AKER SEAFOODS ASA NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

Transkript

1 AKER SEAFOODS ASA NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given of an extraordinary general meeting in Aker Seafoods ASA to be held on Friday 4 November 2011 at 10:00 hrs CET at Felix Konferansesenter, Bryggetorget 3 (Aker Brygge), 0250 Oslo, Norway. Ballots will be distributed at the meeting venue from 09:00 hrs CET to 10:00 hrs CET on the day of the extraordinary general meeting. The shareholders may vote online by logging on to the company's website akersea.com. Password and reference number will be assigned to each shareholder, conf. below. The extraordinary general meeting will be held for the following purposes: 1. Opening of the extraordinary general meeting by the Chairman of the Board, including the election of one person to co-sign the minutes of the meeting. 2. Capital reduction by distributing the company's shares in Norway Seafoods Group AS to the company's shareholders. The Board of Directors' proposal for a resolution and other relevant material is available on the company's website, conf. below. The shares of the company and voting rights The company's share capital is NOK 423,230,080 divided into 84,646,016 shares. Each share carries one vote. *** Each shareholder has the right to vote for the number of shares owned by the shareholder and registered in the shareholders' register with the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS) at the time of the general meeting. If a share purchase has not been registered with the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS) at the time of the general meeting, voting rights for the purchased shares may only be acquired if the acquisition is reported to the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS) and proven at the general meeting. In a share transfer, the parties may agree that the seller can exercise the rights as holder of the shares until the shares have been transferred to the purchaser. According to the company's assessment, neither the beneficial owner nor the nominee has the right to vote for shares registered on nominee accounts with the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS), cf. the Public Limited Companies Act Section The beneficial owner may, however, vote for the shares in the event that he can document that he has taken all necessary steps to terminate the nominee registration of the shares, and that the shares will be transferred to an ordinary account registered with the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS), in the beneficial owner s name. Provided that the owner can document such conduct, and that he has an actual ownership interest in the company, he may, in the company s opinion, vote for the shares, even though they are not yet registered on an ordinary VPS-account. The shareholders rights A shareholder cannot demand that new items are added to the agenda, as the deadline for such request has expired, cf. the Public Limited Companies Act Section 5-11, second paragraph. A shareholder has the right to make proposals for resolutions on the items which will be considered by the general meeting. A shareholder has the right to request that Board members and the CEO in the general meeting provide available information on issues that may influence the approval of items to be resolved in the general meeting and other items to be considered in the general meeting, unless the information requested may not be disclosed without disproportionate damage to the company. If additional information is necessary, so that a reply cannot be given at the general meeting, a written reply shall be prepared within two weeks after the general meeting. Such reply shall be available at the company s office and sent to all shareholders that have requested the information. If the reply is considered material for the evaluation of the circumstances mentioned in the previous paragraph, the reply should be sent to all shareholders with known address.

2 Registration of attendance to the general meeting Shareholders who wish to participate in the general meeting, either in person or by proxy, may register attendance on the company's website (PIN-code and reference number from the Notice of Attendance is required). Alternatively, notice of attendance in person or by proxy may be submitted via Investortjenester (Investor services), a service offered by most registrars in Norway, or by sending the enclosed Notice of Attendance form to Aker Seafoods ASA c/o DnB NOR Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, NO-0021 Oslo, Norway, telefax Notification of attendance must be sent electronically, or be received, no later than 2 November 2011 at 10:00 hrs CET. Shareholders who fail to register by this deadline may be denied access to the general meeting and denied the right to vote, cf. the company s articles of association section 7. Proxy A shareholder who is not present at the general meeting in person, may grant a proxy to a named proxy holder. Alternatively, a proxy may be granted to the chairman or a person designated by the chairman. Enclosed with the notice of the general meeting is a form for granting of proxy, which can be sent to Aker Seafoods ASA c/o DnB NOR Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, NO-0021 Oslo, Norway, telefax The proxy may also be submitted electronically via Investortjenester (Investor services) or Aker Seafoods ASA s website (PIN-code and reference number from the Notice of Attendance is required). Shareholders may also grant a proxy with voting instructions. A separate proxy form for such detailed voting instructions is enclosed with this notice. A proxy with voting instructions must be sent by ordinary mail or telefax to Aker Seafoods ASA v/dnb NOR Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, NO-0021 Oslo, Norway / telefax Online registration of proxy with voting instructions is not possible. For all proxies with and without instructions, the same deadline applies as for notification of attendance; 2 November 2011 at 10:00 hrs CET. The proxy form must be received before the deadline. Online advance voting In the company's annual general meeting held on 1 April 2011 it was resolved that the company may decide to issue notice of extraordinary general meetings with at least two weeks' notice if the board in accordance with the Public Limited Companies Act Section 5-8a has resolved that the shareholders may vote electronically in the general meeting. Thus, notice is issued with two weeks' notice. Shareholders who are not able to participate in the general meeting may vote electronically in advance in each case on Aker Seafoods ASAs website or via "Investortjenester" (Investor services) (PIN code and reference number from the Notice of Attendance is required). The deadline for online advance voting is 2 November 2011 at 10:00 hrs CET. Until the expiry of the deadline the advance votes may be altered or withdrawn. If a shareholder decides to attend the general meeting, either in person or by proxy, the advance vote is considered withdrawn. Documents and proposals for resolutions In accordance with article 10 of the articles of association, documents that are to be considered at the general meeting are published on the company's website and are consequently not distributed together with the notice. Nevertheless, each shareholder has the right to have the documents sent to him or her free of charge, upon request to the company. Shareholders who wish to receive copies of the documents may make a request to the company by firmapost@akersea.com or by mail to Aker Seafoods ASA, Postboks 1301 Vika, 0111 Oslo. The proposals for resolutions on the items on the agenda are also available on the company's website. *** In accordance with section 10 of Aker Seafoods ASA s Articles of Association and Section 5-12 (1) of the Norwegian Public Limited Companies Act, the Chairman of the Board, Frank O. Reite will open and chair the general meeting. The Notice of the general meeting and additional information related to the general meeting is also made available on Aker Seafoods ASA s website, Enclosure 1: Notice of Attendance / Proxy *** 20 October 2011 Aker Seafoods ASA Board of Directors

3 STYRETS FORSLAG OM KAPITALNEDSETTELSE 1. Bakgrunn Styret foreslår at generalforsamlingen treffer vedtak om nedsettelse av selskapets overkursfond ved utdeling av selskapets aksjer i Norway Seafoods Group AS ("NWS") til selskapets aksjeeiere. Aker Seafoods eier i dag samtlige aksjer i NWS. Styret i Aker Seafoods ASA anser det som hensiktsmessig å videreutvikle virksomheten i to separate selskaper: Fangstselskapet Aker Seafoods og markeds- og foredlingsselskapet Norway Seafoods. Styret har i sin vurdering lagt særlig vekt på at forretningsområdene Fangst, Marked og Foredling er svært forskjellige med blant annet ulike behov for kompetanse, ulike produkter/markeder, ulike utfordringer på HMS (helse-miljø-sikkerhet), ulike forretningsmodeller, og ulike behov innenfor drift og utvikling. Videre ønsker styret med dette å legge bedre til rette for å etablere strategisk partnerskap for en markedsorientert foredlingsvirksomhet. Styret foreslår derfor å dele ut samtlige av aksjene i NWS til aksjeeierne i Aker Seafoods. Utdelingen gjennomføres ved kapitalnedsettelse av selskapets overkursfond ved utdeling til selskapets aksjeeiere på utdelingstidspunktet. Det er lagt opp til at aksjene i NWS skal noteres på OTC- listen umiddelbart etter gjennomføringen av kapitalnedsettelsen. Aker Seafoods vil frasi seg retten til aksjer i NWS for sin beholdning av egne aksjer (for tiden aksjer). De motsvarende aksjene i NWS vil fordeles på de øvrige aksjeeierne i Aker Seafoods ASA i henhold til deres innbyrdes eierandel. Etter allmennaksjeloven 12-6 løper det ved en kapitalnedsettelse ved utdeling til selskapets aksjeeiere en kreditorfrist på 2 måneder. Man tar derfor sikte på at kapitalnedsettelsen vil være gjennomført medio januar neste år, forutsatt at alle betingelsene for gjennomføringen av kapitalnedsettelsen er oppfylt. Revisors erklæring om at det etter nedsettelsen er full dekning for selskapets gjenværende bundne egenkapital er vedlagt innkallingen til ekstraordinær generalforsamling. Etter gjennomføring av kapitalnedsettelsen vil ikke Aker Seafoods eie noen aksjer i NWS. For videre beskrivelse av NWS vises det til Aker Seafoods delårsrapport for første halvår 2011, samt presentasjonen av NWS publisert på selskapets hjemmeside og utvidet børsmelding av 20.oktober Forslag til vedtak Det foreslås at generalforsamlingen treffer følgende vedtak: 1. Selskapets overkursfond settes ned med NOK fra NOK til NOK

4 2. Nedsettelsesbeløpet skal benyttes til utdeling av selskapets aksjer i Norway Seafoods Group AS til selskapets aksjeeiere i henhold til deres eierandel på utdelingstidspunktet. Selskapet frasier seg retten til aksjer i Norway Seafoods Group AS for sin beholdning av egne aksjer. Disse aksjene i Norway Seafoods Group AS vil fordeles på de øvrige aksjeeierne i Aker Seafoods ASA i henhold til deres innbyrdes eierandel. Utdelingen gjennomføres skatterettslig som tilbakebetaling av innbetalt kapital. 3. Vedtaket om kapitalnedsettelse meldes umiddelbart til Foretaksregisteret. 4. Gjennomføringen av dette vedtaket om nedsettelse av selskapets overkursfond er betinget at følgende forhold er oppfylt: i) Selskapet oppfyller vilkårene for fortsatt notering på Oslo Børs; ii) nødvendige godkjennelser fra offentlige myndigheter og tredjeparter, herunder selskapets og NWS långivere, foreligger; iii) eventuelle innsigelser fra kreditorer mot kapitalnedsettelsen er avklart; og iv) styret finner finansieringen av Norway Seafoods Group AS tilfredsstillende. 5. Styret kan forøvrig beslutte å utsette eller avstå fra å gjennomføre utdelingen dersom forutsetningene for dette etter styrets oppfatning ikke lenger er til stede eller dersom styret ikke lenger anser utdelingen for å være i selskapets eller aksjeeiernes interesse.

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6 The preferred partner part of Aker PIN CODE: REF. NR: EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING in Aker Seafoods ASA will be held on Friday November 4, at 10:00h CET at Felix Conference Center, Bryggetorget 3, Aker Brygge, in Oslo, Norway In the event the shareholder is a legal entity it will be represented by: Name of representative. (To grant proxy, use the proxy form below). ATTENDANCE FORM If you wish to attend the extraordinary general meeting, we kindly ask you to send this form to Aker Seafoods ASA c/o DnB NOR Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, N-0021 Oslo, Norway, or fax to Attendance may also be registered on Aker Seafoods ASA s homepage on or through Investortjenester, a service provided by most Norwegian registrars. The pin code and the reference number are required for registration. The form must be registered by DnB NOR Bank Verdipapirservice no later than November 2, 2011 at 10:00h CET. The undersigned will attend at Aker Seafoods ASA s Extraordinary General Meeting November 4, 2011 and vote for: A total of own shares. other shares in accordance with enclosed proxy shares. X ) Place/Date 2011 Shareholder s signature (Sign only by own attendance. To grant proxy, use the form below) PROXY (WITHOUT VOTING INSTRUCTIONS) PIN CODE: REF. NO: If you are not able to attend the extraordinary general meeting, a nominated proxy holder can be granted your voting authority. Any proxy not naming proxy holder will be deemed given to the chairman of the board or a person designated by him. The present proxy form relates to proxies without instructions. To grant proxy with voting instructions, please go to page 2 of this form. We kindly ask you to send the proxy form to Aker Seafoods ASA c/o DNB NOR Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, N-0021 Oslo, Norway, or fax to Web-based registration of the proxy is available on Aker Seafoods ASA s homepage on and through Investortjenester, a service provided by most Norwegian registrars. The pin code and the reference number are required for registration. The proxy must reach DnB NOR Bank Verdipapirservice no later than November 2, 2011 at 10:00h CET. The undersigned : hereby grants : The chairman (or a person designated by him). or : Name of self-nominated proxy holder (Please use capital letters) proxy to attend and vote at the extraordinary general meeting November 4, 2011 for my/our shares X ) Place: Date: 2011 Shareholder s signature (Only when granting proxy) With regard to rights of attendance and voting we refer you to The Norwegian Public Limited Companies Act, in particular Chapter 5. A written power of attorney dated and signed by the beneficial owner giving such proxy must be presented at the meeting.

7 part of Aker PROXY WITH VOTING INSTRUCTIONS PIN CODE: REF NO: In the event you prefer granting voting instruction to the proxy holder, please use the present proxy form. The items in the detailed proxy below refer to the items in the extraordinary general meeting agenda. A detailed proxy with voting instructions may be granted a nominated proxy holder. A proxy not naming a proxy holder will be deemed given to the chairman or any person designated by him. We kindly ask you to send the proxy with voting instructions by mail or fax to Aker Seafoods ASA c/o DnB NOR Bank ASA, Verdipapirservice, NO-021 Oslo, Norway, or faxed to Online registration is not available for registrations of voting instructions. The proxy must reach DnB NOR Bank Verdipapirservice no later than Wednesday, November 2, at 10:00h CET. The undersigned shareholder in Aker Seafoods ASA: hereby grants (check-off): The chairman (or a person designated by him), or Name of proxy holder (please use capital letters) proxy to attend and vote at the extraordinary general meeting of Aker Seafoods ASA on Friday, November 4, 2011 for my/our shares. The votes shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions below. Please note that any items below not voted for (not ticked off), will be deemed as an instruction to vote in favour of the proposals in the notice. Any motion from the floor, amendments or replacement to the proposals in the agenda, will be determined by the proxy holder s discretion. In case the contents of the voting instructions are ambiguous, the proxy holder will base his/her understanding on a reasonable understanding of the wording of the proxy. Where no such reasonable understanding can be found, the proxy may in his/her discretion refrain from voting. Agenda AGM 2011 In favour Against Abstention 1. Opening of the extraordinary general meeting by the Chairman of the Board, including the election of one person to co-sign the minutes of the meeting 2. Capital reduction by distributing the company's shares in Norway Seafoods Group AS to the company's shareholders Place: Date: 2011 Shareholder s signature (Only for granting proxy with voting instructions) With regard to rights of attendance and voting we refer you to The Norwegian Public Limited Companies Act, in particular Chapter 5. A written power of attorney dated and signed by the beneficial owner giving such proxy must be presented at the meeting. If the shareholder is a company, please attach the shareholders certificate of registration to the proxy.