The shareholders of Volvo Car AB (publ), Reg. No. 556810-8988, (“Volvo Cars”) are invited to participate in the Annual General Meeting (the “AGM”) to be held on 3 April 2023, at 13.00 CEST at Volvohallen, Gunnar Engellaus väg 2, SE-418 78 Gothenburg, Sweden. Admission and registration to the AGM will begin at 12.00 CEST.
The Board of Directors has resolved, in accordance with the provisions of Volvo Cars’ Articles of Association, that shareholders may also exercise their voting rights in advance by so-called postal voting.
The AGM will be conducted in Swedish and simultaneously translated into English.
Right to participate and notification
A) Participation at the meeting venue
A person who wishes to attend the meeting venue in person or by proxy must
For shareholders who wish to be represented by proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the shareholder must be issued for the representative. If the shareholder is a legal entity, a copy of certificate of incorporation, or corresponding authorisation document for the legal entity, must be attached. Form of proxy is available on Volvo Cars’ website, https://investors.volvocars.com/en/agm-2023. In order to facilitate the registration at the AGM, the power of attorney together with any registration certificate or other authorisation documents should be received by the company at the address set out above in connection with the notice of participation.
B) Participation by postal voting
A person who wishes to participate in the AGM by postal voting must
A shareholder who wishes to attend the meeting venue in person or by proxy, must give notice of this in accordance with the instructions stated under A) above. Hence, a notice of participation only through postal voting is not sufficient for a person who wishes to attend the meeting venue.
A special form shall be used for postal voting. The form is available on the company’s website https://investors.volvocars.com/en/agm-2023. The completed and signed form may be sent by post to Volvo Car AB (publ), c/o Euroclear Sweden AB, Box 191, SE-101 23 Stockholm, Sweden, or by email to GeneralMeetingService@euroclear.com. Shareholders may also submit their postal votes electronically by verification with BankID via Euroclear Sweden AB’s website https://anmalan.vpc.se/EuroclearProxy/. The completed and signed form must be received by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than on 28 March 2023.
Shareholders may not provide special instructions or conditions in the voting form. If so, the vote (in its entirety) is invalid. Further instructions and conditions are included in the form for postal voting.
If a shareholder submits its postal vote by proxy, a written and dated power of attorney signed by the shareholder must be enclosed with the postal voting form. If the shareholder is a legal entity, a copy of certificate of incorporation, or corresponding authorisation document for the legal entity, must be enclosed with the form. Form of proxy is available on the company’s website, https://investors.volvocars.com/en/agm-2023.
Nominee-registered shares
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 its participation in the AGM, register its shares in its own name so that the shareholder is listed in the presentation of the share register as of 24 March 2023. Such 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 routines, at such a time in advance as decided by the nominee. Voting rights registrations that have been made by the nominee no later than 28 March 2023, will be taken into account in the presentation of the share register.
Agenda
Proposals
Election of Chairperson of the meeting (item 2)
The Nomination Committee prior to the AGM 2023 has consisted of Tom Johnstone (appointed by Geely Sweden Holdings AB), Yimin Chen (appointed by Geely Sweden Holdings AB), Anders Oscarsson (appointed by AMF), Ylva Wessén (appointed by Folksam) and Eric Li (Li Shufu) as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. Tom Johnstone has been the Chairperson of the Nomination Committee.
The Nomination Committee proposes that the attorney Eva Hägg is elected as Chairperson of the AGM.
Preparation and approval of the voting register (item 3)
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.
The Board’s proposal on allocation of the company’s profit or loss in accordance with the adopted balance sheet (item 9 b)
The Board of Directors proposes that no dividend is distributed and that the retained profits shall be carried forward to the new accounts.
Determination of the number of Board members and the number of auditors (item 10)
The Nomination Committee proposes that the Board of Directors shall consist of 10 ordinary Board members elected by the AGM, without deputy Board members, and that the number of auditors shall be one without deputies.
Determination of fees to the Board members and fees to the auditors (item 11)
The Nomination Committee proposes to leave the Board’s remuneration unchanged meaning that the following remuneration would be applied until next year’s AGM:
Compensation to the Board members that are not employed or otherwise remunerated by Volvo Car Group or the Geely Holding Group shall be the following; (i) SEK 1,155,000 to each of the Board members, other than the vice Chairperson who shall receive SEK 2,730,000, (ii) SEK 131,000 to each of the members and SEK 168,000 to the Chairperson of the People Committee and (iii) SEK 189,000 to each of the members and SEK 410,000 to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee. All remunerated Board members elected by the AGM are also entitled to a company car in accordance with Volvo Cars’ applicable car policy (corresponding to an average yearly benefit of approximately SEK 110,000 per entitled Board member). The Chairperson of the Board, the CEO as well as Daniel Li (Li Donghui) shall not be remunerated. In addition, the Nomination Committee proposes a symbolic compensation for reading time for the union representatives with in total SEK 331,700, whereof SEK 81,700 to each of the ordinary representatives and SEK 43,300 to each of the deputy representatives.
To support the shareholding policy for the Board, the Nomination Committee furthermore recommends that the Board members elected by the AGM, use 50% of the remuneration (after tax) received by the Board members to acquire shares in the Company until the level stated in the policy is reached, which means shares of a market value corresponding to at least one year’s board remuneration, before tax, excluding remuneration for committee work.
The Nomination Committee proposes that remuneration to the auditor shall be paid according to separate invoicing.
Election of the Board of Directors and the Chairperson of the Board (item 12)
The Nomination Committee proposes that Eric Li (Li Shufu), Lone Fønss Schrøder, Daniel Li (Li Donghui), Anna Mossberg, Diarmuid O’Connell, Jim Rowan, Jonas Samuelson, Lila Tretikov and Winfried Vahland shall be re-elected as Board members. Ruby Lu shall be elected as new Board member. Eric Li (Li Shufu) shall be re-elected as Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Lone Fønss Schrøder shall be re-elected as vice Chairperson of the Board.
It was noted that Tom Johnstone has informed the Nomination Committee that he will not stand for re-election.
Ruby Lu
Ruby Lu is a venture capitalist investing in technology start-ups in the US and China, she founded Atypical Ventures in 2019 - an early-stage technology investment firm. She is an independent board member of Unilever, Yum China and Uxin Limited. In 2006 Ruby Lu co-founded DCM China, a venture capital firm. Prior to becoming a venture capitalist, Ruby Lu was a Vice President in Goldman Sachs' technology media and telecommunication banking group in the US. Ruby Lu comes with extensive financial and global market experience, including board work in listed companies. She is well acquainted with the Chinese market and has vast experience from various tech companies.
Further information about all Board members proposed for re-election and new election is available on the company’s website https://investors.volvocars.com/en/agm-2023.
Election of auditors (item 13)
The Nomination Committee proposes, in accordance with the recommendation from the company’s Audit Committee, re-election of Deloitte AB as the company’s auditor for the period until the close of the next AGM.
The Board’s proposal to guidelines for executive remuneration (item 15)
The Board proposes that the AGM resolves on the following guidelines for remuneration to the Executive Management Team (including the CEO and any deputy CEO) (“EMT”). The guidelines replace the guidelines adopted by the annual general meeting 2022. In relation to the current guidelines, the proposal implies, in addition to editorial changes, amended performance conditions for awarding variable short-term cash remuneration. The Board of Directors has not received any views from the shareholders on the existing guidelines for executive remuneration.
Introduction and objective
These guidelines shall be applicable to remuneration to the EMT of Volvo Cars. These guidelines are applicable to remuneration agreed, and amendments to remuneration already agreed, after its adoption by the annual general meeting on 3 April 2023. These guidelines do not apply to any remuneration decided or approved by the general meeting.
The guidelines’ promotion of the company’s business strategy, long-term interests and sustainability
The company purpose is to provide Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. The business strategy focuses on maintaining a stable and strong platform for continued profitable and sustainable growth through personal and direct relationships with consumers, sustainable products and business, safe mobility with leading technology and a purpose-driven organisation. For more information regarding the company’s business strategy, please see the strategic direction section of the annual report.
A prerequisite for the successful implementation of the company’s strategy and safeguarding of its long-term interests, including its sustainability, is that the company is able to recruit and retain qualified personnel. To this end, it is necessary that the company offers competitive remuneration.
These guidelines enable the company to offer the EMT a competitive total remuneration.
Variable cash pay remuneration covered by these guidelines shall aim at promoting the company’s business strategy and long-term interest, including its sustainability.
Types of remuneration
The total remuneration package for the EMT may consist of the following components:
The components of remuneration shall be in accordance with market practice.
Additionally, the general meeting may – irrespective of these guidelines – resolve on, among other things, share-related or share price-related remuneration. Please refer to Share-based or share price-related incentive programmes below.
Variable cash remuneration
The satisfaction of criteria for awarding short-term variable cash remuneration shall be measured over a period of one year, whereas the satisfaction of criteria for awarding long-term variable cash remuneration shall be measured over a period of three years.
For the CEO, the short-term variable cash remuneration may amount to not more than 200 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary on December 31 at the end of each performance year, and the long-term variable cash remuneration may amount to not more than 150 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary the year the programme was implemented. For the other EMT members, the short-term variable cash remuneration may vary but amount to not more than 140 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary on December 31 at the end of each performance year, and the long-term variable cash remuneration may vary but amount to not more than 120 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary the year the programme was implemented. For information on the criteria for awarding short- and long-term variable cash remuneration, please refer to Criteria for awarding variable cash remuneration below.
Extraordinary arrangements
Further variable cash remuneration may also be paid out in extraordinary circumstances, provided that such arrangement is of a one-time nature and is agreed on an individual basis for management recruitment or retention purposes or as compensation for extraordinary efforts beyond the individual’s ordinary assignment. Such remuneration shall be in line with market practice and may for example include a one-time cash payment, retention bonus or severance payment in case of a change of control, or similar. The remuneration may amount to not more than the fixed annual cash salary for 1 year and shall not be paid more than once a year per individual. Resolutions on such compensation shall be made by the People Committee based on a proposal from the CEO if an EMT member (other than the CEO) is concerned and by the People Committee and the Chairperson if it relates to the CEO.
Share-based or share price-related incentive programmes
The Board of Directors may, irrespective of these guidelines, propose general meetings to resolve on long-term share-based or share price-related incentive programmes. The Board of Directors proposed, and the annual general meeting 2022 approved, a long-term share-based incentive programme comprising, amongst others, the EMT. The Board of Directors has proposed the annual general meeting 2023, and intends to propose forthcoming annual general meetings, to approve similar incentive plans. No new long-term variable cash programmes will therefore be offered to the EMT as long as there is a long-term share-based program in place.
Pension benefits
For the CEO, pension benefits shall be a defined contribution scheme and the pension premiums may amount to not more than 50 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary. Variable cash remuneration shall not qualify for pension benefits.
For other EMT members, pension benefits shall be a defined contribution scheme and the pension premiums may amount to not more than 30 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary. Some current EMT members have a defined benefit pension as part of a pre-existing agreement. To the extent that variable cash remuneration qualifies for pension benefits under the applicable collective bargaining agreement, the pension benefits shall be deducted from the cash payment and paid as pension.
Other benefits
Other benefits may include, for example, medical insurance, annual health check-up and company cars. Such benefits may amount to not more than 20 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary.
For employments governed by rules other than Swedish, pension benefits and other benefits may be duly adjusted for compliance with mandatory rules or established local practice, taking into account, to the extent possible, the overall purpose of these guidelines.
EMT members who are expatriates (i.e., are sent on an international assignment and are not on a local employment contract) may receive additional remuneration and other benefits determined in line with the company’s International Assignment Instruction which may include (but are not limited to) relocation cost, cost of living allowance, housing, schooling, home travel allowance and tax assistance. Such benefits may amount to no more than 160 per cent of the annual fixed cash salary.
Termination of employment
Upon termination of an employment, the notice period may not exceed twelve (12) months. Fixed cash salary during the notice period and severance pay may together not exceed an amount corresponding to the individual’s fixed cash salary for two (2) years, subject to applicable law. When termination is made by the EMT member, the notice period may not exceed twelve (12) months, without any right to severance pay.
Additionally, remuneration may be paid for non-compete undertakings. Such remuneration shall compensate for loss of income and shall only be paid in so far as the previously employed executive is not entitled to severance pay. The remuneration may amount to not more than 60 per cent of the monthly base salary at the time of termination of employment and be paid during the time the non-compete undertaking applies, however not for more than twelve (12) months following the termination of employment.
Criteria for awarding variable cash remuneration
The variable cash remuneration shall be linked to predetermined and measurable criteria which can be financial or non-financial. They may also be individualized, quantitative or qualitative objectives. The criteria shall be designed so as to contribute to the company’s business strategy and long-term interests, including its sustainability, by for example being clearly linked to the business strategy or promote the executive’s long-term development.
The variable short-term cash remuneration shall be linked to Volvo Cars’ earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), sales , and mission execution activities.
Variable long-term cash remuneration, which is not approved by a general meeting, if any, shall be linked to the satisfaction of certain performance conditions related to operating margin and revenue growth measured over the term of the programme.
To which extent the criteria for awarding variable cash remuneration have been satisfied shall be evaluated when the measurement period has ended. The People Committee is responsible for the evaluation. For financial objectives, the evaluation shall be based on the latest financial information made public by the company.
The Board of Directors shall have the possibility, in accordance with applicable law or contractual provisions, to in whole or in part reclaim variable remuneration paid on incorrect grounds (claw-back).
Salary and employment conditions for employees
In the preparation of the Board of Directors’ proposal for these remuneration guidelines, salary and employment conditions for employees of the company have been taken into account by including information on the employees’ total income, the components of the remuneration and increase and growth rate over time, in the People Committee’s and the Board of Directors’ basis of decision when evaluating whether the guidelines and the limitations set out herein are reasonable.
Share ownership guidelines for members of the EMT
Since the Board of Directors believes that long-term share ownership is an important way to create alignment between the EMT members and Volvo Cars’ shareholders, it has implemented the following policy of share ownership for members of the EMT.
The Board of Directors expects the CEO and other members of the EMT to accumulate personal holdings in shares with a market value corresponding to the value of 100 per cent of the EMT member’s annual fixed cash salary. It is expected that the personal holding of shares be established within five years from the listing of the Company and, for new hires, within five years from commencement of employment with the Group as CEO or other member of the EMT. The CEO and the other members of the EMT are expected to achieve share ownership by retaining shares allotted (net after taxes payable) under future incentive programmes. Further, upon reaching the recommended share ownership level, it is expected that the CEO and the other members of the EMT maintain shares of such value for the duration of their appointment as CEO or the other member of the EMT.
Remuneration guidelines governance
The Board of Directors has established the People Committee, whose tasks include preparing the Board of Directors’ decision to propose guidelines for EMT remuneration. The Board of Directors shall prepare a proposal for new guidelines at least every fourth year and submit it to the general meeting. The guidelines shall be in force until new guidelines are adopted by the general meeting.
The People Committee shall also monitor and evaluate variable pay programmes, the application of the guidelines for executive remuneration as well as the current remuneration structures and compensation levels in the company.
The members of the People Committee are independent of the company and its executive management. Neither the CEO nor any other EMT member participate in the Board of Directors’ processing of and resolutions regarding remuneration-related matters in so far as they are affected by such matters.
Deviation from the guidelines
The Board of Directors may temporarily resolve to deviate from the guidelines, in whole or in part, if in a specific case there is special cause for the deviation and a deviation is necessary to serve the company’s long-term interests, including its sustainability, or to ensure the company’s financial viability. The People Committee’s tasks shall include preparation of any resolutions to deviate from the guidelines.
The Board’s proposal on the implementation of a Performance Share Plan and an Employee Share Matching Plan in accordance with A.2 and A.3, respectively, and delivery arrangements in respect thereof in accordance with B.1 or B.2 (item 16)
The Board proposes that the AGM resolve on the implementation of share based plans, giving all permanent employees of the Volvo Cars group the opportunity of becoming shareholders in Volvo Cars. A division into two parts is proposed: one Performance Share Plan (the “PSP”) directed to the CEO, other members of the Executive Management Team (“EMT”) and certain other senior executives, and an Employee Share Matching Plan (the “ESMP”, jointly with the PSP, the “Plans”) directed to all permanent employees of the Volvo Cars group, other than the participants of the PSP. In order to secure the obligations of Volvo Cars to deliver shares to participants under the Plans, the Board of Directors further proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolve on delivery arrangements. The Board of Directors’ proposal for the Plans is set out in A. below and for the delivery arrangements in B. below.
A Proposal for the implementation of the Plans
B Delivery arrangements
(b) Transfers of Volvo Cars’ own series B shares to the Participants may be made on the following terms:
i. A maximum of 17,718,909 series B shares in Volvo Cars (9,886,909 Performance Shares and 7,832,000 Matching Shares) may be transferred free of charge to the Participants.
ii. Right to purchase series B shares in Volvo Cars free of charge shall – with deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights – be granted to each such person within the group who is a PSP or an ESMP Participant.
iii. Transfers of series B shares in Volvo Cars shall be made free of charge at the time and on the other terms that the PSP or ESMP Participants, as relevant, are entitled to be allocated shares.
iv. The number of series B shares in Volvo Cars that may be transferred under the Plans shall be subject to recalculation in the event of any intervening bonus issue, split, rights issue and/or other similar corporate actions.
2. Equity swap agreement with a third party
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting, should the majority required under item B.1 above not be reached, resolve that the expected financial exposure resulting from the Plans may be hedged by Volvo Cars being able to enter into an equity swap agreement with a third party on terms in accordance with market practice, whereby the third party, against a fee and in its own name, shall be entitled to acquire and transfer series B shares in Volvo Cars to the Participants in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plans.
C Majority requirements, etc.
The Annual General Meeting’s resolutions on the implementation of the PSP and the ESMP according to item A.2 and A.3, respectively, above, are conditional on the Annual General Meeting either resolving in accordance with the Board of Directors’ proposal under item B.1 or B.2 above.
Each of the Annual General Meeting’s resolutions according to item A.2 and A.3 above requires a simple majority of the votes cast. A valid resolution under item B.1 above requires that shareholders representing not less than nine-tenths of the votes cast as well as of the shares represented at the Annual General Meeting approve the resolution. A valid resolution under item B.2 above requires a simple majority of the votes cast.
D Other
The repurchase and transfer of shares in Volvo Cars are integral parts of the proposed Plans. Therefore, and in light of the above, the Board of Directors considers it to be advantageous for Volvo Cars and the shareholders that the PSP and ESMP Participants are invited to become shareholders in Volvo Cars.
For a description of the existing share price-related incentive plan, reference is made to Volvo Cars’ annual report for 2022, note 8.
The Board’s proposal for authorisation of the Board of Directors to resolve on new issues (item 17)
The Board of Directors proposes that the AGM authorises the Board of Directors to, on one or several occasions up to the next AGM, with or without deviation from the shareholders’ preferential right, resolve on new issues of shares of series B and/or subscription warrants and/or convertible bonds. The total number of shares that may be issued, by way of a new share issue, exercise of subscription warrants or conversion of convertible bonds, by virtue of the authorisation shall be within the limits of the Articles of Association and not exceed ten (10) per cent of the total number of shares in Volvo Cars at the time of the Board of Directors’ resolution. The authorisation includes a right to resolve on new issues for cash consideration, by contribution in kind or payment by set-off. The issue price shall, in the case of deviation from the shareholders’ preferential right, be determined in accordance with market practice. The Board of Directors shall be entitled to determine other terms of the issue.
The purpose of the authorisation, and the reason for any deviation from the shareholders’ preferential right, is to increase the financial flexibility of the company to enable the company to finance the operations in a fast and efficient way, acquire companies, businesses or parts thereof and/or to enable a broadening of the ownership of the company
In order for the AGM’s resolution in accordance with the Board of Directors’ proposal as set out above to be valid, the resolution requires approval of at least two thirds of the votes cast and the shares represented at the AGM.
Shares and votes
The total number of shares in the company is 2 979 524 179 shares of series B, each with one vote per share, corresponding to a total of 2 979 524 179 votes. There are no outstanding shares of series A. The company does not hold any own shares.
Shareholders’ right to receive information at the AGM
The Board of Directors and the 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 at the AGM regarding circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, circumstances that can affect the assessment of the company’s or its subsidiaries’ financial situation and the company’s relation to other companies within the Group. Shareholders who wish to submit questions in advance may do so by mail to Volvo Car AB (publ), “AGM 2023”, Gunnar Engellaus väg 8, SE-418 78 Gothenburg, Sweden or by email to investors@volvocars.com.
Available documentation
The financial statements, the auditor’s report, the auditor’s statement regarding guidelines for executive remuneration and the Board of Directors’ remuneration report for the financial year 2022 will be available at the company and on the company’s website, https://investors.volvocars.com/en/agm-2023, in connection with the publication of the company’s annual report on 9 March 2023.
The Board of Directors’ complete proposals for resolutions under items 15–17 and the Board of Directors’ statement pursuant to Chapter 19, Section 22 of the Swedish Companies Act are available at the company and on the company’s website. In other respects, the complete proposals are set out under each respective item in the notice.
Information about all Board members proposed for election and the Nomination Committee’s reasoned statement etc. are available on the company’s website.
The documents will be sent free of charge to shareholders who so request and state their address.
Processing of personal data
For information on how your personal data is processed, see https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf.
Gothenburg in February 2023
Volvo Car AB (publ)
The Board of Directors