Proposal for repayment of SEK 184 million to Sectra shareholders
The Board of Directors of Sectra AB (publ) proposes that SEK 5 per share be transferred to shareholders through a 2:1 share split, combined with a mandatory redemption process. The proposal shall be addressed at the Extraordinary General Meeting on November 22.
All in all, the proposal entails that SEK 184,210,440 will be repaid to shareholders. The reason for the transfer is Sectra’s strong financial position, with an equity/assets ratio of 64% at the most recent reporting date. Sectra’s financial position for this financial year was significantly strengthened due to the divestment of the operation for the development, production and marketing of the Sectra MicroDose Mammography modality. Sectra’s financial target is that the equity/assets ratio shall amount to not less than 30%, which will be achieved with ample margin even following a decision about the redemption process pursuant to the Board’s proposal.
“We believe that Sectra’s continued expansion will be attained using existing liquidity and the cash flow generated in the operation. Sectra’s financial position is and will remain favorable even following a decision to repay SEK 184 million to shareholders,” says Carl-Erik Ridderstråle, Chairman of the Board of Sectra AB.
Further information about the Board’s proposal for the distribution of shares and the mandatory redemption process is stated in the Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting, which will be published in a separate press release today.
New dividend policy
The Board of Directors of Sectra AB (publ) has decided on a new dividend policy. The new policy is as follows:
Sectra’s dividend shall be adapted to the company’s capital requirements for the operation and growth, as well as to shareholders’ desire for dividend. The objective is to provide shareholders with a stable and favorable dividend over time and to adapt the dividend to enable the company to achieve an equity/assets ratio that is never less than 30%.
The former policy was as follows; dividend shall be well-weighed between the desire for direct return and the company’s capital requirement for growth and international expansion. In the long-term, the Board of Directors intends to distribute an average of 15-20% of the profit after tax to shareholders.
The information in this press release is such that Sectra AB (publ) is obligated to disclose in compliance with the Swedish Securities and Clearing Operations Act. The information was submitted for publication on October 27, 2011 at 8:15 (CET).
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Jan-Olof Brüer, CEO and President Sectra AB, tel +46 13 23 52 09
About the Sectra Group
Sectra was founded in 1978 and has its roots in Linköping University in Sweden. The company’s business operation includes cutting-edge products and services within the niche segments of medical systems and secure communication systems. Sectra has offices in 12 countries and operates through partners worldwide. Sales in the 2010/2011 fiscal year totaled SEK 784 million. The Sectra share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm AB exchange. For more information, visit www.sectra.com.
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