Description of the main elements of risk management and internal control related to financial reports. Internal control within the Group is based on the recommendation from the "Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commissions" (COSO), and covers control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring. The main purpose of the COSO framework is to identify, evaluate and manage the company's risk in an efficient and appropriate manner. The content of these different elements is described in detail below.
Control environment. The core of an enterprise is the employees' individual skills, ethical values and competence, in addition to the environment in which they work.
Guidelines for financial reporting. On behalf of the CFO, the Chief Accountant for the Group provides guidelines to entities within the Group. These guidelines place requirements on both the content of and process for financial reporting.
Organisation and responsibility. The Chief Accountant for the Group reports to the CFO and is responsible for areas such as financial reporting, budgets and internal control of financial reporting within the Group.
The Directors of the reporting entities are responsible for continuous financial monitoring and reporting. The entities all have management groups and financial functions which are adapted to their organisation and business. The entity managers shall ensure implementation of appropriate and efficient internal control and are responsible for compliance with requirements.
The audit committee shall monitor the process of financial reporting and ensure that the Group's internal control and risk management systems function efficiently. The audit committee shall also ensure that the Group has an independent and efficient external auditor.
The financial statements for all companies in the Group are audited by an external auditor, within the framework established in international standards for auditing and quality control.
Risk assessment. The Chief Accountant for the Group and the CFO identify, assess and monitor the risk of errors in the Group's financial reports, together with the managers of each entity.
Control activities. Reporting entities are responsible for the implementation of adequate control actions in order to prevent errors in the financial reports.
Processes and control measures have been established to ensure quality assurance of financial reports. These measures comprise mandates, division of work, reconciliation/documentation, IT controls, analyses, management reviews and Board representation within subsidiaries.
The Chief Accountant for the Group provides guidelines for financial reporting to the different Group entities. The Chief Accountant for the Group ensures that reporting takes place in accordance with prevailing legislation, accounting standards, established accounting principles and the Board's guidelines.
The Chief Accountant and the CFO continuously assess the Group's and the entities' financial reports. Analyses are carried out in relation to previous periods, between different entities and in relation to other companies within the same industry.
Review by the Group management. The Group management reviews the financial reports on a monthly basis, including the development in figures for profit/loss and on the statement of financial position.
Reviews by the audit committee, Board and general meeting. The audit committee and Board review the Group's financial reports on a quarterly basis. During such reviews, the audit committee has discussions with the management and external auditor. At least once a year, the Board holds a meeting with the external auditor, without the presence of the administration.
The Board reviews the interim accounts per quarter and the proposal for the financial statements.
The financial statements are adopted by the annual general meeting.
Information and communication. The Group has a strict policy of providing correct and open information to shareholders, potential shareholders and other stakeholders. Item 13, "Information and communication" contains more detailed information.
Follow-up of reporting entities. Those persons responsible for entities which issue reports shall ensure appropriate and efficient internal control in accordance with requirements and are responsible for compliance with such requirements.
Group level. The Chief Accountant and CFO review the financial reports issued by the entities and the Group, and assess any errors, omissions and required improvements.
External auditor. The external auditor shall provide the audit committee with a description of the main elements of the audit from the previous financial year, in particular significant weak points identified during internal control related to the process of financial reporting.
The Board of Directors. The Board, represented by the audit committee, monitors the process of financial reporting.
11. Remuneration of the board of directors
Board remuneration is not performance based. The Board members elected by the shareholders have no share options. If enterprises that board members are associated with perform work for the company’s Board, the question of independence is treated specifically by the Board.
Remuneration of the Chairman of the Board and other board members is recommended by the nomination committee and adopted by the general meeting. The annual general meeting on 23 May 2018 adopted remuneration of the Board of Directors as follows:
> Annual remuneration of the Chairman of the Board,
NOK 400 000.
> Annual remuneration of the other board members,
NOK 250 000.
However, no remuneration is paid to the Chairman of the Board that represents a duty to report. Lerøy Seafood Group ASA is invoiced for the services of the Chairman, and for consultancy fees related to the role as working Chairman of the Board from the Group’s leading company, Laco AS, where the Chairman of the Board is an employee.
It is recommended that remuneration for any additional work carried out by members of the Board of Directors' sub-committees be paid separately in addition to the basic fees for board members of NOK 40 000 per year.
Annual remuneration of the members of the nomination committee totalled NOK 35 000 per member.
12. Remuneration of executive personnel
This item is referred to in the chapter regarding the Board of Directors’ Statement on Salaries and other Remuneration of Executive Personnel.
The general meeting will vote individually on the recommended and binding guidelines.
13. Information and communications
Lerøy Seafood Group ASA has a strict policy of providing correct and open information to shareholders, potential shareholders and other stakeholders. Timely, relevant, consistent and current information is the basis upon which all interested parties will assess the value of the company’s shares. The company’s most important medium for distributing information is the Oslo Stock Exchange reporting system, but the company will also hold presentations for investors and analysts. Lerøy Seafood Group keeps its shareholders informed via the Board of Directors’ report, quarterly reports and at appropriate presentations. In addition, press releases are sent out regarding important events on the company’s markets, or about other relevant circumstances.
Every year, Lerøy Seafood Group ASA publishes the company's financial calendar, showing the dates for presentation of the interim financial statements and the date of the annual general meeting. The date for payment of dividends is decided by the company's annual general meeting.
The company's website – www.leroyseafood.com – is updated constantly with information distributed to shareholders. No specific guidelines have been compiled for the company’s contact with shareholders outside the general meeting. This is due to the fact that the current integrated practice within this area is deemed satisfactory.
14. Take-overs
Lerøy Seafood Group ASA has no restrictions in its Articles of Association regarding company take-overs. As of 3 June 2002, the shares in Lerøy Seafood Group ASA have been quoted on the main listing of the Oslo Stock Exchange and are freely negotiable within the provisions of Norwegian law. The company has only one class of shares and each share carries one vote at the general meeting.
If a take-over bid is made for the company, the Board of Directors will make a statement prior to the expiry of the bid. The Board of Director's statement will also include a recommendation as to whether the shareholders should accept the bid or not. The Board of Directors will emphasise equal treatment of the shareholders and no unnecessary disturbance of the company's operations.
15. Auditor
Auditing – annual plan. For a number of years, Lerøy Seafood Group ASA has engaged the services of PriceWaterhouseCoopers AS as Group auditor. The company's auditor follows an auditing plan which has been reviewed in advance together with the audit committee and management. The auditor and audit committee perform an annual audit of the company’s internal control, including identified weak points and recommended improvements. The Board is informed of the general nature of the services the administration buys from the auditor.
Treatment of the financial statements. The auditor holds meetings with the audit committee and management subsequent to the interim audit and in connection with the company's presentation of interim reports for the fourth quarter. The auditor attends board meetings where the annual reports are to be approved, and also holds a meeting on the subject of the annual report with the Board of Directors, at which the management does not attend. During these meetings, the auditor reviews any significant changes in the company’s accounting policies, evaluations of significant accounting estimates and all significant factors on which the auditor and management disagree. To date, there has been no such disagreement on any factors.
Auditor – other services.
The auditor prepares a written confirmation of independence for the audit committee, with written disclosure to the audit committee of all other services provided in addition to mandatory auditing. The auditing company utilised is a large company and practices internal rotation, in compliance with the requirement for independence.
Moreover, the auditor is available for questions and comments to the financial statements and other matters at the Board’s discretion.
Remuneration of the auditor. Invoiced fees from the auditor are presented in a separate note to the financial statements. The company's annual general meeting is also notified of remuneration of the auditor.
No specific guidelines have been established for the CEO’s mandate to make use of the auditor for other services than auditing. The Board of Directors is instead continuously informed of the main aspects of the services purchased by the administration from the auditor.