Ratos: Notice of Annual General Meeting 9 April 2003
Board of Directors and Auditors
Re-election is proposed of Board members Olof Stenhammar (Chairman), Lars Berg, Peggy Bruzelius, Göran Grosskopf, Arne Karlsson (CEO), Jan Söderberg and Per-Olof Söderberg. New election is proposed of auditor Björn Fernström and deputy auditor Per Hedström for the period until 2007 Annual General Meeting has been held. Auditor Thomas Thiel and deputy auditor Helene Willberg were elected 2002 for the period until 2006 Annual General Meeting has been held. Shareholders representing approximately 70% of the voting rights in the company support this proposal.
Proposed dividend SEK 6.75
The Board proposes a dividend of SEK 6.75 per share (6.25). The record date for the right to receive dividends is 14 April 2003 and payment will be distributed on 17 April 2003.
Proposal for voluntary reclassification of shares
The Board will propose to the AGM that a conversion proviso allowing reclassification of A shares to B shares be added to the Articles of Association. If this proposal is approved by the AGM, holders of A shares will have a continuous opportunity to carry out a conversion to B shares.
Share buy-back
The Board of Directors proposes that the AGM gives the Board a mandate to decide, during the period until the next AGM, on repurchase of a maximum number of shares so that the company's holding at any time does not exceed 7% of all the shares in the company. The purpose of the buy-back is to give the Board more room for manoeuvre in its work to create value for the company's shareholders.
Incentive programme
The Board proposes a decision to issue a maximum of 510,000 call options on repurchased Ratos shares to be transferred at a market premium to a maximum of 20 key employees at Ratos. It is further proposed that the AGM decides on a transfer of a maximum of 510,000 shares in the company when the above-mentioned options are exercised.
For further information:
Olof Stenhammar, Chairman Ratos, +46 8 700 17 63
Arne Karlsson, CEO Ratos, +46 8 700 17 00
Financial calendar from Ratos:
Interim Report January-March 2003 12 May 2003
Interim Report January-June 2003 27 August 2003
Interim Report January-September 2003 12 November 2003
The announcement can also be downloaded from the enclosed link