Corporate Governance Policy

Compliance

The Board of Directors of GC Rieber Shipping has the overall responsibility for ensuring good corporate governance of the Company.

GC Rieber Shipping ASA is a Norwegian public limited liability company listed on Oslo Stock Exchange (Oslo Børs). Section 3-3b of the Norwegian Accounting Act relating to corporate governance requires the Company to issue an annual report on its principles and practice for corporate governance. These provisions also state minimum requirements for the content of this report.

The Norwegian Corporate Governance Board (NCGB) has issued the Norwegian Code of Practice for Corporate Governance (the ”Code of Practice”). Adherence to the Code of Practice is based on the “comply or explain” principle, which means that a company must comply with all recommendations of the Code of Practice or explain why it has chosen an alternative approach to specific recommendations.

Oslo Børs requires listed companies to publish an annual statement of their policy on corporate governance in accordance with the current Code of Practice. The rules on Continuing Obligations of listed companies are available on www.oslobors.no.

GC Rieber Shipping complies with the current Code of Practice that was issued on 14 October 2021. The Code of Practice is available at www.nues.no. The Company provides a report on its corporate governance principles in its annual report and the information is available at www.gcrieber-shipping.com. The Company follows the Code of Practice and any deviations are explained in the report.

GC Rieber Shipping’s business is defined in Article 1 of the Company’s articles of association, which reads as follows:

“The name of the company is GC Rieber Shipping ASA. The company is a public limited liability company whose object is to engage in shipping, investment, provision of guarantees, trade and other business. The company’s registered office is located in the municipality of Bergen.”

The Board of Directors has established strategies, objectives and a risk profile within the defined scope of its business to create value for its shareholders in a sustainable manner, taking financial, social and environmental interests into consideration. The strategies, objectives and risk profile are subject to annual review of the Board of Directors and described in the annual report and on www.gcrieber-shipping.com.

Basic corporate values, ethical guidelines and social responsibility

Ethical guidelines, basic corporate values and guidelines for corporate social responsibility have been established for the GC Rieber group, and GC Rieber Shipping follows the group’s guidelines.

The guidelines provide general principles for business practice and personal behaviour and are intended to form a platform for the attitudes and basic vision that should permeate the culture in the GC Rieber group, and how these relate to the value creation by the Company.

In 2010, GC Rieber joined the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate social responsibility initiative. UN Global Compact has developed ten universal principles that encourage and show how companies should pay attention to employee and human rights, protection of the environment and combating corruption. By joining the initiative, GC Rieber has committed itself to making the ten principles an integral part of its business strategy, to promote the principles to business partners and to reporting activities and improvements associated with the ten principles.

GC Rieber Shipping annually issues a separate report on environmental practises, corporate social responsibility and corporate governance (ESG). The report is published in the Company’s annual report and on the Company’s website.

More detailed information relating to the Company’s and the GC Rieber group’s vision, strategy, values and principles is available at www.gcrieber-shipping.com and www.gcrieber.no.

Equity

As at 31 December 2022, the Company’s book equity was NOK 1,171.0 million, which is equivalent to 98.8% of the total assets. The Board of Directors has a policy to have above 35% equity at any time, but the actual equity ratio will vary from time to time due to market circumstances. The Company’s need for financial soundness and liquidity should be adapted to its objectives, strategy and risk profile.

Dividend policy

The Company’s objective is to provide a competitive return on the shareholders’ invested capital through payment of a dividend and appreciation of the share price. In considering the scope of the dividend, the Board of Directors emphasises the Company’s capacity to pay dividends, the need to have a healthy level of equity and to have adequate financial resources for future growth and investments, while allowing for extraordinary dividends when capitalising on investments.

On the basis of the Company’s annual accounts for 2020, an additional dividend of NOK 1.23 per share (total NOK 105.9 million) was paid to the shareholders in October 2021. On the basis of the Company’s annual accounts for 2021, a dividend of NOK 0.50 per share (total NOK 43.0 million) was paid to the shareholders in May 2022. The Board of Directors propose a dividend of NOK 0.25 per share for 2022.

Capital increase

Authorisations granted to the Board of Directors to increase the Company’s share capital shall normally be restricted to specific purposes. As at 31.12.2022 there were no such authorisations granted to the Board of Directors.

Purchase of own shares

The general meeting may grant the Board of Directors a mandate to purchase up to 10 percent of own shares. As at 31 December 2022, there was no such mandate to the Board of Directors regarding purchase of own shares.

Equal treatment

GC Rieber Shipping has only one class of shares, and purchase and sale of the shares shall take place over the stock exchange.

The articles of association include no limitations relating to voting rights. All shares have equal rights.

Transactions in own shares

The Company’s transactions in own shares are carried out over the stock exchange or by other means at market price. Any services from the main shareholder are purchased at documented market price. Should there be an increase in capital which involves a waiver of the existing shareholders’ pre-emptive rights, and the Board of Directors resolves to carry out such an increase on the basis of a mandate granted by the general meeting, the Board of Directors will explain the justification for waiving the pre-emptive rights in the stock exchange announcement.

Transactions with close associates

The Company’s Board of Directors and management are committed to promoting equal treatment of all shareholders.

The Company has one main shareholder, GC Rieber AS, owning 76.8% of the shares as at 31 December 2022.

The Company has only one class of shares. All shares in the Company are freely negotiable.

About the general meeting

The general meeting is the Company’s supreme authority, and the Board of Directors aims to ensure that the general meeting is an efficient meeting place.

Notice of meeting

The general meeting will usually be held by 30 April each year at the Company’s offices, or as a hybrid meeting if shareholders request to participate electronically. The general meeting in 2023 will be held on 25 April.

Notice of the general meeting is usually sent with 21 days’ notice. At the same time, the agenda papers will be published on the Company’s website, cf. Article 5-g of the Articles of Association.

The notice of the general meeting must contain all necessary information so that the shareholders can decide on the issues to be addressed. The registration deadline for the general meeting will be as close to the general meeting as practically possible.

All shareholders registered in the Norwegian Registry of Securities (VPS) will receive a notice of meeting and are entitled to submit proposals and vote directly or via proxy. The financial calendar will be available on the Company’s website.

Registration and proxy

Registration should be made in writing, either via mail or e-mail. The Board of Directors wants to facilitate so that as many shareholders as possible are able to participate. Shareholders who are unable to attend in person, are encouraged to appoint a proxy. A special proxy form is available which facilitates separate voting instructions for each issue to be considered by the general meeting and for each of the candidates nominated for election. The Company will nominate one or more persons to vote as proxy for shareholders.

The Chairman of the Board will, and other Board members may, attend the general meeting.  This is a deviation from NUES’ recommendation. The CEO and CFO participate on behalf of the Company, and representatives from the auditor will also participate in the meeting.

Agenda and implementation

The agenda is determined by the Board of Directors. The main items are pursuant to the requirements in the Public Limited Liability Companies Act and Article 7 of the Articles of Association.

The general meeting is able to elect an independent person to chair the meeting.

The minutes of the general meeting are published via a stock exchange announcement and are available at www.gcrieber-shipping.com.

In 2022, the general meeting was held on 21 April and 89% of the total share capital was represented. A total of 26 shareholders were present or represented by proxy.

Nomination of Board members up for election at the general meeting shall take place through an open dialogue between the largest shareholders. Based on the Company’s good experience with such a process and an assessment of the composition of the owners, the Company has decided not to use a nomination committee. This is a deviation from NUES’ recommendation.

Composition of the Board of Directors

Pursuant to the Company’s articles of association, the Board of Directors shall consist of 5-7 members who are elected by the general meeting for two years at a time. The Chairman of the Board and the Deputy Chairman are elected by the general meeting. The Board of Directors currently comprises 5 members, of which 2 are female.

The Board of Directors has been elected on the basis of an overall assessment in which competence, experience and integrity are important criteria. An overview of Board members’ competence, background and shareholding in the Company is available on the Company’s website www.gcrieber-shipping.com.

The Board of Directors’ independence

Executive management shall not be members of the Board of Directors.

The Chairman of the Board, Paul-Christian Rieber is CEO and Board member Pål Selvik is CFO of GC Rieber AS, which is the largest shareholder in the Company with 76.8% of the shares.

At 31.12.2022, GC Rieber AS owns 66 145 908 shares in GC Rieber Shipping ASA, constituting 76.8% of the outstanding shares in the Group. GC Rieber Holding AS and AS Javipa together hold 58.3% of the shares in GC Rieber AS. Through non-controlling interests in these two companies and also Pelicahn AS, the Chairman of the Board, Paul-Christian Rieber, indirectly owns 34.0% of the shares in GC Rieber Shipping ASA. No other Board members have direct or indirect ownership interests in the Company.

The remaining three Board members are regarded as independent of the Company’s main shareholder and significant business relations.

The Board of Directors’ duties

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for management of GC Rieber Shipping and also for supervising the day-to-day management and the Company’s operations. This involves developing the Company’s strategy and making sure that it is implemented. The Board of Directors is also responsible for control functions to ensure that the Company has proper operations as well as a responsible asset and risk management.

Instructions for the Board of Directors

Pursuant to the provisions of the Norwegian Public Limited Liability Companies Act, the Board of Directors has established instructions for the Board of Directors that provide detailed regulations and guidelines for the Board of Directors’ work and executive work.

The Board of Directors shall ensure that members of the Board of Directors and executive personnel make the Company aware of any material interests that they may have in items to be considered by the Board of Directors.

Instructions for the CEO

A clear division of responsibilities and tasks has been established between the Board of Directors and executive management.

Agreements with related parties

The Company carries out purchase and sales transactions with close associates as part of the normal business operations. All agreements entered into between the Company and its main shareholders (including related companies), and also other business agreements are, and must be, entered into on arm’s length terms. Reference is made to note 17 in the Company’s 2022 annual accounts, where transactions with close associates are outlined.

Financial reporting

The Board of Directors receives periodic reports with comments on the Company’s financial status. As far as interim reports are concerned, the Company follows the deadlines for Oslo Stock Exchange.

Meeting structure

The Board of Directors usually holds six ordinary board meetings a year, evenly distributed over the year. Quarterly and annual accounts, and also salary and other remuneration to leading personnel are dealt with at the board meetings. In addition, a separate strategy meeting is held. Extraordinary board meetings to deal with matters that cannot wait until the next ordinary board meeting are held when required. In addition, the Board of Directors has organised the work in a separate auditing committee. In 2022, ten meetings were held, compared with eight meetings in 2021. In 2022, attendance at the board meetings was 98%, compared with 98% in 2021.

Auditing committee

The main purpose of the auditing committee is to monitor the Company’s internal control systems, quality assurance of the financial reporting and ensuring that the auditor is independent. The auditing committee has two members of which one is independent of the Company’s business activities and main shareholders. The committee has evaluated the procedures for financial control in the core areas of the Company’s business activities. The committee has been informed of the external auditor’s work and the results of this work.

The Board of Directors’ self-evaluation

The Board of Directors conducts an annual evaluation of its work, way of working and expertise. The Chairman of the Board conducts an annual appraisal of the CEO in accordance with his job description.

The Board of Directors’ responsibilities and the object of internal control

GC Rieber Shipping’s risk management and internal control seeks to ensure that the Company has comprehensive control thinking that includes the Company’s operations, financial reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Risk management and internal control also incorporates considerations related to integrating stakeholders in relation to the Company’s long-term value creation, including factors such as the Company’s basic values, ethical guidelines and guidelines for social corporate responsibility.

The Board of Directors’ annual review and reporting

The annual strategy meeting helps lay the foundation for the Board of Directors’ discussions and decisions through the year. Review and revision of important governing documents is considered on an on-going basis.

The administration prepares monthly finance reports, which are reviewed by the board members. Quarterly financial reports are also prepared and reviewed by the Board of Directors before the quarterly reporting. The auditor attends meetings with the auditing committee and the board meeting that includes presentation of the annual accounts. The Company’s risk aspects and management have been thoroughly described in the report of the Board of Directors.

Overall responsibility for internal control related to the Company’s financial reporting is assigned to the Board of Directors’ auditing committee. The auditing committee has regular meetings with the administration and the Company’s auditor at which accounting principles, use of estimates and other relevant topics are discussed.

Regular reports are submitted to the Board of Directors regarding defined KPIs related to quality, health, environment and safety. In addition, the GC Rieber group has prepared guidelines on business ethics and social responsibility, with which all employees in all the subsidiaries should be acquainted, including GC Rieber Shipping. GC Rieber Shipping has dedicated resources who ensures reporting to the Board of Directors on the status and progress of the Company’s social responsibility and sustainability work and who represents the Company in the GC Rieber group’s UN Global Compact group.

The general meeting determines annually the remuneration to the Board of Directors. The proposed remuneration is put forward by the Company’s largest shareholder. The remuneration shall reflect the Board of Directors’ responsibility, expertise, time commitment and the complexity of the Company’s activities. Board members who participate in Board committees receive separate compensation for this.

In 2022, the Company’s Board received a total remuneration of NOK 1,108,000. The remuneration to each Board member in 2022 is given in note 3 of the parent company’s annual accounts. Remuneration to the Board of Directors is not dependent on performance and does not contain any share options.

Members of the Board of Directors and/or companies with which they are associated should not take on specific assignments for the Company in addition to their appointment as a member of the Board, but if they do, this shall be disclosed to the full Board.

GC Rieber Shipping has developed guidelines for remuneration of leading personnel, in accordance with the Public Limited Liability Companies Act. The guidelines are available at the Company’s website and should be approved by the general meeting on an annual basis. A separate remuneration report will be presented for the annual general meeting, subject to an advisory vote.

GC Rieber Shipping seeks to treat all participants in the securities market equally through publishing all relevant information to the market in a timely, efficient and non-discriminating manner. All stock exchange reports will be available on the Company’s website and on Oslo Børs’ news site.

Financial reports

The Company presents preliminary financial statements by the end of February. Complete accounts, together with directors’ report and annual report are available to the shareholders no later than three weeks before the general meeting.

The Company’s financial calendar is published for one year at a time before 31 December in accordance with the rules of Oslo Børs. The financial calendar is available on the Company’s website and also on the website of Oslo Børs.

Other market information

Interim reports and presentation material are available at www.gcrieber-shipping.com.

The Company exercises caution in its contact with shareholders and financial analysts, cf. the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, Norwegian Accounting Act and the stock exchange regulations.

The Board will not seek to hinder or obstruct any takeover bids for the Company’s business activities or shares. Should there be a bid for the Company’s shares, the Company’s Board of Directors will not exercise authorisations to issue new shares or pass other resolutions in an attempt to obstruct the bid without the approval of the general meeting. Any transaction that in effect is a disposal of the Company’s business activities will be decided on by the general meeting.

If a takeover bid has been received, the Board of Directors will initiate an external valuation by an independent adviser and thereafter the Board of Directors will recommend shareholders to either accept or reject the offer. The valuation must also take into account how a possible takeover will affect the long-term value creation in the Company.

Choice of auditor

The Company’s auditor will be chosen by the general meeting. PwC has been the Company’s auditor since the ordinary general meeting in 2013. The Company has conducted a tendering process for audit services applicable for the financial year 2023 and onwards. Election of auditor will happen at the general meeting 25 April 2023.

The auditor’s relationship to the Board of Directors and the auditing committee

The Board of Directors will at least once a year arrange a meeting with the auditor without the presence of the executive management in the Company. The auditor will present the summary of an annual plan for carrying out the audit work, and the Company’s internal control procedures, including identified weaknesses and proposed improvements, will be reviewed with the Board of Directors.

The auditor also participates in board meetings which discuss the annual accounts. At such meetings, the auditor reviews any material changes in the Company’s accounting principles, comments on any material estimated accounting figures and any significant matters where there may have been disagreement between the auditor and the administration.

The Board of Directors will inform about the remuneration paid to the auditor, divided between remuneration for audit work and other services, at the annual general meeting.

The Company has established guidelines in respect of the use of the auditor by the executive management for services other than the audit.