The chairman and three executive directors of Parthus received unspecified dividend payments from patent companies on top of their normal remuneration last year.

The annual report of the mobile phone chip designer shows that chairman Mr Michael Peirce, president Mr Kevin Fielding, chief executive Mr Brian Long and executive vicepresident Mr Peter McManamon are shareholders in one or both of Parthus Research and Skelbrook Ltd.

A company spokesman said yesterday the two firms held patents for technology developed by Parthus.

He said the company would not disclose the royalties paid to the two subsidiaries or the dividends paid to the chairman and executive directors in respect of their shareholdings in them. Mr Long and Mr McMahon were paid salaries of $363,000 (€403,150) each last year, including bonuses of €84,000 and other benefits.

Mr Fielding, who was with the company for just over one month last year was paid $20,000. His current salary is $180,000 a year.

Non-executive directors Mr Bill McCabe and Mr SvenChrister Nilsson received $35,000 and $30,000 respectively in salary and fees.

The director's share options are also disclosed. Mr Fielding has option over 2.9 million shares exercisable at $1.08.

Mr Long and Mr McMan amon have options over two million shares each exercisable at 16 US cents and Mr Nilsson has options over 400,000 shares exercisable at 75 US cents.

Parthus shares were worth slightly over $1 yesterday, meaning that most of the options were "in the money". Mr Long is the largest shareholder with 40 per cent of the equity, while Mr McMahon owns 10.6 per cent and Mr Peirce has 3.45 per cent.

The annual report also discloses that Parthus pays £300,000 a year in rent to Veton Properties, a company in which Mr Long and Mr McManamon are shareholders.

Parthus lost $16.9 million last year on sales of $32 million.