AGM Information • Apr 18, 2018
AGM Information
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The Annual General Meeting of AF Gruppen ASA will be held on Wednesday 9 May 2018 at 10:30 CET in the company's offices at Innspurten 15, Oslo.
| ________________ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item | Description | Enclosure no.: |
| 1 | Opening of meeting by Board Chairman Pål Egil Rønn and registration of shareholders attending. In accordance with Article 6 of the Articles of Association, the Chairman of the Board also chairs the meeting |
|
| 2 | Election of at least one person to countersign the minutes | |
| 3 | Approval of the notice and the proposed agenda | |
| 4 | Briefing on the operations | |
| 5 | Briefing on the work of the Board, work of the Audit Committee and work of the Compensation Committee |
1 and 2 |
| 6 | Review of the Board of Directors' statement on the determination of fixed pay and other remuneration for senior employees, cf. section 6-16a of the Public Limited Liability Companies Act |
3 |
| 7 | Adoption of the annual accounts and annual report for 2017, including the consolidated accounts and distribution of dividends, and discussion of the statement on corporate governance |
|
| 8 | Approval of auditor's fees | |
| 9 | Determination of the Directors' fees for the 2017 financial year |
4 |
| 10 | Election of Board of Directors | 4 |
| 11 | Election of nomination committee | 4 |
| 12 | Determination of the Nominating Committee's fees for the 2017 financial year |
4 |
| 13 | Authority to the Board to purchase treasury shares | |
| 14 | Authority to carry out private placing to employees | |
| 15 | Authorisation to the Board to increase the share capital by issuing new shares | |
| 16 | Authorisation for the Board to decide on distribution of dividends. | |
________________________________________________________________________________________
AF Gruppen ASA has a share capital of NOK 4,898,050 made up of 97,961,000 shares, each with a face value of NOK 0.05. Each share gives the right to one vote at the company's general meetings. As at the date of this notice, AF Gruppen ASA owns 141,544 treasury shares.
The shareholders have the following rights in connection with general meetings:
The shares are listed ex dividend on 11 May 2018. The dividend will be paid on 23 May 2018.
If you wish to appoint a proxy to represent you at the Annual General Meeting, please use the attached proxy form. Proxies must be appointed in writing and sent to the company by Monday 7 May 2018.
Registration for the Annual General Meeting must be in the company's hands no later than Monday 9 May 2018. Shareholders who have not registered by this deadline may be refused entry to the Annual General Meeting. Please use the registration slip you have been sent or notify us by telephone by calling 22 89 11 00 if you wish to attend the Annual General Meeting.
This notice of meeting with enclosures and the 2017 Annual Report are available on the company's website: www.afgruppen.com.
In accordance with Article 6 of the Articles of Association, the appendices to the notice of meeting are not sent by post to the shareholders. Shareholders who wish to receive a copy of the 2017 Annual Report may contact the company c/o Lars Chr. Paulsen, tel. +47 900 25 969 or [email protected]
Oslo, 18 April 2018 AF Gruppen ASA
Pål Egil Rønn Chairman of the Board
Enclosures: Registration form Proxy form Report from the Audit Committee Report from the Compensation Committee Board of Directors' statement on the determination of fixed pay and other remuneration to senior executives Report from the Nominating Committee
Innspurten 15 [email protected] NO 938 702 675 Telephone +47 22 89 11 00 P.O. Box 6272 Etterstad, N-0603 Oslo www.afgruppen.no Bank 8101 30 68348 Fax +47 22 89 11 01
| Item 7 | Adoption of annual accounts and annual report for 2017, including the consolidated accounts and the distribution of dividends |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting adopt the annual accounts and annual report. |
|||||
| It is proposed that a divided of NOK 5.00 per share be paid Of the NOK 5.00 dividend, NOK 3.75 will be distributed as repaid capital. |
for the 1st half-year of 2018. | ||||
| A dividend will not be paid for treasury shares. | |||||
| Item 8 | Approval of auditor's fees | ||||
| The Board proposes payment of the auditor's fees as invoiced. |
|||||
| Item 9 | Determination of the Directors' fees for the 2017 financial year The Nominating Committee proposes the following fees: |
||||
| Chairman of the Board | NOK 450,000 | (440,000) | |||
| Deputy Chairman of the Board | NOK 245,000 | (240,000) | |||
| Other Board members | |||||
| Shareholder-elected Board members | NOK 225,000 | (220,000) | |||
| Employee-elected Board members | NOK 195,000 | (190,000) | |||
| Deputy members Committee Chairman |
NOK 22,000 per meeting |
(21,500) | |||
| Compensation Committee | NOK 55,000 |
(55,000) | |||
| Audit Committee | NOK 75,000 |
(74,000) | |||
| Committee members | |||||
| Compensation Committee | NOK 40,000 |
(40,000) | |||
| Audit Committee | NOK 60,000 |
(58,500) | |||
| Item 12 | Determination of the Nominating Committee's fees for the 2017 financial year | ||||
| The Board proposes the following annual fee for the Nomination Committee | (unchanged): | ||||
| Chairman | NOK 40,000 | (40,000) | |||
| Members | NOK 35,000 | (35,000) | |||
| Item 13 | Authority to the Board to purchase treasury shares | ||||
| At the Annual General Meeting held on 12 May 2017, the Board was authorised to purchase | |||||
| treasury shares up until the Annual General Meeting in 2018, and in any case no later than 30 | |||||
| June 2018. The Board proposes that this authority be renewed until the Annual General | |||||
| Meeting in 2019, hence not beyond 30 June 2019. | |||||
| The Board Proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorise the Board to purchase |
treasury shares within the limitations allowed by the Public Limited Liability Companies Act.
The purpose of this authority is to give the Company an opportunity to purchase shares in situations where this would be in the Company's interest.
The Board is authorised to acquire the Company's own shares, including the establishment of charges created by agreement.
The highest nominal value of the shares the company may acquire is NOK 489,805, although at all times within the limitations set in section 9-2 of the Public Limited Liability Companies Act. The smallest amount that may be paid for a share is NOK 0.05. The highest amount that may be paid for a share is NOK 250.
When buying and selling treasury shares the company should seek to achieve the most favourable price possible. The Board is free with respect of the methods used to acquire and dispose of treasury shares, though always with the provision that the general principle of equal treatment of shareholders must be observed. For the sale of shares to employees and officers, shares may be sold at a discount of up to 20 % under the prevailing market price. Acquisition and disposal of treasury shares may thus occur, for example, with settlement in cash, with settlement by means other than cash or as settlement in connection with a merger or demerger.
The company's share capital is NOK 4,898,050 made up of 97,961,000 shares, each with a face value of NOK 0.05. If the share capital or face value of the shares is changed, the amounts specified in the second to fourth sentences shall be changed correspondingly.
This authority to the Board replaces the former authority dated 12 May 2017 and will apply until the date of the Annual General Meeting in 2019, although not after 30 June 2019.
In the last few years all of AF Gruppen's employees have been given an opportunity to buy shares at a 20% discount in relation to the average share price during the subscription period. It is desirable that similar opportunities are provided in 2018.
As of today's date, the Company owns 141,544 treasury shares. In order to obtain a sufficient number of shares to enable this sale of shares to employees, it may be necessary to issue new shares. Therefore, the Board asks the Annual General Meeting to authorise it to issue a limited number of shares for employees so that employees may buy shares in the Company in 2018.
The Board is authorised to increase the share capital by issuing new shares.
The share capital may be increased by a total of up to NOK 50,000 through the issuing of up to 1,000,000 shares, each with a face value of NOK 0.05. The authority can be exercised through one or more issues. The statement of the share capital and number of shares in Article 4 of the Articles of Association shall be changed correspondingly.
The power of attorney may only be used to issue shares in connection with the Company's share programme and incentive programme for employees in the Group.
The Board may decide to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emptive right to subscribe for shares under section 10-4 of the Public Limited Companies Act.
The authorisation is valid until the date of the Annual General Meeting in 2019, but not later than 30 June 2019.
Item 15 Authorisation for the Board to increase the share capital by issuing new shares The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorises the Board to increase the share capital by up to NOK 146,941.50 (3% of the presently registered paid-in share capital) by issuing new shares. This authorisation is valid until the 2019 Annual General Meeting, but not later than 30 June 2019.
The justification for the proposal is that the authorisation will provide greater flexibility in connection with acquisition of business.
Proposed for adoption, cf. sections 10-14 to 10-19 of the Public Limited Companies Act: The Board is authorised to increase the share capital by issuing new shares. The share capital may be increased by up to NOK 146,941.50. The authority can be exercised through one or more issues. The statement of the share capital and number of shares in Article 4 of the Articles of Association shall be changed correspondingly.
The Board may decide to deviate from the shareholders' pre-emptive right to subscribe for shares under section 10-2 of the Public Limited Companies Act.
The Board may decide that share contributions may be assets other than cash, or the right to involve the company in special obligations pursuant to section 10-2 of the Public Limited Companies Act. If share contributions are to be settled by assets other than cash, the Board may decide that such assets be transferred to subsidiaries in return for corresponding settlement between the subsidiary and AF Gruppen ASA.
The authorisation also applies in the event of a decision to merge, pursuant to section 135 of the Public Limited Companies Act. The authorisation may also be used in those cases discussed in section 5-15 of the Stock Exchange Act.
This authority is valid from and including 9 May 2018 until and including the date of the Annual General Meeting in 2019, although not after 30 June 2019.
AF Gruppen's dividend policy is to provide shareholders with a competitive dividend yield. The dividend must be stable and ideally rise in line with the earnings performance. The dividend must reflect the company's earnings and financial position and must over time comprise a minimum of 50% of the company's earnings.
At the Annual General Meeting on 12 May 2017 it was decided that the payment of dividends shall take place up to twice yearly, preferably after the Annual General meeting and after presentation of the quarterly report for Q3. The Board will recommend to the Annual General Meeting that this decision shall also apply for 2018.
In accordance with Section 8-2 (2) of the Public Limited Liability Companies Act, the Board is granted authorisation to decide on the distribution of dividends on the basis of the company's annual accounts for 2017.
This authorisation is valid until the 2019 Annual General Meeting, but not later than 30 June 2019.
The undersigned, the holder of ............................... shares in AF Gruppen ASA, will attend the company's annual general meeting on 9 May 2018 at 10:30 CET.
place......................................., date ........ /........ 2018
.................................................................... Signature
.................................................................... Name in block capitals
Registration must be in the company's hands no later than Monday 7 May 2018. The registration form can be sent to the company by mail or by e-mail ([email protected])
The undersigned, the holder of …………………………. shares in AF Gruppen ASA, hereby authorizes
............................................................ to attend and vote for my shares in
(block capitals)
AF Gruppen ASA at the Annual General Meeting on 9 May 2018.
| Issue | For | Against | Abstain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Approval of the notice and the proposed agenda | |||
| 7 | Approval of annual accounts and annual report | |||
| 9 | Directors' fees | |||
| 10 | Election of Board members, the recommendations of the Nomination Committee, together |
|||
| Or individual votes: | ||||
| 10.1 Bømark, Hege (re-election) | ||||
| 10.2 Holth, Kristian (re-election) | ||||
| 10.3 Lunde, Borghild (re-election) | ||||
| 10.4 Rønn, Pål Egil – Chairman (re-election) | ||||
| 10.5 Bøyum, Gunnar (re-election) | ||||
| 10.6 Baumann, Arne (new) | ||||
| 11 | Election of Nomination Committee, the recommendations of the Nomination Committee, together |
|||
| Or individual votes: | ||||
| 11.1 Groth, Peter (re-election) | ||||
| 11.2 Engeland, Roar (new) | ||||
| 11.3 Johnsen, Marianne E. (new) | ||||
| 11.4 Holth, Roy G. (new) | ||||
| 12 | Determination of the Nomination Committee's fees | |||
| 13 | Authority to the Board to purchase treasury shares | |||
| 14 | Authority to carry out private placing to employees | |||
| 15 | Authorisation to the Board to increase the share capital by issuing new shares | |||
| 16 | Authorisation for the Board to decide on distribution of dividends. |
If no voting instructions are given the authorised party is free to vote on behalf of the shareholder.
Authorisation must be in the company's hands no later than 7 May 2018. (send by e-mail to: [email protected])
place......................................., date ........ /........ 2018
.................................................................. ...................................................................
Signature Name in block capitals
The Company's Audit Committee is made up of three shareholder-elected Board members:
Hege Bømark (Chairman) Borghild Lunde Gunnar Bøyum
Company CFO Sverre Hærem participates at all Committee meetings. The Company's auditor, Rita Granlund, participated in all meetings.
The purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Group Board with the management and performance of the Board's supervisory duties pursuant to sections 6-12 and 6-13 of the Public Limited Liability Companies Act. The Audit Committee's mandate is adopted by the Group Board and described in the "Mandate for the Group Board's Audit Committee".
The following duties are included in the Audit Committee's mandate:
The Audit Committee has held six meetings since the last Annual General Meeting. The Audit Committee has reviewed the following matters:
The Audit Committee has provided its recommendation for the issues it has dealt with for final resolution by the Board.
Oslo 22 March 2018 Hege Bømark
In the current period the board determined that the committee previously named the Compensation Committee "CC" should change its name to the Competence and Compensation Committee (CCC). The committee shall also act as an advisory body in competence and leadership issues, and the name change reflects this purpose.
The Company's Competence and Compensation Committee (CCC) is made up of three shareholder-elected board members.
The Company's CEO, Morten Grongstad, participates in the meetings.
The purpose of the Competence and Compensation Committee is to act as a preparatory body for the Board in matters that concern the evaluation and fixing of pay and other remuneration determined for the CEO, in addition to being an advisor to the CEO in connection with determining the terms for members of the Corporate Management Team. The Committee must follow up the group's overall work on competence and management development and provide advice on such matters, including management evaluations and succession planning.
The Committee's mandate is adopted by the Group Board and described in the "Mandate for the competence and compensation committee"
The Committee's work includes questions related to salary, bonus, options, severance pay, early retirement and retirement pension, as well as follow-up of the company's overall work on competence and management development.
The following tasks are included in the Compensation Committee's mandate:
The Competence and Compensation Committee (CCC) has held three meetings since the Annual General Meeting on 12 May 2017. The following matters have been reviewed:
Change of mandate and description of tasks for the Competence and Compensation Committee
• The objects clause of the Committee is extended to also include work with organization and management development in addition to succession planning. The Committee must follow up the group's overall work on competence and management development and provide advice on such matters, including management evaluations and succession planning.
• The Committee changed its name from the "Compensation Committee" to the "Competence and Compensation Committee" as a result of the change in mandate and description of tasks.
Determination of the CEO's remuneration
Guidelines for compensation for the Corporate Management Team of AF in 2018
Review of the bonus programme in AF Gruppen
Organization development and succession planning
Oslo, 22/03/2018 Daniel Kjørberg Siraj
The Board of Directors has prepared the following statement on the determination of fixed pay and other remuneration to senior executives pursuant to Section 6-16a of the Public Limited Liability Companies Act.
Senior executives are defined as the Corporate Management Team, which consists of the CEO and executive vice presidents.
The Board of Directors determines the CEO's remuneration in consultation with the Compensation Committee. The CEO has otherwise the same employment terms and notice period as other employees. There are no agreements relating to severance pay or early retirement.
The Board of Directors establishes guidelines for the remuneration of executive personnel in consultation with the CEO. There are no agreements relating to severance pay or early retirement.
Bonuses for senior executives are based on the EVA (Economic Value Added) model. EVA is a method of calculating and analysing value creation in the Group and in economic units below group level. Bonuses based on the EVA model for senior executives are linked to the Group's value creation and the individual business area through the financial year.
Of the total bonus earned, 25% can be used to buy shares at a 20% discount and the remainder is paid in cash. The lock-in period for the shares is one year.
Shares can be sold to senior executives, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors at a 20 % discount on the prevailing market price. Shares are offered to senior executives in the same way as to other employees.
Options
At the AGM on 15 May 2014 it was decided to establish a new option scheme for all employees of AF Gruppen. The maximum number of options that could be allotted was 4,500,000.
The Annual General Meeting 12 May 2017 approved a new option programme for employees. The maximum number of options that could be allotted was 3,500,000. Each option entitles the holder to purchase one AF Gruppen share. This options programme means that the Group's employees were given the opportunity to buy options in each of the years 2017, 2018 and 2019, and allotment started in June 2017. The Board has the authority to distribute options between different groups of employees.
The employees paid NOK 1.00 per option. The exercise price was set at the market value of the shares on the time of the subscription.
The exercise of the options will take place during the first quarter of 2020, at the Board's further decision. Exercising options and purchasing shares is conditional on the employee being employed by the Group as at 1 March 2020.
Senior executives participate in the Group's retirement benefit scheme and receive payments in kind in the form of allowances for work travel, data connections and mobile telephones on par with that of other employees.
The terms for the CEO were set by the Board of Directors. The remuneration paid in 2017 was in accordance with the agreements entered into, and a bonus was paid for the 2016 financial year in addition to the salaries for 2017.
The terms for the executive vice presidents were set by the CEO in consultation with the Board of Directors. The remuneration paid in 2017 was in accordance with the agreements entered into. A bonus was paid for the 2016 financial year.
Executive vice presidents' bonuses are paid on the basis of the EVA achieved in the Group.
There have been no changes in the compensation schemes in 2017, which differ from 2016.
4. Guidelines for the determination of fixed pay and other remuneration for 2018
The determination of fixed pay will follow the same principles in 2018 as in 2017.
For further information, please refer to notes 7 and 32 in the annual report.
The Nominating Committee has met with the board members and the CEO in order to evaluate the Board's work on behalf all the Company's shareholders. In addition, discussions have been held with several major shareholders. On the basis of these, the Nominating Committee will propose that the Annual General Meeting elects one new Board member and three new members for the Nominating Committee.
At the Annual General Meeting in 2009 the Articles of Association were amended so that up to two alternate members with the right to attend Board meetings could be elected. The Nominating Committee recommends that this arrangement be maintained, and that a permanently attending alternate is elected at this year's Annual General Meeting.
Shareholder-elected Board members are up for election every year. The Nominating Committee submits the following proposal to the General Meeting:
The following individuals should be elected as Board members for one year:
Bømark, Hege (re-election) Holth, Kristian (re-election) Lunde, Borghild (re-election) Rønn, Pål Egil (re-election) Baumann, Arne (new)
Alternate representatives: Gunnar Bøyum (re-election)
The Nominating Committee proposes that the Annual General Meeting re-elects Pål Egil Rønn as the Chairman of the Board.
The Nominating Committee submits the following remuneration proposal for approval:
| Chairman | : | NOK 450,000 | (440,000) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Chairman | : | NOK 245,000 | (240,000) | |
| Other Board members | ||||
| shareholder-elected | : | NOK 225,000 | (220,000) | |
| employee-elected | : | NOK 195,000 | (190,000) | |
| Alternate(s) | : | NOK 22,000 | (21,500) | (per meeting) |
| Committee members | ||||
| Compensation Committee | : | NOK 40,000 | (40,000) | |
| Audit Committee | : | NOK 60,000 | (58,500) | |
| Committee Chairman | ||||
| Compensation Committee | : | NOK 55,000 | (55,000) | |
| Audit Committee | : | NOK 75,000 |
(74,000) |
The Board proposes the following for adoption concerning the remuneration of the Nominating Committee:
| Chairman of the Nominating Committee: | NOK 40,000 | (40,000) |
|---|---|---|
| Members of the Nominating Committee: | NOK 35,000 | (35,000) |
The Board submits the following proposal to the Annual General Meeting:
The following shall be elected to the Nominating Committee for one year:
Peter Groth (re-election) Roar Engeland (new) Marianne E. Johnsen (new) Roy G. Holth (new)
It is proposed that Roar Engeland is elected as Chair.
Oslo, 22/03/2018
Tore Thorstensen Peter Groth Chair
Arne Baumann (55) is the executive vice president for residential development with OBOS. Baumann has extensive experience from both residential and commercial property. He has worked for OBOS since 2002 and headed the residential division from 2005 to 2011 before being appointed EVP of commercial property and managing director of OBOS Forretningsbygg AS in 2012. In 2015 he was appointed EVP of residential development. He has formerly worked for Elektrisk Bureau and ABB. He is a graduate economist from the Norwegian Business School and holds an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Roar Engeland (1960) has previously worked for Orkla ASA as executive vice president with responsibility for strategy development and M&A and as managing director for Orkla's investment and real estate business. He also has experience from McKinsey & Company and as an army officer. Engeland has extensive experience as a chairman and board member in industrial, investment and real estate businesses. He is currently chairman of OBOS BBL and Norconsult AS, among others. Engeland has a doctor's degree in philosophy from the University of Oslo, and an MBA from INSEAD, and graduated from the Army's military academy.
Marianne E. Johnsen (1963) is founder and partner in the investment and consulting company Cascata AS. She has long domestic and international management experience, including from Elkem, and she holds a number of directorships, among them Chair of the Norwegian Seafood Council and member of Norway Royal Salmon ASA's board. She is also chair and member of several nominating committees. Johnsen has a law degree from the University of Oslo and an MBA from Solvay Business School in Brussels.
Roy G. Holth (1956) is the owner and general manager of Gunnar Holth Grusforretning AS. Holth holds a number of positions as chairman and board member of various industrial and real estate companies. Holth is among the largest shareholders of AF Gruppen ASA through the family-owned company Constructio AS.
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