7.  DECLARATION ON COMPANY MANAGEMENT

The disclosures made in chapter “7. Declaration on Company Management” are “non-audited management report disclosures” as an audit of the disclosures contained in the Declaration on Company Management in accordance with section 317 (2) sentence 6 German Commercial Code (“Handelsgesetzbuch” – HGB) is limited to the fact that the information has been provided and the Corporate Governance Report in chapter 7 constitutes a “non-management report-related disclosure” which is not subject to a substantive audit.

Principles of corporate governance

As a German public company listed on the stock exchange, the management of United Internet AG is primarily determined by the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) and the rules of the German Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”).

The term Corporate Governance stands for responsible corporate management and control geared to sustainable value creation. Efficient cooperation between Management Board and Supervisory Board, respect for stockholder interests, openness and transparency of corporate communications are key aspects of good corporate governance.

The Management Board and Supervisory Board of United Internet AG regard it as their duty to secure the Company's continued existence and sustainable value creation through responsible corporate governance focused on the long term. Appropriate consideration is given to environmental and social objectives.

The following report contains the “Declaration on company management”, in accordance with section 289f HGB for the parent company and in accordance with section 315d HGB for the Group, of the Management Board and Supervisory Board pursuant to Principle 22 of the Code.

Management and corporate structure

In accordance with its legal status, United Internet AG operates a dual management and monitoring structure comprising two corporate bodies: the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. The third body is the Shareholders’ Meeting. All three bodies are committed to serving the Company’s interests.

Management Board

Working procedures of the Management Board

The Management Board is the body charged with managing the Group’s operations. In the fiscal year 2022, it consisted of 2 persons (namely Mr. Ralph Dommermuth and Mr. Martin Mildner). For initial appointments, a term of office of three years is considered. An assessment is made on a case-by-case basis as to which term of office within the legally permissible term of appointment appears appropriate. Beyond this, Management Board members are appointed for no longer than five years. The Management Board conducts operations in accordance with its legal and statutory obligations, as well as the rules of procedure adopted by the Supervisory Board, and the corresponding recommendations of the Code – unless deviations are declared pursuant to section 161 AktG.

The Management Board is responsible for preparing the Interim and Annual Financial Statements as well as for appointing key managers within the Company. In addition, it systematically defines the risks and opportunities for the Company associated with social and environmental factors, as well as the environmental and social impact of the Company's activities, and subsequently assesses these. In addition to long-term economic objectives, the corporate strategy also takes appropriate account of environmental and social objectives. Corporate planning includes both the corresponding financial and sustainability-related targets. Further information on sustainability can be found on the Company's website at www.united-internet.de under Company/Sustainability.

Decisions of fundamental importance require the approval of the Supervisory Board. The Management Board reports to the Supervisory Board in accordance with the statutory provisions of section 90 AktG and provides the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at least once a month with an oral overview – and at the request of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board also in writing – of the current status of relevant reporting items pursuant to section 90a AktG. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is thus informed without delay by the Chairman or Speaker of the Management Board, or the Chief Financial Officer, about important events that are essential for assessing the Company’s situation and development, as well as for the management of the Company. Important items also include any substantial deviation from the budget or other forecasts of the Company. The Chairman or Speaker of the Management Board, or Chief Financial Officer, shall also inform the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, in advance where possible otherwise immediately thereafter, about all ad hoc announcements of the Company pursuant to Art. 17 MAR.

There is an age limit of 70 for members of the Management Board. This requirement is currently complied with in full.

The Management Board conducts the Company’s business with joint responsibility and according to common objectives, plans, and policies. Irrespective of the joint responsibility of the Management Board, each member bears responsibility for his assigned division, but is required to subordinate the interests of his assigned division to the overall good of the Company.

The full Executive Board regulates the division of responsibilities in a business distribution plan.

The Management Board members inform each other about important events within their divisions. Matters of greater importance which are not approved in the budget must be discussed and decided by at least two Management Board members, whereby one of the two Management Board members must be responsible for the Finance division.

Irrespective of their areas of responsibility, all Management Board members constantly monitor those results and data which are crucial for the Company’s business development so they are always able to help avert potential disadvantages, or implement desirable improvements and expedient changes by drawing them to the attention of the full Management Board.

The full Management Board resolves on all matters of particular importance and scope for the Company or its subsidiaries and investment companies.

Resolutions are adopted by the full Management Board with a simple majority. Should the vote result in a tie, the Chairman of the Management Board has a casting vote. The resolutions of the Management Board are recorded in the minutes.

The full Management Board meets regularly once a month and otherwise as required.

Each Management Board member immediately discloses any conflict of interest to the Chairman of the Supervisory Board and the Chairman of the Management Board or Speaker of the Management Board and informs the other Management Board member about it where necessary.

Current composition of the Management Board

The Management Board of United Internet AG comprised the following members in the fiscal year 2021:

Management Board members on December 31, 2022

• Ralph Dommermuth Company founder and Chief Executive Officer
  (with the Company since 1988)
  
  
• Martin Mildner, Chief Financial Officer
  (with the Company since October 1, 2020)

Supervisory Board

Working procedures of the Supervisory Board

In the fiscal year 2022, the Supervisory Board elected by the Annual Shareholders' Meeting consisted of six members until August 21, 2022. Since August 22, 2022, the Supervisory Board has comprised five members. The members of the Supervisory Board are generally elected for a period of five years.

In accordance with German law, the Company’s articles, its rules of procedure, and the corresponding recommendations of the Code – unless deviations are declared pursuant to section 161 AktG – the Supervisory Board is in regular contact with the Management Board and monitors and advises it with regard to the management of business, and the Company’s risk and opportunity management system. This mainly comprises questions relating to the topic of sustainability.

The Supervisory Board meets at regular intervals to discuss with the Management Board all matters of relevance to the Company regarding strategy and its implementation, as well as planning, the development of business, the risk position, risk management, and compliance. Together with the Management Board, it discusses the quarterly statements and half-year reports before publication and approves annual budgets. It examines the Annual Financial Statements of the parent company and the Group and adopts them if it has no reservations. In doing so, it also takes the reports of the Company’s external auditors into account.

The Supervisory Board’s responsibilities also include appointing members of the Management Board, as well as determining and regularly monitoring their remuneration in compliance with the latest legal regulations and recommendations of the Code – unless deviations are declared pursuant to section 161 AktG.

When appointing members of the Management Board, the Supervisory Board strives to achieve the best possible, diverse and mutually complementary composition for the Company and pays attention to long-term succession planning. Experience and industry knowledge as well as professional and personal qualifications play a particularly important role.

As part of its long-term succession planning, the Supervisory Board, with the involvement of the Management Board, regularly discusses highly skilled executives who could be considered as potential candidates for Management Board positions.

The Supervisory Board conducts regular tests to assess the efficiency of the Supervisory Board as a whole, as well as its Audit and Risk Committee. In accordance with Recommendation D.13 of the German Corporate Governance Code, the Supervisory Board and its committee assess how effectively they each perform their duties as a body. For this purpose, a self-assessment by means of questionnaires is conducted every two years or so.

At its meeting on December 6, 2022, the Audit and Risk Committee of United Internet AG conducted a self-assessment for the fiscal year 2022 in the presence of all committee members and the Audit Committee Chairman. The self-assessment was carried out on the basis of a comprehensive catalog of questions, which included in particular an assessment of the working methods and activities, as well as the size and structure of the Audit and Risk Committee. In addition, an assessment was made of the work with the auditor and interaction with the Management Board and the Group’s departments.

The last self-assessment of the Supervisory Board was conducted and evaluated in the fourth quarter of 2022. The self-assessment was carried out on the basis of a comprehensive catalog of questions, focusing in particular on expectations, time commitment, composition of the Supervisory Board, independence of the Supervisory Board and how it deals with conflicts of interest, Management Board and Supervisory Board remuneration, and accounting matters.

The result of the self-assessment confirms that there is a good and open exchange within the bodies, as well as a trusting and cooperative working relationship with the auditor, the Management Board and the Company’s departments. This professional cooperation is reflected, for example, in the receipt of well-prepared documents/information, which are always provided appropriately and on time. Specific suggestions are addressed and implemented during the year as part of the work of the Supervisory Board and Audit and Risk Committee.

Following a thorough evaluation, it can therefore be assumed that the activities of the Supervisory Board and its Audit and Risk Committee are performed efficiently.

The members of the Supervisory Board complete the training and further education measures required for their tasks on their own, but receive appropriate support in this context from the Company. The measures conducted are detailed in the Report of the Supervisory Board.

The Supervisory Board is convened at least twice every half of a calendar year. Supervisory Board meetings are convened in writing by its Chairman at least 14 days in advance. Further and more detailed information on the exact number of meetings and the topics discussed at these meetings can be found in the Report of the Supervisory Board to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting of the Company.

When meetings are convened, the Supervisory Board members are informed of the agenda items. If an agenda item has not been properly announced, a resolution concerning it may only be adopted if no Supervisory Board member objects prior to the vote.

Resolutions of the Supervisory Board are generally adopted at meetings held with physical attendance. However, it is permissible for meetings of the Supervisory Board to be held in the form of a video or telephone conference call or for individual members of the Supervisory Board to be connected by video or telephone call and, in such cases, for resolutions to be adopted or votes to be cast by video or telephone conference call. Meetings are chaired by the Chairman of the Supervisory Board. If so arranged by the Chairman, resolutions may also be adopted outside of meetings by other means, for example by phone or e-mail, if no member objects to this procedure.

The Supervisory Board has a quorum if all members have been officially invited and at least three members participate in the resolution. A member shall also be deemed to participate in a resolution if he abstains from voting.

Unless the law prescribes otherwise, resolutions of the Supervisory Board are adopted with a simple majority.

Minutes are kept of the Supervisory Board’s discussions and resolutions.

The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is authorized to submit on behalf of the Supervisory Board the declarations of intent required for the implementation of the Supervisory Board’s resolutions.

Moreover, it should be noted that with the subsequent election to the Supervisory Board at the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting 2023, the Supervisory Board aims to fulfill the required level of expertise specified in section 100 (5) AktG.

The Audit and Risk Committee assists the Supervisory Board in its monitoring of accounting practices and the integrity of the accounting process, as well as in monitoring the effectiveness and functionality of the internal control system, the risk management system, the compliance system, and the internal auditing system. Moreover, it supports the Supervisory Board in monitoring the auditing of the financial statements, the services provided by the auditor, the auditing fees, and the additional services provided by the auditor.

The Audit and Risk Committee closely examines the Annual Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements, the Combined Management Report for the Company and the Group, the non-financial statement and the non-financial Group statement, and the Management Board’s proposal for the appropriation of balance sheet profit. It discusses with the Management Board and the auditors the audit reports, the audit process, the audit focus areas and methodology, as well as the audit results, also with regard to the internal control system relating to the accounting process, and makes recommendations to the Supervisory Board. It regularly assesses the quality of the audit. Prior to their publication, it discusses the quarterly statements and the half-year financial report with the Management Board.

The Audit and Risk Committee prepares the negotiations and resolutions of the Supervisory Board for the election proposal of the auditor to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting and decisions on corporate governance issues, as well as resolving on the approval of related party transactions in accordance with section 111b (1) AktG. The Audit Committee discusses with the auditor the assessment of the audit risk, the audit strategy and audit planning, and the audit results. The Chairman of the Audit Committee regularly discusses current issues relating to the audit and its progress with the auditor, also in the presence of all members of the Audit and Risk Committee. The Audit Committee also consults regularly with the auditor without the presence of the Management Board. A total of 10 consultation meetings were held with the auditor in 2022.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee regularly reports to the Supervisory Board on the activities of the Audit and Risk Committee. In the event of significant occurrences and findings by the Audit and Risk Committee, its Chairman must inform the Chairman of the Supervisory Board without delay.

Targets for the composition of the Supervisory Board / status of implementation

The Company’s Supervisory Board aims to achieve a composition of the Supervisory Board that enables qualified supervision and advice for the Company’s Management Board.

In view of

• the size of the Supervisory Board,
• the business in which the Company operates,
• the size and structure of the Company,
• the scope of the Company’s international activities, and
• its current shareholder structure,

the Company’s Supervisory Board has adopted the following targets for its future composition. These take into account the statutory requirements both with regard to the requirements placed on individual Supervisory Board members and with regard to the composition of the entire Supervisory Board and – unless expressly stated otherwise – the requirements of the Code. In particular, a skills profile is planned with regard to the overall body.

The Supervisory Board will take these targets into account in the case of nomination proposals and make sure that the candidates meet the respective requirements. The specific situation of the Company must be taken into consideration.

Requirements for individual members

The Company’s Supervisory Board aims to ensure that each Supervisory Board member meets the following requirements:

General requirement profile

Each member of the Supervisory Board should have the requisite knowledge and experience to enable them to carefully monitor and advise the Company and to assess any risks for the Company's business. Moreover, the Supervisory Board will ensure that all its members have a personal profile that enables them to maintain the Company’s public reputation.

Time availability

All members of the Supervisory Board must have sufficient time to exercise their duties with due care throughout the entire period of office. In particular, the members of the Supervisory Board should observe the legal requirements and those of the Code regarding the permissible number of Supervisory Board mandates.

Conflicts of interest

Supervisory Board members should not engage in any other activities likely to cause frequent conflicts of interest. These include management positions with key competitors.

Age limit for Supervisory Board members

As a rule, members of the Supervisory Board should not have reached the age of 70 at the time of their election or re-election.

Requirements regarding the composition of the Supervisory Board as a whole

In addition to the individual requirements for Supervisory Board members, the Company’s Supervisory Board also strives to reach the following targets for the composition of the Supervisory Board as a whole in line with recommendation C.1 of the German Corporate Governance Code.

Skills profile for the Supervisory Board as a whole

The members of the Supervisory Board must collectively have the knowledge, skills, and professional experience necessary for them to carry out their tasks as required. The Supervisory Board strives to ensure that the Supervisory Board as a whole covers the widest possible range of knowledge and experience relevant to the Company, and in particular meets the following requirements:

• In-depth knowledge and experience of the telecommunications and internet sector;
• Expertise or experience from other sectors of the economy;
• Entrepreneurial or operational experience;
• At least one member with several years of experience working abroad or working for a company with international activities;
• At least one member with special knowledge and experience in the application of accounting principles and internal control processes;
• Expertise in sustainability issues of significance for the Company;
• At least one member with expertise in the field of accounting, whereby the expertise in the field of accounting must consist of special knowledge and experience in the use of accounting principles and internal control and risk management systems and must also apply to sustainability reporting;
• At least one additional member with expertise in the field of auditing, whereby the expertise in the field of auditing must consist of special knowledge and experience in the field of auditing and must also apply to the auditing of sustainability reporting;
• Knowledge and experience of strategy development and implementation;
• In-depth knowledge and experience of controlling and risk management;
• Knowledge and experience of HR planning and management;
• In-depth knowledge and experience in the field of governance and compliance;
• Expertise in the needs of capital market-oriented companies.

Diversity

The Supervisory Board aims to ensure that the Supervisory Board is composed of a wide variety of members so that the Supervisory Board as a whole has sufficient diversity of opinion and knowledge. In its nominations, the Supervisory Board will take into account the diversity concept established by the Company.

Independence

The Supervisory Board aims to ensure that at least four of its six members are also independent within the meaning of the criteria set out in the recommendations of the Code.

The Supervisory Board once again addressed the above objectives for its composition during the reporting year. In particular, it discussed them with regard to the skills profile for the full Supervisory Board. It also adhered to them and further expanded them. The Supervisory Board strives to fulfill the skills profile developed by the Supervisory Board for the Supervisory Board as a whole.

Current composition of the Supervisory Board/implementation status

The Supervisory Board of United Internet AG comprised the following members in the fiscal year 2022:

Supervisory Board members as at December 31, 2022

• Philipp von Bismarck,
  Chairman of the Supervisory Board since May 2021, member of the Audit and Risk Committee since May 2021
  (since July 2020)
  
  
• Dr. Manuel Cubero del Castillo-Olivares,
  Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board since May 2021
  (since May 2020)
  
  
• Prof. Dr. Andreas Söffing,
  Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee since May 2021
  (since May 2021)
  
  
• Stefan Rasch,
  Member of the Audit and Risk Committee since May 2021
  (since May 2021)
  
  
• Prof. Dr. Yasmin Mei-Yee Weiß
  (since July 2020)

Departed in the fiscal year 2022

• Dr. Claudia Borgas-Herold
  (from May 2020 to August 2022)

The Supervisory Board believes that all five members of the current Supervisory Board, Ms. Weiß, Mr. von Bismarck, Mr. Cubero del Castillo-Olivares, Mr. Söffing, and Mr. Rasch are also independent within the meaning of Recommendation C.7 of the German Corporate Governance Code.

Skills matrix:

In addition to taking these objectives into account and endeavoring to meet the skills profile for the entire body, the Supervisory Board's proposals for the election of Supervisory Board members shall continue to be oriented towards the welfare of the Company as a whole. In doing so, the specific situation of the Company is to be taken into consideration.

Subject to the formation of short fiscal years, the current term of office of the Supervisory Board members ends on expiry of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting of the year 2025.

Targets for the share of women on the Supervisory Board, Management Board, and in management positions / implementation status

The “Law on Equal Participation of Men and Women in Private-Sector and Public-Sector Management Positions” (FührposGleichberG) of April 24, 2015 resulted in amendments to the German Stock Corporation Law and a number of other laws.

The new legislation has led to the following obligations in particular for United Internet AG:

• setting of targets by the Supervisory Board for the share of women on the Supervisory Board of United Internet AG
• setting of targets by the Supervisory Board for the share of women on the Management Board of United Internet AG
• setting of targets by the Management Board for the share of women on the first and second management levels below the Management Board of United Internet AG

The following targets are to be set for a period of no more than five years.

After careful examination, the Supervisory Board and Management Board of United Internet AG adopted the following based on resolutions of March 16, 2021 and March 28, 2023:

• The Supervisory Board set the deadline for the attainment of the current targets for the share of women on the Supervisory Board and Management Board as the expiry of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting that decides on the discharge of the Supervisory Board for the fiscal year 2024 (May 2025).
• After a target of “0” had previously been set for the Supervisory Board, a target of 30% has now been set for the share of women (section 111 (5) AktG). The Supervisory Board currently comprises one woman and four men. A corresponding new appointment to the Supervisory Board is planned for the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting 2023.
• A target of “0” has been set for the Management Board (section 111 (5) AktG). The Management Board was composed exclusively of two men in the fiscal year 2022. With effect from April 1, 2023, the Management Board will be enlarged to three members. After extensive and careful consideration, the Supervisory Board has decided, based on the Company’s interest in a steady continuation of the successful work of the Management Board’s experienced members who are already familiar with the Group’s structures, that the Management Board should continue to consist only of male members in the future and that the target for the Management Board thus remains “0”. At the same time, it was decided that in the event of a further increase in the size of the Management Board, the target for the proportion of women would be set at 25%.
• Irrespective of this, the selection shall always be made according to the individual skills profile of the potential board members, whereby the Supervisory Board shall endeavor to give preference to women in the case of equal qualifications.
• No target has been set for the share of women on the first and second management levels below the Management Board, as United Internet AG does not have any management levels below the Management Board due to its holding structure.
• With regard to the share of women on the Supervisory Board and Management Board, the Supervisory Board reserves the right to resolve again on the target should there be any indication of a new appointment.

The Supervisory Board and Management Board of United Internet AG continue to expect the above mentioned targets to be reached by the end of the specified period. The above mentioned target for the Management Board is met at present.

Diversity concept (sections 289f (2) number 6, 315d HGB)

Diversity aspects are always taken into account in the composition of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board. The Company considers diversity to be not only desirable, but also crucial to the success of the Company. The Company therefore pursues an appreciative corporate culture in which individual diversity in terms of culture, nationality, gender, age group, and religion is desired and equal opportunities – irrespective of age, disability, ethnic and cultural origin, gender, religion and ideology, or sexual identity – are promoted.

The Company aims to ensure that the Management Board and Supervisory Board are composed of many different types of people and that the bodies as a whole have a sufficiently wide variety of opinions and knowledge.

In particular, the following criteria should be taken into account:

• The members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board should complement each other within their respective committees with regard to their experience, education, and professional background in order to develop a good understanding of the current status and the longer term opportunities and risks associated with the Company's business activities.
• With the exception of an age limit of 70, no differentiation is made according to age for the members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board, and the sole differentiation should be according to the required knowledge and experience.
• In view of the current size of the Management Board and Supervisory Board, consisting of just two and five members respectively, no targets have been set with regard to geographical origin. In order to ensure international experience, the Supervisory Board already stipulates that at least one member of the Supervisory Board should have several years of experience abroad or have gained operational experience with an internationally active company.

Individual strengths – in other words, everything that makes individual employees unique and distinctive within the Company – made it possible for the Company to become what it is today. A workforce comprising a wide variety of personalities offers the best possible conditions for creativity and productivity - and thus also for employee satisfaction. The resulting potential for ideas and innovation strengthens the Company’s competitiveness and increases its opportunities in future markets. With this in mind, the aim is not only to find the field of activity and the function for each employee in which their individual potential and talents are best utilized, but also to ensure diversity in the composition of the Management Board and Supervisory Board – in the Company’s own interests – with regard to age, gender, and professional experience, for example.

The Management Board and Supervisory Board believe that the above diversity requirements for the Management Board and Supervisory Board are currently fulfilled. The Company considers additional or more specific criteria to be inappropriate. In view of the current size of the Management Board and Supervisory Board, more or more specific diversity aspects would create considerable difficulties to fill the positions taking into account all diversity criteria.

Annual Shareholders' Meeting

The Annual Shareholders' Meeting is the body which formulates and expresses the interests of the shareholders of United Internet AG. At the ordinary Annual Shareholders' Meeting, the Annual Financial Statements of the parent company and Consolidated Financial Statements are presented to the shareholders. The shareholders decide on the appropriation of the balance sheet profit and vote on resolutions concerning other statutory topics, such as releasing the Management Board members from their responsibility for the past fiscal year and appointing external auditors. Each share entitles the owner to one vote. All shareholders who register in time and are listed in the Share Register on the day of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting are entitled to attend. Shareholders may also exercise their rights at the Annual Shareholders' Meeting by means of a proxy vote. The Company provides a proxy who votes according to the shareholder’s instructions, providing he receives the required order.

Compliance

Compliance is an integral component of corporate and management culture throughout the United Internet Group. For United Internet AG, compliance means ensuring its activities comply with all relevant laws for its business, as well as with its own principles and regulations.

This includes open and fair communication with our employees, customers, business partners, shareholders, and the public. As an internet service provider with several million customers and a large number of business partners, United Internet’s legally and ethically compliant behavior is vital for retaining the trust of its customers and business associates.

To ensure conduct in line with our corporate culture, the Management Board has created a binding framework for the Company’s ethical principles and values. Moreover, it has defined values and management guidelines, and compiled the most important rules of behavior in a Code of Conduct. This “culture of cooperation” provides guidance for employees in their everyday work and creates a secure framework for making the correct decisions. The framework applies equally to the Management Board, directors, managers, and all employees.

The Management Board has established a Compliance Organization to ensure adherence to the legal and internal regulations.

The Compliance Organization is part of an holistic risk management system which not only includes the “GRC” functions Corporate Governance, Risk Management & Compliance, but also the Corporate Audit and Legal Department. These risk-mitigating functions are headed by the Group General Counsel, who reports directly to the CFO of United Internet AG.

The Compliance Organization is responsible for the creation of suitable structures and processes to support the implementation of compliance throughout the Company and to align measures with the respective risks. The compliance processes include release procedures in the field of corruption prevention and trustworthy reporting paths that give employees the possibility to highlight possible misconduct or legal violations within the Company.

The compliance organization is present and anchored in the business units via functional and local Compliance Managers (FCMs and LCMs). In addition to their normal functions, the FCMs and LCMs support the area of compliance.

The overarching element of the compliance system remains the responsibility of all managers for compliance. This includes acting as a role model, as enshrined in the Company’s management guidelines, and goes beyond this: all managers of the Company must set an example with regard to compliance and ensure that decisions and actions in their area of responsibility are always in line with the relevant legal provisions and the Company’s own values and rules.

Risk management

To secure the Company’s long-term success, it is essential to effectively identify and analyze the risks involved in its business activities and to eliminate or limit them by means of suitable control measures. The Company’s risk management system ensures that these risks are handled responsibly. In particular, it is designed to identify, assess and manage risks at an early stage. The system is continuously refined and adapted to changing circumstances. Where necessary, the Supervisory Board is regularly informed by the Management Board about existing risks and how they are being dealt with. The effectiveness of the internal control system and the risk management system was assessed by the Supervisory Board in its entirety.

The main features of the internal control and risk management system with regard to the accounting process are described in detail in the Management Report in accordance with section 289 (4) HGB and in the report on the Position of the Company and of the Group in accordance with section 315 (4) HGB. The Management Board also reports there in detail on existing risks and their development.

Financial disclosures / transparency

It is the declared aim of United Internet to inform institutional investors, private shareholders, financial analysts, employees, and the public simultaneously and with equal treatment about the Company’s situation by means of regular, open, and up-to-date communication.

To this end, all important information, such as press releases, ad-hoc announcements, and other mandatory disclosures (e.g., directors’ dealings and notifications of voting rights), as well as all financial reports, are published in accordance with statutory regulations. In addition, United Internet provides extensive information on its corporate website (www.united-internet.de), where documents and information on Annual Shareholders' Meetings and other economically relevant facts can be found.

United Internet provides shareholders, analysts, and the press with four reports each fiscal year on the Company’s business development and its financial and earnings position. The publication dates of these reports are stated in a binding financial calendar, which the Company posts on its website and regularly updates in accordance with legal obligations.

The Management Board also provides immediate information in the form of ad-hoc announcements about any events not known to the public which might significantly affect the share price.

As part of its investor relations activities, the Company’s management team regularly meets with analysts and institutional investors. We also hold analyst conferences to announce our semi-annual and annual figures, which investors and analysts can also participate in via telephone.

Accounting and auditing

The Group’s accounts are drawn up according to the principles of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS, as applicable in the EU) with consideration of section 315e HGB. However, the Annual Financial Statements of the parent company – relevant for all dividend and tax matters – are drawn up according to the rules of the German Commercial Code (HGB). The Annual Financial Statements and the Consolidated Financial Statements are audited by independent auditors. The respective auditing company is selected by the Annual Shareholders' Meeting. The Supervisory Board issues the auditing mandate, determines auditing focal points, approves the auditing fee, and examines the independence of the auditors.

PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft has audited the Annual Financial Statements of United Internet AG and the Group since the fiscal year 2022. Mr. Erik Hönig was the chief auditor for the fiscal year 2022.

Remuneration of Management Board and Supervisory Board

The remuneration system and the disclosure of remuneration for members of the Management Board and Supervisory Board for the fiscal year 2022 in accordance with section 162 AktG can be found in the “Remuneration Report 2022”, which is published on the Company’s website at https://www.united-internet.de/en/investor-relations/publications/reports.html.

Information on Management Board and Supervisory Board remuneration can also be found in note 42 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Stock option plans

The principles of the stock-based compensation plan of United Internet AG can be found in the “Remuneration Report 2022”, which is published on the Company’s website at https://www.united-internet.de/en/investor-relations/publications/reports.html.

Further details can also be found in note 36 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Declaration of conformity with regard to the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code in accordance with section 161 German Stock Corporation Act (AktG)

The corporate governance of United Internet is based on the German Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”), which the Government Commission set up by the Federal Justice Minister in September 2001 published for the first time on February 26, 2002.

The Code aims to make the dual German corporate governance system transparent and understandable. It contains principles, recommendations and suggestions governing the management and monitoring of German listed companies that are accepted nationally and internationally as standards of good and responsible governance. It aims to promote confidence in the management and supervision of German listed companies by investors, customers, employees and the general public. The Government Commission reviews the Code annually to check whether it still complies with current corporate governance best practice and, where necessary, adjusts it accordingly.

The principles reflect material legal requirements for responsible governance, and are used here to inform investors and other stakeholders.

Recommendations of the Code are indicated in the text by using the word “shall”. Companies may depart from recommendations, but in this case they are obliged to disclose and explain any departures each year (“comply or explain”). This enables companies to take into account sector- or company-specific special characteristics. Well-justified departures from recommendations of the Code may be in the best interests of good corporate governance.

Finally, the Code contains suggestions from which companies may depart without disclosure; suggestions are indicated in the text by using the word “should”.

On December 21, 2021, the Management Board and Supervisory Board of United Internet AG submitted their current annual declaration of conformity (presented below) in accordance with section 161 AktG and immediately published it on the Company’s website (www.united-internet.de), as well as in the Federal Gazette (“Bundesanzeiger”).

In accordance with section 161 German Stock Corporation Act (AktG), the Management Board and Supervisory Board of United Internet AG declare that:

United Internet AG has complied with the recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) as last revised on December 16, 2019, on which the last Declaration of Conformity issued on May 27, 2021 was based, with the declared exceptions, and will continue to comply with the recommendations of the Code as most recently revised on December 16, 2019, which became effective upon publication in the Federal Gazette on March 20, 2020, with the following exceptions in future:

Formation of a nomination committee

(Recommendation D.5)

The Supervisory Board does not form any other committees in addition to the Audit and Risk Committee, but performs all other tasks as a whole. The Supervisory Board considers this to be appropriate, as efficient plenary discussions and an intensive exchange of opinions are possible even with a six-member Supervisory Board. Accordingly, the Supervisory Board sees no need to establish a Nomination Committee.

Management Board remuneration - Remuneration system

(Recommendations G.1 to G.5 inclusive of the Code)

Taking into account the Act Implementing the Second Shareholders‘ Rights Directive (“ARUG II”) and the new German Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”), the Supervisory Board developed and agreed changes to the remuneration system for members of the Management Board.

With the recommendation to the Annual Shareholders' Meeting in May 2021, the remuneration system became the basis for service agreements with Management Board members concluded in the future. The remuneration system developed takes into account the recommendations in G.1 up to and including G.5 of the Code without any restrictions. Existing service agreements with Management Board members remain unaffected by this, which is why the deviation from the recommendations in G.1 up to and including G.5 of the Code is explained.

Management Board remuneration – Long-term variable remuneration

(Recommendation G.10 of the Code)

According to G.10 of the Code, variable remuneration granted to members of the Management Board is to be predominantly invested in company shares or granted correspondingly as share-based remuneration. Moreover, the respective Management Board member should only be able to receive such amounts after a period of four years. As a long-term variable remuneration program for the Management Board, the Company provides share-based remuneration in the form of its Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) program. This program has a total term in each case of six years. Within these six years, the respective Management Board member can already exercise a part (25%) of the allocated SARs at specified times – no earlier, however, than after two years. Thus, Management Board members can already receive part of their long-term variable remuneration after two years. After 5 years, full exercising of all SARs is possible for the first time.

The Supervisory Board believes that this long-term variable remuneration system has proved effective and sees no reason to further postpone the granting of remuneration earned under this program. By linking remuneration to the share price of United Internet AG and the possibility to add shares in order to meet claims arising from the program, the Supervisory Board believes that Management Board members already participate adequately in the risks and opportunities of United Internet AG as a company. Since the program has a term of six years and the SARs are allocated pro rata over this period, and no earlier than after two years, the Supervisory Board believes that the program is ideally suited to maintaining loyalty and steering incentives in the interests of United Internet AG, and thus does not require any alteration.

Management Board remuneration – Retaining/reclaiming variable remuneration

(Recommendation G.11 of the Code)

According to G.11 of the Code, the Supervisory Board shall have the possibility to withhold or reclaim variable remuneration in justified cases. The current service agreements of Management Board members do not include such provisions. A claw-back clause for the reclaim of variable compensation has been included in the new remuneration system and will be taken into account in future service agreements to be concluded with Management Board members.

Management Board remuneration – Remuneration system

(Recommendations G.8, 9 and 12 of the Code)

According to G.8, 9 and 12 of the Code, agreed targets and target attainment, as well as regulations on maturity and holding periods, should not be changed retrospectively. The Company reserves the right to deviate from this in justified cases in the context of the departure of Management Board members, insofar as this is permissible within the framework of the respective applicable remuneration system.

Management Board remuneration – Benefits on contract termination

(Recommendation G.13 of the Code)

According to G.13 of the Code, any payments made to Management Board members due to early termination of their Management Board activity shall not exceed twice the annual remuneration and shall not constitute remuneration for more than the remaining term of the employment contract. If post-contractual non-compete clauses apply, such severance payments shall be taken into account in the calculation of any compensation payments. The current service agreements of Management Board members do not include an option to take this into account. This was included in the new remuneration system and in future will be taken into account in new service agreements to be concluded with Management Board members (and any related termination agreements).