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Anora Group Oyj

Remuneration Information Mar 20, 2024

3254_def-14a_2024-03-20_4809391f-938c-4138-8702-339a55c8aee2.pdf

Remuneration Information

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Remuneration Policy for the Governing Bodies of Anora Group Plc

1. Introduction

This is the remuneration policy presented to Anora's Annual General Meeting 2024. It sets the principles for the remuneration of the Members of the Board of Directors ("Board Members" and the "Board") and the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of Anora Group Plc ("Anora" or the "Company") to be followed after the Annual General Meeting 2024 (below the "Remuneration Policy" or "Policy").

Since the adoption of the Company's previous remuneration policy by the Annual General Meeting 2020, there have not been any shareholder statements presented in the Company's Annual General Meetings on the remuneration policy or remuneration reports, which would have affected this Remuneration Policy.

Main Principles of the Remuneration Policy of the Board

The main element of the Board Members' compensation in Anora is a term of office compensation approved by the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM"). The term of office compensation should be competitive enough to attract and retain high caliber individuals qualified to serve as Board Members. The Board's main responsibilities include setting Anora's strategy and long-term targets and monitoring their implementation. By contributing to the achievement of Anora's strategic and long- term targets, the Board's Remuneration Policy at the same time should contribute to Anora's long-term financial performance and success. The purpose of the term of office compensation, at the same time, is to sufficiently compensate for the time commitment required for the Board Members' contribution to the Board's work and for the associated responsibility.

In order to safeguard non-executive Board Members' independence in the performance of their duties, they do not participate in the same remuneration or incentive schemes with the executive management and other personnel, which is in accordance with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code.

Main Principles of the Remuneration Policy of the CEO

The objectives of the remuneration for the CEO of Anora are to align the interests of the CEO with those of the Company's shareholders and to promote shareholder value creation in the long term. Other key objectives of the CEO's remuneration are to reward for excellent individual performance, for achievements in implementing Anora's strategy and for achieving Anora's financial targets as well as retention. Remuneration in Anora is aligned with the ethical and corporate social responsibility principles and the sustainability principles, which underlie all activities in Anora. This, among other key aspects, includes Anora's sustainability roadmap, which is crystallized in the principle of delivering growth through sustainability. The strategy and development phase of the Company are considered when determining the CEO's remuneration.

Consideration of the remuneration of the Company's Employees

Anora applies the following underlying remuneration principles to all individuals serving in its group, including the CEO:

  • Leadership: We promote good leadership which is based on clear target setting, motivation and engagement, regular feedback, coaching, training, development and consistency.
  • Performance: We encourage to reach excellence at all levels and work for a culture that recognizes and rewards performance in a variety of ways, in order to have the ability to attract, retain and motivate high performing employees.
  • Relevance: We have designed a set of programs and practices, which recognize employees who contribute, and which retain and attract employees with critical skills necessary for Anora's future success.
  • Competitiveness: We frequently assess labor market trends and market salaries to ensure that the total compensation program remains competitive.
  • Sustainability: Among the principles included in Anora's sustainability roadmap is the delivery of growth through sustainability, which also guides remuneration in Anora.

One of the key compensation elements in which the above remuneration principles materialize, are Anora's performance-based incentive schemes. Anora aims to ensure that its employees can share in the success of the Company. The goal is that besides the management, including the CEO, other employees are to a large extent covered by a performance-based annual incentive scheme or by other performance-based incentive schemes. Rewards under the incentive schemes are paid based on the achievement of set performance targets and on targets based on the individual's position.

2. Decision-making procedure in remuneration related matters

The decision-making procedure in the remuneration of Anora's Board and CEO involves the AGM, the Shareholders' Nomination Board, the Board of Directors and the Human Resources Committee of the Board.

Decision-making with regard to the Policy and Remuneration Report: The Human Resources Committee prepares, and the Board submits the Policy to the AGM at least every four years. The remuneration report on the materialized remuneration of the Board and the CEO is prepared by the Human Resources Committee and is presented by the Board to AGM annually.

Decision-making in Policy Implementation:

The issuance of shares, or special rights entitling to shares of the Company such as stock option rights, under share-based incentive schemes or as remuneration to Board members either requires an AGM decision or an authorization granted by the AGM. The Board decides on share-based incentive schemes for the CEO.

Oversight of the Implementation of the Policy: The Shareholders' Nomination Board, which prepares the Board remuneration proposals to AGM, annually reviews and evaluates how the Board's Remuneration Policy is implemented. Based on preparation by its Human Resources Committee, the Board regularly reviews and evaluates how the Remuneration Policy is implemented with regard to the CEO.

The review carried out by both the Shareholders' Nomination Board and the Human Resources Committee considers benchmarking of the different remuneration components to market practice and competitive levels in corresponding positions in the relevant peer group. The materialization of the Policy is presented in the remuneration report which is presented to the AGM and published.

Measures to prevent conflicts of interest

Anora's governance principles include measures aimed at preventing and managing of conflicts of interest. No corporate body or individual may decide on remuneration payable to it or him-/herself or participate in the decision on remuneration in a situation where the corporate body's or individual's own interest is otherwise in conflict with Anora's interest. If the Human Resources Committee or Shareholders' Nomination Board retains external advisors in the preparation of remuneration related issues, the same advisor may not be engaged by Anora's operative management in a manner which causes a conflict of interests with its engagement from the Human Resources Committee or, as applicable, from the Shareholders' Nomination Board. Anora observes the rules set in the Finnish Companies Act and the Finnish Corporate Governance Code which stipulate governance procedures and rules for the avoidance of conflicts of interest and the independence of the directors from the Company and its shareholders. The decision-making process described above aims at guaranteeing that there are no conflicts of interest involved in decision-making on Board and CEO remuneration and that the decisions are fair and unbiased.

3. Remuneration of the Board of Directors

on

The AGM decides on the remuneration payable to the Board Members. The remuneration of the Board Members may consist of a term of office fee as well as meeting fees paid for each meeting attended. The term of office fee may either comprise solely a cash or share payment or may be split into a component paid in shares of the Company and in cash. Additional or higher compensation may be paid to Board Members based on various grounds, such as (but not limited to) a specific role or position in the Board such as the role as the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board or as the Chairman, Vice Chairman or member of a Committee established by the Board, specific tasks designated to individual Board Members or the geographical location of the meeting. The Board Members may be granted a mobile phone benefit. Travel expenses of the Board Members are compensated in accordance with Company policy.

The Board Members are as a main rule not employed by the Company or any company belonging to its group. The Board Members are not eligible for any employment related salaries or pension schemes based on their Board membership.

In order to safeguard the Board Members' independence in the performance of their duties, the non-executive Board Members do not participate in the same incentive schemes as the executive management and other personnel of the Company. Similarly, subject to as in each case decided by the AGM, there shall be no variable remuneration paid to the Board Members or any performance-based compensation based on their Board Membership. Neither remuneration in shares of the Company as an element of the term of office fee nor meeting fees are regarded as variable remuneration.

4. Remuneration of the CEO

The remuneration of the CEO aims at providing competitive rewards in line with market practice. The fixed compensation elements consist of the base salary and fringe benefits. Incentives, combined with share ownership resulting from the long-term incentives, as variable compensation elements emphasize pay-forperformance and the achievement of Anora's short- and long-term goals. Share based rewards align the interests of the CEO with the interest of Anora's shareholders. The CEO's remuneration consists of the elements described in the table below.

Remuneration
element
Purpose
and
link to strategy
Principles and Opportunity
Fixed remuneration
Fixed base salary Provides
a
competitive
fixed
compensation.
The fixed base salary is defined as a gross salary. The base
salary is reviewed annually, as part of the review of the CEO's
total compensation. The CEO may be entitled to holiday
allowance in accordance with the applicable laws and the
Company's prevailing policy.
Fringe benefits Provides
fringe
benefits
for
the
role in line with
market practices.
The CEO is entitled to benefits following applicable Company
policies as may be amended from time to time. Examples
include, but are not limited to, a company car and a mobile
phone, relocation support, expatriate allowance and other
benefits which reflect local market practice.
The CEO has the same statutory insurances as the entire
personnel and may be entitled to potential additional
insurances customary in the position of the CEO.
Variable remuneration
Short-term incentives
("STI")
Rewards
performance
within
the
year,
based
on
the
achievement
of
annual
key
performance
indicators
thus
supporting
the
achievement
of
strategic targets.
The CEO is eligible for participating in Anora's short-term
incentive plan (STI). The performance measures, weightings
and the target levels for the selected STI measures are set
annually by the Board to ensure they are relevant to the CEO's
position, take into account the business plan and continue to
support the strategy on an annual basis. The measures may
consist of financial metrics mainly on group level, operational,
safety and corporate and social responsibility related metrics,
key development projects
and other measures deemed
relevant by the Board. Following the year-end, the Board
reviews the STI performance and the extent to which the
targets have been achieved and determines the final STI pay
out.
The CEO may be granted one-off project bonuses for the
successful implementation of individual strategic or key
projects or initiatives.
The CEO's variable earning opportunity, including under STI,
is set on a market-competitive level. The variable pay practice
followed by Anora, in accordance with the prevailing market
practice, is that the higher up in the organization the job
position is, the higher the variable pay proportion of the total
earning opportunity is. This follows the pay-for-performance
principle with no guaranteed minimum pay based on
incentives, including STI. If the performance on the measures
set for STI is good or outstanding, the earning based on STI
may have a significant weight in the CEO's total compensation.
The STI earning opportunity is capped by a maximum limit set
by the Board.
Long-term
incentives
("LTI")
and
share
based remuneration
Incentivizes
and
rewards
over
a
longer period for
sustained
performance
and
sustainable
growth and aligns
the interests of the
CEO
with
the
shareholders'
interest.
The CEO is eligible for participating in Anora's long-term
incentive (LTI) plans. LTI plans are normally designed as
share-based plans. The LTI plans may at the Board's choice
include one or several plan structures such as, but not limited
to, performance share plan structures and performance-based
cash plan structures. Performance share plans offer a
possibility to earn shares in the Company as remuneration for
achieving long-term targets. The LTI performance measures
may include measures linked to Group level long-term
financial targets and strategic priorities, performance against
competitors, relative or absolute shareholder return and
shareholder
value
creation,
ESG
measures
and
other
performance measures. The measures are set by the Board and
may vary by plan. Following the end of the performance
period, the Board reviews the LTI performance and the extent
to which the targets have been achieved and determines the
final LTI pay-out.
The LTI plans may at the Board's choice either be one-time
plans or based on a rolling structure in which annually
commencing plan periods run in parallel and vest in an annual
sequence. The length of the performance periods and plan
periods will be set by the Board and are usually at least three
years of length. The LTI rewards will normally be settled in
shares of Anora but may, at the Board's choice, also be settled
in cash.
The CEO's variable earning opportunity, including LTI, is set
on a market-competitive level. The variable pay practice
followed by Anora, in accordance with the prevailing market

on

practice, is that the higher up in the organization the job
position is, the higher the variable pay proportion of the total
earning opportunity is. This follows the pay-for-performance
principle with no guaranteed minimum pay based on
incentives, including LTI. If the performance on the measures
set for LTI is good or outstanding, the earning based on LTI
may have a significant weight in the CEO's total compensation.
The LTI earning opportunity is capped by a maximum limit set
by the Board.
Other remuneration elements
Pension Rewards
sustained
contribution.
The retirement age and pension of the CEO are determined in
accordance with the prevailing market practices. The CEO may
have a supplementary pension insurance
paid by the
Company.
Shareholding
recommendation
Encourages
to
accumulate
shareholding
in
the Company and
aligns
the
interests
of
the
CEO
with
the
shareholders´.
The CEO is expected to retain ownership in at least half of the
net shares received under the share-based incentive schemes
of Anora until the value of the CEO's share ownership in Anora
corresponds to at least his/her annual gross base salary.
Service contracts and
loss of office payments
Ensures
clear
contractual terms
are followed.
The CEO has a period of notice up to six months. If the service
contract is terminated by Anora, the CEO is entitled to a
severance payment corresponding up to six months' salary, in
addition to the salary for the notice period.
The treatment of rewards based on ongoing STI and LTI plans
will depend on the circumstances of the CEO's departure. In
case of retirement or death or in case of termination at the
initiative of the Company, the CEO may be entitled to the STI
and LTI rewards or a portion thereof as determined by the
Board based on the rules of the respective incentive scheme. If
the CEO terminates his/her contract at his/her own initiative,
the unvested rewards are as a main rule forfeited.
Withholding
and
clawback of rewards
Ensures
pay
for
performance.
The STI and LTI plan rules allow the Board to withhold or
reject payment of a reward before the reward has vested or has
been paid in certain exceptional circumstances such as
materially changed financial or other circumstances of the
Company (e.g.,
a financially distressed position of the
Company). In case of individual gross misconduct which has
caused a misstatement of the financials based on which the
performance measures have been set or the performance has
been measured, the Board may cancel entitlement to the
reward or claim back and recover the already paid reward
(clawback).

on

The Board has discretion on a weighty ground to adjust the STI and LTI measures and their measurement period and the STI or LTI pay-out in exceptional or changed business, financial, market or other circumstances or in case of material market volatility. A weighty ground may, e.g., be outstanding or exceptional individual contribution or performance, fair reflection of individual or company performance in such circumstances and alignment of reward pay-out with shareholder value creation despite challenging market circumstances.

5. Deviations from this Policy

on

If the continued adherence to the Policy would in the opinion of the Shareholders' Nomination Board (with respect to Board remuneration) or the Board (with respect to CEO remuneration), after careful consideration, not be appropriate or well-grounded anymore due to the grounds mentioned in the next paragraph below, Anora may in order to safeguard its long-term interests temporarily deviate from this Policy. In the assessment of its long-term interests, Anora may among other aspects especially take into account its long-term financial success and performance, its competitiveness, safeguarding the undisturbed continuation of its business or the undisturbed implementation of its strategy and financial targets or the development of the shareholder value.

Among the grounds for a temporary deviation from this Policy may be a structural change (change in Anora's corporate, group, business or organizational structure or a material change in Anora's ownership structure), a personnel change (such as changes in the Board or in the top management of Anora or need to recruit or retain a CEO or deputy to the CEO), other exceptional or unexpected event or change or materially changed circumstances in Anora or in its business or operating environment or a material change in Anora's strategy or business plan, material change in Anora's financial position or outlook, regulatory or judicial changes or rulings, changes in governmental or administrative orders or in taxation or taxation practice or other change or circumstances not specified above if it is after careful consideration deemed that a deviation is necessary or advisable in order to safeguard Anora's long-term interests, operations or sustainability such as, without limitation, in order to ensure the continuity of the Company's management.

The temporary deviation from this Policy may in the Shareholders' Nomination Board's or the Board's full discretion, as applicable, concern any and all of the elements of this Policy and of payable remuneration, including, but not limited to, the amount, type, elements and conditions of payable remuneration and the terms applied thereto. Where necessary in case of the recruitment of a new CEO or deputy to the CEO, additional benefits may also be provided such as, but not limited to, relocation support and expatriate allowance and other benefits which reflect local market practice and applicable legislation.

The procedure to be followed in the deviation from this Policy shall be the same as the decision-making procedure for the implementation of this Policy described above in this Policy. If the deviation concerns Board remuneration, the decision-making may involve an annual or extraordinary shareholder meeting as applicable in the individual circumstances. The deviation and its grounds shall be reported in the next annual Remuneration Report and presented to the next AGM as part thereof.

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