Annual General Meeting of Swedish Match AB (publ)
The Board of Directors proposes an increased dividend to 4.10 SEK per share. The proposed record date for entitlement to receive a cash dividend is May 4, 2009. The Board also proposes that the current mandate to repurchase up to 10 percent of all shares in the Company for a maximum amount of 3,000 MSEK be prolonged. In addition the Board will also propose a reduction in the Company’s share capital of 6,110,045.76 SEK through withdrawal of 4,000,000 previously repurchased shares, with a simultaneous bonus issue without issuing new shares, of the corresponding amount to restore the share capital. Furthermore, the Board will propose that the reduction be allocated to a fund for use in repurchasing the Company’s own shares.
The Nominating Committee of Swedish Match AB proposes re-election of Charles A. Blixt, Andrew Cripps, Karen Guerra, Arne Jurbrant, Conny Karlsson, Kersti Strandqvist and Meg Tivéus. Conny Karlsson is proposed to be re-elected as Chairman of the Board and Andrew Cripps is proposed to be re-elected as Deputy Chairman of the Board.
The Nominating Committee consists of Michael Allison (Morgan Stanley Investment Management), William N. Booth (Wellington Management Company), Andy Brown (Cedar Rock Capital), Mads Eg Gensmann (Parvus Asset Management), chairman, and Conny Karlsson.
The complete notice of the Annual General Meeting can be found on the corporate web site: www.swedishmatch.com, and is also enclosed.
Swedish Match produces and sells market-leading brands in smokefree tobacco products, cigars, pipe tobacco and lights products. The Company sells products across the globe, with production units in 11 countries. The Group’s global operations generated sales of 13,162 MSEK for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2008. The Swedish Match share is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm (SWMA).
Swedish Match AB (publ), SE-118 85 Stockholm
Visiting address: Rosenlundsgatan 36, Telephone: +46 8 658 02 00
Corporate Identity Number: 556015-0756
www.swedishmatch.com
For further information, please contact:
Henrik Brehmer, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications
Office +46 8 658 04 52, Mobile +46 76 111 34 14
Emmett Harrison, Vice President, Investor Relations
Office +46 8 658 01 73, Mobile +46 70 938 01 73
