The TeliaSonera share fell 36 percent during 2008, while the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm All Share Index fell 42 percent. The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting an ordinary dividend of SEK 1.80 per share (1.80).
During 2008 an average of 22.0 million TeliaSonera shares were traded per trading day, corresponding to a value of SEK 1,042 million per day. TeliaSonera's share price fell 36 percent to SEK 38.90.
Since early 2003, just after the merger of Telia and Sonera, the share price has increased from around SEK 25 but on average underperformed the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm All Share Index. Compared to the Dow Jones STOXX Telecommunications Index, which includes the largest telecom operators in Europe, the TeliaSonera share has performed largely in line with the index.
TeliaSonera's market capitalization was SEK 175 billion at year-end, representing 8 percent of the total market value on the Stockholm stock exchange. In terms of market value, TeliaSonera was the third largest company on the Stockholm stock exchange at year-end and Europe's seventh largest telecommunications operator.
Dividend to shareholders
For 2008, the Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) an ordinary dividend of SEK 1.80 (1.80) per share, totaling SEK 8.1 billion, or 43 percent of net income attributable to shareholders of the parent company. The proposal is according to TeliaSonera's capital structure and dividend policy, which is unchanged from 2007.
TeliaSonera targets a solid investment grade long-term credit rating (A- to BBB+ from Standard & Poor's) to secure the company's strategically important financial flexibility for investments in future growth, both organically and by acquisitions. The ordinary dividend shall be at least 40 percent of net income attributable to shareholders of the parent company. In addition, excess capital shall be returned to shareholders, after the Board of Directors has taken into consideration the company's cash at hand, cash flow projections and investment plans in a medium term perspective, as well as capital market conditions.
The Board of Directors proposes that the final day for trading in shares entitling shareholders to dividend be set for April 1, 2009, and that the first day of trading in shares excluding rights to dividend shall be set for April 2, 2009. The recommended record date at Euroclear Sweden (formerly VPC) for the right to receive dividend will be April 6, 2009. If the AGM votes to approve the Board's proposals, dividend is expected to be distributed by Euroclear Sweden on April 9, 2009.
Proposal on authorization for share repurchase and resale of own shares
In order to provide TeliaSonera with an additional instrument to adjust the company's capital structure, the Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves to authorize the Board of Directors to repurchase a maximum of 10 percent of the company's total number of outstanding shares. To date, no plans are made to exercise the proposed authorization.
The Board of Directors also proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to decide upon a sale of part or all of the repurchased shares through the stock exchange.
The Board of Directors further intends to propose to the Annual General Meeting in 2010 that shares repurchased and not resold be cancelled through a reduction of the company's share capital, without repayment to the shareholders.
Number of shareholders
The number of shareholders decreased during the year from 655,247 to 651,816. Ownership by the Swedish State as a percentage of outstanding shares was 37.3 percent and ownership by the Finnish State was 13.7 percent. Holdings outside of Sweden and Finland decreased from 22.4 percent to 15.6 percent. At year-end, Swedish institutional investors owned 24.2 percent (18.2) of the outstanding shares and Finnish institutional investors owned 3.2 percent (3.0). Swedish private investors owned 3.2 percent (3.0) and Finnish private investors 2.8 percent (2.4) of the outstanding shares.
The Largest Shareholders,
as of December 31, 2008
| Shareholder | Number of outstanding shares¹ | Percent of outstanding shares/votes |
|---|---|---|
| Swedish State | 1,674,310,553 | 37.3 |
| Finnish State | 616,128,221 | 13.7 |
| Swedbank Robur funds | 145,833,721 | 3.2 |
| Alecta | 78,050,000 | 1.7 |
| Cevian Capital LP | 71,698,500 | 1.6 |
| AMF Pension | 67,200,000 | 1.5 |
| SEB Funds | 66,469,958 | 1.5 |
| SHB/SPP Funds | 65,549,693 | 1.5 |
| Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund | 62,215,300 | 1.4 |
| Nordea Funds | 61,072,985 | 1.4 |
| Skandia Life Insurance | 53,933,830 | 1.2 |
| AFA Insurance | 46,596,300 | 1.0 |
| Shareholders outside Sweden and Finland | 629,442,585 | 14.1 |
| Total other shareholders | 851,955,567 | 18.9 |
| Total shares outstanding | 4,490,457,213 | 100.0 |
¹ Each TeliaSonera share represents one vote at the General Meeting of Shareholders and no shareholder has any special voting rights.
The TeliaSonera Share
Listing: NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and Helsinki
| NASDAQ OMX Stockholm |
|
|---|---|
| Ticker symbol | TLSN |
| Highest price 2008 | SEK 62.00 |
| Lowest price 2008 | SEK 30.80 |
| At close 2008 | SEK 38.90 |
| Shares traded 2008, volume | 5,550 million |
| Shares traded 2008, value | SEK 263 billion |
| Market capitalization Dec 31, 2008 | SEK 175 billion |
| NASDAQ OMX Helsinki |
|
| Ticker symbol | TLS1V |
| Shares traded 2008, volume | 575 million |
| Shares traded 2008, value | EUR 2.8 billion |
The Largest Countries by Number of Shares,
as of December 31, 2008
| Country | Number of outstanding shares | Percent of outstanding shares/votes |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2,903,099,124 | 64.6 |
| Finland | 886,217,004 | 19.7 |
| United States | 225,442,273 | 5.0 |
| United Kingdom | 161,926,500 | 3.6 |
| Luxembourg | 86,870,594 | 1.9 |
| Jersey | 52,880,690 | 1.2 |
| Belgium | 33,510,999 | 0.8 |
| France | 20,977,861 | 0.5 |
| Norway | 15,866,318 | 0.4 |
| Ireland | 14,560,932 | 0.3 |
| Total others | 89,104,918 | 2.0 |
| Total shares outstanding | 4,490,457,213 | 100.0 |
Changes in Issued Share Capital
| Issued share capital, SEK thousand |
Number of shares |
Quotient value, SEK/share |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2001 |
9,603,840 | 3,001,200,000 | 3.20 |
| – New share issue, Dec 3, 2002 |
5,134,582 | 1,604,556,725 | 3.20 |
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2002 |
14,738,422 | 4,605,756,725 | 3.20 |
| – New share issue, Feb 10, 2003 | 222,321 | 69,475,344 | 3.20 |
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2003 |
14,960,743 | 4,675,232,069 | 3.20 |
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2004 |
14,960,743 | 4,675,232,069 | 3.20 |
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2005 |
14,960,743 | 4,675,232,069 | 3.20 |
| Cancellation of shares repurchased during 2005, Sept 6, 2006 |
-591,280 | -184,774,856 | 3.20 |
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2006 |
14,369,463 | 4,490,457,213 | 3.20 |
| Share capital, Dec 31, 2007 |
14,369,463 | 4,490,457,213 | 3.20 |
|
Share capital, Dec 31, 2008 |
14,369,463 | 4,490,457,213 | 3.20 |