THE PROPOSALS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Stock exchange release – Published: 25.02.2003 9:05:23
THE PROPOSALS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO THE ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING MARCH 26, 2003. The Board of Directors of Etteplan Oyj proposes to the Ordinary General Meeting of the Shareholders the cancellation of the present authorization of the Board of Directors to resolve on a new issue and the authorization of the Board of Directors to increase the share capital by new issue of shares, to acquire companys own shares and to convey the companys own shares. The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting shall make the following resolutions: The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting cancel and remove from the Trade Register the resolution of the Annual General Meeting held on 26 March 2002 to authorize the Board of Directors to increase the share capital. The cancelled resolution has been entered into the Trade Register on 23 April 2002. The authorization shall be cancelled to the extent the authorization has not been exercised by the Board of Directors by 26 March 2003. The cancelled authorization has been proposed to be replaced by a new authorization set forth in section (i) below. The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting shall make the following resolutions: (i) a resolution according to which the Board of Directors shall be authorized within one year from the date of the Annual General Meeting to increase the share capital by issuing one or more convertible bonds and/or stock options and/or by a new issue, in one or more lots, by a maximum of 854.921 new shares. The valid, unexercised authorizations of the Board of Directors shall, however, with regard to the total amount of increase and the total number of voting rights attached to the shares to be issued, correspond to no more than one-fifth of the registered share capital and the aggregate number of voting rights attached to the shares at the date of the resolution of the General Meeting of the Shareholders concerning the authorization and the decision of the Board of Directors to increase the share capital. Pursuant to the authorization the companys share capital may be increased by a maximum of EUR 85.492,10. The authorization shall include the right to deviate from the existing shareholders pre-emptive rights to subscribe for new shares according to Chapter 4 Section 2 of the Companies Act and the right to decide on the subscription prices, the parties entitled to subscribe for the shares, the terms and conditions applicable to the subscription as well as the terms and conditions of the convertible bonds and stock options. The precondition for the deviation from the pre-emptive rights is a weighty financial reason, such as financing of a company acquisition, other arrangement in connection with the development or the companys business or equity and/ or an incentive scheme to the personnel. In connection with the increase of the share capital the Board of Directors is entitled to decide that the shares can be subscribed against apports en nature or otherwise under special terms and conditions. The Board of Directors may not decide in favor of a member of the inner circle of the company. The authorization is effective for a period of one year from the resolution of the Annual General Meeting, i.e. from 26 March 2003 to 26 March 2004. The authorization to decide on a new issue and/or an issuance of convertible bonds and/or granting of stock options proposed in this section and the authorization to convey the companys own shares proposed in section (iii) may, however, correspond to no more than one-fifth of the registered share capital and the aggregate number of voting rights attached to the shares at the date of the resolution of the General Meeting of the Shareholders concerning the authorization and the decision of the Board of Directors to increase the share capital. (ii) a resolution according to which the Board of Directors shall be authorized to acquire the companys own shares in one or more lots to the effect that the company may use funds distributable as profit to acquire a maximum of 213.730 of its own shares with an accounting counter-value of EUR 0.10 each, otherwise than in proportion to the holdings of the shareholders. The authorization includes the right to acquire the companys shares in public trade at the applicable quoted price to the effect that the total counter value and the voting rights attached to the acquired shares shall be no more than five (5) per cent of the companys share capital and the aggregate number of voting rights. Since the shares shall be acquired in public trade, the acquisition shall not be made in proportion to the holdings of the shareholders. The shares may be acquired in order to be used as consideration in potential company acquisitions or in other structural arrangements. The acquired shares may also be invalidated. The acquisition of shares will decrease the distributable equity. Since the maximum number of shares to be acquired is five (5) per cent of the companys share capital and no more than five (5) per cent of the voting rights attached to the shares, the acquisition of shares shall not have a material impact on the shareholding and the voting rights in the company. The authorization is effective for a period of one year from the resolution of the Annual General Meeting, i.e. from 26 March 2003 to 26 March 2004. (iii) A resolution according to which the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to convey, in one or more lots, the companys own shares acquired pursuant to the authorization set forth in section (ii). The authorization to the Board of Directors shall include the right to convey no more than 213.730 shares of the company with an accounting counter-value of EUR 0.10 each to the effect that the aggregate counter value and the voting rights attached to the shares shall be no more than five (5) per cent of the companys share capital and the aggregate number of voting rights attached to the shares. The authorization shall include the right to decide to whom and in which order the companys own shares shall be conveyed and the right to convey the shares otherwise than in proportion to the shareholders pre-emptive rights to acquire shares of the company. The shares may be used as consideration in company acquisitions or other structural arrangements, sold in the public market and/or invalidated in a manner and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall decide on the price of the conveyance and the grounds on the basis of which the price shall be determined. The shares may be conveyed against apports en nature. The authorization to convey the companys own shares proposed in this section and the authorization in section (i) to decide on a new issue and/or to issue convertible bonds and/or to grant stock options may, however, correspond to no more than one-fifth of the registered share capital and the aggregate number of voting rights attached to the shares at the date of the resolution of the General Meeting of the Shareholders concerning the authorization and the decision of the Board of Directors to increase the share capital. Hollola, 24 February 2003 Etteplan Oyj Board of Directors For additional information, contact: Financial Director Ritva Mönkkönen, tel. +358 3 872 9012, GSM +358 400 485 878. DISTRIBUTION: Helsinki Exchanges www.etteplan.com