Notice to the Annual General Meeting in Vitec Software Group AB (publ)
The shareholders of Vitec Software Group AB (publ), reg. no. 556258-4804, are hereby summoned to the Annual General Meeting on April 29, 2025, at 17:30 (CEST) at Clarion Hotel Umeå, Storgatan 36, Umeå. Registration to the Annual General Meeting takes place at 16:30 - 17:15. The Annual General Meeting will be held in Swedish. Food and beverages will be served afterwards.
Participation at the Annual General Meeting
Shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting shall:
- partly be registered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB on the record date on April 17, 2025; and
- partly give notice to the company of their intention to participate in the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the instructions under the heading “Participation at the Annual General Meeting venue”, or alternatively submit a postal vote in accordance with the instructions under the heading “Participation through postal voting”, no later than on April 23, 2025.
For shareholders who have their shares registered through a bank or other nominee, the following applies in order to have the right to exercise voting rights at the Annual General Meeting, regardless of whether participation takes place at the Annual General Meeting venue or through postal voting. In addition to giving notice of participation, such shareholder must re-register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is registered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB. Such re-registration may be temporary (so-called voting rights registration). Shareholders who wish to register their shares in their own name must, in accordance with the respective nominee’s routines, request that the nominee carries out such registration. Voting rights registration requested by the shareholder at such time that the registration has been completed by the nominee no later than on April 23, 2025 will be taken into account at the preparation of the share register.
Participation at the Annual General Meeting venue
Registration for participation at the Annual General Meeting venue, in person or via proxy, shall be made to the company no later than on April 23, 2025 in any of the following ways:
- On the company’s website, www.vitecsoftware.com.
- By telephone +46 (0) 771 24 64 00, weekdays 09.00 - 16.00.
- By mail to Computershare AB, “Vitec AGM”, Gustav III:s Boulevard 34, 169 73 Solna, Sweden.
- By e-mail to proxy@computershare.se.
When registering, shareholders must state their name, personal identity number or corporate registration number, address and telephone number, shareholding to be represented at the Annual General Meeting and any advisors.
Shareholders who participate via representative shall at the Annual General Meeting present a dated proxy signed by the shareholder and are asked to submit copies of such documents to the company in connection with the notification of participation to the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the above. Proxy forms in both Swedish and English are available on the company's website, www.vitecsoftware.com. If the shareholder is a legal entity, a certificate of registration or other authorization document should be presented and submitted in accordance with the above. Please note that notification of participation must be made even if the shareholder wishes to exercise its voting right through a representative. A submitted proxy does not apply as notification of participation at the Annual General Meeting.
Participation through postal voting
The Board of Directors has, in accordance with the regulations in Vitec's articles of association, decided that the shareholders shall be able to exercise their voting rights trough postal voting prior to the Annual General Meeting. Shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting through postal voting shall use the postal voting form and follow the instructions available on the company's website, www.vitecsoftware.com.
Shareholders who wish to participate trough postal voting shall send a completed and signed postal voting form by mail to Computershare AB, “Vitec AGM”, Gustav III:s Boulevard 34, 169 73 Solna, Sweden, or by e-mail to proxy@computershare.se. Completed forms must be received by Computershare no later than on April 23, 2025.
Shareholders can also submit postal votes electronically through verification with BankID on the company’s website, www.vitecsoftware.com. Such electronic votes must be submitted no later than on April 23, 2025.
The shareholder may not provide special instructions or conditions to the postal vote. If so, the entire postal vote is invalid. Further instructions and conditions can be found in the postal voting form.
If a shareholder submits postal votes through a representative, a dated proxy signed by the shareholder must be sent with the postal voting form. Proxy forms are available in both English and Swedish on the company’s website, www.vitecsoftware.com. If the shareholder is a legal entity, a registration certificate or other authorization document shall be sent with the form.
Persons who wish to participate at the Annual General Meeting venue, in person or through a representative, must notify the company of this in accordance with the instructions under the heading “Participation at the Annual General Meeting venue” above. This means that a notification of participation through postal voting alone is not sufficient for shareholders who wish to participate at the Annual General Meeting venue.
Possibility to follow the meeting via video link
Shareholders have the possibility to follow the meeting via video link. The video link will be available on the company's website, www.vitecsoftware.com. Since it is not possible to verify with certainty that no external party (who is not a shareholder) follows the meeting via video link, the possibility to follow the meeting via video link requires that the meeting decides that also persons who are not shareholders shall have the right to follow the meeting.
Shareholders who follow the meeting via video link are not able to exercise voting rights or other shareholder rights at the meeting such as requesting to speak, making proposals or objections or requesting a vote (voting). Shareholders who follow the meeting via video link but who also wish to exercise their voting rights must, in addition, attend the meeting venue by proxy and notify their participation or participate in the meeting by postal voting in accordance with the above instructions.
Agenda
- Opening of the meeting
- Election of Chairman of the meeting
- Preparation and approval of the voting list
- Approval of the agenda
- Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes
- Determination of whether the meeting has been duly convened
- Presentation of the annual report and auditor’s report as well as the consolidated financial statement and the group auditor’s report
- Resolution regarding adoption of the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet, as well as the consolidated profit and loss statement and the consolidated balance sheet
- Resolution regarding appropriation of the company’s profit or loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet
- Resolution regarding discharge from liability for the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO
- Lars Stenlund (chairman)
- Anna Valtonen (board member)
- Birgitta Johansson-Hedberg (board member)
- Jan Friedman (board member)
- Kaj Sandart (board member)
- Malin Ruijsenaars (board member)
- Olle Backman (CEO)
- Resolution regarding the number of members of the Board of Directors and deputy members of the Board of Directors, as well as auditors and deputy auditors
- Determination of remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and the auditors
- Election of members of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of Directors
- The Nomination Committee proposes the election of the following board members:
- Lars Stenlund (re-election)
- Anna Valtonen (re-election)
- Birgitta Johansson-Hedberg (re-election)
- Jan Friedman (re-election)
- Kaj Sandart (re-election)
- Malin Ruijsenaars (re-election)
- The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of Lars Stenlund as Chairman of the Board.
- Election of auditors
- Resolution regarding approval of remuneration report
- The Board of Directors’ proposed resolution regarding authorization for the Board of Directors to resolve on issuance of new shares etc.
- The Board of Directors’ proposed resolution regarding a long-term share savings plan, a long-term performance-based share savings plan as well as the authorization on acquisition and transfer of class B shares under the programs
- Closing of the meeting
Election of Chairman of the meeting (item 2)
The Nomination Committee proposes that Lars Stenlund, Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the person appointed by the Board of Directors in the event of his absence, is elected Chairman of the Annual General Meeting.
Resolution regarding appropriation of the company’s profit or loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet (item 9)
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves on an ordinary dividend of SEK 3.60 per share, to be paid quarterly through partial payments of SEK 0.90 per share.
The proposed record dates for the right to receive the partial payments are 25 June 2025, 24 September 2025, 22 December 2025, and 25 March 2026. The partial payments are expected to be made about three bank days after the respective record date.
According to the Swedish Companies Act, a maximum amount of the dividend shall be determined in advance to ensure that the dividend does not exceed the company’s distributable income, and such maximum amount is proposed to be determined to SEK 154,258,554. The total dividend shall not exceed the aforementioned maximum amount. In the event the number of shares in the company entails that the maximum amount may be exceeded, the distribution per share shall be adjusted down so that the total dividend corresponds to the maximum amount.
Resolution regarding the number of members of the Board of Directors and deputy members of the Board of Directors, as well as auditors and deputy auditors (item 11)
The Nomination Committee proposes that the Board of Directors, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, shall consist of six ordinary members with no deputy members, and that one authorized auditing company shall be elected as auditor.
Determination of remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors and the auditors (item 12)
The Nomination Committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, that the total remuneration to the Board of Directors shall amount to SEK 2,465,000 (previously SEK 1,960,000), whereof SEK 890,000 (previously SEK 710,000) shall constitute remuneration to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and SEK 315,000 (previously SEK 250,000) shall constitute remuneration to each of the other five members of the Board of Directors.
The Nomination Committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, that the remuneration to the auditor shall be paid in accordance with approved invoice.
Election of members of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board of Directors (item 13)
The Nomination Committee proposes, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, re-election of the members of the Board of Directors Lars Stenlund, Anna Valtonen, Birgitta Johansson-Hedberg, Jan Friedman, Kaj Sandart and Malin Ruijsenaars. Lars Stenlund is proposed to be re-elected as Chairman of the Board.
Election of auditors (item 14)
The Nomination Committee proposes, in accordance with the Audit Committee’s recommendation, for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, re-election of Deloitte AB as auditor. Deloitte AB has announced that it intends to appoint Richard Peters as auditor in charge.
Resolution regarding approval of remuneration report (item 15)
Guidelines for remuneration to senior executives were adopted at the Annual General Meeting 2024. Proposals for new guidelines are prepared when needed, but at minimum every four years, i.e. at the latest on the Annual General Meeting 2028. The Board of Directors does not propose any amendments to the guidelines adopted at the Annual General Meeting 2024.
The Board of Directors has prepared a remuneration report regarding the financial year 2024, in accordance with Chapter 8, Section 53 a of the Swedish Companies Act. The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to approve the Board of Directors’ remuneration report.
The Board of Directors’ proposed resolution regarding authorization for the Board of Directors to resolve on issuance of new shares (item 16)
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors, for the period until the next Annual General Meeting, to resolve on share issues of class B shares and/or issues of convertible debentures of class B shares, with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights and with or without a provision regarding contribution in kind or that the shares shall be subscribed for with set-off rights. The authorization includes a maximum of 2,500,000 class B shares, based on the current quota value, and shall be possible to exercise at one or more occasions within specified limits. The value transferred to the company through share issues by virtue of the authorization, shall be made on market terms and may include a market-based issue discount.
The purpose of the authorization, and the reason for the possibility to deviate from the shareholders’ preferential rights, is to enable the company to, in a time and cost efficient way, finance acquisitions of companies, assets and liabilities, product rights or similar.
The Board of Directors, or a person appointed by the Board of Directors, shall be authorized to make any minor adjustments to the above resolutions that may be necessary in connection with the registration with the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
A valid resolution regarding issue authorization in accordance with the above requires that shareholders representing not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast as well as the shares represented at the Annual General Meeting approve the resolution.
The Board of Directors’ proposal regarding long-term share savings plan, as well as authorization on acquisition and transfer of class B shares under the program (item 17)
Background and motivation
In 2023, Vitec Software Group AB (publ) (the “Company” or “Vitec” and together with its subsidiaries the “Group”) launched an Employee Share Savings Plan for employees within the Group to offer the employees an opportunity to become long-term shareholders in the Company. The Employee Share Savings Plan was adopted again in 2024 ("ESSP 2024"). In total, approximately 30% of employees became shareholders of the Company through the ESSP 2024. In Sweden, approximately 35% of the employees chose to participate in the ESSP 2024.
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to implement a new plan period for the Employee Share Savings Plan for current and future employees (“Employees”) within the Group (Employee Share Savings Plan, “ESSP 2025”). Furthermore, the Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to implement an alternative performance-based Employee Share Savings Plan for the top management in the Group (Performance Employee Share Savings Plan, “Performance ESSP 2025”). The purpose of the Performance ESSP 2025 is to offer Vitec executives an incentive which has a potential higher upside in the form of performance-based matching shares while adding a degree of risk-taking (participants are not guaranteed to receive Matching Shares). The Board believes that Performance ESSP 2025 will aid in the retention and attraction of key personnel while strengthening the alignment of the participant’s interests with shareholders.
To manage the total cost of ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, the Board has introduced a cap on the total number of shares in the plans. The total number of shares cannot exceed one percent of the total number of shares outstanding i.e. 398,493 including hedging for social costs. In the event that the cap is reached, participants’ investments will be reduced proportionally.
ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 overview
ESSP 2025 is proposed to address current and future Employees within the Group. Subject to their own investment in Vitec class B shares (“Savings Shares”), during a period of twelve (12) months (“Savings Period”), normally through monthly savings, Employees will be offered the opportunity to receive, free of charge, an allocation of Vitec class B shares after a holding period which commences after the first acquisition of Savings Shares and ends on 30 June 2028 (“Holding Period”). The maximum savings amount will be differentiated with respect to the Employee’s role within the Group. Employees may receive an allocation of class B shares provided that their employment or a position as the CEO has not been terminated as a so-called “bad leaver” before the end of the Holding Period and conditional upon maintenance of their own initial investment in Savings Shares during the entire Holding Period (“Matching Shares”).
Participants in category A-C below (“Top Management”) have the possibility to choose to participate in Performance ESSP 2025 instead of ESSP 2025. It is not possible to participate in both ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025. Through Performance ESSP 2025, Top Management has the possibility to receive more Matching Shares compared to ESSP 2025 provided that certain performance criteria are fulfilled. Participation in the Performance ESSP 2025 entails a higher risk for the Top Management (as there is no guaranteed Matching Share) but also the possibility of a larger allocation of Matching Shares. In addition to the aforementioned performance criteria, mainly the same conditions apply for Performance ESSP 2025 as for ESSP 2025.
The Board’s proposed resolution
Therefore, in order to maintain maximum flexibility, the Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves:
- on a long-term share savings plan (ESSP 2025) in accordance with the conditions set out in section A. below and a long-term performance-based share savings plan (Performance ESSP 2025) in accordance with the conditions set out in section B below;
- to authorize the Board of Directors to resolve on the acquisition of own class B shares in Vitec on Nasdaq Stockholm and that acquired own class B shares may be i) transferred free of charge to participants in ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, and ii) transferred to secure thereto connected costs for social security contributions in accordance with the conditions set out in sections C.–E. below; and
- in the event that the required majority according to sections C.–E. below cannot be reached that Vitec may enter into share swap agreements with third parties in accordance with the conditions in section F. below.
A. Decision on long-term share savings plan (ESSP 2025)
- ESSP 2025 is addressed to Employees of the Group, which currently consists of approximately 1,700 employees.
- ESSP 2025 means that Employees are offered the opportunity, subject to their own investment in Vitec class B shares (“Savings Shares”) during a Savings Period, to receive from Vitec or from another company within the Group, or from a designated third party, an allotment of Vitec class B shares free of charge. For every Savings Share, Employees participating in ESSP 2025 will have the opportunity, after the Holding Period to receive an allocation of one Vitec class B share (“Matching Share”).
- The maximum amount that each Employee participating in ESSP 2025 may invest in, normally through monthly savings, have been differentiated with reference to position and responsibility in the Group and the participants have for this reason been divided into five different categories:
Category A – Group CEO
Category B – Group Management
Category C – Business Unit Managers
Category D – Local Management
Category E – Other employees - The maximum amount that each category above can invest during the Savings Period as well as the maximum number of participants in each category is set out below. Maximum savings amount during the Savings Period (SEK):
Category A – not more than 1 person: 500,000
Category B – not more than 15 persons: 400,000
Category C – not more than 60 persons: 300,000
Category D – not more than 150 persons: 200,000
Category E – not more than 1,700 persons: 100,000 - Employees may only participate in the ESSP 2025 if they invest for a minimum of SEK 500 monthly during the Savings Period and do not choose to participate in Performance ESSP 2025 in accordance with paragraph B below.
- An Employee’s investment will be used to quarterly after the publications of the Company’s quarterly reports, during the Savings Period, acquire as many whole Savings Shares as can be acquired with the Employee’s accumulated investment at that time.
- Acquisitions of Savings Shares on behalf of the Employee will be made on Nasdaq Stockholm and be transferred to the Employee’s custody account.
- It is a condition for the Employee to be able to receive Matching Shares that he or she, with certain specific exceptions, remains an Employee of the Group until the end of the Holding Period and that the Employee has retained Savings Shares acquired under the ESSP 2025 until the end of the Holding Period. Savings Shares that have been disposed of before the end of the Holding Period shall therefore not be taken into account when determining any allocation of Matching Shares.
- Matching Shares will be allocated as soon as possible after the end of the Holding Period.
- Any dividends paid on the Employee's Savings Shares during the Holding Period will be reinvested to purchase additional Savings Shares under the ESSP 2025.
- The Board shall be entitled to determine the detailed terms and conditions of ESSP 2025 within the framework of the main terms and conditions of ESSP 2025 as decided by the Annual General Meeting. The Board may in connection therewith make necessary adjustments to comply with specific local regulations or prevailing market conditions outside Sweden.
- If there are significant changes in the Group or in the market that, in the Board’s opinion, would make the terms and conditions for the allocation of Matching Shares under ESSP 2025 unreasonable, the Board shall also have the right to decide on a reduced allocation of Matching Shares, or that no allocation of Matching Shares shall be made at all, for ESSP 2025 or for ESSP 2025 participants operating within a particular business unit or jurisdiction.
- Participation in ESSP 2025 requires that such participation can legally take place in the various jurisdictions concerned and/or that, in the opinion of the Board, participation can take place with reasonable administrative costs and financial effort.
- The number of Matching Shares will be recalculated as a result of any bonus issue, split, rights issue and/or other similar corporate action in such manner as the Board deems appropriate to obtain a reasonable result.
- Matching Shares may not, however, be allocated during any such period when trading in the Company’s shares is forbidden in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 or any other equivalent legislation which applies at any given time.
- Future Employees may be offered to participate in ESSP 2025, but no later than 30 September 2025. Additional Participants will be allotted Matching Shares no earlier than three (3) years after the Employee entered into an agreement to join ESSP 2025.
B. Decision on long-term performance-based share savings plan (Performance ESSP 2025)
- Performance ESSP 2025 is addressed to Top Management of the Group, which currently consists of approximately 60 employees.
- Performance ESSP 2025 means that Top Management are offered the opportunity, subject to their own investment in Vitec class B shares (Savings Shares) during a Savings Period, to receive from Vitec or from another company within the Group, or from a designated third party, an allotment of Vitec class B shares free of charge. For every Savings Share, Employees participating in Performance ESSP 2025 will have the opportunity, after the Holding Period to receive an allocation of up to four Vitec class B share (Matching Share) provided that the performance criterion is fulfilled. The number of Matching Shares allocated per Saving Share depends on the fulfilment of the performance criterion. The performance criterion is the Compounded Annual Growth Rate of Vitec Group’s Earnings Per Share (“CAGR EPS”) over the three-year performance period 2025–2027. Threshold and maximum levels will be established by the Board at grant. If the threshold level is not met, no Matching Shares will vest. If the threshold level is met, one matching share will vest. If the maximum level is met, four Matching Shares will vest. For target achievement between the threshold and maximum level, the vesting outcome will be measured linearly. The threshold and maximum target levels are not disclosed as they are considered commercially sensitive. Full details of the target levels resolved by the Board in 2025 and the actual outcome will be fully disclosed in the annual report for 2027.
- The maximum amount that each Employee participating in Performance ESSP 2025 may invest, normally through monthly savings, have been differentiated with reference to position and responsibility in the Group and the participants have for this reason been divided into three different categories:
Category A – Group CEO
Category B – Group Management
Category C – Business Unit Managers - The maximum amount that each category above can invest during the Savings Period as well as the maximum number of participants in each category is set out below. Maximum savings amount during the Savings Period (SEK):
Category A – not more than 1 person: 500,000
Category B – not more than 15 persons: 400,000
Category C – not more than 150 persons: 300,000 - Top Management may only participate in the Performance ESSP 2025 if they invest for a minimum of SEK 500 monthly during the Savings Period and do not choose to participate in ESSP 2025 in accordance with paragraph A above.
- An Employee’s investment will be used to quarterly after the publications of the Company’s quarterly reports, during the Savings Period, acquire as many whole Savings Shares as can be acquired with the Employee’s accumulated investment at that time. The number of Matching Shares allocated per Saving Share depends on the fulfilment of the performance criterion.
- Acquisitions of Savings Shares on behalf of the Employee will be made on Nasdaq Stockholm and be transferred to the Employee’s custody account.
- It is a condition for the Employee to be able to receive Matching Shares that he or she, with certain specific exceptions, remains an Employee of the Group until the end of the Holding Period and that the Employee has retained Savings Shares acquired under the Performance ESSP 2025 until the end of the Holding Period. Savings Shares that have been disposed of before the end of the Holding Period shall therefore not be taken into account when determining any allocation of Matching Shares.
- Matching Shares will be allocated as soon as possible after the end of the Holding Period.
- Any dividends paid on the Employee's Savings Shares during the Holding Period will be reinvested to purchase additional Savings Shares under the Performance ESSP 2025.
- The Board shall be entitled to determine the detailed terms and conditions of Performance ESSP 2025 within the framework of the main terms and conditions of Performance ESSP 2025 as decided by the Annual General Meeting. The Board may in connection therewith make necessary adjustments to comply with specific local regulations or prevailing market conditions outside Sweden.
- If there are significant changes in the Group or in the market that, in the Board’s opinion, would make the terms and conditions for the allocation of Matching Shares under Performance ESSP 2025 unreasonable, the Board shall also have the right to decide on a reduced allocation of Matching Shares, or that no allocation of Matching Shares shall be made at all, for Performance ESSP 2025 or for Performance ESSP 2025 participants operating within a particular business unit or jurisdiction.
- Participation in Performance ESSP 2025 requires that such participation can legally take place in the various jurisdictions concerned and/or that, in the opinion of the Board, participation can take place with reasonable administrative costs and financial effort.
- The number of Matching Shares will be recalculated as a result of any bonus issue, split, rights issue and/or other similar corporate action in such manner as the Board deems appropriate to obtain a reasonable result.
- Matching Shares may not, however, be allocated during any such period when trading in the Company’s shares is forbidden in accordance with the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 or any other equivalent legislation which applies at any given time.
- Future Top Management may be offered to participate in Performance ESSP 2025, but no later than 30 September 2025. Additional Participants will be allotted Matching Shares no earlier than three (3) years after the Employee entered into an agreement to join Performance ESSP 2025.
C. Resolution on authorizing the Board to resolve on the acquisition of own class B shares in Vitec on Nasdaq Stockholm
In order to i) secure deliveries of class B shares to participants in ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, and ii) secure thereto connected costs for social security contributions, in accordance with sections D.–E. below the Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorize the Board to resolve to acquire class B shares in Vitec on the following terms.
- Acquisition of class B shares in Vitec may only be made on Nasdaq Stockholm.
- The authorization may be exercised on one or more occasions, but at the latest until the Annual General Meeting in 2026.
- A maximum of 398,493 class B shares in Vitec may be acquired to secure the delivery of class B shares in accordance with sections D.–E. below.
- Acquisition of Vitec class B shares on Nasdaq Stockholm may only take place at a price within the price range applicable on Nasdaq Stockholm at the time, meaning the range between the highest purchase price and the lowest sale price.
The Board of Directors has issued a statement in accordance with Chapter 19, Section 22 of the Swedish Companies Act.
D. Resolution on transfers of acquired own class B shares to participants in ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves on that transfers of acquired own class B shares in Vitec may take place on the following conditions.
- A maximum of 346,516 class B shares in Vitec may be transferred to participants in ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025.
- The transfer of Class B shares to participants requires that the participant fulfils the conditions for receiving Class B shares.
- The transfer of class B shares to participants in ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 shall be free of charge and be made at the time specified in the terms and conditions of ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025.
- The right to acquire class B shares in Vitec free of charge shall, with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, be granted to persons within the Group participating in ESSP 2025 or Performance ESSP 2025. Furthermore, subsidiaries of Vitec shall, with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, have the right to acquire class B shares in Vitec free of charge, whereby such subsidiary shall be obliged, in accordance with the terms of ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, to immediately transfer the class B shares to persons within the Group participating in ESSP 2025 or Performance ESSP 2025.
- The number of class B shares in Vitec that may be transferred under ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 will be recalculated as a result of any bonus issue, split, rights issue and/or other similar corporate action in such manner as the Board deems appropriate to obtain a reasonable result.
A maximum of 346,516 class B shares acquired in accordance with point C. above may be transferred. Together with the number of class B shares that may be transferred under point E. below, a maximum of 398,493 class B shares may be transferred under ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025.
E. Resolution authorizing the Board to transfer own class B shares to secure payment of social security contributions and occupational pension
In order to enable the transfer of own class B shares to hedge costs, including social security contributions and occupational pension related to ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, the Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorize the Board to transfer own class B shares in Vitec on the following terms.
- Transfer of class B shares may only take place at Nasdaq Stockholm at a price within the price range applicable from time to time, meaning the range between the highest purchase price and the lowest sale price.
- Transfer may be made with the number of class B shares required for Vitec to cover costs, including social security contributions related to ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, with a maximum of 51,977 class B shares.
- Class B shares may also be transferred outside Nasdaq Stockholm to a bank or other financial institution, with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights. Such transfer may be made at a price corresponding to the stock exchange price at the time of the transfer of the class B shares transferred, with such fair market deviation that the Board deems appropriate.
- The authorization may be exercised on one or more occasions, but at the latest until the Annual General Meeting in 2026.
- The number of class B shares transferred to hedge costs related to ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 may be subject to recalculation as a result of a bonus issue, stock split and/or reverse stock split, rights issues or similar events affecting the number of class B shares in Vitec.
A maximum of 51,977 class B shares acquired in accordance with point C. above may be transferred. Together with the number of class B shares that may be transferred under point D. above, a maximum of 398,493 class B shares may be transferred under ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025.
F. Resolution on entering into a share swap agreement with a third party
In the event that the required majority for sections C.–E. above is not reached, the Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves that the financial exposure relating to ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 may be hedged by Vitec entering into a share swap agreement with a third party on market terms, whereby the third party may in its own name acquire and transfer class B shares in Vitec to Employees who participate in ESSP 2025 or Performance ESSP 2025.
Scope of the program, effects on key figures, dilution and costs
ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 is expected to comprise no more than 398,493 class B shares in total which corresponds to approximately 1 percent of the total number of shares in the Company and approximately 0.6 percent of the total number of votes in the Company. The total number of shares cannot exceed one percent of the total number of shares outstanding i.e. 398,493 including hedging for social costs. In the event that the cap is reached, participants’ investments will be reduced proportionally. Granted but not yet exercised assignable rights to class B shares under previous long-term incentive programs totals approximately 1.2 percent of the total number of outstanding class B shares in Vitec. The impact on key ratios of the Company’s incentive programs is only marginal. Information about other long-term incentive programs in Vitec may be found in the Company’s annual report 2024, note 4, the Company’s remuneration report, and on the Company’s website: Investors & press (vitecsoftware.com).
ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 will result in the value of the Matching Shares being reported as personnel costs in the income statement during the Holding Period in accordance with IFRS 2 Share-related compensation. Social security contributions will be expensed in the income statement according to UFR 7 during the Holding Period. The size of these costs will be calculated based on the Company’s share price development during the Savings- and Holding Period and the allocation of Matching Shares. Based on the assumption that (i) the share price value at the time of acquisition is SEK 614.34, (ii) that a maximum allocation of Matching Shares takes place, (iii) that staff turnover is zero percent per year, and (iv) that all participants make an investment up to the maximum amount and retain their entire holding for the duration of the program, the total cost is estimated to amount to approximately SEK 213 million excluding social security contributions. The net costs for outgoing social security contributions and occupational pension, assuming (i) a share price of SEK 614.34 at the time of purchase of shares for the hedging arrangement described in E. above, and (ii) a share price increase of 0 percent during the duration of the program, are estimated to amount to a maximum of approximately SEK 32 million.
Under the same assumption of a share price at the time of acquisition of SEK 614.34, an average participation of approximately 35 percent, an investment level of approximately 47 percent and a personnel turnover of 10 percent during the plan period, the cost is estimated to amount to approximately SEK 77 million excluding social security contributions. Net costs for social security contributions and occupational pensions are estimated, with the same assumptions, to amount to approximately SEK 9 million.
The costs should be seen in relation to the Company’s total costs for wages and benefits, which for the last reported twelve-month period ending 31 December 2024 amounted to SEK 1.352 million including social security contributions. Administrative costs for ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 have been estimated at a maximum of SEK 4 million. Based on the above assumptions, the costs of ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025, including social security contributions, amount to approximately 6 percent of the Company’s total costs for wages and benefits for the last reported twelve-month period. The maximum 51,977 class B shares which can primarily be transferred on Nasdaq Stockholm to cover social security contributions, does not have a dilutive effect on earnings per share, as these are transferred at the prevailing market price.
Terms and conditions
The decision of the Annual General Meeting on ESSP 2025 under section A. above and on Performance ESSP 2025 under section B. above is conditional upon the Annual General Meeting either deciding in accordance with the Board’s proposal under sections C.–E. above or in accordance with the Board’s proposal under section F. above.
Majority rules
A majority of more than half of the votes cast at the meeting shall be required for a resolution of the meeting in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors as set out in section A-B. above. The resolution of the Meeting in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors under sections C.–D. above requires the support of shareholders holding at least nine tenths of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the Meeting. The resolution of the Meeting in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors under section E. above requires the support of shareholders holding at least two-thirds of both the votes cast and the shares represented at the Meeting. For a valid resolution in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors under section F. above, a majority of more than half of the votes cast at the meeting is required.
Reason for the deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights
Transfers of class B shares in Vitec are a step towards achieving the proposed ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025. Therefore, and in light of the above, the Board considers it to be beneficial for Vitec and the shareholders that the participants in ESSP 2025 and Performance ESSP 2025 are offered the opportunity to become shareholders in Vitec.
Documents
Complete proposals will no later than on April 8, 2025 be available on the company’s website, www.vitecsoftware.com. The documents are also sent to shareholders who request it and provide their postal address. Furthermore, no later than on April 8, 2025, the annual report and the auditor’s report as well as the auditor’s statement regarding guidelines for remuneration to senior executives will be available at the company and on the company’s website, www.vitecsoftware.com. The documents are also sent to shareholders who request it and provide their postal address.
Shareholders’ right to receive information
The shareholders have, in accordance with Chapter 7, Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act, right to request information from the Board of Directors and the CEO in respect of any circumstances which may affect the assessment of a matter on the agenda and any circumstances which may affect the assessment of the company’s financial position, provided that the Board of Directors believes that such may take place without significant harm to the company.
Number of shares and votes
As of the date of this notice, the total number of shares in the company amounts to 39,890,291, divided into 2,490,000 class A shares carrying ten votes each and 37,400,291 class B shares carrying one vote each, and the total number of votes in the company amounts to 62,300,291. The company holds 125,389 own class B shares and will not vote for these shares at the Annual General Meeting.
Umeå in March 2025
Vitec Software Group AB (publ)
The Board of Directors
N.B. This English version of the notice to the Annual General Meeting 2025 is an unofficial translation. In case of any discrepancies in relation to the Swedish version of the notice, the Swedish version shall prevail.