Commitment
2005: The end of state involvement
31. August 2005
2005: The end of state involvement
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Volkmar Held
As a freelance writer, Volkmar Held reports for voestalpine on topics that move people. The content of his stories ranges from archaeometallurgy to future technologies.
At the time the convertible bond was issued on 31 August 2005, the state finally withdrew completely from voestalpine AG.
After the final privatization decision in September 2003, the ÖIAG divested itself of its shareholding in voestalpine AG. But hesitantly, it appeared.
Political calculations
In the autumn of 2003 the Österreichische Industrieholding AG (ÖIAG) had only divested itself of a little over half of its voestalpine shares. A further 15% of Group shares had been issued in the form of a convertible bond (2006). This initially generated proceeds of EUR 245 million for the ÖIAG. As owner, it was also in a position to receive dividends. But more importantly, as the trustee for the state, the ÖIAG retained its right to a say in the company’s management, and, together with the Mitarbeiterstiftung and/or major (Upper) Austrian shareholders, could have formed a blocking minority.
Attractive exchange
Foreign investors were finally given the right to acquire voestalpine shares using the instrument of the convertible bond. In order to acquire shares they had to exchange their repayment entitlements—the deposited sum plus 1.5% interest—for the remaining Group shares within the period November 12, 2003 and August 10, 2006. The price was set at EUR 41.275 per share. The more the share price rose above this level, the more attractive the exchange became.
Private at last
The value of the share price, which had doubled between the start of the conversion period and August 2005, made the exchange a profitable option: the bond was converted into voestalpine shares a year ahead of the deadline. This meant that voestalpine AG was completely privatized as of 31 August 2005.
The Group’s new course was now visible in the form of the fresh brand image, and the claim ‘One step ahead’.
Two decades ago voestalpine AG started out on its path to becoming a privatized and exchange-listed company. The ‘IPO 1995—20 years on the stock exchange’ series describes key events on the path to becoming an internationally successful steel-based technology and capital goods group.
Stock market knowledge:
Dividend
Dividends are distributions of a stock corporation’s profit that are paid to the shareholders. The amount of the annual dividend is determined by the Annual General Shareholder’s Meeting in accordance with recommendations made by the Management and Supervisory Boards and is indicated in euros per share. The total amount to be paid to the shareholder depends on the number of shares held by the shareholder.
Volkmar Held