Despite a significant sales and earnings decline and various special items (impairments, restructuring charges and provisions for personnel measures), WACKER navigated a steady course through 2009, a year marked by the global recession. Amid the economic challenges, WACKER still maintained a high investment level, with the focus on further polysilicon-production expansion. Geared to tapping additional growth opportunities, investments were almost exclusively financed from gross operating cash flow. Although we faced a series of non-recurring charges, WACKER remains on a very solid financial footing. Our debt level is low and the equity ratio is still good despite a slight decline. Long-term financing for tomorrow’s investments and operations was secured in good time. Together, all these factors form a solid basis for 2010.
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Takeover Directive Implementation Act |
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The following table contains information required by Section 315, Subsection 4 of the German Commercial Code (HGB): |
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Regulation |
Topic |
Details and references |
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§ 315 (4) 1 |
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Composition of subscribed capital |
Wacker Chemie AG’s subscribed capital totals 52,152,600 non-par value voting shares. There are no differences in share category. The total number of shares currently includes 49,677,983 held by external shareholders and 2,474,617 held by Wacker Chemie AG itself. WACKER’s treasury shares were acquired by repurchasing Wacker-Chemie GmbH shares in August 2005 when it was still a private limited company. The Executive Board can only use or sell these treasury shares under the following conditions: 782,300 shares require Supervisory Board approval and an appropriate resolution by the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. The remaining 1,692,317 shares are subject to Supervisory Board approval. |
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§ 315 (4) 2 |
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Restrictions on voting rights or on the transfer of shares |
There are no restrictions on voting rights or the transfer of shares. |
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§ 315 (4) 3 |
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Direct or indirect capital stakes |
Dr. Alexander Wacker Familiengesellschaft mbH, based in Munich, and Blue Elephant Holding GmbH, based in Pöcking, each hold over 10% of the subscribed capital. |
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§ 315 (4) 4 |
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Owners of shares entailing special rights |
Shareholders have not been given any special rights that bestow control powers. Insofar as employees hold shares in Wacker Chemie AG’s capital, they exercise their resultant control rights directly. |
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§ 315 (4) 6 |
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Legal stipulations and articles of incorporation (or association) principles regarding the appointment and dismissal of executive board members and amendments to said articles |
Provisions to appoint and dismiss Wacker Chemie AG’s Executive Board members are based on Sections 84 et seq., of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG). Wacker Chemie AG’s Articles of Association do not contain any further provisions in this respect. Pursuant to Section 4 of the Articles of Association, the number of Executive Board members is fixed by the Supervisory Board, which also appoints an Executive Board member as President & CEO. Amendments to the Articles of Association are covered by Sections 133 and 179, AktG. In accordance with Section 179, Subsection 1, item 2, AktG, the Supervisory Board has been empowered to amend the Articles of Association if only the wording thereof is affected. |
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§ 315 (4) 7 |
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Authority of the executive board to issue or buy back shares |
In accordance with a resolution passed at the May 8, 2009 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, Wacker Chemie AG’s Executive Board was authorized – in compliance with the legal provisions set out in Section 71, Subsection 1, No. 8 of the German Stock Corporation Act (AktG) – to acquire treasury shares totaling a maximum of 10% of capital stock. No capital has been authorized for the issue of new shares. |
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§ 315 (4) 8 |
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Major agreements associated with control changes due to a takeover bid |
Various agreements with joint-venture partners include “change of control” clauses. These clauses deal with what might happen if one of the joint-venture partners were taken over. These arrangements comply with the usual standards for such joint-venture agreements. |
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§ 315 (4) 9 |
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Severance agreements with the executive board or employees in the event of a takeover bid |
There are no severance agreements etc. with employees or with Executive Board members in the event of a takeover bid (please refer to the Compensation Report). |
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