Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about Stockmann’s shares, share
options, Annual General Meeting and other investor relations
topics.
Shares
What share series does Stockmann have?
The share capital of Stockmann plc is divided into Series A and
Series B shares. Series A shares carry ten votes and Series B
shares one vote. The par value of both series of shares is EUR 2.00
and the shares of both series entitle their holders to an equal
dividend. The shares are in the book-entry system and they are
traded on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. The trading code of the
Series A share is STCAS and that of the Series B share is
STCBV.
What is the difference between Series A and B shares?
Series A shares carry ten votes and Series B shares one vote.
The par value of both series of shares is EUR 2.00 and the shares
of both series entitle their holders to an equal dividend.
Where is the Stockmann share quoted?
Stockmann plc’s shares are quoted on the OMX Nordic Exchange
Helsinki under the “Consumer Discretionary” sector. Stockmann
listed on the Helsinki stock exchange in 1942.
How are share certificates converted to book-entries?
Nordea Bank plc handles all conversions of share certificates
to book-entries.
Why is it worth it to convert share certificates to
book-entries?
Shareholders should convert share certificates to book-entries
to ensure that they receive dividends. Dividends are paid to the
shareholder’s account only for book-entry shares. When share
certificates are converted to book-entries, the shareholder will be
paid dividends for the three (3) previous years as one sum.
According to the Act on prescription of debt, dividends older than
three years are deemed to have expired.
Can a Series A share be converted to a Series B share or vice
versa?
In most cases, the easiest way to do so is for the shareholder
to sell his shares on the stock exchange and then replace them by
purchasing shares of the other series. According to the Articles of
Association, Series A shares can be converted to Series B shares.
In such cases, the shareholder must submit a share conversion
application in writing to the company’s Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors must process such applications within three
months of submission. A fee will be charged from the shareholder
for the conversion, as decided on by the Board of Directors; in
practice, the fee covers the costs incurred by the company for the
conversion.
According to the Articles of Association, Series B shares cannot be
converted to Series A shares.
How much does Stockman pay as dividends?
Stockmann’s Board of Directors has set the dividend payout
target at a minimum of half of the earnings derived from the
company’s ordinary operations. The financing required to grow
operations is nevertheless taken into account in determining the
dividend. Stockmann paid a dividend of EUR 1.35 per share for the
2007 financial year.
How do I change the account number for the dividend payment?
We kindly request you to inform the bank or to the Finnish
Central Securities Depository Ltd in accordance with the place
where the shareholder's book-entry account is kept.
What are the taxation values of Stockmann’s shares?
The taxation values of shares in listed companies are available
from the Internet site of the Finnish Tax Administration at www.vero.fi. The taxation value of Stockmann’s
Series A share in 2005 was EUR 22.33 and the taxation value of the
Series B share was EUR 22.25. Owing to the abolishment of the
wealth tax, the tax authorities have decided that a list of tax
values of quoted shares no longer be published for the year
2006.
If my address changes, how should I update my information in
Stockmann’s shareholder register?
New address information is not transferred into Stockmann’s
shareholder register through sources such as the Loyal Customer
Service or the Population Register. If your address or other
personal information changes, we kindly request you to inform the
bank branch where your book-entry account is held. If the account
is at Finnish Central Securities Depository Ltd, send a written
notification to:
Finnish Central Securities Depository Ltd
Asiakastilipalvelut (Customer Account Services)
P.O. Box 1110
00101 Helsinki, Finland
E-mail: 
Fax: +358 20 770 6656
The notification of changes should indicate the name of the
shareholder, the new address as well as the old address or
book-entry account number, which will help to identify him. The
Finnish Central Securities Depository has a free customer helpline
that serves from 9 am to 4 pm on weekdays. The number is +358 800
180 500.
If you have ordered a printed copy of Stockmann’s Annual Report
or Interim Report, please also inform Stockmann’s Corporate
Communications by phone
+358 9 121 3089 or by e-mail 
.
Share options
How can I get Loyal Customer share options?
On March 18, 2008 the Annual General Meeting decided to grant
share options to Stockmann’s Loyal Customers. The share options
will be issued to loyal customers, whose purchases in companies
belonging to the Stockmann Group together with purchases
originating from parallel cards directed to the same account during
the time period January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009 amounts to a
total of at least EUR 6 000. For purchases of at least EUR 6 000, a
Loyal Customer will receive 20 share options without consideration.
In addition, for each full 500 euros by which the purchases exceed
EUR 6,000, the Loyal Customer will receive an additional two share
options. Each share option entitles its holder to subscribe for one
of the company's Series B shares. The subscription price is the
volume-weighted average price of the Series B share on the Helsinki
Stock Exchange during the period February 1 - February 29, 2008.
The subscription price of a share subscribed for with the share
option will be lowered, by the amount of the dividends that may be
declared prior to the share subscription, on the record date for
each dividend payout. The subscription period for the shares is in
May in the years 2011 and 2012.
Options are earned by making purchases that are paid for with a
Stockmann account card, in cash, with a bank debit card or a Visa
Electron/Maestro card. A Loyal Customer card must be registered
when making a purchase.
How can I find out my amount of purchases that earn Loyal Customer
share options?
If you have an account card, your share option balance is shown
in the upper right corner of the account statement that is mailed
to you. Cash card holders can find out their accumulated share
option balance by calling our Loyal Customer Service. The Company
shall at the latest in February 2010 send each loyal customer
entitled to share options a letter, in which the maximum number of
share options granted to the loyal customer is stated. In addition
to the details of the loyal customer card holder, the letter will
include information on the holders of parallel cards directed to
the same account as on 31 December 2009 and the amount of their
purchases affecting the issuance of share options.
Customers were informed of the amount of share options 2006 in
writing in February 2008. The subscription period for the shares is
in May in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010. For more information on
the share options for Loyal Customers, see Stockmann’ s Internet
site:
http://www.stockmann.fi/portal/fi/kanta-asiakkuus/kanta-asiakasedut/optiot/optiokertyma/
(in Finnish only).
Where can I get more information on Stockmann’s share options for
Loyal Customers?
For more information on the share options for Loyal Customers,
see Stockmann’s Internet site: http://www.stockmann.fi/portal/fi/kanta-asiakkuus/kanta-asiakasedut/optiot/optiokertyma/
(in Finnish only).
Annual General Meeting
When is Stockmann’s Annual General Meeting held?Stockmann plc's Annual General Meeting for 2008 was held on March 18, 2008.
Where will the Notice of Meeting be published?
According to the Articles of Association, the Notice of Meeting must be printed in a newspaper published in the Helsinki area, as decided on by the Board of Directors. It is customary to publish the Notice of Meeting in the Helsingin Sanomat and Hufvudstadsbladet newspapers. The Notice of Meeting is also posted on the company’s Internet site and published as a Stock Exchange release.
Who has the right to participate in the Annual General
Meeting?
Shareholders who have been registered as shareholders in the
company’s shareholder list ten days before the Annual General
Meeting have the right to participate in the meeting. In addition,
a nominee-registered shareholder can be temporarily entered into
the shareholder list no later than ten days before a Annual General
Meeting in order to give him the right to participate in the
meeting. According to the Articles of Association, a shareholder
who is entered in the shareholder list must notify the company of
his intention to attend the Annual General Meeting, as set forth in
the Notice of Meeting, in order to have the right to participate in
it.
A shareholder shall have the right to have a matter which falls
under the jurisdiction of the Annual General Meeting handled at a
General Meeting of the Shareholders if he presents a written
request therefore to the Board of Directors early enough for the
matter to be included in the notice to convene the meeting.
General
What is Stockmann's Company Register number?
Stockmann's Company Register number is 0114162-2.
Where can I get information on Stockmann as an investment?
As a listed company, Stockmann cannot advise investors.
Information on Stockmann as an investment is provided on the
Investors section of the company’s Internet site, http://www.stockmann.com/group/english/investors/analysts/,
which also presents a list of analysts that follow Stockmann on
their own initiative. Stockmann does not assume responsibility for
analysts’ assessments. Information is also provided on OMX’s
Internet site under the section entitled “The market”.
What is Stockmann’s credit rating?
Stockmann has not applied for a credit rating from any credit
rating institution, as this has not been necessary to arrange
Stockmann’s independent funding.
What is Stockmann’s financial year?
In accordance with Stockmann’s Articles of Association, the
company’s financial year is the calendar year.
Who is Stockmann’s auditor?
Pursuant to Stockmann’s Articles of Association, the company
shall have a minimum of one and a maximum of three auditors and
they shall have a minimum of one and a maximum of three deputies.
Insofar as the auditor is a firm of auditors authorized by the
Central Chamber of Commerce, a deputy auditor need not be elected.
The term of office of the auditors shall begin from the Annual
General Meeting at which they were elected and end at the close of
the next Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting held on
March 18, 2008 elected Henrik Holmbom, Authorized Public
Accountant, and Jari Härmälä, Authorized Public Accountant, as the
company’s auditors. KPMG Oy Ab acts as the deputy auditor.
Where can I find information on Stockmann MasterCard?
Information on Stockmann MastrCard is provided on the company’s
Internet site
http://www.stockmann.fi/portal/en/loyal_customers/the_new_stockmann_mastercard/
How can I order a copy of Stockmann’s Annual Report?
Stockmann’s Annual Report can be ordered from the company’s
site at
http://www.stockmann.com/group/en/releases_and_publications/annual_reports/order_a_printed_copy/
or from Stockmann’s Corporate Communications:
Stockmann, Corporate Communications
P.O. Box 147, 00381 Helsinki, Finland
Tel. +358 9 121 3089
Fax +358 9 121 3153
Contact information
Stockmann plc
P. O. Box 220
FI 00101 Helsinki
Phone: +358 9 1211
Corporate Communications
Stockmann plc
P. O. Box 147
FI 00381 Helsinki
Phone: +358 9 121 51