The fully paid-up share capital of Sulzer Ltd amounts to CHF 342 623.70 and is divided into 34 262 370 registered shares with a par value of CHF 0.01 per share. Each registered share entitles the holder to one vote at the Shareholders’ Meeting. There is no authorized capital. The authorized capital in the amount of CHF 21 828.15, which could only have been used for a possible acquisition of Bodycote International PLC, was limited until April 4, 2009. The corresponding clause in the articles of association has been deleted. There is no conditional capital, nor are there any participation or dividend certificates. The latest version of the articles of association can be viewed online at www.sulzer.com/regulations. Information on capital changes can be found in the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd (page 117).
Restrictions on transferability and nominee registrations Sulzer shares are freely transferable provided that, when requested by the company to do so, buyers declare that they have purchased and will hold the shares in their own name and for their own account.
Nominees shall only be entered in the share register with the right to vote, provided that they meet the following conditions: The nominee is subject to the supervision of a recognized banking and financial market regulator; the nominee has entered into an agreement with the Board of Directors concerning his status; the share capital held by the nominee does not exceed 3% of the registered share capital entered in the commercial register; and the names, addresses and number of shares of those individuals for whose account the nominee holds at least 0.5% of the share capital have been disclosed. The Board of Directors is also entitled, beyond these limits, to enter shares of nominees with voting rights in the share register, provided that the above-mentioned conditions are met (see also paragraph 6a of the articles of association at www.sulzer.com/regulations).
Until December 31, 2009, 12 nominees holding a total of 5 199 881 shares (15.2% of total shares) had entered into an agreement concerning their status. All of those shares have been entered in the share register with voting rights. There are no transfer restrictions and no privileges under the articles of association; no exceptions have been granted. A removal of the transfer restriction requires a shareholders’ resolution with a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes represented.
Convertible bonds and options
No convertible bonds or warrants are currently outstanding. Details of the options issued to members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (from 2002 to and including 2008) and restricted stock units (from 2009) are set out in the financial section under note 32 (pages 104 to 105) and in the financial statements of Sulzer Ltd under note 109 (pages 120 to 123).
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