Remuneration Information • Mar 20, 2023
Remuneration Information
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The governance of Bittium Corporation (hereinafter "Company") is determined by the Company's Articles of Association, the laws of Finland (such as the Finnish Companies Act and Securities Market Act) and the Company's Corporate Governance Code. The Company follows the Finnish Corporate Governance Code 2020 prepared by the Finnish Securities Market Association and entered into force on January 1, 2020. This Remuneration Report is prepared in accordance with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code 2020. The Governance Code is available at the website of the Finnish Securities Market Association at www.cgfinland.fi.
The Company´s Corporate Governance Code, Corporate Governance Statement for each financial period and the salary and remuneration report are publicly available at the Company's website at www.bittium.com. Up-to-date information on the shareholdings of CEO and the management group of the Company in the Company is publicly available at the Company's website at www.bittium.com.
This Remuneration Report presents the salaries, fees, and other financial benefits paid to the Board of Directors and CEO in the financial year 2022. Such salaries, fees, and other financial benefits that have not yet been paid in the financial year 2022, but that arise from an earnings period that has ended in the financial year 2022, must be reported as due remuneration, if the amount of the due remuneration is sufficiently certain.
On March 11, 2020, the Company published by a stock exchange release the Remuneration Policy for governing bodies that was presented to the Annual General Meeting held on June 15, 2020. At the Annual General Meeting, the Remuneration Policy was supported by 100 percent of the votes cast, and no votes were cast against the Remuneration Policy.
The remuneration principles set out in the Remuneration Policy shall guide the Company's incentive structure and performance metrics. The remuneration of the Company is designed to align the interests of employees and shareholders while supporting the Company's pay-for-performance principle. The objectives of the Company's incentive plans are to drive its strategy and create long-term, sustainable performance with increased shareholder value.
At the Annual General Meeting held on April 6, 2022, Mr. Erkki Veikkolainen, Ms. Riitta Tiuraniemi, Mr. Veli-Pekka Paloranta, Mr. Petri Toljamo and Mr. Pekka Kemppainen were re-elected as members of the Board of Directors.
In the financial year 2022, the Board of Directors have been paid fees according to the Remuneration Policy adopted by the Annual General Meeting held on April 6, 2022 and to the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting on the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors. Fifty percent of the total amount of the monthly remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors has been paid as the Company's shares. According to the remuneration principles set out in the Remuneration Policy the payment of a substantial part of the remuneration as shares aligns the interests of the Board of Directors and shareholders and incentivizes the management for the decision-making that supports the growth of shareholder value and long-term financial success. The share ownership further supports the long-term commitment of the Board of Directors to the Company.
The CEO has been paid in the financial year 2022 base salary according to terms of the written service contract. The CEO has also been paid fees based on the short-term incentive program (STI). The fees have been based on the delivery of the strategic objectives of the Company and the delivery of the performance measures supporting financial development, set as goals for the CEO. The payment of remuneration under incentive programs based on the delivery of financial and operational objectives commits the CEO to the delivery of short-term financial and strategic objectives, which in turn support the delivery of the Company's business strategy. In 2022 the CEO has also been paid fees based on the long-term incentive program (LTI). The remuneration has been based on the delivery of performance measured against longterm targets. The remuneration is designed to reward for delivery of strategic targets and sustainable long-term growth, to align CEO's interests with those of shareholders, and to increase the value of the Company by offering a share ownership-based remuneration.
The remuneration terms may include clawback terms according to the Remuneration Policy. Any remuneration may be deferred in accordance with the terms of such remuneration, and the Company has the discretion to scale back deferred short-term and long-term incentives prior to the satisfaction of such incentives. Upon recommendation of the Audit Committee or the Remuneration Committee, if established, the Board of Directors may also temporarily deviate from any provisions of the Remuneration Policy.
In the financial year 2022, the Company has not clawbacked any remuneration, deferred remuneration terms, or scaled back shortterm or long-term incentives prior to the satisfaction of such terms. The Board of Directors has also not decided to deviate from any provisions of the Remuneration Policy.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman of the Board (EUR) | 42,218 | 42,613 | 53,648 | 47,602 | 52,200 |
| Board member on average (EUR)1 | 25,314 | 25,265 | 31,592 | 20,300 | 31,696 |
| CEO (EUR) | 221,148 | 334,000 | 338,334 | 282,289 | 344,552 |
| Salary development of an average employee of Bittium (EUR)2 | 63,186 | 65,046 | 64,264 | 67,463 | 69,987 |
| Group personnel on average | 660 | 665 | 673 | 664 | 641 |
| Net sales (MEUR) | 62.8 | 75.2 | 78.4 | 86.9 | 82.5 |
| Operating result (MEUR) | 2.8 | 6.3 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 0.3 |
1 Total fees paid to the other Board members than the Chairman in the financial year divided by the number of such Board members in the financial year. 2 Total Group personnel expenses (including capitalized personnel expenses of R&D) divided by the average number of personnel in each financial year.
According to the Remuneration Policy decisions concerning the remuneration of the Board members and committee members are made in general meetings. The remuneration of the Board of Directors can consist of one or more components, such as an annual fee and possible meeting fees. The Chairman and Committee members can be paid an increased fee or a meeting fee. An increased fee can also be paid e.g. if the meeting is held outside of a member's country of residence. The fees to be paid to the Board members can be paid in cash or partially or entirely in shares.
The Annual General Meeting held on April 6, 2022 decided that the Board members will be paid monthly fees as follows: to Chairman of the Board EUR 3,150 and to other members of the Board EUR 1,800. In addition, the Board members are entitled to compensation for the attended Board meetings as follows: the Chairman of the Board EUR 875 for each meeting and other members EUR 500 for each meeting. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors are entitled to compensation for attending Committee meetings: the Chairman of the Committee EUR 600 for each meeting and other Committee members EUR 400 for each meeting. The travel expenses of the members of the Board of Directors shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Company´s travel policy. Fifty percent of the total amount of the monthly remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors shall be paid at once as Company's shares acquired for the price formed in public trading, through share issue or, in special circumstances if share based remuneration cannot be paid for some reason, in money. The shares shall be acquired according to the share purchase program
of the Company. A member of the Board of Directors may not transfer the shares received as remuneration before his/her membership in the Board of Directors has ended.
All the fees paid to the Board members in the financial year 2022 have been in accordance with the Remuneration Policy of the Company and the resolutions of the Annual General Meeting. There are no employment relationships or service contracts between the members of the Board and the Company. The members of the Board have not been included in the remuneration schemes of the Company. The Board members are not paid variable remuneration components.
| remuneration in the financial year 2022 (EUR) | Meeting fees for Board meetings |
Meeting fees for Audit Committee |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Monthly fees to Board members | meetings | In total | ||
| Erkki Veikkolainen | Chairman of the Board |
39,075.08, of which 18,895.89 paid by acquiring 3,727 shares of the Company |
13,125 | 52,200.08 | ||
| Riitta Tiuraniemi | Member of the Board, Chairman of the Audit Committee |
22,334.70, of which 10,799.10 paid by acquiring 2,130 shares of the Company |
7,000 | 3,600 | 32,934.70 | |
| Pekka Kemppainen | Member of the Board | 22,334.70, of which 10,799.10 paid by acquiring 2,130 shares of the Company |
7,500 | 29,834.70 | ||
| Veli-Pekka Paloranta | Member of the Board, member of the Audit Committee |
22,334.70, of which 10,799.10 paid by acquiring 2,130 shares of the Company |
7,000 | 2,400 | 31,734.70 | |
| Petri Toljamo | Member of the Board, member of the Audit Committee |
22,379.70, of which 10,799.10 paid by acquiring 2,130 shares of the Company |
7,500 | 2,400 | 32,279.70 |
Based on the resolution of the Annual General Meeting, fifty percent of the total monthly fees of the Board of Directors was used to acquire the Company's shares. The shares were acquired in accordance with the share purchase program prepared by the Company, and the acquisitions were carried out on May 3, 2022 for the price formed in public trading. A member of the Board of Directors may not transfer the shares received as remuneration before his/ her membership in the Board of Directors has ended.
According to the Remuneration Policy of the Company, the Company's approach to determining and reviewing the remuneration of the CEO consists of a similar policy framework as the employees' remuneration, although the CEO's role and responsibilities affect the amount of compensation.
The Board decides on the remuneration of CEO and on the key terms and conditions of his/her service. The CEO's remuneration shall consist of fixed and variable pay components. In addition to annual base salary, remuneration components may include e.g. short- and long-term incentives, pension arrangements, fringe benefits and other financial benefits.
In the financial year 2022, the CEO has been paid remuneration EUR 344 552,04 in total, of which 72.4 per cent was paid as fixed component and 27.6 per cent as variable pay component, the amount of which has depended on the CEO's personal performance and the delivery of the targets pre-defined by the Board of Directors. 1
The following table describes the remuneration paid and due to the CEO in the financial year 2022 by type.
The pension security of CEO is statutory and he does not have supplementary pension. According to the pension legislation, the lowest limit of the pension age for CEO is 65 years and 3 months at the moment.
In the financial year 2022, the CEO has not been paid any other financial benefits in addition to the telephone benefit of EUR 240, such as fringe benefits, severance pay or other comparable financial benefits.
1 The relative proportion does not include other financial benefits, such as pension benefits, compensation for termination, or other comparable financial benefits, which are reported in their own section. However, in the financial year 2022 the CEO has not been paid any other financial benefits in addition to the telephone benefit.
| Remuneration component |
Amount (EUR) | Remuneration description | Compliance or deviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary (fixed component) |
Paid: 249,104 | The CEO has been paid monthly base salary according to terms of the written service contract. On March 1, 2022, the CEO's base salary was increased from EUR 18,980 to 19,930. In addition, holiday pay of EUR 11,884 has been paid to the CEO in accordance with the terms of the written service contract. |
In compliance with the Remuneration Policy |
| Short-term incentive (STI) (variable pay component) |
Paid: 40,220 Due: 48,263.04 1 According to the Remuneration Policy the maximum payout for the an nual incentive is capped and may be up to three times of the annual base salary. |
The STI program consists of annual programs that encourage and reward the delivery of short-term business objectives. Possible remuneration based on the STI program is paid based on performance metrics set by the Board. With regard to the 2021 targets, the Board has set a relative weight of 20 to 40 percent for each performance metrics. These include both financial targets (for example in relation to gross margins and fixed costs) and operative business objectives in relation to sales development in strategically important product and service areas determined by the Board.2 With regard to the 2022 targets, the Board has divided the targets equally be tween the three product and service areas. Within these sub-targets, the per formance metrics have relative weights of 10 to 50 percent. The performance metrics include both financial goals (including operating profit and EBITDA) and operational goals related to the development of sales and business in the prod uct and service areas.2 Under the STI program, a maximum of 60 percent of base salary can be paid to the CEO. The Board has assessed that the CEO has reached the required minimum level for the STI 2021 program and has decided to pay the fee in accordance with the target agreement. Based on this, the CEO has been paid previously overdue fees EUR 40,220 in the financial year 2022 in accordance with the short-term incentive program STI 2021. For the year 2022 targets, the fees have been reported as fees due. |
In compliance with the Remuneration Policy |
| Long-term incentive (LTI) (variable pay component) |
Paid: 54,988.04 Due: 0 1 According to the Remuneration Policy the maximum award size may be up to three times of the annual base salary. |
The share based long-term incentive scheme of Company consists of performance share plans ("PSP"). The second plan under the scheme was the PSP 2021–2023 commenced in the beginning of the financial year 2021, and the third plan the PSP 2022–2024 commenced in the beginning of the financial year 2022. The plans consist of a one-year performance period followed by the possible payment of the share reward and a two-year restriction period. The CEO is expected to retain at least 50% of the performance shares received by him/her for until his/ her ownership level in shares represents in value his/her annual base salary. The performance measures for the possible payment of the share reward under PSP 2021–2023 and PSP 2022–2024 are Company's revenue growth and cash flow before financial items. In addition to the performance measures, the schemes include a maximum share reward to be paid to participants based on the share price increase, which is determined separately by the Board (Pay-Out Limit). The number of shares that may be awarded within the plans and the payment are always subject to, and conditional on, a separate decision and approval of the Board. In the financial year 2022, the CEO has been paid 54,988.04 euros as rewards in accordance with the PSP 2021–2023 plan. As a derogation to the shareholders' pre-emptive right in a share issue, the CEO was awarded 5,227 new shares of the Company in direct share issue without payment in March 2022. The reward was paid in Company's shares and as a cash portion corresponding to the value of the share. The cash portion paid in addition to the shares is planned to cover taxes and tax-like charges occurring from the reward. In addition to the above, no other cash portions were paid. Because the performance period of PSP 2022–2024 is still ongoing, no reward is fallen due under the program and no payments have been made in the financial year 2022. |
In compliance with the Remuneration Policy |
| Other benefits and programs (other financial benefits/ other fixed remunera tion components) |
240 | Telephone benefit | In compliance with the Remuneration Policy |
1 Such remuneration that has not yet been paid, but that arise from an earnings period that has ended during the financial year being reported, and the amount of which is sufficiently certain prior to this remuneration report being issued, must be reported as due remuneration. 2 Disclosure of certain more specific performance metrics and targets would, in the Company's opinion, mean that the Company's confidential business
information would be compromised. The Company has described the performance metrics, targets and their application as widely as possible.

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Bittium Corporation / Ritaharjuntie 1, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland / +358 40 344 2000 / www.bittium.com
Copyright 2022 Bittium Corporation. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. Bittium retains ownership of and all other rights to the material expressed in this document. Any reproduction of the content of this document without prior written permission from Bittium is prohibited.
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