Copenhagen, Denmark, April 19, 2025 Zealand Pharma A/S, a prominent biotechnology company listed on the Nasdaq (Ticker: ZEAL), has officially announced the launch of its long-term incentive programs (LTIP) aimed at its Board of Directors, Corporate Management, and employees for the year 2025. This strategic initiative aligns with the company's remuneration policy, which was ratified during the annual general meeting held on March 20, 2024.

The LTIP is designed to provide various equity awards, including restricted share units (RSUs) and performance share units (PSUs), to foster alignment with shareholder interests and enhance employee motivation and retention. The details of the awards are as follows:

• Board of Directors: 29,169 RSUs have been allocated.
• Corporate Management: 96,788 PSUs and the same number of RSUs have been awarded.
• US Employees: A total of 18,502 RSUs have been granted.
• Danish Employees: 128,519 RSUs have been awarded to employees in Denmark, excluding Corporate Management.

These incentive programs aim to not only align the interests of management and employees with those of the shareholders but also to attract and retain top talent in the competitive biotech sector.

Adjustments to Awards: It is noteworthy that the number of RSUs and PSUs granted may be subject to adjustments due to changes in the companys share capital structure or other significant events, contingent upon an independent calculation by Zealand Pharma's auditor or a third party.

Board RSUs Details: Board members who hold additional roles within committees, such as the Audit Committee or the Remuneration Committee, will receive supplementary RSU grants as stipulated in the Remuneration Policy. These grants are encapsulated within the total number awarded to the Board.

The RSUs allocated to the Board of Directors are scheduled to vest annually in equal portions over three years, culminating at the annual general meeting in 2028. The maximum number of RSUs that can be granted to any Board member in a given year is limited to 8,000. Furthermore, the total value of RSUs granted cannot surpass DKK 3 million for the Chair and DKK 1.5 million for committee members.

To ensure continued alignment with shareholder interests, Board members are required to meet a holding requirement within two years of their initial election, amounting to 200% of their annual RSU grant value based on the grant date.

Corporate Management RSUs and PSUs: Corporate Management members are also eligible for annual grants encompassing both PSUs and RSUs. The PSUs are contingent on achieving pre-defined performance targets, thereby incentivizing share performance compared to similar companies, specifically targeting total shareholder return against the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index.

The PSUs can vest at varying levels from 0% to 150% based on performance metrics over a three-year period, with RSUs vesting annually in equal tranches. The collective value of these awards for Corporate Management is estimated at DKK 82.2 million, based on an RSU and PSU fair market value of DKK 424.50 each.

US Employee RSUs: The RSUs granted to US employees are structured similarly, vesting annually over three years, with a total estimated fair market value of DKK 7.9 million. The RSUs entitle holders to receive one share in the company at no cost, contingent upon continued employment.

Danish Employee RSUs: Likewise, the RSUs for employees in Denmark will vest after three years, with an estimated total value of DKK 54.6 million, calculated from the same fair market value per share.

About Zealand Pharma A/S: Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Copenhagen, Zealand Pharma A/S is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based medicines. The company has successfully advanced over ten drug candidates into clinical development, with two already marketed and three in late-stage development. Zealand also collaborates with several leading pharmaceutical firms and has established commercial partnerships for its marketed products. For more information, visit

Mei-Ling Chen