17. Equity

Share capital (incl. disclosures in accordance with Section 241 of the Austrian Commercial Code (Unternehmensgesetzbuch, UGB))

As of March 31, 2017, the share capital amounts to EUR 320,394,836.99 (March 31, 2016: EUR 317,851,287.79) and is divided into 176,349,163 (March 31, 2016: 174,949,163) no-par value bearer shares. All shares are fully paid up.

Under Section 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 Section 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 if (i) the capital increase is made 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 value 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. Furthermore, the Management Board of voestalpine AG decided on March 6, 2017, to use this authorization to increase the share capital of voestalpine AG by issuing 1,400,000 new no-par value bearer shares, or by 0.8%, 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 March 30, 2017. Capital funding costs were deducted from equity.

Under Section 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 Section 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). To date, the Management Board has not exercised the authority granted on July 2, 2014, to issue financial instruments within the meaning of Section 174 of the Austrian Stock Corporation Act.

During the Annual General Meeting on July 1, 2015, 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 has not exercised this authority to date.

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 after tax less dividend distributions. When increasing or decrease 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 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, 2017, has changed as follows:

Hybrid capital


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 2007 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. This was later completely terminated and redeemed as of October 31, 2014. 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. A total of EUR 30.0 million was paid out on October 31, 2016 (October 31, 2015: EUR 30.0 million) for interest on the hybrid bond 2013.

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 hybrid bond 2013 amounted to EUR 2.8 million, less EUR 0.7 million tax effect. Therefore hybrid capital amounts to EUR 497.9 million in equity.

Share-based compensation

Due to the practice of granting employees voestalpine shares as part of the annual profit bonus, 69 thousand shares with a market value of EUR 1.7 million (2015/16: EUR 1.0 million) were taken from equity to pay for this, and 43 thousand shares with a value of EUR 1.7 million (2015/16: EUR 1.7 million) were added to equity.