Notice of Annual General Meeting in Acarix AB
The shareholders of Acarix AB, reg. no. 559009-0667, (the "Company"), are hereby convened to the annual general meeting to be held on Thursday 14 May 2020, at 10.00 at Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyrå's premises at Vasagatan 7 in Stockholm.
Information with respect to the coronavirus
Due to the development of the coronavirus the goal is that the annual general meeting shall be swift and effective to minimize spread of disease. Shareholders who are sick, recently travelled in a risk zone or are part of a risk group should not participate, but can vote via proxy. The board of directors of the Company has resolved on the following measures to minimize the risk of the spread of the coronavirus at the annual general meeting:
- Registration for the annual general meeting will commence at 09.45.
- External guests will not be invited.
- No food or refreshments will be served.
The Company follows the development and the recommendations of the authorities and will, if necessary, update the information about the annual general meeting on the Company’s website, www.acarix.com
Right to attend the Annual General Meeting and notice.
Shareholders wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting must:
- on the record date, which is Friday 8 May 2020, be registered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB. Shareholders, whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee, must temporarily register the shares in their own name at Euroclear Sweden AB. Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must, no later than on Friday 8 May 2020, via their nominee, temporarily register the shares in their own name in order to be entitled to participate at the general meeting; and
- notify their participation and any advisers (no more than two) at the general meeting no later than Friday 8 May 2020. Notice of participation at the general meeting shall be sent by regular mail to Acarix AB, Jungmansgatan 12, 211 19 Malmö or by e-mail info@acarix.com. Upon notification, the shareholder should state their full name, personal identification number or corporate registration number, address and telephone number, and, where applicable, details of representatives, proxy holders and advisors. A shareholder who wishes to be represented by proxy shall issue a written and dated proxy to the proxy holder. If the proxy is issued by a legal entity, a certified copy of the registration certificate or corresponding document ("Registration Certificate") shall be enclosed. The proxy must not be more than one year old, however, the proxy may be older if it is stated that it is valid for a longer term, maximum five years. The proxy in original and the Registration Certificate, if any, must be available at the general meeting and a copy should well before the meeting be sent to the Company by regular mail to the address stated above, and should, in order to facilitate the entrance to the general meeting, be at the Company's disposal no later than on 8 May 2020. A form proxy will be available for downloading on the Company´s website www.acarix.com.
Proposed agenda:
- Opening of the meeting
- Election of the chairman of the general meeting
- Preparation and approval of voting list
- Election of one or several person to certify the minutes
- Determination of whether the general meeting has been duly convened
- Approval of the agenda
- Presentation of the Acarix group operations
- Presentation of the annual report and audit report and the group annual report and group audit report
- Resolutions regarding:
- adoption of income statement and balance sheet and group income statement and group balance sheet;
- appropriation of the Company's profit or loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet; and
- discharge of liability for the directors and the managing director
- Determination of the number of directors and auditors
- Determination of remuneration to the board of directors and the auditors
- Election of the board of directors and the auditors
- Resolution regarding adoption of principles for the nomination committee
- Resolution regarding guidelines for the determination of remuneration to senior executives
- Resolution regarding authorization for the board to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants
- Resolution regarding amendments of the Company's articles of association
- Resolution regarding reduction of the Company's share capital
- Resolution regarding incentive program 2020/2023 for senior executives and employees through issuance of warrants
- Resolution regarding issue of warrants
- Resolution regarding approval of transfer of warrants
- Closing of the meeting
Proposals for resolutions:
Item 2: Election of the chairman of the general meeting
The nomination committee proposes that Joakim Falkner, attorney at law, Baker & McKenzie Advokatbyrå, is appointed as chairman of the general meeting.
Item 9b) Appropriation of the Company's profit or loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet
The board of directors proposes that all funds available to the annual general meeting shall be carried forward.
Items 10–12: Determination of the number of directors and auditors, remuneration to the board of directors and the auditors, election of the board of directors and the auditors
The nomination committee proposes that the board shall consist of six directors. The nomination committee further proposes that the number of auditors shall be one registered accounting firm.
The nomination committee that the remuneration is to be EUR 170,000 in total and shall be paid to the board of directors and the members of the established committees as follows (170,000 euro previous year):
- EUR 60,000 (EUR 60,000) to the chairman and EUR 20,000 (EUR 20,000) to the other directors; and
- EUR 5,000 (EUR 5,000) to the chair of the audit and remuneration committee, respectively.
The nomination committee proposes that the auditor shall be entitled to a fee in accordance with approved invoice.
The nomination committee proposes the re-election of Johanne Braendgaard, Werner Braun, Paolo Raffaelli and Ulf Rosén as directors of the board and election of Anders Jacobson and Marlou Janssen-Counotte as new director and to re-elect Werner Braun as the chairman of the board. Claus Andersson and Yunfei Hong will not run for re-election.
The nomination committee further proposes the re-election of the registered audit firm Öhrling PricewaterhouseCoopers AB as the company's auditor for a period up until the end of the next annual general meeting. Öhrling PricewaterhouseCoopers AB has announced its appointment of Cecilia Andrén Dorselius as main responsible auditor
Further information regarding the new proposed directors
Anders Jacobson
Education and background
Anders Jacobson holds a MSc in Engineering Physics. Anders Jacobson has a broad experience in R&D and has for more than 15 years had different positions within the Life Science industry (Senzime AB, Biotage Sweden AB, Prostalund Operations AB) and technical consultancy companies (Prevas AB, Teleca System Design, auSystems AB, Sigma Design and Development AB). In these companies he has been working in leading roles within research and development, manufacturing and assembly, service and maintenance and technical sales in an international environment.
Current assignments: No current board assignments
Year of birth: 1967
Nationality: Swedish
Direct or related person ownership in the Company: 0
Marlou Janssen-Counotte (Louise Marie Counotte)
Education and background
Marlou Janssen-Counotte holds a degree in hotel management and marketing. Marlou is a seasoned senior executive with more than 25 years experience in the Medtech industry. For three decades she has worked in many regions around the world building solutions in vascular, cardiology, electrophysiology and neuromodulation therapies for global companies. With her roots in clinical education, Marlou believes industry should give back to the medical and patient communities in responsible, ethical and highly impactful ways. Marlou promotes investment in highly scientific research and meaningful education programs that support value based outcomes for patients. Marlou started her Medtech career at Medtronic in clinical education and in the past 20 years she held senior executive roles as Vice President at St Jude Medical, Vice President International Marketing & Sales at Biotronik and President Biotronik US. In February 2019 Marlou decided to return from the United States and joined Philips Medical Systems where she now leads a new venture for Philips called EPD Solutions. 4. Previously member of the Board of Biotronik Inc in USA
Current assignments: Board member in EPD Solutions
Year of birth: 1965
Nationality: Dutch
Direct or related person ownership in the Company: 0
The nomination committee's complete proposal and motivated opinion as well as further information regarding the directors proposed for re-election is available at the Company's website www.acarix.com and will also be available in the annual report for 2019.
Item 13: Resolution regarding adoption of principles for the nomination committee
The board of directors propose that the following principles for the nomination committee are adopted (unchanged from last year).
Role of the nomination committee
The Company shall have a nomination committee with the task of preparing and proposing decisions to the shareholders' meetings on electoral and remuneration issues and, where applicable, procedural issues for the appointment of the subsequent nomination committee. The nomination committee is to propose:
- the chairman of the annual general meeting;
- candidates for the post of chairman and other directors of the board;
- fees and other remuneration for board work to each director;
- fees to members of committees within the board;
- election and remuneration of the Company auditor; and
- principles for the nomination committee.
The nomination committee shall in its assessment of the evaluation of the board an in its proposal in particular take into consideration the requirement of diversity and breadth on the board and strive for equal gender distribution. Regardless of how they have been appointed, the members of the nomination committee are to promote the interests of all shareholders of the Company.
Members of the nomination committee
The nomination committee, which shall be appointed for the time until a new nomination committee has been appointed, shall consist of four members, of whom three shall be nominated by the Company's three largest shareholders with respect to voting power and the fourth shall be the chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the third quarter, in an adequate manner, contact the three owner-registered largest shareholders, with respect to votes, according to the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB at that time and request that they, taken into consideration the circumstances, within a reasonable time which may not exceed 30 days, nominate in writing to the nomination committee that person whom the shareholder wishes to appoint as member of the nomination committee. If any of the three largest shareholders elects not to exercise their right to appoint a member of the nomination committee, the next shareholder in consecutive order shall be entitled to appoint a member of the nomination committee. In the case that several shareholders abstain their right to appoint a member of the nomination committee, the chairman of the board shall not be required to contact more than eight shareholders, unless its necessary in order to obtain a nomination committee consisting of a minimum of three members.
Unless otherwise agreed between the members, the chairman of the nomination committee shall be nominated by the largest shareholder. A member of the board of directors shall never be the chairman of the nomination committee.
If a shareholder who is has appointed a member of the nomination committee during the year ceases to be one of the Company's three largest shareholders, the member appointed by such shareholder shall resign from the nomination committee. Instead, a new shareholder among the three largest shareholders shall be entitled to independently and in its sole discretion appoint a member of the nomination committee. However, no marginal changes in shareholding and no changes in shareholding which occur later than three months prior to the annual general meeting shall lead to a change in the composition of the nomination committee, unless there are exceptional reasons.
If a member of the nomination committee resigns before the nomination committee has completed its assignment, for reasons other than set out in above, the shareholder has appointed such member shall be entitled to independently and in its sole discretion appoint a replacement member. If the chairman of the board resigns from the board, his/her successor shall replace the chairman of the board also on the nomination committee.
A change in the composition of the nomination committee shall be published without undue delay on the website of the Company.
Announcement of the nomination committee members
The chairman of the board shall ensure that the names of the members of the nomination committee, together with the names of the shareholders they have been nominated by, are published on the Company's website no later than six months before the annual general meeting.
If a member leaves the nomination committee during the year, or if a new member is appointed, the nomination committee shall ensure that such information, including the corresponding information about the new nomination committee member, is published on the website.
Shareholders' rights to submit proposals to the nomination committee
Shareholders shall be entitled to propose board members for consideration by the nomination committee. The nomination committee shall provide the Company with information on how shareholders may submit recommendations to the nomination committee. Such information shall be announced on the Company's website.
The chairman of the board of directors shall, as part of the work of the nomination committee, keep the nomination committee informed about the work of the board of directors, the need for particular qualifications and competences, etc., which may be of importance for the work of the nomination committee.
The nomination committee's proposals, work and fees
When preparing its proposals, the nomination committee shall take into account that the board of directors is to have a composition appropriate to the Company's operations, phase of development and other relevant circumstances. The directors shall collectively exhibit diversity and breadth of qualifications, experience and background. The nomination committee shall further strive for equal gender distribution.
The nomination committee shall provide the Company with its proposals for board members in such time that the Company can present the proposals in the notice of the shareholders' meeting where an election is to take place.
When the notice of the shareholders' meeting is issued, the nomination committee shall issue a statement on the Company's website explaining its proposals regarding the composition of the board of directors. The nomination committee shall in particular explain its proposal against the background of the requirement to strive for an equal gender distribution. The statement is also to include an account of how the nomination committee has conducted its work. In case a resigning managing director is nominated for the position of chairman of the board of directors, the nomination committee shall specifically explain the reasons for such proposal.
The nomination committee shall ensure that the following information on candidates nominated for election or re-election to the board of directors is posted on the Company's website at the latest when the notice to the shareholders' meeting is issued:
- year of birth, principal education and work experience;
- any work performed for the Company and other significant professional commitments;
- any holdings of shares and other financial instruments in the Company owned by the candidate or the candidate's related natural or legal persons;
- whether the nomination committee deems the candidate to be independent from the Company and its executive management, as well as of the major shareholders in the Company. If the committee considers a candidate independent regardless of the existence of such circumstances which, according to the criteria of the Swedish Code of Corporate Governance, may give cause to consider the candidate not independent, the nomination committee shall explain its proposal; and
- in the case of re-election, the year that the person was first elected to the board.
Account of the work of the nomination committee
All members of the nomination committee, where possible, and as a minimum one of the members, shall be present at the annual general meeting.
The nomination committee shall at the annual general meeting, or other shareholders' meetings where an election is to be held, give an account of how it has conducted its work and explain its proposals against the background of what is provided about the composition of the board as set out above. The nomination committee shall in particular explain its proposal against the background of the requirement as set out above to strive for an equal gender distribution.
Fees and Costs
No fee shall be payable by the Company to any member of the nomination committee. The Company shall bear all reasonable costs associated with the work of the nomination committee. Where necessary, the nomination committee may engage external consultants to assist in finding candidates with the relevant experience, and the Company shall bear the costs for such consultants. The Company shall also provide the nomination committee with the human resources needed to support the nomination committee's work.
Confidentiality
A member of the nomination committee may not unduly reveal to anyone what he/she has learned during the discharge of his/her assignment as a nomination committee member. The duty of confidentiality applies to oral as well as written information and applies also after the assignment has terminated.
A nomination committee member shall store all confidential materials that he/she receives by reason of the nomination committee assignment in a manner so that the materials are not accessible to third parties. After the assignment has terminated, a nomination committee member shall hand over to the chairman of the board all confidential materials that the nomination committee member has received in his/her capacity as nomination committee member and still has in his/her possession, including any copies of the materials, to the extent reasonably possible taking into account inter alia technical aspects.
The chairman of the nomination committee may make public statements about the work of the nomination committee. No other nomination committee member may make statements to the press or otherwise make public statements regarding the Company and the Company group unless the chairman of the board has given permission thereto.
Item 14: Resolution regarding guidelines for the determination of remuneration to senior executives
Upon recommendation of the remuneration committee, the board of directors of the Company proposes that the annual general meeting resolves to adopt the following guidelines for remuneration to senior executives.
The guidelines shall apply to remuneration that has been agreed upon or to changes in already agreed remunerations after the guidelines have been adopted by the annual general meeting. The guidelines do not apply to remunerations that has been resolved by the general meeting and any remuneration through shares, warrants, convertibles or other share-related instruments such as synthetic options or employ stock options shall therefore be resolved by the general meeting.
These guidelines apply to the CEO and other senior executives in the company group and all other remuneration to members of the board except fees to the board of directors.
Regarding employment conditions that are governed by rules other than Swedish, appropriate adjustments may be made in order to comply with such mandatory rules or established local practice, whereby the general objectives of these guidelines shall, to the extent possible, be met.
Remuneration may consist of fixed cash salary, possible variable cash compensation, other customary benefits and pension. The total annual cash remuneration, including pension benefits, must be market-based and competitive in the employment market and in the work area in which the employee is situated, taking into account the individual's qualifications and experience and that outstanding achievements are to be reflected in the total remuneration. Fixed cash salary and variable cash remuneration shall be related to the executive's responsibility and authority. The fixed cash salary shall be revised annually.
Fixed and variable salary shall be related to the senior executive's responsibility and authority. The variable cash remuneration shall be based on the outcome of pre-determined targets and should be designed with the aim of achieving greater alignment of interest between the participating senior executive and the Company's shareholders.
The variable cash remuneration shall be based on and be related to the outcome in relation to predetermined and measurable concrete defined objectives based on the Company's business strategy and the long-term business plan approved by the board of directors. The objectives may include financial objectives, either at the group or unit level, operational objectives as well as objectives for sustainability and social responsibility, employee engagement or customer satisfaction, as well as individualized quantitative or qualitative goals. These objectives must be established and documented annually in order to promote the long-term development of executives. The Company has established financial targets and KPI's based on strategic and business-critical initiatives and projects that ensure fulfillment in accordance with the business plan and business strategy for a sustainable continued business and safeguarding the Company's long-term interests.
The variable remuneration shall amount to a maximum of 50 per cent of the fixed salary. The fulfillment of criteria for payment of variable cash compensation shall be measurable over a period of one year. Terms for variable remuneration should be designed so that the board of directors may limit or omit payment of variable remuneration, provided that exceptional economic circumstances are at hand, if the board of directors finds the payments unreasonable and incompatible with the Company's responsible in relation to its shareholders. With respect to yearly bonuses, it should be possible to limit or omit payments, if the board of directors finds it motivated because of any other reasons.
Additional variable cash compensation may be payable in exceptional circumstances, provided that such arrangements are time-limited and made only at the individual level. The purpose of such arrangements must be to recruit or retain executives, or as compensation for extraordinary work in addition to the person's ordinary duties. Such compensation shall not exceed an amount corresponding to 50 percent of the fixed annual cash salary and shall not be paid more than once per year and per individual. A decision on such remuneration shall be made by the board of directors on proposal from the remuneration committee.
Pension payments shall be fee determined. Senior executives shall be entitled to pension commitments based on those that are customary in the country in which they are employed. The maximum pension commitment shall not exceed 20 percent of the fixed annual cash salary. Pension commitments will be secured through premiums paid to insurance companies.
Other benefits may include: life insurance, health insurance and car benefit. Such benefits may amount to a maximum of 10 percent of the fixed annual cash salary.
For executives who are stationed in a country other than their home country, additional remuneration and other benefits may be paid to a reasonable extent, taking into account the particular circumstances associated with such expatriation, whereby the overall purpose of these guidelines is to be met as far as possible. Such benefits may amount to a maximum of 20 percent of the fixed annual cash salary.
Payment of consultancy fees and additional remuneration may be paid to directors after decision by the board of directors, if a director performs services on behalf of the Company, which do not constitute board work.
Fixed salary during the notice period and severance pay shall in total not exceed an amount corresponding to a maximum of a two years' fixed salary.
The board of directors shall be entitled to deviate from the guidelines in an individual case if there are special reasons for it.
Decisions regarding salary and other remuneration to the managing director and other senior executives are prepared by the remuneration committee and resolved on by the board of directors.
The total amount of remuneration granted or to be granted directly or indirectly by the Company to the senior executives is fully described in the consolidated financial accounts of the Company, as disclosed in its annual accounts for 2019, which is available at the Company's website, www.acarix.com.
Item 15: Resolution regarding authorization for the board to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants
The board of directors of the Company proposes that the annual general meeting resolves to authorize the board of directors during the period up until the next annual general meeting, on one or more occasions, to resolve to issue shares, convertibles and/or warrants, with or without preferential rights for the shareholders, in the amount not exceeding twenty percent of the total number of shares in the Company at the time of the annual general meeting, to be paid in cash, in kind and/or by way of set-off.
The purpose for the board to resolve on issuances with deviation from the shareholders preferential rights in accordance with the above is primarily for the purpose to raise new capital to increase flexibility of the Company or in connection with acquisitions.
Issuances of new shares under the authorization shall be made on customary terms and conditions based on current market conditions. If the board of directors finds it suitable in order to enable delivery of shares in connection with a share issuance as set out above it may be made at a subscription price corresponding to the shares quota value.
The board of directors or anyone appointed by the board of directors is given the right to make the adjustments necessary in connection with the registration of the resolution at the Companies Registration Office.
Item 16: Resolution regarding amendments of the Company's articles of association
The board of directors of the Company proposed that the annual general meeting resolves to amend the Company's articles of association in accordance with the following:
It is proposed that the limits for the share capital in the articles of association are changed from a minimum of SEK 23,000,000 and a maximum of SEK 92,000,000 to a minimum of SEK 500,000 and a maximum of SEK 2,000,000. The articles of association, § 4, will thereby have the following wording:
"The share capital shall not be less than SEK 500,000 and not more than SEK 2,000,000."
It is proposed that the limits for the number of shares in the articles of association are changed from a minimum of 23,000,000 and a maximum of 92,000,000 to a minimum of 51,000,000 and a maximum of 204,000,000. The articles of association, § 5, will thereby have the following wording:
"The number of shares shall not be less than 51,000,000 and not more than 204,000,000."
The board of directors or a person nominated by it, shall be authorized to make such minor adjustments as may be required in connection with registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
The resolution in accordance with this item is conditional upon that the annual general meeting resolves to reduce the Company's share capital in accordance with item 17.
Item 17: Resolution regarding reduction of the Company's share capital
The board of directors the Company proposed that the annual general meeting of the Company resolves to reduce the Company's share capital with SEK 51,177,102.57 from SEK 51,694,043.00 to SEK 516,940.43 by allocation to the unrestricted shareholders' equity in accordance with the following:
The reason for the board of directors' proposal to reduce the Company's share capital is to improve the relationship between the share capital and the unrestricted shareholders' equity.
The reduction is implemented without redemption of shares.
The resolution to reduce the share capital may only be completed after the Swedish Companies Registration Office has granted permission for the reduction.
The resolution requires an amendment to the articles of association.
The board of directors or a person nominated by it, shall be authorized to make such minor adjustments as may be required in connection with registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
The resolution to reduce the Company's share capital is conditional upon that the annual general meeting resolves to amend the Company's articles of association in accordance with item 16.
Item18: Resolution regarding incentive program 2020/2023 for senior executives and employees
Upon recommendation of the remuneration committee, the board of directors of the Company, proposes that the annual general meeting resolves to implement an incentive program through issuance of warrants to senior executives, employees and other key persons within the Company and the company group and to Acarix Incentives AB, reg. no. 559102-0044, (the "Subsidiary"), with subsequent transfer to senior executives, employees and other key persons within the Company and the company group ("Incentive program 2020/2023") in accordance with the below.
Background and rationale
The purpose of the proposal is to establish conditions to maintain and increase the motivation of senior executives, employees and other key persons within the Company and company group. The board of directors finds that it is in all shareholders’ interest that senior executives, employees and other key persons, which are considered important to the development of the company group, have a long term interest in developing high value of the Company’s share. A long term ownership engagement is expected to stimulate an increased interest for the business and result in a whole as well as to increase the motivation for the participants and to create a common interest for the Company’s shareholders and the participant.
Resolutions in accordance with items 18 a)-18 b) below shall be made as one resolution and are therefore conditional on each other.
A description of other incentive programs, the preparation of the proposal, costs for the program and effect on important key figures etc. is presented below.
Item 18 a): Resolution regarding issue of warrants
The board of directors of the Company proposed that the annual general meeting resolves to issue a maximum of 2,500,000 warrants, which may result in a maximum increase in the Company’s share capital of SEK 25,000.00 (following the reduction in accordance with item 17). The warrants shall entitle to subscription of new shares in the Company.
The following terms shall apply to the issuance:
The warrants shall be subscribed for by senior executives, employees and key persons in the Company and company group and the Subsidiary, with the right and obligation to, at one or several occasions, transfer the warrants to senior executives, employees and key persons, who are or will become employed by the Company or within the company group, at a price that is not less than the fair market value of the warrant according to the Black & Scholes valuation model and otherwise on the same terms as in the issuance.
The warrants shall be subscribed for as of 30 May 2020 up to and including 1 June 2020 on a separate subscription list, with a right for the board to extend the subscription period.
The subsidiary has the right to subscribe for warrants without consideration and the senior executives, employees and key persons in the Company and company group have the right to subscribe for the warrants at a price equal to the warrant's market value, which shall be calculated according to the Black & Scholes valuation model or other generally accepted valuation model made by an independent appraiser or audit firm.
Senior executives, employees and key persons within the Company and company group will within Incentive program 2020/2023, be offered to subscribe for warrants divided into three different categories as set out below:
A. The management of the company group comprising of up to two positions, where the managing director may acquire a maximum of 1,250,000 warrants and the CFO a maximum of 625,000 warrants, in total 1,875,000 warrants;
B. Employees of the company group comprising up to ten persons are offered to subscribe for a maximum of 90,000 warrants each and in total 500,000 warrants; and
C. A maximum of four other key persons within the company group are offered to subscribe for a maximum of 40,000 warrants each and in total 120,000 warrants.
The Subsidiary has the right to subscribe for the warrants which are not subscribed for by the categories set out above that later may be offered to current (who are not subscribing for their whole offered part) and future senior executives, employees and other key persons within the company group in accordance with the proposed allotment principles, in accordance with item 18 b).
Payment for subscribed warrants issued for payment shall be made in cash no later than on 10 June 2020, with a right for the board to extend the payment date.
Each warrant entitles to subscription of one (1) new share in the Company during the period from 1 April 2023 up to an including 1 June 2023 or the earlier date set forth in the terms for the warrants.
The subscription price shall be determined to an amount equal to 130 percent of the volume weighted average price at Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market during the period from 1 May 2020 up to and including 29 May 2020. The calculated subscription price shall be rounded to the nearest SEK 0.01, where SEK 0.005 shall be rounded upwards to SEK 0.01. The subscription price may not amount to less than the quota value of the company's shares.
A new share subscribed for by exercise of a warrant has a right to dividends as of the first record day for dividends following registration of the new share issue with the Companies Registration Office and after the share has been registered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB.
The purpose of the issuance and the deviation from the shareholders preferential rights is to implement the Incentive program 2020/2023. The purpose is to establish conditions to maintain and increase the motivation of senior executives, employees and other key persons within the Company and company group. The board of directors finds that it is in all shareholders interest that senior executives, employees and other key persons, which are considered important to the future development of the company group, have a long term interest in developing high value of the Company’s share. A long term ownership engagement is expected to stimulate an increased interest for the business and result in a whole as well as to increase the motivation for the participants and to create a common interest for the Company’s shareholders and the participant.
In connection with the subscription of the warrants by the participants, the Company shall through an agreement reserve the right to repurchase the warrants, if the participant's employment or assignment in the company group ceases or if the participant, in turn, wishes to transfer the warrants.
The complete terms and conditions for the warrants are available at the Company and will be published on the Company’s website no later than three weeks before the general meeting, including conditions regarding re-calculation, in certain cases, of the subscription price and the number of shares a warrant entitles to.
The board of directors or a person nominated by it, shall be authorized to make such minor adjustments as may be required in connection with registration of the resolution with the Swedish Companies Registration Office and, if applicable, Euroclear Sweden AB.
Item 18 b): Resolution regarding approval of transfer of warrants
The board of directors of the Company proposes that the annual general meeting resolves to approve that the Subsidiary may transfer the number of warrants in the Company of series 2020/2023, that are not subscribed for by the categories as set out in item 18 a), to future senior executives, employees and other key persons within the Company and company group, or in any other matter dispose of the warrants to fulfill the obligations under Incentive program 2020/2023.
The Company shall be entitled to retain warrants that later may be offered to current (who are not subscribing for their whole offered part) and future senior executives, employees and other key persons within the company group in accordance with the proposed acquisition and allotment principles.
Future senior executives, employees and key persons within the Company and company group will within Incentive program 2020/2023, be offered to acquire warrants in accordance with the principles for allotment set out in item 18 a).
The board of directors of the Company will not participate in Incentive program 2020/2023.
Notification to acquire warrants shall be made during the period from 2 June 2020 up to and including 31 March 2021. The warrants shall be transferred to the participants no later than 15 April 2021, provided that the transfers in accordance with 18 a) do not exceed the maximum number of warrants issued.
Transfer of the warrants shall be made at a price equal to the warrant's market value at the time of transfer, which shall be calculated according to the Black & Scholes valuation model or other generally accepted valuation model. Valuation of the options shall be performed by an independent appraiser or audit firm. In connection with the transfer of the warrants to the participants, the Company or the Subsidiary shall through an agreement reserve the right to repurchase the warrants, if the participant's employment or assignment in the company group ceases or if the participant.
The warrants shall be transferred to senior executives, employees and other key persons no later than 15 April 2021, where any not transferred warrants shall be cancelled.
A general meeting in the Subsidiary shall also approve the subsequent transfers of warrants as set out above.
Preparations of the board of directors' proposal for incentive program 2020/2023
Incentive program 2020/2023 has been prepared by members of the company group management and external advisors and in accordance with guidelines from the remuneration committee and the board of directors, and in consultation with major shareholders.'
Valuation
Subscription (except by the Subsidiary) and transfer of the warrants shall be made at a price equal to the warrant's fair market value, which means no social fees should arise for the company group in connection with the subscription and transfer of warrants. The warrants fair market value, according to a preliminary valuation based on the market value of the underlying share of SEK 1.05, SEK 0.22 per warrant, assuming an exercise price of SEK 1.24 per share. The Black & Scholes valuation model has been used for the valuation, assuming a risk free interest rate of -0.29 percent and a volatility of 40 percent, taking into account that no dividends and other distributions to shareholders are expected during the period of the program.
Costs and effects on key figures
As the warrants are subscribed for and transferred at fair market value, it is the Company´s assessment that there will be no social fees for the Company as a result of the subscriptions and transfers. The costs will therefore consist only of minimal costs for the implementation and administration of Incentive program 2020/2023.
Dilution
The total number of registered shares and votes at the time of this proposal amount to 51,694,043. The maximum dilution of Incentive program 2020/2023 is estimated to be a maximum of approximately 4.41 percent of the total number of shares and votes in the Company (calculated on the number of existing shares the Company), assuming full subscription and exercise of all warrants offered. The maximum dilution of Incentive program 2020/2023 plus the other outstanding incentive programs in the Company is estimated to be a maximum of approximately 6.55 percent, assuming full subscription and exercise of all warrants offered and outstanding.
Other outstanding share based incentive programs
The Company has previously established two incentive programs, series 2017/2020 and 2017/2021, respectively. For more information, see the Company's annual report for 2019.
Majority requirements
A resolution in accordance with item 18 requires support by shareholders holding not less than nine-tenths of both the shares voted and of the shares represented at the general meeting, due to the fact that the issue and transfer of warrants is made to persons who belong to one or more of the categories according to Ch. 16 of the Swedish Companies Act.
A resolution in accordance with item 15, 16 and 17 requires support by shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of both the shares voted and of the shares represented at the general meeting.
Number of shares and votes
The total number of shares in the Company as of the date hereof amounts to 51,694,043 shares, whit a corresponding number of votes. The Company holds no own shares.
Further information
Copies of accounts, audit report, complete proposals including the complete proposed new articles of association and other documents that shall be available in accordance with the Swedish Companies Act are available at the Company at Jungmansgatan 12, 211 19 in Malmö and at the Company's website www.acarix.com, at least three (3) weeks in advance of the annual general meeting and will be sent to shareholders who request it and provide their e-mail or postal address. A statement on the nomination committee's proposal regarding the board of directors is available on the Company's web site as from today and will be sent to shareholders who request this report and provide their e-mail or postal address.
The shareholders hereby notified regarding the right to, at the annual general meeting, request information from the board of directors and managing director according to Ch. 7 § 32 of the Swedish Companies Act.
Processing of personal data
For information on how personal data is processed in relation the meeting, see the Privacy notice available on Euroclear Sweden AB's website: https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammorengelska.pdf.
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Malmö in April 2020
Acarix AB
The board of directors