NACKA STRAND, Sweden, May 7, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Hexagon: The Annual General Meeting (AGM) approved the, by the Board of Directors, proposed dividend of SEK 4.60 per share. Record day will be Friday 9 May 2003. Dividend settlements will be handled by VPC AB (the Swedish Securities Register), and the estimated settlement day will be Wednesday 14 May 2003.
The AGM decided to re-elect board members Mr Melker Schorling, Mr Maths O. Sundqvist, Mr Hans Nergardh, Mr Carl-Henric Svanberg and Mr Ola Rollen. The AGM decided that the Directors' fees for the year 2003 should be SEK 825.000 to be distributed by the Board between the Directors elected by the AGM but not employed by the company. At the following statutory board meeting, Mr Melker Schorling was re-elected Chairman of the Board.
The AGM also decided to establish a Nomination Committee with the remit of preparing the election of Directors, the establishment of fees for the Directors and matters pertaining thereto before the forthcoming AGM. Mr Melker Schorling and Mr Maths O. Sundqvist were elected members of the Nomination Committee in regards to the AGM of 2004. The AGM was informed that the Board has decided to form a Remuneration Committee and an Audit Committee with the purpose of assisting the Board in giving deeper and more efficient consideration to such matters.
Mr. Ola Rollen stated in his speech that Hexagon's structural change that started in June 2000 has been very successful. The Sales turnover has increased by 50 per cent to app. 7 GSEK and earnings before taxes have increased by 78 per cent to 319 MSEK.
Mr. Rollen also stated that Hexagons market positions, product portfolio and organisation are very competitive why the forecast is that Hexagon shall realise the overriding strategic objective of a minimum annual growth in earnings per share of 15 per cent even in the future.
For further information:
Please see the Interim Report Q1, 2003 at Hexagon's website www.hexagon.se
Ola Rollen, President & C.E.O. Hakan Halen, CFO Hexagon AB Hexagon AB Tel: +46(0)8 - 601 26 20 Tel: +46(0)8 - 601 26 20
Hexagon AB is a multinational engineering group with the long-term ambition of positioning itself as number one or number two within its strategic sectors. The operation is divided into four business areas; Hexagon Automation, Hexagon Engineering, Hexagon Metrology and Hexagon Polymers. The group's targets are to increase earnings per share after tax by at least 15 per cent p.a., and achieve a return on capital employed of more than 15 per cent over a business cycle. Current turnover amounts to more than 7 GSEK p.a.
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