PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is serving as external statutory auditor for all Swiss Life Group companies that are directly or indirectly held by Swiss Life Holding under its scope of consolidation.
PwC confirms that it meets the legal requirements concerning professional qualification and independence.
Duration of the mandate and term of office of the lead auditor
The Articles of Association stipulate that the external auditor is to be elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders for one financial year at a time. When Swiss Life Holding was established in 2002, PwC was named statutory auditor and Group auditor. Since then PwC has been elected without fail. PwC has also acted as statutory auditor for Swiss Life Ltd since 1994. Swiss Life Holding last invited tenders for its statutory auditor and Group auditor mandate for the 2008 financial year. On completion of the evaluation process, the Board of Directors, in accordance with the proposal of the Audit Committee, again nominated PwC as its statutory auditor and Group auditor at the General Meeting of Shareholders.
The partner at PwC in charge of auditing the Swiss Life Holding annual financial statements and consolidated financial statements (lead auditor) has exercised this function since 2018.
The role of lead auditor rotates in compliance with the term of office regulations stipulated by the Swiss Code of Obligations, the independency guidelines set forth by the Swiss Institute of Certified Accountants and Tax Consultants, and internal guidelines at PwC. Under the Swiss Code of Obligations and independency guidelines set forth by the Swiss Institute of Certified Accountants and Tax Consultants, the maximum term of office of the lead auditor is limited to seven years.