Outotec Oyj’s Annual General Meeting was held today, March 31, 2014, in Helsinki, Finland. The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Matti Alahuhta and chaired by Mr. Manne Airaksinen, attorney-at-law.
Financial Statements
The Annual General Meeting approved the parent company and the consolidated Financial Statements, and discharged the members of the Board of Directors and the President and CEO from liability for the financial year 2013.
Dividend
The Annual General Meeting decided that a dividend of EUR 0.20 per share be paid for the financial year ended on December 31, 2013. The dividend record date is April 3, 2014, and the dividend will be paid on April 17, 2014.
The Board of Directors and auditors
The Annual General Meeting decided that the number of the Board members, including Chairman and Vice Chairman, shall be eight (8). Mr. Matti Alahuhta, Ms. Eija Ailasmaa, Mr. Tapani Järvinen, Ms. Anja Korhonen, Mr. Hannu Linnoinen, Mr. Timo Ritakallio and Mr. Poju Zabludowicz were re-elected as members of the Board of Directors, and Mr. Björn Rosengren was elected as a new member of the Board, for the term expiring at the end of the next Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting elected Mr. Matti Alahuhta as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The Annual General Meeting confirmed the annual remunerations to the Board members as follows: EUR 72,000 for the Chairman of the Board of Directors and EUR 36,000 for the other members of the Board of Directors each, as well as an additional EUR 12,000 for both the Vice Chairman of the Board, and the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee; and that the members of the Board each be paid EUR 600 for attendance at each board and committee meeting as well as be reimbursed for the direct costs arising from board work.
Of the annual remuneration, 60 percent would be paid in cash and 40 percent in the form of Outotec Oyj shares, which would be acquired from the stock exchange within one week from the date of the Annual General Meeting, in amounts corresponding to EUR 28,800 for the Chairman, EUR 19,200 for the Vice Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee each, and EUR 14,400 for each of the other members of the Board of Directors. The part of the annual fee payable in cash corresponds to the approximate sum necessary for the payment of the income taxes on the annual remuneration and would be paid no later than on April 30, 2014. The annual fees shall encompass the full term of office of the Board of Directors. The attendance fee shall be paid in cash.
Public Accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy was re-elected as the company’s auditor. The auditor will be paid remuneration against the auditor’s reasonable invoice approved by the company.
Board’s authorizations
The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to decide on the repurchase of the company’s own shares as follows: The aggregate number of own shares to be repurchased shall not exceed 18,312,149 of the company’s own shares. The proposed amount of shares corresponds to approximately 10 percent of all the current shares of the company. However, the company together with its subsidiaries cannot at any moment own more than 10 percent of all the shares of the company. Own shares may be repurchased on the basis of this authorization only by using unrestricted equity. Own shares can be repurchased at a price formed in public trading on the date of the repurchase or otherwise at a price formed on the market. The Board of Directors is entitled to decide how shares are repurchased. Own shares may be repurchased otherwise than in proportion to the shares held by the shareholders (directed repurchase). The authorization is effective until the closing of the next Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting authorized the Board of Directors to decide on the issuance of shares and the issuance of special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Companies Act as follows: The number of shares to be issued on the basis of the authorization shall not exceed an aggregate maximum of 18,312,149 shares which corresponds to approximately 10 percent of all the current shares of the company. The Board of Directors is entitled to decide on the terms of the issuance of shares and of special rights entitling to shares and it is entitled to deviate from the shareholders’ pre-emptive subscription rights (directed issue). The authorization applies to both the issuance of new shares and the distribution of own shares held by the company. The authorization is effective until the closing of the next Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting further authorized the Board of Directors to decide on donations in the aggregate amount of EUR 100,000 to universities, institutions of higher education or other non-profit purposes. The donations can be made in one or more installments. The authorization shall be in force until December 31, 2014.
Amendment of Articles of Association
The Annual General Meeting decided to amend the Articles of Association so that the maximum number of members of the Board of Directors is ten, and that the Annual General Meeting shall elect the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors in addition to the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Amendment of the Charter of the Nomination Board
The Annual General Meeting decided to amend the Charter of the Nomination Board so that the Nomination Board shall submit its proposals to the Board of Directors at the latest on January 31 preceding the Annual General Meeting.
Board’s assembly meeting
In its assembly meeting the Board of Directors elected Timo Ritakallio as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition, the Board elected Anja Korhonen, Hannu Linnoinen, Timo Ritakallio and Poju Zabludowicz as members of the Audit and Risk Committee. Hannu Linnoinen acts as the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Eija Ailasmaa, Matti Alahuhta and Tapani Järvinen will act as members of the Human Capital Committee with Matti Alahuhta as the Chairman of the Committee.
Minutes of the Meeting
The minutes of the Annual General Meeting (in Finnish) will be available for viewing by the shareholders as of April 14, 2014 at Outotec Oyj’s head office and on the company’s website.
Outotec provides leading technologies and services for the Sustainable use of Earth’s natural resources. As the global leader in minerals and metals processing technology, we have developed many breakthrough technologies over the decades for our customers in metals and mining industry. We also provide innovative solutions for industrial water treatment, the utilization of alternative energy sources and the chemical industry. Outotec shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. www.outotec.com