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17. Equity

Share capital (incl. disclosures in accordance with Sec. 240 of the Austrian Commercial Code (Unternehmensgesetzbuch, UGB))

As of March 31, 2015, the share capital amounts to EUR 313,309,235.65 and is divided into 172,449,163 ordinary no-par value shares unchanged compared to the previous year. All shares are fully paid up.

Under Sec. 4 (2a) of the Articles of Incorporation, the Management Board of voestalpine AG is authorized until June 30, 2019, with the consent of the Supervisory Board, to increase the company’s share capital by up to EUR 125,323,693.90 by issuing up to 68,979,665 shares (= 40%) against cash contributions, if necessary in several tranches (Authorized Capital 2014/I). The Management Board did not exercise this authority during the reporting period.

Under Sec. 4 (2b) of the Articles of Incorporation, the Management Board of voestalpine AG is authorized until June 30, 2019, with the consent of the Supervisory Board, to increase the company’s share capital by up to EUR 31,330,923.02 by issuing up to 17,244,916 shares (= 10%) against contributions in kind and/or cash contributions to issue shares to employees, executives and members of the Management Board of the Company or an affiliated company—if necessary in several tranches—as well as the right to exclude the shareholders’ legal subscription right when (i) the capital increase is done against contributions in kind, which means that shares are issued for the purpose of acquiring companies, operations, partial operations, or shares in one or more companies located in Austria or abroad, or (ii) the capital increase is performed for the purpose of issuing shares to employees, executives and members of the Management Board of the Company or an affiliated company in the context of an employee stock ownership plan (Authorized Capital 2014/II). The Management Board of voestalpine AG decided on March 9, 2015, to use this authorization to increase the share capital of voestalpine AG by issuing 2,500,000 new no-par bearer shares, or by 1.45%, for the purpose of issuing shares to employees and executives of the Company and affiliated companies in the context of an existing employee stock ownership plan. This capital increase was entered into the Commercial Register on April 25, 2015.

Under Sec. 4 (6) of the Articles of Incorporation, the Management Board of voestalpine AG is authorized to increase the share capital of the Company by up to EUR 31,330,923.02 by issuing up to 17,244,916 ordinary no-par value bearer shares (= 10%) for issuance to creditors of financial instruments within the meaning of Sec. 174 of the Austrian Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz, AktG) (convertible bonds, income bonds, or participation rights); the Management Board was authorized to issue these shares during the Annual General Meeting on July 2, 2014 (contingent capital increase). During the reporting period, the Management Board did not exercise the authority granted on July 2, 2014, to issue financial instruments within the meaning of Sec. 174 of the Austrian Stock Corporation Act.

During the Annual General Meeting on July 3, 2013, the Management Board was authorized to repurchase own shares for a term of validity of 30 months, representing no more than 10% of the respective share capital. The repurchase price may not be more than 20% below or 10% above the average closing price of the shares on the three market trading days prior to the repurchase. The Management Board did not exercise this authority during the reporting period.

Capital reserves mainly include the share premium (net of capital funding costs), gains/losses from the sale of own shares, and share-based compensation.

Reserves for own shares include the deducted cost of acquisition and the increase in equity from disposal of own shares at cost.

Retained earnings include the profit for the period less dividend distributions. When increasing majority interests, the difference between the cost of acquisition for the additional shares and the pro-rated carrying amount of the non-controlling interests is recognized directly in retained earnings. Actuarial gains and losses from severance and pension obligations are recognized directly in the retained earnings in the year in which they are incurred.

The translation reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries.

The hedging reserve comprises gains and losses from the effective portion of the cash flow hedges. The cumulative gains or losses from hedged transactions recognized in the reserves are not recognized in the income statement until the hedged transaction also affects the result.

The number of shares outstanding for the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2015, has changed as follows:

 

 

Number of no-par value shares

 

Number of own shares

 

Number of shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of April 1, 2013

 

172,449,163

 

90,629

 

172,358,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disposals

 

 

 

–62,032

 

62,032

Balance as of March 31, 2014

 

172,449,163

 

28,597

 

172,420,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as of March 31, 2015

 

172,449,163

 

28,597

 

172,420,566

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

Hybrid capital

On October 16, 2007, voestalpine AG issued a EUR 1 billion subordinated bond with an indefinite term (hybrid bond). The coupon rate of the bond, which can also be suspended if dividends have been suspended, is 7.125%. Seven years after issue of the bond, voestalpine AG, but not the creditors, had its first opportunity to redeem the bond or to continue it at a variable interest rate (3-month EURIBOR plus 5.05%). In the fourth quarter of the business year 2012/13, voestalpine AG issued a new subordinate undated bond (hybrid bond 2013) with a volume of EUR 500 million following an invitation extended to the holders of the hybrid bond to exchange the bond for a new hybrid bond at a 1:1 ratio. The outstanding nominal value of the hybrid bond 2007 as a result of this exchange was thus EUR 500 million. The coupon of the hybrid bond 2013 is 7.125% until October 31, 2014, 6% from October 31, 2014, to October 31, 2019, the 5-year swap rate +4.93% from October 31, 2019, to October 31, 2024, and the 3-month EURIBOR +4.93% plus a step-up of 1% starting October 31, 2024. The hybrid bond 2013 can be first called in and redeemed by voestalpine AG, but not the creditors, on October 31, 2019.

On September 9, 2014, the Management Board of voestalpine AG adopted a resolution to call the entire issue of hybrid bond 2007 (issued by voestalpine AG in 2007) effective on the first possible call date for this bond, namely October 31, 2014 (redemption date). The interest payments for the hybrid bond 2007 from September 10, 2014 on will be recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The hybrid bond 2013 is not affected by this call of hybrid bond 2007. A total of EUR 71.3 million was paid out on October 31, 2014 for interest on the hybrid bond 2007 and the hybrid bond 2013. The hybrid bond 2007 was fully redeemed as of October 31, 2014.

As the hybrid bond satisfies the IAS 32 criteria for equity, the proceeds from the bond issues are recognized as part of equity. Accordingly, coupon payments are also presented as part of the appropriation of profit.

The issue costs of the new hybrid bond 2013 amounted to EUR 2.8 million, less EUR 0.7 million tax effect. Therefore, equity increased by EUR 497.9 million in the business year 2012/13. Taking into account the redemption of the hybrid bond 2007 as of October 31, 2014, hybrid capital amounts to EUR 497.9 million in equity—see therefore Chapter B. Summary of accounting policies, section general information.

Share-based compensation

Share-based payments of EUR 1.0 million (March 31, 2014: EUR 0.0 million) are included directly in equity because of granting voestalpine shares to employees (29.3 thousand shares at a market value of EUR 33.80 per share) as part of the annual profit bonus.

Non-controlling interests

The non-controlling interests as of March 31, 2015, result primarily from non-controlling interests in Turnout Systems, voestalpine Railpro B.V., ASPAC Group, and Danube Equity AG.

About voestalpine

The voestalpine Group is a steel-based technology and capital goods group that operates worldwide. With its top-quality products, the Group is one of the leading partners to the automotive and consumer goods industries in Europe and to the oil and gas industries worldwide.

Facts

50 Countries on all 5 continents
500 Group companies and locations
48,100 Employees worldwide

Earnings FY 2014/15

€ 11.2 Billion

Revenue

€ 1.5 Billion

EBITDA

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