Annual Report 2003

INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS ANNUAL REPORT Ž E L E Z I A R N E P O D B R E Z O V Á 2 0 0 3 35 The capital stock of the company is distributed among 2 384 135 common stock on bearer, filed with the Central Security Depository SR, a.s., nominal value per share being 1000,- SKK. Shares are traded on the Bratislava Stock Exchange, a.s. Despite the fact that the Slovak stock market lacks liquidity, the shares of Železiarne Podbrezová were through 2003 traded five times more than in 2002. In total, 310 rate-creating transactions and 41 direct transactions were made, shares transferred totalled 101 267, amounting to 50 057 thousand SKK, with a price ranging from 430 SKK to 558 SKK, average rate measured by yearly volume of transactions topped at 495 SKK per share, this being an increase by 23,5 % compared with 2002. Company's shareholders as of December 31, 2003: Percentage of share capital ŽP TRADE, s.r.o. 33,63% CPA s.r.o. 13,89% ŽP Trade Bohemia, a.s. 7,56% Bank Austria Creditanstalt AG 3,41% HOLD s.r.o. 2,94% ISTROBANKA, a.s. 2,40% Sharholders owning less stake than 1% 36,17% Dear Shareholders. Equity gained and earned through the nine preceding years helped to stabilize the shareholding company. The net worth per share exceeds its nominal value by more than 16 %. The board of directors submitted to the general shareholders’ meeting their proposal for the distribution of the retained earnings for 2003. As in the past years, it has been proposed to pay dividends in the amount of 59 603 375 SKK of profit, i.e., 25 SKK gross per share. May we hereby invite you to stay with us and to save your trust and favour for us also in the years to come. 58,44 % Other legal entities 33,77 % 7,79 % Banks, securities dealers, asset management companies and mutual funds Individuals 88,81 % Slovak shareholders 11,19 % Foreign shareholders