Decisions of UPM-Kymmene Corporation’s Annual General Meeting
UPM-Kymmene Corporation Stock Exchange Release (Decisions of general meeting) 4 April 2024 at 14:50 EEST
Decisions of UPM-Kymmene Corporation’s Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of UPM-Kymmene Corporation took place in Helsinki, Finland, today, 4 April 2024.
The AGM adopted the Company’s Financial Statements 2023 and resolved on a dividend of EUR 1.50 per share for the year 2023. The dividend is paid in two instalments. The AGM adopted the Remuneration Report and Remuneration Policy for governing bodies, elected the auditor for the financial year 2025, and authorised the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of new shares and special rights entitling to shares, repurchase of the Company’s own shares and charitable contributions. Melanie Maas-Brunner was elected as new director to the Board. Emma FitzGerald stepped down from the Board.
Financial Statements and dividend
The AGM adopted the Company’s Financial Statements and discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO from liability for the financial period 1 January–31 December 2023. A dividend of EUR 1.50 per share is paid, as proposed by the Board of Directors. The dividend is paid in two instalments. The first dividend instalment, EUR 0.75 per share, is paid to shareholders registered in the Company’s register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date for the first dividend instalment on 8 April 2024. The payment date for the first dividend instalment is on 16 April 2024. The second dividend instalment, EUR 0.75 per share, is paid to shareholders registered in the Company's register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date for the second dividend instalment 31 October 2024. The payment date for the second dividend instalment is on 7 November 2024.
Composition of the Board of Directors
The number of members of the Board of Directors was confirmed as nine, and Henrik Ehrnrooth, Pia Aaltonen-Forsell, Jari Gustafsson, Piia-Noora Kauppi, Topi Manner, Marjan Oudeman, Martin à Porta and Kim Wahl were re-elected to the Board. Melanie Maas-Brunner was elected as a new director to the Board. The directors’ term of office will end upon the closure of the next AGM.
Adoption of the Remuneration Report
The AMG adopted the Remuneration Report for the year 2023. Resolution of the AGM is advisory.
Adoption of the Remuneration Policy
The AMG adopted the Remuneration Policy. Resolution of the AGM is advisory.
Remuneration of the Board of Directors
The remuneration of the Board of Directors was resolved to be raised so that the Chair of the Board is paid an annual base fee of EUR 231,000, the Deputy Chair of the Board EUR 145,000 and other members of the Board EUR 120,000.
The AGM further resolved that the members of the Board’s committees be paid annual fees as follows:
- Audit Committee: Chair EUR 45,000 and members EUR 25,000
- Remuneration Committee: Chair EUR 27,500 and members EUR 10,000
- Nomination and Governance Committee: Chair EUR 20,000 and members EUR 10,000.
The annual base fee will be paid in Company shares and cash so that approximately 40% of the fee will be paid in the Company shares to be purchased on the Board members’ behalf, and the rest in cash. The annual committee fees will be paid in cash. If the term of a member of the Board of Directors terminates before the Annual General Meeting of 2025, the Board has a right to decide upon potential reclaim of the annual fees as it deems appropriate.
The Company will pay any costs and transfer tax related to the purchase of the Company shares. Shares thus purchased may not be transferred within two years from the purchase date or until the director’s membership in the Board has ended, whichever occurs first.
The AGM further resolved that travel and lodging expenses incurred from meetings held elsewhere than in a director’s place of residence will be paid against invoice.
Election of the auditor for the financial year 2025
Ernst & Young Oy, a firm of authorised public accountants, was elected as the Company’s auditor for financial year 2025. According to Ernst & Young Oy, Authorised Public Accountant (KHT) Heikki Ilkka will be the lead audit partner. The audit fee was resolved to be paid against invoices approved by the Board of Directors’ Audit Committee.
Authorisation to decide on the issuance of shares and special rights entitling to shares
The Board of Directors was authorised to resolve on the issuance of new shares, transfer of treasury shares and issuance of special rights entitling to shares in proportion to the shareholders’ existing holdings in the Company, or in a directed share issue, deviating from the shareholder's pre-emptive subscription right. The Board of Directors may also decide on a share issue without payment to the Company itself. The aggregate maximum number of new shares that may be issued and treasury shares that may be transferred is 25,000,000 including also the number of shares that can be received on the basis of the special rights. The authorisation is valid for 18 months from the date of the AGM resolution.
Authorisation to decide on the repurchase of the Company's own shares
The Board of Directors was authorised to resolve on the repurchase of a maximum of 50,000,000 of the Company’s own shares at market price in public trading using the Company’s unrestricted shareholders’ equity. The authorisation also includes the right to accept the Company’s own shares as a pledge. The authorisation is valid for 18 months from the date of the AGM resolution and it revoked the repurchase authorisation granted by the previous AGM.
Authorisation to resolve on charitable contributions
The Board of Directors was authorised to resolve on contributions not exceeding a total of EUR 1,000,000 for charitable or corresponding purposes and to resolve on the recipients, purposes and other terms and conditions of the contributions. Contributions will be primarily granted under the Company’s Biofore Share and Care programme. The authorisation is valid until the next AGM.
AGM minutes
The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available on the corporate website www.upm.com/agm2024 from 18 April 2024 at the latest.
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UPM
We deliver renewable and responsible solutions and innovate for a future beyond fossils across six business areas: UPM Fibres, UPM Energy, UPM Raflatac, UPM Specialty Papers, UPM Communication Papers and UPM Plywood. As the industry leader in responsibility, we are committed to the UN Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the science-based targets to mitigate climate change. We employ 16,600 people worldwide and our annual sales are approximately EUR 10.5 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. UPM Biofore – Beyond fossils. www.upm.com
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