Notice to attend Annual General Meeting of Bulten AB (publ)

The shareholders of Bulten AB (publ), reg. no. 556668-2141, are invited to the Annual General Meeting on Thursday April 26, 2018 at 17.00 at the company’s head office, at August Barks gata 6A, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Registration for the meeting will commence at 16.00. Light refreshments will be served before the meeting.

Right to participate and registration
Shareholders who wish to participate must be entered in the register of shareholders maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Friday April 20, 2018 and notify the Company by no later than Friday April 20, 2018.

Shareholders may register to participate in the AGM

• via the Company’s website www.bulten.com,
• by post to Bulten AB (publ), “Årsstämma”, Box 7835, SE-103 98 Stockholm, Sweden, or
• by phone on +46 (0)31-734 60 50.

On registration the shareholder must give his/her name, personal identity number or company registered number, address and daytime phone number and, where applicable, the name of any assistant, the name and personal identity number of any proxy or the name and personal identity number of any deputy. Registration forms are available from the Company’s website www.bulten.com. Alternatively, order a registration form using the same postal address or phone number given above to register for the AGM. Phone registrations may be made on business days between 09.00 and 16.00. Please note that the deadline for phone registrations is April 20, 2018 at 16.00.

A shareholder may bring a maximum of two assistants to the AGM if the Company is notified using the correct procedure when the shareholder registers for the AGM.

Access passes will be sent by post and must be brought to the AGM.

Nominee registered shares

Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee must, if they wish to participate in the AGM, have their shares temporarily re-registered in their own names. Shareholders who wish to re-register shares in their own name must advise their nominee well in advance before April 20, 2018. Re-registration must be complete with Euroclear Sweden AB by April 20, 2018.

Proxies

Shareholders who wish to send a proxy must issue a written, signed and dated power of attorney. If the power of attorney is issued by a legal entity, a certified copy of the relevant certificate of incorporation for the legal entity (or the equivalent document for foreign legal entities) must be enclosed with the power of attorney. The documents must be no more than one year old. The power of attorney may, however, state a longer term for the power of attorney, but no more than five years. Power of attorney forms are available from the Company’s website www.bulten.com. Alternatively, order a power of attorney form using the same postal address or phone number given above to register for the AGM.

In order to facilitate the registration process, the original of the power of attorney and the certificate of incorporation and other authorization documents should reach the Company at the above address no later than April 20, 2018.

Proposed agenda

1. Opening of the Annual General Meeting.
2. Election of chairman for the AGM.
3. Preparation and approval of the voting list.
4. Approval of agenda.
5. Election of one or two people to verify and sign the minutes, and voting supervisors.
6. Determination as to whether the AGM has been duly convened.
7. Presentation on the work of the Board of Directors and the Board’s committees over the past year.
8. Presentation of the Annual Report and audit report along with the consolidated accounts and consolidated audit report. Also the CEO’s report on the operation.
9. Resolution regarding adoption of the income statement and the balance sheet, and of the consolidated income statement and the consolidated balance sheet.
10. Resolution regarding allocation of the Company’s earnings in accordance with the adopted balance sheet and establishment of a record day for the dividend.
11. Resolution regarding discharge from liability to the Company for the Board of Directors and the CEO.
12. Presentation on the work of the nomination committee and resolution regarding establishment of
    (a) the number of Board members,
    (b) resolution of the number of auditors and deputy auditors.
13. Establishment of fees
    (a) to Board members,
    (b) to the auditor(s).
14. Election of
    (a) Board members,
    (b) Chairman of the Board,
    (c) auditor(s) and deputy auditors
15. Establishment of guidelines for remuneration for senior management.
16. Establishment of principles for appointing the nomination committee and instructions for the nomination committee, as well as remuneration for the nomination committee members.
17. Resolution to authorize the Board to decide on
    (a) acquisition of own shares,
    (b) transfer of own shares
18. Resolution to authorize the Board to decide on share issue
19. Closing of the Annual General Meeting.

Proposals for resolutions

The nomination committee’s proposals regarding items 2, 12, 13, 14, and 16

The nomination committee appointed in accordance with the procedure decided at the 2017 AGM comprised Öystein Engebretsen (appointed by Investment AB Öresund), Claes Murander (appointed by Lannebo Fonder ), Pär Andersson (appointed by Spiltan Fonder AB) and Ulf Liljedahl (Chairman of the Board). Öystein Engebretsen was appointed Chairman of the nomination committee. Ulf Liljedahl has not participated in the nomination committee’s preparations and resolution regarding himself.

Item 2: The nomination committee proposes that Ulf Liljedahl be elected chairman for the AGM.

Item 12 (a)-(b): The nomination committee proposes that the Board of Directors should comprise six elected ordinary members without deputies (a). It is proposed that the number of auditors should be one and that no deputy auditor should be appointed (b).

Item 13 (a)-(b): The nomination committee proposes that a fixed fee of in total SEK 2,150,000 will be paid to the Board of Directors, of which (i) SEK 450,000 will be paid to the Chairman of the Board and SEK 300,000 will be paid to each of the other Board members elected by the AGM who are not employed within the Company or its subsidiaries; that a fixed fee of (ii) SEK 75,000 be paid to the to the chairman of the audit committee, and SEK 25,000 will be paid to shall be paid to the other members of the Audit Committee, the payment being subject to the condition that the Director is elected by the AGM and not employed within the Company or its subsidiaries; (iii) SEK 65,000 be paid to the Chairman of the remuneration committee and SEK 10,000 be paid to the other member of the remuneration committee with a condition for payment shall be that such member is a director who is appointed by the General Meeting and not employed by the company, no remuneration be paid to the Chairman of the Board, as a member of the Remuneration Committee (a) and that remuneration to the auditor shall be paid according to approved invoice (b).

Item 14 (a)-(c): The nomination committee proposes to the board of directors for the time until next Annual General Meeting appoint Hans Gustavsson (re-election), Hans Peter Havdal (re-election), Ulf Liljedahl (re-election), Peter Karlsten (re-election), Anne-Lie Lind (re-election) and Nicklas Paulsson (new election) (a).

A presentation of the candidates that the Nomination Committee proposed for election to the Board of Directors is available on the Company's website www.bulten.com.

Nicklas Paulsson is CEO of Investment AB Öresund since March 2018. Nicklas Paulsson has more than 20 years of experience from investment banking and corporate finance and comes closest to Carnegie. Nicklas Paulsson is considered to be independent in relation to the company and company management but dependent on the company's major shareholders.

Moreover the nomination committee proposes that Ulf Liljedahl is elected Chairman of the Board (re-election) (b) and that, in accordance with the Company’s Nomination Committee’s recommendation, the registered public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers AB is appointed as the company auditor (re-election) (c). It is noted that PricewaterhouseCoopers AB has stated that if re-elected, the authorized public accountant Fredrik Göransson will remain the auditor in charge.

Item 16: The nomination committee proposes that the AGM adopt the guidelines for composition of the nomination committee with regard to members and instructions for the nomination committee that were adopted in 2017 to apply unchanged up to the next AGM. Some minor adjustments have been proposed for adapting to the revised Swedish Code of Corporate Governance. The Company shall therefore always have a nomination committee comprised of four people. In addition to the three largest shareholders in terms of votes on the final banking day in September having the right to appoint a member of the nomination committee, the Chairman of the Board shall also be a member of the nomination committee. The nomination committee shall itself appoint a chairman; the Chairman of the Board may not be the chairman of the nomination committee. The nomination committee’s term shall run until such time as a new nomination committee is elected. It is the job of the nomination committee, ahead of the Annual General Meeting, to propose a Chairman for the AGM, the number of Board members, a Chairman and other Board members voted in by the AGM, fees and other remuneration to each of the Board members voted in by the AGM and to members of the Board’s committees, the number of auditors, the auditors, the auditors’ fees, election of a nomination committee or a decision on principles for appointing a nomination committee, as well as instructions for the nomination committee and remuneration for the nomination committee’s members. Further, the nomination committee proposes that the Company be responsible for reasonable costs associated with the nomination committee’s assignment and that no remuneration be paid to the members of the nomination committee.

The Board of Directors has presented the following proposals regarding items 10, 15, 17 (a)-(b) and 18:

Item 10: The Board of Directors proposes that the profit of SEK 1,014,277,590.65 at the disposal of the AGM be distributed such that a total amount of SEK 76,348,901.25, equivalent to SEK 3,75 per share giving entitlement to dividend, be distributed to the shareholders and that SEK 937,928,689.40 be carried forward. The Board of Directors proposes that April 30, 2018 be the record day. If the AGM resolves in accordance with the proposal, the dividend is expected to be distributed to the shareholders by Euroclear Sweden AB on May 4, 2018.

Item 15: The Board of Directors proposes that the AGM decide to adopt the following guidelines for remuneration for senior management.

Remuneration for senior management

With the aim of being able to ensure the Company can recruit and retain qualified senior managers, the Board of Directors proposes that the fundamental principle be that salaries and other terms and conditions of employment shall be adequate for the Group to constantly attract and retain competent senior managers at a reasonable cost to the Company. Remuneration within the Group shall therefore be based on the positions’ character, performance, competitiveness and fairness.

Salaries and other benefits: Remuneration for senior management shall comprise a fixed salary in line with market conditions and based on the senior manager’s responsibilities, expertise and performance. The remuneration shall be confirmed each calendar year. In addition to a fixed salary, from time to time, a variable pay forms may occur to be paid in cash. Such remuneration may amount to a maximum of 60 percent of the annual fixed salary of the CEO, and a maximum of 40 percent of the annual fixed salaries of the senior managers. Bonuses shall primarily be based on the performance of the whole Bulten Group or the performance of the division or unit that the person in question is responsible for. The performance shall relate to the fulfilment of various improvements or attainment of certain financial targets. Performance objectives will be related to growth, operating profit before interest and tax depreciations (EBITA) and parameters related to return on capital employed (ROCE). The senior managers shall be entitled to the customary non-monetary benefits, such as health and medical insurance, a company car and occupational healthcare and suchlike.

Pension: Senior managers domiciled in Sweden may be offered a defined contribution pension agreement based on premiums which amount to a maximum of 35 percent of the fixed salary on an annual basis, (in addition there are pension benefits to which senior managers are entitled in accordance with ITP plans). Senior managers domiciled outside of Sweden may be offered pension solutions that are competitive in the country in which the persons are or have been domiciled or to which they have a significant link, primarily defined contribution solutions. Defined benefit pension solutions shall always be avoided where possible.

Period of notice and severance pay: For senior managers the main rule for the employee and the employer is a notice period of six months, with a maximum of 12 months. Severance pay, in addition to salary during the period of notice, shall be paid and, together with the fixed salary during the period of notice, shall total a maximum of 18 months’ salary. Personnel domiciled outside of Sweden may be offered periods of notice and severance pay that are competitive in the country in which the persons are or have been domiciled or to which they have a significant link, primarily solutions equivalent to those for senior managers domiciled in Sweden.

Incentive programs: Decisions on share and share-related incentive programs targeted at senior managers shall be taken by the AGM. It shall be possible to offer senior executives a similar incentive as that contained in the share incentive scheme or share price incentive scheme, if such schemes shall prove to be impractical for tax reasons in a country where a senior executive is resident, or if such participation in the company’s assessment is not possible at reasonable administrative cost or using reasonable economic resources.

Remuneration of Directors: If elected board members perform work that goes beyond the Board's work, they should be able to receive a fee for such work. Compensation should be adjusted to the conditions on the market and must be approved by the Board.

The Board of Director’s decision-making: The Board of Directors’ remuneration committee proposes and the Board of Directors decides on salaries and other terms and conditions for the CEO, the Executive Vice President and CFO, as well as other personnel in the corporate management.

Deviation from guidelines: The Board shall be entitled to deviate from the guidelines if in the individual case there is a special reason for the deviation. In 2017, the Board used the mandate to deviate from the guidelines established by the 2017 Annual General Meeting in a case where a senior executive received a one-time compensation for its extraordinary efforts, which meant that the total variable remuneration in relation to the fixed salary for this totaled 42.2% instead for a maximum of 40%.

Item 17 (a)-(b): The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorize the Board during the period until the next Annual General Meeting, on one or several occasions, to decide on acquisitions of the company’s own shares on Nasdaq Stockholm (“the Exchange”) in the context of a price per share that is within, at any time, the registered price range, or if the board assigns an exchange member to accumulate a specific amount of shares in their own book for a certain time, at a price per share within, at any time, the prevailing price interval or the volume weighted average price. The maximum total purchase of shares shall be such that the company's holding after the acquisition does not exceed 10 percent of the time to time all outstanding shares in the company. The company holds at the time of this notice 680,500 shares, corresponding to approximately 3.23 percent of the company's outstanding shares. Payment for the shares shall be made in cash. The purpose of the authorization to acquire the company’s own shares is to give the Board greater freedom of action and opportunity to continuously adapt the company’s capital structure and thereby contribute to increased shareholder value and enable the Board to utilise attractive acquisition opportunities by fully or partly financing the acquisition of companies, business operations or assets using the company’s own shares. The purpose of the authorization furthermore, is to ensure that the company can fulfil its obligations to the Participants the long-term share-based incentive program, the Annual General Meeting in 2016 decided to introduce and running until 2019 (“the Program”) and to enable transfers of the company’s own shares to cover social charges associated with the Program. (a)

The Board also proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorize the Board during the period up to the next Annual General Meeting, on one or more occasions, to decide on transfer of at most all of the company’s holding of its own shares on the Exchange and/or in another way with or without deviation from shareholders’ preferential rights and with or without conditions concerning acquisition in kind, offsetting of receivables against the company or other conditions. The transfer in order to cover the social costs of the Program may cover a maximum of 50,000 shares and the transfer of such an order may only be made on the stock exchange for a cash payment. The Board proposes that transfers be made with deviation from shareholders’ preferential rights concerning both the 680,500 shares held by the company on the date of this notice and those shares acquired with support of the general meeting’s decision in accordance with item 17 (a) above. Transfer of shares on the Exchange shall only be made at a price per share that is within the registered price range at the time and if transfer is made otherwise at a price that corresponds to the price in money or value of received property that corresponds to the share price at the time of transfer for the shares transferred with deviation considered suitable by the Board. The possibility for deviation from shareholders’ preferential rights in the transfer of the company’s own shares and the reason for a transfer price is justified by the fact that transfer of shares on the Exchange or other manner with deviation of shareholders’ preferential rights can be done with greater speed, flexibility and is more cost-effective than transfer to all shareholders. Furthermore the purpose is to enable that the best possible terms can be secured for the company while also giving the Board freedom of action in connection with the acquisition of a company, operations or assets. If the company’s own shares are transferred for a consideration in other form than money in connection with an agreement to acquire a company, operations or assets the company cannot give shareholders the possibility to exercise any form of preferential rights. The authorization also aims to facilitate the transfer of own shares to cover social security costs associated with the Program and to give the board increased scope for action and the opportunity to continuously adapt the company's capital structure (b).

Item 18: The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting decides to authorise the Board, up to the time of the next Annual General Meeting, on one or more occasions, to decide on a new issue of shares, subscription options and/or convertibles with or without deviation from the preferential rights of shareholders. The reason for the proposal and for deviating from shareholders’ preferential rights and/or the possibility to decide on the issue with conditions concerning acquisition in kind, offset or other conditions, is to give the Board flexibility in the work of financing and enabling an accelerated expansion and development of the Group, its markets and products, such as the acquisition of companies, operations or assets for which payment in full or part shall be with newly issued shares and/or enable the Board to quickly raise capital for such acquisition. The number of shares to be issued with such authorisation or which may arise through utilisation of options and conversion of convertibles issued with the authorisation shall be a maximum of 1,052,010 shares, corresponding to a dilution of approximately five percent of all outstanding shares at the date of this notice and the same dilution of the key figures for the share that the company reports. .

Number of shares and votes

At the time of issuing this notice, the total number of shares in the Company is 21,040,207. The Company has 680,500 own shares, which means that 20,359,707 shares are entitled to vote.

Majority Requirement

For a decision to be valid concerning the proposals under items 17 (a), (b) and 18 it is required that each proposal be supported by shareholders representing at least two thirds of both the votes and the shares represented.

AGM documents

The Annual Report and audit report for the 2017 financial year as well as the Board of Directors’ complete proposals and related documents in accordance with the Swedish Companies Act will be made available to the Company’s shareholders at the corporate website, www.bulten.com, from April 4, 2018.

The nomination committee’s complete proposals for resolution, presentation of proposed board,   motivating statements regarding the proposal for the Board of Directors, and report from the nomination committee’s work are available on the corporate website as from March 21, 2018.

All of the above documents will be sent free of charge to any shareholders who send a request for a copy and state their address.

Right of request

Shareholders are informed of their right according to 7 chap. 32 § of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551) to request information at the AGM about circumstances which could affect the assessment of a matter on the agenda and circumstances that could affect the assessment of the Company and the Group’s financial situation.

___________________________

Gothenburg, March 2018
Bulten AB (publ)
Board of Directors

For further information, please contact:
Kamilla Oresvärd, SVP Corporate Communications, Bulten
Helena Wennerström, EVP and CFO
Tel: + 46 31-749 59 00 e-mail: kamilla.oresvard@bulten.com

This information is information that Bulten AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication at 18:00 CET on March 20, 2018.

Bulten is one of the leading suppliers of fasteners to the international automotive industry. The company’s product range includes everything from customer-specific standard products to customized special fasteners. The company also provides technical development, line-feeding, logistics, material and production expertise. Bulten offers a Full Service Provider concept or parts thereof. The company was founded in 1873, has some 1,300 employees in eight countries and head office in Gothenburg. The share (BULTEN) is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information can be found at www.bulten.com.

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