STOCKHOLM, Sweden, April 8, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Custos (Other OTC:CUSTF):
-- The Annual General Meeting fixed the dividend for 2002 at SEK
12.50 per ordinary share (for 2001: SEK 14.50).
-- The Meeting authorized the Board to carry out synthetic
buy-backs of Custos' own shares.
Decisions at the Annual General Meeting
Dividend
The Annual General Meeting fixed the dividend for the 2002 financial year at SEK 12.50 per ordinary share (for 2001: 14.50) and the record date on April 11, 2003. The dividend is expected to be paid on April 16, 2003.
Liquidation clause
Furthermore, after consideration in compliance with the Articles of Association, the Annual General Meeting decided that Custos shall not be placed in liquidation.
Board of Directors
Per-Olof Eriksson, Leif Gustafsson, Sven Hagstromer, Magnus Henrekson, Sten K Johnson, Mikael Nachemson and Mats Qviberg were re-elected as members of the Board. At its subsequent statutory meeting, the Board re- elected Sven Hagstromer as its Chairman.
The Annual General Meeting approved a resolution that fees paid to members of the Board of Directors who do not receive a salary from the Company be halved, totaling MSEK 1.0, to be allocated as determined by the Board.
Auditor
As Auditor for the coming four-year period, the Annual General Meeting re-elected the public accounting firm of KPMG Bohlins AB, with Per Bergman as the Chief Auditor in charge.
Resolution in principle concerning synthetic buy-backs of Custos' own shares
The Annual General Meeting approved a resolution authorizing Board of Directors to carry out synthetic buy-backs of no more than 1,500,000 of Custos' own shares, however equivalent to a total amount not to exceed MSEK 400.
Nomination, remuneration and audit committees
Regarding nomination of Board members, the Annual General Meeting decided that the nomination process shall occur in such a way that at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the year, the four largest shareholders each appoint a representative. These four representatives, together with a fifth representative, appointed by the Chairman of the Board and representing the smaller shareholders, under the leadership of the Chairman, work out a proposal for the Board to be submitted to the Annual General Meeting for a decision. The names of the shareholder representatives will be published as soon as they have been appointed.
No decision was made to appoint remuneration or audit committees.
Information schedule
The Interim Report, January 1 - March 31, 2003 was published earlier today.
Interim Report, January 1 - June 30 July 11, 2003 Interim Report, January 1 - September 30 October 13, 2003 Preliminary Report on Custos' 2003 operations January 28, 2004
In addition to its regular report schedule, Custos reports its net asset value monthly on the fourth working day after the turn of each month. The Company's net asset value on July 31, 2003 will not be reported. However, the net asset value on July 10, 2003 will be reported in "Interim Report, January 1 - June 30, 2003", which will be published on July 11, 2003.
Stockholm, April 8, 2003
AKTIEBOLAGET CUSTOS (publ)
The Board of Directors
For further questions, please contact Mr. Mikael Nachemson (+46 8 440 57 70).
This press release is published in Swedish and English. In the event of any difference between the English version and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall govern.
AB Custos, P.O. Box 1738, SE-111 87 Stockholm, Sweden. Phone +46 8 440 57 70, fax +46 8 440 57 80, web site: www.custos.se
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http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/04/08/20030408BIT01340/wkr0001.doc
http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/04/08/20030408BIT01340/wkr0002.pdf