Notice convening YIT Corporation’s Annual General Meeting
YIT Corporation Stock Exchange Release 19 February 2024 at 09:10 a.m.
Notice convening YIT Corporation’s Annual General Meeting
The shareholders of YIT Corporation are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Thursday,14 March 2024, starting at 11:00 a.m. Finnish time (GMT+2) in Messukeskus Siipi, located at the address Rautatieläisenkatu 3, 00520 Helsinki, Finland.
Check-in for those who have registered for the meeting, the distribution of voting tickets and coffee service will start at the meeting venue at 10:00 a.m. Finnish time.
Shareholders may also exercise their voting rights by voting in advance. Further information on advance voting is presented in section C. 2. of this notice.
Shareholders can follow the Annual General Meeting via a video stream in Finnish. It is not possible to pose questions, make counterproposals, speak, or vote in the meeting through the online video stream. Following the meeting via the video stream shall not be regarded as participation in the meeting or exercising the shareholder rights. Instructions on how to register for the video stream www.yitgroup.com/agm2024.
A. Matters to be considered at the Annual General Meeting
1. Opening of the meeting
2. Election of the chair and calling the secretary of the meeting
3. Election of the persons to scrutinise the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes
4. Adoption of the list of votes
5. Recording the legality of the meeting
6. Presentation of the financial statements, the report of the Board of Directors, the consolidated financial statements and the auditor’s report for the year 2023
The President and CEO reviews the year 2023 and presents the outlook for 2024.
YIT Corporation’s Annual Review, which includes the parent company’s financial statements, the report of the Board of Directors, the consolidated financial statements and the auditor’s report, will be available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com as of 19 February 2024.
7. Adoption of the financial statements and the consolidated financial statements
8. Resolution on the measures warranted by the profit shown on the adopted balance sheet and the distribution of dividend
The Board of Directors proposes that no dividend be paid based on the balance sheet to be adopted for the financial year 2023.
9. Discharge of the members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO from liability
10. Presentation and adoption of the remuneration report for the Company’s governing bodies
The remuneration report for the Company’s governing bodies will be available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com as of 19 February 2024.
11. Presentation and adoption of the remuneration policy for the Company’s governing bodies
The remuneration policy for the Company’s governing bodies for the years 2024–2027 is available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com and as Annex 1 to this notice to the Annual General Meeting.
12. Resolution on the remuneration of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and members of the Board of Directors and the remuneration of the Nomination Board
The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that the members of the Board of Directors be paid the following fixed annual fees corresponding to the previous year’s fees for the term of office ending at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting:
- Chairman of the Board: EUR 105,000;
- Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairmen of the permanent Committees: EUR 73,500, unless the same person is Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman of the Board; and
- members: EUR 52,500.
In addition, the Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that, based on the resolution of the Annual General Meeting, 40% of the fixed annual fee shall be paid in YIT Corporation shares to be purchased on the Board members’ behalf at a price determined in public trading from a regulated market (Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd). The shares will be purchased within two weeks of the publication of the interim report for the period 1 January–31 March 2024 or on the first possible date under applicable law. The Company will pay any costs related to the purchase of Company shares.
The Nomination Board recommends that members of the Board of Directors do not transfer the shares awarded to them as a fixed annual fee until their term on the Board expires. The Nomination Board views that long-term oriented and increasing share ownership by the members of the Board of Directors benefits all shareholders.
The Nomination Board further proposes that, as in the previous year, the members of the Board and its permanently and temporarily appointed committees living in Finland be paid a meeting fee of EUR 800 per meeting and members living elsewhere in Europe be paid EUR 2,000, also for meetings of the Board and its committees held via electronic remote connections or by telephone.
It is proposed that, as in the previous year, the Chairman of the Board and the Chairmen of the permanent and temporarily appointed committees be paid a meeting fee of EUR 1,600 per meeting. Per diems are proposed to be paid for trips in Finland and abroad in accordance with YIT Corporation’s and tax authorities’ travelling compensation regulations.
In addition, the Nomination Board proposes that, as in the previous year, the members of the Shareholders’ Nomination Board, including the expert member, be paid a meeting fee of EUR 800 per Board meeting and the Chairman of the Shareholders’ Nomination Board be paid EUR 1,600 per Board meeting.
13. Resolution on the number of members of the Board of Directors
The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and four (4) ordinary members be elected to the Company’s Board of Directors.
14. Election of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and members of the Board of Directors
The Shareholders’ Nomination Board proposes that Jyri Luomakoski be elected as Chairman and Casimir Lindholm as Vice Chairman, Sami Laine and Kerttu Tuomas be re-elected as members and Leena Vainiomäki and Anders Dahlblom be elected as new members for a term of office ending at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting following their election.
With respect to the election procedure of the members of the Board of Directors, the Nomination Board recommends that the shareholders take a position on the proposal as a whole. In preparing its proposals, the Nomination Board, in addition to ensuring that the individual nominees for membership of the Board of Directors possess the required competences, has determined that the proposed Board of Directors as a whole also has the best possible expertise for the Company and that the composition of the Board of Directors meets all other requirements of the Finnish Corporate Governance Code for listed companies.
Of the present members of the Board, Harri-Pekka Kaukonen, Barbara Topolska and Keith Silverang have announced that they are not available for re-election to the Board of Directors of YIT Corporation for a new term.
All candidates have consented to being elected and are independent of the Company and of its significant shareholders with the exception of Anders Dahlblom, who is dependent on a significant shareholder of the Company. Essential information regarding the proposed members, including the CVs and assessments of independence, is available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com/agm2024.
15. Election of the auditor
It is noted that the Annual General Meeting held on 16 March 2023 resolved on the election of the auditor and on the remuneration of the auditor for the financial years 2023 and 2024. Ernst & Young Oy, Authorised Public Accountants, was elected as the auditor for the financial year 2024, with Mikko Rytilahti, APA, serving as the chief auditor. It was also resolved that the auditor’s fee was to be paid according to their invoice approved by the Company.
It is further noted that in accordance with the transitional provision of the Act Amending the Limited Liability Companies Act (1252/2023), Ernst & Young Oy, elected as the auditor for the financial year 2024, will also act as the Company’s sustainability partner for the financial year 2024. The sustainability partner’s fee will be paid according to their invoice approved by the Company.
16. Authorisation of the Board of Directors to resolve on the repurchase of own shares
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board of Directors to resolve on the repurchase of the Company’s own shares using the Company’s unrestricted equity under the following terms and conditions:
A maximum of 21,000,000 Company shares may be purchased, corresponding to approximately 10% of all Company shares. However, the number of shares held by the Company may not represent more than 10% of all shares in the Company. This number includes all the treasury shares held by the Company and its subsidiaries in the manner provided for in chapter 15, section 11(1) of the Limited Liability Companies Act.
The Board of Directors is authorised to resolve how Company shares are purchased. Company shares may be purchased at a price determined by public trading on the day of purchase or at a price otherwise determined at the market. Shares may be purchased in a proportion other than that of the shares held by the shareholders.
The Board of Directors proposes that the authorisation shall revoke the authorisation to repurchase the Company’s own shares issued by the Annual General Meeting on 16 March 2023. The Board of Directors proposes that the authorisation be valid until 30 June 2025.
17. Authorisation of the Board of Directors to resolve on share issues
The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board of Directors to resolve on share issues under the following terms and conditions:
The authorisation may be used in full or in part by issuing shares in the Company in one or more tranches so that the maximum number of shares issued is a total of 21,000,000, corresponding to approximately 10% of all Company shares.
The Board of Directors is authorised to resolve on all terms and conditions of the share issue. The Board of Directors may also resolve on a directed share issue in deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription rights. Shares can be issued for subscription with or without consideration.
Based on the authorisation, the Board of Directors may also resolve on a share issue without consideration to the Company itself so that the number of shares held by the Company after the share issue represents a maximum of 10% of all shares in the Company. This number includes all the treasury shares held by the Company and its subsidiaries in the manner provided for in chapter 15, section 11(1) of the Limited Liability Companies Act.
The Board of Directors proposes that the authorisation shall revoke the authorisation to resolve on share issues issued by the Annual General Meeting on 16 March 2023. The Board of Directors proposes that the authorisation be valid until 30 June 2025.
18. Closing of the meeting
B. Documents of the Annual General Meeting
The above resolution proposals on the matters on the agenda of the Annual General Meeting and this notice convening the meeting are available on YIT Corporation’s website at www.yitgroup.com/agm2024. YIT Corporation’s Annual Review, which includes the parent company’s financial statements, consolidated financial statements, the report of the Board of Directors and the auditor’s report, as well as the remuneration report and remuneration policy for YIT Corporation’s governing bodies will be available on said website on 19 February 2024 at the latest. The resolution proposals, the financial statement documents and the other documents referred to above will also be available for viewing at the Annual General Meeting.
The minutes of the Annual General Meeting will be available on said website on 28 March 2024 at the latest.
C. Instructions for those participating in the General Meeting
1. Shareholders registered in the shareholders’ register
In order to have the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting, a shareholder must be registered in the Company’s shareholders’ register, which is maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy, no later than the record date of the General Meeting, 4 March 2024. A shareholder whose shares are registered in the shareholder’s personal Finnish book-entry account has been registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company.
Changes in shareholding after the record date of the General Meeting shall not affect the right to attend the meeting or the voting rights of the shareholder.
The registration for the Annual General Meeting begins at 10:00 a.m. Finnish time on 19 February 2024. A shareholder whose shares are registered in the shareholder’s personal Finnish book-entry account and who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting shall register for the Annual General Meeting no later than by 10:00 a.m. Finnish time on 11 March 2024 by using either of the following methods:
a) Online through YIT Corporation’s website at https://www.yitgroup.com/agm2024. Shareholders who are natural persons must sign into the online registration service using strong electronic authentication with a Finnish bank ID or a Finnish mobile certificate. Shareholders who are legal persons are required to sign in using their book-entry account number and their business ID or identification code. Alternatively, shareholders who are legal persons can authorise a proxy representative via the Suomi.fi service at www.suomi.fi/e-authorizations using the authorisation for ‘Representation at the General Meeting’. The proxy representative authorised via the Suomi.fi service must sign into the online registration service using strong electronic identification with a Finnish bank ID or a Finnish mobile certificate.
b) By telephone at the number +358 20 770 6890 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Finnish time on business days.
The requested information, such as the shareholder’s name, date of birth or business ID, address, telephone number and email address, the name of a potential proxy representative and/or assistant and the date of birth of the proxy representative, must be provided in connection with the registration.
The personal data disclosed by the shareholders to YIT Corporation will only be used in connection with the Annual General Meeting and the processing of related necessary registrations.
A shareholder, their representative or proxy representative shall, upon request, be able to prove their identity and/or right of representation at the meeting venue.
2. Advance voting
Shareholders with a Finnish book-entry account can vote in advance on certain matters on the agenda of the General Meeting through the service available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com/agm2024 between 10:00 a.m. Finnish time on 19 February 2024 and 10:00 a.m. Finnish time on 11 March 2024. Shareholders can sign in to the advance voting service the same way as to the online registration service referred to above in section C. 1. a) of these instructions.
Proposed resolutions that are subject to advance voting are considered to have been presented unchanged in the General Meeting, and the advance votes are taken into account in a vote held at the meeting venue also in circumstances where an alternative resolution has been proposed concerning the matter. Taking the votes into account requires that the shareholders who voted in advance are registered in the Company’s shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date of the General Meeting. Unless shareholders voting in advance are present at the General Meeting in person or by way of proxy representation, they will not be able to use their rights under the Limited Liability Companies Act to request information or a vote.
The instructions for advance voting are available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com/agm2024.
Holders of nominee registered shares can vote in advance through their account operators. Account operators can vote in advance on behalf of the holders of nominee registered shares they represent in accordance with the shareholders’ voting instructions during the registration period applicable to holders of nominee-registered shares laid out in the below section C. 3. of these instructions.
3. Holder of nominee registered shares
A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the Annual General Meeting based on the shares that would entitle them to be registered in the shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date of the General Meeting, 4 March 2024. In addition, the right to participate requires that the holder of nominee registered shares is temporarily entered into the shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy based on these shares by 10:00 a.m. Finnish time on 11 March 2024 at the latest. As regards nominee registered shares, this is considered registration for the General Meeting. Changes in shareholding after the record date of the General Meeting shall not affect the right to attend the meeting or the voting rights of the shareholder.
Holders of nominee registered shares are advised to request in good time the necessary instructions regarding temporary registration in the shareholders’ register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and voting instructions, registration for the General Meeting and advance voting from their custodian bank. The account operator of the custodian bank must register a holder of nominee registered shares who wishes to participate in the Annual General Meeting temporarily into the shareholders’ register of the Company at the latest by the time stated above. When necessary, the account operator shall also arrange voting in advance on behalf of the holder of nominee registered shares within the registration period applicable to holders of nominee registered shares.
4. Proxy representative and powers of attorney
A shareholder may participate in the General Meeting and exercise their rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. The shareholder’s proxy representative may also vote in advance in the manner described in section C. 2. of these instructions if they so wish.
The proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate their right to represent the shareholder in the General Meeting. When a shareholder participates in the General Meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares held in different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholder shall be identified in connection with the registration for the Annual General Meeting.
A proxy template is available on the Company’s website at www.yitgroup.com/agm2024.
Any proxy documents should be announced in connection with registration, and the original proxy documents should be delivered by post to YIT Corporation, AGM, P.O. Box 36, 00621 Helsinki, Finland prior to the end of the registration period. Alternatively, a copy of the proxy document can be delivered by email to agm@yit.fi, in addition to which the original proxy document must be presented at the meeting venue.
In addition to delivering a proxy document, the shareholder or their proxy representative must see to the registration to the General Meeting in the manner described above in section C. 1. of these instructions.
A shareholder who is a natural person may also choose to authorise a proxy representative in the online registration service referred to in section C. 1. a) of these instructions.
A shareholder who is a legal person may, as an alternative for a traditional proxy document, authorise a proxy representative by using the Suomi.fi e-authorisation service. The proxy representative is authorised via the Suomi.fi service at www.suomi.fi/e-authorizations (authorisation for ‘Representation at the General Meeting’). In the General Meeting registration service, the proxy representatives must identify themselves by using strong electronic identification, after which the e-authorisation is verified automatically. Strong electronic identification requires a Finnish bank ID or mobile certificate. For more information on e-authorisation, please see www.suomi.fi/e-authorizations.
5. Other information
The meeting will be held in Finnish.
Pursuant to chapter 5, section 25 of the Limited Liability Companies Act, a shareholder participating in 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 convening the Annual General Meeting, the total number of shares and votes in YIT Corporation is 211,099,853. On the date of this notice, the Company holds a total of 1,552,119 treasury shares. Pursuant to the Limited Liability Companies Act, shares held by the Company itself or its subsidiaries do not carry a right to participate in the General Meeting.
Helsinki, 19 February 2024
YIT Corporation
Board of Directors
Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki, major media, www.yitgroup.com
YIT is a leading construction and development company. Building on over 110 years of experience, we develop and build sustainable living environments: functional homes, future-proof public and commercial buildings, and infrastructure to support the green transition. We employ approximately 4,300 professionals in eight countries. Our revenue in 2023 was EUR 2.2 billion. YIT Corporation's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
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