Stock exchange release
Free for publication on February 21, 2019 at 8.01am (CET +1)
Notice is given to the shareholders of Bittium Corporation to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday April 10, 2019 at 1.00 p.m. at the University of Oulu, Saalastinsali, at the address Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, 90570 Oulu, Finland. The reception of persons who have registered for the General Meeting and the distribution of voting tickets will commence at 12.30 p.m.
A. MATTERS ON THE AGENDA OF THE GENERAL MEETING
At the General Meeting, the following matters will be considered:
1. Opening of the meeting
2. Calling the meeting to order
3. Election of persons to scrutinize the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes
4. Recording the legality of the meeting
5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes
6. Presentation of the annual accounts, the report of the Board of Directors and the auditor's report for the year 2018
- Review by the Chief Executive Officer
7. Adoption of the annual accounts
8. Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting to be held on April 10, 2019 resolve to pay EUR 0.05 per share as dividend based on the adopted balance sheet for the financial period of January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2018, representing approximately half of the result of the financial period, and in addition, EUR 0.10 per share as additional dividend, totaling altogether to EUR 0.15 per share. The dividend will be paid to the shareholders who are registered as shareholders in the company's register of shareholders as maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the dividend record date, April 12, 2019. The Board of Directors proposes that the dividend be paid on April 23, 2019.
9. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the CEO from liability
10. Resolution on the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors
The three largest shareholders who represent approximately 12.7 percent of the shares in the company propose to the General Meeting that to the members of the Board of Directors to be elected be paid the following monthly remuneration for the term of office ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting: to the chairman of the Board of Directors EUR 3,150 and to the other members of the Board of Directors EUR 1,800 each. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors are entitled to compensation for attending Board meetings as follows: the chairman of the Board EUR 875 for each meeting and other members EUR 500 for each meeting. In addition, the members of the Board of Directors are entitled to compensation for attending Committee meetings as follows: the chairman of the Committee EUR 600 for each meeting and other Committee members EUR 400 for each meeting.
The above-mentioned shareholders propose that 50 % of the total amount of the monthly remuneration will be paid at once as Bittium Corporation’s shares acquired for the price formed in public trading. The shares will be acquired according to the share purchase program of the company. If the remuneration cannot be paid as shares due to insider regulation, conclusion of the membership in the Board of Directors, or another reason related to the company or the member of the Board of Directors, the remuneration will be paid in money. The member of the Board of Directors may not transfer the shares received as remuneration before his/her membership in the Board of Directors has ended.
The above-mentioned shareholders furthermore propose that the travel expenses of the members of the Board of Directors be compensated in accordance with the company's travel compensation policy.
11. Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors
The three largest shareholders who represent approximately 12.7 percent of the shares in the company propose to the General Meeting that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be six (6).
12. Election of members of the Board of Directors
The three largest shareholders who represent approximately 12.7 percent of the shares in the company propose to the General Meeting that for a term of office ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting following the election, Mr. Seppo Mäkinen, Mr. Juha Putkiranta, Mr. Erkki Veikkolainen, Ms. Riitta Tiuraniemi and Mr. Petri Toljamo be re-elected as members of the Board of Directors and Mr. Pekka Kemppainen be elected as a new member of the Board of Directors. All candidates and the evaluation regarding their independence have been presented on the company’s website www.bittium.com. All candidates have given their consent to the election. Mr. Tero Ojanperä has stated to the above mentioned three largest shareholders that he will no longer be available as a member of the Board of Directors.
13. Resolution on the remuneration of the auditor
Based on the proposal of the Audit Committee the Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that the remuneration for the auditor to be elected will be paid against the auditor's reasonable invoice.
14. Election of auditor
Based on the proposal of the Audit Committee the Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that Ernst & Young Ltd, Authorized Public Accountants, be re-elected auditor of the company for a term of office ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting. Ernst & Young Ltd has notified that Mr. Juhani Rönkkö, APA, would act as responsible auditor.
15. Authorizing the Board of Directors to decide on the repurchase of own shares
The Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that the Board of Directors be authorized to decide on the repurchase of the company's own shares as follows.
The amount of own shares to be repurchased shall not exceed 3,500,000 shares, which corresponds to approximately 9.81 percent of all of the shares in the company. Only the unrestricted equity of the company can be used to repurchase own shares on the basis of the authorization.
Own shares can be repurchased at a price formed in public trading on the date of the repurchase or otherwise at a price formed on the market.
The Board of Directors decides how own shares will be repurchased. Own shares can be repurchased using, inter alia, derivatives. Own shares can be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shareholdings of the shareholders (directed repurchase).
The authorization cancels the authorization given by the General Meeting on April 11, 2018 to decide on the repurchase of the company's own shares.
The authorization is effective until June 30, 2020.
16. Authorizing the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of special rights entitling to shares
The Board of Directors proposes to the General Meeting that the Board of Directors be authorized to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of other special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act as follows.
The amount of shares to be issued shall not exceed 3,500,000 shares, which corresponds to approximately 9.81 percent of all of the shares in the company.
The Board of Directors decides on all the conditions of the issuance of shares and of special rights entitling to shares. The authorization concerns both the issuance of new shares as well as the transfer of treasury shares. The issuance of shares and of special rights entitling to shares may be carried out in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive rights (directed issue).
The authorization cancels the authorization given by the General Meeting on April 11, 2018 to decide on the issuance of shares as well as the issuance of other special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10 Section 1 of the Companies Act.
The authorization is effective until June 30, 2020.
17. Decision making order
18. Closing of the meeting
B. DOCUMENTS OF THE GENERAL MEETING
The above-mentioned proposals for the decisions on the matters on the agenda of the General Meeting as well as this notice are available on Bittium Corporation's website at www.bittium.com. The annual report of Bittium Corporation, which includes the company's annual accounts, the report of the board of directors and the auditor's report, as well as the company's corporate governance statement, is available on said website no later than on March 20, 2019. The proposals for decisions and other documents mentioned above are also available at the General Meeting. Copies of these documents and of this notice will be sent to shareholders upon request. The minutes of the General Meeting will be available on the above-mentioned website as from April 24, 2019, at the latest.
C. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE GENERAL MEETING
1. Shareholders registered in the shareholders' register
Each shareholder, who is registered on March 29, 2019 in the shareholders' register of the company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd, has the right to participate in the General Meeting. A shareholder, whose shares are registered on his/her personal Finnish book-entry account, is registered in the shareholders' register of the company.
A shareholder, who is registered in the shareholders' register of the company and who wants to participate in the General Meeting, shall register for the meeting no later than on April 5, 2019 by 10.00 a.m. by giving a prior notice of participation. The notice has to be received by the company before the end of the registration period. Such notice can be given:
a) on the company's website at www.bittium.com, as from February 21, 2019 at 10.00 a.m.
b) by telephone +358 40 344 3322 or +358 40 344 5425 on weekdays between 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. or
c) by regular mail to the address Bittium Corporation, General Meeting, Ritaharjuntie 1, 90590 Oulu, Finland.
In connection with the registration, a shareholder shall notify his/her name, personal identification number or business identity code, address, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of a proxy representative. The personal data given to Bittium Corporation is used only in connection with the General Meeting and with the processing of related registrations.
The shareholder, his/her authorized representative or proxy representative shall, where necessary, be able to prove his/her identity and/or right of representation at the General Meeting.
2. Holders of nominee registered shares
A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the General Meeting by virtue of such shares, based on which he/she on March 29, 2019 would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders' register of the company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd. The right to participate in the General Meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholder on the basis of such shares has been registered into the temporary shareholders' register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd at the latest on April 5, 2019 by 10.00 a.m. As regards nominee registered shares this constitutes due registration for the General Meeting.
A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay the necessary instructions regarding registration in the temporary shareholder's register, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the General Meeting from his/her custodian bank. The account management organization of the custodian bank has to register a holder of nominee registered shares, who wants to participate in the General Meeting, into the temporary shareholders' register of the company at the latest by the time stated above.
Further information on the General Meeting and participation in the General Meeting is available on the company's website www.bittium.com.
3. Proxy representative and powers of attorney
A shareholder may participate in the General Meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder. If a shareholder participates in the General Meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares at different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the General Meeting.
Possible proxy documents should be delivered in originals to the address Bittium Corporation, General Meeting, Ritaharjuntie 1, 90590 Oulu, Finland, before the end of the registration period.
4. Other information
Pursuant to chapter 5, section 25 of the Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the General Meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting.
On the date of this notice to the General Meeting February 21, 2019, the total number of shares and votes in Bittium Corporation is 35,693,166.
Oulu, February 21, 2019
Bittium Corporation
The Board of Directors
Further information:
Kari Jokela
Chief Legal Officer
Tel. + 358 40 344 5258
Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Main media
Bittium
Bittium specializes in the development of reliable, secure communications and connectivity solutions leveraging its 30 year legacy of expertise in advanced radio communication technologies. Bittium provides innovative products and services, customized solutions based on its product platforms and R&D services. Complementing its communications and connectivity solutions, Bittium offers proven information security solutions for mobile devices and portable computers. Bittium also provides healthcare technology products and services for biosignal measuring in the areas of cardiology, neurology, rehabilitation, occupational health and sports medicine. Net sales in 2018 were EUR 62.8 million and operating profit was EUR 2.8 million. Bittium is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.bittium.com
Files
Release (wkr0006.pdf)