STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 19, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) --The annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) of Nordea AB (publ) (Other OTC:NRDAF) (Stockholm:NDA) will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2003 in Aula Magna, Stockholm University at 2:00 pm (CET) with the possibility to participate through telecommunication, in Helsinki at 3:00 pm Finnish time in Finlandia Hall and in Copenhagen at 2:00 pm (CET) in Bella Center.
Proposals to the AGM
- Dividend unchanged
- Reduction of share capital; renewal of authorisation to repurchase
own shares
- Gunnel Duveblad, Birgitta Kantola and Lars G. Nordstrom new Board
members
- Establishment of a nomination committee
"We are very pleased to be able to tie the valuable competences of Gunnel Duveblad and Birgitta Kantola to the Board. Its continued work to develop the Nordea Group will benefit from their experience. We are also pleased to be able to attach Lars G. Nordstrom to the Board. The proposals by the informal nomination committee are intended to provide a balance between continuity and renewal, which I am convinced will also be an objective for the formal nomination committee now proposed," said Hans Dalborg, Chairman of the Board.
Dividend
The Board of Directors has decided to propose to the AGM an unchanged dividend.
The proposed record date for the dividend is April 29, 2003 and dividend payments are scheduled to be made on May 7, 2003.
Reduction of share capital
The Board of Directors has decided to propose to the AGM to reduce the share capital corresponding to the repurchased own shares presently held by the Company, 57,008,000 shares, through retirement of the said shares. The reduction amount, EUR 22,593,410.56 is proposed to be transferred to a fund to be used according to a decision by a general meeting of shareholders. After the reduction the share capital will amount to EUR 1,160,460,823.12.
Repurchase of own shares
In order to maintain financial flexibility, the Board has decided to propose to the AGM to renew the ten-percent authorisation to repurchase own shares.
Board of Directors
An informal nomination committee, consisting of Christina Ragsten Pettersson, representing the Swedish state as shareholder, Staffan Grefback, representing Alecta, Lars Ole Wurtz Nielsen, representing Tryg i Danmark, and Hans Dalborg, Chairman of the Board, has proposed that the AGM shall elect Gunnel Duveblad, Birgitta Kantola and the CEO Lars G. Nordstrom as new Board members. Harald Arnkvaern, Claus Hoeeg Madsen and Timo Peltola are proposed to be reelected. Dan Andersson and Edward Andersson have declined reelection.
Hans Dalborg, Kjell Aamot, Bernt Magnusson, Joergen Hoeeg Pedersen and Maija Torkko were, in 2002, elected Board members until the AGM 2004.
Gunnel Duveblad is President of EDS Europe North Region, comprising Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, since 2002 after a long career in a number of positions within IBM.
Birgitta Kantola is Master of Law and presently active in a number of boards, such as Fortum and Vasakronan, and has vast experience from the financial sector through a number of senior positions, inter alia within the International Finance Corporation and the Nordic Investment Bank.
Nomination committee
The informal nomination committee further proposes to the AGM to decide upon the establishment of a nomination committee, consisting of representatives of the shareholders and the Chairman of the Board.
Auditor
After a tender process the Board of Directors has decided to propose KPMG to be elected auditor of the Company.
For further information:
Erik Evren, Head of Group Media Relations, +46 8 614 8611
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