STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 31, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Gunnebo AB:
Dividend
The Annual General Meeting held on March 31, 2005 resolved in favour of paying a dividend of SEK 2.25 per share (2004: SEK 2.25).
It was agreed that the date of record for entitlement to dividend should be April 5, 2005. It is expected that the dividend will be disbursed via VPC on April 8, 2005.
The AGM also resolved in favour of distributing free of charge all the shares in Gunnebo Industrier to Gunnebo AB's shareholders, and to apply to have Gunnebo Industrier's shares listed on Stockholmsborsen's "O" list.
Election of Board
Messrs Roger Holtback, Nils-Olov Jonsson, Mikael Jonsson, Sten Langenius, Martin Svalstedt, Bjarne Holmqvist and Ms Lena Olving were re-elected to the Board.
At the statutory meeting of the Board, Roger Holtback was elected chairman.
Nominating Committee
The AGM decided that the Nominating Committee should consist of the chairman, together with a representative of each of the three largest shareholders at the end of the third quarter. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominations for election to the Board and a proposal for the Board fee to the 2006 Annual General Meeting.
Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers AB have already been elected as the company's auditors until the end of the 2008 Annual General Meeting.
Decision on mandate for Board
The AGM resolved in favour of mandating the Board to make decisions during the period up until the next AGM on the issue of a maximum of 1,200,000 shares for use in connection with company acquisitions.
Extracts from the President's address to shareholders Bjarne Holmqvist, Gunnebo's President and CEO, opened his twelfth and final address to an AGM of Gunnebo AB with a presentation of Gunnebo's history, followed by comments on its activities in 2004.
"The emergence of Gunnebo -- the international security group -- has been dramatic. In twelve years, turnover has increased from zero to an annual level of 7.8 billion kronor, and the number of employees has risen from four to 3,800. To date, Gunnebo has acquired 44 companies in 32 countries and divested six. Its equity has grown from 400 million kronor to almost 1.8 billion, and during this 12-year period Gunnebo's shareholders have received dividends of 600 million kronor. Gunnebo's shares have risen over the 12 years by 540 per cent, while Stockholmsborsen's General Index has risen by 160 per cent during the same period," commented Bjarne Holmqvist, who continued: "As far as 2004 is concerned, I can say that we earned more or less that same, before items affecting comparability, as in the previous year, despite unfavourable currency movements and a increases in the price of steel. All in all, I think we can state that Gunnebo's underlying business has shown a stable result. In the space of 10 years, the Group's international structure has changed completely. The financial conditions are now on a completely different, higher level."
Holmqvist, who is stepping down as president and CEO on May 1, concluded by greeting his successor, Goran Gezelius welcome. He then thanked all of his 8,300 fellow employees at Gunnebo, the main shareholders, the board, and all the company's customers and suppliers, all of whom had helped to build Gunnebo. He expressed special thanks to the union representatives who, over the years, had contributed by the constructive approach and demonstrated great understanding for the very extensive structural changes that had been made.
Goteborg 31 March, 2005
GUNNEBO AB (publ) Information
For further information contact:
Bjarne Holmqvist, President and CEO, Gunnebo AB: +46 31 83 68 00, or +46 708 40 03 70, Lennart Gustavsson, Financial Director, Gunnebo AB: +46 31 83 68 00, or +46 705 93 40 80, or Janerik Dimming, Information Director, Gunnebo AB: +46 31 83 68 03 or +46 705 83 68 03, e-mail: janerik.dimming@gunnebo.se
Gunnebo is an international fast-growing security group with 110 companies located in 32 countries. The Group has sales to a further hundred markets via agents and distributors. Annual turnover amounts to some MEUR 860. Gunnebo's security products mainly include fire and burglar resistant safes, security products for banks and cash handling, electronic security systems, fire protection, entrance control and access control, alarm centres and indoor and outdoor perimeter protection. Gunnebo has at its disposal some of the world's leading brand names in security: Chubbsafes, Fichet-Bauche, Rosengrens, Ritzenthaler, Garny, Leicher, Troax and Elkosta. Gunnebo Engineering holds market leading positions in lifting and fastening systems.
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