Corporate Governance Principles
The business of UGI Corporation is managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. As part of its duties, the Board oversees the corporate governance of the Company for the purpose of creating and sustaining long-term value for its shareholders and safeguarding its commitment to its other stakeholders. To accomplish this purpose, the Board considers the interests of the Company’s stakeholders when, together with management, it sets the strategies and objectives of the Company.
The Board, recognizing the importance of good corporate governance in carrying out its responsibilities to our shareholders, has adopted the UGI Corporation Principles of Corporate Governance. The Principles of Corporate Governance provide a framework for the effective governance of the Board and the Company by outlining the responsibilities of the Board and Board Committees. The Board, upon recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, regularly reviews the Principles and, as appropriate, updates them in response to changing regulatory requirements, feedback from stakeholders on governance matters and evolving best practices in corporate governance.
The Company’s Principles of Corporate Governance are posted on our website at www.ugicorp.com (see Company — Leadership and Governance — Governance Documents) or in print, free of charge, upon written request.
In September 2023, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, determined that, other than Mr. Perreault (the Company’s Chief Executive Officer), no Director has a material relationship with the Company, and each Director satisfies the criteria for an “independent director” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Subsequently, the Board determined that, effective as of December 12, 2023 and as a result of Mr. Longhi being named Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Longhi no longer satisfies the criteria for an “independent director” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.
The Board has established the following additional guideline to assist it in determining Director independence: if a Director serves as an officer, director or trustee of a non-profit organization, charitable contributions to that organization by the Company and its affiliates that do not exceed the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of the charitable organization’s total revenues per year will not be considered to result in a material relationship between such Director and the Company.
In making its determination of independence, the Board and the Corporate Governance Committee, with the assistance of the Company’s legal counsel, considered charitable contributions and ordinary business transactions between the Company, or affiliates of the Company, and companies where our Directors are employed or serve as directors, all of which were in compliance with either the independence rules of the New York Stock Exchange or the categorical standard set by the Board for determining director independence.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Management
The Board of Directors regularly assesses and determines the most appropriate Board structure to ensure effective and independent leadership while also ensuring appropriate oversight of the operations and strategic direction of the Company. As announced in September 2023, Mr. Hermance informed the Board of his intention to retire from the UGI Corporation Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in January 2024. The Board also announced that Mr. Longhi will succeed Mr. Hermance as Chair of the Board following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in January 2024. In connection with the announcement of Mr. Perreault’s departure from the Company in December 2023, Mr. Longhi also is currently serving as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Board believes that the Company is best served by having Mr. Longhi as Chair due to his extensive leadership and operational experience as a chief executive of large, international companies, his global strategic perspective and his prior contributions as a Director of the Board. The Board also designated Mr. Harris as an independent, Presiding Director following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders in January 2024. In his role as Presiding Director, Mr. Harris will chair periodic