STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 22, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Over 1,100 people gathered to participate in the Annual General Meeting of shareholders in the Trelleborg Group held in the Soderslattshallen in Trelleborg on April 22. In his address, Chief Executive Officer Fredrik Arp commented on the Company's operations in 2003, which were characterized by growth including several acquisitions. Having recruited approximately 7,000 new employees, the Group now has approximately 21,000 employees. Fredrik Arp pointed out that the repositioning undertaken in the past few years had resulted in a competitive structure and that the Group is now entering a new phase. He also summarized the priorities for the future, which stress organic growth and acquisitions that strategically complement the Company's operations.
Dividend
The Meeting resolved to approve the Board and President's proposal to pay a dividend of SEK 4.50 per share. The record date for the dividend is April 27. It is therefore expected that the dividend will be distributed by VPC on April 30.
Board of Directors and auditors
The Meeting resolved to approve the proposal from shareholders representing approximately 65 percent of the voting rights that the number of Board members elected by the Meeting should remain unchanged at seven members and that the decision not to appoint deputies should remain unchanged. Fredrik Arp, Staffan Bohman, Rolf Kjellman, Berthold Lindqvist and Anders Narvinger were reelected. Board chairman Anders Narvinger directed a special word of thanks to Ann-Christine Albertsson and Didrik Normark, who had declined reelection. Helene Bergquist and Claes Lindqvist were elected as new members of the Board. Helene Bergquist is Senior Vice President, Management Assurance & Special Assignments at Electrolux AB and member of the Board of the Swedish Association for the Development of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Claes Lindqvist is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoganas AB. He is a member of the boards of Hoganas AB, Jernkontoret, Sydsvenska Industri- och Handelskammaren, AB Wihl Becker, SIMI Scandinavian International Management Institute and the Dunker Funds and Foundations. The Meeting decided to raise the total fees paid to the Board to SEK 1,725,000, to be distributed by the Board-to-Board members who are not employed within the Trelleborg Group. Pricewaterhouse Coopers was elected as auditors for the coming four years, Goran Tidstrom being designated as principal auditor.
Proposal from the Swedish Association of Share Investors The Swedish Association of Share Investors proposed that the Meeting appoint a Nominations Committee consisting of three to five members were are not affiliated with the Company, including a representative of the smaller shareholders. However, the Meeting decided instead to establish a Nominations Committee consisting of representatives of five or the larger shareholders at the close of the third quarter. Individual shareholders in Trelleborg may submit proposals of members of the Nominations Committee, and the composition of the Nominations Committee is to be announced in the Company's interim report on the third quarter. The Committee must report on its activities at the Annual General Meeting.
The Meeting decided to reject the proposal by the Swedish Association of Share Investors for the establishment of an audit committee, deciding instead that, as previously, the full Board shall act as the audit committee. As requested by the Swedish Association of Share Investors, a report on the work and function of the Remunerations Committee was given. As requested by the First AP-Fund, a report on consultancy costs and other costs paid to Trelleborg's auditors KPMG was given.
For further information, contact Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Mikael Bystrom, +46 410-670 37 or +46 708-55 21 69, or Vice President, Corporate Communications, Viktoria Bergman, +46 410-670 94 or +46 708-47 57 33.
Trelleborg is a global industrial group. Operations are based on
spearhead competence within polymer materials and a high level of
industrial know-how, combined with functional solutions and systems
designed to meet the needs of our customers. The Trelleborg Group has
annual sales of approximately SEK 22.5 billion, with about 21,000
employees in 40 countries. Trelleborg consists of five business areas:
Trelleborg Automotive, Trelleborg Wheel Systems, Trelleborg Engineered
Systems, Trelleborg Building Systems and Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.
The Trelleborg share has been quoted on the A list of Stockholmsborsen
since 1964.
www.trelleborg.com
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