Indkaldelse til ordinær generalforsamling i Nordea Bank Abp

Nordea Bank Abp – Børsmeddelelse – Indkaldelse til generalforsamling

This notice is published in English, Swedish and Finnish. In the event of any inconsistencies between the language versions, the Swedish version shall prevail.

The shareholders of Nordea Bank Abp (the “Company”) are hereby summoned to the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 28 March 2019 at 1.00 pm EET in the Finlandia Hall, Mannerheimintie 13 e, Helsinki.

The premises open at 11.00 am EET. The registration of participation at the Annual General Meeting will be terminated at the opening of the Annual General Meeting at 1.00 pm EET.

A. Matters on the agenda of the general meeting
At the general meeting, the following matters will be considered:

1. Opening of the meeting

2. Calling the meeting to order

3. Election of persons to confirm the minutes and to supervise the counting of votes

4. Recording the legality of the meeting

5. Recording the attendance at the meeting and adoption of the list of votes

6. Presentation of the annual accounts, the report of the board of directors and the auditor’s report for the year 2018
 - Review by the CEO

7. Adoption of the annual accounts

8. Resolution on the use of the profit shown on the balance sheet and the payment of dividend

The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting that a dividend of EUR 0.69 per share be distributed for the year 2018.

The dividend is be paid to shareholders who on the record date of the dividend on 1 April 2019 are recorded in the Company’s shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy.

The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting that the dividend is paid on 8 April 2019, or as soon as possible after that day.

9. Resolution on the discharge of the members of the board of directors and the CEO from liability

10. Resolution on the remuneration for the members of the board of directors

The Nomination Board proposes to the general meeting the following annual remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors that are elected by the Annual General Meeting:

The Nomination Board proposes the following additional annual remuneration for Committee Chairs and Committee members:

No remuneration is paid to members of the Board of Directors employed by the Nordea Group.

In addition, it is proposed that the Company will cover or reimburse the members of the Board of Directors all direct expenses, including travel, logistics and accommodation, related to board work.

11. Resolution on the number of members of the board of directors
The Nomination Board proposes to the general meeting that, for a period until the end of the next annual general meeting, the number of members of the board of directors to be elected by the annual general meeting is set at ten.

Further, the Company’s board has three ordinary and one deputy members of the board of directors appointed by the employees.

12. Election of members of the board of directors and the board chair

The Nomination Board proposes to the general meeting, for a period until the end of the next annual general meeting:
- the re-election of Torbjörn Magnusson, Nigel Hinshelwood, Maria Varsellona, Birger Steen, Sarah Russell, Robin Lawther and Pernille Erenbjerg as members of the board of directors;
- the election of Kari Jordan, Petra van Hoeken and John Maltby as new members of the Board of Directors; and
- the election of Torbjörn Magnusson as chair of the board of directors.

Further, the Company’s board has three ordinary and one deputy members of the board of directors appointed by the employees.

Björn Wahlroos, Lars G. Nordström and Silvija Seres are not available for re-election.

Kari Jordan, M. Sc. (Econ.), born 1956, Finnish citizen, has a strong banking and industrial experience. He has recently left his position as CEO in Metsä Group (2006-2018) and he has approximately 25 years previous working experience from several positions within banking including within the Nordea Group and Merita Bank Plc. Kari Jordan is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Outokumpu Oyj and member of the Board of Directors of Nokian Tyres Plc and, in addition, holds several directorships in entities which do not pursue predominantly commercial objectives. He is independent of the Company and of its major shareholders.

Kari Jordan owns 100,000 shares in the Company.

Petra van Hoeken, Masters in Civil Law, born 1961, Dutch citizen, is an experienced banking professional who just recently left her position as Chief Risk Officer of Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A. She has previous experience from executive positions within ABN Amro (1986-2007), the Royal Bank of Scotland Plc (2007-2012) and NIBC Bank NV (2012-2016). Petra van Hoeken is currently non-executive member of the Board of Directors of Nederlandse Waterschapsbank NV, De Lage Landen (DLL) and Utrecht-America Holdings, Inc. She is independent of the Company and of its major shareholders.

Petra van Hoeken owns no shares in the Company.

John Maltby, BSc (Hons) Engineering Science, born 1962, UK citizen, is an experienced Board member in Financial Services and has previously held positions in e.g. Bluestep Bank AS and Tandem Bank. He also has experience from executive roles within banking. John Maltby is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Good Energy Group Plc and member of the Board of Directors of Simplyhealth Group, Pepper Money and Bank of Ireland UK. He is independent of the Company and of its major shareholders.

John Maltby owns no shares in the Company.

All proposed new members have given their consent to be elected as members of the board of directors of the Company and Torbjörn Magnusson has given his consent to be elected as chair of the board of directors.

It is the collective opinion of the Nomination Board and the Company that the proposed board of directors and its members are suitable for the assignment both collectively and individually and that Torbjörn Magnusson is suitable for the position as chair of the board of directors.

Applications for relevant authority approvals have been submitted with the authorities for all candidates.

Independence pursuant to the Finnish Corporate Governance Code
All proposed new Board members to be elected by the Annual General Meeting are, in accordance with the Finnish Corporate Governance Code, independent from the company and from its major shareholders except for Torbjörn Magnusson, who is not independent from the major shareholders of the Company. Torbjörn Magnusson is employed by Sampo Group and Sampo plc is a major shareholder of the Company with an approximate 20 % shareholding. In addition, the members and deputy member of the Board of Directors appointed by the employees are employed by the Nordea Group and therefore not independent of the Company.

13. Resolution on the remuneration of the auditor

The Board of Directors proposes, on recommendation of the Board Audit Committee, to the general meeting that the remuneration of the auditor is to be paid according to an approved invoice.

14. Election of auditor

The Board of Directors proposes, on the recommendation of the Board Audit Committee, to the general meeting that authorized public accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy be re-elected as auditor until the end of the following annual general meeting.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy has notified the Company that the authorized public accountant Juha Wahlroos would continue as the responsible auditor. 

15. Resolution on the establishment of a permanent nomination board for the shareholders and approval of the nomination board’s charter

The Nomination Board proposes to the general meeting to establish a permanent nomination board and to approve the following charter for the nomination board.

1. Duties of the nomination board
   The duties of the Nomination Board of Nordea Bank Abp (the “Company”) are to prepare the proposals to the general meeting relating to the composition of the board of directors, the chairperson of the board of directors and the remuneration of the board directors, and to present the proposals at the general meeting.
   
   In order to fulfil its duties, the Nomination Board shall take account of the requirements set out in the Finnish Credit Institutions Act, and furthermore, carry out any additional tasks set out in therein.
   
   The Nomination Board shall be entitled to employ, at the Company’s expense, a recruitment consultant or any other resource that the Nomination Board finds necessary in order to perform its duties. 

2. Composition and appointment of the nomination board
   The Nomination Board shall consist of the chairperson of the board of directors, as the convener, and further four members.
   
   The shareholders with the four largest shareholdings in terms of voting rights in the Company, to be determined on the basis of the book-entry register kept by Euroclear Finland Ltd, shall have the right to appoint one member each. If any of these shareholders should opt to waive such right, the right will pass to the shareholder that holds the largest shareholding in terms of voting right next to the said four shareholders. The same rule applies if such next shareholder should waive its right, whereby the right will pass to the next shareholder in the order according to the size of the shareholding.
   
   The Nomination Board may include other members of the board of directors in addition to the chairperson of the board of directors. The Nomination Board may not include members who are employed by the Nordea group.
   
   Each member of the Nomination Board is to consider carefully whether there is a conflict of interest before accepting the assignment.
   
   The Company shall publish the composition of the Nomination Board as soon as possible after its constitution.
   
    
3. Term of the nomination board 
   The Nomination Board shall be constituted yearly on the basis of to the Company known shareholdings in the Company on 31 August the year preceding the annual general meeting.
   
   The Nomination Board’s mandate is valid until a new Nomination Board has been constituted.
   
   The above is valid until a general meeting decides otherwise. The board of directors or any shareholder may propose to the general meeting that the Nomination Board shall be abolished.

4. Changes to the nomination board
   
   If an appointed member leaves his/her office, a new member shall be appointed by the shareholder having appointed said member.
   
   If a shareholder who has appointed a member to the Nomination Board subsequently should cease to have such right, the member appointed shall, after decision by the Nomination Board, be entitled to stay as a member of the Nomination Board as long as the shareholder who appointed the member owns shares in the Company. The Nomination Board may then attach members who are appointed by shareholders that after the constituting meeting of the Nomination Board are among the four largest shareholders in terms of voting right in the Company and that have not already appointed a member to the Nomination Board, thus enlarging the Nomination Board temporarily.
   
   The Company shall publish the changes to the Nomination Board as soon as possible. 

5. Chairperson
   
   The Nomination Board shall elect its chairperson. The chairperson of the board of directors must not be the chairperson of the Nomination Board.
   
   The chairperson shall ensure that the Nomination Board fulfils its duties. 

6. Meetings
   The chairperson of the Nomination Board shall ensure that meetings are held to the extent required to fulfil the duties of the Nomination Board.
   
   Minutes shall be kept for the meetings of the Nomination Board. Decisions made by the Nomination Board shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The minutes of the meeting shall be verified by the chairperson and one other member, who shall be appointed at every meeting.
   
   The minutes of the meeting shall be dated, numbered consecutively and archived in a reliable manner.
   
   The Nomination Board has a quorum when at least half of its member are present.
   
   Decision in a matter may only be made if all members of the Nomination Board have been afforded the opportunity to participate in the handling of the matter and provided with satisfactory information.
   
   It shall be strived for that all decisions regarding the proposals to the general meeting are made unanimously. If unanimity isn’t reached, any shareholder represented in the Nomination Board may present its own proposals to the general meeting in accordance with the Finnish Companies Act.
   
   Other decisions are made by a simple majority of the members present. In the event of a tied vote, the chairperson of the Nomination Board shall have the casting vote. 

7. Disqualification of a member of the nomination board
   
   A member of the Nomination Board may not participate in the handling of a matter pertaining to the member or where similar grounds for disqualification may be deemed to exist.
   
   In the event of a conflict of interest, each member is to consider carefully whether he or she shall resign from the Nomination Board. 

8. Proposals to the general meeting
   
   The Nomination Board shall submit its proposals to the board of directors of the Company no later than in such time to be included in the notice convening the general meeting. 

9. Confidentiality
   
   The members of the Nomination Board and the shareholders they represent shall maintain the confidentiality of all information concerning the proposals to the general meeting until the Nomination Board has submitted its proposals and the Company has published them.
   
   This confidentiality obligation of the members of the Nomination Board and the shareholders they represent also covers all other information disclosed to them during the work of the Nomination Board and shall remain valid until the Company has published the relevant information. 

10. Amendments to the charter
    
    The Nomination Board is to review this charter annually and propose amendments to the general meeting, if deemed needed.
    
    The Nomination Board is authorized to execute necessary technical updates and amendments to this charter.

16. Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on issuance of special rights entitling to shares (convertibles) in the Company

Nordea is required to satisfy certain capital requirements pursuant to EU and Finnish legislation. Within this legislative framework, capital instruments that absorb losses by converting into shares can be used to meet parts of the capital requirements. The Board of Directors proposes that the annual general meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to issue such capital instruments.

The purpose of the authorization is to facilitate a flexible and efficient adjustment of the company’s capital structure to the capital requirements. The authorization means that the Board of Directors will be able to swiftly carry out issuances without firstly holding an extraordinary general meeting, which the Board of Directors considers appropriate with regard to that these capital instruments principally are intended to be issued in the international debt market. The Board of Directors intends to use the authorization if the Board of Directors determines that the capital trigger level at which conversion shall take place is at such a level that gives the shareholders and the Board of Directors the possibility to act in good time and propose alternatives to conversion.

In light of the above the Board of Directors of the Company proposes to the general meeting to resolve on the following authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on issuance of special rights entitling to shares (convertibles) instruments in the Company.

It was resolved to authorize the Board of Directors for the period until the end of the next Annual General Meeting, on one or several occasions, with or without preferential rights for existing shareholders, to decide on the issuance of special rights entitling to shares, either new shares or treasury shares, against payment (convertibles). The maximum number of shares that may be issued based on this authorization shall be 404,995,191 shares, which corresponds to approximately 10 % of the Company’s outstanding shares.

The Board of Directors shall decide on all other matters related to the issuance of the special rights entitling to the shares in the Company. The issuance of convertibles by virtue of the authorization shall be made on market terms and principally be issued in the international debt market.

17. Resolution on

a) acquisition of the Company’s own shares in the securities trading business

In its securities trading business the Company, among other things, acts as a market maker in its own shares on the relevant stock exchanges and in indices in which the Company’s shares form a significant part as well as offers products related to the share. Should the Company not be able to trade in its own shares, the Company would not be able to provide a full range of products in the same manner as its competitors, which would lead to the Company losing market shares, and it would not be able to fulfil its current market maker undertakings towards relevant stock exchanges and the financial market at large.

The Company’s holdings of its own shares in the trading book shall not at any time exceed the applicable limits decided by the European Central Bank.

In light of the above, the Board of Directors of the Company proposes to the general meeting to resolve on the following acquisition of the Company’s own shares in the securities trading business.

It was resolved that the Company, for the purpose of its ordinary course securities trading business as a credit institution, may repurchase own shares as follows.

The Company’s own shares are repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shareholdings of the Company’s shareholders (directed repurchases). The facilitation of the Company’s securities trading business, in which the ability to trade also in own shares is required, forms a weighty financial reason for directed repurchases.

The number of own shares to be repurchased may not exceed 175,000,000 shares, which corresponds to approximately 4.32 % of the Company’s shares. The Company’s own shares shall be repurchased on Nasdaq Helsinki, Nasdaq Stockholm or Nasdaq Copenhagen, as the case may be, or from counterparties of the securities trading business outside of the market or through the use of derivative instruments, in each case, at a total price that does not exceed the market price prevailing on the relevant stock exchange at the time of the repurchase or the time of entry into the relevant derivative instrument, as the case may be. The Company’s own shares to be repurchased shall be offered to the Company no later than at the time of the repurchase and shall be paid for no later than upon delivery of such shares. The Company’s own shares are repurchased using the invested unrestricted equity fund of the Company.

The Company’s own shares shall be repurchased before the end of the next annual general meeting of shareholders.

b) transfer of the Company’s own shares in the securities trading business

In its securities trading business the Company, among other things, acts as a market maker in its own shares on the relevant stock exchanges and in indices in which the Company’s shares form a significant part as well as offers products related to the share. Should the Company not be able to trade in its own shares, the Company would not be able to provide a full range of products in the same manner as its competitors, which would lead to the Company losing market shares, and it would not be able to fulfil its current market maker undertakings towards relevant stock exchanges and the financial market at large.

In light of the above, the Board of Directors of the Company proposes to the general meeting to resolve on the following transfer of the Company’s own shares in the securities trading business.

It was resolved that the Company, for the purpose of its ordinary course securities trading business as a credit institution, may transfer its existing own shares for consideration as follows (reissue of shares from treasury).

The Company may transfer its own shares in its ordinary course securities trading business with deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive rights by way of a directed share issuance. The facilitation of the Company’s securities trading business, in which the ability to trade also in own shares is required, forms a weighty financial reason for a directed issue.

The number of own shares to be transferred may not exceed 175,000,000 shares, which corresponds to approximately 4.32 % of the Company’s shares. The Company’s own shares shall be transferred through Nasdaq Helsinki, Nasdaq Stockholm or Nasdaq Copenhagen, as the case may be, or directly to counterparties of the securities trading business at a price that is no less than the market price prevailing on the relevant stock exchange at the time of the sale or at the time of the entry into the relevant derivative instrument, as the case may be. The Company’s own shares to be transferred shall be subscribed for no later than at the time of the sale and shall be paid for no later than upon delivery of such shares. The subscription price shall be recorded in the invested unrestricted equity fund of the Company.

Own shares shall be transferred before the subscription period expires, that is, at the end of the next annual general meeting of shareholders.

It was resolved to approve all subscriptions that will be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the directed issuance.

18. Resolution on authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on

a) acquisition of the Company’s own shares

The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting to resolve on the following authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on repurchase of own shares.

It was resolved to authorize the Board of Directors to decide on the repurchase of not more than 225,000,000 shares, which corresponds to approximately 5.56 % of the total number of shares in the Company, subject to that the number of own shares held by the Company at any given time may not exceed 10 % of all the shares in the Company.

The shares may be repurchased on one or several occasions either through an offer to all shareholders on equal terms or through other means and in another proportion than that of the shares held by current shareholders (directed repurchases). The Company’s own shares shall be repurchased using the unrestricted equity of the Company.

The Company’s own shares shall be repurchased at a price that does not exceed the market price prevailing on the relevant stock exchange at the time of the repurchase or otherwise at a price formed on the market.

The Company’s own shares may be repurchased to be used in the Company’s variable pay plans in accordance with regulatory requirements and/or as required for new variable pay plans for executive officers, senior management, other material risk takers and other employees as appropriate or in order to optimize the capital structure of the Company or to be used as payment in connection with acquisitions of companies and businesses and may hence be further transferred or cancelled. However, the number of the Company’s own shares to be repurchased for remuneration purposes may not exceed 25,000,000 shares and the number of the Company’s own shares to be repurchased to optimize the capital structure may not exceed 200,000,000 shares.

The Board of Directors is authorized to decide on all other terms concerning acquisition of the Company's own shares, including how shares are to be repurchased and whether the repurchased shares shall be transferred or cancelled. The authorization shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (i) the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company or (ii) 18 months from the decision by the annual general meeting.

In addition to the terms in the above proposal, it is noted that any decision by the Board of Directors to repurchase shares based on the proposed authorization will also be subject to that the Company has obtained the necessary regulatory permissions from the European Central Bank.

b) share issuances or the transfer of the Company’s own shares

The Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting to resolve on the following authorization for the Board of Directors to decide on share issuances or the transfer of own shares.

It was resolved to authorize the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of new shares or transfer of own shares in an amount of not more than 30,000,000 shares in total, which corresponds to approximately 0.74 % of the total number of shares in the Company, on one or several occasions. The shares may be issued or transferred with deviation from the shareholders’ pre-emptive rights by way of directed issues (directed issues). The shares to be issued or transferred shall be used to implement the Company’s variable pay plans in line with regulatory requirements and/or as required for new variable pay plans for executive officers, senior management, other material risk takers and other employees as appropriate or as payment in connection with acquisitions of companies and businesses.

The Board of Directors is authorized to decide on all other terms concerning the issuance of new shares in the Company or transfers of the Company's own shares. The authorization shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier of (i) the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company or (ii) 18 months from the decision by the annual general meeting.”

19. Resolution on the maximum ratio between fixed and variable component of total remuneration

With reference to the background below, the Board of Directors proposes to the general meeting to resolve on the following maximum ratio between the variable component and the fixed component of the total remuneration. 

1. The maximum ratio between the variable component and the fixed component of the total remuneration for each individual shall be 200 %.
   
   
2. The maximum ratio shall apply to remuneration awarded to Identified Staff including Group Executive Management, non-Identified Staff currently in the divisions Wholesale Banking and Asset Management as well as a maximum of 250 selected key employees in other divisions of Nordea, subject to CEO approval.
   
   
3. The maximum ratio shall apply for the performance year 2019 and onwards.
   
   
4. The Company shall exercise its voting rights to approve that a 200 % Cap for the above mentioned categories of staff applies also in subsidiaries of the Company, unless prevented by binding local rules and regulations. 

Background for the Board’s proposal

The Finnish Credit Institution Act includes a requirement that the ratio of the variable remuneration cannot exceed 100 % of the fixed remuneration for each recipient of variable remuneration (the “Cap”). The maximum ratio may be increased to 200 % if approved by shareholders.

The maximum ratio between the variable and the fixed remuneration for Identified Staff follows from EU rules on capital requirements for credit institutions and investment firms, Directive 2013/36/EU (“CRD IV”). Identified Staff covers senior management, staff whose professional activity could have a material impact on the risk profile of the credit institution, certain staff engaged in control functions and any employee receiving total remuneration that takes them into the same remuneration bracket as senior management and risk takers.

The Finnish Credit Institution Act implements the CRD IV requirement to apply not only for Identified Staff but to all staff receiving variable pay.

The Cap is proposed to be set to 200 % and to apply for Identified Staff including Group Executive Management as well as non-Identified Staff in the divisions Wholesale Banking and Asset Management as well as up to 250 selected key employees in other divisions, subject to approval from the Group CEO.

It is further proposed that the Company exercises its voting rights to approve that a 200 % Cap applies also for the specified categories of staff in subsidiaries of the Company, unless prevented by binding local rules and regulations.

Introduction of a maximum Cap

In order to continue remuneration structures in force before Nordea’s re-domiciliation to Finland and to maintain the position as a leading European bank for business areas with employees directly exposed to international competition, Nordea must have the possibility to offer remuneration schemes not deviating substantially from international market standards. This means that Nordea wishes to be able to apply a Cap of 200 % of fixed pay for certain categories of employees. The alternative would be to increase the fixed remuneration, which would reduce Nordea’s cost-base flexibility. It would also imply a “guarantee” of a greater level of pay-out and reduction of deferred variable remuneration, reducing the impact of possible ex-post reductions.

Total remuneration aligned with performance and prudent risk-taking gives appropriate cost-base flexibility and supports Nordea’s ability to strengthen its capital base without limitations due to high fixed costs.

The Board of Directors is considering introducing a share-based long term incentive plan for members of the Group Executive Management and a small number of senior leaders in Nordea to further align to the long term interest of Nordea and its shareholders. The introduction of a share-based long term incentive plan would also align the remuneration structure of Nordea to its European peers.

The total number of participants considered is 40-60, including Group Executive Management. Members of the Board of Directors are not in scope.

To ensure the further alignment of Nordea and its shareholders, the long term incentive plan would be fully share based and not comprise any cash awards. A share ownership requirement for the CEO and members of the Group Executive Management will be introduced in connection with such a decision.

Share awards from a long term incentive plan are considered to commence from 2020, with any awards to include a 1-year pre-grant assessment period from 2019 followed by a 3-year performance period with deferral and retention according to applicable regulations. The shares would vest after the end of each deferral period with restricted disposal rights during the following retention period of 12-24 months. The terms of the long term incentive plan will also include forfeiture and claw-back provisions. 

Approval of a 200 % Cap as outlined in this proposal would also support the implementation of a share-based long term incentive plan, if decided by the Board of Directors.

The number of staff affected, their functions and the expected impact on the requirement to maintain a sound capital base

If the proposed Cap is approved, approximately 1,800 staff in Nordea will continue to or may be eligible for a Cap of up to 200 %, subject to individual agreement.

The proposal will not have any impact on the solvency of Nordea.

In addition to Identified Staff, including Group Executive Management, employees with the following functions shall be in scope for the Cap, which will be applicable subject to individual agreement:

• Portfolio management and associated functions

• Investment management and associated functions

• Sales and relationship management and associated functions

• Distribution of products and associated functions

• Dealers and associated functions

• Analysts and associated functions

• Advisory services and associated functions

• Capital, liquidity, funding and market risk

• Strategic leaders and other leaders in Nordea’s senior management

• Other key employees driving or contributing significantly to Nordea’s transformation

Most of the employees in scope of the Cap currently work within Wholesale Banking and Asset Management. However, the Cap is proposed to also cover up to 250 staff members within other divisions of Nordea including selected staff in Nordea’s senior management and other key employees across other of Nordea’s business areas/group functions, where it is proposed that variable remuneration opportunity above 100 % of fixed remuneration is approved by the Group CEO with a view to avoid fixed pay increases.

The Cap for employees outside the groups and divisions mentioned above is 100 % or lower.

The preparation of this proposal

After preparation by the Board Remuneration Committee the Board of Directors has resolved to propose the general meeting the above proposal for a Cap.

20. Closing of the meeting

B. Documents of the general meeting

The proposals for decisions on the matters on the agenda of the general meeting and this notice are available on the Company’s web site www.nordea.com.

The decision proposals, the annual report, the report of the Board of Directors and the auditor’s report are available on the Company’s web site www.nordea.com at the latest on 7 March 2019 and will be sent free of charge to shareholders requesting such information and stating their postal address. The minutes of the general meeting will be available at the Company’s web site www.nordea.com from 11 April 2019 at the latest.

C. Instructions for the participants in the general meeting

Each shareholder who is registered on 18 March 2019 in the shareholders’ register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd, has the right to participate in the general meeting. A shareholder whose shares are registered on the shareholder’s personal Finnish book-entry account, is registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company.

Shareholders who wish to participate in the general meeting shall notify the Company thereof according to the instructions set out below.

In connection with the registration the shareholder shall notify the shareholder’s name, personal identification number, email address, address, telephone number and the name of a possible assistant or proxy representative and the personal identification number of the proxy representative. The personal data given by the shareholders to the Company is used only in connection with the general meeting and with the processing of related registrations.

Shareholders, assistants and proxy representatives shall show their identification document at the entry to the general meeting.

Participants with shares registered with Euroclear Finland Ltd in Finland

Notification of participation in the annual general meeting shall be made at the latest on 22 March 2019

- at the Company’s web site www.nordea.com,
- by telephone +358 942 721 429, or
- by post under address Computershare AB, ”Nordea’s AGM 2019”, Aleksanterinkatu 15B, 6. krs, 00100 Helsinki, Finland.

Participants with shares registered with Euroclear Sweden AB in Sweden

Notification of participation in the annual general meeting shall be made at the latest on 19 March 2019

- at the Company’s web site www.nordea.com,
- by telephone +46 8 518 01 553, or
- by post under address Computershare AB, ”Nordea’s AGM 2019”, Box 610, SE-182 16 Danderyd, Sweden.

Shareholders must also be registered in the shareholders’ own names in the share register held by Euroclear Sweden AB on 18 March 2019 to be entitled to participate in the general meeting. Such shareholders are re-registered by the Company in the shareholders’ register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd when the shareholder has notified for the general meeting as set out above.

Shareholders whose shares are held in trust in Sweden must ask the trustee to re-register their shares in the shareholders’ own names in the share register held by Euroclear Sweden AB in good time prior to 18 March 2019.

Participants with shares registered with VP Securities A/S in Denmark

Notification of participation in the annual general meeting shall be made at the latest on 19 March 2019

- at the Company’s web site www.nordea.com,
- by telephone +45 45 46 09 97, or
- by post under address Computershare A/S, ”Nordea’s AGM 2019”, Lottenborgvej 26 D, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.

Shareholders must also be registered in the shareholders’ own names in the share register held by VP Securities A/S on 18 March 2019 to be entitled to participate in the general meeting. Such shareholders are re-registered by the Company in the shareholders’ register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd when the shareholder has notified for the general meeting as set out above.

Holders of nominee registered shares

A holder of nominee registered shares has the right to participate in the general meeting by virtue of such shares, based on which he/she on the record date of the general meeting on 18 March 2019 would be entitled to be registered in the shareholders’ register of the Company held by Euroclear Finland Ltd. The right to participate in the general meeting requires, in addition, that the shareholders on the basis of such shares has been registered into the temporary shareholders’ register held by Euroclear Finland Ltd at the latest by 25 March 2019 at 10.00 am EET. As regards nominee registered shares this constitutes due registration for the general meeting.

A holder of nominee registered shares is advised to request without delay necessary instructions regarding the registration in the temporary shareholders’ register of the Company, the issuing of proxy documents and registration for the general meeting from his/her custodian bank. The account management organization of the custodian bank has to register a holder of nominee registered shares, who wants to participate in the general meeting, into the temporary shareholders’ register of the Company at the latest by the time stated above.

Proxy representative and powers of attorney

A shareholder may participate in the general meeting and exercise his/her rights at the meeting by way of proxy representation. A proxy representative shall produce a dated proxy document or otherwise in a reliable manner demonstrate his/her right to represent the shareholder at the general meeting. When a shareholder participates in the general meeting by means of several proxy representatives representing the shareholder with shares at different securities accounts, the shares by which each proxy representative represents the shareholders shall be identified in connection with the registration for the general meeting.

Proxy documents in original should in good time and before 22 March 2019 be sent to the Company under any of the addresses stated above under C. Instructions for the participants in the general meeting.

Other information

Pursuant to chapter 5, section 25 of the Finnish Companies Act, a shareholder who is present at the general meeting has the right to request information with respect to the matters to be considered at the meeting.

On the day of this notice to the general meeting, 21 February 2019, the total number of shares in the Company is 4,049,951,919 which equals 4,049,951,919 votes.  

Helsinki on 21 February 2019
Nordea Bank Abp
The Board of Directors

For further information:
Rodney Alfvén, Head of Investor Relations, +46 72 235 05 15

This stock exchange release was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08.30 EET on 21 February 2019.

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