The share and owners
Swedbank’s market capitalization was SEK 94bn at year-end 2007, making it the 12th largest company on OMX Stockholm. For 2007, the Board of Directors has proposed an increase in the dividend of 9 percent to SEK 9.00 per share (8.25).
Swedbank has been listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange (Stockholm) and the Large Cap list, under the ticker symbol SWED A, since 1995. In the US, the share can be traded through an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program under the ticker symbol SWDBY.
Share price performance
During the year, the OMX Stockholm 30 Index fell by 5.7 percent and the OMX Stockholm Financials by 7.9 percent. The Swedbank share price declined 26.4 percent. The share reached a high for the year of SEK 285, on 15 February, and a low of SEK 171.50, on 8 November.
Market capitalization and turnover
At year-end 2007, Swedbank was the 12th largest company on OMX Stockholm, with a market capitalization of SEK 94bn (128), and during the year the share was the seventh most actively traded on the exchange. Its market capitalization represented approximately 2.4 percent of OMX Stockholm’s total market value. An average of 4.1 million (3.0) shares was traded per day at an average daily value of SEK 949m (629).
Share repurchase
The Annual General Meeting 2007 authorized the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 5 percent of the shares outstanding. No repurchases were made during the year, and the bank does not hold any previously repurchased shares.
Ethically responsible investors
The Swedbank share is listed on FTSE4Good and the Ethibel Pioneer Index of ethical and sustainability focused investments.
Trading and voting rights
A round lot of the bank’s share on OMX Stockholm is 100 shares. There is one class of shares, Class A, which means that each share carries one vote and all shares have equal rights to participate in the bank’s assets and profits.
Dividend
One of the group’s financial objectives (see also financial objectives) is to pay a dividend equal to around 40 percent of after-tax earnings, excluding one-offs. For 2007, the Board has proposed a dividend of SEK 9.00 (8.25), corresponding to 39 percent of profit after tax.
Ownership structure
Swedbank had 315,514 shareholders (323,057) as of 31 December 2007. Swedish institutional investors owned 61.6 percent (58.7) of the shares, Swedish individual investors 11.3 percent (10.8) and international investors 27.1 percent (30.5); 3.5 percent (3.8) of the shares were owned by investors in the UK and 13.6 percent (19.0) by investors in the US.
Swedbank’s largest shareholders are the Swedish savings bank foundations, which are long-term owners whose primary aim is to preserve the country’s savings bank tradition. The foundations use part of their annual surplus, which consists largely of the cash dividend from Swedbank, for charitable donations.
ADR, American Depositary Receipts
To facilitate trading for US investors, the Swedbank share is also traded as a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR). Ownership of ADRs is equated with ownership of the underlying share. ADRs are traded in USD on the US OTC market, under the ticker symbol SWDBY.
For further information, visit: