 www.carlsberggroup.com/company/governance In order to pass a resolution to alter the  Articles of Association or to dissolve the  Company that is not proposed or endorsed  by the Supervisory Board, at least one third  of the possible number of votes representing  the total share capital shall be represented at  the General Meeting and the resolution shall  be passed by three quarters of both the total  number of votes cast and of the voting share  capital represented at the General Meeting. If  the resolution is proposed or endorsed by the  Supervisory Board, a qualified majority of  two thirds of both the total number of votes  cast and of the voting share capital repre- sented at the General Meeting is required. If the prescribed portion of the voting share  capital is not sufficiently represented at the  General Meeting but a resolution is nonethe- less passed, such resolution may be finally  passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting  convened by the Supervisory Board within 14  days of the first General Meeting, irrespective  of the number of votes represented at the  Extraordinary General Meeting. In order for  a resolution not endorsed by the Supervisory  Board to be passed successfully at this sec- ond General Meeting, three quarters of both  the total number of votes cast and of the vot- ing share capital represented at the General  Meeting must vote in favour of the resolution. Carlsberg aims to develop and maintain a good relationship with its stakeholders as this is important for the Company’s  development. Therefore, the Company has formulated  policies for a number of key areas, such as  communications, human resources, envi- ronment, business ethics, competition law,  marketing communication and responsibility  to customers and society in general. One  element of the Supervisory Board’s work is  to ensure compliance with and regular ad- justment of policies to reflect developments  both inside and outside the Company. The  Communications Policy and related proce- dures serve to ensure that information of  importance to investors, employees, authori- ties and others is made available to them  and published in accordance with applicable  rules and regulations. Communication with investors and analysts is  primarily handled by the Company’s Executive  Board and the Investor Relations department.  This dialogue includes a comprehensive pro- gramme of activities and complies with the  rules of NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen A/S.  All company announcements are published  in English and, for the time being, simul- taneously in Danish, and are distributed  electronically directly to shareholders and  others who have requested them immedi- ately following publication. Investor presentations are usually made  available on the Company’s website at the  same time as the presentations are given. The General Meeting elects the Supervisory  Board. The Supervisory Board currently has  10 members elected by the General Meeting  and four members elected by the employees  in accordance with the Danish Companies  Act. The Supervisory Board thus has a total  of 14 members.  The members elected by the employees  hold the same rights and obligations as the  members elected by the General Meeting  and are elected for a term of four years.  The current employee representatives were  elected in 2010.  The next election will take place in February  2014, when five employee representatives  will be elected. Five of the members elected by the General  Meeting are affiliated to the Carlsberg Foun- dation, the Company’s principal shareholder,  and have an academic background, while  five members have an international business  background. This composition ensures appro- priate diversity and breadth in the members’  approach to their duties. The Supervisory  Board believes that this also helps to ensure  that decisions are well considered. According to the Articles of Association,  the members of the Supervisory Board are  elected individually and for a term of one  year. Re-election is possible. Members must  step down at the first General Meeting after  they reach the age of 70. Each year, the Supervisory Board considers the skills that should be represented on the  Supervisory Board on the basis of a recom- mendation from the Nomination Committee.  These skills are described in the Specification of Competencies, which is posted on www. carlsberggroup.com. The Nomination Com mit- tee and the Supervisory Board take the descrip- tion of the required skills into consideration  when recommending new candidates for the  Supervisory Board. A description of the com- position of the Supervisory Board and the indi- vidual members’ particular competences with  respect to the work of the Supervisory Board is  found on page 162 as well as on the Company’s  website. None of the members of the Super- visory Board are or have been involved in the  executive management of the Group. Prior to recommending candidates for elec- tion at the General Meeting, the Supervisory  Board (based on a proposal from the Nomi- nation Committee) distributes a presentation  of each candidate’s background, relevant  competences and any managerial positions or  positions of responsibility, and the Superviso- ry Board justifies its recommendations on the  basis of the recruitment criteria and Specifica- tion of Competencies it has laid down.  In March 2013, the Supervisory Board adjust- ed the Company’s objectives for the diversity  of the Supervisory Board members elected by  the General Meeting in relation to gender and  international experience in order to comply  with new Danish legislation on objectives to  increase the proportion of the underrepresent- ed gender on the Supervisory Board. The new legislation also requires the Supervisory Board to decide on a policy DIVERSITY PROVISIONS GOVERNING ALTERATIONS  OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION STAKEHOLDERS AND THE COMPANY THE COMPOSITION OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD 37 Management review CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Carlsberg Group Annual Report 2013 Carlsberg’s statutory report  on corporate governance  includes our comments on  each recommendation of  the Committee on Corporate  Governance.