Corporate governance is the process by which companies govern themselves.

At Vishay, day-to-day business activities are carried out by our employees under the direction and supervision of our Chief Executive Officer ("CEO").CEO.  The Board of Directors oversees these activities. In doing so, each director is required to use his or her business judgment in the best interests of Vishay and its stockholders. The Board's primary responsibilities include:

 

 

Additional description of the Board's responsibilities is included in our Corporate Governance Principles, which is available to stockholders on our website and in print upon request, as described below.

To view these documents, access ir.Vishay.com and click on "Corporate Governance."  Any of these documents can be obtained in print by any stockholder upon written request to Vishay's investor relations department.

We intend to post any amendments to or any waivers from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics or Code of Ethics for Financial Officers on our website.

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, with the help of counsel, has reviewed the applicable legal standards for Board and committee member independence, the Company's standards of independence and applied the criteria to determine "audit committee financial expert status". The Committee has also reviewed a summary of the answers to annual questionnaires completed by each director.  On the basis of this review the Committee has communicated its findings to the full Board and the Board has affirmatively concluded that Dr. Renee B. Booth, Michael J. Cody, Dr. Michiko Kurahashi, Dr. Abraham Ludomirski, Ronald Ruzic, Timothy Talbert, Jeffrey H. Vanneste, Thomas C. Wertheimer, and Raanan Zilberman qualify as independent directors and Frank Dieter Maier qualified as an independent director prior to his retirement.directors. Each of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and the Compensation Committee of the Board is composed entirely of independent directors.

 

The Board of Directors met sixten times during the year ended December 31, 2019.2022.  Regularly scheduled executive sessions of the Board's independent directors were also held.  In 2019,2022, each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board of Directors and any Committeecommittee on which such director served.  Vishay's policy on director attendance at annual meetings of stockholders is included in Vishay's Corporate Governance Principles which may be found on our website at ir.Vishay.com. 

 

Management continually monitors the material risks facing the Company, including financial risk, strategic risk, operational risk, cybersecurity risk, and legal and compliance risk. The Board of Directors is responsible for exercising oversight of management's identification and management of, and planning for, those risks. Although the Board is ultimately responsible for risk oversight at the Company, the Board has delegated to certain Committeescommittees oversight responsibility for those risks that are directly related to their area of focus.

 

 

Each of these Committeescommittees routinely reports to the Board on the management of these specific risk areas. To permit the Board and its Committeescommittees to perform their respective risk oversight roles, individual members of management who supervise the Company's risk management report directly to the Board or the relevant Committeecommittee of the Board responsible for overseeing the management of specific risks, as applicable.

The Board believes that full and open communication between management and the Board is essential for effective risk management and oversight. Members of the Company's senior management regularly attend Board and Committeecommittee meetings and are available to address any questions or concerns raised on matters related to risk management. The Board and its Committeescommittees exercise their risk oversight function by carefully evaluating the reports they receive from management and by making inquiries of management with respect to areas of particular interest to the Board.

In selecting candidates for nomination at the annual meeting of our stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee begins by determining whether the incumbent directors whose terms expire at the meeting desire and are qualified to continue their service on the Board. We are of the view that the repeated service of qualified incumbents promotes stability and continuity in the boardroom, giving us the benefit of the familiarity and insight into our affairs that our directors have accumulated during their tenure and contributing to the Board's ability to work as a collective body.  Accordingly, it is the policy of the Committee, absent special circumstances, to nominate qualified incumbent directors who continue to satisfy the Committee's criteria for membership on the Board, who the Committee believes will continue to make important contributions to the Board, and who consent to stand for re-election and, if re-elected, to continue their service on the Board.  If there are Board positions for which the Committee will not be re-nominating a qualified incumbent, the Committee will solicit recommendations for nominees from persons who the Committee believes are likely to be familiar with qualified candidates, including members of the Board and senior management.

The Committee may also engage an independent search firm to assist in identifying qualified candidates.  Where such a search firm is engaged, the Committee will set the fees and scope of engagement.  The Committee will review and evaluate each candidate who it believes merits serious consideration, taking into account all available information concerning the candidate, the qualifications for Board membership established by the Committee, the existing composition and mix of talent and expertise on the Board and other factors that it deems relevant.  In conducting its review and evaluation, the Committee may solicit the views of management and other members of the Board and may, if deemed helpful, conduct interviews of proposed candidates.  The Committee will evaluate candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner as candidates recommended by other persons, except that the Committee may consider, as one of the factors in its evaluation of stockholder recommended candidates, the size and duration of the interest of the recommending stockholder or stockholder group in the equity of Vishay and whether the stockholders or stockholder group intend to continue holding its interest through the annual meeting date.

 

Candidates for nomination to our Board are selected by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in accordance with the Committee's charter, our Amended and Restated ArticlesCertificate of Incorporation, our Bylaws and our Corporate Governance Principles.  Under our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Policy Regarding Qualifications of Directors, which can be found on our website, we require that all candidates for director (including the continued service of existing members) be persons of integrity and sound ethical character; be able to represent all stockholders fairly; have no interests that materially conflict with those of Vishay and its stockholders; have demonstrated professional achievement; have meaningful management, advisory or policy making experience; have a general appreciation of the major business issues facing the Company; and have adequate time to devote to serve on the Board of Directors. When considering nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also consider whether the candidate possesses the qualifications, experience and skills it considers appropriate in the context of the Board's overall composition and needs.  A limited exception to some of these requirements, other than the requirements of integrity and ethics and the absence of material conflict, may be made for a holder of substantial voting power.  Additionally, directors may not stand for re-election after the age of 75 unless the Board makes an affirmative determination that, because of the importance and value of the continued service of a director, the retirement policy should be waived, and in no event may a director stand for re-election after the age of 85.  This policy does not apply to any person who controls more than 20% of the voting power of the Company. We also require that a majority of directors be independent; at least three of the directors have the financial literacy necessary for service on the Audit Committee and at least one of these directors qualifies as an Audit Committee financial expert; at least some of the independent directors have served as senior executives of public or substantial private companies; and at least some of the independent directors have general familiarity with the industries in which we operate.  Additionally, while the Company does not have a formal policy with respect to the consideration of diversity in identifying director candidates, the benefits of board diversity are considered in the nominations process, including diversity of background and experience. A detailed description of the qualifications required of candidates for director, as well as the specific qualities or skills we believe should be possessed by one or more directors, can be found on our website under our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Policy Regarding Qualifications of Directors.

 

To assist it with its evaluation of the director nominees for election at the 20202023 annual meeting of stockholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee took into account all of the factors listed above.  In the section "Directors", under the headings "Nominee for Term Expiring 2025" and "Nominees for Terms Expiring 2023" and "Nominee for Term Expiring 2021"2026", we provide an overview of each nominee's principal occupation, together with the qualifications, key attributes and skills that the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board believes will best serve the interests of the Board, the Company and our stockholders.

Yes. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider recommendations for director nominations submitted by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Submissions must be made in accordance with the Committee's procedures, as outlined below and set forth on our website.  For each annual meeting of our stockholders, the Committee will accept for consideration only one recommendation from any stockholder or affiliated group of stockholders. The Committee will only consider candidates who satisfy our minimum qualifications for director, as summarized in this proxy statement and as set forth on our website.  In considering a stockholder recommendation, the Committee will take into account, among other factors, the size and duration of the recommending stockholder's ownership interest in Vishay and whether the stockholder intends to continue holding that interest through the annual meeting date.  Stockholders should be aware, as discussed above, that it is our general policy to re-nominate qualified incumbent directors and that, absent special circumstances, the Committee will not consider other candidates when a qualified incumbent director consents to stand for re-election.

A stockholder wishing to recommend to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee a candidate for election as director must submit the recommendation in writing, addressed to the Committee, care of our Corporate Secretary, at Vishay Intertechnology, Inc., 63 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355.  Submissions must be made by mail, courier, or personal delivery.  E-mailed submissions will not be considered.  Submissions recommending candidates for election at an annual meeting of stockholders must generally be received no later than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the prior annual meeting of stockholders.  In the event that the date of an annual meeting of stockholders is more than 30 days following the first anniversary date of the annual meeting of stockholders for the prior year, the submission must be made a reasonable time in advance of the mailing of our proxy statement for the current year.   Each nominating recommendation must be accompanied by the information called for by our "Procedures for Securityholders' Submission of Nominating Recommendations," which is posted on our website.Recommendations".  This includes specified information concerning the stockholder or group of stockholders making the recommendation and the proposed nominee, any relationships between the recommending stockholder or stockholders and the proposed nominee and the qualifications of the proposed nominee to serve as director.  The recommendation must also be accompanied by the consent of the proposed nominee to serve if nominated and elected and the agreement of the nominee to be contacted by the Committee, if the Committee decides in its discretion to do so.

Vishay stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors, any Committeecommittee of the Board or any individual director, and any interested party may communicate with the independent directors of the Board as a group, by delivering such communications either in writing addressed or by e-mail to:

 

All communications must be accompanied by the following information: (i) if the person submitting the communication is a securityholder, a statement of the type and amount of the securities of Vishay that the person holds; (ii) if the person submitting the communication is not a securityholder and is submitting the communication to the independent directors as an interested party, the nature of the person's interest in Vishay; (iii) any special interest, meaning an interest not in the capacity as a securityholder of Vishay, of the person in the subject matter of the communication; and (iv) the address, telephone number and e-mail address, if any, of the person submitting the communication.  Communications addressed to directors may, at the direction of the directors, be shared with Vishay's management.

Our stockholders will be asked to consider one nominee for election to our Board to serve as a Class I director for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2025, and three nominees for election to our Board to serve as Class II directors for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2023, and one nominee for election to our Board to serve as a Class III director for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2021,2026, and until their successors, if any, are elected or appointed, or their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. The nominees are:

 

 

Each nominees' current positions and offices, tenure as a Vishay director, their respective committee memberships, and their qualifications are set forth under "Directors" beginning on page 4.5. All of the nominees are current Vishay directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee reviewed the qualifications of each of the nominees and recommended to our Board that each nominee be submitted to a vote of our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.  The Board approved the Committee's recommendation at its meeting on February 25, 2020.21, 2023.

Each of the nominees has agreed to be named and to serve if elected. We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.

If any nominee for director becomes unavailable for election, the proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee(s) as the Board of Directors may propose. If you voted for the unavailable nominee, your vote will be cast for his or her replacement. We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unable or unwilling to serve if elected.

 

 

Management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, for assessing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, and for preparing our consolidated financial statements. Our independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for, among other things, performing an independent audit of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and issuing a report thereon. Our independent registered public accounting firm is also responsible for auditing the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with standards of the PCAOB, and issuing a report thereon. It is the responsibility of the Audit Committee to monitor and oversee these processes.

In fulfilling its oversight duties, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the following with management and our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP:  (a) the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019;2022; (b) the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting; and (c) discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm matters required to be discussed under PCAOB standards. These required communications addressed, among other topics, overall audit strategy, timing of the audit, and significant risks identified and any changes thereto; the independent registered public accounting firm's responsibility under the standards of the PCAOB; going concern; significant and critical accounting policies and practices; critical accounting estimates; significant unusual transactions; difficult or contentious matters subject to consultation outside of the audit team; new accounting pronouncements; material alternative accounting treatments; corrected misstatements; uncorrected misstatements considered by management to be immaterial; significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting; other information in documents containing audited financial statements; management's Section 302 disclosures about changes in internal control; additional information included in management's report on internal control; fraud and illegal acts; information relevant to the audit; fees and related SEC disclosures; significant issues discussed with management in connection with the auditor's retention; significant difficulties encountered in performing an audit; disagreements with management; management's consultations with other accountants; other material written communications with management; and AICPA ethics ruling regarding third-party service providers. The Audit Committee received from the independent registered public accounting firm written disclosures regarding the firm's independence required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, and has discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm, the firm's independence. The Audit Committee also considered the compatibility of non-audit services provided to Vishay by Ernst & Young LLP, and the fees and costs billed or to be billed for these services, with the maintenance of the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. The Committee has concluded that the provision of the non-audit services by Ernst & Young LLP in 20192022 did not impair the independent registered public accounting firm's independence. (The fees and costs billed by the independent registered public accounting firm for audit and non-audit services in 20192022 and 20182021 are shown under Proposal Two.) Under the Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy that was adopted by the Audit Committee in May 2003 (which was amended and restated in October 2010), the Audit Committee must pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided to Vishay by the independent registered public accounting firm. The policy sets forth the procedures and conditions for pre-approval of these services. All of the audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm since adoption of the Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy were pre-approved by the Committee in accordance with such policy.

 

Based upon the above review and discussions with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that our audited financial statements be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20192022 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.SEC. The Audit Committee has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2020,2023, but the Committee has determined in accordance with our historical practices to submit the appointment for ratification by stockholders (See(see Proposal Two).

Respectfully submitted,

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

Michael J. Cody