Note 6 Employees and employee benefits expense

Preparation and decision-making process for remuneration to the Board of Directors, CEO and Group management

The guidelines applied in the 2014/2015 financial year for remuneration to senior management correspond to those in the proposal for the coming year included in the administration report. The principle for remuneration to the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Group management is that remuneration should be competitive. The nomination committee proposes Board fees to the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Board fees are paid based on a resolution of the AGM.
No separate fees are paid for committee work. For remuneration to the CEO, members of Group management and other members of senior management in the Group, the Board of Directors has appointed a remuneration committee consisting of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board, with the CEO as the reporting member. A fixed salary, variable remuneration and conventional employment benefits are paid to the CEO, Group management and other members of senior management. In addition, pension benefits and incentive programmes apply, as described below. The remuneration committee adheres to the guidelines for remuneration to senior management approved by Addtech AB's AGM.

Personnel options for members of senior management

The Group's share-based incentive programmes make it possible for senior management to purchase shares in the Company. The employees have paid a market premium for call options on Class B shares. The option premium in the different programmes was calculated by Nordea Bank using the Black & Scholes valuation method. The calculations presupposed that the redemption price was set at 120 percent of the volume-weighted average of the price paid during the measurement period, volatility was based on statistical source material based on historical data, the risk-free rate was based on the government bond rate, maturity and redemption period according to the terms of the programmes, and dividend according to the estimates available based on the Group's dividend policy.

The programmes include a subsidy so that the employee receives the same sum as the option premium paid in the form of cash payment, i.e. salary. This subsidy shall be paid two years after the acquisition of the call options, provided that the option holder is still employed in the Group and still owns call options at that time. The subsidy, and related social security costs, is distributed as employee benefits expense over the vesting period. Addtech has no obligation to repurchase the options when an employee terminates employment. The holder can redeem the options irrespective of future employment at the Group. The calculation of the dilution effect below is based on the number of outstanding shares on subscription to the programmes.

For information regarding outstanding call option programmes, please refer to Administration Report/Repurchase of Treasury Shares and Incentive Programmes.

Board of Directors

The Board fees of SEK 1,630 thousand (1,630) set by the AGM are distributed, as per the AGM's decision, among those Board Directors who are not employed by the Parent Company.

Parent Company's CEO

Johan Sjö, Parent Company CEO, received a fixed salary of SEK 4,030 thousand (3,697) and SEK 1,406 thousand (987) in variable pay. Variable remuneration includes SEK 288 thousand regarding the year’s cost for a subsidy for participation in the Group’s incentive programme. Taxable benefits totalling SEK 222 thousand (188) are additional. From age 65, the CEO is covered by a defined contribution pension, the size of which depends on the outcome of pension insurance agreements. During 2014/2015, a total of SEK 1,251 thousand (1,150) in pension premiums, determined annually by the remuneration committee, were paid for the CEO. Variable salary is not pensionable income.

Variable remuneration based on Group earnings may be payable in an amount up to 30 percent of fixed salary. In addition, a further premium of 20 percent may be payable of the variable remuneration received used in acquisition of shares in Addtech AB.

The period of notice is of 12 months when the Company terminates the employment contract and six months when the CEO does so. In the case of termination on the initiative of the Company, the CEO is entitled to a severance payment equivalent to one year's salary in addition to salary during the period of notice. No severance package is payable if the employee terminates the employment contract.

Other members of Group management

Other members of Group management were paid a total of SEK 8,915 thousand (8,567) in fixed salaries and SEK 3,684 thousand (2,631) in variable remuneration. This variable remuneration was expensed during the 2014/2015 financial year and was paid during 2015/2016. Variable remuneration includes SEK 1,384 thousand (624) regarding the year’s cost for a subsidy for participation in the Group’s incentive programme. Taxable benefits totalling SEK 620 thousand (513) are additional. Persons in Group management are covered from age 65 by pension entitlements based on individual agreements. Existing pension schemes consist of defined contribution schemes, in which the pension amount depends on the outcome of pension insurance agreements, as well as defined benefit schemes. The cost of the defined benefit pensions and the defined contribution schemes is basically equivalent to the ITP plan (supplementary pension scheme for salaried employees).
During 2014/2015, a total of SEK 3,176 thousand (3,095) in pension premiums was paid for the group 'Other members of Group management'.

Variable remuneration based on Group earnings may be payable in an amount up to 30 percent of fixed salary. In addition, a further premium of 20 percent may be payable of the variable remuneration received used in acquisition of shares in Addtech AB.

The period of notice is 12 months when the Company terminates the employment contract and six months when the employee does so. Severance pay is payable upon termination of employment equivalent to no more than one year's salary. No severance package is payable if the employee terminates the employment contract.