Bill On Management And Supervision Adopted By First Chamber Of The Dutch Parliament

Introduction

This Legal Alert outlines the principal consequences of the Bill on management and supervision.1. The Bill was adopted by the First Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on 31 May 2011 and is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2012. The Bill will be revised by two other bills pending before Dutch Parliament.2 This Legal Alert assumes that all bills will be enacted on one and the same date.

One-tier board

The Bill introduces statutory provisions on the one-tier board structure, a single board comprising both executive and non-executive directors. This structure is an alternative to the two-tier board structure where there is a management board and a separate supervisory board. The bill provides a one-tier board structure for a public company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap) ("NV") and for a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) ("BV"). Similar to supervisory directors in a two-tier board, non-executive directors in a one-tier board can only be natural persons. The one-tier board structure will also be available for companies that are subject to the structure regime (structuurregime).

A one-tier board requires a basis in the articles of association. The tasks of the executive and non-executive directors in a one-tier board however, may be allocated under or pursuant to the articles of association, provided that the general meeting stipulates whether a director is appointed as executive or as non-executive director and furthermore provided that the task to supervise the performance by the directors of their duties cannot be taken away from non-executive directors. In addition, an executive director may not be allocated the tasks of (i) chairman of the board, (ii) fixing the remuneration of executive directors, or (iii) nominating directors for appointment. Nor may an executive director participate in the adoption of resolutions (including deliberations in respect of these) with regard to the remuneration of executive directors. Tasks that have not been allocated fall within the power of the board as a whole.

Regardless an allocation of tasks, all directors remain collectively responsible for proper management. All directors will be jointly and severally liable for failure of one or more co-directors. An individual director is only exempted from liability if he proves that he cannot be held seriously culpable for the mismanagement and that he has not been negligent in preventing the consequences of the mismanagement. In this regard a director may, however, refer to the allocation of tasks between the directors. In view of this potential liability of directors, especially non-executive directors for the day-to-day management, it is imperative that the tasks within the one-tier board be allocated precisely.

Binding nomination

The requirement that a binding nomination for the appointment of a member of the management board or supervisory board of an NV or a BV consists of at least two persons for each vacancy will be abolished.

Conflicts of interest

The Bill amends the statutory provisions on conflicts of interest of members of the management board of an NV or a BV. Whereas current law provides for a restriction of the power to represent the company externally, the Bill departs from the external effect and proceeds on the principle that conflicts of interests have to be dealt with internally. It provides that a member of the management board may not participate in the adoption of resolutions (including deliberation in respect of these) if s/he has a direct or indirect personal conflict of interest with the company and its related enterprise. If all members of the management board have a conflict of interest, the resolution concerned will be adopted by the supervisory board. Failing a supervisory board, the resolution will be adopted by the general meeting, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. A similar provision applies to members of the supervisory board.

If a managing director or a supervisory director does not...