KEMIRA'S DIVIDEND EUR 0.30 PER SHARE; BOARD BECOMING MORE INTERNATIONAL, ANSSI SOILA ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The AGM of Kemira Oyj confirmed the payment of a dividend of EUR 0.30 per share for the 2002 financial year. The meeting also elected the company's new, more international board of directors and elected Anssi Soila as chairman and Eija Malmivirta as Vice Chairman.

 

The new members elected as members of the board of directors are Elizabeth Armstrong, from the U.S., and Ove Mattsson from Sweden.

 

The Annual General Meeting of Kemira Oyj resolved that a dividend of EUR 0.30 per share be paid for the 2002 financial year. The record date for the dividend payout is 11 April 2003 and the dividend will be paid on 23 April 2003.

 

The Annual General Meeting also resolved that

 

- the Board of Directors be authorized to decide on the transfer of  the Company's own shares as well as to sell them through Helsinki Exchanges;

- the shares can be used for the payment of employee bonuses and possible bonuses to the personnel funds provided the Board of Directors decides to introduce such a compensation system, and as consideration in making acquisitions.

 

The authorization relates to 4,190,000 of the own shares in the Company's possession.

 

Timo Kalli TO CONTINUE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPERVISORY BOARD

 

The Annual General Meeting appointed Kemira Oyj's new Supervisory Board and elected Member of Parliament Timo Kalli to continue as chairman of the Supervisory Board. Member of Parliament Kari Rajamäki will continue as first vice chairman. Member of Parliament Heikki A. Ollila was elected second vice chairman to replace Hanna Markkula-Kivisilta, who will resign.

 

The following persons were re-elected to seats on the Supervisory Board:

 

Risto Ranki, Industrial Counsellor, Ministry of Trade and Industry

Pekka Kainulainen, Managing Director, Liikkeenjohdon koulutuskeskus Ab

Mikko Långström, Managing Director, Longinvest Oy

Susanna Rahkonen, Member of Parliament

Katri Sarlund, M.Sc., elected as a new member to replace Sirpa Hertell who will resign.

 

The firm of independent public accountants KPMG Wideri Oy Ab was re-elected as the Company's auditor, with Hannu Niilekselä, Authorized Public Accountant, acting as chief auditor.

 

KEMIRA OYJ'S NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Annual General Meeting appointed the Company's Board of Directors to a new term of office of one year. As chairman of the board the Annual General Meeting elected Anssi Soila M. Sc. (Eng. & Econ.), chairman of the Board of Directors of Sponda Oyj, and as Vice Chairman Eija Malmivirta, M. Sc. (Eng.).

 

Matti Packalén, M.Sc. (Eng. & Econ.) will continue as member of the Board of Directors.

 

The following new members were elected:

 

Markku Tapio, Director General, Ministry of Trade and Industry, State Shareholding Unit

Elizabeth Armstrong, President, NeoResins Division

Ove Mattsson, Management Consultant

 

Elizabeth Armstrong, D. Chem., has a career of 25 years in the chemical industry. Her current position is Senior Vice President, Avecia PLC, U.K., engaging in specialty chemicals, and President of Avecia's NeoResins Division.

 

Ove Mattsson, D.Chem., has worked for the international paint industry for about 30 years, e.g. as Managing Director of the Netherlands-based Akzo Nobel Coatings, and as member of the board of directors of Akzo Nobel N.V. Mr Mattsson now works as management consultant.