EANS-General Meeting: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA / Notice of Convocation of the 2010 Annual General Meeting and the 2010 Extraordinary Meeting for Preferred Shareholders
Geschrieben am 25-02-2010 |
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This English text is a translation for information only. The original German text published in the electronic version of the Federal Gazette (Bundesanzeiger) of February 25, 2010, is the only authoritative version.
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Convocation of the Annual General Meeting of
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA, Düsseldorf
Securities ID Numbers: |Ordinary shares |604 840 | |Preferred shares |604 843 |
International Securities Identification Numbers: |Ordinary shares |DE 0006048408 | |Preferred shares |DE 0006048432 |
The shareholders of our Corporation are hereby invited to attend the Annual General Meeting on Monday, April 19, 2010, 10.00 a.m., to be held in the Congress Center Düsseldorf, CCD-Stadthalle entrance, Rotterdamer Straße 141, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany
Admission from 8.30 a.m.
I. AGENDA
1. Presentation of the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements as endorsed by the Supervisory Board, and of the management reports of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA and of the Group, including the corporate governance/corporate management and remuneration reports, the report of the Supervisory Board for fiscal 2009, and the resolution adopting the annual financial statements of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA for fiscal 2009
Pursuant to Clause 171 AktG, the Supervisory Board endorsed the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements prepared by the Personally Liable Partner. Pursuant to Clause 286 (1) AktG, it is proposed that the annual financial statements be approved and adopted by the Annual General Meeting; the other documents mentioned above shall be made available to the Annual General Meeting without the requirement of adoption or approval.
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that the annual financial statements, stating an unappropriated profit of 601,597,840.27 euros, be approved as presented.
2. Resolution for the appropriation of profit
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that the unappropriated profit of 601,597,840.27 euros for fiscal 2009, be applied as follows:
|a) |Payment of a dividend of | | | | |0.51 euros per ordinary |= |132,495,896.25 euros | | |share (259,795,875 | | | | |shares) | | | |b) |Payment of a dividend of | | | | |0.53 euros per preferred |= |94,426,323.75 euros | | |share (178,162,875 | | | | |shares) | | | |c) |Carry-forward of the | | | | |remaining amount of | |374,675,620.27 euros | | |to the following year | | | | |(retained earnings) | | | | | | |= 601,597,840.27 euros |
Treasury shares are not entitled to dividend. The amount in unappropriated profit which relates to the shares held by the Corporation at the date of the Annual General Meeting will be carried forward as retained earnings.
3. Resolution to approve and ratify the actions of the Personally Liable Partner
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that the actions of the Personally Liable Partner be approved and ratified for fiscal 2009.
4. Resolution to approve and ratify the actions of the Supervisory Board
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that the actions of the members of the Supervisory Board in office in 2009 be approved and ratified for that financial year.
5. Resolution to approve and ratify the actions of the Shareholders´ Committee
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that the actions of the members of the Shareholders´ Committee in office in 2009 be approved and ratified for that financial year.
6. Resolution on the appointment of the auditors of the annual financial statements and the consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2010 and the examiners for the financial review of interim reports
The Supervisory Board in agreement with the recommendations of the Audit Committee, proposes that KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, Berlin, Germany, be appointed auditors of the annual financial statements and of the consolidated financial statements for fiscal 2010 and as the examiners for the financial review of interim reports for fiscal 2010.
7. Resolution on supplementary Supervisory Board elections
Following a decision by Düsseldorf District Court, Dipl. Kfm. Johann- Christoph Frey was appointed as a member of the Supervisory Board of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA in lieu of Dipl.-Ing. Albrecht Woeste who resigned from the Supervisory Board effective the end of September 22, 2009. In accordance with the provisions of the German Corporate Governance Code, the appointment of Mr. Frey is limited to the end of the 2010 Annual General Meeting. Mr. Konstantin von Unger has also resigned his position as shareholder-representative member of the Supervisory Board with effect from the end of the Annual General Meeting. Consequently, according to Article 12 (4) sentence 3 of the Articles of Association, two shareholder- representative members of the Supervisory Board must be elected for the remaining tenure of that body.
In accordance with Clause 96 (1) AktG in conjunction with Clause 7 (1) no. 2 of the German Co-determination Act of 1976 and Article 12 (1) of the Articles of Association, the Supervisory Board shall comprise eight shareholder-representative and eight employee-representative members. The shareholder-representative members of the Supervisory Board are elected by the Annual General Meeting; the Annual General Meeting is not bound to elect proposed candidates.
The Supervisory Board proposes that the following candidates
a) Dipl.-Kfm. Johann-Christoph Frey, Commercial Executive (Dipl.-Kaufmann), Klosters/Switzerland,
Memberships of domestic or foreign supervisory bodies comparable with a statutory German supervisory board: Henkel Ibérica S.A., Spain
b) Dr. rer. nat. Kaspar Freiherr von Braun Astrophysicist (NASA/California Institute of Technology), Pasadena/California (USA)
No memberships of statutory German supervisory boards or similar domestic or foreign supervisory bodies
be elected with effect from the end of the Annual General Meeting for the remaining tenure of the Supervisory Board (to the end of the 2012 Annual General Meeting) as shareholder-representative members of said Supervisory Board. It is intended that the elections be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the German Corporate Governance Code on an individual candidate basis.
8. Resolution to approve the remuneration system for members of the Management Board
According to Clause 120 (4) AktG as amended by the Act on the Appropriateness of Management Board Remuneration (VorstAG) of July 31, 2009, the general meeting of a listed corporation may resolve approval of the compensation system as applied to the members of the management board of that corporation. The non-contestable resolution establishes neither rights nor obligations.
With the Act on the Appropriateness of Management Board Remuneration (VorstAG), the legislature is pursuing the objective of linking executive compensation to a sustainable corporate management approach aligned to long-term benefits. The new arrangements will apply to contracts of employment and remuneration agreements concluded since the act came into force. The current system of compensation for the members of the Management Board, detailed in the Remuneration Report published on pages 26 et seq. in the 2009 Annual Report, is already largely governed by these principles. In order to reinforce the already given alignment of the executive compensation arrangements to long-term benefits, it is proposed that the remuneration system for the Management Board be orientated to the following principles. The detailed review of these principles is still ongoing; the Administration would, however, like to receive suggestions from shareholders and garner an initial response to these principles from the Annual General Meeting so that such views and opinions may be given due consideration prior to finalization of the details.
Structure and amounts
The structure and amounts of the emoluments accruing to the Management Board are aligned to the size and international activities of the corporation, its economic and financial position, its performance and future prospects, the normal levels of remuneration encountered in comparable companies and also the general compensation structure within the Corporation. The compensation package is further determined on the basis of the functions, responsibilities and performance of the individual executives and the performance of the Management Board as a whole. The variable compensation components have been devised such that they take into account both positive and negative developments. The remuneration mix is designed to be internationally competitive while also providing an incentive for ongoing business development and a sustainable increase in shareholder value within a dynamic operating environment. The Supervisory Board of Henkel Management AG regularly reviews the compensation arrangements applied to the Management Board.
It is proposed that the remunerations of the members of the Management Board be comprised of the components described in the following, whereby the target compensation amount (total compensation amount excluding other emoluments and pension benefits) is to be made up of around 30% fixed annual salary plus short-term and long-term performance-related components, each of which should account for around 35% of the total. This target compensation amount is supplemented by other emoluments and pension benefits. The components in detail:
Fixed salary
The annual non-performance-related fixed salary accounts for around 30% of the target compensation amount. The non-performance-related fixed salary is paid on a monthly basis. It is determined on the basis of the functions, responsibilities and period of Management Board service (in respect of both the former Henkel KGaA and the current Henkel AG & Co. KGaA) of the recipients concerned, and prevailing market conditions.
Variable compensation
The proportion of the target compensation amount related to the variable compensation is to be around 60%. The variable compensation is to be made up of an annual performance-related component which account for around 35% of target compensation amount, and a long-term variable component which accounts for around 25% of the target compensation amount and takes the form of an investment by the recipient (own investment) in Henkel preferred shares with a minimum vesting period of three years.
a) Determining the variable compensation
The primary performance metrics used to determine the variable compensation are return on capital employed (ROCE) and earnings per preferred share (EPS) as generated in the year in question, both being adjusted for exceptional items. The further factors used in establishing the variable compensation payable to the Management Board member are: the Group results and the results of the relevant business sector, the management demonstrated in the relevant business sector and the individual contribution made by the Management Board member.
Depending on the level of target achievement ascertained by the Supervisory Board of Henkel Management AG, whereby due consideration is also given to the sustainability of the business success and performance evidenced in the financial year under review, the target amount is adjusted by a performance multiplier. In the event of 100% target achievement, the multiplier applied is 1.0.
The variable compensation is also subject to an overall cap, with the result that the amount paid may only range between 0% and 250% of the target amount.
b) Short-term and long-term components of the variable compensation
The variable compensation amount is paid annually in arrears once the corporation´s annual financial statements have been approved by the Annual General Meeting. This triggers payment of around 60% of the variable compensation - corresponding to a share of the target compensation amount of 35% - in cash. For the remaining 40% - corresponding to a share of the target compensation amount of 25% - the members of the Management Board acquire Henkel preferred shares on the basis of the price prevailing on the date of their acquisition (own investment), said shares having been placed in a blocked custody account with a three-year drawing restriction. This own investment ensures that the members of the Management Board participate through this portion of their compensation in the long-term performance of the corporation.
Long-term incentive (LTI)
The long-term incentive, which accounts for 10% of the target compensation amount, consists of a variable cash payment based on the long-term performance of the corporation, the amount payable being determined by the increase registered in earnings per preferred share (EPS) over three consecutive years (the performance period).
On completion of the performance period, the degree of target achievement is ascertained by the Supervisory Board of Henkel Management AG on the basis of the increase in EPS achieved. The calculation is based on the approved and endorsed consolidated financial statements of the respective financial years as duly audited and provided with an unqualified opinion, with EPS also being first adjusted for exceptional items.
Depending on the level of target achievement ascertained by the Supervisory Board of Henkel Management AG, the target amount is adjusted by a performance multiplier. In the event of 100% target achievement, the multiplier applied is 1.0. The LTI is also subject to an overall cap with the result that the amount paid may only range between 0% and 250% of the target amount.
Pension benefits
The defined contribution pension system introduced on January 1, 2005 for new members of the Management Board, and explained in the Remuneration Report on page 28 et seq. of the 2009 Annual Report, is to be retained. Once a covered event occurs, the beneficiaries receive a superannuation lump-sum payment combined with a continuing basic annuity. The superannuation lump-sum payment comprises the total of annual contributions calculated on the basis of a certain percentage of the target compensation amount, this percentage being the same for all members of the Management Board. The annual contributions depend to a certain degree on developments in the annual total cash compensation paid in the financial year in question. Any vested pension rights earned within the corporation prior to the executive´s joining the Management Board are taken into account as start-up units. The defined contribution pension system ensures appropriate retirement and welfare benefits while also incorporating a performance-related element.
Other emoluments
The members of the Management Board also receive other emoluments in the form of benefits arising out of standard commercial insurance policies and the provision of a company car.
Other regulatory provisions
In the event of members of the Management Board taking retirement, they are entitled to continued payment of their remuneration for a further six months, but not beyond the month of their 65th birthday. The corporation maintains on behalf of members of management bodies and employees of Henkel a third-party group insurance policy (D&O insurance) protecting against consequential loss, which policy shall also cover members of the Management Board. For members of the Management Board there is an own-risk deductible amounting to 10 percent per event up to a maximum of one-and-a-half times their fixed salary for losses occurring within a financial year.
With the proportional make-up of the variable compensation package containing a long-term component and with the long-term incentive, recipients are provided with substantial motivation to pursue sustainable long-term business development as well as appropriate reward for the performance achieved in a financial year.
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that the above-detailed principles of a future compensation system for the members of the Management Board be approved.
9. Resolution to adopt the amendment of Art. 19 (3), Art. 20 (1) and (4), Art. 21 (2) and (3) and Art. 23 (3) of the Articles of Association in line with the requirements of the Act Implementing the Shareholders´ Rights Directive (ARUG)
Through the Act Implementing the Shareholders´ Rights Directive (ARUG) of July 30, 2009, the time limits under German company law for registration of participation in the Annual General Meeting and for validating participation entitlement, and also the regulations governing the form of powers of representation, the conduct of the Annual General Meeting and the exercising of shareholder rights by electronic means have all been modified, as a result of which amendments to the Articles of Association have also become necessary. The ARUG also opens up the possibility of postal voting.
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose that Art. 19 (3), Art. 20 (1) and (4), Art. 21 (2) and (3) and Art. 23 (3) of the Articles of Association be amended or supplemented as follows (amendments and supplements indicated in bold):
aa) 19. Place and Convocation (3) Unless an earlier date is legally permissible, the convocation of the General Meeting is announced by a notice published at least thirty days prior to the last date of registration as per Article 20 (1) sentence 2. The date of convocation is not to be included in the time limit.
bb) 20. Participation Entitlement (1) Only those shareholders shall be entitled to participate in the General Meeting and to exercise voting rights who register in text form in either German or English within the time limit prior to the date of the General Meeting, and who validate their entitlement to participate in the General Meeting and to exercise their rights to vote according to (2) below. The registration and means of validation must arrive at the office cited in the Notice of Convocation by the end of the sixth day prior to the date of the General Meeting. The Notice of Convocation may impose a period shortened to a minimum of three days prior to the General Meeting. The date of convocation is not included in the time limit.
(4) Time limits and deadlines per Articles 19 and 20 shall be calculated back from the non-inclusive date of the General Meeting. If the end of the time limit coincides with a Saturday, Sunday or a legally recognized public holiday at the Corporation´s domicile, this day shall also be counted; there shall be no deferment to a previous or subsequent working day.
cc) 21. Voting Rights (2) The right to vote can be exercised by proxy. The assignment of the proxy, its revocation or cancelation, and verification of the power of representation to the Corporation must be in text form, notwithstanding Clause 135 AktG. The Notice of Convocation may stipulate a relaxation of this formal requirement.
(3) The Personally Liable Partner is authorized to enable shareholders to cast their votes in writing or through electronic communications without attending the meeting (postal vote).
dd) 23. Chairperson, Attendance, Broadcast (3) The person chairing the meeting can allow the proceedings at a General Meeting to be broadcast in full or in part in audio or video format; the broadcast may also be made fully accessible to the general public. Where legally permissible, the Personally Liable Partner is also authorized to allow attendance and voting at the General Meeting via electronic communications.
10. Resolution to renew authorization to purchase and appropriate the Corporation´s own shares ("treasury stock") in accordance with Clause 71 (1) no. 8 AktG and to exclude the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders
Due to the expiry of the authorization resolved at the last Annual General Meeting, it is proposed that the Personally Liable Partner again be authorized to purchase the Corporation´s own shares in the market or by way of a public purchase offer. Pursuant to Clause 71 (1) no. 8 AktG as amended by the Act Implementing the Shareholders´ Rights Directive (ARUG), the period of validity of the authorization shall be five years.
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose the following resolution:
a) That the Personally Liable Partner be authorized in accordance with Clause 71 (1) no. 8 AktG to purchase ordinary and/or preferred shares of the Corporation at any time up to April 18, 2015, in an amount up to 10 percent of the capital stock of the Corporation at the time of the resolution in General Meeting or - if of lower value - of the capital stock of the Corporation at the time of each utilization of the present authorization, subject to the condition that the shares acquired on the basis of this authorization, together with the other treasury stock that the Corporation has already acquired or still holds, and which is attributable to the Corporation in accordance with § 71d and § 71e AktG, shall not at any time exceed 10 percent in total of the capital stock. The purchase may be limited to shares of one class.
That the authorization may be exercised in whole or in part, once or several times, individually or jointly by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, or by third parties on behalf of the Corporation or said companies.
That the authorization to purchase the Corporation´s own shares ("treasury stock") at any time up to October 19, 2010, approved by resolution of the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on April 20, 2009, be withdrawn with effect from the date when this new authorization becomes operative.
b) That purchases may be made, at the discretion of the Personally Liable Partner, (1) in the market or (2) either by means of a public offer of purchase addressed to all shareholders or by means of a public invitation to submit offers of sale (sale tenders).
(1) If the shares are purchased in the market, the consideration paid by the Corporation (excluding incidental costs) for each share must not be more than 10 percent above or below the opening price of Henkel shares of the same class quoted on the XETRA trading system (or a comparable successor system) of the Frankfurt Securities Exchange on the date when the purchase obligation arises.
(2) In the case of purchase by means of a public offer of purchase, or a public invitation to submit offers of sale (sale tenders), the Personally Liable Partner shall stipulate the share purchase price or the share purchase price spread. Where a share purchase price spread is stipulated, the final price shall be determined from the declarations of acceptance or sale tenders received. The public offer or the invitation to tender may include a time limit for acceptance or submissions, certain conditions and also the proviso that the share purchase price spread may be adjusted during the time limit for acceptance or tender submissions if, following publication of the formal offer or the invitation to submit sale tenders, there are significant movements in price during the time limit for acceptance or submissions.
The consideration paid by the Corporation (excluding incidental costs) for each share, or the share purchase price spread, must not be more than 10 percent above or below the arithmetic average of the closing prices of the Corporation´s shares of the same class quoted on the XETRA trading system (or a comparable successor system) of the Frankfurt Securities Exchange on the last five trading days prior to the date of the announcement of the offer or the invitation to submit sales tenders. In the case of an adjustment to the share purchase price, the relevant amount shall be determined on the basis of the closing price of Henkel shares of the same class prevailing on the last trading day before the final decision on the purchase price adjustment.
The volume purchased may be limited. If, in the case of a public purchase offer or a public invitation to submit sale tenders, the volume of the shares made available exceeds the envisaged buy-back volume, the purchase may then be effected on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the ratio of shares offered (tender ratios) in each case, rather than participation ratios. Provision may also be made for priority acceptance of smaller numbers of shares up to 100 of the shares offered for purchase or tendered per shareholder. In addition, the principles of commercial rounding may be applied in order to avoid arithmetic fractions of shares.
c) Besides disposal in the market or by way of an offer addressed to all shareholders, the Personally Liable Partner is authorized - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and of the Supervisory Board - to use the Corporation´s own shares ("treasury stock") acquired on the basis of this or an earlier authorization as follows:
(1) The Personally Liable Partner may offer and transfer treasury stock to third parties against benefits or contributions in kind for the purpose of forming business combinations or of acquiring businesses or participating interests in businesses.
2) The Personally Liable Partner may sell treasury stock against payment in cash, provided that the selling price is not significantly less than the quoted market price of the shares on the date of the sale. In this case, the proportion of the capital stock represented by the shares sold on the basis of this authorization, together with the proportion of the capital stock represented by shares issued or sold during the period of validity of this authorization, with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded through direct or corresponding application of Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG, must not exceed a total of 10 percent of the capital stock in existence at the time of this authorization becoming operative or - if this value is lower - being exercised. Also to be taken into account in this restriction are shares that, during the validity of this authorization, are used to service bonds with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation, issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, provided that these bonds were or are issued with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded pursuant to Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG.
3) The Personally Liable Partner may also use treasury stock to fulfill warrants or conversion rights or a conversion obligation granted on the issuance of bonds by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG.
4) The Personally Liable Partner may cancel treasury stock without any further resolution in General Meeting being required. Such cancelation may be restricted to a portion of treasury stock. Multiple use may be made of the authorization to cancel treasury stock. The Personally Liable Partner may stipulate that the cancelation - rather than by way of capital reduction - is performed in a simplified process without capital reduction in that the capital stock remains unchanged and the arithmetic proportion of the other shares relative to the capital stock is increased in accordance with Clause 8 (3) AktG. The Personally Liable Partner is, in such cases, authorized to adjust the number of shares indicated in the Articles of Association.
d) In the event of the Corporation´s shares acquired on the basis of this authorization being used for one or several of the purposes cited under c), the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders to treasury stock are excluded. Moreover, the Personally Liable Partner may, in the case of disposal of purchased treasury stock under the terms of an offer addressed to all shareholders, exclude the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders in respect of fractional entitlements - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board. Where treasury stock is to be sold by means of an offer addressed to all shareholders, the Personally Liable Partner is further authorized - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and of the Supervisory Board - to exclude the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders to the extent necessary in order to grant to bondholders with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, pre-emptive rights to these shares in the amount to which said bondholders would be entitled in the event of exercising the warrant options or conversion rights or after fulfillment of the conversion obligation.
11. Resolution to cancel the existing authorized capital amount and to create a new authorized capital amount (Authorized Capital 2010) for cash contributions with the option of excluding pre-emptive rights, with corresponding amendment of the Articles of Association
The authorized capital approved by the Annual General Meeting on April 10, 2006 (Authorized Capital 2006) becomes invalid effective April 9, 2011. In order to ensure that the Corporation has appropriate authorized capital at its disposal at all times, the provision relating to Authorized Capital 2006 in Art. 6 (5) of the Articles of Association is to be canceled and a new, corresponding Authorized Capital 2010 to be issued for cash created with the option of excluding the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders.
The Personally Liable Partner, the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board propose the following resolution:
a) That the Personally Liable Partner be authorized - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board - to increase the capital stock of the Corporation during the period until April 18, 2015, by up to a nominal total of 25,600,000 euros through the issuance for cash of new preferred shares with no voting rights. The authorization may be utilized to the full extent allowed or once or several times in partial amounts.
Existing shareholders shall essentially be granted preemptive rights. The shares are to be transferred to banks and similar credit institutions on condition that they be offered for purchase to existing shareholders. The Personally Liable Partner is, however, authorized - with the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and of the Supervisory Board - to exclude the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders
- in order to dispose of any fractional amounts to the exclusion of the pre-emptive rights of shareholders,
- to the extent necessary in order to grant to bondholders with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, pre-emptive rights to new shares in the amount which said bondholders would be entitled in the event of exercising the warrant options or conversion rights or after fulfillment of the conversion obligation,
- if the issue price of the new shares is not significantly below the quoted market price of the shares of the same class. In this case, the proportion of the capital stock represented by the shares sold on the basis of this authorization, together with the proportion of the capital stock represented by shares issued or sold during the period of validity of this authorization, with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded through direct or corresponding application of Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG, must not exceed a total of 10 percent of the capital stock in existence at the time of this authorization becoming operative or - if this value is lower - being exercised. Also to be taken into account in this restriction are shares that, during the validity of this authorization, are used to service bonds with warrants or conversion rights or a conversion obligation, issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, provided that these bonds were or are issued with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded pursuant to Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG.
That the Personally Liable Partner be authorized - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board - to stipulate the further specifics of the share rights and the conditions of share issue (Authorized Capital 2010).
b) With cancelation of the existing authorization, the previous Authorized Capital 2006 per Art. 6 (5) of the Articles of Association is to be canceled and Art. 6 (5) of the Articles of Association is to be amended as follows:
"(5) The Personally Liable Partner is authorized - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board - to increase the capital stock of the Corporation during the period until April 18, 2015, by up to a nominal total of 25,600,000 euros through the issuance for cash of new preferred shares with no voting rights. The authorization may be utilized to the full extent allowed or once or several times in partial amounts.
Existing shareholders shall essentially be granted preemptive rights. The shares are to be transferred to banks and similar credit institutions on condition that they be offered for purchase to existing shareholders. The Personally Liable Partner is, however, authorized - with the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and of the Supervisory Board - to exclude the pre- emptive rights of existing shareholders,
- in order to dispose of any fractional amounts to the exclusion of the pre-emptive rights of shareholders,
- to the extent necessary in order to grant to bondholders with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, pre- emptive rights to new shares in the amount which said bondholders would be entitled in the event of exercising the warrant options or conversion rights or after fulfillment of the conversion obligation,
- if the issue price of the new shares is not significantly below the quoted market price of the shares of the same class. In this case, the proportion of the capital stock represented by the shares sold on the basis of this authorization, together with the proportion of the capital stock represented by shares issued or sold during the period of validity of this authorization, with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded through direct or corresponding application of Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG, must not exceed a total of 10 percent of the capital stock in existence at the time of this authorization becoming operative or - if this value is lower - being exercised. Also to be taken into account in this restriction are shares that, during the validity of this authorization, are used to service bonds with warrants or conversion rights or a conversion obligation, issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, provided that these bonds were or are issued with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded pursuant to Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG.
The Personally Liable Partner is authorized - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board - to stipulate the further specifics of the share rights and the conditions of share issue (Authorized Capital 2010)."
c) The Personally Liable Partner is instructed only to register the resolutions per a) and b) above regarding the creation of Authorized Capital 2010 and the cancelation of Authorized Capital 2006 subject to the condition that Authorized Capital 2006 shall only be canceled once the new Authorized Capital 2010 has been registered.
d) The Supervisory Board is authorized to amend Articles 5 and 6 of the Articles of Association in accordance with the level of utilization of Authorized Capital 2010 and on expiry of the authorization validity.
II. Reports and supplementary information relating to the agenda items
1. Report to the Annual General Meeting in respect of Item 10 on the Agenda,as required by Clause71(1)no. 8 and Clause 186(4)sentence 2 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG)
The authorization proposed under Agenda Item 10 relates to the purchase of the Corporation´s own shares ("treasury stock"). The authorization to purchase the Corporation´s own shares, which was approved at the Annual General Meeting held on April 20, 2009 under Item 12 on the Agenda for that meeting, is only valid until October 19, 2010. It therefore requires renewal, as does the authorization to dispose of shares in other ways, as permitted under Clause 71 (1) no. 8 sentence 5 AktG, and the authorization to cancel shares as permitted under Clause 71 (1) no. 8 sentence 6 AktG. According to the new Clause 71 (1) no. 8 sentence 6 AktG as amended by the Act Implementing the Shareholders´ Rights Directive (ARUG), the authorization should remain valid for five years. The proposed authorization will enable the Corporation to realize the benefits associated with the acquisition of its own shares in the interests of the Corporation and its shareholders.
The authorization relates to the purchase of both ordinary and preferred shares. The purchase may be limited to shares of one class.
As permitted under Clause 71 (1) no. 8 AktG, other forms of purchase and disposal may be applied in addition to the typical method of purchase and disposal in the market. Thus, treasury stock may also be acquired by means of a public offer addressed to the shareholders or by public invitation to submit sales tenders. In these cases, the shareholders may decide how many shares they wish to sell and, in the event of a price spread being stipulated, at which price they wish to sell.
In acquiring the Corporation´s own shares, the principle of equal treatment as defined in Clause 53a AktG must be upheld. The proposed acquisition of the shares in the market or by way of a public offer or a public invitation to submit sales tenders is in keeping with this principle. Inasmuch as the number of shares offered or tendered exceeds the envisaged number of shares, purchase or acceptance may be effected on a pro-rata basis. The purchase may then be effected on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the ratio of shares offered (tender ratios) in each case, rather than participation ratios, as this enables the purchasing process to be technically managed on a commercially sound basis. Allowing pre- emptive claims to smaller numbers of up to 100 shares tendered per shareholder also serves to simplify the process. Applying the principles of commercial rounding avoids the problem of arithmetic fractions of shares.
The shares thus acquired as treasury stock may be used for all legally permissible purposes including in particular, to the exclusion of the pre- emptive rights of existing shareholders, those indicated hereinafter:
The proposed resolution includes the grant of authorization to offer and transfer the shares purchased to third parties against benefits or contributions in kind, in particular for the purpose of acquiring businesses, parts of businesses or participating interests in businesses or for forming business combinations.
Treasury stock is an important instrument as acquisition currency. International competition and the process of business globalization increasingly demand that a company´s treasury stock be used as consideration for the acquisition of other businesses, parts of businesses or participating interests in businesses or for forming business combinations. The granting of treasury stock can be a useful means of providing consideration as it protects the liquidity of the company and avoids the tax disadvantages arising from the fiscal regulations in force in certain countries. The authorization proposed here for transferring the shares purchased is therefore intended to place the Corporation in a position of being able to make the most of opportunities to acquire businesses or participating interests therein rapidly and in a flexible manner as such opportunities arise, and particularly without having to wait the often unfeasible time required for a resolution in General Meeting. In addition to business acquisitions, the authorization may in particular be used for the acquisition of receivables (loans and bonds) against the Corporation or against companies dependent upon it and thus to a reduction in external debt. Whether, in individual cases, treasury stock or - if applicable - shares from authorized capital are to be used is decided upon by the Personally Liable Partner taking into account the interests of the shareholders of the Corporation. In determining the valuation ratios, the Personally Liable Partner shall consider the market price of the relevant Henkel shares; there is no schematic link with the market price so that negotiation results, once achieved, cannot be put in question by possible fluctuations in the market price. There are currently no definite plans to use this authorization.
The resolution also proposes that Management likewise be authorized to sell any treasury stock purchased to third parties against payment in cash in a process other than in the market or by way of an offer addressed to all shareholders, with exclusion of the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders as permitted under Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG. The authorization serves the purpose of ensuring that the Corporation always has adequate equity at its disposal, enabling it to respond quickly and effectively to favorable stock exchange developments. The investment and financial interests of shareholders are suitably safeguarded by such an approach. The authorization ensures that the proportion of the capital stock represented by the shares sold on the basis of such authorizations, together with the proportion of the capital stock represented by other shares issued or sold during the period of validity of such authorizations, with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded through direct or corresponding application of Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG, cannot exceed a total of 10 percent of the capital stock in existence at the time of this authorization becoming operative or - if this value is lower - being exercised. Also to be taken into account in this restriction are shares that, during the validity of this authorization, are used to service bonds with warrants or conversion rights or a conversion obligation, issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, provided that these bonds were or are issued with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded pursuant to Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG. Moreover, the shares may only be sold at a price that is not significantly below the prevailing market price. The sale price is only finalized shortly before the sale. Management will endeavor to keep any discount on the quoted price as small as possible, taking into account the prevailing market conditions. Limiting the number of shares sold and requiring the selling price to be fixed close to the market price ensure that shareholders are adequately protected against the value of their shares becoming diluted. There are currently no definite plans to use this authorization.
The Corporation shall also be permitted to use the treasury stock acquired in accordance with this authorization in order to satisfy warrants or conversion rights granted by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG. It may be advantageous to use treasury stock, either in part or in whole, instead of shares generated from a corresponding capital increase in order to satisfy the ensuing rights to acquire Henkel shares. The exclusion of the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders would be a necessary prerequisite in such a process. The authorization also creates a facility whereby the pre- emptive rights of existing shareholders may be selectively excluded in the event of a sale of shares by means of an offer addressed to existing shareholders, in favor of the bondholders with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation. This creates the possibility whereby, on the issuance of bonds with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation, purchasers can be granted a pre-emptive right to shares as protection against dilution rather than being offered a reduction in the warrant or conversion price. This can facilitate a larger flow of funds to the Corporation.
Finally, the Personally Liable Partner is to be authorized, in the case of disposal of treasury stock under the terms of an offer of sale addressed to all shareholders, to exclude the pre-emptive rights of shareholders in respect of fractional entitlements - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board. This is necessary in order to enhance technical efficiency in the disposal of acquired treasury stock by way of such an offer to shareholders. The free fractional amounts of treasury stock excluded from the pre-emptive rights of the shareholders shall be disposed of to the best possible effect for the Corporation, either by sale in the market or by some other process.
Such shares purchased may be canceled by the Corporation without any further resolution in General Meeting being required. Cancelation shall either be effected by way of capital reduction or, as permitted by Clause 237 (3) no. 3 AktG, using the simplified process whereby the capital stock remains unchanged by increasing the proportion of the other shares relative to the capital stock pursuant to Clause 8 (3) AktG. The Personally Liable Partner is to be authorized in such cases to amend the Articles of Association with respect to the change in the number of individual shares.
The authorization to dispose of treasury stock covers shares that are purchased on the basis of this proposed resolution and those purchased on the basis of authorizations previously approved and passed in earlier General Meetings. In the event that the authorization is used, the Personally Liable Partner shall inform the subsequent General Meeting thereof.
2. Report by the Personally Liable Partner to the Annual General Meeting pursuant to Clause 203 (2) sentence 2 and Clause 186 (4) sentence 2 AktG in respect of Item 11 of the agenda
The proposal before the Annual General Meeting is that it approve the creation of an Authorized Capital 2010 totaling up to a nominal 25,600,000 euros through the issuance of new non-voting preferred shares. This will take the place of the existing and as yet unutilized Authorized Capital 2006 and ensure that the Corporation can cover a corresponding financial requirement quickly and flexibly.
In the event of utilization of Authorized Capital 2010, whether in one or several partial amounts, such utilization shall not exceed the total nominal amount of 25,600,000 euros. The proposed total of Authorized Capital 2010 would, if utilized in full, increase the current capital stock by approximately 5.85 percent.
Existing shareholders will, in the event of utilization of Authorized Capital 2010, in principle retain pre-emptive rights of purchase. However, the proposed authorization provides the Personally Liable Partner with the option - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board - of excluding such pre-emptive rights in respect of fractional entitlements. The purpose of the exclusion of pre-emptive rights in respect of fractional amounts is to facilitate efficiency and the practical management of disposal based on rounded entitlements. The free fractional amounts of new shares excluded from the pre-emptive rights of the shareholders shall be disposed of to the best possible effect for the Corporation, either by sale in the market or by some other process.
The possibility of exclusion of pre-emptive rights is also required so that, to the extent necessary, creditors/holders of bonds with warrants or conversion rights or bonds that establish a conversion obligation may be granted pre-emptive rights to new shares where stipulated in the conditions of issue underlying such bonds. In order to facilitate placement in the capital market, such bonds are regularly provided with anti-dilution protection so that creditors/holders of the bonds concerned are granted a pre-emptive right to purchase shares subsequently issued corresponding to the pre-emptive entitlement of shareholders. The creditors/holders are therefore treated as if they are already shareholders. In order to provide bonds with such anti-dilution protection, the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders to such shares must be excluded. This facilitates bond placement and therefore serves the interests of shareholders in that the Corporation´s financial structure can be appropriately optimized.
It should also be possible to exclude pre-emptive rights - subject to the approval of the Shareholders´ Committee and the Supervisory Board - when the shares are issued at a price not significantly below the market quotation. Exclusion allows placement close to market price so that, in the interest of strengthening the Corporation´s equity base, the usual market price discount associated with a rights issue is avoided. The investment and financial interests of shareholders are suitably safeguarded by such an approach. The authorization ensures that, even together with other similar authorizations, not more than a total of 10 percent of the capital stock in existence at the time of this authorization becoming operative or - if this value is lower - being exercised can be issued or sold with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded through direct or corresponding application of Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG. Also to be taken into account in this 10 percent restriction are shares that, during the validity of this authorization, are used to service bonds with warrants or conversion rights or a conversion obligation, issued by the Corporation or one of the companies dependent upon it as defined in Clause 17 AktG, provided that these bonds were or are issued with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded pursuant to Clause 186 (3) sentence 4 AktG. In utilizing this authorization, the Personally Liable Partner shall endeavor to keep the market price discount as low as possible, taking into account the market conditions prevailing at the time of placement.
This stipulation ensures that, in keeping with statutory requirements, due consideration is given to the need to provide anti-dilution protection of the investment of existing shareholders. According to statute, exclusion of pre-emptive rights is permitted for up to 10 percent of the capital stock under these conditions. This limit will not be exceeded with this authorization, even if fully utilized with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded. 10 percent of the capital stock corresponds to 43,795,875 euros, and the proposed framework with up to 25,600,000 euros corresponding to 25,600,000 new preferred shares, is substantially below that figure. At the same time, the proposed authorization ensures that, even together with other similar authorizations, the amount of shares issued with the pre-emptive rights of existing shareholders excluded cannot exceed the maximum arithmetic ratio of 10 percent of the capital stock. Because the issue price for the new shares is to be close to the market quotation, every shareholder will have the opportunity of purchasing new shares under almost the same conditions, in order to maintain their shareholding ratio. Given the liquidity of Henkel preferred shares in the market, there is constant opportunity to purchase a
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