Guidelines for 2015
The following principles and guidelines were approved by the Annual General Meeting on May 18, 2015.
The objectives of Kinnevik's remuneration guidelines are to offer competitive compensation to attract, motivate and retain key employees. The aim is to create incentives for the Senior Executives to execute strategic plans and deliver excellent operating results and to align their incentives with the interests of the shareholders. The intention is that all Senior Executives shall have a significant long-term shareholding in the company. Should Kinnevik establish operations, in the form of a co-investment vehicle or other similar structure, for the purpose of investing third-party capital, Kinnevik and Kinnevik professionals may receive compensation based on the result of such operations.
The remuneration to the Senior Executives shall consist of an annual fixed salary, short-term variable remuneration paid in cash, the possibility to participate in long-term share or share-price related incentive programmes, pension and other customary benefits.
- The fixed salary is revised each year and based on the Senior Executive's competence and area of responsibility.
- The short-term variable remuneration paid in cash (STI) shall be based on performance in relation to established targets. The targets shall be individual and measurable as well as linked to specific performances, processes and transactions. The STI can amount to a maximum of 100 percent of the fixed salary and a part of the STI shall be invested in Kinnevik's shares.
- Should Kinnevik establish operations, in the form of a co-investment vehicle or other similar structure, Kinnevik professionals (including members of the executive management), subject to making a co-investment, may receive additional variable remuneration paid in cash. Such remuneration will be a function of the amount of third-party capital raised and will be payable only if the returns generated on such third party capital exceed certain pre-determined minimum thresholds. The remuneration will be capped in relation to the return received by Kinnevik.
- The long-term share or share-price related incentive programmes (LTI) shall be linked to certain pre-determined financial and / or share or share-price related performance criteria and shall ensure a long-term commitment to the development of the company.
- Other benefits may include a company car, housing benefits for expatriated Senior Executives for a limited period of time, as well as other customary benefits. Other benefits shall not constitute a significant part of total remuneration. The Senior Executives also may be offered health care insurances.
- The Senior Executives are offered defined contribution pension solutions, with premiums amounting to a maximum of 30 percent of the fixed salary, these premiums are paid to insurance companies. Senior Executives that are non-Swedish residents may be offered, if it is approved by the Board, cash-based pension solutions corresponding to the premiums that otherwise would have been paid to insurance companies.
- In the event of notice of termination of employment being served by the company, the Chief Executive Officer is entitled to salary for a period of a maximum of 18 months and the other Senior Executives are entitled to salary for a period of a maximum of 12 months.
- Board Members, elected at General Meetings, in certain cases may receive a fee for services performed within their respective areas of expertise, outside of their Board duties. Compensation for these services shall be paid at market terms and be approved by the Board.
In special circumstances, the Board may deviate from the above guidelines. In such case, the Board is obligated to give account for the appearance of, and the reason for, the deviation at the following Annual General Meeting.
For further information regarding the existing guidelines and remuneration for the Senior Executives in respect of 2014, please refer to the Group's 2014 Annual Report, note 25.
In accordance with the Swedish Corporate Governance Code the Remuneration Committee monitors and evaluates the application of the guidelines for remuneration to the Senior Executives established by the Annual General Meeting. In addition, the company's auditor, in accordance with the Swedish Companies Act Ch. 8 Sec. 54, has provided a statement with respect to whether there has been compliance with the guidelines for remuneration to the Senior Executives which have been applied during 2014. Both the evaluation and auditor's review have resulted in the conclusion that the guidelines adopted by the Annual General Meeting have been followed by Kinnevik during 2014.