Notice of Ericsson's Annual General Meeting
2024
The Annual General Meeting of
shareholders of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) will
be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 1 pm.
The Nomination Committee
proposes among other things:
·
Karl Åberg as new member of the Board (item 9 and
11)
·
Increase of the Board fees, the fees to the Chair
of the Board, and the fees for work on all of the Committees of the
Board (including Chair of the respective Committee) (item
10).
The
Board of Directors proposes among other things:
· A
dividend of SEK 2.70 per share, to be paid in two equal
installments (item 8.4).
· A
Long-Term Variable Compensation Program for the Executive Team and
Executives, with a one-year Group EBITA (operating income) target
for 2024, three-year total shareholder return targets, all targets
with a three-year vesting period (item 16).
· Transfer of treasury stock to employees and on an exchange,
directed share issue and authorization for the Board of Directors
to decide on an acquisition offer in relation to the Long-Term
Variable Compensation Program I 2023 (item 17).
· Transfer of treasury stock on an exchange in relation to the
Long-Term Variable Compensation Programs 2021, 2022 and II 2023
(item 18).
Notice of the Annual General
Meeting of shareholders 2024 of Telefonaktiebolaget LM
Ericsson
The shareholders of
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (reg. no 556016-0680) (the
"Company" or "Ericsson") are invited to participate
in the Annual General Meeting of shareholders ("AGM") to be held on Wednesday, April 3,
2024 at 1 p.m. CEST at the Company's premises: Open Box,
Grönlandsgatan 8, Kista/Stockholm. Registration for the AGM
starts at 12:00 p.m. CEST. Shareholders may also exercise their
voting rights by post before the AGM.
The AGM will be conducted in Swedish
and simultaneously translated into English.
Registration and notice of participation
A) Participation at the
meeting venue
Shareholders who wish to attend the
meeting venue in person or by proxy must:
·
be recorded as a shareholder in the presentation
of the share register prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB, as of
Friday, March 22, 2024; and
·
give notice of participation to the Company no
later than Tuesday, March 26, 2024
o by
telephone +46 (0)8 402 90 54 on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
CET;
o by
post to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, AGM, c/o Euroclear Sweden
AB, Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden;
o by
e-mail to GeneralMeetingService@euroclear.com;
or
o via
Ericsson's website www.ericsson.com.
When giving notice of participation,
please include name, date of birth or registration number, address,
telephone number and number of participating assistants, if
any.
Proxy
If the shareholder is represented by
proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the
shareholder must be issued for the representative. A power of
attorney issued by a legal entity must be accompanied by the
entity's certificate of registration (or a corresponding document
of authority). In order to facilitate registration at the AGM, the
power of attorney, certificate of registration and other documents
of authority should be sent to the Company at the address above, in
connection with the notice of participation. Forms of power of
attorney in Swedish and English are available on Ericsson's
website, www.ericsson.com.
B) Participation by postal
voting
Shareholders who wish to participate
in the AGM by postal voting must:
·
be recorded as a shareholder in the presentation
of the share register prepared by Euroclear Sweden AB, as of
Friday, March 22, 2024; and
·
give notice of participation by casting its postal
vote in accordance with the instructions below, so that the postal
voting form is received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than
Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
A special form must be used for
postal voting. The form is available on Ericsson's website
www.ericsson.com. The completed and signed postal voting form may be sent by
post to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, AGM, c/o Euroclear Sweden
AB, Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden, or by e-mail to
GeneralMeetingService@euroclear.com.
Shareholders may also submit their postal votes electronically by
verification with BankID via Ericsson's website,
www.ericsson.com. The completed form must be received by the Company/Euroclear
Sweden AB no later than Tuesday, March 26, 2024.
The shareholder may not provide
special instructions or conditions in the postal voting form. If
such instructions or conditions are included, the postal vote (in
its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are
included in the form for postal voting.
If the shareholder submits its
postal vote by proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed
by the shareholder must be attached to the postal voting form. If
the shareholder is a legal entity, the entity's certificate of
registration (or a corresponding document of authority) must be
attached to the form. Forms of power of attorney in Swedish and
English are available on Ericsson's website, www.ericsson.com.
A shareholder who has voted by post
may also attend the meeting venue, provided
that the notification has been made in accordance with the
instructions under the heading Registration and notice of participation - A)
Participating at the meeting venue above.
Shares registered in the name of a nominee
In order to be entitled to
participate in the AGM, a shareholder whose shares are registered
in the name of a nominee must, in addition to giving notice of
participation in the AGM, register its shares in its own name so
that the shareholder is listed in the presentation of the share
register of the Company as of Friday, March 22, 2024. Such
re-registration may be temporary (so-called voting rights
registration), and request for such voting rights registration
shall be made to the nominee, in accordance with the nominee's
procedures, at such a time in advance as required by the
nominee.
Voting rights registrations that
have been made by the nominee on or before Tuesday, March 26,
2024 will be considered in the presentation of the share
register.
Processing of personal data
For information regarding the
processing of personal data in connection with the AGM, please see
the integrity policy on Euroclear Sweden AB's website:
https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf
Proposed agenda
1. Election of the
Chair of the AGM
2. Preparation and
approval of the voting list
3. Approval of the
agenda of the AGM
4. Determination
whether the AGM has been properly convened
5. Election of two
persons approving the minutes of the
AGM
6. Presentation of
the annual report, the auditor's report, the consolidated accounts,
the auditor's report on the consolidated accounts, the remuneration
report and the auditor's report on whether the guidelines for
remuneration to group management have been complied with, as well
as the auditor's presentation of the audit work with respect to
2023
7. The President's
and CEO's speech. Questions from the shareholders to the Board of
Directors and the management
8. Resolution with
respect to
8.1. adoption of the income
statement and the balance sheet, the consolidated income statement
and the consolidated balance sheet;
8.2. adoption of the
remuneration report;
8.3. discharge of liability
for the members of the Board of Directors and the President for
2023; and
8.4. the appropriation of the
results in accordance with the approved balance sheet and
determination of the record dates for dividend
9. Determination
of the number of Board members and deputies of the Board of
Directors to be elected by the AGM
10. Determination of the fees
payable to members of the Board of Directors elected by the AGM and
members of the Committees of the Board of Directors elected by the
AGM
11. Election of Board members
and deputies of the Board of Directors
The Nomination Committee's proposal for Board
members:
11.1.
Jon Fredrik Baksaas (re-election)
11.2.
Jan Carlson (re-election)
11.3.
Carolina Dybeck Happe (re-election)
11.4.
Börje Ekholm (re-election)
11.5.
Eric A. Elzvik (re-election)
11.6.
Kristin S. Rinne (re-election)
11.7.
Jonas Synnergren (re-election)
11.8.
Jacob Wallenberg (re-election)
11.9.
Christy Wyatt (re-election)
11.10.
Karl Åberg (new election)
12. Election of the Chair of
the Board of Directors
13. Determination of the
number of auditors
14. Determination of the fees
payable to the auditors
15. Election of auditors
16. Long-Term Variable
Compensation Program 2024 (LTV 2024)
16.1. Resolution on implementation
of the LTV 2024
16.2. Resolution on transfer of
treasury stock to employees and on an exchange, directed share
issue and acquisition offer for the LTV 2024
16.3. Resolution on Equity Swap
Agreement with third party in relation to the LTV 2024
17. Resolution on transfer of
treasury stock to employees and on an exchange, directed share
issue and acquisition offer in relation to the earlier resolution
on the Long-Term Variable Compensation Program I 2023 (LTV
I 2023)
18. Transfer of treasury stock
in relation to the resolutions on the ongoing Long-Term Variable
Compensation Programs LTV 2021, LTV 2022 and LTV II 2023
18.1. Resolution on transfer of
treasury stock on an exchange to cover expenses
18.2. Resolution on transfer of
treasury stock on an exchange to cover costs for tax and social
security liabilities for the Participants
19. Closing of the
AGM
Item 1 Chair of the AGM
The Nomination Committee, appointed
in accordance with the Instruction for the Nomination Committee
resolved by the AGM 2012, is composed of the Chair of the
Nomination Committee Johan Forssell (Investor AB), Bengt Kjell (AB
Industrivärden) (replaced Karl Åberg on November 30, 2023), Anders
Oscarsson (AMF Tjänstepension and AMF Fonder), Christer Gardell
(Cevian Capital Partners Limited) and Jan Carlson (Chair of the
Board of Directors). The Nomination Committee proposes that Advokat
Eva Hägg be elected Chair of the AGM.
Item 2 Preparation and approval of the voting
list
The voting list proposed for
approval is the voting list drawn up by Euroclear Sweden AB on
behalf of the Company, based on the AGM's register of shareholders,
shareholders having given notice of participation and being present
at the meeting venue and postal votes received.
Item 8.4 Dividend and record dates
The Board of Directors proposes a
dividend to the shareholders of SEK 2.70 per share. The dividend is
proposed to be paid in two equal installments, SEK 1.35 per share
with the record date April 5, 2024, and SEK 1.35 per share with the
record date October 2, 2024. Assuming these dates will be the
record dates, Euroclear Sweden AB is expected to disburse SEK 1.35
per share on April 10, 2024, and SEK 1.35 per share on October 7,
2024.
Item 9 Number of Board members and deputies to be elected by
the AGM
According to the articles of
association, the Board of Directors shall consist of no less than
five and no more than twelve Board members, with no more than six
deputies. The Nomination Committee proposes that the number of
Board members elected by the AGM shall be ten and that no deputies
be elected.
Item 10 Fees payable to members of the Board of Directors
elected by the AGM and to members of the Committees of the Board of
Directors elected by the AGM
The Nomination Committee proposes
that fees to non-employee Board members elected by the AGM and
non-employee members of the Committees of the Board of Directors
elected by the AGM be paid as follows:
·
SEK 4,640,000 to the Chair of the Board of
Directors (previously SEK
4,500,000);
·
SEK 1,175,000 to each of the other Board members
(previously SEK
1,140,000);
·
SEK 540,000 to the Chair of the Audit and
Compliance Committee (previously SEK 495,000);
·
SEK 310,000 to each of the other members of the
Audit and Compliance Committee (previously SEK 285,000);
·
SEK 230,000 to the Chair of the Enterprise
Business and Technology Committee (previously
SEK 210,000);
·
SEK 200,000 to each of the other members of the
Enterprise Business and Technology Committee (previously
SEK
185,000);
·
SEK 220,000 to each Chair of the Finance and the
Remuneration Committee (previously
SEK 210,000); and
·
SEK 195,000 to each of the other members of the
Finance and the Remuneration Committee (previously
SEK
185,000).
The Nomination Committee considered
the Board fees with the objective of ensuring that they allow for
the recruitment and retention of high quality individuals while
also being appropriate in comparison to other technology companies
operating globally and with similar size and complexity. As such,
the Nomination Committee has concluded that an increase of the fees
to all members of the Board and Board Committees, including their
Chairs, in accordance with the above is reasonable, well-justified
and in the best interests of the Company. The proposal of the
Nomination Committee provides for an increase of the fees of
approximately 3.8% compared with the total fees to the
corresponding number of Board and Committee members for Board and
Committee work resolved by the Annual General Meeting 2023.
Fees
in the form of synthetic shares
Background
The Nomination Committee believes that
it is appropriate that Board members elected by the shareholders
hold shares in Ericsson, in order to strengthen the Board members'
and the shareholders' mutual interests in the Company. The
Nomination Committee recommends that Board members elected by the
shareholders, over a five year period, build a holding of shares or
synthetic shares in Ericsson equal to at least the value of the
annual Board fee (excluding fees for Committee work), and that such
holding be kept during the time the Board member remains Board
member in Ericsson.
To enable Board members to create an
economic interest in the Company and considering that it is in many
cases difficult for Board members to trade in the Company's share
due to applicable insider rules, the Nomination Committee proposes
that the Board members should, as previously, be offered the option
of receiving part of the Board fees in the form of synthetic
shares. A synthetic share constitutes a right to receive payment of
an amount which corresponds to the market value of a share of
series B in the Company on Nasdaq Stockholm at the time of
payment.
Proposal
The Nomination Committee therefore
proposes that the AGM 2024 resolve that part of the fees to the
Board member, in respect of their Board assignment (however, not in
respect of Committee work), may be paid in the form of synthetic
shares, on the following terms and conditions.
·
A nominated Board member shall be able to choose
to receive the fee in respect of his or her Board assignment,
according to the following four alternatives:
(i) 25 percent in
cash - 75 percent in synthetic shares
(ii) 50 percent in cash -
50 percent in synthetic shares
(iii)
75 percent in cash - 25 percent in synthetic shares
(iv)
100 percent in cash
·
The number of synthetic shares to be allocated
shall be valued at the average of the market price of shares of
series B in the Company on Nasdaq Stockholm during a period of five
trading days immediately following the publication of Ericsson's
interim report for the first quarter of 2024. The synthetic shares
are vested during the term of office, with 25 percent per
quarter of the year.
·
The synthetic shares give a right to, following
the publication of Ericsson's year-end financial statement in 2029,
receive payment of a cash amount per synthetic share corresponding
to the market price of shares of series B in the Company in close
connection with the time of payment.
·
An amount corresponding to dividend in respect of
shares of series B in the Company, resolved by the AGM during the
holding period, shall be disbursed at the same time as the cash
amount.
·
Should the Board member's assignment to the Board
of Directors come to an end no later than during the third calendar
year after the year in which the AGM resolved on allocation of the
synthetic shares, payment may take place the year after the
assignment came to an end.
·
The number of synthetic shares may be subject to
recalculation in the event of bonus issues, splits, rights issues
and similar measures, under the terms and conditions for the
synthetic shares.
The complete terms and conditions
for the synthetic shares are described in Exhibit 1
to the Nomination Committee's proposal.
The financial difference for the
Company, should all Board members receive part of their fees in the
form of synthetic shares compared with the fees being paid in cash
only, is assessed to be limited.
Item 11 Election of Board members
and deputies of the Board of Directors
Proposals
The Nomination Committee proposes
that the following persons be re-elected as members of the
Board:
11.1 Jon Fredrik
Baksaas;
11.2 Jan
Carlson;
11.3 Carolina
Dybeck Happe;
11.4 Börje
Ekholm;
11.5 Eric A.
Elzvik;
11.6 Kristin S.
Rinne;
11.7
Jonas Synnergren;
11.8
Jacob Wallenberg; and
11.9
Christy Wyatt.
11.10 The Nomination Committee
proposes that Karl Åberg be elected as new Board member of
Ericsson.
Considerations
The Nomination Committee primarily
searches for potential Board member candidates for the upcoming
mandate period, but also considers future competence needs. It is a
long journey to identify the right candidates and long-term
planning is essential. In assessing the appropriate composition of
the Board of Directors, the Nomination Committee considers, among
other things, experience and competence needed on the Board and its
Committees, and the value of diversity in age, gender and
cultural/geographic background as well as the need for renewal. The
Nomination Committee believes that diversity on the Board will
support Ericsson's sustainable development and therefore
continually focuses on identifying Board member candidates with
different backgrounds. While acknowledging increased expectations
on transparency relating to diversity on the Board, applicable
privacy regulations prevent Ericsson and the Nomination Committee
from processing certain sensitive personal data about its Board
members, such as information relating to demographic background.
The Nomination Committee has applied the Swedish Corporate
Governance Code, Section 4.1, as its diversity policy. Focusing on
improving the gender balance of the Board over time, the Nomination
Committee particularly works to identify women candidates matching
the current and future needs of the Board. The Nomination Committee
also assesses the appropriateness of the number of Board members
and whether the Board members can devote the necessary time
required to fulfill their tasks as Board members in
Ericsson.
In its appraisal of qualifications
and performance of the individual Board members, the Nomination
Committee takes into account the competence and experience of each
individual member along with the individual member's contribution
to the Board work as a whole and to the Committee work. The
Committee has familiarized itself with the results of the Board
work evaluation that was led by the Chair of the Board of
Directors. The Nomination Committee's objective is to propose and
support the election of a Board that is comprised of individuals of
the highest competency and integrity, while also holistically
comprising a strong mix of needed skills and experience to
effectively oversee and lead Ericsson.
The Nomination Committee is of the
opinion that the current Board of Directors and Board work is well
functioning. Further, it is the Nomination Committee's view that
the Board fulfills expectations in terms of composition and that
the Board of Directors as well as the individual Board members
fulfill expectations in terms of expertise. Competencies and
experiences represented on the Board include broad international
industry experience, experience from the telecom, IT and ICT
sectors, technological and technical competencies and experiences
(e.g. related to software and digitalization), financial expertise
and experience from private equity, M&A and new business. The
Nomination Committee further believes that competencies and
experiences within the ESG areas (areas within environmental,
social and governance) considered most relevant for Ericsson and
the sector in which the Company operates are well represented on
the Board, including, for example, related to the technologies the
Company develops and delivers as well as relating to ethics and
compliance.
Helena Stjernholm has informed the
Nomination Committee that she will not stand for re-election at the
AGM 2024. The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of current
Board members Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Jan Carlson, Carolina Dybeck
Happe, Börje Ekholm, Eric A. Elzvik, Kristin S. Rinne, Jonas
Synnergren, Jacob Wallenberg and Christy Wyatt, and new election of
Karl Åberg as member of the Board.
Karl Åberg has long-term experience
in investments and asset management. He is currently the Deputy
Chief Executive Officer, head of the investment organization and
the finance function at AB Industrivärden, and a member of the
Board in Alleima and SCA. Previously, Karl Åberg was partner at
Zeres Capital, partner at CapMan, and he has held various roles at
Handelsbanken Capital Markets.
It is the Nomination Committee's
assessment that Karl Åberg adds valuable expertise and experience
to the Board, and that Karl Åberg's extensive governance and
financial knowledge will be of additional value to Ericsson and
will further strengthen the Board.
The Nomination Committee believes
that the proposed Board composition provides the Company with the
right conditions for realizing its long-term potential. Out of the
proposed Board members to be elected by the AGM (excluding the
President and CEO) 33% are women. Gender balance continues to be a
key priority for the Nomination Committee, and the Committee will
continue to work to improve the gender balance on the Board of
Directors over time.
Information regarding proposed Board members
Information regarding the proposed Board members
is presented in Exhibit
2 to the Nomination Committee's proposal.
Independence of Board members
The Nomination Committee has made
the following assessments in terms of applicable Swedish
independence requirements and US NASDAQ independence
requirements:
(i)
The Nomination Committee considers that the following Board members
are independent of the Company and its senior
management:
a. Jon Fredrik
Baksaas
b. Jan
Carlson
c. Carolina
Dybeck Happe
d. Eric A.
Elzvik
e. Kristin S.
Rinne
f.
Jonas Synnergren
g. Jacob
Wallenberg
h. Christy
Wyatt
i. Karl
Åberg
(ii)
From among the Board members reported in (i) above, the Nomination
Committee considers that the following are independent of the
Company's major shareholders:
a. Jon Fredrik
Baksaas
b. Jan
Carlson
c. Carolina
Dybeck Happe
d. Eric A.
Elzvik
e. Kristin S.
Rinne
f. Jonas
Synnergren
g. Christy
Wyatt
Moreover, the Nomination Committee
considers that the following Board members are independent in
respect of all applicable independence requirements:
a. Jon Fredrik
Baksaas
b. Jan
Carlson
c. Carolina
Dybeck Happe
d. Eric A.
Elzvik
e. Kristin S.
Rinne
f. Jonas
Synnergren
g. Christy
Wyatt
The Nomination Committee concludes
that the proposed composition of the Board of Directors meets the
independence requirements applicable to Ericsson.
Item 12 Election of the Chair of the Board of
Directors
The Nomination Committee proposes
that Jan Carlson be re-elected Chair of the Board of
Directors.
Item 13 Number of auditors
According to the articles of
association, the Company shall have no less than one and no more
than three registered public accounting firms as auditor. The
Nomination Committee proposes that the Company should have one
registered public accounting firm as auditor.
Item 14 Fees payable to the auditor
The Nomination Committee proposes,
as in previous years, that the auditor fees be paid against
approved account.
Item 15 Election of auditor
In accordance with the recommendation
by the Audit and Compliance Committee, the Nomination Committee
proposes that Deloitte AB be appointed auditor for the period from
the end of the AGM 2024 until the end of the AGM 2025
(re-election).
Item 16 Implementation of LTV 2024 including
transfer of treasury stock, directed share issue and authorization
for the Board of Directors to decide on an acquisition offer of
shares of series C
Background
The Remuneration Committee and the
Board of Directors evaluate the long-term variable compensation
("LTV") programs to the
Executive Team ("ET") and
for employees classified as executives ("Executives")
on an ongoing basis. The evaluation considers the
LTV programs for effectiveness in serving their purpose to support
achieving the Ericsson Group's strategic business objectives and
sustainable long-term interests as well as their facility to
increase the long-term focus of the members of the ET and the
Executives and align their interests with the long-term
expectations and the interests of the shareholders.
Upon evaluation of the currently
ongoing LTV programs for the ET (LTV 2021, LTV 2022 and LTV I 2023)
and the ongoing LTV program for the Executives (LTV II 2023), the
Remuneration Committee and the Board of Directors concluded that
these ongoing LTV programs, which are all in essence the same in
terms of plan structure, performance criteria and performance
periods, enabled the Company to achieve its long-term objectives.
The LTV I 2023 and LTV II 2023 were put forward to the AGM 2023 as
two separate programs: LTV I 2023 for the ET and LTV II 2023 for
the Executives. For administrative reasons, the Board of Directors
has decided to put forward the Long-Term Variable Compensation
Program 2024 ("LTV 2024")
as one program applicable to both the ET and the Executives. The
ongoing LTV programs have further enabled the Company
to attract, retain and motivate senior leaders and
offer them globally competitive remuneration, and remain committed to create increased shareholder value.
In order to further strengthen Ericsson's, as well as the ET's and
Executives', commitment to long-term sustainability and responsible
business, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation from the
Remuneration Committee, has concluded to propose to the AGM 2024 an
LTV 2024 for the ET and the Executives.
LTV 2024 is an integral part of the
Company's remuneration strategy and the Board of Directors in
particular expects the members of the ET and the Executives to
build significant equity holdings to align the interests and
expectations of the LTV program participants with those of
shareholders.
Proposals
16.1
Implementation of the LTV 2024
The Board of Directors proposes that
the AGM 2024 resolve on the LTV 2024 for the ET and the Executives
comprising a maximum of 10.4 million shares of series B in the
Company as set out below.
Objectives of the LTV program
The LTV program is designed to
provide long-term incentives for the ET and the Executives
("Participants"), thereby
creating long-term value for the shareholders. The aim is to
attract, retain and motivate senior leaders in a competitive market
through performance-based share related incentives, to encourage
the build-up of significant equity holdings to align the interests
of the Participants with those of shareholders and to further
strengthen the ET's and the Executives' commitment to long-term
sustainability and responsible business.
The
LTV Program in brief
The LTV Program is proposed to
include all members (current and future) of the ET and the
Executives, currently comprising 215 employees, including the
President and CEO. Awards under LTV 2024 ("Performance Share Awards") will be
granted free of charge entitling the Participant, provided that,
among other things, certain performance criteria as set out below
are met, to receive a number of shares at no consideration,
following expiration of a three-year vesting period ("Vesting Period"). Allotment of shares
pursuant to Performance Share Awards will be subject to the
achievement of performance criteria, as set out below, and will
generally require that the Participant retains his or her
employment over the Vesting Period. All major decisions relating to
LTV 2024 will be taken by the Remuneration Committee, with approval
by the full Board of Directors as required.
Granting of Performance Share Awards
Granting of Performance Share Awards
to the Participants will generally take place as soon as
practicably possible following the AGM 2024. For 2024, the value of
the underlying shares in respect of the Performance Share Awards
made to the President and CEO will not exceed 150% of the Annual
Base Salary at the time of grant, and for other Participants, the
value will not exceed 100% of the Participants' respective Annual
Base Salary at the time of grant, unless the Participant is
employed in the USA where the value will not exceed 200% of
Participants' Annual Base Salary.
The share price used to calculate
the number of shares to which the Performance Share Awards entitle
will be the volume-weighted average of the market price of shares
of series B in Ericsson on Nasdaq Stockholm during the five trading
days immediately following the publication of the Company's interim
report for the fourth quarter 2023.
Performance criteria
The vesting of the Performance Share
Awards will be subject to the satisfaction of a performance
criterion related to 2024 Group EBITA (earnings (loss) before
interest, taxes, amortizations and write-downs of acquired
intangible assets) (operating income), along with performance
criteria related to three-year total shareholder return
("TSR"[1]) and Group Environmental Social Governance
("ESG"), which will
determine what portion (if any) of the Performance Share Awards
will vest at the end of the Vesting Period.
The 2024 Group EBITA (operating
income) performance criterion relates to 45% of the Performance
Share Awards and the maximum vesting level is 200%.
The performance criteria based on
TSR are absolute TSR development and relative TSR development for
the Ericsson series B share over the period January 1, 2024 -
December 31, 2026 ("Performance
Period"[2]). The absolute and relative TSR
performance criteria relate to 25% and 20%, respectively, of the
Performance Share Awards and the maximum vesting level for both TSR
performance criteria is 200%.
The Group ESG performance criterion
measured over the Performance Period will relate to 10% of the
Performance Share Awards, and the maximum vesting level is
200%.
The following conditions will apply
to the performance criteria:
·
2024 Group EBITA (operating income) performance
criterion
45% of the Performance Share Awards
granted to a Participant will be subject to fulfilment of a Group
EBITA (operating income) performance criterion for the 2024
financial year. The 2024 Group EBITA (operating income) performance
criterion established by the Board of Directors will stipulate a
minimum level and a maximum level. The 2024 Group EBITA (operating
income) target is not disclosed due to stock market and competition
considerations. The vesting level of Performance Share Awards
related to 2024 Group EBITA (operating income) performance
criterion will be determined by the Board of Directors when the
audited result for the financial year 2024 is available.
If the maximum performance level is
reached or exceeded, the vesting will amount to (and will not
exceed) the maximum level of 200% of the Performance Share Awards
related to the 2024 Group EBITA (operating income) performance
criterion. If performance is below the maximum level but exceeds
the minimum level, a linear pro-rata vesting of shares will occur.
No vesting will occur if performance amounts to or is below the
minimum level. The allotment of the shares will not occur until the
end of the Vesting Period in 2027.
·
TSR performance criteria
Absolute TSR performance
criterion
25% of the Performance Share Awards
granted to a Participant will be subject to fulfillment of an
absolute TSR performance criterion over the Performance Period. If
the absolute TSR development reaches or exceeds 14% per annum
compounded, the maximum vesting of 200% of the Performance Share
Awards related to absolute TSR performance criterion will occur. If
the absolute TSR development is below or reaches only 6% per annum
compounded, no vesting will occur in respect of the Performance
Share Awards related to the absolute TSR performance criterion. A
linear pro-rata vesting from 0% to 200% of the Performance Share
Awards related to absolute TSR performance criterion will apply if
the Company's absolute TSR performance is between 6% and 14% per
annum compounded.
Relative TSR performance criterion
20% of the Performance Share Awards granted to a
Participant will be subject to fulfilment of a relative TSR
performance criterion over the Performance Period, compared to a
peer group consisting of eleven peer companies ("Peer Group"[3]).
The vesting of the relative TSR related Performance Share Awards
varies depending on the Company's TSR performance ranking versus
the other companies in the Peer Group. If the Company's relative
TSR performance is below the TSR development of the company ranked
6th in the Peer Group, no vesting will occur in respect
of the Performance Share Awards related to relative TSR performance
criterion. Vesting of the Performance Share Awards related to
relative TSR performance criterion will occur at the following
percentage levels, based on which ranking position in the Peer
Group the Company's TSR performance corresponds to:
Position within the Peer
Group
Associated vesting percentage level
6 or lower
0%
5
50%
4
100%
3
150%
2 or higher
200%
If the Company's TSR performance is
between two of the ranked companies, a linear pro-rata vesting will
apply between the vesting percentage levels for the relevant ranked
positions.
·
Group ESG performance criterion
10% of the Performance Share Awards
granted to a Participant will be subject to fulfilment of a Group
ESG performance criterion comprised of two equally weighted
subcomponents covering environmental and social aspects of ESG
measured over the Performance Period.
Reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions
5% of the Performance Share Awards
granted to a Participant will be subject to fulfillment of a
subcomponent of reducing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions[4] from service fleet vehicles, energy consumption
at facilities and from business travel[5].
Subcomponent target- and
corresponding achievement levels are defined in the schedule below
and broken down for each of the three years[6] covered by the Performance Period. Vesting is
determined at the end of each year, with each year corresponding to
one third (1/3) of the total subcomponent Performance Share Awards.
A linear pro-rata vesting of one third (1/3) of 0% to 200% of the
Performance Share Awards related to reducing emissions in the
subcomponent will apply if reported emissions in scope are between
the minimum and maximum vesting levels for each of the years
covered by the Performance Period. An illustrative example is
included below.
These target levels are aligned to
the emissions reduction trajectory set for achieving Net Zero
emissions from the Ericsson Group's own activities by 2030.
Achievement GHG
emissions target levels for emission in scope by fiscal year
(ktonne CO2e)
(%)
2024
2025
2026
0
138
133
126
100
122
117
110
200
114
110
102
Illustrative example: first, if
reported emissions in scope for the year 2024 are 114 ktonne, the
maximum vesting of one third of 200% (1/3 x 200% = 66.67%) of the
Performance Share Awards related to this subcomponent and year will
occur. Next, if reported emissions for the year 2025 are 117
ktonne, vesting of one third of 100% (1/3 x 100% = 33.33%) of the
Performance Share Awards related to this subcomponent and fiscal
year will occur. Last, if reported emissions in scope for the year
2026 are 126 ktonne, no vesting (1/3 x 0% = 0.00%) of the
Performance Share Awards related to this subcomponent will occur.
Consequently, in this example total vesting of the Performance
Share Award related to this subcomponent over the Performance
Period will be (66.67% + 33.33% + 0.00%) 100%.
Increasing the
representation of women leaders in Ericsson
5% of the Performance Share Awards
granted to a Participant will be subject to fulfilment of a
subcomponent of increasing the representation of women leaders
(i.e., women holding roles with people management responsibility)
in the Ericsson Group to 26% by the end of the Performance Period,
which is in line with achieving the target trajectory for
increasing the representation of women leaders in the Ericsson
Group to 30% by 2030.
If the representation of women
leaders in the Ericsson Group amounts to 27% or above by the end of
the Performance Period, the maximum vesting of 200% of the
Performance Share Awards related to this subcomponent will occur.
If the representation of women leaders in the Ericsson Group
amounts to 25% or below by the end of the Performance Period, no
vesting will occur in respect of the Performance Share Awards
related to this subcomponent. A linear pro-rata vesting from 0% to
200% of the Performance Share Awards related to increasing the
representation of women leaders in the Ericsson Group subcomponent
will apply if the representation of women leaders in the Ericsson
Group exceeds 25% but is below 27% by the end of the Performance
Period.
The vesting level of Performance
Share Awards related to the Group ESG performance criterion will be
determined by the Board of Directors when the audited results for
both subcomponents at the end of the financial year 2026 are
available.
Information about the outcome of the
performance criteria will be provided no later than in the annual
report for the financial year 2026.
Allotment of shares
Provided that the performance
criteria above have been met and that the Participant has retained
his or her employment (unless special circumstances are at hand)
during the Vesting Period, allotment of vested shares will take
place as soon as practicably possible following the expiration of
the Vesting Period.
When determining the final vesting
level of Performance Share Awards, the Board of Directors shall
examine whether the vesting level is reasonable considering the
Company's financial results and position, conditions on the stock
market and other circumstances, such as environmental, social,
ethics and compliance factors, and if not, as determined by the
Board of Directors, reduce the vesting level to the lower level
deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
In the event delivery of shares to
Participants cannot take place under applicable law or at a
reasonable cost and employing reasonable administrative measures,
the Board of Directors will be entitled to decide that Participants
may, instead, be offered a cash settlement.
The Company has the right to, before
delivering vested shares to the Participants, retain and sell the
number of shares required to cover the cost for withholding and
paying tax and social security liabilities on behalf of the
Participants in relation to the Performance Share Awards for
remittance to revenue authorities. In such an event, net amount of
vested shares will thus be delivered to the Participants after the
vested Performance Share Awards are reduced by the number of shares
retained by the Company for such purposes.
Financing
The Board of Directors has
considered different financing methods for transfer of shares under
the LTV 2024 such as transfer of treasury stock and an equity swap
agreement with a third party. The Board of Directors considers that
a directed issue of shares of series C in the Company, followed by
buy-back and transfer of treasury stock is the most cost efficient
and flexible method to transfer shares under LTV 2024.
The Company's current holding of
treasury stock is not sufficient for the implementation of the
LTV 2024. Therefore, the Board of Directors proposes a
directed share issue and buy back of shares as further set out
below under item 16.2. Under the proposed transactions, shares are
issued at the share's quota value and repurchased as soon as the
shares have been subscribed for and registered. The purchase price
paid by the Company to the subscriber equals the subscription
price. As compensation to the subscriber for its assistance in the
issuance and buy-back of shares under items 16 and 17, the
Company will pay to the subscriber an amount totaling SEK
100,000.
The procedure of issuance and
buy-back of shares for the Company's LTV programs has previously
been decided by the AGMs in 2001, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2016,
2017 and 2023.
Since the costs for the Company in
connection with an equity swap agreement will be significantly
higher than the costs in connection with transfer of treasury
stock, the main alternative is that the financial exposure is
secured by transfer of treasury stock and that an equity swap
agreement with a third party is an alternative in the event that
the required majority for approval is not reached.
Costs
The total effect on the income
statement of the LTV 2024, including financing costs and social
security fees, is estimated to range between SEK 260 million and
SEK 475 million distributed over the years 2024-2027. The costs
will depend on the future development of the price of Ericsson
series B share.
The administration cost for hedging
the financial exposure of the LTV 2024 by way of an equity swap
agreement is currently estimated to approximately SEK 70 million,
compared to the cost of approximately SEK 100,000 for using newly
issued and acquired shares in treasury (SEK 100,000 is the total
cost paid to the subscriber in relation to items 16 and 17,
regardless of the number of share issuances).
Dilution
The Company has approximately 3.3
billion registered shares. As per February 27, 2024, the Company
held approximately 12.5 million shares in treasury. The number of
shares that may be required for ongoing LTV programs (2021, 2022,
and II 2023) as per February 27, 2024, is estimated to
approximately 10 million shares, corresponding to approximately
0.30 percent of the number of registered shares of the Company. In
order to implement the LTV 2024, a total of up to 10.4 million
shares are required, which corresponds to approximately 0.31
percent of the total number of registered shares of the Company,
hence an issue of new shares of series C, followed by a buy-back,
is proposed for the implementation of LTV 2024. The effect on
important key figures is only marginal.
16.2 Transfer of treasury stock to employees and on an
exchange, directed share issue and acquisition offer for the LTV
2024
a)
Transfer of
treasury stock under the LTV 2024
To secure the delivery of Performance
Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of the LTV 2024,
the Board of Directors proposes that the AGM resolve that the
Company shall have the right to transfer no more than 8.6 million
shares of series B in the Company less any shares retained by the
Company as per item 16.2 c) on the following terms and
conditions:
·
The right to acquire shares shall be granted to
such persons within the Ericsson Group covered by the terms and
conditions pursuant to the LTV 2024. Furthermore, subsidiaries
within the Ericsson Group shall have the right to acquire shares,
free of consideration, and such subsidiaries shall be obligated to
immediately transfer, free of consideration, shares to employees
covered by the terms and conditions of the LTV 2024.
·
The employee shall have the right to receive
shares during the period when the employee is entitled to receive
shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of the LTV
2024.
·
Employees covered by the terms and conditions of
the LTV 2024 shall receive shares of series B in the Company free
of consideration.
·
The number of shares of series B in the Company
that may be transferred under the LTV 2024 may be subject to
recalculation in the event of bonus issues, splits, rights issues
and/or similar measures, under the terms and conditions of the LTV
2024.
b)
Transfer of treasury stock on an exchange to cover
expenses for the LTV
2024
The Company may, prior to the AGM in
2025, transfer no more than 1.8 million shares of series B in the
Company, in order to cover certain expenses, mainly social security
payments. Transfer of the shares shall be effected on Nasdaq
Stockholm at a price within the, at each time, prevailing price
interval for the share as disseminated by Nasdaq
Stockholm.
c)
Authorization to decide on transfer of treasury stock on an
exchange to cover costs for tax and social security liabilities for
the Participants in the LTV 2024
Authorization for the Board of
Directors to decide to, in conjunction with the delivery of vested
shares under LTV 2024, prior to the AGM in 2025, retain and sell no
more than 70% of the vested shares of series B in the Company in
order to cover the costs for withholding and paying tax and social
security liabilities on behalf of the Participants in relation to
the Performance Share Awards for remittance to revenue authorities.
Transfer of the shares shall be effected on Nasdaq Stockholm at a
price within the, at each time, prevailing price interval for the
share as disseminated by Nasdaq Stockholm. These shares form a part
of the final number of vested shares to the employees under LTV
2024 and do not incur additional costs to the LTV 2024 for the
Company.
d)
Directed issue
of shares of series C in the Company for the LTV
2024
Increase of the share capital in the
Company by SEK 52,000,000.01 through an issue of 10.4 million
shares of series C in the Company, each share with a quota value of
approximately SEK 5. The terms and conditions of the share issue
are the following:
·
The new shares shall - with deviation from the
shareholders' preferential rights - be subscribed for only by
Investor AB or its subsidiaries.
·
The new shares shall be subscribed for during the
period as from April 25, 2024, up to and including May 2, 2024.
Over-subscription may not occur.
·
The amount that shall be paid for each new share
shall be the quota value (approximately SEK 5).
·
Payment for the subscribed shares shall be made at
the time of subscription.
·
The Board of Directors shall be entitled to extend
the period for subscription and payment.
·
The new shares shall not entitle the holders to
dividend payment.
·
It is noted that the new shares are subject to
restrictions pursuant to Chapter 4, Section 6 (conversion clause)
and Chapter 20, Section 31 (redemption clause) of the Swedish
Companies Act.
The Board of Directors proposes that
the President and CEO shall be authorized to make the minor
adjustments to the above resolutions that may prove to be necessary
in connection with the registration with the Swedish Companies
Registration Office.
Reasons for deviation from the shareholders' preferential
rights and principles on which the subscription price is
based
The Board of Directors considers
that a directed issue of shares of series C, followed by buy-back
and transfer of treasury stock is the most cost efficient and
flexible method to transfer shares under the LTV 2024. Shares are
issued at the share's quota value and repurchased as soon as the
shares have been subscribed for and registered. The purchase price
paid by the Company to the subscriber equals the subscription
price.
e) Authorization for the Board of Directors
to decide on a directed acquisition offer for the
LTV 2024
Authorization for the Board of
Directors to decide that 10.4 million shares of series C in the
Company be acquired according to the following:
·
Acquisition may occur by an offer to acquire
shares directed to all holders of shares of series C in
Ericsson.
·
The authorization may be exercised until the AGM
in 2025.
·
The acquisition shall be made at a price
corresponding to the quota value of the share (approximately SEK 5
per share).
·
Payment for acquired shares shall be made in
cash.
16.3
Equity Swap Agreement with third party in relation to the LTV
2024
In the event that the required
majority for approval is not reached under item 16.2 above, the
financial exposure of the LTV 2024 shall be hedged by the Company
entering into an equity swap agreement with a third party, under
which the third party may, in its own name, acquire and transfer
shares of series B in the Company to employees covered by the LTV
2024.
Majority rules
The resolution of the AGM on
implementation of the LTV 2024 according to item 16.1 requires that
more than half of the votes cast at the AGM approve the proposal.
The resolution of the AGM on transfer of treasury stock to
employees and on an exchange, directed share issue and acquisition
offer for the LTV 2024 according to item 16.2 requires that
shareholders representing at least nine-tenths of the votes cast as
well as the shares represented at the AGM approve the proposal. The
resolution of the AGM on an Equity Swap Agreement with third party
according to item 16.3 requires that more than half of the votes
cast at the AGM approve the proposal.
Description of other ongoing long-term variable compensation
programs
In addition to the LTV programs
2021, 2022 and I 2023, which are directed at the President and CEO
and the members of the ET, and LTV II 2023, which is directed at
the Executives, the Company has other ongoing long-term variable
compensation programs directed at other employees within the Group.
These programs are an integral part of the Company's remuneration
strategy as well as a part of the Company's talent management
strategy. The Company has decided to implement one other
share-related compensation program for 2024: the Key Contribution
Plan 2024 ("KC Plan 2024").
Ericsson has also implemented an all-employee share purchase plan
in 2021 (ESPP).
The KC Plan 2024
The KC Plan 2024 is designed to
recognize the best talent, individual performance, potential and
critical skills as well as encourage the retention of key
employees. Approximately 10% to 14% of Ericsson employees will be
eligible for the KC Plan 2024. The award levels are assigned to
employees mainly within in a range of 10 - 50% of Annual Base
Salary to bring greater alignment with the local market
conditions.
Participants are assigned a
potential award, which is converted into a number of synthetic
shares based on the same market price of the shares of series B in
Ericsson used for the LTV 2024 at the time of grant. The plan has a
three-year total service period ("Service Period") during which the
awards are paid on an annual rolling bases following the below
payment schedule:
·
25% of the award at the end of the first
year,
·
25% of the award at the end of the second year,
and
·
50% of the award at the end of the full Service
Period.
The value of each synthetic share is
driven by the absolute share price performance of shares of series
B in Ericsson shares during the Service Period. At the date of
vesting for each instalment of the above-described annual rolling
payment schedule, the synthetic shares are converted into a cash
amount, based on the market price of the Ericsson series B share on
Nasdaq Stockholm at the respective vesting date, and this final
amount is paid to the Participant in cash gross before tax. It is
estimated that approximately 30 million synthetic shares will be
awarded under the KC Plan 2024. The maximum total cost effect of
the KC Plan 2024 on the income statement, including social security
fees, is estimated to be approximately SEK 5 billion distributed
over the years 2024-2027. The costs will depend on the future
development of the market price of the Ericsson series B
share.
The Ericsson share purchase plan ("ESPP")
Ericsson is committed to helping
employees thrive and to recognizing them for the impact they create
by providing opportunities to enrich their working experience. In
order to encourage employees to play an active role in achieving
the Company's purpose, further create sense of belonging and
ownership, the ESPP was launched in November 2021 (in 58 countries
to approximately 58,900 eligible employees), with continued
deployment in 2022 to 20 additional countries and 30,100 eligible
employees. In total the ESPP is now live in 79 countries for 88,000
eligible employees of which 15,099 were actually participating at
year-end 2023.
The ESPP is an all-employee share
purchase plan that enables employees to purchase shares of series B
in Ericsson up to a maximum value of SEK 55,000 per year via
monthly payroll deduction. In recognition of the employees'
commitment, Ericsson supports the participants with a net cash
payment up to 15% of their elected contribution amounts and covers
the tax on the Company supported amount, which is payable via
payroll. Under the ESPP participants will acquire shares of series
B in Ericsson at market price on Nasdaq Stockholm and the ESPP does
therefore not have any dilutive effect.
The Company's ongoing variable
compensation programs are described in further detail in the Annual
Report 2023 in the Notes to the consolidated financial statements,
Note G3: Share-based compensation and on the Company's
website.
Item 17 Resolution on transfer of treasury
stock to employees and on an exchange, directed share issue and
acquisition offer in relation to the earlier resolution on the LTV
I 2023
The AGM in 2023 resolved to
implement Long-Term Variable Compensation Program I 2023
("LTV I 2023")
and to secure the Company's undertakings under LTV I 2023 through
an equity swap agreement with a third party. The Board of Directors
still considers that transfer of treasury stock, a proposal that
was not approved by the AGM 2023, is the most cost efficient and
flexible method to secure the undertakings under LTV I
2023.
The Company has approximately 3.3
billion registered shares. For LTV I 2023, a total of up to
4.1 million shares are required, which corresponds to
approximately 0.12 percent of the total number of registered
shares, hence an issue of new shares of series C, followed by a
buy-back, is proposed for LTV I 2023. The effect on important key
figures is only marginal.
a) Transfer of treasury stock under
the LTV I 2023
To secure the delivery of
Performance Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the LTV I 2023, the Board of Directors proposes that the AGM
resolve that the Company shall have the right to transfer no more
than 3.4 million shares of series B in the Company less any shares
retained by the Company as per item 17 c) on the following terms
and conditions:
·
The right to acquire shares shall be granted to
such persons within the Ericsson Group covered by the terms and
conditions pursuant to the LTV I 2023. Furthermore, subsidiaries
within the Ericsson Group shall have the right to acquire shares,
free of consideration, and such subsidiaries shall be obligated to
immediately transfer, free of consideration, shares to employees
covered by the terms and conditions of the LTV I 2023.
·
The employee shall have the right to receive
shares during the period when the employee is entitled to receive
shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of the LTV I
2023.
·
Employees covered by the terms and conditions of
the LTV I 2023 shall receive shares of series B in the Company free
of consideration.
·
The number of shares of series B in the Company
that may be transferred under the LTV I 2023 may be subject to
recalculation in the event of bonus issues, splits, rights issues
and/or similar measures, under the terms and conditions of the LTV
I 2023.
b) Transfer of treasury stock on an
exchange to cover expenses for the LTV I 2023
The Company may, prior to the AGM in
2025, transfer no more than 700,000 shares of series B in the
Company, in order to cover certain expenses, mainly social security
payments. Transfer of the shares shall be effected on Nasdaq
Stockholm at a price within the, at each time, prevailing price
interval for the share as disseminated by Nasdaq
Stockholm.
c) Authorization to decide on transfer of
treasury stock on an exchange to cover costs for tax and social
security liabilities for the Participants in the LTV I
2023
Authorization for the Board of
Directors to decide to, in conjunction with the delivery of vested
shares under LTV I 2023, prior to the AGM in 2025, retain and sell
no more than 60% of the vested shares of series B in the Company in
order to cover the costs for withholding and paying tax and social
security liabilities on behalf of the Participants in relation to
the Performance Share Awards for remittance to revenue authorities.
Transfer of the shares shall be effected on Nasdaq Stockholm at a
price within the, at each time, prevailing price interval for the
share as disseminated by Nasdaq Stockholm. These shares form a part
of the final number of vested shares to the employees under LTV I
2023 and do not incur additional costs to the LTV I 2023 for the
Company.
d)
Directed issue of shares of series C in the Company for the LTV I
2023
Increase of the share capital in the
Company by SEK 20,500,000.01 through an issue of 4.1 million shares
of series C in the Company, each share with a quota value of
approximately SEK 5. The terms and conditions of the share issue
are the following:
·
The new shares shall - with deviation from the
shareholders' preferential rights - be subscribed for only by
Investor AB or its subsidiaries.
·
The new shares shall be subscribed for during the
period as from April 25, 2024, up to and including May 2, 2024.
Over-subscription may not occur.
·
The amount that shall be paid for each new share
shall be the quota value (approximately SEK 5).
·
Payment for the subscribed shares shall be made at
the time of subscription.
·
The Board of Directors shall be entitled to extend
the period for subscription and payment.
·
The new shares shall not entitle the holders to
dividend payment.
·
It is noted that the new shares are subject to
restrictions pursuant to Chapter 4, Section 6 (conversion clause)
and Chapter 20, Section 31 (redemption clause) of the Swedish
Companies Act.
The Board of Directors proposes that
the President and CEO shall be authorized to make the minor
adjustments to the above resolutions that may prove to be necessary
in connection with the registration with the Swedish Companies
Registration Office.
Reasons for deviation from the shareholders' preferential
rights and principles on which the subscription price is
based
The Board of Directors considers
that a directed issue of shares of series C, followed by buy-back
and transfer of treasury stock is the most cost efficient and
flexible method to transfer shares under the LTV I 2023. Shares are
issued at the share's quota value and repurchased as soon as the
shares have been subscribed for and registered. The purchase price
paid by the Company to the subscriber equals the subscription
price. As compensation to the subscriber for its assistance in the
issuance and buy-back of shares under items 16 and 17, the Company
will pay to the subscriber an amount totaling SEK
100,000.
e)
Authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on a directed
acquisition offer for the LTV I 2023
Authorization for the Board of
Directors to decide that 4.1 million shares of series C in the
Company be acquired according to the following:
·
Acquisition may occur by an offer to acquire
shares directed to all holders of shares of series C in
Ericsson.
·
The authorization may be exercised until the AGM
in 2025.
·
The acquisition shall be made at a price
corresponding to the quota value of the share (approximately SEK 5
per share).
·
Payment for acquired shares shall be made in
cash.
Majority rules
The resolution of the AGM on
transfer of treasury stock to employees and on an exchange,
directed share issue and acquisition offer for the LTV I 2023
according to item 17 is proposed to be taken as one decision and
requires that shareholders representing at least nine-tenths of the
votes cast as well as the shares represented at the AGM approve the
proposal.
Item 18 Resolutions on
transfer of treasury stock in relation to the resolutions on the
ongoing LTV 2021, LTV 2022 and LTV II 2023
18.1 Transfer of treasury
stock on an exchange to cover expenses
The AGM in 2023 resolved on a right
for the Company to transfer in total no more than 2 million shares
of series B in the Company on a stock exchange to cover certain
payments, mainly social security payments, which may occur in
relation to the Long-Term Variable Compensation Programs LTV 2021,
LTV 2022 and LTV II 2023 (the "Programs").
The resolution is valid up to the
following AGM. Resolutions on transfer of treasury stock for the
purpose of the above-mentioned programs must therefore be repeated
at subsequent AGMs. None of these 2 million shares of series B in
the Company have been transferred up to February 27,
2024.
The Board of Directors proposes that
the AGM resolve that the Company may, prior to the AGM in 2025,
transfer no more than 2 million shares of series B in the Company,
or the lower number of shares of series B, which as per April 3,
2024 remain of the original 2 million shares for the purposes of
covering certain payments, primarily social security payments that
may occur in relation to the Programs. Transfer of the shares shall
be effected on Nasdaq Stockholm at a price within the, at each
time, prevailing price interval for the share.
18.2 Authorization to decide on transfer of treasury stock on
an exchange to cover costs for tax and social security liabilities
for the Participants
Previous AGMs have resolved to secure the delivery of Performance
Shares in relation to the Programs through transfer of in total no
more than 8 million shares of series B in the Company to
Participants and subsidiaries within the Ericsson Group.
The Board of Directors proposes that
the AGM authorize the Board of Directors to decide to, in
conjunction with the delivery of vested shares under the Programs,
prior to the AGM in 2025, retain and sell no more than 60% of the
vested shares of series B in the Company in order to cover for the
costs for withholding and paying tax and social security
liabilities on behalf of the Participants in relation to the
Performance Share Awards for remittance to revenue authorities.
Transfer of the shares shall be effected on Nasdaq Stockholm at a
price within the, at each time, prevailing price interval for the
share as disseminated by Nasdaq Stockholm. These shares form a part
of the final number of vested shares to the employees under the
Programs and do not incur additional costs to the Programs for the
Company.
Majority rules
The resolutions of the AGM on transfer of treasury stock on an
exchange according to each of items 18.1 and 18.2 requires
that shareholders representing at least two-thirds of the votes
cast as well as the shares represented at the AGM approve the
proposals.
______________________
Shares and votes
There are in total 3,344,151,735
shares in the Company: 261,755,983 shares of series A and
3,082,395,752 shares of series B, corresponding to in total
569,995,558.2 votes. The Company's holding of treasury stock as of
February 27, 2024, amounts to 12,544,543 shares of series B,
corresponding to 1,254,454.3 votes.
Shareholders' right to receive information at the
AGM
The Board of Directors and the
President and CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests and the
Board of Directors believes that it can be done without material
harm to the Company, provide information regarding circumstances
that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda and
circumstances that may affect the assessment of the Company's or
its subsidiaries' financial situation and the Company's relation to
other companies within the Group.
Documents
The form of power of attorney, the
postal voting form and the complete proposals of the Nomination
Committee with respect to items 1, and 9-15 above, including a
description of the work of the Nomination Committee and Exhibit 1
and 2 to the Nomination Committee's proposals, are available at the
Company's website www.ericsson.com. In respect of all other items, complete proposals are
provided under the respective item in the notice. The documents
will be sent upon request to shareholders providing their address
to the Company.
The annual report (including the
Board of Directors' statement relating to the proposal under
item 8.4 above), the auditor's report, the remuneration
report, the auditor's statement regarding the Guidelines for
Remuneration to Group management and the Board of Directors'
statement relating to the proposals under items 16.2 and 17 above
will be available at the Company and on the Company's
website www.ericsson.com no later than three weeks prior to the AGM. The documents will
be sent upon request to shareholders providing their address to the
Company.
Stockholm, February 2024
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
The Board of
Directors