Neste Oyj : Decisions taken by Neste's Annual General Meeting

Neste Corporation, Stock Exchange Release, 18 May 2020 at 3.30 p.m. (EET)
Neste Corporation's Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held today at the Company's headquarters in Espoo and it adopted the company's Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements for 2019 and discharged the Board of Directors and the President & CEO from liability for 2019.

First dividend installment of EUR 0.46 per share and possible second installment of EUR 0.56 per share at the maximum

The AGM approved the Board of Directors' proposal regarding the distribution of the company's profit for 2019 to the effect that the first dividend installment, EUR 0.46 per share, will be paid to shareholders registered in the shareholders' register of the Company maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date for the first dividend installment, which shall be Wednesday, 20 May 2020. The first dividend installment will be paid on Thursday, 28 May 2020.

In addition, in accordance with the proposal by the Board of Directors, the AGM authorized the Board to decide, in its discretion, on the payment of a second dividend installment in a maximum amount of EUR 0.56 per share (consisting of an ordinary dividend of EUR 0.46 and an extraordinary dividend of EUR 0.10). The authorization is valid until 30 October 2020.

The Board expects to decide upon the possible payment of a second installment of the dividend, EUR 0.56 per share at the maximum, on 22 October 2020 to the effect that the second installment would be paid to a shareholder who is registered in the Company's shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Oy on the record date for the payment of second dividend installment, i.e. on 26 October 2020. The payment date of the second installment of the dividend would then be 2 November 2020.

If the Board decides on payment of a second dividend installment based on the authorization, such decision will be separately published by the Company, including the amount of and relevant record and payment dates for the second installment.

Composition of the Board of Directors

In accordance with the proposal made by the Shareholders' Nomination Board, the AGM confirmed the membership of the Board of Directors at eight members, and the following were re-elected to serve until the end of the next AGM: Mr. Matti Kähkönen, Ms. Sonat Burman-Olsson, Ms. Martina Flöel, Mr. Jean-Baptiste Renard, Mr. Jari Rosendal, and Mr. Marco Wirén. Mr. Nick Elmslie and Ms. Johanna Söderström were elected as new members.

Mr. Matti Kähkönen was re-elected as Chair and Mr. Marco Wirén was elected as new Vice Chair. Board member introductions can be found at the company's web site.

The AGM decided on the remuneration to the Board as follows:

· Chair: EUR 67,900 per annum
· Vice Chair: EUR 49,600 per annum
· Member: EUR 35,700 per annum 
· Chair of Audit Committee: EUR 49,600 per annum if he or she does not simultaneously act as Chair or Vice Chair of the Board
In addition to the annual fee, members of the Board of Directors will receive a meeting fee of EUR 600 for each meeting held in the member's home country and EUR 1,200 for each meeting held in another country, plus compensation for expenses in accordance with the Company's travel guidelines. The meeting fee for telephone meetings will be paid according to the fee payable for meetings held in each member's home country.

Company Auditor

In accordance with a proposal by the Board of Directors, PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy, were appointed as the company's Auditor, with Authorized Public Accountant Mr Markku Katajisto as the principally responsible auditor for Neste Corporation, until the end of the next AGM. Payment for their services shall be made in accordance with their invoice approved by the Company.

Authorizing the Board of Directors to decide the buyback of Company shares

The AGM approved the Board's proposal to the AGM to authorize the Board to purchase Company shares ('Buyback authorization') under the following terms:

Under this buyback authorization, the Board shall be authorized to decide the purchase of and/or take as security a maximum of 23,000,000 Company shares using the Company's unrestricted equity. The number of shares shall be equivalent to approximately 2.99% of the Company's total shares.

Shares may be purchased in one or more lots. The purchase price shall be at least the lowest price paid for Company shares in regulated trading at the time of purchase and no more than the highest price paid for Company shares in regulated trading at the time of purchase. In connection with the buyback of Company shares, derivative, share lending, or other agreements that are normal within the framework of capital markets may take place in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements and at a price determined by the market. The authorization shall allow the Board to decide to purchase shares otherwise than in proportion to shareholders' current holdings (directed buyback).

Shares so purchased can be used as consideration in possible acquisitions or in other arrangements that are part of the Company's business, to finance investments, as part of the Company's incentive program, or be retained, conveyed, or cancelled by the Company.

The Board of Directors shall decide the other terms related to the buyback of Company shares. The buyback authorization shall remain in force for eighteen (18) months from the decision taken by the AGM.

Authorizing the Board of Directors to decide on share issue

The AGM approved the Board's proposal to the AGM to authorize the Board to decide on share issue under the following terms:

Under the authorization, the Board shall be authorized to take one or more decisions on the issuance of new shares and/or the conveyance of treasury shares held by the Company, provided that the number of shares thereby issued and/or conveyed totals a maximum of 23,000,000 shares, equivalent to approximately 2.99% of all the Company's shares.

The new shares may be issued and/or the treasury shares held by the Company may be conveyed to the Company's shareholders in proportion to the shares they already own or through a directed share issue that bypasses shareholders' preemptive rights if the Company has a weighty financial reason for doing so, such as using the shares in question as consideration in possible acquisitions or in other arrangements that are part of the Company's business, to finance investments, or as part of the Company's incentive program.

The new shares may be issued and/or the treasury shares held by the Company may be conveyed against payment or free of charge. A directed share issue may only be made free of charge if there is a particularly weighty financial reason, in respect of the Company's interests and those of all its shareholders, for doing so. The new shares may also be issued free of charge to the Company itself.

The Board shall decide on other terms and conditions of share issue. The authorization shall remain in force until 30 June 2023. The authorization shall revoke the authorization granted by the AGM on 2 April 2019 to the Board to decide on the conveyance of treasury shares.

Availability of the minutes for review

The minutes of the AGM will be available at neste.com from 1 June 2020 onwards at the latest.

 

Neste Corporation

Susanna Sieppi
Vice President, Communications (act.)

Further information: Christian Ståhlberg, General Counsel. Please contact Neste's media service, tel. [phone] / [e-mail] (weekdays from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. EET).
 

Neste in brief

Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) creates sustainable solutions for transport, business, and consumer needs. Our wide range of renewable products enable our customers to reduce climate emissions. We are the world's largest producer of renewable diesel refined from waste and residues, introducing renewable solutions also to the aviation and plastics industries. We are also a technologically advanced refiner of high-quality oil products. We want to be a reliable partner with widely valued expertise, research, and sustainable operations. In 2019, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 15.8 billion. In 2020, Neste placed 3rd on the Global 100 list of the most sustainable companies in the world. Read more: neste.com (https://www.neste.com/en)

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