In 2011, the Group offered its employee share purchase programme for the 12th time, at a continued discount of 30%. The objective of the programme is for employees to be able to take directly part in the Orkla Group’s value creation, to stimulate to broad long-term ownership, and to create an interest in the Orkla share.
This offer was open to regular employees of Orkla companies, and was presented in connection with the announcement of Orkla’s third-quarter results. Shares could be purchased for the following (approximate) amounts: NOK 1 000, 4 000, 12 000, 20 000, or 28 000 (after taking into account the 30% discount). The share price was set at 43,50 NOK. The share price adjusted for the discount of 30% was consequently 30,45 NOK.
The offer was available to employees in the following 25 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA.
Bjørn Wiggen, President and CEO of Orkla:
The Orkla Group is committed to creating long-term value for its shareholders, and I consider it important that all of us who work at Orkla have the opportunity to participate in the benefits of this process. To promote a greater sense of ownership, Orkla is therefore once again this year pleased to offer its employees the opportunity to buy Orkla shares at a substantial discount.
Shares for employees - Development of value and return
The tables below, which are based on the last market price for the Orkla share, show how investments in the Orkla share have developed through this programme since 1999.
The first table gives you an annual gain/loss from date of purchase until today’s date (in order to compare with e.g. investments in a bank).
The second table gives you an estimate of the value and return based on the number of shares you have bought (or alternatively could have bought) in the years the offer has been available to employees.