At ProSiebenSat.1, non-financial aspects, sustainability performance indicators, and ESG information (Environment, Social, Gouvernance) are particularly the responsibility of the CFO and the Deputy CEO and Group General Counsel, whose executive department includes the areas of Legal Affairs, Public Affairs and Compliance. Corporate Communications at ProSiebenSat.1 has the role of a competence center that further develops sustainability activities together with other central Group divisions and departments and is responsible for reporting and external communication.
Key sustainability issues at ProSiebenSat.1 such as anti-corruption, antitrust law, media law and data protection are covered in organizational terms by the compliance management system (CMS). The main objective of the CMS is to ensure that all employees always think and act with integrity and in accordance with the law. In view of its Group structure, ProSiebenSat.1 is divided into a central and a decentralized compliance organization. The central organization is made up of the Compliance Board and the Group Chief Compliance Officer, who are assisted in the performance of their duties by experts from other areas, such as the legal department. The Compliance Board held a total of nine meetings in the reporting period. The Compliance Board and the Chief Compliance Officer support and advise the Executive Board in implementing, monitoring, and updating the CMS. In addition, they monitor legal developments and make proposals for the further development of the CMS, including with regard to combating corruption and bribery and complying with antitrust law. [GRI 102-16, GRI 103-2 (product responsibility), GRI 103-2 (compliance)]
CENTRAL COMPLIANCE ORGANIZATION
[GRI 103-2 (product responsibility), GRI 103-2 (compliance)]
The decentralized compliance organization is represented by Unit Compliance Officers (UCOs), who are appointed in Group entities. Overall responsibility for the CMS lies with the Executive Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE as the parent company of ProSiebenSat.1 Group. In order to obtain an independent, external assessment, the audit firm KPMG has audited the CMS in the areas of antitrust law, anti-corruption regulations, media law and data protection law in accordance with the IDW Auditing Standard 980. The review of the appropriateness, implementation, and effectiveness of the holding company ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE’s CMS for the first half of 2017 was completed on December 20, 2017. [GRI 103-2 (product responsibility), GRI 103-2 (compliance)]
In 2011, the Group also placed its public value activities in a larger social context and underscored their relevance for the Group by establishing an Advisory Board. The interdisciplinary body chaired by Bavaria’s former minister president Dr. Edmund Stoiber advises ProSiebenSat.1 Group on relevant social, ethical and media-political issues and provides impetus on important topics such as education and culture.
Corporate Governance [GRI 102-12, GRI 102-16, GRI 102-18]
The Executive Board and Supervisory Board of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE regard good corporate governance as an essential component of responsible management and control geared toward long-term value creation. The German Corporate Governance Code (Deutscher Corporate Governance Kodex — DCGK) establishes a standard for transparent control and management of the Company, which is particularly aligned to the interests of the shareholders. The corporate governance principles contained in the DCGK have already been followed by ProSiebenSat.1 for a long time. In accordance with the recommendation of Item 5.6 of the DCGK, the Supervisory Board conducts regular efficiency reviews. Further information on corporate governance at ProSiebenSat.1 can particularly be found in the “To Our Shareholders” section in the Annual Report 2017.