Administration Report
Remuneration
Principles for remuneration to senior executives
The Board of Directors intends to propose to the Annual General Meeting in May 2023 that the guidelines for remuneration to senior executives remain unchanged compared with what was decided at the AGM in May 2022:
The guidelines apply to remuneration agreed after the Annual General Meeting 2022 and amendments to agreed remuneration made thereafter. The guidelines do not apply to remuneration resolved by the general meeting. For employments governed by rules other than Swedish, pension benefits and other benefits may be duly adjusted for compliance with mandatory rules or established local practice, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of these guidelines. The provisions regarding the Company also apply to the group where appropriate.
The guidelines’ promotion of the Company’s business strategy, long-term interests and sustainability
A prerequisite for the successful implementation of the Company’s business strategy and safeguarding of its long-term interests, including its sustainability, is that the Company is able to recruit and retain qualified personnel. To this end, it is necessary that AddLife offers competitive remuneration, which these guidelines make possible. Total remuneration should be on market terms and competitive and relate to responsibility and authority.
Types of remuneration, etc.
Remuneration shall be on market terms and may consist of the following components: fixed salary, any variable salary according to separate agreements, pension and other benefits. The general meeting can also, irrespective of these guidelines, resolve on, among other things, share and share price-related remuneration.
Fixed salary
The fixed salary shall consist of fixed cash salary and be reviewed annually. The fixed salary shall be competitive and reflect the position requirements with respect to qualifications, responsibilities, complexity and the manner in which it serves to reach the business objectives. The fixed salary shall also reflect the performance of the senior executive and thus be individual and differentiated.
Variable salary
In addition to fixed salary, the CEO and other senior executives may, according to separate agreements, receive variable salary when fulfilling agreed performance criteria. Any variable salary shall consist of an annual variable cash salary and may amount to a maximum of 40 percent of the fixed annual salary. The variable salary shall be linked to one or several predetermined and measurable criteria, which can be financial, such as consolidated earnings growth, profitability and cash flow, or non-financial, such as individual goals designed to promote the Company’s business strategy and long-term interests. Because the goals link the senior executives’ remuneration to the Company’s earnings, they promote implementation of the Company’s business strategy, long-term interests and competitiveness. The terms and bases of calculation for variable remuneration shall be determined annually. The satisfaction of criteria for awarding variable cash remuneration shall be measured over a period of one year. The extent to which the criteria for awarding variable cash remuneration has been satisfied shall be determined when the measurement period has ended. The Board is responsible for the evaluation so far as it concerns variable remuneration to the CEO. For variable cash remuneration to other senior executives, the CEO is responsible for the evaluation. For financial objectives, the evaluation shall be based on the latest financial information made public by the Company. The terms for variable remuneration shall be designed so that the Board of Directors, under exceptional financial conditions, may limit or refuse to pay variable remuneration if such a measure is deemed reasonable.
Further variable cash remuneration may be awarded in extraordinary circumstances, provided that such extraordinary arrangements are limited in time and only made on an individual basis, either for the purpose of recruiting or retaining executives, or as remuneration for extraordinary performance beyond the individual’s ordinary tasks. Such remuneration may not exceed an amount corresponding to 50 percent of the fixed annual salary and may not be paid more than once per year and individual. Resolution on such remuneration shall be made by the Board based on a proposal from the Remuneration Committee.
Pension
For the CEO, pension benefits, including health insurance, shall be defined contribution with premiums not exceeding 30 percent of the fixed annual salary. For other senior executives, pension benefits, including health insurance, shall be defined contribution unless the senior executive is subject to defined benefit pension under mandatory collective agreement provisions. Premiums for defined contribution pensions are to be in the form of the Swedish alternative ITP plan, according to a “premium ladder” as stated in AddLife’s pension policy, or premiums are not to exceed 30 percent of the fixed annual salary. Variable remuneration shall qualify for pension benefits to the extent required by mandatory collective agreement provisions applicable to the senior executive (applies to Sweden and defined contribution pension).
Other benefits
Other benefits, which may include, for example, company car, travel benefits, cleaning benefits and health insurance, shall be on market terms and only constitute a limited part of the total remuneration. Premiums and other costs associated with such benefits may amount to a maximum of 10 percent of the fixed annual salary.
Termination of employment
For the CEO and other members of Group Management, the notice period shall be six months in case of termination by the senior executive. In case of termination by the Company the maximum notice period shall be 12 months. In case of termination by the Company, severance pay may be payable in an amount corresponding to a maximum of twelve months’ fixed salary less any remuneration received from new employments or assignments. Employees who give notice to terminate employment are not entitled to severance pay. Additionally, remuneration may be paid for non-compete undertakings. Such remuneration shall compensate for loss of income and shall only be paid in so far as the previously employed executive is not entitled to severance pay. The remuneration shall be based on the fixed salary at the time of termination of employment and amount to not more than 60 percent of the fixed salary at the time of termination of employment, unless otherwise provided by mandatory collective agreement provisions, and be paid during the time the non-compete undertaking applies, however not for more than 24 months following termination of employment.
Fees to Board members
AddLife’s Board members elected by the general meeting may, in specific cases and for limited time, be remunerated for services beyond Board work within their respective areas of expertise. A fee on market terms for these services (including services rendered by a Company wholly owned by a Board member) shall be paid, provided that such services contribute to the implementation of AddLife’s business strategy and long-term interests, including its sustainability. Such consultant’s fee may, for each Board member, in no case exceed twice the annual Directors' fee.
Salary and employment conditions for employees
In the preparation of the Board of Directors’ proposal for these remuneration guidelines, salary and employment conditions for employees of the Company have been taken into account by including information on the employees’ total income, the components of the remuneration and increase and growth rate over time, in the Remuneration Committee’s and the Board of Directors’ basis of decision when evaluating whether the guidelines and the limitations set out herein are reasonable.
Preparation and decision-making process
The Board of Directors has established a Remuneration Committee. The Committee’s duties include preparing principles for remuneration to Group Management and the Board of Directors’ decision to propose guidelines for remuneration to senior executives. The Board of Directors shall prepare a proposal for new guidelines at least every fourth year and submit it to the general meeting for resolution. The guidelines shall be in force until new guidelines have been adopted by the general meeting. The Remuneration Committee shall also monitor and evaluate programs for variable remuneration to Group Management, the application of the guidelines to senior executives as well as the current remuneration structures and compensation levels in the Company. Remuneration to the CEO shall be decided by the Board of Directors in line with approved policies following preparation and recommendation by the Remuneration Committee. Remuneration to other senior executives shall be decided by the CEO in line with approved policies and after consultation with the Remuneration Committee. The CEO and other members of Group Management do not participate in the Board of Directors’ discussions and decisions on remuneration-related matters that pertain to them.
Derogation from these guidelines
The Board of Directors may decide to derogate from these guidelines, in whole or in part, if in a specific case there is special cause and such a derogation is necessary to safeguard the Company’s long-term interests, including its sustainability, or to ensure the Company’s financial viability. As stated above, the Remuneration Committee’s duties include preparing the Board of Directors’ decisions on remuneration matters, including decisions to derogate from these guidelines.