016.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intangible assets (brands) | (297.3) | (302.6) | (168.8) |
| Capitalized research and development costs | (7.3) | (6.6) | (6.0) |
| Property, plant and equipment | (36.1) | (38.8) | (39.4) |
| Net tax loss carryforwards | 31.2 | 28.6 | 24.0 |
| Provisions for pensions and other employee-related liabilities | 60.0 | 64.1 | 77.2 |
| Elimination of intra-Group gains | 31.7 | 32.5 | 28.3 |
| Other temporary differences | 61.2 | 69.0 | 44.4 |
| TOTAL DEFERRED TAX ASSETS (LIABILITIES) | (156.6) | (153.8) | (40.3) |
| Of which: | |||
| Deferred tax assets | 79.2 | 62.9 | 71.1 |
| Deferred tax liabilities | (235.8) | (216.7) | (111.4) |
The increase in deferred tax liabilities in 2017 is directly related to the allocation of the WMF purchase price. This increase was partially offset by the impact of the tax reform in the United States that reduced our net deferred tax liabilities.
Deferred tax liabilities on other temporary differences are principally comprised of deferred taxes on the non-deductible portion of provisions.
The change in net deferred tax liabilities on the balance sheet is explained as follows:
| (in € millions) | |
|---|---|
| NET DEFERRED TAXES AT 31/12/2016 | (40.3) |
| Deferred taxes for the period recognized in profi t or loss | 21.1 |
| Effect of deferred taxes recognized in equity | 7.6 |
| Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates | 3.2 |
| Effect of changes in the scope of consolidation | (145.7) |
| Other | 0.3 |
| NET DEFERRED TAXES AT 31/12/2017 | (153.8) |
| Deferred taxes for the period recognized in profi t or loss | 3.2 |
| Effect of deferred taxes recognized in equity | (3.8) |
| Effect of changes in foreign exchange rates | (1.6) |
| Effect of changes in the scope of consolidation | (1.0) |
| Other | 0.4 |
| NET DEFERRED TAXES AT 31/12/2018 | (156.6) |
Deferred taxes recognized in consolidated equity principally derive from deferred tax liabilities related to actuarial gains and losses on pension liabilities, derivative instruments and gains or losses on treasury shares.
At 31 December 2018, the Group had a number of unrecognized deductible temporary differences and tax loss carryforwards. These amounts are listed per category as well as per expiry date in the table below:
| At 31/12/2018 (in € millions) |
Deductible temporary differences |
Tax losses | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 2020 | 1.0 | 1.0 | |
| 2021 | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| 2022 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 4.4 |
| 2023 and beyond | 7.3 | 7.3 | |
| Unlimited | 7.7 | 66.4 | 74.1 |
| TOTAL | 10.2 | 78.6 | 88.8 |
Unrecognized tax loss carryforwards rose from €92.3 million in 2017 to €75.9 million in 2018. The item mainly concerns Germany (€12.7 million in 2018, €20.4 million in 2017 and €28.2 million in 2016), Brazil (€42.2 million in 2018, €45.7 million in 2017 and €33.9 million in 2016) and India (€4.7 million in 2018 , €3.9 million in 2017 and €2.6 million in 2016).
All tax loss carryforwards in Spain have now been recognized.
In 2016, given that the Group's US subsidiaries had returned to profi t, almost all of the tax losses carried forward in the Unites States had been capitalized.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numerator | |||
| Profi t attributable to owners of the parent | 419.0 | 375.0 | 258.6 |
| After tax effect of dilutive potential shares | |||
| Profi t used to calculate diluted earnings per share | 419.0 | 375.0 | 258.6 |
| Denominator | |||
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate basic earnings per share |
49,661,283 | 49,596,964 | 49,749,160 |
| Effect of dilutive potential shares | 341,958 | 407,581 | 496,356 |
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share |
50,003,241 | 50,004,546 | 50,245,516 |
| Basic earnings per share (in €) | 8.44 | 7.56 | 5.20 |
| Diluted earnings per share (in €) | 8.38 | 7.50 | 5.15 |
The dilutive impact may relate to the various existing stock option and performance share plans (see Note 19.2).
In accordance with IAS 38, intangible assets with an indefi nite useful life – corresponding to trademarks and goodwill – are no longer amortized but are tested for impairment at each year end. The impairment testing method is described in Note 1.4.
Intangible assets with a fi nite useful life are amortized by the straightline method over their estimated useful life. Amortization expense is included in "Operating Result from Activity".
The Group also holds certain trademarks – such as the Tefal international trademark and the SEB and Calor regional trademarks – which are not recognized in the balance sheet.
| 2018 (in € millions) |
Patents and | licenses Trademarks | Goodwill | Software | Development costs |
Intangible assets in progress and other |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||||
| At 1 January | 37.9 | 1,018.2 | 1,524.4 | 107.5 | 24.9 | 122.1 | 2,835.0 |
| Acquisitions/additions | 0.1 | 10.8 | 5.4 | 21.4 | 37.7 | ||
| Disposals | (5.8) | (2.9) | (1.7) | (10.4) | |||
| Other movements * | 3.4 | 1.8 | 28.3 | 3.2 | (1.0) | 0.1 | 35.8 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |
(0.7) | 1.7 | 1.1 | (1.3) | (0.2) | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 40.7 | 1,021.7 | 1,553.8 | 114.4 | 26.2 | 142.0 | 2,898.8 |
| Depreciation and impairment losses |
|||||||
| At 1 January | 19.5 | 9.8 | 56.9 | 68.7 | 11.6 | 30.5 | 197.0 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |
(0.3) | 0.2 | 2.3 | (1.0) | (0.1) | 0.4 | 1.5 |
| Additions | 3.9 | 15.0 | 4.6 | 8.7 | 32.2 | ||
| Impairment losses | 9.7 | 9.7 | |||||
| Depreciation and impairment written off on disposals |
(5.5) | (2.9) | (1.7) | (10.1) | |||
| Other movements * | 3.3 | (2.9) | (0.2) | 0.2 | 0.4 | ||
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 26.4 | 10.0 | 68.9 | 74.3 | 13.0 | 38.1 | 230.7 |
| Carrying amount at 1 January | 18.4 | 1,008.4 | 1,467.5 | 38.8 | 13.3 | 91.7 | 2,638.1 |
| CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER |
14.3 | 1,011.7 | 1,484.9 | 40.1 | 13.2 | 103.9 | 2,668.1 |
* Including changes in scope of consolidation.
| 2017 (in € millions) |
Patents and | licenses Trademarks | Goodwill | Software | Development costs |
Intangible assets in progress and other |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||||
| At 1 January (b) | 48.1 | 1,042.2 | 1,573.6 | 94.5 | 30.1 | 116.0 | 2,904.5 |
| Acquisitions/additions | 0.1 | 9.4 | 3.6 | 14.3 | 27.4 | ||
| Disposals | (8.6) | (3.8) | (7.7) | (0.4) | (20.5) | ||
| Other movements (a) | 0.1 | 10.7 | (3.9) | 11.0 | (0.7) | (2.9) | 14.3 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |
(1.9) | (34.6) | (45.3) | (3.5) | (0.4) | (4.9) | (90.6) |
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 37.9 | 1,018.2 | 1,524.4 | 107.5 | 24.9 | 122.1 | 2,835.1 |
| Depreciation and impairment losses | |||||||
| At 1 January (b) | 26.0 | 11.2 | 58.6 | 57.5 | 14.6 | 20.5 | 188.2 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |
(1.1) | (1.4) | (7.2) | (2.7) | (0.2) | (1.9) | (14.5) |
| Additions | 3.4 | 15.3 | 5.0 | 12.3 | 35.9 | ||
| Impairment losses | 5.5 | 5.5 | |||||
| Depreciation and impairment written off on disposals |
(8.6) | (3.8) | (7.7) | (0.3) | (20.4) | ||
| Other movements (a) | (0.2) | 2.4 | (0.1) | 2.3 | |||
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 19.5 | 9.8 | 56.9 | 68.7 | 11.6 | 30.5 | 197.0 |
| Carrying amount at 1 January | 22.1 | 1,031.0 | 1,515.0 | 37.0 | 15.6 | 95.5 | 2,716.2 |
| CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER |
18.4 | 1,008.4 | 1,467.5 | 38.8 | 13.3 | 91.7 | 2,638.1 |
(a) Including changes in scope of consolidation.
(b) After fi nalization of WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1).
| 2016 (in € millions) |
Patents and | licenses Trademarks | Goodwill | Software | Development costs |
Intangible assets in progress and other |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | |||||||
| At 1 January | 38.3 | 403.5 | 601.8 | 80.6 | 26.6 | 60.6 | 1,211.4 |
| Acquisitions/additions | 6.6 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 19.0 | ||
| Disposals | (8.3) | (7.5) | (1.7) | (17.5) | |||
| Other movements (a) | 8.0 | 145.9 | 1,312.0 | 57.5 | 17.4 | 124.6 | 1,665.4 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |
1.8 | 9.0 | (8.2) | 2.6 | 0.4 | (0.6) | 5.0 |
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 48.1 | 565.0 | 1,905.6 | 136.3 | 41.6 | 186.7 | 2,883.3 |
| Depreciation and impairment losses | |||||||
| At 1 January | 22.2 | 11.0 | 56.8 | 54.3 | 18.1 | 19.1 | 181.5 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments |
0.6 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 5.8 |
| Additions | 2.9 | 9.2 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 17.4 | ||
| Impairment losses | |||||||
| Depreciation and impairment written off on disposals |
(8.4) | (7.1) | (0.8) | (16.3) | |||
| Other movements (a) | 2.1 | 33.1 | 42.0 | 11.4 | 39.3 | 127.9 | |
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 27.8 | 44.8 | 58.6 | 99.3 | 26.1 | 59.7 | 316.3 |
| Carrying amount at 1 January | 16.1 | 392.5 | 545.0 | 26.3 | 8.5 | 41.5 | 1,029.9 |
| CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER |
20.3 | 520.2 | 1,847.0 | 37.0 | 15.5 | 127.0 | 2,567.0 |
(a) Including changes in scope of consolidation.
Trademarks and goodwill were tested for impairment according to the method described in Note 1.4.3. by comparing their carrying amount to their value in use, with the exception of the trademarks mentioned below, which were valued using the relief from royalty method.
The discount rates used were based on a weighted average cost of capital that factors in market borrowing rates, gearing ratio, beta and country risk using Damodaran methodology. The mature country risk premium used for 2018 was 5.37%. Specifi c equity risk premiums ranging from 0% to 6.36% were applied to the Group's different CGUs, according to their size, region and other specifi c characteristics.
The impairment tests in 2018 were broadly based on a 2019 budget that largely assumed a continuation of the trends seen in 2018 for these CGUs.
The test of this CGU, which included trademarks for €316.5 million and goodwill for €711 million (exclusively arising from the allocation of the WMF purchase price), was carried out by comparing the carrying amount with its value in use. The value in use is defi ned as the sum of the discounted cash fl ows according to the acquisition business plan and taking into account a terminal value based on the cash fl ow of the fi nal year of the plan. The main actuarial assumptions used were as follows:
This test did not indicate any impairment risk for the assets allocated to this CGU. A one-point change in the discount rate or long-term growth rate, or signifi cant changes in the assumptions in the business plan regarding revenue and profi tability, would not affect the valuation of this CGU.
The test of this CGU, which included trademarks for €360.0 million and goodwill for €375.4 million (of which €311 million in trademarks and €239 million in goodwill from the allocation of the WMF purchase price), was carried out by comparing the carrying amount with its value in use. The value in use is defi ned as the sum of discounted cash fl ows based on a fi ve-year business plan and taking into account a terminal value based on the cash fl ow of the fi nal year of the plan. The main actuarial assumptions used were as follows:
This test did not indicate any impairment risk for the assets allocated to this CGU. A one-point change in the discount rate or long-term growth rate, or signifi cant changes in the assumptions in the business plan regarding revenue and profi tability, would not affect the valuation of this CGU.
The All-Clad CGU (including the trademark for €126.4 million and goodwill for €48.8 million at 31 December 2018) was tested for impairment by comparing the carrying amount to its value in use. The value in use is defi ned as the sum of discounted cash fl ows based on a fi ve-year business plan and taking into account a terminal value based on the cash fl ow of the fi nal year of the plan. The main actuarial assumptions used were as follows:
This test gave rise to no additional impairment of goodwill in 2018. All-Clad's economic performance in 2018 was in line with forecasts.
The sensitivity of the test to changes, taken in isolation, in the assumptions used to calculate the value in use of the All-Clad CGU at the end of 2018 is as follows:
The Imusa CGU (including the trademark for €14.2 million and goodwill for €22.3 million at 31 December 2018) was tested for impairment by comparing its carrying amount to its value in use. The value in use is defi ned as the sum of discounted cash fl ows based on a fi ve-year business plan and taking into account a terminal value based on the cash fl ow of the fi nal year of the plan. The main actuarial assumptions used were as follows:
The sensitivity of test results to changes in the individual assumptions used in 2018 to determine the value in use of the Imusa CGU assets is as follows:
In 2018, an additional impairment loss of €9.7 million was recognized on Maharaja's goodwill (Note 6). The net value of this goodwill is now only €6.6 million.
At 31 December 2018, the Supor CGU (including the trademark for €108.7 million and goodwill for €366.4 million) was compared to its market value. ZJ Supor is listed on the Shenzhen stock market and the share has enough liquidity to make this a good basis for comparison. At 31 December 2018, Supor shares were trading at CNY 52.5. The carrying amount at the same date was CNY 18.55 per share.
The following brands have been assigned to the new Consumer EMEA CGU:
The Arno brand (€25.0 million) was specifically tested using the relief from royalty method which consists of discounting the royalty revenues that would be derived from licensing the trademarks.
In addition, the Maharaja, Rowenta, Krups, Moulinex, Panex, Clock, Rochedo, Penedo, Imusa USA, Umco, MiroWearEver and AsiaVina brands were recognized in the Consolidated Financial Statements for a total of €68.5 million.
The main assumptions used in the 2018 tests were as follows:
The Group ran sensitivity analyses on the values in use of all these assets under different cash fl ow scenarios for 2019-2023. It also tested the sensitivity of these values in use to different assumptions on discount rate (1% increase) and growth to perpetuity (1% decrease). The decreases in value in use under each of these simulations taken on their own would not result in the impairment of the trademarks in the balance sheet. Furthermore, the margin of these tests is signifi cant apart from the impairment tests for the Brazilian cookware trademarks. They were partially written down in 2015. The remaining amounts are not material at Group level.
| Other property, | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (in € millions) |
Land | Buildings | Machinery and equipment |
plant and equipment |
Fixed assets in progress |
Total | |||
| Cost | |||||||||
| At 1 January | 65.6 | 669.9 | 1,219.0 | 397.6 | 68.5 | 2,420.6 | |||
| Acquisitions/additions | 0.4 | 11.0 | 56.4 | 34.7 | 74.3 | 176.8 | |||
| Disposals | (2.2) | (13.3) | (40.0) | (24.4) | (2.3) | (82.2) | |||
| Other movements * | 0.2 | 15.2 | 30.1 | 5.0 | (52.3) | (1.8) | |||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (1.3) | (4.7) | (2.5) | (0.4) | (0.8) | (9.7) | |||
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 62.7 | 678.1 | 1,263.0 | 412.5 | 87.4 | 2,503.7 | |||
| Depreciation and impairment losses | |||||||||
| At 1 January | 7.2 | 339.0 | 959.4 | 294.6 | 1,600.2 | ||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (0.6) | (0.9) | (0.1) | (1.6) | |||||
| Additions | 0.3 | 26.0 | 77.5 | 32.7 | 136.5 | ||||
| Impairment losses | 2.5 | 0.1 | 2.6 | ||||||
| Depreciation and impairment written off | |||||||||
| on disposals | (9.3) | (40.3) | (22.9) | (72.5) | |||||
| Other movements * | 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.7 | (5.1) | (1.0) | ||||
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 7.6 | 356.4 | 1,000.9 | 299.3 | 1,664.2 | ||||
| Carrying amount at 1 January | 58.5 | 330.9 | 259.6 | 103.0 | 68.5 | 820.5 | |||
| CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | 55.1 | 321.7 | 262.1 | 113.2 | 87.4 | 839.5 |
* Including changes in scope of consolidation.
| 2017 | Machinery and | Other property, plant and |
Fixed assets | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Land | Buildings | equipment | equipment | in progress | Total |
| Cost | ||||||
| At 1 January (b) | 67.7 | 664.5 | 1,174.8 | 390.0 | 70.4 | 2,367.4 |
| Acquisitions/additions | 1.7 | 17.0 | 58.8 | 29.4 | 58.0 | 165.0 |
| Disposals | (1.2) | (16.9) | (43.8) | (26.0) | (0.5) | (88.4) |
| Other movements (a) | 0.1 | 26.6 | 64.4 | 12.3 | (57.1) | 46.3 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (2.6) | (21.3) | (35.2) | (8.2) | (2.3) | (69.7) |
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 65.6 | 669.9 | 1,219.1 | 397.6 | 68.5 | 2,420.7 |
| Depreciation and impairment losses | ||||||
| At 1 January (b) | 7.4 | 315.6 | 920.9 | 286.8 | 1,530.6 | |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (0.1) | (6.9) | (25.8) | (5.8) | (38.6) | |
| Additions | 0.3 | 26.5 | 74.8 | 33.9 | 135.4 | |
| Impairment losses | 1.8 | 1.8 | ||||
| Depreciation and impairment written off on disposals |
(0.4) | (11.8) | (42.2) | (24.3) | (78.8) | |
| Other movements (a) | 15.6 | 29.9 | 4.1 | 49.7 | ||
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 7.2 | 339.0 | 959.3 | 294.7 | 1,600.2 | |
| Carrying amount at 1 January | 60.2 | 348.9 | 254.0 | 103.3 | 70.4 | 836.8 |
| CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | 58.5 | 330.9 | 259.7 | 102.9 | 68.5 | 820.5 |
(a) Including changes in scope of consolidation.
(b) After fi nalization of WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1)
At 31 December 2018, no single asset impairment was material in its own right.
| Other property, | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 (in € millions) |
Land | Buildings | Machinery and equipment |
plant and equipment |
Fixed assets in progress |
Total |
| Cost | ||||||
| At 1 January | 40.3 | 436.6 | 1,001.1 | 145.4 | 82.0 | 1,705.4 |
| Acquisitions/additions | 6.8 | 45.9 | 41.7 | 16.2 | 51.8 | 162.4 |
| Disposals | (1.5) | (2.3) | (59.8) | (9.3) | (0.9) | (73.8) |
| Other movements (a) | 5.8 | 162.7 | 182.0 | 236.1 | (64.0) | 522.6 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | 2.3 | 5.2 | 9.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 20.4 |
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 53.7 | 648.1 | 1,174.8 | 390.0 | 70.4 | 2,337.0 |
| Depreciation and impairment losses | ||||||
| At 1 January | 7.2 | 214.6 | 782.8 | 104.3 | 1,108.9 | |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | 2.1 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 10.2 | ||
| Additions | 0.2 | 21.1 | 69.2 | 15.7 | 106.2 | |
| Impairment losses | ||||||
| Depreciation and impairment written off on disposals |
(1.9) | (58.0) | (8.2) | (68.1) | ||
| Other movements (a) | 79.7 | 120.1 | 172.3 | 372.1 | ||
| AT 31 DECEMBER | 7.4 | 315.6 | 920.9 | 285.4 | 1,529.3 | |
| Carrying amount at 1 January | 33.1 | 222.0 | 218.3 | 41.1 | 82.0 | 596.5 |
| CARRYING AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | 46.3 | 332.5 | 253.9 | 104.6 | 70.4 | 807.7 |
(a) Including changes in scope of consolidation.
Most of the Group's operations are on 38 major industrial sites. They are distributed as follows:
| Region | Country | Plant | Main products |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | France | Rumilly | Cookware, informal meal equipment |
| Tournus | Cookware | ||
| Selongey | Pressure cookers | ||
| Pont-Évêque | Irons, steam generators, epilators | ||
| Is-sur-Tille | Deep fryers, ovens | ||
| Saint Jean de Bournay | Plastic components | ||
| Lourdes | Meat grinders and small food preparation equipment |
||
| Mayenne | Food processors, blenders, fully-automated espresso machines |
||
| Saint-Lô | Electronic components | ||
| Vernon | Vacuum cleaners | ||
| Western European countries | Germany | Erbach | Steam irons |
| Emsdetten | Kitchenware | ||
| Geislingen an der Steige | Cookware; professional coffee machines | ||
| Diez | Cookware | ||
| Riedlingen | Cookware | ||
| Hayingen | Cutlery | ||
| Switzerland | Zuchwill | Professional coffee machines | |
| Italy | Omegna | Cookware | |
| Czech Republic | Domazlice | Catering utensils, components | |
| North America | United States | Canonsburg | Cookware |
| South America | Brazil | Recife | Fans, washing machines, blenders |
| Itatiaia (Rio de Janeiro) | Blenders, washing machines, fans and Cookware |
||
| Colombia | Cajica | Blenders, fans | |
| Rionegro | Plastic goods, cookware | ||
| Asia | China | Shanghai | Steam irons, steam cookers |
| Yuhuan | Cookware | ||
| Wuhan | Cookware | ||
| Hangzhou | Rice cookers | ||
| Kettles, electric pressure cookers, induction hotplates, deep fryers, breadmaking machines, coffee machines, |
|||
| Shaoxing | soy milk makers | ||
| TaiCang | Kitchenware | ||
| Heshan | Cutlery | ||
| India | Baddi | Food processors, blenders, fans | |
| Vietnam | Vinh Loc | Fans | |
| Binh Duong-Asia Fans | Components (motors) | ||
| Ho Chi Minh-Supor | Cookware | ||
| Binh Duong-EMSA | Garden products | ||
| Other countries | Russia | Saint-Petersburg | Cookware |
| Egypt | Borg el Arab | Blenders, small food preparation equipment, irons, Cookware |
The Group owns all of its plants, except for the one in Shanghai (China).
Logistics warehouses and commercial and offi ce buildings are generally leased, except for the Group's headquarters building in Écully.
All leases are with unrelated lessors and refl ect normal market terms.
Finance leases can be analyzed as follows:
| Carrying amounts (in € millions) |
2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land | |||
| Buildings | 0.1 | 0.2 | |
| Machinery and equipment | 3.7 | 4.9 | 5.1 |
| Other property, plant and equipment | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| CARRYING AMOUNT | 4.3 | 5.8 | 6.1 |
These amounts are included in Note 11 "Property, plant and equipment."
Groupe SEB does not have any fi nance leases related to intangible assets or investment property.
Commitments under leases are as follows:
| 2018 (in € millions) |
Finance leases | Operating leases |
|---|---|---|
| LEASE COMMITMENTS: | ||
| Due within one year | 1.7 | 94.6 |
| Due in one to fi ve years | 2.6 | 219.1 |
| Due beyond fi ve years | 0.1 | 53.9 |
| TOTAL MINIMUM FUTURE LEASE PAYMENTS | 4.4 | 367.6 |
| Future interest costs | 0.2 | |
| Lease payments recorded in expenses for the year totaled: |
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lease payments | 121.4 | 120.6 | 63.3 |
At 31 December 2016, equity accounted investments worth €11 million had been consolidated following the WMF acquisition. In the fi rst half of the year, WMF sold its 24.9% stake in BHS Tabletop AG. This company was accounted for using the equity method in the fi nancial statements at 31 December 2016. Because of the immaterial nature of the remaining interest in Bauscher Hepp Inc., which was also accounted for using the equity method at 31 December 2016, it was deconsolidated during the fi rst half of 2017.
The "investments" item stood at €51 million at 31 December 2018 compared with €33.8 million at 31 December 2017. This largely consists of non-controlling interests in several entities and investments in non-consolidated entities due to their non-material size in the Group.
This item mainly includes the 750g International and Feeligreen securities acquired at end-2018. In 2017, this item included the securities of the SwizzzProzzz entities that have since been merged into Groupe SEB Schweiz GmbH.
In accordance with IFRS 9, these non-current fi nancial assets for which the management model is to collect contractual cash fl ows and the fl ows resulting from disposals are recognized at fair value in other items of comprehensive income without subsequent reclassifi cation to profi t or loss, even in the event of disposal. The change in fair value of these investments amounted to €13.3 million in 2018.
These assets are mainly comprised of endorsements and guarantees, chiefl y for property leases.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GROSS EXPENDITURE | (143.6) | (138.5) | (104.0) |
| Research tax credit | 6.9 | 6.1 | 7.4 |
| RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NET EXPENDITURE | (136.7) | (132.4) | (96.6) |
| as a % of revenue | 2.0% | 2.0% | 1.9% |
| CAPITALIZED DEVELOPMENT COSTS | 4.9 | 3.5 | 4.3 |
| as a % of R&D expenditure | 3.6% | 2.7% | 4.5% |
| RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS RECOGNIZED DIRECTLY IN THE INCOME STATEMENT (NOTE 4) |
(131.9) | (128.9) | (92.2) |
| AMORTIZATION FOR THE PERIOD RECOGNIZED IN COST OF SALES |
(4.6) | (5.0) | (3.4) |
| TOTAL COST RECOGNIZED IN THE INCOME STATEMENT | (136.5) | (133.9) | (95.7) |
| as a % of revenue | 2.0% | 2.1% | 1.9% |
In 2018, research and development expenditure totaled €136.7 million (compared with €132.4 million in 2017 and €96.6 million in 2016).
Capitalized development costs amounted to €4.9 million (versus €3.5 million in 2017 and €4.3 million in 2016).
Overall, research and development costs recognized in the income statement came to €136.5 million (€133.9 million in 2017 and €95.7 million in 2016).
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016* | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Cost | Depreciation | Carrying amount |
Cost | Depreciation | Carrying amount |
Cost | Depreciation | Carrying amount |
| Raw materials | 280.7 | (18.5) | 262.2 | 257.7 | (18.3) | 239.4 | 253.6 | (9.9) | 243.7 |
| Work in progress | 22.9 | (2.1) | 20.8 | 22.7 | (2.4) | 20.3 | 22.4 | (0.2) | 22.2 |
| Finished products and goods purchased for resale |
927.8 | (30.3) | 897.5 | 886.7 | (34.4) | 852.3 | 837.7 | (36.6) | 801.1 |
| TOTAL | 1,231.4 | (50.9) | 1,180.5 | 1,167.1 | (55.1) | 1,112.0 | 1,113.7 | (46.7) | 1,067.0 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade receivables (including discounted bills) | 1,119.7 | 1,032.4 | 1,072.9 |
| Provision for doubtful debt | (32.5) | (16.6) | (20.0) |
| TOTAL | 1,087.2 | 1,015.8 | 1,052.9 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation.
The fair value of trade receivables is equivalent to their carrying amount, in view of their short maturities.
At 31 December 2018, the Group sold trade receivables to Société Générale and signed up to reverse factoring programs of some of these customers for a total of €115 million. As the sale of receivables was without recourse, the receivables were deconsolidated.
At 31 December 2016, the Group had sold €50 million worth of trade receivables to Société Générale. As the sale of receivables was without recourse, the receivables were deconsolidated.
A receivables aging analysis is presented in Note 26.4.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS | 57.1 | 10.6 | 13.3 |
| Current prepaid expenses | 11.1 | 8.7 | 8.8 |
| Advances paid | 31.1 | ||
| Prepaid and recoverable taxes and other receivables* | 102.5 | 91.3 | 91.8 |
| OTHER CURRENT RECEIVABLES | 144.7 | 100.0 | 100.6 |
* Including VAT claims amounting to €69.7 million at 31 December 2018 (€78.8 million at 31 December 2017 and €82.6 million at 31 December 2016).
The fair value of other non-current assets and other receivables is equivalent to their carrying amount.
At the period end, other receivables broke down as follows:
| (in € millions) | Short term | Long term | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid expenses | 11.1 | 11.1 | |
| Advances paid | 31.1 | 31.1 | |
| Prepaid and recoverable taxes and other receivables | 102.5 | 57.1 | 159.6 |
| TOTAL | 144.7 | 57.1 | 201.8 |
The increase in non-current tax receivables is directly linked with the recognition of the PIS COFINS receivable in Brazil (Note 29.1.1 Signifi cant events).
At 31 December 2018, the Group sold its Research Tax Credit and Tax Credit for Competitiveness and Employment receivables for a total of €23.5 million.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash at bank | 574.6 | 439.8 | 378.8 |
| Marketable securities | 38.1 | 98.9 | 35.7 |
| TOTAL | 612.7 | 538.7 | 414.5 |
Cash equivalents are mainly composed of very short-term investments, such as SICAV money market funds, whose market value corresponds to their carrying amount at the balance sheet date.
At 31 December 2018, 2017 and 2016, the share capital was made up of 50,169,049 shares with a par value of €1 each.
One class of shares carries double voting rights and the right to a supplementary dividend. Shares acquire double voting rights when they are fully paid-up and have been registered in the name of the same owner for fi ve years.
After deducting treasury shares, the weighted average number of shares outstanding in 2018 was 49,661,283 (49,596,964 in 2017 and 49,749,160 in 2016).
A t 31 December 2018, the Founder Group owned 41.67% of the capital with these shares representing 52.29% of the theoretical voting rights at extraordinary Shareholders' Meetings.
Information about stock option plans at 31 December 2018 is provided below:
| At 31/12/2018 | Date | Number of options | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | of grant * | of exercise | of expiry | granted | exercised | canceled | Outstanding | Exercise price (in €) |
| Purchase plan | 18/06/2010 | 18/06/2014 | 18/06/2018 | 412,592 | 394,079 | 18,513 | 53.86 | |
| Purchase plan | 15/06/2012 | 15/06/2016 | 15/06/2020 | 408,925 | 316,696 | 17,621 | 74,608 | 54.12 |
| TOTAL | 821,517 | 710,775 | 36,134 | 74,608 |
* The grant date corresponds to the date of the Board Meeting when the option grants were decided.
In accordance with IFRS 2 – Share-Based Payment, stock options are measured at the grant date. The valuation method used is the Black & Scholes option pricing model. The initial valuation is not adjusted for any subsequent changes in value after the grant date.
The value is recorded in employee benefi ts expense on a straight-line basis over the option vesting period offset in consolidated equity.
No expense was recognized for stock options in 2018 and 2017 (€0.5 million in 2016).
In 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Board of Directors granted performance shares to certain employees and executive offi cers.
Performance shares granted under the plans are subject to vesting periods of three years (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 plans). In addition, the fi nal vesting of performance shares is subject to the achievement of objectives identical to those used to calculate the variable compensation of the Group's senior managers and executives, based on revenue and Operating Result from Activity. After this vesting period, the performance shares will remain locked for a further two-year period. The 2017 and 2018 plans do not provide for any lock-up period.
| At 31/12/2018 | Date | Number of shares | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | of grant (a) | of vesting | of end of lock up |
granted | vested | canceled | Outstanding | Price on the grant date (b) |
| Performance shares |
12/05/2015 | 12/05/2018 | 12/05/2020 | 169,450 | 164,925 | 4,525 | - | 81.41 |
| Performance shares |
19/05/2016 | 19/05/2019 | 19/05/2021 | 168,605 | 4,500 | 164,105 | 96.63 | |
| Performance shares |
11/05/2017 | 11/05/2020 | 11/05/2020 | 193,450 | 1,450 | 192,000 | 151.60 | |
| Performance shares |
16/05/2018 | 16/05/2021 | 16/05/2021 | 185,330 | - | 185,330 | 160.90 | |
| TOTAL | 716,835 | 164,925 | 10,475 | 541,435 |
(a) The grant date corresponds to the date of the Board Meeting when the option grants were decided.
(b) Share price on the date of the Board Meeting.
For the 2015 and 2016 plans, the fair value of performance shares includes a discount to refl ect the impact of the restriction on the sale of the shares represented by the lock-up. The measurement method used to determine this discount is based on a strategy that consists of selling the shares at the end of the lock-up period and immediately purchasing an equivalent number of shares free of any restrictions, with the purchase fi nanced by debt repayable at the end of the lockup using the proceeds from the forward sale and dividends received during the lock-up period.
As the shares granted for the 2017 and 2018 plans have no lock-up clause, the fair value only takes into account the absence of dividends during the vesting period.
The main assumptions used to determine the fair value of performance shares were as follows:
| Assumptions | 2018 plan | 2017 plan | 2016 plan | 2015 plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share price on the grant date (in €) | 160.9 | 151.6 | 96.63 | 81.41 |
| Risk-free interest rate (5-year rate) | 1.28% | 1.63% | -0.16% | 0.19% |
| Average interest rate on a 5-year general purpose loan |
6.13% | 6.19% | ||
| Dividend yield | 2.25% | 1.92% | 1.96% | 2.11% |
| Discount for the lock-up (as a % of the price on the vesting date) |
15.30% | 14.77% | ||
| INITIAL VALUE (IN € MILLIONS) | 30.2 | 28.6 | 14.0 | 11.9 |
| EXPENSE FOR 2018 (in € millions) | 6.5 | 9.9 | 4.2 | 1.2 |
Retained earnings include the reserves shown in the balance sheet of SEB S.A. (of which €1,147.2 million was available for distribution at 31 December 2018, compared with €1,151 million at 31 December 2017 and €971 million at 31 December 2016), and SEB S.A.'s share of the retained earnings of consolidated subsidiaries subsequent to their acquisition or incorporation.
SEB S.A.'s share of the retained earnings of foreign subsidiaries is considered to be permanently invested. Any withholding taxes or additional taxes on distributed income are only recognized when distribution of these amounts is planned or considered probable.
The Group buys back shares for the following purposes:
Share buybacks are carried out based on market opportunities and only when the Group has suffi cient cash to fund the transactions.
In 2018, the Group bought back 717,760 shares at a weighted average price of €147.26 and sold 676,578 shares at an average price per share of €104.54. The €19.3 million after tax loss on the sales was recognized directly in equity without affecting profi t (loss) for the period.
At 31 December 2018, the Group held 575,888 treasury shares at an average price of €143.14 per share.
Movements in treasury shares were as follows:
| (in number of shares) | Transactions in 2018 | Transactions in 2017 | Transactions in 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shares held in treasury at 1 January | 534,706 | 622,110 | 1,074,453 |
| Purchases | |||
| Buyback plan | 258,109 | 228,914 | 218,633 |
| Liquidity contract | 459,651 | 313,440 | 326,956 |
| Sales | |||
| Disposals | (447,771) | (314,817) | (328,034) |
| Shares allocated on exercise of stock options, and under the performance share and employee share ownership plans |
(228,807) | (314,941) | (669,898) |
| Shares canceled during the period | |||
| SHARES HELD IN TREASURY AT 31 DECEMBER | 575,888 | 534,706 | 622,110 |
Changes in non-controlling interests are as follows:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT 1 JANUARY | 175 | 165.2 | 200.1 |
| Non-controlling interests in profi t | 43.5 | 33.6 | 32.2 |
| Dividends paid | (23.3) | (12.4) | (13.2) |
| Exercise of stock options | 1.7 | ||
| Non-controlling interests in shares issues by subsidiaries | |||
| Changes in scope of consolidation and acquisition by the Group of non-controlling interests in subsidiaries |
12.3 | (2.0) | (43.7) |
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (0.6) | (9.4) | (10.2) |
| TOTAL AT 31 DECEMBER | 208.6 | 175.0 | 165.2 |
€10 million of the changes in the scope of consolidation in 2018 was due to the combination of the small electrical appliances and cookware businesses in Egypt, with the Group having reduced its interest in its Egyptian operations from 75% to 55% (Note 2.1).
Since 31 December 2008, non-controlling interests have primarily concerned the non-controlling interests of the ZJ Supor Group. The share of non-controlling interests therefore mainly changed in line with changes in the ZJ Supor Group's reserves (particularly profi t and translation adjustments), purchases, sales or any other voluntary adjustments to SEB's stake in ZJ Supor.
In late December 2015, Groupe SEB signed an agreement with the Su family holding company, Supor Group, to buy 50 million shares, 7.91% of the share capital of Supor, at a unit price of CNY 29 per share. This deal was completed on 23 June 2016 and brought Groupe SEB's interest in the company to 81.17%
At 31 December 2018, Groupe SEB held 81.18% of the company's shares.
The ZJ Supor Group is made up of various subsidiaries, whose name, line of business, location and percentage of interest are shown in Note 32 herein. The 2017 dividends paid to non-controlling interests in 2018 were €23.3 million. The 2018 profi t (loss) of this sub-group taken by itself was €213.6 million for revenue of €2,162.2 million. The impact of the sub-group on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income consists solely of foreign currency translation adjustments.
| ASSETS | LIABILITIES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-current assets | 663 | Shareholders' equity | 1,205 |
| Inventories | 287 | ||
| Trade receivables | 264 | Long-term provisions | 3 |
| Other receivables | 92 | Trade payables | 319 |
| Net cash and cash equivalents | 476 | Other current liabilities | 254 |
| TOTAL | 1,782 | TOTAL | 1,782 |
| NET INCREASE/DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | 101 |
|---|---|
| Net cash used by fi nancing activities | (120) |
| Net cash used by investing activities | (63) |
| Net cash from operating activities | 283 |
Financing activities during the period mainly concerned the payment of dividends to the Group and non-controlling interests. Since this group is located in China, the cash it generates is subject to the foreign exchange controls in effect in that country.
Provisions are classifi ed as short-term or long-term according to whether the obligation is expected to be settled within or beyond one year.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016* | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | non-current | current | non-current | current | non-current | current |
| Pension and other post-employment benefi t obligations (Note 22) |
274.8 | 16.1 | 279.6 | 14.3 | 305.8 | 20.2 |
| Product warranties (21.1) | 8.0 | 32.0 | 8.3 | 33.2 | 7.5 | 35.9 |
| Claims and litigation and other contingencies (21.2) |
46.4 | 22.5 | 60.7 | 31.0 | 67.0 | 37.5 |
| Restructuring provisions (21.3) | 4.9 | 3.3 | 5.4 | 11.5 | 3.8 | 18.9 |
| TOTAL | 334.1 | 73.9 | 354.0 | 90.0 | 384.1 | 112.5 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1).
Provision movements (other than provisions for pensions and other post-employment benefi ts) over the year are as follows:
| (in € millions) | 01/01/2018 | Increases | Reversals | Utilizations | Other movements* |
31/12/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product warranties (21.1) | 41.5 | 13.3 | (0,9) | (11.9) | (2.0) | 40.0 |
| Claims and litigation and other contingencies (21.2) |
91.7 | 8.0 | (19,1) | (8.9) | (2.7) | 69.0 |
| Restructuring provisions (21.3) | 16.9 | 9.0 | (2,6) | (14.5) | (0.7) | 8.1 |
| TOTAL | 150.1 | 30.3 | (22,6) | (35.3) | (5.4) | 117.1 |
* "Other movements" include foreign currency translation adjustments and the effect of changes in the scope of consolidation.
| (in € millions) | 01/01/2017 | Increases | Reversals | Utilizations | Other movements* |
31/12/2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product warranties (21.1) | 43.4 | 16.6 | (0.9) | (16.4) | (1.2) | 41.5 |
| Claims and litigation and other contingencies (21.2) |
104.5 | 15.0 | (2,8) | (19.9) | (5.1) | 91.7 |
| Restructuring provisions (21.3) | 22.7 | 18.1 | (1.1) | (21.0) | (1.8) | 16.9 |
| TOTAL | 170.6 | 49.7 | (4.8) | (57.3) | (8.1) | 150.1 |
* "Other movements" include foreign currency translation adjustments and the effect of changes in the scope of consolidation.
| (in € millions) | 01/01/2016 | Increases | Reversals | Utilizations | Other movements (a) |
31/12/2016 (b) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product warranties (21.1) | 27.7 | 16.8 | (0.4) | (13.7) | 13.0 | 43.4 |
| Claims and litigation and other contingencies (21.2) |
48.6 | 12.8 | (6.1) | (11.3) | 60.5 | 104.5 |
| Restructuring provisions (21.3) | 17.4 | 14.4 | (1.0) | (9.6) | 1.5 | 22.7 |
| TOTAL | 93.7 | 44.0 | (7.5) | (34.6) | 75.1 | 170.6 |
(a) "Other movements" include foreign currency translation adjustments and the effect of changes in the scope of consolidation.
(b) After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1.)
Provisions are recorded for the estimated cost of repairing or replacing products sold under warranty to customers and consumers. The warranty, which is either legal or contractual, generally covers a period of one or two years. Provisions for product recalls are recorded as soon as the recall is decided.
Certain subsidiaries are involved in claims and litigation with third parties. The corresponding provisions have been determined in accordance with the principle described in Note 1.4.
At 31 December, this item included:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier claims and litigation | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
| Local government claims, litigation and contingencies | 8.5 | 20.0 | 16.8 |
| Commercial claims, litigation and contingencies | 1.1 | 2.3 | |
| Employee claims, litigation and contingencies | 3.9 | 12.1 | 13.3 |
| Sales returns | |||
| Other claims, litigation and contingencies | 54.1 | 56.1 | 69.8 |
| TOTAL | 69.0 | 91.7 | 104.5 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation entries (Note 2.1).
Except for the litigation described in Note 29.1.2., and contingent liabilities included in Note 29.2, "Other claims, litigations and contingences" the provisions constituted are individually immaterial.
In 2018, contingent liabilities recognized in connection with the acquisitions of Supor and of WMF gave rise to the release of surplus provisions for a total of €11 million. These liabilities were related to tax and social risks.
Restructuring provisions break down as follows:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severance costs | 7.4 | 15.9 | 20.7 |
| Site closure costs | 0.7 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| TOTAL | 8.1 | 16.9 | 22.7 |
The short-term portion of restructuring provisions amounted to €3.3 million.
Provisions for pension and other post-employment benefi t obligations, determined as explained in Note 1.4, mainly concern France and Germany. The obligations are determined by qualifi ed actuaries using a certain number of assumptions. These assumptions are revised once a year.
Discount rates are determined based on the yields of investment grade corporate bonds with maturities that match the remaining life of the benefi t obligations at the measurement date.
| Assumptions | France 2018 | Germany 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Economic assumptions | ||
| Rate of salary increases | between 2.50% and 4.00% | between 1.75% and 2.50% |
| Discount rate (based on Iboxx AA) | 1.15% and 1.60% | 1.60% |
| Average remaining service life of participating employees | 15.3 | 14.6 |
| Demographic assumptions | ||
| Retirement age | 62 to 65 years* | 65 years |
| Staff turnover | 0% to 13.7% | 0% to 7.5% |
| Mortality tables | INSEE TD/TV 2012 – 2014 | HEUBECK RT 2018 G |
* Depending on employee age and category (management or other).
| Assumptions | France 2017 | Germany 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic assumptions | |||
| Rate of salary increases | between 2.50% and 4.00% | between 1.75% and 2.50% | |
| Discount rate (based on Iboxx AA) | 0.90% and 1.50% | 1.5% and 2% | |
| Average remaining service life of participating employees | 14.7 | variable | |
| Demographic assumptions | |||
| Retirement age | 60 to 65 years* | 65 years | |
| Staff turnover | 0% to 13.3% | 0% to 7.5% | |
| Mortality tables | INSEE TD/TV 2012 – 2014 | HEUBECK RT 2005 G |
* Depending on employee age and category (management or other).
| Assumptions | France 2016 | Germany 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economic assumptions | |||
| Rate of salary increases | between 2.50% and 3.50% | between 1.75% and 2.50% | |
| Discount rate (based on Iboxx AA) | 1.00% and 0.65% | 1.00% | |
| Average remaining service life of participating employees | variable | 21 years | |
| Demographic assumptions | |||
| Retirement age | 60 to 65 years* | 65 years | |
| Staff turnover | 0% to 12% | ||
| Mortality tables | INSEE TD/TV 2012 – 2014 | HEUBECK RT 2005 G |
* Depending on employee age and category (management or other).
As from 1 January 2018, data relating to WMF Group entities was split across the main regions in which the Group has signifi cant obligations. The total obligation breaks down as follows:
| 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other countries | Total |
| Projected benefi t obligation based on fi nal salaries |
132.1 | 204.9 | 67.8 | 404.8 |
| Present value of plan assets | (63.9) | (6.4) | (43.5) | (113.8) |
| DEFICIT | 68.2 | 198.5 | 24.3 | 291.0 |
| Recognized liability | 68.2 | 198.5 | 24.3 | 291.0 |
| Recognized asset | ||||
| NET | 68.2 | 198.5 | 24.3 | 291.0 |
| (in € millions) | 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Germany | WMF | Other countries | Total | |
| Projected benefi t obligation based on fi nal salaries |
137.7 | 84.8 | 134.8 | 17.2 | 374.5 |
| Present value of plan assets | (70.3) | (5.0) | (5.3) | (80.6) | |
| DEFICIT | 67.4 | 79.8 | 134.8 | 11.9 | 293.9 |
| Recognized liability | 67.4 | 79.8 | 134.8 | 11.9 | 293.9 |
| Recognized asset | |||||
| NET | 67.4 | 79.8 | 134.8 | 11.9 | 293.9 |
| (in € millions) | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Germany | WMF | Other countries | Total | |
| Projected benefi t obligation based on fi nal salaries |
144.1 | 89.5 | 140.7 | 16.8 | 391.1 |
| Present value of plan assets | (55.5) | (4.6) | (5.0) | (65.1) | |
| DEFICIT | 88.6 | 84.9 | 140.7 | 11.8 | 326.0 |
| Recognized liability | 88.6 | 84.9 | 140.7 | 11.8 | 326.0 |
| Recognized asset | |||||
| NET | 88.6 | 84.9 | 140.7 | 11.8 | 326.0 |
Obligations for the payment of jubilees were €8.4 million at 31 December 2018 (€8.3 million at 31 December 2017 and €8.6 million at 31 December 2016).
The cost recognized in the income statement for pension and other post-employment benefi t plans breaks down as follows:
| 2018 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other countries | Total | |
| Service cost | 7.6 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 15.4 | |
| Interest cost | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 5.4 | |
| Expected return on plan assets | (0.8) | (0.1) | (0.4) | (1.3) | |
| Other | (0.6) | 2.3 | 0.1 | 1.8 | |
| COST FOR THE PERIOD | 7.9 | 9.2 | 4.2 | 21.3 |
| (in € millions) | 2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Germany | WMF | Other countries | Total | ||
| Service cost | 8.3 | 0.7 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 19.2 | |
| Interest cost | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 4.3 | |
| Expected return on plan assets | (0.5) | (0.1) | (0.6) | |||
| Other | (1.1) | 0.1 | (1.0) | |||
| COST FOR THE PERIOD | 7.9 | 1.6 | 10.3 | 2.1 | 21.9 |
| (in € millions) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Germany | Other countries | Total | |
| Service cost | 6.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 9.1 |
| Interest cost | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 |
| Expected return on plan assets | (0.9) | (0.1) | (0.1) | (1.1) |
| Other | (5.5) | (1.0) | (0.3) | (6.8) |
| COST FOR THE PERIOD | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.9 | 5.5 |
| 2018 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other countries | Total |
| At 1 January * | (48.1) | (26.5) | (2.8) | (77.4) |
| Actuarial gains and losses | 3.5 | 1.5 | (2.9) | 2.1 |
| Return on plan assets greater/(less than) expected return | (1.0) | (0.2) | (1.2) | |
| Other | 0.4 | 0.4 | ||
| AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | (45.6) | (25.0) | (5.5) | (76.1) |
* Reclassifi cation after the split of the WMF package by entities.
Actuarial gains and losses for the period were mainly due to changes in the discount rate.
| (in € millions) | 2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | Germany | WMF | Other countries | Total | ||
| At 1 January | (61.5) | (32.4) | (4.4) | (98.3) | ||
| Actuarial gains and losses | 9.1 | 4.8 | 2.9 | (0.4) | 16.4 | |
| Return on plan assets greater/(less than) expected return |
4.3 | 0.1 | 4.4 | |||
| Other | (0.1) | 0.2 | 0.1 | |||
| AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | (48.1) | (27.5) | 2.8 | (4.6) | (77.4) |
| 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other countries | Total |
| At 1 January | (46.0) | (22.8) | (3.7) | (72.5) |
| Actuarial gains and losses | (16.5) | (9.6) | (0.7) | (26.8) |
| Return on plan assets greater/(less than) expected return | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| Other | ||||
| AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | (61.5) | (32.4) | (4.4) | (98.3) |
Movements in provisions break down as follows:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net at 1 January | 293.9 | 326.0 | 153.1 |
| Cost for the period | 21.3 | 21.9 | 5.5 |
| Contributions paid | (23.0) | (34.8) | (11.5) |
| Actuarial gains and losses and other changes | (1.2) | (19.2) | 178.9 |
| NET AMOUNT AT 31 DECEMBER | 291.0 | 293.9 | 326.0 |
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other countries | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROJECTED BENEFIT OBLIGATION AT 1 JANUARY 2018 (a) (b) | 138.0 | 210.8 | 61.5 | 410.3 |
| Service cost | 7.6 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 15.4 |
| Interest cost | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 5.4 |
| Benefi ts paid | (11.0) | (14.1) | (2.0) | (27.1) |
| Plan amendments | ||||
| Actuarial gains and losses | (3.8) | 0.2 | 3.0 | (0.6) |
| Curtailments/Settlements | (0.5) | (0.5) | ||
| Other | 0.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| PROJECTED BENEFIT OBLIGATIONAT 31 DECEMBER 2018 | 132.1 | 204.9 | 67.8 | 404.8 |
(a) Reclassifi cation following deobfuscation of the WMF package.
(b) Following breakdown of the obligation and funds invested in Switzerland for €36 million.
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | WMF | Other countries |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROJECTED BENEFIT OBLIGATIONAT 1 JANUARY 2017 | 144.1 | 89.5 | 140.7 | 16.8 | 391.1 |
| Service cost | 8.3 | 0.7 | 8.6 | 1.6 | 19.2 |
| Interest cost | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 4.3 |
| Benefi ts paid | (5.8) | (4.4) | (12.8) | (1.4) | (24.4) |
| Plan amendments | |||||
| Actuarial gains and losses | (9.4) | (4.8) | (2.9) | 0.4 | (16.7) |
| Curtailments/Settlements | (0.7) | (0.7) | |||
| Other | 2.9 | (0.5) | (0.7) | 1.7 | |
| PROJECTED BENEFIT OBLIGATIONAT 31 DECEMBER 2017 | 137.7 | 84.8 | 134.8 | 17.2 | 374.5 |
| 2016 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | WMF | Other countries |
Total | |
| PROJECTED BENEFIT OBLIGATIONAT 1 JANUARY 2016 | 130.3 | 70.9 | 15.6 | 216.8 | ||
| Service cost | 6.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 9.1 | ||
| Interest cost | 2.2 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 4.3 | ||
| Benefi ts paid | (6.2) | (4.2) | (1.7) | (12.1) | ||
| Plan amendments | ||||||
| Actuarial gains and losses | 17.0 | 9.6 | 0.7 | 27.3 | ||
| Curtailments/Settlements | (1.0) | (0.3) | (1.3) | |||
| Other | (5.0) | 11.1 | 140.7 | 0.2 | 147.0 | |
| PROJECTED BENEFIT OBLIGATIONAT 31 DECEMBER 2016 | 144.1 | 89.5 | 140.7 | 16.8 | 391.1 |
| (in € millions) | France | Germany Other countries |
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAN ASSETS AT 1 JANUARY 2018* | 70.3 | 5.0 | 40.7 | 116.0 | |
| Expected return on plan assets | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.2 | |
| Contributions paid | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | ||
| Benefi ts paid | (6.1) | (0.1) | (1.0) | (7.2) | |
| Actuarial gains and losses and other | (1.1) | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.8 | |
| PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018 | 63.9 | 6.4 | 43.5 | 113.8 |
* Following breakdown of the obligation and funds invested in Switzerland for €36 million
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | WMF | Other countries | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAN ASSETS AT 1 JANUARY 2017 | 55.5 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 65.1 | |
| Expected return on plan assets | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | ||
| Contributions paid | 10.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 11.0 | |
| Benefi ts paid | (0.1) | (0.4) | (0.5) | ||
| Actuarial gains and losses and other | 4.3 | 0.1 | 4.4 | ||
| PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER 2017 | 70.3 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 80.6 |
| (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other countries | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLAN ASSETS AT 1 JANUARY 2016 | 55.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 63.7 |
| Expected return on plan assets | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.1 |
| Contributions paid | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.2 | |
| Benefi ts paid | (1.5) | (0.1) | (0.3) | (1.9) |
| Actuarial gains and losses and other | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| PLAN ASSETS AT 31 DECEMBER 2016 | 55.5 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 65.1 |
Plan assets in France are managed by two insurance companies and are invested as follows:
■ the balance in equity funds.
The return on these funds was -3.61% in 2018.
The actual return on plan assets for 2018 should be in line with the expected rate, and actuarial gains and losses generated in 2019 are not expected to be material.
The only contributions to these plans are paid by the employer. Plan members make no contributions.
| Cash outfl ows expected in future periods (in € millions) | France | Germany | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In less than 1 year | 3.6 | 10.2 | 2.3 | 16.1 |
| 1 to 5 years | 64.5 | 188.5 | 21.9 | 274.9 |
| TOTAL 5 YEARS | 68.1 | 198.7 | 24.2 | 291.0 |
No material contribution is currently planned.
A 0.25% reduction in the discount rate would increase the projected benefi t obligation by around €10.4 million and a 0.25% increase in the discount rate would reduce the obligation by approximately €9.6 million. The impact on 2018 service cost of a change in the projected benefi t obligation resulting from the application of either of the above discount rates would not be material.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016* |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRADE PAYABLES | 1,029.9 | 905.8 | 915.4 |
| Accrued taxes and employee benefi ts expenses | 338.7 | 346.4 | 350.0 |
| Due to trade payables of non-current assets | 17.8 | 15.9 | 15.7 |
| Advances received | 148.0 | ||
| Other payables | 60.6 | 36.7 | 60.0 |
| OTHER LIABILITIES | 565.1 | 399.0 | 425.7 |
* After fi nalization of the WMF purchase price allocation.
Had they been presented separately, advances received for the 2017 and 2016 fi nancial years would have amounted to €154.3 million and €106.5 million respectively.
At the end of the period, trade payables and other liabilities broke down as follows by maturity:
| Current | Non-current | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRADE PAYABLES | 1,029.9 | 1,029.9 | |
| Accrued taxes and employee benefi ts expenses | 295.0 | 43.7 | 338.7 |
| Due to trade payables of non-current assets | 17.8 | 17.8 | |
| Advances received | 148.0 | 148.0 | |
| Other payables | 58.5 | 2.1 | 60.6 |
| OTHER LIABILITIES | 519.3 | 45.8 | 565.1 |
Non-current accrued taxes and employee benefi ts expense corresponds mainly to employee time savings accounts in France.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonds | 1,178.5 | 1,146.2 | 642.1 |
| Bank borrowings | 4.2 | ||
| Finance lease liabilities | 2.7 | 3.7 | 3.9 |
| Other debts (including private placements) | 657.0 | 900.2 | 887.5 |
| Non discretionary profi t-sharing | 15.5 | 17.1 | 20.1 |
| LONG-TERM BORROWINGS | 1,857.9 | 2,067.3 | 1,553.6 |
| Bonds | |||
| Bank borrowings | 17.5 | 84.6 | 8.0 |
| Commercial paper | 300.0 | 447.0 | 849.0 |
| Current portion of long-term borrowings | 269.5 | 46.6 | 215.7 |
| SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS | 587.0 | 578.2 | 1,072.7 |
| TOTAL BORROWINGS | 2,444.9 | 2,645.5 | 2,626.3 |
At 31 December 2018, Group debt was composed of short-term and long-term borrowings. The Group has diversifi ed its fi nancing sources, and borrowings now comprise:
At 31 December 2018, the weighted average interest rate on long-term bank borrowings (falling due in over a year) was 1.68%.
| Due | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 31 December 2018 (in € millions) |
Issuing currency Term |
Outstanding balance |
In less than 1 year |
1 to 5 years | In more than 5 years |
Original interest rate |
|
| Schuldschein 2 | EUR | 2019 | 5.0 | 5.0 | Euribor variable | ||
| Schuldschein 2 | EUR | 2019 | 57.0 | 57.0 | Fixed | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2019 | 49.0 | 49.0 | Fixed | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2019 | 126.0 | 126.0 | Euribor variable | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2021 | 130.0 | 130.0 | Euribor variable (b) | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2021 | 146.5 | 146.5 | Fixed | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2023 | 102.5 | 102.5 | Euribor variable (b) | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2023 | 180.0 | 180.0 | Fixed | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2024 | 18.0 | 18.0 Euribor variable (b) | |||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2026 | 48.0 | 48.0 | Fixed | ||
| ORNAE (c) | EUR | 2021 | 150.0 | 150.0 | Fixed | ||
| Bonds | EUR | 2022 | 500.0 | 500.0 | Fixed | ||
| Bonds | EUR | 2024 | 500.0 | 500.0 | Fixed | ||
| Commercial paper (a) | EUR | 2019 | 300.0 | 300.0 | Fixed | ||
| NEU MTN | EUR | 2020 | 30.0 | 30.0 | Euribor variable | ||
| Other bank borrowings (including overdrafts) |
78.4 | 43.7 | 34.3 | 0.4 | Variable | ||
| Finance lease liabilities | 4.2 | 1.5 | 2.7 | ||||
| Non discretionary profi t-sharing |
EUR | 20.3 | 4.8 | 15.5 | |||
| TOTAL | 2,444.9 | 587.0 | 1,291.5 | 566.4 |
(a) All commercial paper is due in less than a year.
(b) Partly hedged by fl oating rate for fi xed rate swaps.
(c) Excluding the ORNAE option portion.
| Due | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 31 December 2018 (in € millions) |
Issuing currency | Term | Expected cash outflows |
In less than 1 year | 1 to 5 years | In more than 5 years |
| Schuldschein 2 | EUR | 2019 | 5.1 | 5.1 | ||
| Schuldschein 2 | EUR | 2019 | 59.2 | 59.2 | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2019 | 49.4 | 49.4 | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2019 | 127.0 | 127.0 | ||
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2021 | 134.1 | 1.3 | 132.8 | |
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2021 | 161.0 | 2.9 | 158.1 | |
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2023 | 110.3 | 1.3 | 109.0 | |
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2023 | 194.5 | 2.9 | 191.6 | |
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2024 | 19.4 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 18.0 |
| Schuldschein 3 | EUR | 2026 | 56.7 | 1.1 | 4.3 | 51.3 |
| ORNAE | EUR | 2021 | 150.0 | 150.0 | ||
| Bond 1 | EUR | 2022 | 547.5 | 11.9 | 535.6 | |
| Bond 2 | EUR | 2024 | 545.0 | 7.5 | 30.0 | 507.5 |
| NEU MTN | EUR | 2020 | 30.2 | 0.1 | 30.1 | |
| TOTAL | 2,189.4 | 269.9 | 1,342.7 | 576.8 |
The Group also has unused, confi rmed credit facilities that break down as follows by maturity:
| At 31 December 2018 (in € millions) |
Confi rmed credit facilities 2018 * |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,010 |
| 2020 | 1,010 |
| 2021 | 1,010 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2023 |
* Outstanding amounts of confi rmed lines of credit at year-end, of which:
None of these credit lines include any acceleration clauses.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-term borrowings | 1,857.9 | 2,067.3 | 1,553.6 |
| Short-term borrowings | 587.0 | 578.2 | 1,072.7 |
| TOTAL BORROWINGS | 2,444.9 | 2,645.5 | 2,626.3 |
| Net cash and cash equivalents * | (612.7) | (538.7) | (414.5) |
| Other current fi nancial investments * | (258.0) | (213.1) | (203.5) |
| Derivative instruments (net) | 3.3 | 10.8 | 11.2 |
| NET DEBT | 1,577.5 | 1,904.6 | 2,019.5 |
* Of which €488 million in China, versus €393 million at 31 December 2017.
Net debt corresponds to total long-term and short-term borrowings less cash and cash equivalents and derivative instruments related to Group fi nancing. It also includes short-term fi nancial investments with no signifi cant risk of a change in value but whose maturity on the subscription date is longer than three months.
At 31 December 2018, none of these borrowings were subject to early repayment clauses based on covenants.
| (in € millions) | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Gross debt at 1 January | 2,645.5 |
| Net derivative instruments at 1 January | 10.8 |
| New borrowings during the period | 559.2 |
| Repayments during the period | (760.0) |
| Change in fair value | (5.7) |
| Changes resulting from the acquisition or loss of control of subsidiaries | 0.3 |
| Currency translation adjustment | (1.9) |
| Gross debt at 31 December | 2,444.9 |
| Net derivative instruments at 31 December | 3.3 |
Financial assets consist of shares in subsidiaries and affi liates as well as operating receivables (excluding tax and social security claims), debt securities and other cash equivalents classifi ed as current assets. The fair value of trade and other receivables is equivalent to their carrying amount, in view of their short maturities.
Non-current fi nancial assets consist mainly of investments in nonconsolidated companies, certain receivables related to those investments and receivables due beyond one year. They were classifi ed before the fi rst application of IFRS 9 in assets available for sale and amounted to €24.3 million at 31 December 2017. In accordance with IFRS 9, these non-current fi nancial assets for which the management model is to collect contractual cash fl ows and the fl ows resulting from disposals are recognized at fair value in other items of comprehensive income without subsequent reclassifi cation to profi t or loss, even in the event of disposal.
Financial liabilities include borrowings and other fi nancing, including bank overdrafts, and operating liabilities (excluding accrued taxes and employee benefi t expense).
Borrowings that are not quoted in an active market are measured by the discounted cash fl ows method, applied separately to each individual facility, based on market rates observed at the period end for similar facilities and the average spread obtained by the Group for its own issues.
| 2018 | Financial instruments by category | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Carrying amount |
Fair value | At fair value through profi t or loss (excluding derivatives) |
Fair value through other items of comprehensive income |
Assets at amortized cost |
Borrowings at amortized cost |
Derivative instruments |
| ASSETS | |||||||
| Other investments* | 47.6 | 47.6 | 47.6 | ||||
| Other non-current fi nancial assets | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | ||||
| Other non-current assets | 1.8 | 1.8 | 1.8 | ||||
| Trade receivables | 1,087.2 | 1,087.2 | 1,087.2 | ||||
| Other current receivables, excl. prepaid expenses |
58.4 | 58.4 | 58.4 | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 42.6 | 42.6 | 42.6 | ||||
| Other fi nancial assets | 258.0 | 258.0 | 258.0 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 612.7 | 612.7 | 612.7 | ||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSETS | 2,125.2 | 2,125.2 | 870.7 | 47.6 | 1,164.3 | 42.6 | |
| LIABILITIES | |||||||
| Long-term borrowings | 1,857.9 | 1,898.4 | 1,898.4 | ||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | ||||
| Trade payables | 1,029.9 | 1,029.9 | 1,029.9 | ||||
| Other current liabilities | 196.4 | 196.4 | 196.4 | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 33.6 | 33.6 | 33.6 | ||||
| Short-term borrowings | 587.0 | 588.1 | 588.1 | ||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL LIABILITIES | 3,706.8 | 3,748.4 | 3,714.8 | 33.6 |
* of which non-reclassifi able Fair Value through OCI : see Statements of Comprehensive Income.
| 2017 | Financial instruments by category | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Carrying amount |
Fair value | At fair value through profi t or loss (excluding derivatives) |
Assets available for sale |
Loans and receivables |
Borrowings at amortized cost |
Derivative instruments |
| ASSETS | |||||||
| Other investments | 24.3 | 24.3 | 24.3 | ||||
| Other non-current fi nancial assets | 15.3 | 15.3 | 15.3 | ||||
| Other non-current assets | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | ||||
| Trade receivables | 1,015.8 | 1,015.8 | 1,015.8 | ||||
| Other current receivables, excl. prepaid expenses |
8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 49.1 | 49.1 | 49.1 | ||||
| Other fi nancial assets | 213.1 | 213.1 | 213.1 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 538.7 | 538.7 | 538.7 | ||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSETS | 1,866.5 | 1,866.5 | 751.8 | 24.3 | 1,041.3 | 49.1 | |
| LIABILITIES | |||||||
| Long-term borrowings | 2,067.3 | 2,134.1 | 2,134.1 | ||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | ||||
| Trade payables | 905.8 | 905.8 | 905.8 | ||||
| Other current liabilities | 50.3 | 50.3 | 50.3 | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 60.2 | 60.2 | 60.2 | ||||
| Short-term borrowings | 578.2 | 578.2 | 578.2 | ||||
TOTAL FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 3,664.2 3,730.9 3,670.7 60.2
| 2016 | Financial instruments by category | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Carrying amount |
Fair value | At fair value through profi t or loss (excluding derivatives) |
Assets available for sale |
Loans and receivables |
Borrowings at amortized cost |
Derivative instruments |
| ASSETS | |||||||
| Other investments | 28.4 | 28.4 | 28.4 | ||||
| Other non-current fi nancial assets | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | ||||
| Other non-current assets | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | ||||
| Trade receivables | 1,060.1 | 1,060.1 | 1,060.1 | ||||
| Other current receivables, excl. prepaid expenses |
13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 51.1 | 51.1 | 51.1 | ||||
| Other fi nancial assets | 203.5 | 203.5 | 203.5 | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 414.5 | 414.5 | 414.5 | ||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSETS | 1,787.0 | 1,787.0 | 618.0 | 28.4 | 1,089.5 | 51.1 | |
| LIABILITIES | |||||||
| Long-term borrowings | 1,553.6 | 1,607.8 | 1,607.8 | ||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | ||||
| Trade payables | 911.7 | 911.7 | 911.7 | ||||
| Other current liabilities | 72.6 | 72.6 | 72.6 | ||||
| Derivative instruments | 33.6 | 33.6 | 33.6 | ||||
| Short-term borrowings | 1,072.7 | 1,073.0 | 1,073.0 | ||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL LIABILITIES | 3,647.3 | 3,701.8 | 3,668.2 | 33.6 |
The fair value of derivative instruments is as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | Liabilities | Assets | Liabilities | |||||
| (in € millions) | Notional amount |
Fair value | Notional amount |
Fair value | Notional amount |
Fair value | Notional amount |
Fair value |
| FAIR VALUE HEDGES | ||||||||
| Forward sales of foreign currencies | 75.6 | 1.9 | 123.2 | (2.5) | 94.8 | 3.2 | 47.9 | (0.5) |
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies | 206.9 | 4.2 | 98.0 | (1.0) | 147.2 | 5.8 | 122.2 | (3.9) |
| Optional hedging strategic purchases | 56.5 | 1.8 | 6.9 | 6.9 | ||||
| Optional hedging strategic sales | 11.6 | 0.1 | 19.8 | (0.5) | 8.5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | |
| Revaluation of intra-Group transactions | 1.5 | (2.4) | 3.0 | (5.9) | ||||
| TOTAL | 9.5 | (6.4) | 12.4 | (10.3) | ||||
| TRADING | ||||||||
| AUD | 13.9 | 0.1 | 16.9 | |||||
| ARS | 0.6 | 7.0 | (0.3) | 8.4 | 0.7 | |||
| BRL | 10.4 | 100.6 | (0.2) | 117.2 | 1.6 | 1.7 | ||
| CAD | 14.7 | 0.1 | 18.1 | |||||
| CHF | 1.1 | 23.5 | 0.1 | |||||
| CLP | 12.7 | 0.2 | 5.7 | 6.6 | (0.3) | |||
| GBP | 2.6 | 13.8 | (0.1) | 1.4 | 7.1 | |||
| JPY | 0.6 | 33.1 | 7.2 | |||||
| RUB | 26.6 | 1.5 | ||||||
| SEK | 16.3 | (0.2) | 3.7 | |||||
| THB | 1.6 | 22.9 | (0.1) | 21.1 | 0.4 | 1.2 | ||
| TRY | 27.7 | (0.4) | ||||||
| USD | 44.2 | 0.1 | 154.7 | (0.4) | 188.2 | 5.6 | 237.8 | (1.7) |
| Other currencies | 27.5 | 18.3 | 21.0 | 30.3 | ||||
| TOTAL | 2.0 | (1.7) | 8.4 | (2.0) | ||||
| CASH FLOW HEDGES | ||||||||
| Forward purchases and sales of foreign currencies |
510.8 | 10.1 | 395.2 | (4.8) | 389.3 | 14.5 | 478.5 | (22.1) |
| Option hedges (foreign currencies) | 418.6 | 18.8 | 259.2 | (9.1) | 375.4 | 7.8 | 375.4 | (6.7) |
| Floating/fi xed rate swaps | 185.5 | (1.9) | 60.0 | 125.5 | ||||
| Raw materials derivatives (aluminum, nickel, copper and plastic) |
6.8 | 81.5 | (4.9) | 49.1 | 4.1 | 0.1 | ||
| TOTAL | 28.9 | (20.7) | 26.4 | (28.8) | ||||
| HEDGES OF A NET INVESTMENT IN A FOREIGN OPERATION |
||||||||
| Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation |
27.4 | 0.9 | 33.6 | 0.1 | ||||
| TOTAL | 0.9 | 0.1 | ||||||
| ORNAE | ||||||||
| Redemption option | (4.8) | (19.1) | ||||||
| Call on ORNAE | 1.3 | 1.8 | ||||||
| TOTAL | 1.3 | (4.8) | 1.8 | (19.1) | ||||
| TOTAL DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS | 42.6 | (33.6) | 49.1 | (60.2) | ||||
| NET IMPACT ON EQUITY (INCLUDING FAIR VALUE ADJUSTMENTS RECOGNIZED IN PROFIT OR LOSS) |
9.0 | (11.1) | ||||||
The derivatives expiring beyond one year are cash fl ow hedges. They also include the value of the option embedded in the convertible bond (ORNAE – optional reimbursement in cash and/or existing shares). At 31 December 2018 , the fair value of these instruments breaks down as follows:
| At 31 December 2018 (in € millions) | In less than 1 year | 1 to 5 years | In more than 5 years | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward purchases and sales of foreign | ||||
| currencies | 5.4 | (0.1) | 5.3 | |
| Zero-premium collars (currencies) | 9.9 | (0.2) | 9.7 | |
| Floating/fi xed rate swaps | (1.7) | (0.2) | (1.9) | |
| Raw materials derivatives (aluminum, nickel, copper and plastic) |
(4.6) | (0.3) | (4.9) | |
| ORNAE | (3.5) | (3.5) | ||
| TOTAL | 10.7 | (5.8) | (0.2) | 4.7 |
The fair value of derivative instruments is determined by the discounted future cash fl ows method using forward exchange rates, market interest rates, and aluminum, copper, nickel and plastics prices at 31 December 2018.
In accordance with the amended IFRS 7, fair value measurements are classifi ed using a fair value hierarchy that refl ects the signifi cance of the inputs used in making the measurements. The hierarchy breaks down into three levels as follows:
| 31 December 2018 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Total | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | ||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Other investments | 47.6 | 47.6 | ||||||
| Derivative instruments | 42.6 | 42.6 | ||||||
| Other fi nancial assets | 258.0 | 258.0 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 612.7 | 612.7 | ||||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL ASSETS MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE |
960.9 | 870.7 | 90.2 | |||||
| LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Derivative instruments | 33.6 | 33.6 | ||||||
| TOTAL FINANCIAL LIABILITIES MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE |
33.6 | 33.6 |
The portfolio of derivative fi nancial instruments used by the Group to manage its risks mainly includes forward currency sales and purchases, options strategies, interest rate swaps, currency swaps and raw materials swaps. These instruments are classifi ed as Level 2, as their fair value is calculated using internal valuation models based on observable data.
Risks are managed centrally by the Group Corporate Finance, Treasury and Tax department.
Hedging transactions are carried out in the fi nancial markets with a limited number of high-quality partners in order to avoid counterparty risk. Hedging transactions are managed centrally. They are carried out in specifi c cases by Group subsidiaries when required by local regulations but these transactions remain under the control of the Group Finance, Treasury and Tax department.
The majority of the Group's sales are billed in currencies other than the euro, mainly the US dollar, Chinese yuan, Russian ruble, Brazilian real, Japanese yen and Korean won. Most billing currencies correspond to the functional currencies of the subsidiaries concerned and do not give rise to any transactional currency risk at the local level.
Similarly, goods purchased for resale (sourced products) billed in US dollars or Chinese yuan are bought from Asian suppliers by a Group subsidiary, SEB Asia, whose functional currency is also the US dollar.
These risks are managed at Group level by SEB S.A., which acts as the subsidiaries' sole counterparty, except where this is not possible due to local regulations. Transactional foreign exchange positions open on the balance sheet are hedged partially through fi rm or optional instruments.
The Group's overall currency risk management policy sets very strict rules for the hedging of currency risks associated with highly probable future transactions.
The Group's net exposure to notional currency risks primarily concerns the following currencies (excluding the functional currencies of Group companies).
| In 2018 (in € millions) | USD | CNY | RUB | BRL | KRW | GBP | JPY | CAD | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intra-Group positions | (109) | (128) | 13 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 91 |
| Ex-Group positions | (47) | ||||||||
| NET POSITION BEFORE HEDGING | (109) | (175) | 13 | 14 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 91 |
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies | 66 | 187 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 19 | |||
| Forward sales of foreign currencies | (2) | (29) | (12) | (13) | (15) | (6) | (6) | (15) | (101) |
| Optional hedging strategic purchases | 34 | 23 | |||||||
| Optional hedging strategic sales | (5) | (11) | (4) | (9) | (2) | ||||
| NET POSITION AFTER HEDGING | (16) | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | (3) | 2 | (3) | 9 |
| In 2017 (in € millions) | USD | CNY | RUB | BRL | KRW | GBP | JPY | CAD | Other |
| Intra-Group positions | (131) | (132) | 28 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 78 |
| Ex-Group positions | |||||||||
| NET POSITION BEFORE HEDGING | (131) | (132) | 28 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 78 |
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies | 121 | 144 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| Forward sales of foreign currencies | (12) | (7) | (23) | (11) | (12) | (3) | (14) | (10) | (72) |
| Call option purchases | 7 | ||||||||
| Put option purchases | (4) | (1) | (3) | ||||||
| NET POSITION AFTER HEDGING | (15 ) | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | (6) | (2) | 7 |
| In 2016 (in € millions) | USD | CNY | PLN | RUB | GBP | JPY | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intra-Group positions | (81) | (109) | 13 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 49 |
| Ex-Group positions | |||||||
| NET POSITION BEFORE HEDGING | (81) | (109) | 13 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 49 |
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies * | 52 | 110 | 1 | ||||
| Forward sales of foreign currencies * | (11) | (7) | (5) | (8) | (35) | ||
| Call option purchases | 7 | ||||||
| Put option purchases | (1) | ||||||
| NET POSITION AFTER HEDGING | (23) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
* The notional amounts of forward purchases and sales of foreign currencies shown in the above table do not include positions taken on 30 December. See Note 25.2.
At 31 December 2018, the euro was trading at USD 1.145, RUB 79.7153, CNY 7.87084 and JPY 125.85.
At 31 December 2018, the sensitivity analysis of the position after hedging was as follows:
| (in € millions) | USD | CNY | RUB | BRL | KRW | GBP | JPY | CAD | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothetical currency appreciation | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| IMPACT ON PROFIT | (1.8) | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | (0.3) | 0.2 | (0.3) | 0.9 |
SEB S.A. is the main provider of fi nancing for its subsidiaries. Current account advances are made in the subsidiaries' functional currency. As SEB S.A. raises long-term fi nancing in euros, it is exposed to currency risks on these current account advances and long-term loans. This exposure is hedged by borrowing or lending in the subsidiary's functional currency using currency swaps. Currency risks on fi nancing are therefore systematically hedged from the moment there are competitive derivative instruments available on the market.
The Group does not, however, apply hedge accounting to these transactions.
| In 2018 (in € millions) | USD | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | 278 | 332 |
| Total liabilities | (365) | (28) |
| NET POSITION BEFORE HEDGING | (87) | 304 |
| Hedging positions | 67 | (306) |
| NET POSITION AFTER HEDGING | (20) | (2) |
| In 2017 (in € millions) | USD | Other |
| Total assets | 210 | 269 |
| Total liabilities | (273) | (69) |
| NET POSITION BEFORE HEDGING | (63) | 200 |
| Derivative fi nancial instruments | 50 | (207) |
| NET POSITION AFTER HEDGING | (13) | (7) |
| In 2016 (in € millions) | USD | Other |
| Total assets | 339 | 205 |
| Total liabilities | (316) | (37) |
| NET POSITION BEFORE HEDGING | 23 | 168 |
| Hedging positions | (19) | (112) |
| NET POSITION AFTER HEDGING | 4 | 55 |
The appreciation or depreciation of these currencies, assuming all other variables remained the same, would have an impact on profi t.
At 31 December 2018, the sensitivity analysis of the net position after hedging was as follows:
| (in € millions) | USD | Other |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothetical currency appreciation | 10% | 10% |
| IMPACT ON PROFIT | (2.2) | (0.1) |
Groupe SEB is also exposed to currency risks on its net investment in foreign operations, corresponding to the impact of changes in exchange rates for the subsidiaries' functional currencies on SEB S.A.'s share in their net assets. Group policy does not require these risks to be hedged.
However, the Group decided in 2012 to hedge the exposure on a long-term intra-group loan to its Colombian subsidiary denominated in dollars, which is treated as part of its net investment in this subsidiary. In 2016, this loan was replaced by a loan denominated in Colombian pesos.
The balance of this loan at 31 December 2018 was COP 100 million. It is hedged by currency swaps, whose fair value at 31 December 2018 was €0.9 million, recorded in equity.
Group policy consists of hedging interest rate risks based on trends in market interest rates and changes in the Group's overall debt structure. The following table analyses fi nancial assets and liabilities at the end of December 2018, based on interest rate reset dates:
| Overnight to 1 year | 1 to 5 years | More than 5 years | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In 2018 (in € millions) | Floating rate | Fixed rate | Floating rate | Fixed rate | Floating rate | Fixed rate |
| Total assets | 870.7 | |||||
| Total liabilities | (174.7) | (412.3) | (296.8) | (994.7) | (18.4) | (548.0) |
| NET NOMINAL VALUE BEFORE | ||||||
| HEDGING | 696.0 | (412.3) | (296.8) | (994.7) | (18.4) | (548.0) |
A fl oating/fi xed interest rate swap was arranged to hedge interest payable by December 2026.
| In 2018 (in € millions) | Due within one year | 1 to 5 years | More than 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floating/fi xed rate swaps | 167.5 | 18.0 |
Assuming total borrowings remain constant at 31 December 2018 levels throughout the year and with the same currency breakdown, an immediate 1% rise in interest rates would add an estimated €2.9 million to fi nancial expenses and would have no material impact on net debt.
The change in the impact on equity of the interest rate swap at 31 December 2018 was as follows:
| (in € millions) | 31/12/2018 |
|---|---|
| FAIR VALUE AT 1 JANUARY | |
| Change in fair value | (1.9) |
| Amount recognized in income statement | |
| FAIR VALUE AT 31 DECEMBER | (1.9) |
Commodity risks arising from changes in the prices of certain raw materials used by the Group – mainly aluminum, copper, nickel and plastics used to produce stainless steel – are hedged by derivative instruments. The Group anticipates its needs for the coming year (except for China) and hedges them on a conservative basis, covering about 80% of its estimated purchases for the next twelve months.
At 31 December 2018, 27,828 tons ofaluminum, 552 tons of copper, 390 tons ofnickel and 2,052 tons of plastic purchased were hedged.
The Group uses swaps to set the prices of these commodities . These hedges of raw material purchases are qualifi ed as cash fl ow hedges under IFRS 9 when the criteria listed in Note 1.4.4 are met.
At 31 December 2018, the commodity derivative instruments showed an unrealized loss of €4.9 million. In 2017, there was an unrealized gain of €4.1 million. And in 2016, there was an unrealized gain of €1.8 million.
Derivative instruments expiring in 2018 generated a gain of €1.4 million (gain of €4.1 million in 2017 and loss of €0.1 million in 2016).
A 10% increase in commodity prices at 31 December 2018 would have had a €6 million positive impact on equity, while a 10% decrease would have had an equivalent negative impact, assuming all other variables remained constant.
A 10% increase or decrease in commodity versus their average prices in 2018 would have had a €26.5 million positive or negative impact on the Operating Result from Activity.
It is not Group policy to hold signifi cant portfolios of equities or equity funds.
The Group does, however, hold a portfolio of treasury stock. It thus established:
Treasury stock is deducted directly from equity. Gains and losses from sales of treasury shares are also recognized in consolidated equity.
Based on the closing SEB share price on 31 December 2018 (€112.8), the market value of shares held in treasury at that date stood at €65 million. A 10% increase or decrease in the share price would therefore have led to a €6.5 million change in the market value of treasury stock.
ZJ Supor, which is now 81.18%-owned by Groupe SEB, is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. At 31 December 2018, the share price was CNY 52.5, valuing Groupe SEB's investment at €4,446.9 million. Changes in the Supor share price have no impact on Groupe SEB's Consolidated Financial Statements, as ZJ Supor is fully consolidated. Similarly, changes in the share price have no impact on the company accounts of SEB Internationale because its interest in ZJ Supor is classifi ed as a long-term investment and is not marked to market.
To manage the liquidity risk that may arise due to fi nancial liabilities reaching maturity or needing to be settled early, the Group implements a fi nancing strategy based on:
■ maintaining cash, cash equivalents and other fi nancial investments at a certain level at all times (€870.7 million at 31 December 2018);
and additional liquid resources including:
Cash and cash equivalents and debt are described in Note 18 and Note 24, respectively.
At the period end, trade receivables broke down as follows based on their age:
| (in € millions) | Current | 0-90 days | 91-180 days | Over 181 days | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net trade receivables | 880.6 | 172.9 | 20.4 | 13.3 | 1,087.2 |
To avoid default risks, Groupe SEB sets individual credit limits that are regularly updated based on the customer's fi nancial position and payment history.
Groupe SEB's main customers are well-known international retailers, and for the year ended 31 December 2018, no single customer accounted for more than 5% of total sales .
For more than fi ve years, the customer credit risk has been covered by credit insurance taken out with COFACE and EULER HERMES. At 31 December 2018, most of the Group's subsidiaries were covered by insurance on trade receivables that would apply in the event of non-recovery.
Environmental expenditure and capital expenditure amounted to €11 million in 2018, compared with €11 million in 2017 and €8.6 million in 2016.
These amounts include routine environmental management system costs, covering areas such as water and waste management. They do not include taxes on packaging or the cost of disposing of waste electrical and electronic equipment.
The main costs are presented below, including the breakdown between amounts recognized as expenses and as capital expenditure.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Expenditure | Capital expenditure |
Total Expenditure | Capital expenditure |
Total Expenditure | Capital expenditure |
Total | ||
| Ambient air quality | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 |
| Waste water management and water saving systems |
2.1 | 0.8 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| Waste management | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.1 | 1.8 | ||
| Soil protection and decontamination |
0.8 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
| Other environmental protection measures |
1.5 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 1.0 |
| TOTAL | 7.6 | 3.4 | 11.0 | 9.2 | 1.8 | 11.0 | 7.3 | 1.3 | 8.6 |
At 31 December 2017, the total provisions for environmental risk amounted to €1.4 million and mainly related to depollution costs at the "Plant 3" site in Brazil.
At 31 December 2018, there was no longer any provision for signifi cant environmental risks.
Specifi c commitments are discussed in the following notes:
Commitments related to operating activities
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firm orders for property, plant and equipment | 42.5 | 34.2 | 35.6 |
| Guarantees and bonds given * | 0.1 | ||
| Commitments under non-cancelable operating leases | 367.6 | 353.3 | 308.9 |
| Miscellaneous fi nancial commitments | 14.0 | 18.7 | 6.0 |
| TOTAL COMMITMENTS GIVEN | 424.1 | 406.3 | 350.5 |
| Guarantees received for trade receivables under credit insurance policies |
734.2 | 805.7 | 714.9 |
| Miscellaneous fi nancial commitments | |||
| TOTAL COMMITMENTS RECEIVED | 734.2 | 805.7 | 714.9 |
* Financial guarantees given by the Group to banks within the context of external fi nancing of subsidiaries were reclassifi ed as Related party transactions (Note 30.1).
On 15 March 2017, the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court found the inclusion of the ICMS in the PIS and COFINS tax bases to be unconstitutional. Our manufacturing subsidiary Seb do Brasil, had brought this case in 2009. It won its case on 6 September 2018 with the Brazilian courts handing down a fi nal decision to Seb do Brasil, thereby confi rming the stance of the Supreme Court and opening the door to the refunding of the additional tax paid by Seb do Brasil since 2004.
As a result, a €32 million tax receivable was recognized under "Revenue" for the period in Brazil. Aside from this revenue, interest on arrears of circa €20 million was recognized.
Moreover, the Group was faced with the bankruptcy of a major distributor in this country.
A provision for contingencies was set aside in 2009 connected with a dispute with a Chinese supplier concerning a shipment. A provision was fully funded for the maximum exposure estimated at end-2017 at €1.5 million. This provision was reversed during the year as the risk no longer existed. (see Note 21.2).
The French Competition Authority conducted an inquiry into the pricing and listing practices of several domestic appliance manufacturers, including Groupe SEB France and Groupe SEB Retailing, with regard to certain online retailers.
Given the uncertain outcome of the proceedings, no provision was funded in the fi nancial statements at 31 December 2018.
On 1 February 2016, Groupe SEB Istanbul, the Group's Turkish subsidiary, received notifi cation from the Customs Authorities stating that, according to their interpretation, our imports are liable for an additional tax which has, to date, not been settled. The notifi cation received covered the period from 1 January 2013 to 28 September 2015 and involved a tax adjustment of €4.5 million and penalties of €13.5 million. The Group has challenged the full amount of this tax adjustment, while at the same time signing up to an amnesty offered by the Turkish government that limits the exposure to around €6 million. The remaining balance stood at €2.3 million at 31 December 2017. The full amount having been paid, this provision is now zero.
On 28 June 2018, the fi re that broke out on the premises of a logistics service provider in Hangzhou destroyed an inventory of finished products of an approximate value of €12 million. The insurer's appraisal and compensation process is nearing completion and a 40% down-payment on the losses suffered has already been obtained. Given this, no provision was funded.
In the past 12 months, other than the proceedings refl ected in the fi nancial statements and described in the accompanying notes, there have been no other government, legal or arbitration proceedings (including any such proceedings which are pending or threatened of which the Group is aware) which may have or have had in the recent past signifi cant effects on the Group and/or its fi nancial position or profi tability.
Provisions were funded for risks and contingent liabilities estimated at €48 million in connection with the WMF acquisition which covered litigation, tax, environmental and regulatory risks (see Note 2.1).
A reversal of €8.3 million (including €4.8 million unused) was recognized during the year following the conclusion of ongoing tax audits.
No other contingent liabilities have been identifi ed to date.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include transactions carried out in the normal course of business with associates and non-consolidated companies.
All of these transactions are carried out on arm's length terms.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | |||
| Other income | |||
| Purchases and expenses | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.2 |
| Other non-current fi nancial assets | |||
| Trade receivables | |||
| Trade payables | 0.4 | 1.1 |
In 2018, Groupe SEB paid €0.2 million to Robart for studies and research (€0.2 million in 2017) and €1.6 million to 1000 M ercis for services (€1.7 million in 2017).
Financial guarantees given by the Group to banks in connection with the external fi nancing of subsidiaries stood at €21.2 million at 31 December 2018 (versus €25.3 million at 31 December 2017 and €15.2 million at 31 December 2016).
Details of the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, including current members and those who retired in 2018, are provided in the Corporate Governance chapter of this document.
The following table provides an analysis of the compensation and benefi ts paid to the members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHORT-TERM BENEFITS | |||
| Fixed remuneration | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.0 |
| Variable remuneration | 4.4 | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| Directors' fees | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
| OTHER BENEFITS | |||
| Post-employment benefi ts | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.9 |
| Share-based payments (stock options) | 9.5 | 7.3 | 4.7 |
| TOTAL | 21.7 | 18.9 | 16.0 |
The corporate offi cers are members of the Group supplementary pension plan which includes Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive and Management Committees).
The plan complements the statutory programs and is composed as follows:
the average of the annual target compensation over the preceding three years and capped at 20 years' service, i.e. a maximum of 16% of the reference compensation. A collective defi ned-benefi t plan is available to senior managers, with a contribution equal to 8% of their salaries. Benefi ts payable under this plan are deducted from the supplementary pension originating from the supplementary defi ned benefi t plan.
To be eligible for the defined benefit plans, Groupe SEB senior managers must have been a member of the Group Executive Committee or Management Committee for at least eight years.
The scheme is capped at 41% of the reference remuneration (including the income from compulsory plans), this reference remuneration being itself capped at 36 times the annual social security ceiling in force at the time of retirement.
As a result, the supplementary pension scheme for French top senior managers (including the Chairman and CEO and the Chief Operating Officer) complies with AFEP-MEDEF Code recommendations as updated in November 2015:
Groupe SEB intends to outsource the entire commitment through matching payments to a fund into which the pension contributions are made on a regular basis.
The various conditions of the retirementplan imply that, at the legal retirement age, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will be able to receive a gross replacement ratio (including statutory plans) of 32.58% of his reference remuneration.
The various conditions of the retirementplan imply that, at the legal retirement age (i.e. in 2029), Bertrand Neuschwander will be able to receive a gross replacement ratio (including statutory plans) of 32.20% of his reference remuneration.
These items are still being calculated for the new Chief Operating Offi cer, Stanislas de Gramont, who took up offi ce on 3 December 2018.
No expense was recognized for the benefit granted to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Stanislas de Gramont and Bertrand Neuschwander in the Consolidated Financial Statements at 31 December 2018.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will not be entitled to any compensation in case of termination of his corporate mandate.
His employment contract, signed when he joined Groupe SEB in 1994 and last amended when he was appointed CEO of the company, was suspended on 1 March 2005 for the duration of his term as corporate offi cer.
In the same way, as for other Executive Committee members, the contract stipulates that in the event of termination of his employment contract at Groupe SEB's initiative, except as a result of gross negligence or serious misconduct, or at his own initiative following a change of control of Groupe SEB, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will be eligible for a total termination benefi t equal to two years' remuneration. In accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, an addendum to this contract was signed making the termination benefi t subject to performance conditions. The revised contract stipulates that the termination benefi t, set at two years' remuneration (calculated on the average remuneration earned during the last two full fi nancial years), will be adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets over the last four full years of service, as follows:
The Board of Directors retains the right to reduce such termination benefi ts, by a maximum of one-half, if the previous year-end presents a net loss, without such benefi ts falling below the fi xed salary plus bonuses for the previous full fi nancial year, should application of the performance criteria based on the achievement of targets confer entitlement to the payment of termination benefi ts.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract does not contain a non-compete clause.
Entitlement to stock options in the event of termination:
In the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated, except for serious misconduct or gross negligence, he will be entitled to all the share purchase or subscription options granted to him under the same terms and conditions of exercise that would have applied had he remained in offi ce. This provision will also apply in the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated pursuant to resignation from the Group, were such resignation to arise from a change in the control of the Group. However, he will forfeit the options that would have been granted to him over the 18 months prior to the termination of his term of offi ce as executive offi cer should he resign on his own initiative.
In the event of dismissal, he will be entitled to severance allowance equal to two years' remuneration, minus the amounts paid under the non-compete clause and any termination benefi ts connected to the termination of the employment contract.
The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Bertrand Neuschwander received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
Furthermore, the severance allowance is paid because it is an involuntary termination and it remains capped at two years of remuneration (fi xed and variable received), including the non-compete clause and any contractual indemnities for dismissal.
This severance allowance will also be submitted to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of 22 May 2019.
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointment as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissal or resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB.
This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above was approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014. They were also disclosed as part of the permanent information related to compensation and benefi ts. Furthermore, it was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
Stanislas de Gramont will be entitled to an indemnity in the event of his dismissal from corporate offi ce.
The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Stanislas de Gramont received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
By way of exception from the foregoing in the event of dismissal during the fi rst 24 months of the corporate offi ce, the severance allowance will be adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets and on the amount of time spent in the company. It will gradually increase based on tiers defi ned according to the length of service: between 6 and 12 months, then from 12 to 24 months, with a cap set at 24 months' remuneration.
Furthermore, the severance allowance shall only be paid in the event of involuntary termination and remains capped at two years of remuneration (fi xed and variable received), including the non-compete clause.
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointment as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissal or resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period, renewable once, from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB worldwide.
In consideration for this non-compete clause and for its entire duration, Stanislas de Gramont will receive a monthly non-compete payment amounting to 50% of his monthly average fi xed and variable remuneration (paid or outstanding depending on the circumstances) over his last 12 months of service within the Group.
The Board of Directors can release Stanislas de Gramont from this non-compete clause.
This corporate offi ce agreement dated 12 December 2018 including the non-compete clause, along with the terms of severance detailed above, was approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018.
It will furthermore be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise began his career at Groupe SEB in 1994 and was appointed Vice-Chairman in 1999. He was appointed Chairman and CEO in 2000. In accordance with changing governance practice, his employment contract was suspended in 2005.
On 17 February 2012 and 19 May 2016, in accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Board of Directors reviewed the situation and agreed that the employment contract of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise should remain suspended due to his age, his personal situation and his seniority within Groupe SEB.
For Bertrand Neuschwander, dismissed as Chief Operating Offi cer on 10 October 2018, on 22 April 2014 the Board of Directors decided that the suspension of his employment contract was in line with the AFEP-MEDEF Code.
For Stanislas de Gramont, appointed Chief Operating Officer on 3 December 2018, on 23 October 2018 the Board of Directors decided to solely hire him as an executive offi cer (no employment contract applies).
Details of the remuneration policy and the components of the remuneration of these three people will appear in Note 2.5 Remuneration Policy and are not reiterated in this note.
On 8 January 2019, Groupe SEB announced the outright acquisition of Wilbur Curtis, the second largest player in the US professional fi lter coffee machines.
The deal was subject to the usual regulatory clearance, which was granted on 8 February 2019.
Founded in 1941, Wilbur Curtis manufactures and sells equipment for preparing hot and cold drinks, primarily fi lter coffee machines and cappuccino machines. Its sustained investment, particularly in innovation, mean that it can offer some of the most advanced and top-quality systems on the market.
Sales, which have been growing steadily, exceeded USD 90 million and are mostly US based. The main customers are coffee roasters, various coffee shop chains, convenience stores, fast food chains, hotels and restaurants. Wilbur Curtis builds long-term relationships with its customers and has an experienced sales force that gives it coverage throughout the US. Its high-performance manufacturing facility employs 300 people in Montebello (California).
| Company | Core business (b) | Headquarters | Registration no. | % voting rights | % interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMEA | |||||
| EUROPE | |||||
| Parent | |||||
| SEB S.A. (a) | company | France | 300,349,636 | ||
| Calor S.A.S. (a) | * | France | 956,512,495 | 100 | 100 |
| S.A.S. SEB (a) | * | France | 302,412,226 | 100 | 100 |
| Tefal S.A.S. (a) | * | France | 301,520,920 | 100 | 100 |
| Rowenta France S.A.S. (a) | * | France | 301,859,880 | 100 | 100 |
| Groupe SEB Moulinex S.A.S. (a) | * | France | 407,982,214 | 100 | 100 |
| SIS S.A.S. (a) | *** | France | 399,014,216 | 100 | 100 |
| SEB Développement S.A.S. (a) | *** | France | 016,950,842 | 100 | 100 |
| Groupe SEB France S.A.S. (a) | ** | France | 440,410,637 | 100 | 100 |
| Groupe SEB Retailing S.A.S. (a) | ** | France | 440,410,884 | 100 | 100 |
| Holding | |||||
| SEB Internationale S.A.S. (a) | company | France | 301,189,718 | 100 | 100 |
| Groupe SEB Export (a) | ** | France | 421,266,271 | 100 | 100 |
| Holding | |||||
| SEB Alliance S.A.S. (a) | company | France | 440,410,918 | 100 | 100 |
| Immobilière Groupe SEB S.A.S. (a) | *** | France | 799,230,388 | 100 | 100 |
| Ethera S.A. (a) | *** | France | 520,944,182 | 95.4 | 95.4 |
| Rowenta Werke GmbH (c) | * | Germany | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Deutschland GmbH (c) | ** | Germany | 100 | 100 | |
| EMSA GmbH (c) | * | Germany | 100 | 100 | |
| Homeware Trading GmbH | ** | Germany | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Osterreich GmbH | ** | Austria | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Belgium S.A. NV | ** | Belgium | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Denmark AS | ** | Denmark | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Iberica S.A. | ** | Spain | 99.9 | 99.9 | |
| Groupe SEB Finland OY | ** | Finland | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB UK Ltd | ** United Kingdom | 100 | 100 | ||
| Tefal UK Ltd | Dormant United Kingdom | 100 | 100 | ||
| Groupe SEB Hellados S.A. | ** | Greece | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Italia SpA | ** | Italy | 100 | 100 | |
| Lagostina SpA | * | Italy | 100 | 100 | |
| Casa Lagostina S.R.L. | ** | Italy | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Norway AS | ** | Norway | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Nederland BV | ** | Netherlands | 100 | 100 | |
| Holding | |||||
| Rowenta Invest BV | company | Netherlands | 100 | 100 | |
| SEB Portugal Electrodomesticos Ltda. | ** | Portugal | 100 | 100 | |
| Tefal – OBH Nordica Group AB | *** | Sweden | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Schweiz GmbH | ** | Switzerland | 100 | 100 | |
| EURASIA | |||||
| Groupe SEB Bulgaria EOOD | ** | Bulgaria | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB MKU & P D.O.O. | ** | Croatia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB for Trade and Consultancy | Holding company |
Egypt | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB for Importation | ** | Egypt | 66.3 | 55 | |
| Groupe SEB Egypt for Household Appliances | ** | Egypt | 55 | 55 |
| Company | Core business (b) | Headquarters | Registration no. | % voting rights | % interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groupe SEB Central Europe Ltd | ** | Hungary | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB India PVT Ltd | * | India | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Baltic OU | ** | Latvia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Polska ZP Z.O.O. | ** | Poland | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB CR s.r.o | ** Czech Republic | 100 | 100 | ||
| Groupe SEB Romania S.R.L. | ** | Romania | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Vostok ZAO | * | Russia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Slovensko s.r.o | ** | Slovakia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB d.o.o. | ** | Slovenia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Istanbul EV A.S. | ** | Turkey | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Ukraine | ** | Ukraine | 100 | 100 | |
| AMERICAS | |||||
| NORTH AMERICA | |||||
| Groupe SEB Canada Inc. | ** | Canada | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB USA | ** | United States | 100 | 100 | |
| All-Clad Metal-Crafters LLC | * | United States | 100 | 100 | |
| Holding | |||||
| Groupe SEB Holdings Inc. | company | United States | 100 | 100 | |
| Imusa USA Corp. | ** | United States | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Mexico S.A. de CV | ** | Mexico | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Servicios S.A. de CV | *** | Mexico | 100 | 100 | |
| SOUTH AMERICA | |||||
| Groupe SEB Argentina S.A. | *** | Argentina | 100 | 100 | |
| SEB Do Brasil Produtos Domesticos Ltda. | * | Brazil | 100 | 100 | |
| SEB Comercial de Produtos Domesticos Ltda. | ** | Brazil | 100 | 100 | |
| Lojas SEB de Produtos Domesticos Ltda. | ** | Brazil | 100 | 100 | |
| SEB Brazil Real Estate | *** | Brazil | 100 | 0 | |
| SEB Serviços LTDA | *** | Brazil | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Chile Ltda. | ** | Chile | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Colombia S.A. | * | Colombia | 100 | 99.5 | |
| Groupe SEB Venezuela S.A. | ** | Venezuela | 100 | 100 | |
| Corporación GSV 2015, C.A. | *** | Venezuela | 100 | 100 | |
| ASIA | |||||
| CHINA | |||||
| Holding | |||||
| ZJ Supor | company | China | 81.2 | 81.2 | |
| SX Supor | * | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| WH CKW | * | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| Holding | |||||
| WH Pressure | company | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| WH Supor | *** | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| WH Waste | *** | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| YH Waste | *** | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| ZJ Rubber | * | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| ZJ Supor EA | * | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| Hangzhou Omegna Commercial Trade Co. Ltd | ** | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| Shanghai Supor Cookware Marketing Co. Ltd | ** | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| SSEAC Co. Ltd | * | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| EMSA Taicang Co. Ltd | ** | China | 100 | 100 | |
| Zhejiang WMF Housewares Co., Ltd | * | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| Zhejiang Shaoxing Supor Housewares Co., Ltd | ** | China | 100 | 81.2 | |
| WMF Shanghai | * | China | 100 | 81.2 |
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
| Company | Core business (b) | Headquarters | Registration no. | % voting rights | % interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASIA-PACIFIC | |||||
| Groupe SEB Australia PTY Ltd | ** | Australia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Korea Co. Ltd | ** | South Korea | 100 | 100 | |
| SEB Asia Ltd | /* | Hong Kong | 100 | 100 | |
| Grain Harvest Development Ltd |
Holding company |
Hong Kong | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Japan Co. Ltd | ** | Japan | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Malaysia SDN. BHD | ** | Malaysia | 100 | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Singapore PTE Ltd | ** | Singapore | 100 | 100 | |
| South East Asia Domestic Appliances PTE, Ltd | *** | Singapore | 100 | 90.4 | |
| Groupe SEB Thailand Ltd | ** | Thailand | 100 | 100 | |
| Vina Electric Fan | * | Vietnam | 100 | 100 | |
| Vietnam Supor | * | Vietnam | 100 | 81.2 | |
| EMSA Vietnam Co. Ltd | * | Vietnam | 100 | 100 | |
| AFS Vietnam Management Co. Ltd | *** | Vietnam | 100 | 90.4 |
(a) Companies within the tax consolidation group in France.
(b) Core business:
* manufacturing, sales and marketing;
** sales and marketing;
*** services.
(c) These entities claim the exemption according to § 264 para.3 HGB (German Commercial Code). This Corporate Financial Report is the liberating Financial Statement.
| EMEA EUROPE WMF France S.A.R.L. (a) France 421,742,586 100 100 WMF France Consumer Goods S.A.R.L. (a) France 309,434,017 100 100 Schaerer France S.A.R.L. France 537,799,777 100 100 Holding Finedening TopCo GmbH company Germany 100 100 WMF Group GmbH Germany 100 100 Silit-Werke Beteiligungsgesellschaft GmbH Germany 100 100 Silit Haushaltswaren GmbH Germany 100 100 Silit-Werke GmbH & Co. KG Germany 100 100 ProHeq GmbH * Germany 100 100 Boehringer Gastro Profi l GmbH Germany 100 100 W. F. Kaiser u. Co. GmbH Germany 100 100 ProLOG – Brand Logistics GmbH & Co.KG Germany 100 100 ProLOG – Logistics Services GmbH & Co. KG Germany 100 100 ProLOG Temp GmbH Germany 100 100 WMF Consumer-Electric GmbH Germany 100 100 ProMONT Montage GmbH Germany 100 100 Schaerer Deutschland GmbH Germany 100 100 WMF Immobilienverwaltungs GmbH Germany 100 100 WMF in Österreich Ges.m.b.H. Austria 100 100 Guy Van Bogaert BVBA Belgium 100 100 WMF Española S.A. Spain 100 100 WMF United Kingdom Ltd United Kingdom 100 100 WMF Nederland B.V. Netherlands 100 100 Guy Van Bogaert Nederland BV Netherlands 100 100 WMF Schweiz AG Switzerland 100 100 Schaerer AG Switzerland 100 100 EURASIA WMF Bulgaria EOOD Bulgaria 100 100 Coffee Day Schaerer Technologies p.l. India 51 51 ProHeq (CZ) s.r.o. Czech Republic 100 100 AMERICAS NORTH AMERICA Schaerer USA Corporation United States 100 100 ASIA China WMF (Shanghai) Co. Ltd China 100 100 WMF Consumer Goods (Shanghai) Co., Ltd China 100 100 WMF (He Shan) Manufacturing Co. Ltd China 100 100 WMF Group Operations Far East Co. Ltd China 100 100 ASIA-PACIFIC Holding WMF (Hong Kong) Manufacturing Co. Ltd company Hong Kong 100 100 WMF Group Hong Kong Ltd Hong Kong 100 100 WMF Japan Corporation K.K. * Japan 100 100 |
WMF companies | Core business (b) | Headquarters | Registration no. | % voting rights | % interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(a) Companies within the tax consolidation group in France.
(b) Core business:
* manufacturing, sales and marketing; ** sales and marketing;
*** services.
| Company | Core business (a) | Headquarters | Registration no. | % interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None |
| Company | Core business (a) | Headquarters | Registration no. | % interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tefal India Household Appliances PVT Ltd | Dormant | India | 100 | |
| Groupe SEB Pars (not material in relation to the Group as a whole) |
** | Iran | 72 | |
| Key Ingredient Corporation (not material in relation to the Group as a whole) |
** | United States | 100 | |
| Wuhan ANZAI Kitchenware Co. Ltd (not material in relation to the Group as a whole) |
* | China | 30 | |
| Gastromedia Sp.z.o.o. | *** | Poland | 20 | |
| Bauscher Hepp Inc. | Holding company | United States | 49 | |
| Invenido GmbH | *** | Germany | 30 | |
| 750 Grams International | *** | France | 539 534 792 | 100 |
| Feeligreen | * | France | 538 799 370 | 55.2 |
| WMF Gastronomie Service GmbH | *** | Germany | 100 | |
| WMF Versicherungsdienst GmbH | *** | Germany | 100 | |
| 4iTECH 4.0 (SAS) | * | France | 829 128 420 | 22.7 |
(a) Core business:
* manufacturing, sales and marketing;
** sales and marketing;
*** services.
Statutory auditors' fees will be presented in Chapter 9 "Additional information" in the 2018 Financial Report and Registration Document.
This is a free translation into English of the Statutory Auditors' report issued in French and is provided solely for the convenience of English speaking readers. This report includes information specifically required by European regulations or French law, such as information about the appointment of Statutory Auditors. This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law and professional auditing standards applicable in France.
To the Shareholders,
In compliance with the engagement entrusted to us by your Annual General Meeting, we have audited the accompanying consolidated fi nancial statements of SEB SA for the year ended December 31, 2018.
In our opinion, the consolidated fi nancial statements give a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities and of the fi nancial position of the Group as at December 31, 2018 and of the results of its operations
We conducted our audit in accordance with professional standards applicable in France. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Our responsibilities under these standards are further described in the "Responsibilities of the Statutory Auditors relating to the audit of the consolidated fi nancial statements" section of our report.
We conducted our audit engagement in compliance with the independence rules applicable to us, for the period from January 1, 2018 to the date of our report, and in particular we did not provide any non-audit services prohibited by article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or the French Code of Ethics (Code de déontologie) for Statutory Auditors.
In addition, the non-audit services that we provided to your Group and its controlled undertakings during the reporting period are as follows:
for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.
The audit opinion expressed above is consistent with our report to the Audit Committee.
Without going as far as to challenge the opinion expressed above we do draw your attention to Note 1 to the consolidated fi nancial statements which raises how revenue recognition and the valuation of fi nancial instruments are impacted when processed in accordance with IFRS 15 and IFRS 19 standards for the fi rst time.
In accordance with the requirements of articles L.823-9 and R.823-7 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce) relating to the justifi cation of our assessments, we inform you of the key audit matters relating to the risks of material misstatement that, in our professional judgment, were of most signifi cance in our audit of the consolidated fi nancial statements, as well as how we addressed those risks.
These matters were addressed as part of our audit of the consolidated fi nancial statements as a whole, and therefore contributed to the opinion we formed as expressed above. We do not provide a separate opinion on specifi c items of the consolidated fi nancial statements.
(Notes 1.4.1 b, 1.4 c, 1.4.3 and 10)
As part of its business development, SEB has carried out targeted external growth transactions and thus recognized several goodwill amounts, representing the difference between the acquisition price and the net fair value of identifi able assets acquired and liabilities assumed, on the acquisition date. Group assets also comprise several trademarks.
As at December 31, 2018, trademarks with indefi nite useful lives and goodwill amounted to €1011.7 million and €1,484.9 million (representing 35% of the total consolidated balance sheet), respectively.
These non-current assets are subject to impairment tests each year, or whenever there is any indication that the carrying amount of the assets might not be recoverable. For the purpose of these tests, goodwill and trademarks are grouped into cash-generating units (CGUs) as described in Note 1.4.3 to the consolidated fi nancial statements.
An impairment loss must be recognized if the recoverable value of these assets is less than their carrying amount.
Recoverable amount corresponds to the higher of an asset's fair value less costs to sell and the value in use of the CGU. The value of the CGUs is determined on the basis of net discounted future cash fl ows, with the exception of trademarks, which are valued using the relief from royalty method. The results of the impairment test are therefore sensitive to the assumptions used, especially those used to determine the discount rate applied to projections of future cash fl ows, the method for grouping together CGUs, and future changes in revenues in terms of volume and value.
We deemed the measurement of the recoverable value of these noncurrent assets to be a key audit matter due to the materiality of the trademarks and goodwill recorded in SEB's consolidated balance sheet and the high degree of judgment required from management to determine the assumptions to be used to perform the impairment tests.
Our work involved:
We also assessed the appropriateness of the disclosures provided in Note 10 to the consolidated fi nancial statements.
(Note 1.5.1 to the consolidated financial statements)
SEB's consolidated revenues are recognized after deduction of rebates and discounts, as well as advertising expense contributions billed by customers and the cost of consumer promotions, referred to as «deferred rebates».
Management assesses the amount of provisions for deferred rebates granted to customers and offset against customer receivables based on the contractual or constructive commitments of SEB Group entities identifi ed at period-end.
Given the complex and diverse nature of existing agreements with retailers in various countries with different legislations, there is a risk that the provision may be incorrectly estimated.
In light of this complexity, we deemed the measurement of provisions for deferred rebates to be a key audit matter.
Our work primarily involved:
As required by law and in accordance with professional standards applicable in France, we have also verified the information pertaining to the Group presented in the management report of the Board of Directors.
We have no matters to report as to its fair presentation and its consistency with the consolidated fi nancial statements.
We certify that the management report includes the consolidated declaration of extra-fi nancial performance provided for under the French commercial code (Code de commerce, Article L.225-102-1). It should be noted that, in accordance with Article L.823-10 of the code de commerce, the information disclosed in the aforementioned declaration has not been subject to any scrutiny on our part for accuracy in relation to the consolidated fi nancial statements, and that this information should be adressed separately in a report to be drawn up by an independent third party
We were appointed Statutory Auditors of SEB SA by the Annual General Meetings held on June 15, 1985 for PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit and May 12, 2015 for Mazars.
As at December 31, 2018, PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit and Mazars were in the thirty-four year and the fourth year of total uninterrupted engagement, respectively.
Management is responsible for preparing consolidated financial statements presenting a true and fair view in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union and for implementing the internal control procedures it deems necessary for the preparation of consolidated financial statements free of material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the consolidated fi nancial statements, management is responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting, unless it expects to liquidate the company or to cease operations.
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the financial reporting process and the effectiveness of internal control and risk management systems, as well as, where applicable, any internal audit systems, relating to accounting and fi nancial reporting procedures.
The consolidated fi nancial statements were approved by the Board of Directors.
Our role is to issue a report on the consolidated fi nancial statements. Our objective is to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated fi nancial statements as a whole are free of material misstatement. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with professional standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to infl uence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated fi nancial statements.
As specifi ed in article L.823-10-1 of the French Commercial Code, our audit does not include assurance on the viability or quality of management of the company.
A more detailed description of our responsibilities as Statutory Auditors for the audit of the consolidated fi nancial statements is set out in the appendix to this report and is an integral part hereof.
We submit a report to the Audit Committee which includes in particular a description of the scope of the audit and the audit program implemented, as well as the results of our audit. We also report any signifi cant defi ciencies in internal control that we have identifi ed regarding the accounting and fi nancial reporting procedures.
Our report to the Audit Committee includes the risks of material misstatement that, in our professional judgment, were of most signifi cance in the audit of the consolidated fi nancial statements and which constitute the key audit matters that we are required to describe in this report.
We also provide the Audit Committee with the declaration provided for in article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, confirming our independence within the meaning of the rules applicable in France, as defi ned in particular in articles L.822-10 to L.822-14 of the French Commercial Code and in the French Code of Ethics for Statutory Auditors. Where appropriate, we discuss any risks to our independence and the related safeguard measures with the Audit Committee.
Lyon and Courbevoie, March 25, 2019 The Statutory Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit Mazars Nicolas BRUNETAUD Thierry COLIN
As part of an audit conducted in accordance with professional standards applicable in France, the Statutory Auditors exercise professional judgment throughout the audit.
They also:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 (f) | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 (f) | 2010 (f) | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RESULTS | ||||||||||
| Sales in France | 775 | 804 | 779 | 739 | 700 | 666 | 689 | 705 | 712 | 685 |
| Sales outside France | 6,037 | 5,681 | 4,221 | 4,031 | 3,553 | 3,495 | 3,371 | 3,258 | 2,940 | 2,491 |
| Total sales | 6,812 | 6,485 | 5,000 | 4,770 | 4,253 | 4,161 | 4,060 | 3,963 | 3,652 | 3,176 |
| Operating Result from Activity | 695 | 661 | 505 | 428 | 368 | 410 | 415 | 455 | 438 | 355 |
| Operating profi t | 626 | 580 | 426 | 371 | 314 | 364 | 368 | 402 | 349 | 248 |
| Profi t attributable to owners of the parent |
420 | 375 | 259 | 206 | 170 | 200 | 194 | 236 | 220 | 146 |
| Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses |
179 | 178 | 123 | 146 | 123 | 112 | 109 | 115 | 117 | 124 |
| Employee benefi ts expense (b) | 1,236 | 1,250 | 831 | 802 | 753 | 737 | 698 | 665 | 627 | 549 |
| Discretionary and non-discretionary profi t sharingand bonuses and matching contributions to employee savings plans |
34 | 38 | 37 | 31 | 33 | 37 | 48 | 44 | 50 | 33 |
| EBITDA (c) | 805 | 765 | 550 | 508 | 434 | 475 | 475 | 516 | 468 | 372 |
| Adjusted EBITDA (e) | 829 | 808 | 591 | 533 | 455 | 485 | 474 | 511 | 488 | 416 |
| BALANCE SHEET (AT 31 DECEMBER) | ||||||||||
| Shareholders' equity after appropriation |
2,196 | 1,861 | 1,747 | 1,829 | 1,650 | 1,460 | 1,395 | 1,279 | 1,487 | 1,169 |
| Net debt | 1,578 | 1,905 | 2,019 | 316 | 453 | 416 | 556 | 673 | 131 | 243 |
| Non-current assets | 3,576 | 3,508 | 3,583 | 1,654 | 1,593 | 1,413 | 1,434 | 1,453 | 1,249 | 1,163 |
| Capital expenditure | 215 | 192 | 181 | 153 | 201 | 127 | 128 | 131 | 140 | 109 |
| Inventories and work-in-progress | 1,181 | 1,112 | 1,067 | 821 | 823 | 731 | 681 | 702 | 635 | 466 |
| Trade receivables net of advances received |
939 | 1,016 | 1,053 | 886 | 768 | 740 | 836 | 828 | 733 | 627 |
| Trade payables net of advances made | 999 | 906 | 915 | 695 | 637 | 525 | 508 | 516 | 494 | 398 |
| Net cash from operating activities | 724 | 457 | 576 | 376 | 271 | 298 | 313 | 242 | 256 | 558 |
| Number of employees at 31 December (in units) |
33,974 | 32,319 | 32,871 | 26,024 | 25,759 | 24,682 | 24,758 | 24,927 | 23,058 | 20,663 |
| SHARES (IN €) (a) | ||||||||||
| Total number of shares outstanding (in thousands) |
50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 49,952 | 49,952 | 49,952 |
| Weighted average number of shares after treasury stock (in thousands) |
49,661 | 49,597 | 49,749 | 49,037 | 48,694 | 48,344 | 47,718 | 47,886 | 47,414 | 46,477 |
| Adjusted diluted earnings per share | 8.38 | 7.50 | 5.15 | 4.14 | 3.45 | 4.08 | 4.01 | 4.81 | 4.54 | 3.13 |
| Net income | 2.14 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.54 | 1.44 | 1.39 | 1.32 | 1.25 | 1.17 | 1.04 |
| Dividend yield per share (in %) (d) | 1.9 0 | 1.29 | 1.34 | 1.63 | 2.34 | 2.12 | 2.37 | 2.15 | 1.51 | 2.62 |
| Price range: | ||||||||||
| High | 175.90 | 169.90 | 136.00 | 97.45 | 68.99 | 69.50 | 67.85 | 82.15 | 82.78 | 40.53 |
| Low | 105.60 | 115.70 | 79.90 | 58.01 | 56.85 | 51.50 | 46.70 | 52.00 | 39.15 | 16.44 |
| Price at 31 December | 112.80 | 154.45 | 128.75 | 94.60 | 61.57 | 65.70 | 55.71 | 58.12 | 77.73 | 39.70 |
| Stock market capitalization (in € millions) |
5,659.1 | 7,748.6 | 6,459.3 | 4,746.0 | 3,088.9 | 3,296.1 | 2,794.9 | 2,903.2 | 3,882.8 | 1,983 |
| Average daily trading volume (number of shares) |
56,108 | 53,452 | 60,252 | 79,811 | 56,210 | 75,245 | 90,232 143,151 107,282 | 88,830 |
(a) Figures were restated following the three-for-one share split.
(b) Excluding discretionary and non-discretionary profi t sharing and matching contributions to employee savings plans, including temporary staff costs. Since the Group's transition to IFRS in 2004, the reported amounts have also included the service cost of pension and other post-employment benefi ts.
(c) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (including amortization and impairment of goodwill and trademarks, and depreciation and amortization expense
reported under "Other operating income and expenses"). (d) Dividend for the year expressed as a percentage of the closing share price at the year-end.
(e) Recurring Operating profi t (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
(f) The balance sheets and income statements for 2010, 2011 and 2016 were restated in subsequent years. The restatements were not material.
| (in %) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 (b) | 2010 (b) | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY RATIOS | ||||||||||
| Return on equity before appropriation of previous year's profi t |
21.36 | 20.43 | 13.55 | 11.94 | 11.09 | 13.66 | 14.47 | 15.27 | 18.04 | 15.69 |
| Net profi t/Sales | 6.16 | 5.78 | 5.17 | 4.32 | 4.00 | 4.80 | 4.78 | 5.96 | 6.03 | 4.59 |
| FINANCIAL RATIOS | ||||||||||
| Net debt/shareholders' equity before appropriation (c) |
68.39 | 96.96 | 109.98 | 16.57 | 26.27 | 27.14 | 38.04 | 50.14 | 8.48 | 22.52 |
| Financial costs, net/Revenue | 0.47 | 1.11 | 1.16 | 1.00 | 1.15 | 1.32 | 1.54 | 0.68 | 0.44 | 0.86 |
| Net debt/Adjusted EBITDA (in value) (c) | 1.90 | 2.36 | 3.42 | 0.59 | 1.00 | 0.86 | 1.17 | 1.32 | 0.27 | 0.59 |
| INVESTMENT RATIOS (a) | ||||||||||
| Investments/Sales | 3.15 | 2.97 | 3.63 | 3.23 | 4.73 | 3.05 | 3.14 | 3.55 | 3.86 | 3.44 |
(a) Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment, software and development costs.
(b) Restated for the effects of early application of IAS 19R.
(c) According to the defi nition of net debt, Note 1.4.8.

| 6.1. | Financial statements | 276 |
|---|---|---|
| Income statement at 31 December Balance sheet of SEB S.A. at 31 December |
276 277 |
|
| 6.2. | Notes to the SEB S.A. fi nancial statements |
278 |
| Signifi cant events of the year Other information |
278 288 |
| 6.3. | Five-year fi nancial summary | 294 |
|---|---|---|
| 6.4. | Statutory auditors' report on the fi nancial statements |
295 |
| GROUPE SEB - REGISTRATION DOCUMENT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT 2018 | 275 |
|---|---|

| (in € millions) | Notes | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reversals of depreciation, amortization and provisions, expense transfers | 0.0 | 0.1 | |
| Other income | 0.8 | 0.4 | |
| Operating income | 0.8 | 0.5 | |
| Other purchases and external charges | 10.2 | 9.1 | |
| Taxes other than income taxe | 3.4 | 1.0 | |
| Wages and salaries | 2.5 | 3.6 | |
| Payroll taxes | 1.0 | 1.5 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 1.8 | 1.8 | |
| Other expenses | 0.7 | 0.7 | |
| Operating expenses | 19.5 | 17.6 | |
| OPERATING PROFIT (LOSS) | (18.8) | (17.1) | |
| Financial income | 337.6 | 544.8 | |
| Financial expenses | 236.3 | 275.9 | |
| FINANCIAL PROFIT (LOSS) | 3 | 101.2 | 268.9 |
| RESULT FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES | 82.5 | 251.8 | |
| Non-recurring income | 56.5 | 50.3 | |
| Non-recurring expenses | 69.3 | 59.9 | |
| EXCEPTIONAL PROFIT (LOSS) | 4 | (12.8) | (9.5) |
| Income tax (income) | 5 | (29.9) | (26.5) |
| PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD | 99.6 | 268.8 |
| 2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assets (in € millions) | Notes | Gross | Depreciation/ Amortization |
Net | Net |
| Patents, licenses and other rights | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
| Financial investments | 1,842.7 | 233.7 | 1,609.0 | 1,574.2 | |
| Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates | 2,700.4 | 6.9 | 2,693.4 | 2,766.1 | |
| Other non-current assets | 2.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | ||
| TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS | 6 | 4,545.7 | 240.7 | 4,305.0 | 4,341.5 |
| Accounts receivable | 6.5 | 6.5 | 2.3 | ||
| Other receivables | 7 | 55.1 | - | 55.1 | 94.0 |
| Investment securities | 8 | 80.4 | - | 80.4 | 96.4 |
| Cash | 225.5 | - | 225.5 | 155.0 | |
| Prepaid expenses | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
| TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 367.6 | - | 367.6 | 347.7 | |
| Deferred fi nancing costs | 12.1 | 6.2 | - | 6.2 | 7.9 |
| Conversion losses | 12.2 | 1.6 | - | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 4,921.1 | 4,921.1 | 4,680.4 | 4,699.5 |
| Liabilities (before appropriation of profi t) (in € millions) Notes |
2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Share capital | 50.2 | 50.2 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 99.3 | 99.3 |
| Revaluation reserve | 16.9 | 16.9 |
| Legal reserve | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Regulatory reserves | 0.8 | 0.8 |
| Revenue reserves | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Retained earnings | 940.4 | 775.0 |
| Profi t (loss) for the period | 99.6 | 268.8 |
| TOTAL EQUITY 9 |
1,220.2 | 1,224.0 |
| Provisions for contingencies | 48.2 | 43.1 |
| Provisions for charges | 184.7 | 185.7 |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS FOR CONTINGENCIES AND CHARGES 10 |
232.9 | 228.8 |
| Bank borrowings 11 |
2,026.8 | 2,101.2 |
| Other borrowings 11 |
1,166.4 | 1,106.4 |
| Accounts payable | 1.9 | 2.2 |
| Accrued taxes and employee benefi ts expenses | 3.7 | 4.1 |
| Other liabilities | 23.4 | 28.5 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES 12.2 |
3,222.3 | 3,242.4 |
| Conversion gains | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 4,680.4 | 4,699.5 |

On 16 May 2018, the Annual General Meeting of SEB S.A. approved the reappointment of three directors whose terms of office had expired, for a four-year term:
SEB S.A. announced the appointment of Stanislas de Gramont as Chief Operating Offi cer. He took up offi ce on 3 December 2018. He reports to the Chairman and Chief Corporate Offi cer Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise and will be in chargefor the Group's sales and marketing activities worldwide.
Stanislas de Gramont was included in the headcount of SEB S.A. in 2018.
Following on from those initial transactions, over the course of the fi nancial year SEB S.A. made further purchases of 130,000 American call options for its own shares. At end-2018, the company had 190,000 call options for its own shares.
The acquisition of these call options allows the company to partially cover its obligations to deliver existing treasury shares for the possible exercise of the exchange right on the ORNAE bonds redeemable for cash and/or existing shares, maturing on 17 November 2021.
The company placed its fi rst NEU MTN for €30 million in the course of the fi nancial year.
This issue took place as part of a €500 million program.
This new instrument allows the company to diversify its sources of fi nancing.
On 21 December 2018, SEB S.A. subscribed to a new capital increase at its subsidiaries S.A.S. SEB, Groupe SEB Moulinex and SEB Développement for €45 million, €22.5 million and €3.3 million, respectively. These recapitalizations were fully paid up at that time by offsetting of receivables or cash payment in the case of SEB Développement.
SEB S.A., through its subsidiary SEB Internationale, acquired 750g International, a digital media publisher and food services provider in Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, USA and United Kingdom.
The company thereby reaffirmed its desire to speed up the development of its brands in the online culinary space by leveraging the expertise of 750g International.
This acquisition will allow it to create convergence with the products, websites and applications developed by the Group. The goal is to enrich the digital ecosystem and increase brand appeal globally.
General accounting conventions were applied, in line with the principle of prudence and in compliance with the general rules on the preparation and presentation of annual fi nancial statements set out in French law and France's Chart of Accounts (Plan Comptable Général) governed by regulation 2014-03 issued by the French Accounting Standards Authority (Autorité des Normes Comptables, "ANC") on 5 June 2014.
The gross amount of shares in subsidiaries and affi liates on the balance sheet is the sum of the purchase price (after statutory revaluation if necessary) plus additional charges.
If the net asset value is inferior to the net book value, a provision for impairment is observed, equal to the amount of the difference.
The net asset value is estimated based on the share of the net asset, which can be, if necessary, reevaluated according to the fi nancial prospects that include business models and economic environments of every subsidiary.
Treasury shares are classifi ed as follows:
At year-end, an impairment loss is recognized whenever the average portfolio purchase price is higher than the average share price for the last month of the year.
The company manages cash and cash equivalents and currency risk on behalf of the Group.
Clarifi cation of the new ANC regulation no. 2015-05:
Cash and short-term bank loans denominated in foreign currency at the period-end are converted into local currency at the exchange rate on the last business day of the period, and foreign exchange translation adjustments are recognized in profi t for the period under "Foreign Exchange gains" or "Foreign Exchange losses".
In addition to the principles described in Note 1.5 above, a provision for unrealized losses on stock options is recorded to cover the outfl ow of funds arising in connection with the exercise of the options granted under current plans.
The company also records provisions on the balance sheet for the tax savings resulting from the implementation of tax group , relating to the utilization of losses incurred by certain subsidiaries, which may have to be transferred back to them if and when they return to profi t.
Since 2015, SEB S.A. has signed a tax group agreement with all its subsidiaries benefi ting from the tax group system, setting the rules for the tax group. The contract specifi es that the tax group will take effect retroactively from 1 January 2013 and, pursuant to the provisions of Article 223 A et seq. of the French General Tax Code, will be tacitly renewed for additional fi ve-year periods.
The agreement also provides that subsidiary companies which are members of the tax group should be placed in a situation during consolidation comparable to the situation that they would have been in if the Group did not exist.
With regard to the calculation of tax liability, each subsidiary "shall pay the parent company, by way of contribution to the Group's income tax, irrespective of the actual amount of said tax, a sum equal to the tax that it would have paid on earnings and/or net long-term capital gains for the fi nancial year had it been taxed separately, minus all the tax deductions to which the subsidiary would have been entitled in the absence of consolidation, including its tax loss carryforwards."
The agreement also states that at the "end of a loss-making fi nancial year, the subsidiary shall not be entitled to make any claim on the parent company on this basis, even if the parent company establishes a claim against the French Treasury by opting to carry back the total loss".
Concerning tax credits, the subsidiaries' liability to the parent company shall be reduced:
Lastly, if the subsidiary leaves the tax consolidation group, the agreement provides that compensation shall be paid insofar as it can be determined, by mutual agreement, that the subsidiary has paid too much tax as a result of its membership of the Group.
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| OPERATING PROFIT | ||
| Royalties | 0.6 | 0.2 |
| Trademark registration fees | (0.2) | (0.2) |
| Management fees | (4.7) | (4.6) |
| FINANCE COSTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INCOME AND EXPENSE | ||
| Investment income | 148.9 | 223.4 |
| Interest income on receivables | 48.5 | 41.0 |
| Interest and fi nancial expenses | (4.4) | (2.5) |
| Foreign exchange gains (losses) | (18.7) | 0.0 |
| NON-RECURRING NET INCOME | ||
| Expense transfers | 11.8 | 10.5 |
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends | 148.9 | 223.4 |
| Interest expense | (37.7) | (34.8) |
| Interest income | 50.0 | 42.3 |
| Net increase in/reversal of impairment on fi nancial items | (36.2) | (44.9) |
| Other fi nancial income and expenses | (23.8) | 82.9 |
| TOTAL FINANCIAL INCOME AND EXPENSE | 101.2 | 268.9 |
discussed in Note 6.
A total of €148.9 million in dividends was received during the fi nancial year, primarily from SEB Internationale (€75 million), Groupe SEB France (€35.7 million) and Tefal (€22.5 million).
Other financial income and expenses mainly included foreign exchange gains and losses during the fi nancial year (net expense of €19.3 million) and a fi nancial expense associated with the discounting of the ORNAE hedge (€2.3 million).
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Gains (losses) on sales of treasury shares | (19.8) | (16.7) |
| Non-recurring expense transfer | 11.8 | 10.5 |
| Other non-recurring income and expenses | (8.1) | (7.0) |
| Net provision for charges for tax group | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| TOTAL EXCEPTIONAL INCOME AND EXPENSE | (12.8) | (9.5) |
During the fi nancial year, the sale of 676,578 treasury shares (including 447,771 under the liquidity contract and 228,807 shares to be granted under stock option and performance share programs) generated a total net capital loss of €19.8 million. In addition, the discounting of the provision for unrealized losses represents a net charge of €5.7 million for the fi nancial year.
This year, transfers of non-recurring expenses include the rebilling to subsidiaries of capital losses realized during the fi nancial year on the exercise of stock options for €10.5 million (compared with €8.3 million in 2017) and the discounting of accrued income for unrealized capital losses for €1.3 million (compared with €2.2 million in 2017).
The increase in the provisions for other contingencies and charges was due to the unrealized loss on the exercise of options and performance shares for €5.7 million (compared with €4.6 million in 2017) and a provision for other contingencies of €2.4 million (compared with €0.5 million in 2017).
The changes in the provision for the impairment of fi nancial items are
The reversal of the provision for tax expenses refunded under the tax groupscheme totaled €3.3 million (against €3.7 million in the previous fi nancial year), and is discussed in Note 5.

Income tax for the fi nancial year ended 31 December 2018 breaks down as follows:
| (in € millions) | Before tax | Tax | Profi t (loss) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profi t (loss) from ordinary activities | 82.5 | (6.2) | 76.2 |
| Extraordinary net income | (12.8) | (1.8) | (14.6) |
| Tax loss carryforwards generated/(used) | 8.0 | 8.0 | |
| Tax group | 28.7 | 28.7 | |
| Other income (expense) | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
| TOTAL | 69.7 | 29.9 | 99.6 |
The tax group recorded a profi t for the 2018 fi nancial year.
The €28.7 million in tax savings was recognized in the company's fi nancial statements as current tax income, breaking down as follows:
In addition, under the tax agreement signed with member companies, the tax savings made by the Group as a result of the tax groupare retained by the parent company.
From now on, a provision will no longer be recorded under "nonrecurring expenses" to cover the tax loss carryforwards generated by members of the tax group other than SEB S.A. Only reversals of provisions are recognized when tax loss carryforwards are used. On this basis, a €3.3 million reversal was recognized in the fi nancial year.
At 31 December 2018, the company had a liability of €1.5 million (€1.3 million at 31 December 2017), corresponding to unrealized exchange gains deductible in the year following their recognition.
| (in € millions) | 2017 | Increase | Decrease | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patents, licenses and other rights | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Investments | 1771.9 | 70.8 | 0.0 | 1,842.7 |
| Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates | 2766.1 | 423.0 | 488.7 | 2,700.4 |
| Other non-current fi nancial assets | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| TOTAL GROSS VALUE | 4,539.3 | 495.2 | 488.7 | 4,545.7 |
| Patents, licenses and other rights | (0.1) | 0.0 | 0.0 | (0.1) |
| Provisions for investments | (197.7) | (51.2) | (15.2) | (233.7) |
| Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates | 0.0 | (6.9) | 0.0 | (6.9) |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS | (197.8) | (58.1) | (15.2) | (240.7) |
| TOTAL NET VALUE | 4341.5 | 437.1 | 473.5 | 4,305.0 |
| (in € millions) | 2016 | Increase | Decrease | 2017 |
| Patents, licenses and other rights | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 |
| Investments | 1770.4 | 1.5 | 1,771.9 | |
| Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates | 2692.8 | 546.6 | 473.3 | 2,766.1 |
| Other non-current fi nancial assets | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.1 |
| TOTAL GROSS VALUE | 4,464.4 | 594.3 | 519.5 | 4,539.3 |
| Patents, licenses and other rights | (0.1) | 0.0 | 0.0 | (0.1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provisions for investments | (150.5) | (59.1) | (11.9) | (197.7) |
| Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates | (2.3) | 0.0 | (2.3) | 0.0 |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS | (152.9) | (59.1) | (14.2) | (197.8) |
| TOTAL NET VALUE | 4,311.5 | 535.2 | 505.3 | 4,341.5 |
During the financial year, the company carried out a total of €70.8 million in capital increases, in SEB S.A.S. (€45 million), Groupe SEB Moulinex (€22.5 million) and SEB Développement (€3.3 million).
Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates comprised advances by SEB S.A. to its subsidiaries in connection with the Group's fi nancial policy (see Note 1.5).
During the financial year, the company made further advances totaling €423 million, primarily including current account increases for Schaerer USA (€60.4 million), SEB Internationale (€43 million), Calor (€33 million). The company also granted new long-term loans to Groupe SEB Istanbul (€28.1 million) and Groupe SEB Vostok (€25.2 million).
Moreover, various subsidiaries made repayments during the fi nancial year, including WMF GmbH (€130million) and SEB Internationale (€190.1 million), as well as Groupe SEB Italie (€28.6 million) and S.A.S. SEB (€23.8 million).
The valuation of the securities portfolio led the company to record an additional impairment loss of €51.3 million for the shares of its subsidiaries. This mainly consisted of €31.9 million for Calor S.A.S., €12.5 million for SEB S.A.S., €3.5 million for GS Moulinex and €2.1 million for Rowenta. The company also recorded a reversal of €15.2 million primarily for SEB Alliance (€11.4 million) and Immobilière Groupe SEB (€3.3 million).
The treasury shares recognized in non-current fi nancial assets are held under the liquidity contract. Over the fi nancial year, 459,651 shares were bought back at an average price of €149.24 and 447,771 shares were sold at an average price of €150.26 per share. At 31 December 2018, SEB S.A. held a total of 575,888 treasury shares at an average price of €143.14, notably to cover current stock option plans.
Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates comprised medium and long-term inter-company loans for a total of €1,904.1 million, mainly including SEB Internationale for €978.8 million (€878.8 million of which over a year) and WMF GmbH for €433.6 million (€353.6 million of which over a year).
Other receivables related to €796.3 million in current accounts granted to the subsidiaries.

The amount of other receivables stood at €52.7 million at 31 December 2018, compared with €94 million in 2017.
These receivables mainly consisted of tax receivables and foreign exchange hedges. They fell sharply over the fi nancial year as follows:
■ Tax receivables stood at €11million (compared with €45 million at 31 December 2017) split into prepayments of €2.8 million to the French tax authorities, a €6.7 million deferrable tax credit, and €7.2 million in proceeds from tax group. During the course of the fi nancial year, the company received the full amount of the €12.6 million recognized in 2017, as reimbursement of the 3% levy granted by the French State.
The remaining amount of the deferrable tax credits fell to €6.7 million (compared with €25.7 million in 2017) following their assignment during the fi nancial year for €23.5 million.
Finally, a liability of €5.9 million was recognized at 31 December 2018 to cover the tax liability payable by SEB S.A., the head of the tax group scheme, pertaining to tax inspections underway in its direct subsidiaries;
All these receivables are due within one year, apart from:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Treasury shares | 80.4 | 66.4 |
| Investments securities | - | 30.0 |
| TOTAL | 80.4 | 96.4 |
At 31 December 2018, the share capital stood at €50,169,049 and was made up of 50,169,049 fully paid-up shares, representing 77,383,252 total "theoretical" voting rights and 76,807,364 effective voting rights (excluding treasury shares).
| EQUITY AT 31 DECEMBER 2017 BEFORE APPROPRIATION OF PROFIT | 1224.0 |
|---|---|
| 2017 dividend paid in 2018 | (103.4) |
| Profi t (loss) for the period | 99.6 |
| EQUITY AT 31 DECEMBER 2018 | 1220.2 |
| SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AT 31 DECEMBER 2016 BEFORE APPROPRIATION OF PROFIT | 1,044.0 |
| 2016 dividend paid in 2017 | (88.8) |
| Profi t (loss) for the period | 268.8 |
| EQUITY AT 31 DECEMBER 2017 | 1,224.0 |
On 17 November 2016, as part of the fi nancing of the WMF acquisition, the company issued €150 million in ORNAE bonds (bonds with optional reimbursement in cash and/or existing shares). In accordance with the provisions of the issue contract, were the conversion price to be hit, the only equity securities to be provided to holders of these ORNAE would be existing company shares.
Changes in provisions for contingencies and charges for the year are as follows:
| Releases of surplus |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | 2017 | Increases | provisions | Utilizations | 2018 |
| Provisions for claims and litigation | |||||
| Provisions for currency risks | 2.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 1.6 | |
| Provisions for other contingencies | 40.8 | 46.0 | 20.7 | 19.6 | 46.5 |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS FOR CONTINGENCIES | 43.1 | 47.61 | 20.7 | 21.9 | 48.1 |
| Provisions for group relief | 185.7 | - | 3.3 | 182.4 | |
| Provisions for other charges | - | 2.4 | - | - | 2.4 |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS FOR CHARGES | 185.7 | 2.4 | - | 3.3 | 184.8 |
| TOTAL | 228.8 | 50.0 | 20.7 | 25.2 | 232.9 |
| (in € millions) | Releases | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Increases | of surplus provisions |
Utilizations | 2017 | |
| Provisions for claims and litigation | |||||
| Provisions for currency risks | 113.4 | 2.3 | 113.4 | 2.3 | |
| Provisions for other contingencies | 36.0 | 40.5 | 27.5 | 8.2 | 40.8 |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS FOR CONTINGENCIES | 149.4 | 42.8 | 140.9 | 8.2 | 43.1 |
| Provisions for tax group | 189.4 | - | 3.7 | 185.7 | |
| TOTAL PROVISIONS FOR CHARGES | 189.4 | - | 3.7 | - | 185.7 |
| TOTAL | 338.8 | 42.8 | 144.6 | 8.2 | 228.8 |
The €46.5 million provision for other contingencies relates mainly to the future unrealized loss on stock option exercises and performance share grants (€46 million), pertaining to Group option-holders. On the asset side, deferred income of €22.8 million from option-holder companies, partially offset the expense.
Moreover, in accordance with the principles of ANC Regulation no. 2015-05, the company recognizes a provision for residual foreign exchange contingencies, on the basis of an aggregate position determined per currency. This provision totaled €1.6 million at end-2018 (compared with €2.3 million at end-2017).
Lastly, the company still has on its books – for a total of €182.4 million (compared with €185.7 million in 2017) – a provision for tax refunds to subsidiaries in the tax group scheme that previously transferred tax losses and have now returned to profi t. Over the fi nancial year, the company reversed a provision for €3.3 million, allocated to Tefal, SEB Développement and Groupe SEB Retailing.
| Due by 31/12/2018 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | 2017 | 2018 | Due within 1 year | Due in 1 to 5 years |
Due beyond 5 years |
| Bonds | 1,005.6 | 1,005.6 | 5.6 | 500.0 | 500.0 |
| Other debts (including private placements) | 1,014.0 | 1,014.0 | 239.0 | 727.0 | 48.0 |
| Bank borrowings | 80.2 | 6.3 | 6.3 | ||
| Bond redemption premium | 1.4 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.7 | - |
| Bank borrowings | 2,101.2 | 2,026.8 | 251.1 | 1,227.7 | 548.0 |
| Commercial paper | 447.0 | 300.0 | 300.0 | ||
| NEU MTN | - | 30.0 | 30.0 | ||
| Group borrowings | 635.8 | 816.1 | 816.1 | ||
| Employee profi t-sharing | 23.6 | 20.3 | 4.8 | 15.5 | |
| Other borrowings | 1,106.4 | 1,166.4 | 1,120.9 | 45.5 | - |
| TOTAL | 3,207.6 | 3,193.2 | 1,372.0 | 1,273.2 | 548.0 |
The company's borrowings comprise short and medium-term fi nancing.
Funding sources are diversifi ed and debt is repayable within a year, except for:
Moreover, the company exercised its right to draw down €300 million in French commercial paper (drawn from a €1 billion program with an A2 short-term rating from Standard & Poor's).
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Financial expenses | 6.2 | 7.9 |
| TOTAL | 6.2 | 7.9 |
Deferred charges comprise expenses and fees , attributable to the following facilities:
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Valuation difference on fi nancial Instruments | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
| Financial instruments | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 5.0 | 4.3 |
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Loans to subsidiaries and affi liates | 50.4 | 12.0 |
| TOTAL | 50.4 | 12.0 |
| (in € millions) | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank borrowings | 7.5 | 7.1 |
| Other borrowings | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Trade payables | 0.6 | 0.4 |
| Accrued taxes and employee benefi ts expenses | 2.1 | 2.7 |
| Other payables | 4.2 | 0.3 |
| TOTAL | 10.6 | 10.7 |
Other liabilities comprise credit notes to be issued of €4.2 million to pass on hedging gains to SEB Internationale and Groupe SEB ASIE.

The average number of employees was 1.83 (compared with an average of 2 in the previous fi nancial year).
Certain balance sheet items contain amounts concerning related party transactions, as follows:
| 2018 | 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Related parties | Investment direct | Related parties | Investment direct | |
| Non-current fi nancial assets | 1,403.0 | 1,297.4 | 1,425.10 | 1,340.90 | |
| Receivables | 35.5 | - | 21.6 | 1.3 | |
| Payables | (606.0) | (222.6) | (80.2) | (684.7) | |
| TOTAL | 832.5 | 1,074.8 | 1,366.5 | 657.5 |
Information about stock option and performance share plans at 31 December 2018 is provided below:
| At 31/12/2018 | Date | Number of options | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | of grant (a) | of exercise | of expiry | granted | exercised | canceled | outstanding | Exercise price (in €) |
|
| Purchase plan | 18/06/2010 | 18/06/2014 | 18/06/2018 | 412,592 | 394,079 | 18,513 | - | 53.86 | |
| Purchase plan | 15/06/2012 | 15/06/2016 | 15/06/2020 | 408,925 | 316,696 | 17,621 | 74,608 | 54.12 | |
| TOTAL * | 821,517 | 710,775 | 36,134 | 74,608 | |||||
| * Of which movements in 2018. |
63,882 |
| At 31/12/2018 | Date | Number of shares | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | of grant (a) | of vesting | of end of lock-up |
granted | vested | canceled | outstanding | Share price on the grant date (b) |
| Performance shares |
12/05/2015 | 12/05/2018 | 12/05/2020 | 169,450 | 164,925 | 4,525 | 0 | 81.41 |
| Performance shares |
19/05/2016 | 19/05/2019 | 19/05/2021 | 168,605 | 0 | 4,500 | 164,105 | 96.63 |
| Performance shares |
11/05/2017 | 11/05/2020 | 11/05/2022 | 193,450 | 0 | 1,450 | 192,000 | 151.60 |
| Performance shares |
16/05/2018 | 16/05/2021 | 16/05/2023 | 185,330 | 0 | 0 | 185,330 | 160.90 |
| TOTAL | 716,835 | 164,925 | 10,475 | 541,435 |
(a) The grant date corresponds to the date of the Board Meeting when the option grants were decided.
(b) Share price on the date of the Board Meeting.
| 31/12/2018 | 31/12/2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in € millions) | Notional amount | Market value | Notional amount | Market value | |
| VIS-A-VIS THE MARKET | |||||
| COMMITMENTS ON THE BALANCE SHEET | |||||
| FX hedges for competitiveness and transactional risk |
|||||
| Forward sales of foreign currencies | 304.9 | 3.3 | 46.9 | 2.7 | |
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies | 198.8 | (0.6) | 25 | 1.9 | |
| Call option purchases (incl. premiums) | 82.4 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Put option purchases (incl. premiums) | 82.4 | (0.5) | 6.8 | 0.4 | |
| Financial FX hedges | |||||
| Currency swaps (foreign currency borrower) | 523.9 | 1.6 | 184 | 6.2 | |
| Forward fi nancial sales/purchases | 88.9 | (0.3) | 3.1 | 0.1 | |
| OFF-BALANCE SHEET COMMITMENTS | |||||
| FX hedges for competitiveness | |||||
| Forward sales of foreign currencies | (368.3) | 6.7 | (649) | (11.1) | |
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies | 303.3 | (1.6) | 218 | 3.5 | |
| Call option purchases (incl. premiums) | 696.8 | 18.3 | 179.1 | 3.5 | |
| Put option purchases (incl. premiums) | (696.8) | (8.6) | 196.3 | (2.4) | |
| Forward fi nancial sales/purchases | 21.3 | (0.2) | |||
| Other hedges | |||||
| Fixed-rate payer swaps | (185.5) | (1.9) | (185.5) | 0 | |
| ORNAE redemption options | NA | (4.80) | NA | (19.1) | |
| "ORNAE" type bond calls (190,000 options) | NA | 1.30 | NA | 1.4 | |
| Raw materials derivatives | 88.30 | (4.90) | 49.2 | 4.1 | |
| WITH SUBSIDIARIES | |||||
| COMMITMENTS ON THE BALANCE SHEET | |||||
| Forward purchases of foreign currencies | 237.7 | (0.3) | 263.2 | (1.4) | |
| Forward sales of foreign currencies | 157.8 | (0.6 | 160.2 | (1.5) | |
| Forward fi nancial sales/purchases | 48.7 | 0.8 | (32.7) | 0.0 | |
| OFF-BALANCE SHEET COMMITMENTS | |||||
| Raw materials derivatives | (88.3) | (4.9) | (49.2) | 4.1 |
The use and accounting treatment of financial instruments are discussed in Note 1.5. Notional amounts represent the notional amounts of the contracts. The market value of fi nancial instruments represents the gain or loss that would have been recognized had the contracts been settled on the market at 31 December 2018. It is estimated based on the exchange rate and interest rate on 31 December 2018, or obtained from the counterparty banks with which the commitments have been entered into.
With respect to the ORNAE bond issue, it should be noted that, in the event of the exercise of the right to the allocation of shares, representing the delivery of existing shares, the company will not issue any new shares.
The Bonds will grant entitlement, under certain conditions, to the allocation of existing SEB shares at any time from 17 November 2016 to the twenty-eighth trading day (exclusive) preceding the date of maturity of the Bonds or, where applicable, the date of early redemption.
In the event of the exercise of the right to the allocation of shares, the Bond holders will receive an amount in cash and, where applicable, an amount payable in existing SEB shares. The company will also have the option to deliver only existing SEB shares or only cash.
The executive officers are members of the group supplementary pension plan which includes Groupe SEB's French senior managers (members of the Executive and Management Committees).
The plan complements the statutory programs and is composed as follows:
To be eligible for the defined benefit plans, Groupe SEB senior managers must have been a member of the Group Executive Committee or Management Committee for at least eight years.
The scheme is capped at 41% of the reference remuneration (including the income from compulsory plans), this reference remuneration being itself capped at 36 times the annual social security ceiling in force at the time of retirement.
The number of existing shares that may be delivered to the bond holders will in particular be determined by the Bond exchange ratio. Initially one share per Bond, this ratio was adjusted in 2018 to 1.001 shares per bond and may be adjusted again in certain common scenarios for such fi nancial securities. The exchange ratio may in particular be adjusted up or down in the event of dividend payouts by the company between the issue date and the redemption date.
The company has unused confi rmed credit facilities available under the following terms:
During the financial year, the company granted a guarantee of €12.6 million to the non-group company GSE in connection with the construction work done on the Pont-Évêque site, on Calor's behalf.
As a result, the supplementary pension scheme for French top senior managers (including the Chairman and CEO and the Chief Operating Officer) complies with AFEP-MEDEF Code recommendations as updated in November 2015:
Groupe SEB intends to outsource the entire commitment through matching payments to a fund into which the pension contributions are made on a regular basis.
The various conditions of the retirementplan imply that, at the legal retirement age, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will be able to receive a gross replacement ratio (including statutory plans) of 32.58% of his reference remuneration.
The various conditions of the retirementplan imply that, at the legal retirement age (i.e. in 2029), Bertrand Neuschwander will be able to receive a gross replacement ratio (including statutory plans) of 32.20% of his reference remuneration.
These items are being calculated for the new Chief Operating Offi cer, Stanislas de Gramont, who took up offi ce on 3 December 2018.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will not be entitled to any compensation in case of termination of his corporate mandate.
His employment contract, signed when he joined Groupe SEB in 1994 and last amended when he was appointed CEO of the company, was suspended on 1 March 2005 for the duration of his term as corporate offi cer.
In the same way, as for other Executive Committee members, the contract stipulates that in the event of termination of his employment contract at Groupe SEB's initiative, except as a result of gross negligence or serious misconduct, or at his own initiative following a change of control of Groupe SEB, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise will be eligible for a total termination benefi t equal to two years' remuneration. In accordance with the provisions of Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, an addendum to this contract was signed making the termination benefi t subject to performance conditions. The revised contract stipulates that the termination benefi t, set at two years' remuneration (calculated on the average remuneration earned during the last two full fi nancial years), will be adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets over the last four full years of service, as follows:
The Board of Directors retains the right to reduce such termination benefi ts, by a maximum of one-half, if the previous year-end presents a net loss, without such benefi ts falling below the fi xed salary plus bonuses for the previous full fi nancial year, should application of the performance criteria based on the achievement of targets confer entitlement to the payment of termination benefi ts.
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract does not contain a non-competition clause.
Entitlement to stock options in the event of termination:
In the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated, except for serious misconduct or gross negligence, he will be entitled to all the share purchase or subscription options granted to him under the same terms and conditions of exercise that would have applied had he remained in offi ce. This provision will also apply in the event that Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's employment contract is terminated pursuant to resignation from the Group, were such resignation to arise from a change in the control of the Group. However, he will forfeit the options that would have been granted to him over the 18 months prior to the termination of his term of offi ce as executive offi cer should he resign on his own initiative.
As part of his dismissal, he will be entitled to severance allowance equal to two years' remuneration, minus the amounts paid under the non-compete clause and any termination benefi ts connected to the termination of the employment contract.
The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Bertrand Neuschwander received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
Furthermore, the severance allowance is paid since this is an involuntary termination and remains capped at two years of remuneration (fi xed and variable received), including the non-compete clause and any termination benefi ts.
This severance allowance will also be submitted for approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019.
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointement of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissalor resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB.
This non-compete agreement and the terms of severance detailed above were approved by the Board of Directors on 22 April 2014. They were also disclosed as part of the permanent information related to compensation and benefi ts. Furthermore, it was submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 12 May 2015, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
Stanislas de Gramont will be entitled to an indemnity in caseof his dismissal from corporate offi ce.
The reference remuneration used to calculate the severance allowance consists of the last two years of fi xed and variable remuneration that Stanislas de Gramont received in his capacity as Chief Operating Offi cer.
In accordance with Article L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code, payment of the allowance will be subject to performance conditions, measured in the following manner:
By way of exception from the foregoing in the event of dismissal during the fi rst 24 months of the corporate offi ce, the severance allowance will be adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets and on the amount of time spent in the company. It will progress per tier depending on the time worked: between 6 months and 12 months, and then 12 months to 24 months with a cap at 24 months of remuneration.
Furthermore, the severance allowance shall only be paid in the event of involuntary termination and remains capped at two years of remuneration (fi xed and variable received), including the non-compete clause.
Pursuant to the non-compete agreement, in case of termination of his appointment of offi ce as Chief Operating Offi cer, by means of dismissalor resignation, he shall be prohibited for a one-year period, renewable once, from working in any manner with a competitor of Groupe SEB worldwide.
In consideration for this non-compete clause and for its entire duration, Stanislas de Gramont will receive a monthly non-compete payment amounting to 50% of his monthly average fi xed and variable remuneration (paid or outstanding depending on the circumstances) over his last 12 months of service within the Group.
The Board of Directors can release Stanislas de Gramont from the non-compete clause.
This corporate offi ce agreement dated 12 December 2018 including the non-compete clause, along with the terms of severance detailed above, was approved by the Board of Directors on 19 December 2018.
It will furthermore be submitted for approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019, in accordance with the procedure provided for regulated agreements.
SEB S.A., via its subsidiary, acquired Wilbur Curtis outright, the number two in the US in professional fi lter coffee machines. The deal, which is subject to the usual regulatory clearance, should be fi nalized in February 2019.
Founded in 1941, Wilbur Curtis manufactures and sells equipment for preparing hot and cold drinks, primarily fi lter coffee machines
Sales, which have been growing steadily, exceeded USD90 million and are mostly US based.
Its high-performance manufacturing facility employs 300 people in Montebello (California).
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise began his career at Groupe SEB in 1994 and was appointed Vice-Chairman in 1999. He was appointed Chairman and CEO in 2000. In accordance with changing governance practice, his employment contract was suspended in 2005.
On 17 February 2012 and 19 May 2016, in accordance with the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Board of Directors reviewed the situation and agreed that the employment contract of Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise should remain suspended due to his age, his personal situation and his seniority within Groupe SEB.
For Bertrand Neuschwander, dismissed as Chief Operating Offi cer on 10 October 2018, on 22 April 2014 the Board of Directors decided that the suspension of his employment contract was in line with the AFEP-MEDEF Code.
For Stanislas de Gramont, appointed Chief Operating Officer on 3 December 2018, on 23 October 2018 the Board of Directors decided to solely hire him as an executive offi cer (no employment contract applies).
Details of the remuneration policy and the components of the remuneration of these three people will appear in Note 2.5 Remuneration Policy and are not repeated in this note.
| (in € millions) | Equity before appropriation |
Percentage share of capital held |
Aggregate carrying amount of shares in other subsidiaries and affi liates |
Loans and advances granted |
Guarantees and bonds given |
Dividends received by the company over the period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calor S.A.S. | 11.0 | 100% | 52.1 | 45.8 | - | - |
| S.A.S. SEB | 30.8 | 100% | 119.8 | 13.0 | - | - |
| Tefal S.A.S. | 36.6 | 100% | 6.6 | 24.7 | - | 22.5 |
| Rowenta France S.A.S. | 7.8 | 100% | 15.0 | 2.8 | - | - |
| SEB Développement S.A.S. | 2.4 | 100% | 18.0 | - | - | - |
| Rowenta Invest BV | 157.6 | 100% | 211.8 | 0.3 | - | - |
| SEB Internationale S.A.S. | 1451.9 | 100% | 963.4 | 1,100.0 | - | 75.0 |
| Groupe SEB France | 132.4 | 98% | 73.9 | - | - | 35.7 |
| Groupe SEB Export | 30.8 | 100% | 38.0 | 20.5 | - | 15.7 |
| Groupe SEB Moulinex | 25.1 | 100% | 69.2 | - | - | - |
| Groupe SEB Retailing | 1.6 | 100% | 0.5 | - | - | - |
| SEB Alliance | 12.8 | 100% | 30.0 | 12.5 | - | - |
| Immobilière Groupe SEB | 4.2 | 100% | 10.0 | 91.3 | - | - |
| Ethera | 0.1 | 57% | 0.3 | 1.1 | - | - |
* The equity of subsidiaries does not include net profi t (loss) for the period, as the company fi nancial statements were not fi nalized at the date of publication of this document.
| (in € millions) | Equity | Percentage share of capital held |
Aggregate carrying amount of shares in other subsidiaries and affi liates |
Loans and advances granted |
Guarantees and bonds given |
Dividends received over the period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.I.S. | 3.6 | 47% | 0.5 | 7.2 | - |
The company considers that disclosure of results of individual subsidiaries could be seriously prejudicial to its interests. Additional information analyzed by geographic segment is provided at consolidated level. Group consolidated revenue generated by direct and indirect subsidiaries and affi liates totaled €6,812.2 million, and profi t (loss) attributable to owners of the parent came to €419 million.
Carrying amount of securities: €0.2 million.

| (in € thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHARE CAPITAL AT YEAR-END | |||||
| a) share capital | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 | 50,169 |
| b) number of shares outstanding | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 |
| c) number of convertible bonds outstanding | - | - | - | - | - |
| OPERATIONS AND PROFIT (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD |
|||||
| a) net revenue, excluding tax | - | - | - | - | - |
| b) profi t before tax, depreciation, amortization and provisions |
111,271 | 178,787 | 42,155 | 249,746 | 104,853 |
| c) income taxes | (29,899) | (26,464) | (21,847) | (22,768) | (20,520) |
| d) profi t after tax, depreciation, amortization and provisions |
99,557 | 268,762 | 45,555 | 203,562 | 82,712 |
| e) dividend payout* | 110,377 | 103,288 | 88,589 | 79,161 | 73,700 |
| EARNINGS PER SHARE (IN UNITS) | |||||
| a) profi t after tax but before depreciation, amortization and provisions |
2.81 | 4.09 | 1.27 | 4.52 | 2.47 |
| b) profi t after tax, depreciation, amortization and provisions |
1.98 | 5.4 | 0.91 | 4.06 | 1.65 |
| c) dividend per share | 2.14 | 2.00 | 1.72 | 1.54 | 1.44 |
| EMPLOYEES | |||||
| a) number of employees | 1.83 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 | 1.60 |
| b) total payroll | 2,495 | 3,601 | 3,127 | 3,344 | 2,419 |
| c) benefi ts paid (payroll taxes) | 960 | 1,485 | 993 | 1,895 | 1,163 |
* Estimated in 2018 .
This is a translation into English of the statutory auditors' report on the financial statements of the Company issued in French and it is provided solely for the convenience of English speaking users.This statutory auditors' report includes information required by European regulation and French law, such as information about the appointment of the statutory auditors or verification of the management report and other documents provided to shareholders.This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law and professional auditing standards applicable in France.
To the annual general meeting of SEB SA Company
In compliance with the engagement entrusted to us by your annual general meeting, we have audited the accompanying financial statements of SEB SA for the year ended December, 31st 2018.
In our opinion, the fi nancial statements give a true and fair view of the assets and liabilities and of the fi nancial position of the Company
We conducted our audit in accordance with professional standards applicable in France. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Statutory Auditors' Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report.
We conducted our audit engagement in compliance with independence rules applicable to us, for the period from January, 1st 2018 to the as at December, 31st 2018 and of the results of its operations for the year then ended in accordance with French accounting principles.
The audit opinion expressed above is consistent with our report to the Audit Committee.
date of our report and specifi cally we did not provide any prohibited non-audit services referred to in Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or in the French Code of ethics (code de déontologie) for statutory auditors.
Furthermore, the non-audit services that we provided to your Company and its controlled undertakings during the fi nancial year that are not disclosed in the management report or in the notes to the fi nancial statements are as follows:
In accordance with the requirements of Articles L.823-9 and R.823-7 of the French Commercial Code (code de commerce) relating to the justifi cation of our assessments, we inform you of the key audit matters relating to risks of material misstatement that, in our professional judgment, were of most signifi cance in our audit of the fi nancial statements of the current period, as well as how we addressed those risks.
These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the fi nancial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on specifi c items of the fi nancial statements.
(1.2 and 6.1 of the notes to the annual accounts)
As written in the 1.2 of the notes to the annual accounts, equity interests are booked at their purchase price (after the legal revaluation if necessary) including additional charges. At December 31st 2018, the equity interests and related receivables are booked for a net value of €4,302.4 million which stands at 92% of the assets.
At the closure, the equity interests are valued by the company at the inventory value. If this value is inferior to the net book value, a provision for impairment is observed, equals to the amount of the difference.
The inventory value is estimated based on the share of the net asset, which can be, if necessary, reevaluated according to the fi nancial prospects that include business models and economic environments of every subsidiary.
Receivables from equity interests represent mainly overdrafts granted by SEB SA to its direct or indirect subsidiaries in accordance with the group fi nancial policy.
In view of the signifi cant amount and of the uncertainties inherent to the use of certain elements, especially judgments and hypotheses taken on by the management to determine some forecasts, we have considered that the valuation of equity interests and related receivables was a Key Audit Matter.
In order to assess the reasonableness of the estimated value, based on the on the information which was given to us, our work consisted mainly in evaluating the relevance of the valuation method which was taken on by the management, and in verifying fi gures used, and, depending on the concerned equity interests :
■ Check that the equity was in accordance with the reviewed audited accounts, and that reevaluations made, if necessary, on this equity, were based upon a supporting documentation.
■ Obtain the predictive cash fl ows and appreciate the consistency of the hypotheses with historical performances and economic environment, especially, the discounted method and the long-term growth rate.
We have also performed, in accordance with professional standards applicable in France, the specifi c verifi cations required by laws and regulations.
We have no matters to report as to the fair presentation and the consistency with the fi nancial statements of the information given in the management report of the Board of Directors and in the other documents with respect to the fi nancial position and the fi nancial statements provided to Shareholders.
We attest the fair presentation and the consistency with the fi nancial statements of the information relating to payment deadlines mentioned in Article D. 441-4 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce).
We attest that the Board of Directors' report on corporate governance sets out the information required by Articles L. 225-37-3 and L. 225- 37-4 of the French Commercial Code.
Concerning the information given in accordance with the requirements of Article L. 225-37-3 of the French Commercial Code (code de commerce) relating to compensation and benefi ts received by the directors and any other commitment made in their favour, we have verifi ed its consistency with the fi nancial statements, or with the underlying information used to prepare these fi nancial statements and, where applicable, with the information obtained by your company from controlling and controlled companies. Based on this work, we attest the accuracy and fair presentation of this information.
With respect to the information relating to items that your company considered likely to have an impact in the event of a takeover bid or exchange offer, provided pursuant to Article L. 225-37-5 of the French Commercial Code (code de commerce), we have verifi ed their compliance with the source documents communicated to us. Based on our work, we have no observation to make on this information.
In accordance with French law, we have verifi ed that the required information concerning the identity of the shareholders and holders of the voting rights has been properly disclosed in the management report.
We were appointed as statutory auditors of SEB SA by the annual general meeting held on May 12th 2015 for Mazars and on June 15th 1985 for PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit.
As at December, 31st 2018, Mazars and PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit were in the 4th year and 34th year of total uninterrupted engagement.
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the fi nancial statements in accordance with French accounting principles and for such internal control as management determines necessary to enable the preparation of fi nancial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the fi nancial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless it is expected to liquidate the Company or to cease operations.
The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring the financial reporting process and the effectiveness of internal control and risks management systems and where applicable, its internal audit, regarding the accounting and fi nancial reporting procedures.
The fi nancial statements were approved by the Board of Directors.
Our role is to issue a report on the fi nancial statements. Our objective is to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the fi nancial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with professional standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to infl uence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these fi nancial statements.
As specifi ed in Article L.823-10-1 of the French Commercial Code (code de commerce), our statutory audit does not include assurance on the viability of the Company or the quality of management of the affairs of the Company.
As part of an audit conducted in accordance with professional standards applicable in France, the statutory auditor exercises professional judgment throughout the audit and furthermore:
obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast signifi cant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. This assessment is based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of his audit report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern. If the statutory auditor concludes that a material uncertainty exists, there is a requirement to draw attention in the audit report to the related disclosures in the fi nancial statements or, if such disclosures are not provided or inadequate, to modify the opinion expressed therein.
■ Evaluates the overall presentation of the financial statements and assesses whether these statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We submit a report to the Audit Committee which includes in particular a description of the scope of the audit and the audit program implemented, as well as the results of our audit. We also report, if any, signifi cant defi ciencies in internal control regarding the accounting and fi nancial reporting procedures that we have identifi ed.
Our report to the Audit Committee includes the risks of material misstatement that, in our professional judgment, were of most signifi cance in the audit of the fi nancial statements of the current period and which are therefore the key audit matters that we are required to describe in this report.
We also provide the Audit Committee with the declaration provided for in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) N° 537/2014, confirming our independence within the meaning of the rules applicable in France such as they are set in particular by Articles L.822-10 to L.822-14 of the French Commercial Code (code de commerce) and in the French Code of Ethics (code de déontologie) for statutory auditors. Where appropriate, we discuss with the Audit Committee the risks that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and the related safeguards.
Lyon and Courbevoie, March 25th, 2019 French original signed by
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit Mazars Nicolas BRUNETAUD Thierry COLIN

| 7.3. | Financial authorizations | 309 |
|---|---|---|
| Existing authorizations in relation to the share capital and share equivalents |
309 | |
| Authorization for the company to trade in its own shares |
309 | |
| 7.4. | Employee shareholding | 310 |
| Staff mutual investment fund and direct employee shareholding |
310 | |
| Statutory and discretionary employee profi t sharing |
310 | |
| Stock option and performance share allocation policy |
310 | |
| History of stock option awards for share purchase 311 | ||
| Performance shares awarded to staff | 312 | |
| 7.5. | Stock market and dividend | |
| information | 313 | |
| Stock market | 313 | |
| Stock market information over three years | 313 | |
| Transactions in 2018 on NYSE Euronext | 313 | |
| Dividends – Dividend supplement | 314 |
Registered head offi ce: Campus SEB – 112, Chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Écully – France Tel.: +33 (0) 472 18 18 18 Fax: +33 (0) 472 18 16 55 Business registration number: 300 349 636 RCS Lyon Industrial classifi cation (NACE) Code: 6420 Z LEI Code: 969500WP61NBK098AC47
SEB share ISIN Code: FR0000121709 Form: limited company (société anonyme) Financial year: 1 January to 31 December Law: French Duration: 99 years from 27 December 1973
The Company's bylaws, minutes of Annual General Meetings and other company documents may be consulted at the company's registered offi ce. Company regulatory documents may be consulted on the Groupe SEB website: www.groupeseb.com
The purpose of the company in France and abroad covers:
Profits are allocated in accordance with legal requirements and regulations. Dividends are drawn, as a priority, from distributable profi ts.
The Annual General Meeting may offer shareholders a choice between payment of dividends in cash or in new shares whose price is set beforehand as provided for by law.
A supplementary dividend payment per share of 10% of the unit value of the reference dividend, which may be rounded down to the nearest even number of euro cents, will be paid in respect of shares registered without interruption by the same shareholder in the nominal register for at least two fi nancial years preceding the dividend payment, and which are still registered on the ex-dividend date. For any one shareholder, this supplement is limited to a number of shares which may not exceed 0.5% of the share capital. This supplement may be altered or canceled by decision of an Extraordinary General Meeting which will then decide on any new terms and conditions.
The General Meeting may, in addition, decide to distribute sums drawn from the reserves at its disposal. In this case, the decision will expressly indicate the reserve items from which the drawings have been made.
Shareholders are notifi ed of Annual General Meetings in accordance with legal requirements.
Each shareholder has the right to attend Annual General Meetings or to be represented, regardless of the number of shares that they hold, provided that said shares are fully paid up and registered in either their name or the name of the intermediary registered on the shareholder's behalf, by midnight, French time, on the second business day preceding the Annual General Meeting, either in registered share accounts held by the company, or in bearer share accounts held by the qualifi ed intermediary.
Each member attending the Annual General Meeting is entitled to exercise one vote for every share they hold or represent. Double voting rights are allocated to any fully paid-up share providing that it has been held long enough in registered form in the name of the same shareholder. This registered holding period requirement set by the founders at two years when the company was established in 1973, was extended to fi ve years at the Annual General Meeting of 15 June 1985. Entitlement to double voting rights expires if the shares concerned are converted to bearer form or if their ownership is transferred, except in cases where the transfer involves a change of name in the register subsequent to family inheritance or gift. In the event of a capital increase by incorporation of reserves, profi t or issue premiums, double voting rights are granted, as from their issuance, to registered shares allocated free of charge to a shareholder as a result of the shares already held which benefi t from said right.
There is no statutory limitation on voting rights.
There is an obligation to disclose any holding which exceeds the threshold, within the meaning of Articles L. 233-7 and L. 233-9 of the French Commercial Code, of 2.5% (or any multiple thereof) of the company's share capital or voting rights.
The company may at any time, in accordance with the legal provisions and regulations in force, ask the Euroclear France securities settlement agency to provide:
■ the personal name or company name, year of birth, address, and nationality of holders of shares of the company;
At 31 December 2018, the share capital stood at €50,169,049 and was made up of 50,169,049 fully paid-up shares, representing 77,383,252 total "theoretical" voting rights and 76,807,364 total "effective" voting rights (excluding treasury shares).
There are no stricter conditions than the law to modify shareholder rights.
Pursuant to Article L. 225-37-5 of the French Commercial Code, the factors which could affect a takeover bid are as follows:
See following page: "Breakdown of share capital and voting rights at 31 December 2018".
See section entitled, "Shareholder agreements – concerted voting blocks".
The Annual General Meeting of 16 May 2018 authorized the Board of Directors to implement a share buyback program and to use fi nancial delegations of authority to increase the share capital in the event of a takeover bid, subject to legal and regulatory provisions.
| Share Capital | Voting Rights | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGM | EGM | OGM | EGM | ||||||||
| 12/31/2018 | Shares | % | Shares | % | Votes | % Effective | % Theoretical | Votes | % Effective | % Theoretical | |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT |
17,902 | 0.04% | 17,902 | 0.04% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | |
| Associates | 9,073,872 | 18.09% | 9,805,872 | 19.55% | 18,099,076 | 23.56% | 23.39% | 19,563,076 | 25.47% | 25.28% | |
| SUB-TOTAL VENELLE |
9,091,774 | 18.12% | 9,823,774 | 19.58% | 18,134,880 | 23.61% | 23.44% | 19,598,880 | 25.52% | 25.33% | |
| SUB-TOTAL GÉ NÉ RACTION MEMBERS (1) |
5,477,628 | 10.92% | 5,511,242 | 10.99% | 9,982,522 | 13.00% | 12.90% | 10,049,750 | 13.08% | 12.99% | |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | 4,257,996 | 8.49% | 3 | 0.00% | 8,514,253 | 11.09% | 11.00% | 6 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Associates | 477,608 | 0.95% | 4,716,785 | 9.40% | 923,468 | 1.20% | 1.19% | 9,400,083 | 12.24% | 12.15% | |
| SUB-TOTAL FÉDÉRACTIVE |
4,735,604 | 9.44% | 4,716,788 | 9.40% | 9,437,721 | 12.29% | 12.20% | 9,400,089 | 12.24% | 12.15% | |
| SUB-TOTAL OTHER (2) |
813,321 | 1.62% | 853,523 | 1.70% | 1,334,443 | 1.74% | 1.72% | 1,414,847 | 1.84% | 1.83% | |
| FOUNDER GROUP |
20,118,327 40.10% 20,905,327 | 41.67% | 38,889,566 | 50.63% | 50.26% 40,463,566 | 52.68% | 52.29% | ||||
| FSP | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 5,267,752 | 6.86% | 6.81% | 5,267,752 | 6.86% | 6.81% | |
| FFP Invest | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 5,043,044 | 6.57% | 6.52% | 5,043,044 | 6.57% | 6.52% | |
| Employees | 1,375,777 | 2.74% | 1,376,911 | 2.74% | 2,245,651 | 2.92% | 2.90% | 2,247,919 | 2.93% | 2.90% | |
| French investors | 6,673,438 | 13.30% | 5,886,503 | 11.73% | 7,663,629 | 9.98% | 9.90% | 6,089,759 | 7.93% | 7.87% | |
| Foreign shareholders |
13,824,066 | 27.55% | 13,824,173 | 27.56% | 14,347,441 | 18.68% | 18.54% | 14,347,656 | 18.68% | 18.54% | |
| Individual shareholders |
2,446,156 | 4.88% | 2,444,849 | 4.87% | 3,350,281 | 4.36% | 4.33% | 3,347,668 | 4.36% | 4,33 % | |
| Treasury shares | 575,888 | 1.15% | 575,888 | 1.15% | 575,888 | 0.74% | 575,888 | 0.74% | |||
| TOTAL | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 76,807,364 77,383,252 | 76,807,364 77,383,252 |
(1) GÉNÉRACTIONis a shareholders' association under Swiss law that does not own SEB shares and includes a number of SEB shareholders who are members of the Founding Family Group.
(2) The OTHER category includes individual shareholders who are members of the Founder Group and are not affi liated to one of the three groups listed in this table.
As a reminder, voting rights attached to stripped shares belong to the bare holder for decisions covered by the Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") and to the usufruct holder for those covered by the Ordinary General Meeting ("OGM").
Registered nominal shares held by the same person for at least fi ve years give entitlement to double voting rights.
The total number of "effective" voting rights or voting rights that are "exercisable at the Annual General Meeting" total 76,807,364, not including non-voting shares, i.e. those held by SEB S.A. at 31 December 2018.
The total number of "theoretical" voting rights is 77,383,252 as of 31 December 2018. This number includes, under the terms of Article 223- 11 of the AMF's General regulations, all shares with voting rights attached, as well as non-voting shares.
The term "Founder Group", used in the table above, refers to a group of natural persons who are either direct descendants of the Lescure family or related to the family through marriage, and any legal entities that they control.
Some individuals who are partners of FÉDÉRACTIVE have temporarily granted the usufruct of their shares to the controlling holding company FÉDÉRACTIVE, which represents the equity interests of some members of the F ounding F amily.
Some individuals who are partners of FÉDÉRACTIVE or VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT have granted the usufruct of their shares to foundations. These shares are included under "French investors" at the OGM and under FÉDÉRACTIVE"Associates" or VENELLE"Associates" at the EGM.
On 27 February 2019, VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT, the associates of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT, GÉNÉRACTION (1), the members of GÉNÉRACTION and the HPP holding company entered into a new shareholders' agreement (the "Agreement") in the presence of SEB, which replaced the various shareholder agreements previously signed (notably the Agreement of 19 November 2016) (2) for the parties involved.
On this occasion, the family holding company VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT, GÉNÉRACTION, and their associates and members, confirmed their intention to implement a long-term management policy for Groupe SEB in writing to the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) in order to ensure the longevity of their control, thus maintaining the concerted voting block formed by the members of the Founder Group in May 1989.
The Shareholders' Agreement, which has an initial term of four years and whose scope has been broadened compared to previous Agreements, aims to stabilize the SEB share capital by strengthening the ties between its signatories (more than 260 people, including the seventh generation of the Founder Group) and to ensure the longterm control of family shareholders over the Groupe SEB , in particular through a right of fi rst offer and full tag-along rights.
The Agreement also aims to preserve the assets and interests of its signatories, strengthens the consultation process of its signatories, as well as improvethe monitoring of their shareholdings through a timely and effective procedure.
The main provisions of the Shareholders' Agreement were notifi ed to the AMF, which published a summary thereof, in accordance with applicable regulations (3).
Some of the Founder Group's shareholders who are signatories to the Agreement are also planning to create a core SEB shareholding and to embark together on a program to diversify their assets.
FÉDÉRACTIVE, its associates and members, who are not parties to the Agreement, have decided to discontinue participation in the aforementioned concerted voting block. However, FÉDÉRACTIVE, its associates and members, who terminated the FÉDÉRACTIVE shareholders'agreement entered into on 9 July 2008 (4), have stated that they are continuing their concerted voting block together by maintaining their commitment to implement a common long-term management policy for SEB (5).
Following the signature of the Shareholders' Agreement on 27 February 2019, and the subsequent exit of FÉDÉRACTIVE and its members from the existing family concerted voting block, (i) the voting block now composed of VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT, its associates , the members of GÉ NÉRACTION, and other family shareholders on the one hand and (ii) the voting block composed of FÉDÉRACTIVE, its associates and members, on the other hand , fi led declarations with the AMF and the company concerning their ownership interests in SEB and disclosed that the below thresholds had been crossed:
| Share Capital | Voting Rights | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGM | EGM | OGM | EGM | ||||||||
| Shares | % | Shares | % | Votes | % Effective | % Theoretical | Votes | % Effective | % Theoretical | ||
| SHAREHOLDERS FROM FOUNDER GROUP | |||||||||||
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT |
17,902 | 0.04% | 17,902 | 0.04% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | |
| Associates | 9,073,539 | 18.09% | 9,805,539 | 19.54% | 18,110,410 | 23.57% | 23.40% | 19,574,410 | 25.48% | 25.29% | |
| SUB-TOTAL VENELLE |
9,091,441 | 18.12% | 9,823,441 | 19.58% | 18,146,214 | 23.62% | 23.45% | 19,610,214 | 25.52% | 25.34% | |
| SUB-TOTAL GÉ NÉ RACTION MEMBERS* |
5,477,628 | 10.92% | 5,511,242 | 10.99% | 9,982,522 | 12.99% | 12.90% | 10,049,750 | 13.08% | 12.99% | |
| SUB-TOTAL OTHER** |
813,321 | 1.62% | 853,523 | 1.70% | 1,334,443 | 1.74% | 1.72% | 1,414,847 | 1.84% | 1.83% | |
| TOTAL CONCERTED VOTING BLOCK |
15,382,390 30.66% 16,188,206 | 32.27% | 29,463,179 | 38.35% | 38.07% 31,074,811 | 40.45% | 40.15% | ||||
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | 4,257,996 | 8.49% | 3 | 0.00% | 8,514,253 | 11.08% | 11.00% | 6 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Associates | 477,608 | 0.95% | 4,716,785 | 9.40% | 923,468 | 1.20% | 1.19% | 9,400,083 | 12.23% | 12.15% | |
| SUB-TOTAL FÉDÉRACTIVE |
4,735,604 | 9.44% | 4,716,788 | 9.40% | 9,437,721 | 12.28% | 12.19% | 9,400,089 | 12.23% | 12.15% | |
| OTHER SHAREHOLDERS |
29,489,382 | 58.78% | 28,702,382 | 57.21% | 37,929,939 | 49.37% | 49.01% | 36,355,939 | 47.32% | 46.98% | |
| Treasury Shares | 561,673 | 1.12% | 561,673 | 1.12% | 561,673 | 0.73% | 561,673 | 0.73% | |||
| TOTAL 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 76,830,839 77,392,512 | 76,830,839 77,392,512 |
* GÉNÉRACTIONis a shareholders' association under Swiss law that does not own SEB shares and includes a number of SEB shareholders who are members of the Founding Family Group.
** The OTHER category includes individual shareholders who are members of the Founder Group and are not affi liated to one of the three groups listed in this table.
(1) GÉNÉRACTIONis a shareholders' association under Swiss law that does not own SEB shares and includes a number of SEB shareholders who are members of the Founding Family Group .
(2) Opinion of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers no. 216C2696 of 1 December 2016 .
(3) Opinion of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers no. 219C0415 of 7 March 2019.
(4) Opinion of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers no. 208C1659 of 11 September 2008 .
(5) Opinion of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers no. 219C0415 of 7 March 2019.
| Agreements in force during 2018 |
2013 | 2014 | 2016 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutreil | Dutreil | Jacob | Dutreil | Jacob | Jacob | Jacob | ||||
| Regime | Art 885 I bis of the French General Tax Code |
Art 885 I bis of the French General Tax Code |
Art 787 B of the French General Tax Code |
Art 885 I bis of the French General Tax Code |
Art 787 B of the French General Tax Code |
Art 787 B of the French General Tax Code |
Art 787 B of the French General Tax Code |
|||
| Date of signing | 12/12/2013 | 03/12/2014 | 03/12/2014 | 01/12/2016 | 01/12/2016 | 01/12/2016 | 01/12/2016 | |||
| Term of collective commitment |
6 years | 5 years | 5 years | 6 years | 2 years | 4 years | 6 years | |||
| Expiry date of commitment |
12/12/2019 | 03/12/2019 | 03/12/2019 | 01/12/2022 | 01/12/2018 | 01/12/2020 | 01/12/2022 | |||
| Renewal terms | 1 year by tacit renewal |
1 year by tacit renewal |
None | 1 year by tacit renewal |
None | None | None | |||
| Shares pledged upon signing the agreement, as a percentage of the share capital |
22,78 | 27,34 | 27,34 | 26,48 | 26,48 | 26,48 | 26,48 | |||
| Shares pledged upon signing the agreement, as a percentage of the voting rights |
29,06 | 36,15 | 36,15 | 36,43 | 36,43 | 36,43 | 36,43 | |||
| Names of signatory executive offi cers |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise |
|||
| Names of signatories holding at least 5% of the share capital and/or voting rights |
FSP | FSP | FSP | - | - | - | - |
| Share Capital | Voting Rights | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGM | EGM | OGM | EGM | ||||||||
| 12/31/2018 | Shares | % | Shares | % | Votes | % Effective | % Theoretical | Votes | % Effective | % Theoretical | |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT |
17,902 | 0.04% | 17,902 | 0.04% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | |
| Associates | 9,073,872 | 18.09% | 9,805,872 | 19.55% | 18,099,076 | 23.56% | 23.39% | 19,563,076 | 25.47% | 25.28% | |
| SUB-TOTAL VENELLE |
9,091,774 | 18.12% | 9,823,774 | 19.58% | 18,134,880 | 23.61% | 23.44% | 19,598,880 | 25.52% | 25.33% | |
| SUB-TOTAL GÉ NÉ RACTION MEMBERS (1) |
5,477,628 | 10.92% | 5,511,242 | 10.99% | 9,982,522 | 13.00% | 12.90% | 10,049,750 | 13.08% | 12.99% | |
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | 4,257,996 | 8.49% | 3 | 0.00% | 8,514,253 | 11.09% | 11.00% | 6 | 0.00% | 0.00% | |
| Associates | 477,608 | 0.95% | 4,716,785 | 9.40% | 923,468 | 1.20% | 1.19% | 9,400,083 | 12.24% | 12.15% | |
| SUB-TOTAL FÉDÉRACTIVE |
4,735,604 | 9.44% | 4,716,788 | 9.40% | 9,437,721 | 12.29% | 12.20% | 9,400,089 | 12.24% | 12.15% | |
| SUB-TOTAL OTHER (2) |
813,321 | 1.62% | 853,523 | 1.70% | 1,334,443 | 1.74% | 1.72% | 1,414,847 | 1.84% | 1.83% | |
| FOUNDER GROUP |
20,118,327 40.10% 20,905,327 | 41.67% | 38,889,566 | 50.63% | 50.26% 40,463,566 | 52.68% | 52.29% | ||||
| FSP | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 5,267,752 | 6.86% | 6.81% | 5,267,752 | 6.86% | 6.81% | |
| FFP Invest | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 5,043,044 | 6.57% | 6.52% | 5,043,044 | 6.57% | 6.52% | |
| Employees | 1,375,777 | 2.74% | 1,376,911 | 2.74% | 2,245,651 | 2.92% | 2.90% | 2,247,919 | 2.93% | 2.90% | |
| French investors | 6,673,438 | 13.30% | 5,886,503 | 11.73% | 7,663,629 | 9.98% | 9.90% | 6,089,759 | 7.93% | 7.87% | |
| Foreign shareholders |
13,824,066 | 27.55% | 13,824,173 | 27.56% | 14,347,441 | 18.68% | 18.54% | 14,347,656 | 18.68% | 18.54% | |
| Individual shareholders |
2,446,156 | 4.88% | 2,444,849 | 4.87% | 3,350,281 | 4.36% | 4.33% | 3,347,668 | 4.36% | 4,33 % | |
| Treasury shares | 575,888 | 1.15% | 575,888 | 1.15% | 575,888 | 0.74% | 575,888 | 0.74% | |||
| TOTAL | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 76,807,364 77,383,252 | 76,807,364 77,383,252 |
(1) GÉNÉRACTIONis a shareholders' association under Swiss law that does not own SEB shares and includes a number of SEB shareholders who are members of the Founding Family Group.
(2) The OTHER category includes individual shareholders who are members of the Founder Group and are not affi liated to one of the three groups listed in this table.
| Share capital | Voting rights | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGM | EGM | OGM | EGM | |||||||
| 31/12/2017 | Shares | % | Shares | % | Votes | % Effective % Theoretical | Votes | % Effective % Theoretical | ||
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | 4,284,033 | 8.54% | 3 | 0.00% | 8,503,392 | 11.53% | 11.44% | 6 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Associates | 6,289,241 12.54% | 10,628,271 | 21.18% | 11,135,970 | 15.09% | 14.99% | 19,749,356 | 26.77% | 26.58% | |
| SUB-TOTAL | 10,573,274 | 21.08% | 10,628,274 | 21.18% | 19,639,362 | 26.62% | 26.43% | 19,749,362 | 26.77% | 26.58% |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT |
17,902 | 0.04% | 17,902 | 0.04% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Associates | 9,088,086 18.11% | 9,820,086 | 19.57% | 18,084,442 | 24.51% | 24.34% | 19,548,442 | 26.50% | 26.31% | |
| SUB-TOTAL | 9,105,988 18.15% | 9,837,988 | 19.61% | 18,120,246 | 24.56% | 24.38% | 19,584,246 | 26.54% | 26.35% | |
| FOUNDER GROUP |
19,679,262 39.23% 20,466,262 | 40.79% 37,759,608 | 51.18% | 50.81% 39,333,608 | 53.31% | 52.93% | ||||
| FSP | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 2,633,876 | 3.57% | 3.54% | 2,633,876 | 3.57% | 3.54% |
| FFP Invest | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 5,043,044 | 6.84% | 6.79% | 5,043,044 | 6.84% | 6.79% |
| Employees | 1,884,105 | 3.76% | 1,884,105 | 3.76% | 2,988,359 | 4.05% | 4.02% | 2,988,359 | 4.05% | 4.02% |
| French investors | 5,973,687 11.91% | 5,186,752 | 10.34% | 7,051,155 | 9.56% | 9.49% | 5,477,220 | 7.42% | 7.37% | |
| Foreign shareholders |
14,645,072 29.19% | 14,646,002 | 29.19% | 15,103,528 | 20.47% | 20.32% | 15,105,387 | 20.47% | 20.33% | |
| Individual shareholders |
2,296,819 | 4.58% | 2,295,825 | 4.58% | 3,198,526 | 4.34% | 4.30% | 3,196,602 | 4.33% | 4.30% |
| Treasury shares | 534,706 | 1.07% | 534,706 | 1.07% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 73,778,096 74,312,802 | 73,778,096 74,312,802 |
| Share capital | Voting rights | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGM | EGM | OGM | EGM | |||||||
| 31/12/2016 | Shares | % | Shares | % | Votes | % Effective % Theoretical | Votes | % Effective % Theoretical | ||
| FÉDÉRACTIVE | 4,360,202 | 8.69% | 3 | 0.00% | 8,620,655 | 11.67% | 11.57% | 6 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Associates | 6,265,675 12.49% | 10,680,874 | 21.29% | 11,098,968 | 15.03% | 14.90% | 19,829,617 | 26.85% | 26.62% | |
| SUB-TOTAL | 10,625,877 | 21.18% | 10,680,877 | 21.29% | 19,719,623 | 26.70% | 26.48% | 19,829,623 | 26.85% | 26.62% |
| VENELLE INVESTISSEMENT |
17,902 | 0.04% | 17,902 | 0.04% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% | 35,804 | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Associates | 9,110,214 18.16% | 9,842,214 | 19.62% | 18,086,605 | 24.49% | 24.28% | 19,550,605 | 26.47% | 26.25% | |
| SUB-TOTAL | 9,128,116 18.19% | 9,860,116 | 19.65% | 18,122,409 | 24.54% | 24.33% 19,586,409 | 26.52% | 26.30% | ||
| FOUNDER GROUP |
19,753,993 39.37% 20,540,993 | 40.94% 37,842,032 | 51.24% | 50.81% 39,416,032 | 53.37% | 52.92% | ||||
| FSP | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 2,633,876 | 5.25% | 2,633,876 | 3.57% | 3.54% | 2,633,876 | 3.57% | 3.54% |
| FFP Invest | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 2,521,522 | 5.03% | 5,043,044 | 6.83% | 6.77% | 5,043,044 | 6.83% | 6.77% |
| Employees | 1,851,530 | 3.69% | 1,851,530 | 3.69% | 2,877,877 | 3.90% | 3.86% | 2,877,877 | 3.90% | 3.86% |
| French investors | 5,420,681 10.80% | 4,633,681 | 9.24% | 7,007,456 | 9.49% | 9.41% | 5,433,456 | 7.36% | 7.30% | |
| Foreign shareholders |
15,086,206 30.07% | 15,087,136 | 30.07% | 15,290,252 | 20.70% | 20.53% | 15,292,111 | 20.70% | 20.53% | |
| Individual shareholders |
2,279,131 | 4.54% | 2,278,202 | 4.54% | 3,165,129 | 4.29% | 4.25% | 3,163,270 | 4.28% | 4.25% |
| Treasury shares | 622,110 | 1.24% | 622,110 | 1.24% | ||||||
| TOTAL | 50,169,049 | 50,169,049 | 73,859,666 74,481,776 | 73,859,666 74,481,776 |
At 31 December 2018, 6,600 shareholders owned registered SEB shares and 17,800 shareholders held SEB bearer shares (request for information about the identity of bearer shareholders dated 31 December 2018).
Not including the shareholders mentioned in the tables above, and to the best of the company's knowledge, there are no other shareholders that directly or indirectly hold more than 5% of the share capital or voting rights at 31 December 2018.
During the year, 15 individual shareholders used pure registered SEB shares as collateral for loans for the benefi t of their fi nancial intermediaries. This concerned a total of 445,245 shares, or 0.89% of the share capital.
| Year | Nature of the capital increase | Changes in number of shares |
Par value (in €) | Issue premium (in €) |
Subsequent capital amounts (in €) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | No change to share capital | 50,169,049 | |||
| 2015 | No change to share capital | 50,169,049 | |||
| 2016 | No change to share capital | 50,169,049 | |||
| 2017 | No change to share capital | 50,169,049 | |||
| 2018 | No change to share capital | 50,169,049 |
On 17 November 2016, as part of the fi nancing of the WMF acquisition, the company issued €150 million in ORNAE bonds (bonds with optional reimbursement in cash and/or existing shares). In accordance with the provisions of the issue contract, were the conversion price to be hit, the only equity securities to be provided to holders of these ORNAE would be existing company shares. The conversion would thus not be dilutive for shareholders.
In 2016:
In 2017:
■ part of the temporary grant of the usufruct of shares to FÉDÉRACTIVE ended on 1 July and was not renewed;
In 2018:
| Type of operation | Resolution no. | Authorization date |
End of authorization |
Maximum authorized | Used at 31/12/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasury share purchases in 2018 for no more than €210 per share |
10 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | 5,016,904 shares €1,053,550,029 |
258,109 shares |
| Cancellation of treasury shares | 11 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | 5,016,904 shares | |
| Issuing of all shares or share equivalents with pre-emptive subscription rights (a) |
12 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | Shares: 5 million aggregate par value Debt securities: €500 million |
|
| Issuing of all shares or share equivalents without pre-emptive subscription rights (a) |
13 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | Shares: 5 million aggregate par value Debt securities: €500 million |
|
| (a) Blanket ceiling of two authorizations to issue shares or share equivalents |
15 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | €10 million aggregate par value |
|
| Capital increase by capitalization of reserves, profi t or premiums or additional paid-in capital |
16 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | €10 million aggregate par value |
|
| Authorization to award performance shares to Group executive offi cers and employees |
17 | 16/05/2018 | 16/07/2019 | 0.3907% of the share capital 196,000 shares |
185,330 shares |
Further to the authorizations conferred upon it by the Meetings of 2017 and 2018 and pursuant to Article 225-209 of the French Commercial Code, 258,109 shares were acquired in 2018 at an average price of €143.17.
In accordance with Article 6.3 (b) of European Commission regulation no. 2273/2003 of 22 December 2003, these 258,109 shares were acquired through Natixis Corporate Broking, which is responsible for the buyback program.
A total of 63,882 shares were sold following the exercise of call options at an average price of €53.96, and 164,925 performance shares granted under the 2015 plan were permanently vested.
In addition, a liquidity agreement which came into force on 1 September 2013 and was initially concluded with Natixis Corporate Broking, was transferred to Oddo BHF with effect from 2 July 2018, under the terms of the partnership between Natixis and Oddo BHF. This agreement complies with the Code of Ethics issued by the French Association of Financial Markets (Association française des marchés financiers), which was approved by the AMF on 8 March 2011.
In 2018, a total of 459,651 shares were purchased at an average price of €149.24, and 447,771 shares were sold at an average price of €150.26 under the liquidity agreement. Transaction costs amounted to €33,360 incl. tax (including the annual fee for the liquidity agreement, commissions and the Tax on Financial Transactions).
At 31 December 2018, the company held 575,888 of its own shares with a par value of €1, and a gross value of €64,960,166.40. These treasury shares represent 1.15% of the company's share capital, of which 558,086 under the buyback agreement and 17,802 under the liquidity contract.
The company will renew its request to the Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019 for authorization to trade in its own shares.
At 31 December 2018, as part of a Company Savings Scheme, the benefi ciaries held 1,241,255 shares, 728,155 of which were owned via an employee mutual investment fund and 513,100 were directly owned, representing 2.47% of the share capital and 2.72% of the voting rights. With the addition of SEB shares held by employees outside the savings scheme, employees held a total of 2.74 % of the share capital and 2.93 % of the voting rights.
To attract and retain competent and motivated employees at all levels, Groupe SEB has always combined its dynamic remuneration and career management policies with an active policy of long-term employee shareholding and staff participation in profi ts, through:
In 2018, charges recognized for profit-sharing and b onus plans amounted to €33.6 million.
Over the past fi ve years, the sums assigned were as follows:
| (in € millions) | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sum allocated | 33.3 | 31.4 | 36.7 | 37.6 | 33.6 |
| Of which employer's social tax contribution | 5.3 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 5.6 |
Groupe SEB operates two types of stock option or performance shares plans:
Furthermore, all recipients of stock options and/or performance shares receive an internal directive put out each year for the following annual reporting period, defi ning the blackout periods in accordance with the recommendations of the AMF in terms of the company's accounting calendar, and particularly the announcement of earnings. The Stock Market Ethics Charter memo also reminds its recipients of the rules regarding the use of information deemed privileged by stock market regulations.
The Group started issuing performance shares in 2009.
The shares are awarded to recipients following a three-year vesting period (two years for plans before 2013), subject to performance and continued employment requirements. Benefi ciaries of the shares awarded must hold them for an additional two years, except for the 2017 and 2018 plans, for which there is no additional lock-up period.
The performance-based criteria are related to the achievement of targets for Revenue and Operating Result from Activity over the vesting period.
The Group awarded stock options until 2012.
The exercise price is equal to the average of the last 20 stock market prices preceding the date of award by the Board. No discount is proposed on this average price.
The stock options last for eight years. They can only be exercised four years from their award date.
The stock options awarded to the Chief Executive Offi cer and to the other members of the Executive Committee are subject to performance-based criteria related to targets for Revenue and Operating Result from Activity. Some of these criteria are yearly, while others pertain to a four-year period.
| At 31 December 2018 | Purchase plan | Purchase plan |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting date | 12/05/2010 | 10/05/2012 |
| Number of options authorized by the General Meeting | 649,373 | 415,000 |
| Duration of the authorization | 14 months | 14 months |
| Date of Board of Directors' Meeting | 18/06/2010 | 15/06/2012 |
| Number of options granted | 412,592 | 408,925 |
| of which to the Management Committee | 259,442 | 175,500 |
| of which to executive offi cers | 59,942 | 54,000 |
| of which to employee recipients of the largest number of options | 57,600 | 49,400 |
| Number of initial recipients | 144 | 186 |
| Stock option exercise start date | 18/06/2014 | 15/06/2016 |
| Expiration date | 18/06/2018 | 15/06/2020 |
| PURCHASE PRICE (in €) | 53.86 | 54.12 |
| Average of last 20 prices prior to Board Meeting (in €) | 53.85 | 54.11 |
| Number of options exercised | 394,079 | 316,696 |
| Number of options canceled | 18,513 | 17,621 |
| BALANCE OF STOCK OPTIONS NOT YET EXERCISED | 0 | 74,608 |
At 31 December 2018
| Meeting date | 12/05/2015 | 19/05/2016 | 11/05/2017 | 16/05/2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of shares authorized | ||||
| by the General Meeting | 171,075 | 171,075 | 196,000 | 196,000 |
| Duration of the authorization | 14 months | 14 months | 14 months | 14 months |
| Date of Board of Directors' Meeting | 12/05/2015 | 19/05/2016 | 11/05/2017 | 16/05/2018 |
| Number of shares granted: | 169,450 | 168,605 | 193,450 | 185,330 |
| of which to executive offi cers | 27,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 | 27,000 |
| of which to the Management Committee/Executive Committee (excluding executive offi cers) (a) |
54,000 | 47,250 | 47,250 | 38,750 |
| of which 10 largest amounts awarded to employees (excluding executive offi cers/Executive Committee/Management Committee) |
19,500 | 16,200 | 22,650 | 19,450 |
| Number of initial recipients: | 189 | 199 | 245 | 249 |
| of which to executive offi cers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| of which to the Management Committee/Executive Committee (excluding executive offi cers) (a) |
15 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| of which 10 largest amounts awarded to employees (excluding executive offi cers/Executive Committee/Management Committee) |
22 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
| Award date | 12/05/2015 | 19/05/2016 | 11/05/2017 | 16/05/2018 |
| Vesting date | 12/05/2018 | 19/05/2019 | 11/05/2020 | 16/05/2021 |
| Expiry of lock-up period | 12/05/2020 | 19/05/2021 | 11/05/2020 | 16/05/2021 |
| Number of shares canceled | 4,525 | 4,500 | 1,450 | 0 |
| Number of shares vested | 164,925 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BALANCE OF SHARES YET TO BE VESTED | 0 | 164,015 | 192,000 | 185,330 |
(a) The Management Committee was discontinued on 1 September 2015, the Group's Management is now concentrated in one structure, the Executive Committee.
Stock options granted in 2018
| Total number of options allocated | Weighted average price | Plan in question |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable | N/A | N/A |
Stock options exercised in 2018
| Date of the plan | 18/06/2010 | 15/06/2012 |
|---|---|---|
| Type of stock options | Purchase | Purchase |
| Price of option | €53.86 | €54.12 |
| Quantity of options exercised | 31,692 | 18,520 |
Performance shares granted in 2018
Total number of shares granted 51,800
Performance shares vested in 2018
PERFORMANCE SHARES VESTED BY THE TEN NON-EXECUTIVE OFFICER EMPLOYEES WHOSE NUMBER VESTED IS THE HIGHEST Date of the plan 12/05/2015 Quantity 52,250
The company's shares are listed on Paris Euronext, compartment A, under ISIN Code FR0000121709. They are included in the Euronext 3722 Durable Household Products index.
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock market capitalization at 31 December (in €m) | €5,659 | 7,749 | 6,459 |
| Highest price mid-session | €175.900 | €169.900 | €136.000 |
| Lowest price mid-session | €105.600 | €115.700 | €79.900 |
| Closing price on the last trading day | €112.800 | €154.450 | €128.750 |
| Average of the last 30 prices for the year | €116.917 | €154.185 | €128.135 |
| Average of the closing prices for the year | €149.663 | €145.896 | €109.626 |
| Average daily trading volume (number of shares) | 56,108 | 53,452 | 60,252 |
| Number of shares traded |
Capital traded (in € thousands) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest price mid-session (in €) |
Lowest price mid-session (in €) |
Daily averages | ||
| 2018 | 175.90 | 105.60 | 56,108 | 8,383 |
| January | 175.90 | 152.40 | 58,612 | 9,711 |
| February | 173.20 | 158.10 | 65,155 | 10,749 |
| March | 167.00 | 153.60 | 61,303 | 9,662 |
| April | 161.70 | 152.10 | 52,610 | 8,291 |
| May | 166.50 | 154.10 | 43,684 | 6,938 |
| June | 157.70 | 145.50 | 68,137 | 10,349 |
| July | 166.70 | 142.70 | 57,516 | 8,735 |
| August | 164.30 | 153.70 | 39,103 | 6,204 |
| September | 160.60 | 143.10 | 50,181 | 7,566 |
| October | 151.70 | 117.00 | 74,520 | 10,141 |
| November | 129.60 | 112.20 | 51,430 | 6,326 |
| December | 130.10 | 105.60 | 51,039 | 5,883 |
It is SEB S.A.'s policy to ensure that its shareholders are given a fair return on the capital they invest in the Group. The Board of Directors aims to ensure regular and continuous growth in dividend payments.
A 10% dividend supplement, rounded down to the nearest even number of euro cents, will be paid in 2019 to long-term shareholders in respect of shares registered in the same shareholder's name since at least 31 December 2016 and still held on the ex-dividend date of 27 May 2019. No single shareholder will be entitled to the dividend supplement on any shares in excess of 0.5% of the company's share capital.
The term of dividend limitation is fi ve years, as from the payment date. After this time, unclaimed dividends are paid over to the State.
| Years | Number of remunerated shares |
Ordinary dividend per share (in €) |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ||
| Dividend | 48,621,121 | 1.39 |
| Dividend supplement | 17,434,675 | 0.139 |
| 2015 | ||
| Dividend | 49,237,120 | 1.44 |
| Dividend supplement | 18,902,996 | 0.144 |
| 2016 | ||
| Dividend | 49,283,700 | 1.54 |
| Dividend supplement | 19,067,423 | 0.154 |
| 2017 | ||
| Dividend | 49,619,442 | 1.72 |
| Dividend supplement | 18,816,050 | 0.172 |
| 2018 | ||
| Dividend | 49,838,609 | 2.00 |
| Dividend supplement | 18,636,560 | 0.200 |
Based on the 2018 results, a net dividend of €2.14 per share will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019.
The ex-dividend date will be 27 May 2019 and the dividend will be paid on 29 May 2019.


| 8.1. | Agenda for the Combined Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019 |
316 |
|---|---|---|
| Resolutions to be submitted to the Ordinary Annual General Meeting Resolutions to be submitted |
316 | |
| to the Extraordinary Annual General Meeting | 316 | |
| 8.2. | Draft resolutions and Board of Directors' report to the Combined Annual General Meeting |
|
| of 22 May 2019 |
317 | |
| Ordinary resolutions | 317 | |
| Extraordinary resolutions | 323 |
8.3 Statutory Auditor's Report on Regulated Agreements and Commitments 334
This Chapter presents the Board of Directors' report on the draft resolutions as well as the full text of the resolutions that will be submitted to the Combined Annual General Meeting of SEB S.A. to be held in Paris on 22 May 2019.
By voting on resolutions 1 and 2, the Board of Directors invites the shareholders to approve:
Details of these fi nancial statements appear in the 2018 Annual Financial Report, the main elements of which are contained in the meeting notice relating to the Annual General Meeting of 22 May 2019.
The aim of resolution 3 is to invite the shareholders to allocate the net result for 2018 and to set the dividend amount as follows:
■ a net ordinary dividend of €2.14 per share having a nominal value of €1, an increase of 7% compared with the 2017 dividend;
■ a supplementary dividend of 10% or €0.214 per share having a nominal value of €1.
The supplementary dividend will be paid on shares registered prior to 31 December 2016 and continuing to be registered in the name of the same holder until the ex-dividend date of 27 May 2019. These shares represent 58.03% of the outstanding total. No single shareholder will be entitled to the supplementary dividend on any shares in excess of 0.5% of the company's share capital.
The ex-dividend date will be 27 May 2019. The dividend will be paid as from 29 May 2019.
The dividend and the supplementary dividend qualify for the exemption referred to in Article 158-3.2 of the French General Tax Code.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the reportof the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors on the company's operations and results for the year ended 31 December 2018, approves the fi nancial statements as presented, which show net profi t of €99,556,997 .
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors, approves the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018, which show net profi t attributable to owners of the parent of €419,047,985.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, on the proposal of the Board of Directors, resolves to appropriate the net profi t for 2018 of €99,556,997 as follows:
| Net profi t | €99,556,997 |
|---|---|
| Retained earnings brought forward from prior year | €940,432,124 |
| Dividends on treasury shares credited to retained earnings | €1,028,172 |
| Profi t available for distribution | €1,041,017,293 |
| Dividend | €106,333,593 |
| Dividend supplement | €4,043,407 |
| Retained earnings | €930,640,293 |
The amount distributed to shareholders represents a dividend of €2.14 per share having a nominal value of €1.
The ex-dividend date will be 27 May 2019 and the dividend will be paid as from 29 May 2019.
Furthermore, as provided for in Article 46 of the Company's bylaws, a supplementary dividend of 10% of the dividend, amounting to €0.214 per share having a nominal value of €1, will be paid on shares registered in the name of the same holder throughout the period between 31 December 2016 and the ex-dividend date, 27 May 2019.
However, no single shareholder will be entitled to the supplementary dividend on any shares in excess of 0.5% of the company's capital.
The dividends distributed will qualify for the 40% exemption for natural persons who are tax residents of France, as per Article 158.3-2° of the French General Tax Code.
The Annual General Meeting acknowledges that dividends distributed for the last three years were as follows:
| Dividend qualifying for 40% exemption |
Dividend not | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial year | Dividend per share |
Premium per share |
Dividend | Premium | qualifying for 40% exemption |
|
| 2015 | 1.54 | 0.154 | 1.54 | 0.154 | - | |
| 2016 | 1.72 | 0.172 | 1.72 | 0.172 | - | |
| 2017 | 2.00 | 0.200 | 2.00 | 0.200 | - |
We hereby inform the shareholders that the Board of Directors has taken note of the expiry of the terms of office of Hubert Fèvre, William Gairard and Cédric Lescure at the end of the Annual General Meeting.
The Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, decided to replace Cédric Lescure and Hubert Fèvre, with Thierry Lescure (resolution 5) and GÉNÉRACTION , represented by Caroline Chevalley (resolution 6). In addition, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, the purpose of resolution 8 is to submit for your approval the reappointment, for four years, of William Gairard as a director.
On the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, the purpose of resolutions 4, 5, 6 and 7 is to submit for your approval the appointment as directors, for four years, of Jean-Pierre Duprieu, Thierry Lescure, GÉNÉRACTION , represented by Caroline Chevalley, and Aude de Vassart.
Please note that information on directors whose appointment or reappointment is proposed can be found in Chapter 2 "Corporate Governance" of the 2018 Registration Document.
Below, the Board sets out the reasons for proposing the appointment or reappointment of each one. It is indeed the Board's aim to ensure a policy of diversity in its composition and a balance between the various interests involved. To this end, it emphasizes the complementarity of backgrounds and expertise.
In addition, the following two appointments are being proposed by the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, and in agreement with the family's concerted voting block , in order to rejuvenate the family representation and reappoint their representatives .
The Nominations and Remuneration Committee examined the independent status of Jean-Pierre Duprieu prior to its recommendation for the appointment, and found that the candidate meets all the independence criteria defi ned by the AFEP-MEDEF Code as described in Chapter 2.
At it meeting on 26 February 2019, the Board of Directors deemed Jean-Pierre Duprieu, Thierry Lescure, GÉNÉRACTION , represented by Caroline Chevalley, and Aude de Vassart, William Gairard capable of assuming the duties of director and of making an effective contribution to the work of the Board of Directors.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, appoints Jean-Pierre Duprieu as a director for a period of four years expiring at the close of the Ordinary Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the fi nancial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors,
Resolution 4: Appointment of J ean-Pierre Duprieu 8 as a director appoints Thierry Lescure as a director for a period of four years expiring at the close of the Ordinary Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the fi nancial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, appoints GÉNÉRACTION , which appointed Caroline Chevalley as its permanent representative, as a director for a period of four years expiring at the close of the Ordinary Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the fi nancial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, appoints Aude de Vassart as a director for a period of four years expiring at the close of the Ordinary Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the fi nancial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, reappoints William Gairard as a director for a period of four years expiring at the close of the Ordinary Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the fi nancial statements for the year ending 31 December 2022.
On the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, and pursuant to the Board of Directors' meeting of 19 December 2018, the purpose of Resolution 9 is to submit for
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General your approval the increase in the overall amount of attendance fees allocated to the Board of Directors to take into account the increase in the size of the Board of Directors from 14 to 17 members.
Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, sets the maximum annual amount of attendance fees to be distributed among the members of the Board of Directors at €600,000 per year. This decision applies to the current fi nancial year and will be maintained until decided otherwise.
Pursuant to Article L. 225-38 of the French Commercial Code, the purpose of Resolution 10 is to submit for your approval the executive offi cer agreement and the commitments entered into between the company and Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating
Resolution 10: Approval of the executive officer agreement and the commitments entered into between the company and Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Officer, pursuant to the provisions of Articles L. 225-38 and L. 225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code
The Annual General Meeting, having considered the statutory auditors' special report on regulated agreements and the Board Offi cer, which were authorized at the Board of Directors' Meeting of 19 December 2018, as detailed in Chapter 2.5 of the Registration Document.
of Directors' report, approves the executive offi cer agreement and the commitments entered into between the company and the Chief Operating Offi cer, Stanislas de Gramont, establishing in particular his pension benefi ts and incapacity, disability and death insurance, as well as the performance criteria governing the payment of his severance allowance and the conditions for payment of any noncompete compensation.
Pursuant to Article L. 225-37-2 of the French Commercial Code, Resolution 11 invites the shareholders to approve the principles and criteria for determining, distributing and awarding the fi xed, variable and extraordinary components of the total remuneration and benefits of all kinds awarded to the Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer and to the Chief Operating Offi cer in consideration for the performance of their duties in 2019 and constituting the remuneration policy applying to them.
These principles and criteria are determined annually by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the Nominations
Resolution 11: Approval of the principles and criteria for determining, distributing and awarding the components of the remuneration and benefits of all kinds awarded to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and to Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Officer
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General and Remuneration Committee. Full details of these components can be found in the report in Chapter 2.5 of the 2018 Registration Document.
Pursuant to Article L. 225-100 of the French Commercial Code, the amounts resulting from the application of these principles and criteria will be submitted for shareholders approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held to approve the 2019 fi nancial statements.
Meetings, pursuant to Article L. 225-37-2 of the French Commercial Code, approves the principles and criteria for determining, distributing and awarding the fi xed, variable and extraordinary components of the total remuneration and benefi ts of all kinds awarded, as consideration for their duties, to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer, and to Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Offi cer, as set out in detail in the report accompanying the report referred to in Articles L. 225-100 and L. 225-102 of the French Commercial Code, presented in the 2018 Registration Document.
Pursuant to Article L. 225-100 of the French Commercial Code, as amended by the law on transparency, the fi ght against corruption and the modernization of the economy (Sapin II law), the fi xed and variable components of the total remuneration and benefi ts of all kinds due or granted for the 2018 fi nancial year to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer, to Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Offi cer, and to Bertrand
Pursuant to Articles L. 225-37-2 and L. 225-100 of the French Commercial Code, the Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance Neuschwander, Chief Operating Offi cer, must be approved by the Annual General Meeting.
Details of the various remuneration components are provided in the 2018 Registration Document, Chapter 2 "Corporate governance", section 5 "Say on Pay: Remuneration due or awarded to executive offi cers in respect of the year ended 31/12/2018".
with the quorum and majority requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, approves the fi xed and variable components of the total remuneration and benefi ts of all kinds paid or allocated for the 2018 fi nancial year to Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer, as set out in the "Say on pay – Remuneration due or awarded to executive offi cers in respect of the year ended 31/12/2018" section 5 of Chapter 2 "Corporate governance" of the 2018 Registration Document.
Pursuant to Articles L. 225-37-2 and L. 225-100 of the French Commercial Code, the Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, approves the fi xed and variable components of the total remuneration and benefi ts of all kinds paid or allocated for the 2018 fi nancial year to Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Operating Offi cer, as set out in the "Say on pay – Remuneration due or awarded to executive offi cers in respect of the year ended 31/12/2018" section 5 of Chapter 2 "Corporate governance" of the 2018 Registration Document.
Pursuant to Articles L. 225-37-2 and L. 225-100 of the French Commercial Code, the Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, approves the fi xed and variable components of the total remuneration and benefi ts of all kinds paid or allocated for the 2018 fi nancial year to Bertrand Neuschwander, Chief Operating Offi cer, as set out in the "Say on pay – Remuneration due or awarded to executive officers in respect of the year ended 31 December 2018" section 5 of Chapter 2 "Corporate governance" of the 2018 Registration Document.
The Annual General Meeting of 16 May 2018 authorized the Board of Directors to trade in the company's shares. In 2018, under its share buyback program, the company bought back 258,109 shares at an average price of €143.17 and sold 63,882 shares upon exercise of stock options at an average price of €53.96. In addition, a total of 459,651 shares were purchased at an average price of €149,24 and 447,771 shares sold at an average price of €150,26 under the liquidity contract.
At 31 December 2018, the company held 575,888 treasury shares with a par value of €1 and a gross value of €64,960,166.40. These treasury shares represent 1.15% of the company's share capital, including 558,086 under the buyback agreement and 17,802 under the liquidity contract.
These transactions are also described in Chapter 7 of the Registration Document, "Information on the company and its share capital".
Since the existing authorization is due to expire in July 2019, Resolution 15 invites the shareholders to again authorize the Board
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors :
of Directors, for a period of 14 months, to trade in the company's shares at a maximum price of €210 per share, excluding trading fees.
The authorization would cover a maximum of 10% of the share capital. the company could buy back its own shares with a view to:
In accordance with the law, these shares have been stripped of their voting rights.
may be carried out at any time at the Board's discretion, subject to compliance with the applicable securities regulations. The shares purchased under this authorization may be kept, sold or transferred by any method, including through block sales, at any time including while a public tender offer is in progress,
The Annual General Meeting of 16 May 2018 authorized the Board of Directors to cancel some or all of the shares acquired under the share buyback program, provided the number of shares canceled in any 24-month period does not exceed 10% of the share capital.
As the existing authorization is due to expire in July 2019, Resolution 16 invites the shareholders to once again authorize
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Extraordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors' report:
■ authorizes the Board of Directors to cancel, on one or more occasions at its discretion, some or all of the shares currently held the Board of Directors to cancel some or all of its shares, under the same terms and conditions.
This authorization would be given for a period of 14 months from the date of the Annual General Meeting.
or that may be held in the future by the company following share buybacks carried out pursuant to Article L. 225-209 of the French Commercial Code, provided the number of shares canceled in any 24-month period does not exceed 10% of the total shares outstanding. The difference between the purchase price of the canceled shares and their par value will be deducted from additional paid-in capital and retained earnings, with an amount corresponding to 10% of the share capital reduction being deducted from the legal reserve;
We would ask that shareholders give the Board of Directors the necessary powers to issue share equivalents that give immediate or future access to equity in the company or any company in which it directly or indirectly owns more than half of the share capital, in order to give the freedom to raise the funds the Group needs to grow, as it sees fi t and as market opportunities allow.
Shareholders will be asked, by voting on Resolution 17, to give the Board of Directors the power to decide to carry out one or more share capital increases, while maintaining pre-emption rights. The maximum par value of share capital increases that may be carried out under this delegation would be set at €5 million, or approximately 10% of the share capital at 31 December 2018.
In order to readily take any opportunities that may arise, we would ask shareholders to pass Resolutions 18 and 19 and thereby delegate authority to the Board of Directors to issue ordinary shares and/or share equivalents and/or debt securities, in the course of public offerings or private placements. Pre-emption rights shall be waived for these issues, although the Board of Directors may grant shareholders a preferential right to subscribe for such issues, for the period and in the manner of its choosing.
By law, the issue price must be at least equal to the weighted average price over the three trading sessions prior to being set, with a maximum possible discount of 5%.
Given the signifi cance of using these delegations, we would point out that the Board of Directors may only use them if the decision is approved by a qualifi ed majority of 14 of the 17 directors. Previously set at 12/14th, the Board of Directors decided to bring this majority into line with the new make-up of the Board of Directors.
■ grants this authorization to the Board of Directors for a period of 14 months and consequently decides that this authorization cancels
all authorizations given previously for the same purpose.
The maximum par value of the share capital increases that may be made under these delegations would be set at €5 million, or approximately 10% of the share capital. In addition, the nominal value of debt securities that may be issued may not exceed €500 million. All of these delegations of authority would thus be valid for a period of 14 months.
If and when the authorizations are used, the Board of Directors will prepare an additional report describing the fi nal terms of the issue, including the basis for setting the issue price, the impact of the issue on the situation of existing shareholders and the estimated impact on the share price, as required by law.
In its previous delegations, the Annual General Meeting of 16 May 2018 had given the Board of Directors the power to increase the share capital within the same limits as those stated above. These authorizations, given for 14 months, were not used.
In addition, in Resolution 20, we invite the shareholders to set at €10 million the maximum par value of the share capital increases that may be carried out by the Board of Directors pursuant solely to the delegations granted in Resolutions 17, 18 and 19.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Extraordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors' special report and in accordance with Articles L. 225-129 to L. 225-129-6, L. 225-132, L. 225-133, L. 225-134 and L. 228-91 et seq. of the French Commercial Code:
If the issue is not taken up in full by shareholders exercising their pre-emption rights as described above, the Board of Directors may take one or other of the following courses of action, in the order of its choice:
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Extraordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors' special report and in accordance with Articles L. 225-129 to L. 225-129-2, L. 225-136 and L. 228-91 et seq. of the French Commercial Code:
exercise of a warrant or any other means, by shareholders, of their pre-emption right to subscribe for the shares issued on the basis of those securities;
The Board of Directors shall be fully empowered, with the option to further delegate in the manner provided for by law and regulations, to decide whether to issue subordinated or unsubordinated debt securities, set the interest rate, maturity, redemption price (which may be fi xed or variable and may or may not include a premium), terms of early redemption depending on market conditions and the basis on which these securities give access to company equity;
■ grants this authorization to the Board of Directors for a period of 14 months and consequently decides that this authorization cancels all authorizations given previously for the same purpose.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Extraordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors' special report and in accordance with Articles L. 225-129 to L. 225-129-2, L. 225-136 and L. 228-91 et seq. of the French Commercial Code:
The Board of Directors shall be fully empowered, with the option to further delegate in the manner provided for by law and regulations, to decide whether to issue subordinated or unsubordinated debt securities, set the interest rate, maturity, redemption price (which may be fi xed or variable and may or may not include a premium), terms of early redemption depending on market conditions and the basis on which these securities give access to company equity;
■ grants this authorization to the Board of Directors for a period of 14 months and consequently decides that this authorization cancels all authorizations given previously for the same purpose.
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Extraordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, resolves to set at €10 million the maximum par value of immediate and/or future share capital increases that may be carried out pursuant to the authorizations in Resolutions 17, 18 and 19, not including the par value of any additional shares to be issued to protect the rights of existing holders of share equivalents, in accordance with laws, regulations and, as the case may be, contractual provisions.
Consequently, the value of each issue carried out under any of the abovementioned resolutions will be deducted from this ceiling.
The shareholders are asked, by voting on Resolution 21, to enable the Board of Directors to increase the share capital by capitalizing retained earnings, profi t, premiums or additional paid-in capital with a view to granting performance shares.
The Annual General Meeting, meeting as an Extraordinary Annual General Meeting but voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Ordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors, gives the Board the necessary powers to carry out one or more share capital increases by successively or simultaneously capitalizing some or all of the company's retained earnings, profi t or additional paid-in capital or any items that may be capitalized under the bylaws or by law, and to issue and award bonus shares and/or raise the par value of existing shares or a combination of both.
The Annual General Meeting resolves that the maximum par value of share capital increases that shall be made under this delegation may not exceed €10 million, it being noted that this ceiling is independent of the ceiling provided for in Resolution 20.
This authorization would enable the Board of Directors to resolve to increase the share capital by a maximum of €10 million and would be valid for a period of 14 months.
The Annual General Meeting resolves that the Board of Directors shall have the power to decide that fractional shares will be non-transferable and that the corresponding shares will be sold, with the proceeds of such sale attributed to the rights holders no later than thirty (30) days following the date on which the whole number of shares allocated to them is recorded in their account.
The Annual General Meeting fully empowers the Board of Directors, with the option to further delegate in the manner provided for by law and regulations, to determine the timing and terms of the issues, set the amounts thereof, take the necessary action to protect the rights of holders of share equivalents that give immediate or future access to equity, deduct any sums necessary to top up the legal reserve and more broadly take all appropriate measures to enable the successful completion and carry out all actions and formalities required to effect the capital increase(s) and accordingly amend the bylaws.
The Annual General Meeting sets this authorization granted to the Board of Directors at a period of 14 months and consequently decides that this authorization cancels all authorizations given previously for the same purpose.
In order to provide an ongoing incentive to key Group employees by offering them an opportunity to share in the Group's growth and results, shareholders will be asked, in Resolution 22, to authorize the Board to grant bonus shares representing up to 234,000 shares or 0.4664% of the share capital, comprising existing shares bought back for this purpose by the company. The grants would be made to some or all employees of the company and its subsidiaries, or to certain categories of those employees and/or to the senior managers referred to in Article L. 225-197-1 II of the French Commercial Code.
All performance shares will vest only if certain performance targets for revenue and Operating Result from Activity are met, as set by the Board of Directors each year, based on budgetary objectives assigned to the Group.
The number of shares awarded to the executive offi cers will be limited to 18,000 shares or 0.0359% of the share capital for Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, and to 11,000 shares or 0.0219% of the share
Resolution 22: Authorization to be granted to the Board of Directors to grant performance shares
The Annual General Meeting, voting in accordance with the quorum and majority voting requirements for Extraordinary Annual General Meetings, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors' special report:
■ authorizes the Board of Directors, in accordance with Articles L. 225-197-1 to L. 225-197-5 of the French Commercial Code, to award existing bonus shares in the company on one or more occasions, to employees of the company or certain categories of employee and/or to the senior managers referred to in Article L. 225-197-1 II of the French Commercial Code, and to employees and senior managers of companies or economic interest groupings affi liated to the company within the meaning of Article L. 225-197-2 of the French Commercial Code;
■ resolves that the total number of shares that may be granted may not exceed 234,000 shares or 0.4664% of the company's share capital on the date of this Annual General Meeting, with the understanding that the number of shares granted to executive officers may not exceed the following limits: 18,000 shares or 0.0359% of the company's share capital on the date of this Annual General Meeting for Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise and 11,000 shares or 0.0219% of the company's share capital at the date of this Annual General Meeting for Stanislas de Gramont.
capital for Stanislas de Gramont. We would ask shareholders to set the operational performance measurement period at three years, following which the shares shall vest for benefi ciaries.
The Board of Directors feels that assessing performance criteria over a suffi ciently long period, namely three years, is in accordance with the Group's long-term outlook while remaining a source of motivation for benefi ciaries.
The performance shares granted will not be subject to any additional lock-up period for either French or foreign residents. This is in line with legislation and market practice since 2018.
We would ask shareholders to fully empower the Board of Directors to set the terms and conditions of these grants, including in order to determine the identity of the benefi ciaries of the performance share grants.
This authorization would be given for a period of 14 months from the date of the Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to make the stock grants, within the limits set out in the preceding paragraph, using shares bought back by the company in accordance with Articles L. 225-208 and L. 225-209 of the French Commercial Code;
The Annual General Meeting resolves to set a vesting period of three years with effect from the date of grant by the Board of Directors during which period the rights shall not be transferable and at the end of which the rights shall vest to the benefi ciaries, provided the performance targets for revenue and Operating Result from Activity, assessed over the three-year vesting period, have been met, in accordance with Article L. 225-197-3 of the French Commercial Code.
The Annual General Meeting fully empowers the Board of Directors, within the limits set out above, to:
In accordance with Articles L. 225-197-4 and L. 225-197-5 of the French Commercial Code, the Board of Directors shall prepare a special report for each Ordinary Annual General Meeting on the transactions carried out under this authorization.
The Annual General Meeting sets this authorization granted to the Board of Directors at a period of 14 months and consequently decides that this authorization cancels all authorizations given previously for the same purpose.
Pursuant to the provisions of the French Commercial Code, we ask shareholders, by voting for Resolution 23, to empower the Board of Directors, with the option to further delegate, to resolve to carry out one or more share capital increases that are restricted to members of a Company or Group Savings Scheme, with waiving of pre-emption rights, up to a maximum of €501,690 (1% of the share capital).
It should be noted that this delegation is not included in the share capital increase ceiling set in Resolution 20.
The Annual General Meeting, having considered the report of the Board of Directors and the statutory auditors' special report, as required by law and in particular Articles L. 225-129 to L. 225-129-6 and L. 225-138-1 of the French Commercial Code and Articles L. 3332- 1 et seq. of the French Labor Code:
The issue price of these new shares or share equivalents may not be more than 20% below the average quoted SEB share price on the NYSE Euronext Paris regulated market over the 20 trading sessions preceding the date on which the decision is taken setting the opening date of the subscription period, it being noted that this discount may be raised to 30% for members of a savings scheme, the rules of which specify a lock-up period of at least 10 years.
This delegation would be given for a period of 14 months from the date of this Annual General Meeting and would cancel the delegation given in Resolution 18 of the Annual General Meeting of 16 May 2018.
In accordance with applicable legal provisions, the transactions carried out under this resolution may also take the form of sales of shares to members of a Company or Group Savings Scheme.
The Company's bylaws currently refer to the threshold set out in Article L. 225-27-1 II of the French Commercial Code. However, new legislative changes (as part of the PACTE bill) are expected to be adopted in the near future and will result in a change to the threshold set in that Article, reducing it from 12 directors to 8. The shareholders are invited to amend the bylaws by referring to the legislative provisions in force in order to avoid a subsequent amendment of the bylaws and to enable your Company to take into account these changes as soon as possible or at the latest on the deadline for their entry into force.
Amendment of the terms of Article 16 of the bylaws relating to the appointment of directors representing employees.
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"The company is governed by a Board of Directors whose minimum and maximum numbers are set by law. The directors are appointed by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting, which may dismiss them at any time. Legal entities appointed as directors are required to appoint a permanent representative subject to the same conditions and obligations as if he or she were an individual director.
An employee of the company may only be appointed as a director if his or her employment contract corresponds to active employment. The number of directors under a contract of employment with the company may not exceed one-third of the directors in offi ce.
Each director must, throughout his or her term of offi ce, own at least one company share in pure registered form.
In accordance with the applicable legal provisions, when the number of members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting is less than or equal to 12, a Director representing the employees is appointed by the Group Works Council (France). When the Board of Directors is composed of more than 12 members, a second Director representing employees is appointed by the European Works Council.
Neither the directors elected by employees pursuant to Article L. 225-27 of the French Commercial Code, nor the employee shareholder directors appointed pursuant to Article L. 225-23 of the French Commercial Code are taken into account in determining the number of directors covered by the provisions of Article L. 225-17 of the French Commercial Code.
The term of offi ce of directors representing employees is four years.
The provisions of this article shall cease to apply when, at the end of a fi nancial year, the Company no longer satisfi es the conditions precedent to the appointment of directors representing employees, with the proviso that the term of offi ce of any director representing employees appointed pursuant to this article shall expire at the end of his or her full term.
Unlike the directors appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 225-23 of the French Commercial Code, directors representing employees are not taken into account for the calculation of gender balance.
As an exception to the provisions of these bylaws, directors representing employees are not required to hold a minimum number of Company shares during their term of offi ce".
"The company is governed by a Board of Directors whose minimum and maximum numbers are set by law. The directors are appointed by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting, which may dismiss them at any time. Legal entities appointed as directors are required to appoint a permanent representative subject to the same conditions and obligations as if he or she were an individual director.
An employee of the company may only be appointed as a director if his or her employment contract corresponds to active employment. The number of directors under a contract of employment with the company may not exceed one-third of the directors in offi ce.
Each director must, throughout his or her term of offi ce, own at least one company share in pure registered form.
In accordance with the applicable legal provisions, when the number of members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Ordinary Annual General Meeting is less than or equal to the threshold provided for in Article L. 225-27-1 II of the French Commercial Code, a Director representing the employees is appointed by the Group Works Council (France). When the Board of Directors has more members than the threshold provided for in Article L. 225-27-1 II of the French Commercial Code, a second Director representing employees is appointed by the European Works Council.
Neither the directors elected by employees pursuant to Article L. 225-27 of the French Commercial Code, nor the employee shareholder directors appointed pursuant to Article L. 225-23 of the French Commercial Code are taken into account in determining the number of directors covered by the provisions of Article L. 225-17 of the French Commercial Code.
The term of offi ce of directors representing employees is four years.
The provisions of this article shall cease to apply when, at the end of a fi nancial year, the company no longer satisfi es the conditions precedent to the appointment of directors representing employees, with the proviso that the term of offi ce of any director representing employees appointed pursuant to this article shall expire at the end of his or her full term.
Unlike the directors appointed pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 225-23 of the French Commercial Code, directors representing employees are not taken into account for the calculation of gender balance.
As an exception to the provisions of these bylaws, directors representing employees are not required to hold a minimum number of Company shares during their term of offi ce".
Resolution 25 is a customary resolution whose purpose is to submit for shareholder approval the powers given in order to carry out any public announcements and legal formalities that result from the decisions of the meeting.
The Annual General Meeting gives full powers to the bearer of an original, extract or copy of the minutes of this meeting to carry out any and all formalities required by law.
This is a free translation into English of the Statutory auditors' report on regulated agreements and commitments issued in French and it is provided solely for the convenience of English speaking users.This report should be read in conjunction with, and construed in accordance with, French law and professional auditing standards applicable in France.
In our capacity as your company's Statutory auditors, we hereby report to you on regulated agreements and commitments.
It is our responsibility to report to the shareholders, based on the information provided to us, on the main terms, conditions and reasons underlying the company's interest of agreements and commitments that have been disclosed to us or that we may have identifi ed as part of our engagement, without commenting on their relevance or substance or identifying any undisclosed agreements or commitments. Under the provisions of Article R. 225-31 of the French Commercial Code, it is the shareholders' responsibility to determine whether the agreements and commitments are appropriate and should be approved.
Where applicable, it is also our responsibility to provide the shareholders with the information required by Article R. 225-31 of the French Commercial Code in relation to the implementation during the year of agreements and commitments already approved by the Shareholders' Meeting.
We performed the procedures that we deemed necessary in accordance with the guidance issued by the French Institute of Statutory auditors (Compagnie nationale des commissaires aux comptes) for this type of engagement. These procedures consisted in verifying that the information given to us is consistent with the underlying documents.
In accordance with article L. 225-40 of the French commercial code, we have been informed of the following agreements and commitments previously authorized by the Board of Directors.
Following his appointment as Deputy CEO as of 3rd December, 2018, by decision of the Board of directors on 10th October, 2018, the following commitments have been made to the benefi t of Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont:
■ 1. Nature: Termination compensation in the event of revocation of his corporate appointment
Terms and conditions: In the event his duties were terminated, Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont shall receive a severance payment equivalent to two years' compensation (fi xed and variable) less any amounts due to be paid as a result of a non-competition clause.
Payment of this indemnity is subject to the performance criteria described in the agreement below.
■ 2. Nature: Determination of the performance criteria governing the payment of termination benefi ts to the Deputy CEO in the event of the revocation of his mandate.
Terms and conditions: The termination benefi t, equivalent to two years' compensation will be adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets over the last four years of service:
If the revocation arises during the fi rst two years of his appointment as Deputy CEO, the termination compensation will be calculated as follow:
■ 3. Nature: Non-compete compensation in the event of revocation or dismissal.
Terms and conditions: In the event of the interruption of his mandate, by revocation or dismissal, Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont, Deputy CEO, agrees not to practice any form of professional activity for a Groupe Seb competitor engaged in the development, manufacture or commercialization of products which have, are or shall be developed, manufactured or commercialized in the future by Groupe Seb. In return for the fulfi llment of this obligation, and for the period for which it is applicable (one year renewable once), Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont will receive a monthly amount of non-compete compensation from the company equal to 50% of the average monthly salary (fi x and variable) paid to him over the last twelve months of his presence within the Group.
The Board of Directors can release Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont from this obligation by waiving the non-competition clause.
■ 4. Nature: Individual life insurance plan in favor of Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont, Deputy CEO of Groupe Seb.
Terms and conditions: In addition to the Group death, disability and related benefi t insurance plan, Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont benefi ts from an individual death insurance.
■ 5. Nature: Supplementary and top-up retirement plan.
Terms and conditions: As with all other members of the Executive and Management Committees, Mr Stanislas Boubee de Gramont is entitled to a supplementary and top-up pension plan.
This scheme complements the statutory schemes and is composed as follows :
■ a defined-benefit deffered compensation plan, under which benefi ciaries are subject to seniority and presence conditions. The amount of benefi ts payable under this plan in addition to the applicable statutory schemes represents up to 25% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years
■ a defined-benefit supplementary pension plan, under which beneficiaries are also subject to seniority and presence conditions. Entitlements under this plan vest at an annual rate of 0.8% of a reference remuneration calculated on the average of the target remuneration for the past three years and capped at 20 years' seniority
This dispositive guarantees annuities equivalent to a 41% maximum compensation replacement rate, including the benefi ts of statutory retirement plans. The reference salary, which is used as the basis for calculating the retirement benefi ts, is limited to 36 times the French Social Security ceiling prevailing at the date of calculation.
Payment is subject to the following conditions:
The motives justifying the interest of those commitments for the company must be considered in the light of Stanislas de Gramont's international experience, distribution and mass market expertise which are valuable assets for the group which wants to maintain a profi table growth and to improve its worldwide rankings.
In accordance with Article R. 225-30 of the French Commercial Code, we have been informed of the following agreements and commitments approved in prior years and which remained current during the last year.
■ Nature and purpose: "Master Joint Research and Development Agreement" aimed at conducting joint research and development projects on products and technologies of interest to both SEB SA and Zhejiang Supor Co Ltd, so as to pool the experience and know-how of both parties with respect to cookware and electrical cooking appliances.
Terms and conditions: The "Master Joint Research and Development Agreement" covers reciprocal exclusivities in relation with projects jointly developed. Industrial property rights that may be registered will be jointly managed and registered by Zhejiang Supor Co Ltd and SEB SA in their respective territories. For its manufacturing needs, SEB SA will nevertheless be granted a free and permanent license for rights registered in Zhejiang Supor Co Ltd territories.
This agreement was authorized by the Board of Directors on 13th April, 2012 and concerns Mr Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman and Chief Executive Offi cer of your company and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zhejiang Supor Co Ltd.
As in 2017, in 2018 the cooperation agreement resulted in the sharing of employees and resources in favor of four projects concerning developments on rice cookers, fi ve projects concerning developments on home and individual care items and three projects concerning culinary articles.
On 10th October, 2018, in line with its CEO's proposal and after having taken into account the recommendations of the Appointments and compensation Committee, the Board of Directors of the company decided to revoke Mr Bertrand Neuschwander from his Deputy CEO position. Therefore, the commitments involving his own person have no longer been in the scope of articles L.225-38 and L.225-42-1 of the French Commercial Code since 15th November, 2018. The agreements and commitments are presented in this report under their monitoring.
■ 1. Nature: Termination benefi ts in the event of the revocation of the mandate.
Terms and conditions: In the event the mandate is withdrawn, Mr Bertrand Neuschwander shall receive a severance payment equivalent to two years' compensation (fi xed and variable) less any amounts due in respect of a non-compete clause and any termination benefi ts relating to his employment contract (it being said that this contract does not provide for any departure or noncompete compensation). Payment of this indemnity is subject to the performance criteria described in the agreement below.
■ 2. Nature: Determination of the performance criteria governing the payment of termination benefi ts to the Deputy CEO in the event of the revocation of his mandate.
Terms and conditions: The termination benefit, equivalent to two years' earned compensation is adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets over Mr. Neuschwander's last four years of service:
If the revocation arises during the fi rst four years of the appointment as Deputy CEO, the objectives to be taken into consideration are, for the duration of his appointment to date, those determined for this mandate and, for the remaining time, those determined in connection with the salaried activities performed prior to the appointment.
Following Mr Bertrand Neuschwander's revocation as Deputy CEO the expense recorded as termination benefi t represents a total of €1,260,500.
■ 3. Nature: Non-compete compensation in the event of revocation or dismissal.
Terms and conditions: In the event of the interruption of his mandate, by revocation or dismissal, Mr Bertrand Neuschwander, Deputy CEO, agrees to refrain from any form of professional activity for a Groupe Seb competitor engaged in the development, manufacture or commercialization of products which have, are or shall be developed, manufactured or commercialized by Groupe Seb in the future. In return for the fulfi llment of this obligation, and for the period for which it is applicable (one year renewable once), Mr Neuschwander will receive a monthly amount of non-compete compensation from the company equivalent to 50% of the average monthly salary (fi x and variable) paid to him over the last twelve months of his presence within the Group.
The Board of Directors can release Mr Neuschwander from this obligation by waivering the non-competition clause.
Following Mr Bertrand Neuschwander's revocation as Deputy CEO the expense recorded as non-compete compensation represents a total of €517,300. This compensation covers a one-year period, ending on 7th November, 2019.
■ 4. Nature: Individual life insurance plan for Mr Bertrand Neuschwander, Deputy CEO of Groupe Seb.
Terms and conditions: In addition to the Group death, disability and related benefi t insurance plan, Mr Bertrand Neuschwander was the benefi ciary of an individual death-in-service policy. Since the end of December 2018, Mr Bertrand Neuschwander has no longer benefi ted from this individual death-in-service policy.
■ 5. Nature: Supplementary and top-up retirement plan.
Terms and conditions: As a corporate officer Mr Bertrand Neuschwander will continue to be entitled to the Group supplementary pension scheme on the basis of the seniority acquired prior to his nomination as Deputy CEO and in accordance with the same rules as those applicable for senior management and the provisions of the Group death, disability and related benefi t insurance plan.
This plan guarantees annuities equivalent to a 41% maximum compensation replacement rate, including the benefi ts of statutory retirement plans. The reference salary, which is used as the basis for calculating the retirement benefi ts, is limited to 36 times the French Social Security ceiling prevailing at the date of the calculation.
Payment is subject to the following conditions:
When claiming for his pensions rights to the social security authorities Mr. Bertrand NEUSCHWANDER shall retain entitlement to his supplementary retirement scheme, in accordance with the plan regulation provided that he subsequently ceases to exercise a professional activity when leaving the group.
■ 1. Nature: Termination benefi ts and maintenance of stock options stipulated in the employment contract, suspended on March 1st, 2005, of Mr Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, CEO of SEB SA.
Terms and conditions: The Chairman's termination benefits, equivalent to two years' earned compensation plus bonuses, are adjusted based on actual performance in relation to targets over Mr. Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise's last four years of service as follows:
The Board of Directors retains the right to reduce such termination benefi ts, by half at most, if the previous year-end presents a net loss, without such benefi ts falling below the fi xed compensation plus bonuses of the previous year-end, should application of the performance criteria based on the achievement of objectives entitle the payment of termination benefi ts.
■ 3. Nature and purpose: Individual life insurance plan for Mr Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman of SEB SA.
Terms and conditions: In addition to senior management's Group death, disability and related benefi t insurance plan, Mr Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise is the benefi ciary of an individual life insurance policy with a capital totaling €3,652,134. The expense recorded for the year ended December 31st, 2018 totals €71,078.
■ 4. Nature and purpose: Supplementary and top-up retirement plan.
Terms and conditions: As with all other members of the Executive and Management Committees, Mr Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise is entitled to a supplementary and top-up retirement plan.
This scheme complements the statutory schemes and is composed as follows :
This dispositive guarantees annuities equivalent to a 41% maximum compensation replacement rate, including the benefi ts of statutory retirement plans. The reference salary, which is used as the basis for calculating the retirement benefi ts, is limited to 36 times the French Social Security ceiling prevailing at the date of calculation.
Payment is subject to the following conditions:
Lyon and Courbevoie, 25th March, 2019 The Statutory auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit Mazars Nicolas BRUNETAUD Thierry COLIN


| 9.1. | Glossary | 340 |
|---|---|---|
| 9.2. | Declaration by the person responsible for the Registration Document containing the annual report |
341 |
| 9.3. | Statutory auditors and audit fees Statutory auditors Substitute Statutory auditors Fees paid to Statutory auditors |
342 342 342 343 |
| 9.4. | Cross-reference table for the Annual Financial Report, Management Report and Corporate Governance Report |
344 |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5. | Cross-reference table for the Registration Document |
346 |
| 9.6. | Cross-reference table, Grenelle II, GRI and global compact |
349 |

The amounts and growth rates at constant exchange rates and consolidation scope in each year compared with the previous year are calculated:
This calculation is made primarily for sales and Operating Result from Activity.
Operating Result from Activity (ORfA) is Groupe SEB's main performance indicator. It corresponds to sales minus operating costs, i.e. the cost of sales, innovation expenditure (R&D, strategic marketing and design), advertising, operational marketing as well as commercial and administrative costs. ORfA does not include discretionary and non-discretionary profi t-sharing or other non-recurring operating income and expense.
Adjusted EBITDA is equal to Operating Result from Activity minus discretionary and non-discretionary profi t-sharing, to which are added operating depreciation and amortization.
Net debt – Net indebtedness
This term refers to all recurring and non-recurring fi nancial debt minus cash and cash equivalents as well as derivative instruments linked to Group fi nancing having a maturity of under one year and easily disposed of. Net debt may also include short-term investments with no risk of a substantial change in value but with maturities of over three months.
Operating cash fl ow corresponds to the "net cash from operating activities/net cash used by operating activities" item in the consolidated cash fl ow table, restated from non-recurring transactions with an impact on the Group's net debt (for example, cash outfl ows related to restructuring) and after taking account of recurring investments (CAPEX).
I hereby declare that, having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case, the information contained in this Registration Document is, to the best of my knowledge, consistent with the facts and contains no omission likely to affect its import.
I hereby declare that, to my knowledge, the fi nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with relevant accounting standards and provide a true and fair view of the assets, fi nancial situation and performance of the company and of all companies included under the Consolidated Financial Statements. I furthermore declare that the management report referenced in the cross-reference table in section 9.4 provides a true and fair picture of changes in the business, performance and fi nancial situation of the company and all companies included under the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as a description of the main risks and uncertainties they face.
I obtained a statement from the Statutory auditors at the end of their engagement affi rming that they have read the entire Registration Document and verifi ed the information regarding the fi nancial situation and the fi nancial statements contained therein.
1 April 2019
Chairman and CEO Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise
■ PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, represented by: Nicolas Brunetaud 63, rue de Villiers — 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, appointed by the Ordinary General Meeting of 12 May 2015. Term: Ordinary General Meeting of 2021.
Thierry Colin
61, rue Henri Regnault — 92075 Paris La Défense Cedex, France, appointed by the Ordinary General Meeting of 12 May 2015. Term: Ordinary General Meeting of 2021.
Each of these Statutory auditors is a member of the Compagnie Régionale des Commissaires aux Comptes de Versailles.
■ For PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit: Jean-Christophe Georghiou 63, rue de Villiers — 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, appointed by the Ordinary General Meeting of 12 May 2015. Term: Ordinary General Meeting of 2021.
Gilles Rainaut
61, rue Henri Regnault — 92075 Paris La Défense Cedex, France, appointed by the Ordinary General Meeting of 12 May 2015. Term: Ordinary General Meeting of 2021.
The breakdown of fees paid to Statutory auditors and members of their networks is as follows:
| PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit | Mazars | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount (excluding tax) | In % | Amount (excluding tax) | In % | |||||
| (in € thousands) | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Audit | ||||||||
| Statutory auditor, certifi cation, review of individual and consolidated financial statements |
||||||||
| SEB S.A., issuer coordinationand consolidation | 221 | 270 | 207 | 178 | ||||
| Fully integrated subsidiaries | 1, 408 | 1, 306 | 1, 705 | 1, 444 | ||||
| SUB -TOTAL | 1, 629 | 1, 576 | 74 % | 87 % | 1, 912 1, 622 93 % |
80 % | ||
| Other services performed by the networks for fully integrated subsidiaries |
||||||||
| SEB S.A., issuer coordination and consolidation | 2 | 77 | 76 | 361 | ||||
| Fully integrated subsidiaries | 558 | 159 | 71 | 54 | ||||
| SUB -TOTAL | 560 | 236 | 26 % | 13 % | 147 | 415 | 7 % | 20 % |
| TOTAL | 2, 189 | 1, 812 | 100 % | 100 % | 2, 059 | 2, 037 | 100 % | 100 % |
| Page numbers | Annual Financial Report |
Management report |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Commentary on the fi nancial year | |||
| Objective and exhaustive analysis of developments in the company's and Group's business, performance and fi nancial position |
181-197 | X | X |
| Key non-fi nancial performance indicators relevant to the company's specifi c business activity |
113-177 | X | |
| Signifi cant stakes acquired during the fi nancial year in companies headquartered in France |
194 | X | X |
| Signifi cant events that occurred between the fi nancial year-end and the date on which the report was drawn up |
197 | - | X |
| Foreseeable developments regarding the position of the company and the Group | 196 | X | X |
| Dividends distributed over the three preceding fi nancial years and amount of income distributed for these years |
314 | X | |
| Presentation of the Group | |||
| Description of the main risks and uncertainties faced by the company | 36-50 | X | X |
| The company's use of fi nancial instruments: objectives and policy in relation to fi nancial risk management |
247-257 | X | X |
| Company's exposure to price, credit, liquidity or cash fl ow risks | 256 -257 | X | X |
| Social and environmental consequences of business (including "Seveso" facilities) | 113-177 | X | |
| Research and development activities | 19- 22 | X | X |
| Information on the company and its share capital | |||
| Rules applicable to the appointment and replacement of members of the Board of Directors or Management Board, as well as to changes in the Company's bylaws |
55 , 75-80 | X | |
| Powers of the Board of Directors or Management Board, in particular concerning the issue or buyback of shares |
309 | X | X |
| Purchases and sales of treasury stock during the fi nancial year | 309 | X | X |
| Adjustments for share equivalents in the event of share buybacks or fi nancial transactions |
- | - | - |
| Structure of and changes to the company's share capital | 303-308 | X | X |
| Statutory limitations on the exercise of voting rights and transfer of shares or clauses in agreements brought to the attention of the company |
301-305 | X | X |
| Direct or indirect shareholdings in the company of which the company is aware | 272 | X | X |
| Employee shareholding in the company's share capital on the last day of the fi nancial year and portion of the share capital represented by the shares held by employees under the company savings scheme and by the employees and former employees under employee mutual investment funds |
310-312 | X | |
| Holders of any securities conferring special control rights and a description of those rights |
- | - | |
| Control mechanisms within any employee shareholding system, where control rights are not exercised by the employees |
- | - | |
| Agreements between shareholders of which the company is aware and which may give rise to restrictions on share transfers and voting rights |
303-305 | X | X |
| Agreements entered into by the company that are amended or terminated in the event of a change in control, with the exception of those agreements whose disclosure would seriously harm its interests |
- | - | |
| Agreements providing for indemnities payable to employees or members of the Board of Directors or Management Board if they resign or are dismissed without real or serious cause or if their employment contract is terminated as a result of a public tender offer |
83-111, 262, 291-292 |
X |
Cross-reference table for the Annual Financial Report, Management Report and Corporate Governance Report
| Page numbers | Annual Financial Report |
Management report |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Injunctions or fi nes as a result of anti-competitive practices | - | - | |
| Financial statements | |||
| Changes in the presentation of the fi nancial statements or in the valuation methods used |
205 | X | |
| Profi t over the last fi ve fi nancial years | 294 | X | |
| Consolidated fi nancial statements | 199-267 | X | |
| Company fi nancial statements | 273-295 | X | |
| Statutory auditors' reports on the company and Consolidated Financial Statements | 268-272 295-298 |
X | |
| Fees paid to the Statutory auditors | 343 | X | |
| Corporate governance report | X | ||
| Information on the composition, operation and powers of the Board of Directors: | |||
| • Reference to a Corporate Governance Code | 54 | ||
| • Composition of the Board of Directors and conditions governing the preparation and organization of meetings |
55-81 | ||
| • Principle of gender balance | 55 | ||
| • List of the offices and positions of each director | 57-68 | ||
| • Agreements signed between a director or a shareholder holding more than 10% of the voting rights and a subsidiary |
72 | ||
| • Table summarizing the outstanding delegations granted by the Annual General Meeting of shareholders to the Board of Directors to increase the share capital, showing the use made of these delegations during the financial year |
|||
| • Conditions governing the exercise of executive powers | 54 | ||
| • Conditions governing shareholder participation in Annual General Meetings | 80 | ||
| Information on the remuneration of executive offi cers: | 83-111 | ||
| • Remuneration policy (ex-ante say on pay) | |||
| • Total compensation and benefits of any kind paid to each executive officer during the financial year, and reference to the resolutions voted for through an ex-ante vote |
|||
| • Stock options granted, subscribed or purchased during the financial year by the executive officers and the ten highest-earning non-executive employees of the company, and stock options granted to all eligible employees, by category |
|||
| • Conditions for the exercise and retention of stock options by executive officers | |||
| • Conditions for the retention of performance shares awarded to executive officers | |||
| • Transactions by senior managers and associated persons involving the company's shares |
|||
| • Commitments of any kind made by the company for the benefit of its executive officers, such as remuneration, compensation or benefits due or likely to become due when, or after, they assume, cease or change positions |
|||
| Information on factors which could affect a takeover bid | 302 | ||
| Statutory auditors' report on the Corporate governance report | 297 | X | X |
| Report by one of the statutory auditors on the consolidated human resources, environmental and social information included in the management report |
178-180 | X | X |
| Statutory auditors' report on regulated agreements and commitments | 334-337 | X | |
| Declaration by the person responsible for the Annual Financial Report | 341 | X |
| Sections required under Annex 1 to Commission regulation (EC) no. 809/2004 | Pages |
|---|---|
| 1 – PERSONS RESPONSIBLE | 341 |
| 2 – STATUTORY AUDITORS | 342 |
| 3 – SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION | |
| 3.1 Historical information | 12-13, |
| 3.2 Information for interim periods | N/A |
| 4 – RISK FACTORS | 36-50 |
| 5 – INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISSUER | |
| 5.1 History and development of the company | 19, 25 |
| 5.1.1. Legal and commercial name | 300 |
| 5.1.2. Place of registration and registration number | 300 |
| 5.1.3. Date of incorporation | 300 |
| 5.1.4. Domicile and legal form | 300 |
| 5.1.5. Important events in the development of the business | 182-195 |
| 5.2 Investments | |
| 193, 226-227, | |
| 5.2.1. Principal investments made | 230-231 |
| 5.2.2. Principal investments in progress | 184 |
| 5.2.3. Principal future investments for which fi rm commitments have already been made | 184, 258 |
| 6 – BUSINESS OVERVIEW | |
| 6.1 Principal activities | 4-5, 16-28, 188-191, 217-220 |
| 6.1.1. Main products | 4-5, 16 |
| 6.1.2. Principal activities | 16-28 |
| 6.2 Principal markets | 16 - 18, 217-220 |
| 6.3 Exceptional factors | 259 |
| 6.4 Dependence on patents or licenses, industrial, commercial or fi nancial contracts or new processes |
45 |
| 6.5 Basis for any statements made by the issuer regarding its competitive position | 1-7-17 |
| 7 – ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE | |
| 7.1 Brief description | 29 |
| 7.2 List of signifi cant subsidiaries | 228-232 |
| 8 – PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT | |
| 8.1 Existing or planned material tangible fi xed assets | 230-231 |
| 8.2 Environmental issues that may affect the issuer's utilization of the tangible fi xed assets | 258 |
| 9 – OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW | |
| 9.1 Financial condition | 193 |
| 9.2 Operating results | 192 |
| 9.2.1. Signifi cant factors affecting income from operations | N/A |
| 9.2.2. Discussion of material changes in sales or revenues | 187-191 |
| 9.2.3. Factors that could materially affect the issuer's operations | 36-50, 182-183 |
| 10 – CAPITAL RESOURCES | |
| 10.1 The issuer's capital resources | 201, 203, 235-238 |
| 10.2 Source and amounts of the cash fl ows | 202 |
| 10.3 Borrowing requirements and funding structure | 247-249 |
| 10.4 Information regarding any restrictions on the use of capital resources that have materially affected, or could materially affect, the issuer's operations |
247-249, 254-257 |
| 10.5 Anticipated sources of funds | 247-249 |
| Sections required under Annex 1 to Commission regulation (EC) no. 809/2004 | Pages |
|---|---|
| 11 – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PATENTS AND LICENSES | 19-20, 234 |
| 12 – TREND INFORMATION | 196 |
| 13 – PROFIT FORECASTS OR ESTIMATES | N/A |
| 14 – ADMINISTRATIVE, MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY BODIES AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT | |
| 14.1 Administrative and management bodies | 55-82 |
| 14.2 Confl icts of interest within administrative and management bodies | 74 |
| 15 – REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS | |
| 15.1 Amount of remuneration paid and benefi ts in kind | 83-111 |
| 15.2 Total amounts set aside or accrued to provide pension, retirement or similar benefi ts | 87-88 |
| 16 – PRACTICES OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT BODIES | |
| 16.1 Date of expiry of current terms of offi ce | 69 |
| 16.2 Service contracts binding the members of the administrative bodies | 72 |
| 16.3 Information about the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee | 77-79 |
| 16.4 Corporate governance | 53-111 |
| 17 – EMPLOYEES | |
| 17.1 Number of employees 17.2 Shareholdings and stock options |
134,187, 273 310-312 |
| 17.3 Arrangements for involving the employees in the capital of the issuer | 236, 310-312 |
| 18 – MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS | |
| 18.1 Shareholders owning more than 5% of the capital and voting rights | 303 - 308 |
| 18.2 Existence of different voting rights | 300, 303 |
| 18.3 Control over the issuer | 303-304 |
| 18.4 Arrangements, known to the issuer, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the issuer |
304-305 |
| 19 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS | 260-262 |
| 20 – FINANCIAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE ISSUER'S ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, FINANCIAL POSITION AND PROFITS AND LOSSES |
|
| 20.1 Historical fi nancial information | 274-275 |
| 20.2 Proforma fi nancial information | 214-216 |
| 20.3 Financial statements | 200-202, 276-277 |
| 20.4 Auditing of historical annual fi nancial information | |
| 20.4.1. Report by the Statutory auditors | 268-272, 295-298 |
| 20.4.2. Other information audited by the Auditors | 178-180 |
| 20.4.3. Source of data not audited by the Auditors | N/A |
| 20.5 Age of latest fi nancial information | 199-267 |
| 20.6 Interim and other fi nancial information | N/A |
| 20.6.1. Interim information published | N/A |
| 20.6.2. Interim information not yet published | N/A |
| 20.7 Dividend policy | 314 |
| 20.8 Legal and arbitration proceedings | 259 |
| 20.9 Signifi cant change in the issuer's fi nancial or trading position | N/A |
| 21 – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | |
| 21.1 Share capital | 301-308 |
| 21.1.1. Amount of issued capital and number of shares | 301 |
| 21.1.2. Shares not representing capital | N/A |
| 21.1.3. Treasury shares | 303-308 |
| 21.1.4. Convertible securities, exchangeable securities or securities with warrants | 308 |
| 21.1.5. Terms governing unissued capital | N/A |
| 21.1.6. Capital under option | N/A |
| 21.1.7. History of changes to share capital | 301-308 |
| Sections required under Annex 1 to Commission regulation (EC) no. 809/2004 | Pages |
|---|---|
| 21.2 Memorandum and bylaws | 300 |
| 21.2.1. Corporate objects and purposes | 300 |
| 21.2.2. Provisions regarding the administrative and management bodies | 54 |
| 21.2.3. Classes of shares | 300-301 |
| 21.2.4. Changes to shareholder rights | N/A |
| 21.2.5. Manner in which Annual General Meetings are called and held | 301 |
| 21.2.6. Provisions that would have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control | 301-302 |
| 21.2.7. Thresholds above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed | 301 |
| 21.2.8. Provisions governing changes in the capital | 309 |
| 22 – MATERIAL CONTRACTS | N/A |
| 23 – THIRD PARTY INFORMATION, STATEMENTS BY EXPERTS AND DECLARATIONS | |
| OF ANY INTEREST | N/A |
| 24 – DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY | 300 |
| 25 – INFORMATION ON HOLDINGS | 263-265, 293 |
The following information is incorporated by reference in this Registration Document:
| Global Compact |
References | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | Grenelle 2 − Article 225 |
GRI 3.1 | Registration Document |
Website sustainable development section |
|
| SOCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS | |||||
| Employment | |||||
| Total employees | 1.a-1 | LA1 | page 134 | Key fi gures | |
| Breakdown of employees by gender | 1.a-1 | LA1/LA13 | page 139 | ||
| Breakdown of employees by age group | 1.a-1 | LA13 | page 139 | ||
| Breakdown of employees by geographical region |
1.a-1 | LA1 | p age 134 | ||
| Breakdown of employees by type of work | LA1 | page 139 | |||
| Breakdown of employees by employment contract type |
LA1 | page 137 | |||
| Hires | 1.a-2 | LA2 | page 135 | ||
| Redundancies | 1.a-2 | LA2 | page 135 | ||
| Remuneration | 1.a-3 | LA3/LA14 | page 145 | ||
| Change in remuneration over time | 1.a-3 | LA3 | page 145 | ||
| Organization of work | |||||
| Organization of working hours | 1.b-1 | page 150 | |||
| Absenteeism | 1.b-2 | LA7 | page 149 | ||
| Labor relations | |||||
| Organization of employee-management dialog | 1.c-1 | LA4/LA5 | 3 | page 140 | |
| Collective bargaining agreements | 1.c-2 | LA4/LA5 | page 140 | ||
| Health and safety | |||||
| Workplace health and safety conditions | 1.d-1 | LA6/LA8 | 4-5 | pages 141-144 | Health/Safety |
| Agreements signed with trade unions in relation to workplace health and safety |
1.d-2 | LA9 | page 140 | ||
| Frequency and severity of workplace accidents |
1.d-3 | LA7 | page 143 | ||
| Work-related illness | 1.d-3 | LA7 | page 144 | Health/Safety | |
| Training | |||||
| Policies in place with regard to training | 1.e-1 | LA11 | pages 146-149 | Expertise | |
| Total number of training hours | 1.e-2 | LA10 | page 147 | ||
| Number of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews |
LA11 | page 132 | |||
| Equal opportunity | |||||
| Measures taken to promote gender equality | 1.f-1 | LA14 | pages 138-139 | Fairness and diversity |
|
| Measures taken to promote employment opportunities for and integration of disabled people |
1.f-2 | LA13 | page 140 | Fairness and diversity |
|
| Fairness and | |||||
| Anti-discrimination policy | 1.f-3 | LA13 | pages 138-139 | diversity | |
| Governance | |||||
| Composition of corporate governance bodies | LA13 | chapter 2 | Governance | ||
| Promotion of and adherence to the ILO's fundamental conventions | |||||
| Respect for freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining |
1.g-1 | HR5/LA4/LA5 | 3 | page 140 | Respect for ethics |
| Elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation |
1.g-2 HR4/LA13/LA14 | 6 | pages 138-140 | Fairness and diversity |
| References | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | Grenelle 2 − Article 225 |
GRI 3.1 | Global Compact |
Registration Document |
Website sustainable development section |
| Elimination of forced or compulsory labor | 1.g-3 | HR6/HR7 | pages 129-132 | Respect for ethics | |
| Effective abolition of child labor | 1.g-4 | HR6 | 4 - 5 | pages 129-132 | Respect for ethics |
| Other actions taken to promote Human Rights |
3.e | Respect for human rights |
|||
| Investment and procurement practices | Responsible purchasing |
||||
| Percentage of major suppliers and contractors verifi ed as compliant with Human Rights; measures taken |
HR2 | pages 130-131 | |||
| Total number of training hours for employees on policies and procedures regarding Human Rights relevant to their job; percentage of employees trained |
HR3 | pages 129-132 | |||
| Evaluation | Responsible purchasing, Respect for human rights |
||||
| Percentage or number of activities for which the organization has conducted Human Rights reviews or impact assessments |
HR10 | 1 and 2 | pages 129-132 | ||
| Corrective action | |||||
| Number of Human Rights grievances fi led, handled and resolved according to a Human Rights grievance management procedure |
HR11 | 1 and 2 | page 130 | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS | |||||
| General policy toward the environment | Reducing environmental impacts |
||||
| Company organization to address environmental issues. Environmental evaluation or certifi cation procedures, where applicable |
2.a-1 | pages 166-167 | Shrink our environmental footprint |
||
| Employee training and education initiatives taken with regard to safeguarding the |
|||||
| environment | 2.a-2 | page 115 | |||
| Resources allocated to prevent environmental risks and pollution |
2.a-3 | EN30 | pages 166-167Eco-manufacturing | ||
| Provisions and guarantees for environmental risks (unless this information could be detrimental to the company) |
2.a-4 | EN28/EC2 | 7 à 9 | page 258 | |
| Pollution | |||||
| Measures to prevent, reduce or remedy emissions into the air, water or soil that seriously affect the environment |
2.b-1 | EN22/EN23/ EN24 |
pages 171-175Eco-manufacturing | ||
| Measures to prevent noise pollution and any other form of pollution stemming from operations |
2.b-3 | EN25 | page 174Eco-manufacturing | ||
| Total discharge into water | EN21 | 7 to 9 | page 174 | ||
| Circular Economy | The central role of the circular economy in sustainable innovation |
||||
| Prevention and waste management | |||||
| Measures to prevent recycle, reuse, other ways of waste recovery and dispose of waste |
2.b-2 | EN27 | page 166 Recycling for reuse | ||
| Total waste produced | EN22/EN24 | page 173 | |||
| Measures against food waste | page 160 |
| References | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | Grenelle 2 − Article 225 |
GRI 3.1 | Global Compact |
Registration Document |
Website sustainable development section |
| Sustainable use of resources | |||||
| Water consumption and supply according to local constraints |
2.c-1 | EN8/EN9/EN21 | page 173 | ||
| Consumption of raw materials | 2.c-2 | EN1 | pages 172-173 | ||
| Consumption of recycled materials | EN2 | pages 165-166 | Eco-design | ||
| Measures taken to improve the effi cient use | Eco-design; Eco | ||||
| of raw materials | 2.c-2 | EN10 | pages 172-173 | manufacturing | |
| Energy consumption | 2.c-4 | EN1/EN3/EN4 | page 171 | Eco-design; Eco manufacturing |
|
| Measures taken to improve energy effi ciency and use of renewable energy |
2.c-4 | EN5/EN6/EN7 | pages 169-170 | Eco-design | |
| Land use | 2.c-3 | 7 to 9 | page 173 | ||
| Climate change | |||||
| Signifi cant sources of greenhouse gas emissions generated by Company activities, as well as by the use of the goods and services produced by the Company |
2.d-1 | EN16/EN17/ EN19/EN20 |
pages 175-177 | Shrink our environmental footprintT |
|
| Adaptation to the consequences of climate change |
2.d-2 | EN18/EC2 | 7 to 9 | pages 167-177 | |
| Biodiversity protection | |||||
| Measures taken to preserve or promote biodiversity |
2.e-1 | EN11 to EN15/ EN25 |
7 to 9 | pages 174-175 | |
| Products and services | |||||
| Initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of products and services; scope of these initiatives |
EN26 | 7 to 9 | page 166 and 169-170 |
Eco-design; Products end-of life |
|
| Transport | |||||
| Signifi cant environmental impacts stemming from the transport of products, other goods and materials used by the organization in the course of its operations and the transport of staff members |
EN29 | 7 to 9 | pages 175-177 | Eco-logistics | |
| INFORMATION ON CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP COMMITMENTS TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | |||||
| Regional, economic and social impact of the company's operations | |||||
| With regard to employment and regional development |
3.a-1 | EC8/EC9 | page 154 | ||
| On neighboring or local populations | 3.a-2 | EC1/EC6/SO1/ SO9/SO10 |
pages 151-153 | Good corporate citizen |
|
| Relations with individuals or organizations that have a stake in the company's operations | |||||
| Conditions for dialog with these individuals or organizations |
3.b-1 | page 123 | |||
| Corporate partnership or philanthropy actions | 3.b-2 | EC1 | page 154 | ||
| Contractors and suppliers | |||||
| Ethics, | |||||
| Inclusion of social and environmental criteria in the procurement policy |
3.c-1 | EC6/HR2/ HR 5 to 7 |
pages 130-131 | Responsible purchasing |
|
| Extent of sub-contracting and consideration of CSR factors in relations with suppliers |
Ethics, Responsible |
||||
| and contractors | 3.c-2 | 1 and 2 | pages 130-131 | purchasing | |
| Fair business practices | |||||
| Actions taken to prevent corruption | 3.d-1 | SO2 to SO4/ SO7/ SO8 |
10 | page 132 | Respect for ethics |
| Measures taken to promote consumer health and safety |
3.d-2 | PR1/PR2 | page 156 | Respect of consumers |
|
| Anti-competitive practices |
| References | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicators | Grenelle 2 − Article 225 |
GRI 3.1 | Global Compact |
Registration Document |
Website sustainable development section |
| Total number of legal proceedings for anti-competitive practices, violation of anti-trust laws and monopolistic practices and outcomes of these proceedings |
SO7 | - |
2019 First-quarter Sales and Financial Data
22 MAY 2019 , AT 2:30 PM Annual General Meeting
24 JULY 2019, BEFORE TRADING 2019 First-half Results
Nine-month 2019Sales and Financial Data.
Photos credits: Photothèque Groupe SEB, Jean-François DEROUBAIX This document is printed in compliance with ISO14001:2004 for an environmental management system.
Groupe SEB Campus SEB – 112 chemin du Moulin Carron 69130 Ecully – France Tel.: +33 (0)4 72 18 18 18

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