REPORT OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD
COOPERATION AND CONTROL
Dear Shareholders,
In 2007, we exceeded our own forecasts for growth in software and software related service revenue significantly. Moreover, our share of the highly competitive software market grew faster in 2007 than it had done in 2006. These successes reflect how we systematically implemented our growth strategy, which is based primarily on organic growth complemented by targeted acquisitions. We further strengthened SAP’s position in the business software market and, at the same time, introduced breakthrough innovations in the software industry.
Our two most important milestones last year were the launch of the new SAP Business ByDesign solution for midsize companies and the announcement of the friendly takeover of French software company Business Objects S.A. With the on-demand solution SAP Business ByDesign, we are creating a completely new business model alongside our established business. Thanks to the acquisition of Business Objects S.A., SAP is taking the top spot in the market for business performance optimization, enabling management in real time. We can therefore look back on a year in which our innovativeness and policy of stable growth ensured that we again made a sustained contribution to our customers’ success.
The SAP Supervisory Board closely monitored the work of the SAP Executive Board. In-depth and cooperative dialog with the Executive Board enables us to efficiently organize and perform our duties. That is why this report starts by explaining the ongoing partnership between the two Boards. The report also focuses on the main topics discussed by the Supervisory Board, the work of its committees, corporate governance at SAP, and the audit of the SAP AG and consolidated financial statements.
» Cooperation Between the Executive and Supervisory Boards
» The Work of the Supervisory Board Committees
» Shareholders’ Legal Proceedings Against AGM Resolutions
