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Teleste Corporation P.O.Box 323 FI-20101 Turku Finland
Tel. +358 (0)2 260 5611
Verkkolaskutus OVT-tunnus
003711022678 Operaattori TietoEnator Tilinumero TE003711022678

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Corporate Governance Statement 2009
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This Corporate Governance Statement report has been drawn up on the
basis of Chapter 2 Section 6 of the Securities Markets Act and of the
recommendation 51 specified in the Finnish Corporate Governance Code
2008 available in the Securities Market Association website at
www.cgfinland.fi.
Corporate Governance
Teleste Corporation aims at organising its management in a consistent
and functional manner. The governance is based on the Finnish Companies
Act and Teleste’s Articles of Association. Teleste shares are listed on
the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy (hereafter Stock Exchange). Teleste abides by
the Securities Market Act, rules and regulations for the public
companies issued by the Stock Exchange (including the Finnish Corporate
Governance Code), and rules and regulations issued by the Financial
Supervisory Authority. Since 1 March 2000 Teleste complies with the
insider guidelines issued by the Board of Directors of the Stock
Exchange in their valid form at any given time. These insider guidelines
are complemented by Teleste's internal guidelines. The company has
confirmed the set of applied values.
Annual General Meeting
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The Annual General Meeting (hereafter AGM) of Teleste Corporation is the
highest decision-making body of the company, it is held at least once a
year by the end of June.
The Annual General Meeting is held in Helsinki in the customary manner,
and it decides on any specified tasks in compliance with the Finnish
Companies Act. Issues decided by the AGM include approval of the
financial statement, allocation of profit shown in the balance sheet,
discharge from liability of the Board of Directors and the Managing
Director, and the election of the members of the Board of Directors and
the auditor. Responsibilities of the AGM also include making amendments
to the Articles of Association, decision-making concerning share issues,
granting of entitlements to options and other special rights,
procurement and redeeming of company's own shares and reduction of share
capital.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting shall be announced in a newspaper
as specified by the Board of Directors, or verifiably delivered, in
writing, to each shareholder using the address entered into the register
of shareholders, no earlier than two months and no later than 17 days
prior to the meeting. Since Teleste complies with the recommendation
included in the Finnish Corporate Governance Code, it issues the notice
no later than 21 days prior to the AGM hereby also observing the
regulations of the Companies Act.
The Board of Directors
Rules of Procedure
It is the function of Teleste Corporation's Board of Directors to carry
out any administrative duties in accordance with the law, statutory
regulations, Articles of Association and decisions taken by the General
Meeting. The operating procedures and main duties of the Board of
Directors have been specified in the Board's Rules of Procedure. The
Board shall resolve any matters of great importance in terms of scope
and magnitude to the Group's operation. The Board oversees and assesses
the operation of the CEO and the Management Group. The Board decides on
the criteria of the company’s compensation system and makes decisions on
any other far-reaching issues related to personnel. In line with the
view adopted by the Board of Teleste Corporation, the proceedings of the
Board will be carried out in an optimum way without formation of
separate committees but by involving the entire Board in the so-called
committee proceedings. The Board shall conduct an annual evaluation of
its performance and working methods.
The Board of Teleste Corporation has laid down rules of procedure
according to which the essential duties of the Board include the
following:
• Provision for the company business strategy and its revision at regular
intervals, • Approval of annual budgets and supervision of their
implementation, • Decisions concerning major investments and
divestments, • Handling and approval of annual financial statements and
interim reports, • Appointment of the President and CEO and discharging
him from his duties and specification of his responsibilities and
conditions of work, • Decisions concerning incentive and bonus systems
involving management as well as staff and presentation of any related
proposals to the General Meeting as required, • Annual revision of any
essential risks related to the company operation and management thereof •
Laying down the company values and policies.
Election and Term of Office of the Board of Directors
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The Chairman and other members of the Board of Directors are elected by
the Annual General Meeting on an annual basis. According to the Articles
of Association the Board of Directors shall have a minimum of three and
a maximum of eight members. In its meeting held on 7 April 2009, the
Annual General Meeting elected six members to the Board of Directors of
Teleste Corporation for a term that expires at the closing of the first
Annual General Meeting following the election.
The Teleste Corporation Board of Directors:
Marjo Miettinen, Chairperson, b. 1957, M.Sc. (Ed.), EM Group Oy, CEO Pertti
Ervi, Member of the Board, b. 1957, B.Sc. (Eng.), Independent Consultant Tero
Laaksonen, Member of the Board, b. 1946, M.Sc. (Math.), Professional Board
Member Pertti Raatikainen, Member of the Board, b. 1956, Dr. Sc.
(Technology), VTT ICT, Director Technology Kai Telanne, Member of the
Board, b. 1964, M.Sc. (Econ.), Alma Media Corporation, CEO Petteri
Walldén, Member of the Board, b. 1948, M.Sc. (Eng.), Alteams Oy, CEO
The Members of the Board are not employed by the company, and are in
line with the issued Finnish recommendations independent of the company
and any significant shareholders of it with the exception of Chairperson
Marjo Miettinen, who is CEO of EM Group Oy, a significant shareholder.
In 2009, the Board of Directors of Teleste Corporation had ten meetings.
The attendance of the Directors at the Board meetings was 98%. In
addition to the Members of the Board the meetings were attended by the
CEO, the deputy CEO and concerning interim reports also the CFO and
persons invited separately as required.
Remuneration for the Members of the Board
The remuneration of the Members of the Board of Directors is decided on
by the Annual General Meeting. On 7 April 2009 the AGM decided that the
Chairman of the Board be paid annually EUR 40,000 and each Member will
receive EUR 25,500 a year. Attendance allowance, which is paid
separately, stands at EUR 250 per meeting. Remuneration for the Members
of the Board will be paid so that 40% of the specified annual amount
will be company shares and the rest will be remitted in money.
Salaries, remuneration and other benefits paid in 2009 to the Board of
Directors were as follows: Marjo Miettinen, EUR 37,500 including 3900
Teleste shares Pertti Ervi, EUR 24,000 including 2437 Teleste shares Tero
Laaksonen EUR 24,250 including 2437 Teleste shares Pertti
Raatikainen, EUR 24,500 including 2437 Teleste shares Kai Telanne,
EUR 24,750 including 2437 Teleste shares Petteri Walldén, EUR 24,000
including 2437 Teleste shares
Tapio Hintikka, Member of the Board until 7 April 2009, EUR 500 Timo
Toivila, Member of the Board until 7 April 2009, EUR 500 Pekka
Vennamo, Member of the Board until 7 April 2009, EUR 500
President and CEO
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The scope of duties of the Teleste Corporation CEO is determined by the
law, the Articles of Association and instructions issued by the Board.
Detailed terms of employment of the CEO are specified in a separate
contract subject to the Board approval. CEO is not a member of Teleste's
Board of Directors. The current CEO of Teleste, Jukka Rinnevaara, b.
1961, M.Sc. (Econ.),
assumed his present responsibilities on 1 November 2002. Salary, fees
and other benefits received by the CEO are determined by the company
Board of Directors. Salary, remuneration and other benefits paid in 2009
to the CEO of Teleste Corporation totalled EUR 358,931. The contractual
age of retirement of CEO Jukka Rinnevaara is 60. The insurance premium
of the voluntary retirement insurance policy of the Managing Director
was EUR 71,000, which amount is not included in the paid salary and
remuneration. As to the contract of CEO Rinnevaara, his term of notice
has been specified as six (6) months in case the President and CEO
decides to withdraw, and eighteen (18) months should the contract be
terminated by the company.
Management Group
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The Teleste Corporation Management Group is chaired by the CEO who
reports to the Board of Directors. Members of the Management Group
consist of the directors of Teleste Corporation business sectors and the
group management.
The Management Group handles the issues that concern managing the
company, such as issues related to strategy, budget, interim reports and
corporation deals, and prepares investments for approval by the Board of
Directors. The Management Group meets once a month or at other times,
when necessary. Salary for all Members of the Management Group consists
of a fixed basic salary and a results-based bonus. The amount of
results-based bonus is determined by the company performance, the
business area in question and other key operative objectives. The Board
is in charge of bonus systems applied to the Management Group. For
details related to option specifics see Teleste's Annual Report 2009,
Notes section: Share-based payments. For holdings and stock options of
the President and CEO and the Management Group see Notes section:
Related party transactions.
Auditing and Revisions
The term of office of Teleste Corporation auditor expires at the closing
of the first Annual General Meeting following the election. On 7 April
2009 the Teleste AGM selected KPMG Oy Ab as the company auditor and
decided that the auditor’s fee will be paid as invoiced. The company's
chief auditor is Esa Kailiala, KHT auditor (authorised public
accountant). In addition to their statutory duties the auditors report
to the Teleste Corporation Board of Directors and attend the Board
meeting at least once a year. In 2009, Teleste Corporation's auditing
expenses totalled EUR 188 000 in which the share of KPMG was EUR 165
000. Moreover, auditing units of KPMG have supplied Teleste Group
companies with other consultation worth total EUR 66 000 and other than
KPMG auditors for EUR 37 000.
Insider Register
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Since 1 March 2000 Teleste complies with the insider guidelines issued
by the Board of Directors of NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Oy in their valid form
at any given time. These insider guidelines have been complemented by
Teleste's internal guidelines.
Membership in the Teleste Corporation permanent inner circle is based on
position. Thus, the group consists of members of the Board of Directors,
CEO and the auditors. Furthermore, the extended inner register includes
members of the Management Group and the CEO's assistant.
Moreover, insider rules and regulations include provisions concerning
temporary commercial activities. Project-specific insider register
includes personnel who, based on their position, have access to
company-related information, which upon publication may affect the value
formation of the company’s share. The CEO will assess, on a case-by-case
basis, whether an issue or arrangement under preparation will be defined
as a project.
It is recommendable for those included in the insider register to time
any intended trading involving company shares and derivatives in such a
manner that optimum information affecting the value of the shares is
available in the market at the time. The permanent members of Teleste
Corporation’s insider register are obliged by the so-called Silent
Period during which trading on company shares is banned completely for
14 days preceding publication of interim reports and the financial
statements. During the specified period Teleste Corporation will not
engage in any meetings with investors or analysts and no Teleste Group
representative is allowed to comment upon company results.
The company insider administration is included in the SIRE system of
Euroclear Finland Oy.
Internal Supervision, Risk Management and Internal Auditing
Internal Supervision
Teleste's internal supervision is designed to support the implementation
of the strategy and to ensure the achievement of the specified goals,
compliance with the regulations as well as reliability and correctness
of the conducted financial reporting. Internal supervision is based on
Teleste's values and corporate culture as well as on mutually supporting
structures and processes on the Group and operational levels. Management
of the Group and the business units monitor the internal supervision as
part of their normal managerial duties while the Board evaluates and
ensures its correctness and efficiency. Supported by Teleste's
centralised controller function, management of the relevant business
unit in both of our business units answers for the compliance with the
internal supervision principles on every level of the unit in question.
Risk Management
Group risk policy with the relevant principles and objectives are
subject to approval by the Teleste Board of Directors. Risk management
is based on the specified business objectives of the Teleste Group. Risk
management aims to ensure achievement of operational goals so that
essential risks affecting the business operation and posing a threat to
its objectives are identified and that these will be monitored and
valued at all times. The risk management methods are specified and the
implementation of risk prevention is attempted through the same.
Moreover, the risks that for economic or other reasons are reasonable to
insure, are aimed to be covered. In risk management, the regular
evaluation of most significant risks and exercising control in a
cost-effective manner are emphasised. Risk management supports the
business activity and generates added value, assisting decision-making
for the management in charge of business. Part of the risk management
system is monthly reporting by which the development of the orders
received, turnover, order backlog, deliveries, trade receivables and
cash flow is monitored and, through the same, the profit development of
the entire Teleste Group.
Teleste’s risk management system covers, for instance, the following
classes of risk: • Operational prerequisites • Personnel
risks • Property and business interruption risks • Interest
groups • Economic risks • Strategic risks
Internal Auditing
Internal auditing is in charge of the internal auditing of Teleste
Corporation and its subsidiaries.
The results are reported to the appointed member of the Board. The
internal auditing evaluates business operations, any related processes,
their involved risks and efficiency of the conducted supervision while
making suggestions for developmental measures. These activities are
performed in cooperation with controllers and other relevant bodies as
needed. Furthermore, the internal auditing carries out any special
assignments issued by the Management. The internal auditing covers all
levels of the organisation. Internal auditing is reported to the Teleste
Corporation Board of Directors twice a year. External auditor
participates in the selection of the priorities for the internal
auditing.
Key features of the internal auditing and risk
management systems related to the financial reporting process
Internal supervision and risk management involved in the financial
reporting process are based on the general principles of internal
supervision and risk management described above. CFO answers for the
systems involved in the internal supervision and risk management related
to the financial reporting process.
Internal supervision related to the financial reporting process has been
created by describing the reporting process, surveying any relevant
risks and by defining the control points on the basis of the conducted
risk assessment. Results from the risk and control assessment have been
reported to the Board. The entire reporting process from the accounting
by the subsidiaries to monthly, quarterly and annual reporting is
covered by these controls. There are inbuilt controls in the reporting
systems, or they can involve, for instance, matching, inspections
conducted by the Management or specified procedures or policies. CFO is
responsible for it that for each control there is a separately defined
person in charge who answers for the implementation and efficiency of
the control in question. Standards for the financial reporting are
specified in the Group Accounting Manual. Financial reports due for
publishing will be processed by the Management Group and the Board prior
to their publication. Correctness of the external annual financial
reporting is verified by the External auditor.
Updated
11.2.2010
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