The Board is responsible to shareholders for effective direction and control of the Company.
The Board is also responsible for the overall strategy and financial performance of Plus500 and has a formal schedule of matters reserved for its approval. The schedule of matters cover key strategic, financial and operational matters including:
Each Board meeting is preceded by a clear agenda and any relevant information is provided to the directors in advance of the meeting. The Board meets at least six times a year to review, formulate and approve Plus500’s strategy, budgets, corporate actions and oversee the Company’s progress towards its goals.
The Board also holds regular telephone calls to update the members on operational and other business. An agreed procedure exists for directors in the furtherance of their duties to take independent professional advice. Newly appointed directors are to be made aware of their responsibilities through the company secretary. The Company provides training to directors where required. No individual or group of directors dominates the Board’s decision making. Collectively, the non-executive directors bring a valuable range of expertise in assisting Plus500 to achieve its strategic aims.
The Audit Committee comprises Tami Gottlieb, Daniel King, Steve Baldwin and Anne Grim, and is chaired by Ms. Gottlieb.
The Audit Committee has responsibility for ensuring that the financial performance of the Company is properly reported on and reviewed. The other key governance mandates pursuant to the written terms of reference of the Audit Committee are as follows:
In addition, under the Companies Law, the Audit Committee is required to monitor deficiencies in the administration of the Company, including by consulting with the internal auditor and independent accountants, to review, classify and approve related party transactions and extraordinary transactions, to review the internal auditor’s audit plan and to establish and monitor whistle-blower procedures.
The UK Corporate Governance Code recommends that an audit committee should comprise at least three members who are independent non-executive directors, and that at least one member should have recent and relevant financial experience. The Audit Committee is chaired by Mr Fairbairn, and its other members are Daniel King, Steve Baldwin and Anne Grim. The Directors consider that Mr. Fairbairn has recent and relevant financial experience in accordance with the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
The Audit Committee is expected to meet formally at least four times a year and otherwise as required. Further meetings may be called as required. The internal and external auditors have the right to attend meetings. The relevant Executive Directors, the Company's legal advisers and other persons may, by invitation from the Audit Committee, attend meetings. At least once per year, the Audit Committee may, if it so requires, meet privately with the external auditors.
The Nomination Committee comprises Steve Baldwin, Daniel King and Jacob Frenkel, and is chaired by Mr. Baldwin. The UK Corporate Governance Code recommends that a majority of the members of a nomination committee should be independent non-executive directors. The Board considers Mr. Baldwin and Mr. King to be independent for the purposes of the UK Governance Code. The Board considers that the Company is therefore compliant with the UK Corporate Governance Code in this respect.
The Nomination Committee meets not less than twice a year and at such other times as required. The Nomination Committee has responsibility for reviewing the structure, size and composition (including the skills, knowledge and experience) of the Board, and giving full consideration to succession planning. The other key governance mandates pursuant to the written terms of reference of the Nomination Committee are as follows:
The Nomination Committee takes into account the challenges and opportunities facing the Company and what skills and expertise will therefore be needed on the Board in the future.
The Remuneration Committee comprises Daniel King, Anne Grim, Tami Gottlieb and Sigalia Heifetz and is chaired by Mr. King.
The Remuneration Committee meets not less than twice a year and at such other times as required. The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for determining, within the agreed terms of reference, the Company’s policy on the remuneration packages of the Company’s chief executive, the managing director, the chairman, the executive and non-executive directors, the company secretary and other senior executives. The other key governance mandates pursuant to the written terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee are as follows:
In addition, in accordance with the Companies Law, the Remuneration Committee is required to review and approve a Remuneration Policy for directors and executives, and recommend that the Board and shareholders adopt such policy. The policy must be approved or ratified at least once every three years.
The UK Corporate Governance Code recommends that all members of the Remuneration Committee be non-executive directors, independent in character and judgment and free from any relationship or circumstance which may, could or would be likely to, or appear to, affect their judgment. No Director or manager may be involved in any discussions as to their own remuneration.
The Company has established a Disclosure Committee chaired by Elad Even-Chen (the Chief Financial Officer). The other members are Anne Grim and Sigalia Heifetz (both Non-Executive Directors). The Disclosure Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its obligation to make timely and accurate disclosure of all information that is required to be disclosed to meet legal and regulatory requirements and obligations under MAR and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA and the requirement for the Company to establish and maintain adequate procedures, systems and controls to enable it to comply with these obligations.
The Regulatory and Risk Committee comprises of Sigalia Heifetz (Non-Executive Director), Tami Gottlieb (Non-Executive Director and External Director), Jacob Frenkel (Non-Executive Director), and Elad Even-Chen (the Chief Financial Officer) and is chaired by Ms. Heifetz. The Regulatory and Risk Committee receives presentations from management on risk, compliance and regulatory issues and reviews the related internal systems.
The Regulatory and Risk Committee meets not less than three times a year and otherwise as required. The Regulatory and Risk Committee has responsibility for reviewing relationships with the regulatory authorities and reviewing the adequacy and quality of the Company’s systems and procedures for compliance with regulatory requirements when Plus500 is regulated and in other jurisdictions where it has a significant market presence. The Regulatory and Risk Committee also has responsibility for reviewing the Company’s most significant risks to the achievement of strategic objectives, review of the Company’s risk policy, ensuring that the Company’s board ethics are being adhered to and that the Company continues its commitment to issues concerning social responsibility. The type of most significant risks and uncertainties are outlined herein.
For Matters Reserved for the Board & Term of Reference document download the link below:
The Environmental, Social & Governance Committee (ESG Committee) comprises Steve Baldwin, Anne Grim and Daniel King, and is chaired by Mr. King. The UK Corporate Governance Code recommends that a majority of the members of the ESG Committee should be independent non-executive directors. The Board considers Steve Baldwin, Anne Grim (director nominee) and Daniel King to be independent for the purposes of the UK Governance Code. The Board considers that the Company is therefore compliant with the UK Corporate Governance Code in this respect. Meetings of the ESG Committee are proposed to be held four times, but not less than twice, a year and at such other times as the chairman of the ESG Committee shall require. The duties of the ESG Committee are to assess the following:
In particular, the ESG Committee shall consider the adequacy of the Group’s ESG policies and processes by reviewing reports prepared by management on: