AI assistant
Zelluna ASA — Remuneration Information 2021
Mar 25, 2021
3779_rns_2021-03-25_bc8c1bac-ce48-4631-b8bd-4d761f2cc8f7.pdf
Remuneration Information
Open in viewerOpens in your device viewer
GUIDELINES FOR REMUNERATION TO THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM
These guidelines regarding remuneration to the executive management team in Ultimovacs ASA (the "Company"), which shall also apply to its subsidiary Ultimovacs AB, have been prepared by the board of directors (the "Board") of Ultimovacs ASA in accordance with the Norwegian Public Limited Liability Companies Act Section 6-16a and related regulations. The guidelines have been prepared for approval by the Company's annual general meeting in 2021, and will apply until the Company's annual general meeting in 2025, unless amended or replaced earlier.
General principles for remuneration and other terms and conditions
These guidelines apply to remuneration to the executive management team of the Company. For the purposes of these guidelines, the executive management team includes the CEO and certain other executives who, from time to time, are members of the management and directly report to the CEO.
Purpose and general remuneration principles
These guidelines constitute a framework for which remuneration to the executive management may be decided during the period for which the guidelines are in force. The Company is a pharmaceutical company developing novel immunotherapies against cancer. Consequently, the Company competes for senior management talent within the international pharmaceutical industry. These guidelines attempt to ensure the Company's competitiveness as an employer within the industry.
The Company's remuneration principles shall be designed to ensure responsible and sustainable remuneration decisions that support the Company's business strategy, long-term interests, and sustainable business practices. To this end, salaries and other employment terms shall enable the Company to retain, develop and recruit skilled senior executives with relevant experience and competence. The remuneration shall be on market terms, competitive, and reflect the performance and responsibilities of individual senior executives.
In the preparation of these guidelines, the Board has evaluated the current level of remuneration and other benefits for the executive management team compared to general industry standards when evaluating whether the guidelines and limitations set out herein are reasonable.
Fixed salary
The fixed salary (annual gross salary before tax and before calculation of variable salary and other additional benefits) should reflect the individual's area of responsibility and be the main element of the managers' regular compensation. The base management salary must be competitive in order to attract and retain the most attractive managers. The salary level should not be of a size that could harm the Company's reputation, or significantly above the norm for employees with similar background and in similar positions in comparable companies. The salary level should, however, ensure that the Company can attract and retain executive employees with the desired expertise and experience. Any fringe benefits shall be in line with market practice and should not be substantial in relation to the basic salary.
Bonus
There is no bonus scheme in the Company, however, sign-on-fees and bonus may be applied on the Board's discretion. Carlos de Sousa received a sign-on-fee of MNOK 0.5 when he commenced his position as CEO in June 2020.
Pension
CEO and management in the Norwegian entity participate in a defined contribution pension plan with the same terms as all other employees in the Norwegian entity. The annual accrual is currently 6% of the annual base salary from 0 G to 7 G and 10% from 7G to 12 G (G = the basic amount in the National Insurance scheme in Norway, as of 1 May 2020 G = NOK 101,351). The Chief Business Officer in the Swedish entity is entitled to a defined contribution pension plan where the annual accrual is currently 20% of the annual salary.
Share Options
The executive management takes part in the general share option incentive scheme which applies to all employees in the Company. The number of share options currently distributed to the executive management is listed in note 15 in the Annual Financial Statement for 2020. Main objectives of the share value based incentive scheme are to align interests of shareholders and management/employees (value creation and risk taking) and ensure competitive compensation for management/employees and motivation to stay (retention).
The share option program was approved by the General Assembly on 2 May 2019 and the Board was authorized to increase the Company's share capital in connection with share incentive arrangement by up to 10%. At the 2019 General Assembly (held 23 April 2020), the Board was authorized to increase the Company's share capital in connection with the share incentive arrangement by up to NOK 55,000 (550,000 share options) until the next ordinary General Assembly in 2021.
The share option program includes all employees in the Company. Vesting requires the option holder still to be an employee in the Company. Key parameters in the option program currently include the following:
- an exercise price set as the volume weighted average of observed market price of the Company's shares the last 5 days prior to the issue of the options,
- 5 years duration of the options, and
- a vesting schedule of 25%/25%/50% after 1/2/3 years
- a vesting schedule of 33%/33%/33% after 1/2/3 years applies for the CEO
Separate arrangements may be made with individual employees.
The Board of Directors will review the option scheme annually and allocate share options within the framework approved by the General Assembly on 2 May 2019.
Severance pay/pay after termination of employment
In certain conditions, the CEO is entitled to 12 months' severance pay. The severance pay period will be extended to 18 months if the termination of the CEO takes place in connection with a change of control event in the Company.
The Company's CFO is entitled to receive pay after termination of his employment with the Company equal to 9 months' base salary in addition to payment of his salary during his 3-month notice period.
On 1 June 2020, Øyvind Kongstun Arnesen resigned his position as CEO in Ultimovacs ASA. Following his resignation, Arnesen will receive an 18 months severance pay, paid over the course of 18 months. Arnesen will in this period continue to receive all benefits from his employment, with the exception for pension rights, which are not applicable for the last 12 months. During the last sixmonth period, any income from new employment/engagements, will be deducted from the severance pay.
There are no similar arrangements for any of the other employees of the Company with respect to termination of their employment.
Other benefits
The CEO and some individuals in the management team get car allowance or coverage of costs for leasing of cars in private use. Carlos de Sousa, CEO, has an agreement whereby the Company will cover the lease for an apartment in Oslo up to a certain monthly amount.
Benefits to the management team may include certain other items such as group life insurance, health care insurance, travel insurance, etc. on customary terms.
The management team does not have any other separate fringe benefits of any significance.
Preparation and review of these guidelines
These guidelines have been prepared by the Board. When the need arises for significant changes in the guidelines, but at least every fourth year, the Board shall prepare a proposal for guidelines for resolution by the annual general meeting. The annual general meeting shall decide on such proposals. Resolved guidelines may also be amended by way of resolution by general meetings other than annual general meetings.
Derogations from these guidelines
The board of directors may temporarily resolve to derogate from these guidelines, in whole or in part, if in a specific case there is a special cause for such derogation and a derogation is necessary to serve the Company's long-term interests, including its sustainability, competitiveness, or to ensure the Company's financial viability.