
Nokia Board of Directors convenes Annual General Meeting 2007, New stock repurchase plan projected, Nokia Equity Program 2007 in line with previous years' practice
Nokia announced today that Nokia Board of Directors will submit the below proposals to the Annual General Meeting on May 3, 2007. The Board also projects to continue with stock repurchases, and it has resolved to establish Nokia Equity Program 2007, in line with previous years' practice.
- Proposal to pay a dividend of EUR 0.43 per share
- Projection for a stock repurchase plan for 2007
- Proposal for a new stock option plan as part of Nokia's Equity Program 2007
- Proposal to amend the Articles of Association
- Proposals to reduce the share issue premium and to record the subscription prices for shares issued based on stock options in the fund for invested non-restricted equity
- Proposals to authorize the Board for stock repurchases and stock issuances
Proposal to pay a dividend
Nokia's Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting on May 3, 2007 that a dividend of EUR 0.43 per share be paid from the fiscal year 2006. The dividend ex-date would be May 4, 2007, the record date May 8, 2007 and the pay date May 24, 2007. The actual dividend pay date outside Finland will be determined by the practices of the intermediary banks transferring the dividend payments.
Projection for a stock repurchase plan for 2007
As in 2006, Nokia's Board of Directors projects to repurchase Nokia shares under a stock repurchase plan for 2007. Therefore, the Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting a renewal of the authorization of the Board to repurchase a maximum of 380 million Nokia shares. The Board plans to repurchase shares with up to EUR 4 billion until March 31, 2008 subject to the authorization, and to commence repurchases based on the new authorization after the Annual General Meeting of May 3, 2007. The Board also intends to cancel majority of the shares held by the Company prior to the Annual General Meeting 2007.
Nokia Equity program 2007 and proposal for a new stock option plan
Nokia Equity Program 2007, following previous years' practice, has the below structure as approved by the Nokia Board of Directors:
- Performance shares - offered as the main equity-based incentive;
- Stock options - to be used at a lesser degree compared to previous years;
- Restricted shares - only a small number granted to high potential and critical employees.
Nokia Equity Program 2007 will focus on rewarding achievement and retaining critical talent, like Nokia equity programs of previous years. Similarly, it intends to align the potential value received by the participants directly with the performance of the Company, thus aligning the participants' interests also with the shareholders' interests.
Performance shares under the Nokia Equity Program 2007 will be settled provided that the Company's performance reaches the required threshold level measured by two performance criteria: average annual net sales growth during the three-year performance period (2007-2009), and earnings per share ('EPS') (basic) at the end of the performance period (2009). The actual threshold levels will be determined and disclosed during the first quarter of 2007. The grant of performance shares in 2007 may result in an aggregate maximum payout of 12 million Nokia shares, should the maximum level for both performance criteria be met. Nokia intends to continue to grant performance shares also in 2008-2010 up to a total payout of 36 million Nokia shares.
Restricted shares under the Nokia Equity Program 2007 will have a three-year restriction period and therefore be settled mainly in 2010. The grant of restricted shares in 2007 may result in a maximum payout of 4 million Nokia shares. Nokia intends to continue to grant restricted shares also in 2008-2010 up to total payout of 12 million Nokia shares.
As part of Nokia Equity Program 2007, the Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting that selected personnel of Nokia Group be granted a maximum of 20 million stock options during a four year period 2007-2010. The average annual grant is planned to be 5 million. The stock options entitle to subscribe for a maximum of 20 million Nokia shares. The subcategories of stock options to be granted under the plan will have a term of approximately 5 years from grant, the last of the subcategories expiring as of December 31, 2015. The exercise prices (i.e. subscription prices) shall be determined on a quarterly basis at grant and be based on the market price of the Nokia share quoted in public trading at the time of the pricing, as determined in the terms and conditions of the stock options. The latest stock option plan was approved by the Annual General Meeting in 2005. Nokia Stock Option Plan 2005 covered a maximum of 25 million stock options to be granted 2005-2006, the average annual grant being maximum 12.5 million.
As of December 31, 2006, the total maximum dilution effect of Nokia's equity incentives currently outstanding, assuming that the performance shares are settled at maximum, is approximately 3.4%. The potential maximum effect of the Nokia Equity Program 2007 would be approximately another 0.8% - Nokia.
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