Equal treatment of shareholders and freely negotiable shares
It is the Company’s policy to treat all shareholders equally. Shareholders shall not be subjected to differential treatment without basis in the Company or the shareholders’ commonality of interest. The Company’s shares are freely negotiable and there are no restrictions on the purchase and sale of the Company’s shares beyond that which follows from Norwegian law. All shares belong to a single class, and each share has one vote at the Company’s general meetings.
General Meeting
An ordinary annual general meeting shall be held within six months of the end of each financial year. Extraordinary general meetings may be called by the board of directors at any time.
All shareholders shall receive a written invitation to attend the general meeting. Motions and necessary background information along with documents to be produced at the general meeting shall be made available on the Company’s website no later than 21 days before the general meeting. Shareholders who are unable to attend may vote by proxy.
The general meeting shall elect members to the board of directors, set the level of remuneration of board members, adopt the annual accounts and board of directors report and consider any other matters pertaining to the general meeting according to laws or regulations. The chairman of the board of directors, the management and the auditor shall attend the ordinary general meeting.
Nomination committee
The Company’s nomination committee comprises three members elected by the general meeting for two year at a time. The nomination committee shall put forward proposals to the general meeting on the election of members and deputy members to the board of directors. The recommendation fore the chair of the board is given separately.Their proposals shall be justified. The nomination committee shall give a recommendiaton for the remuneration for the members of the board of directors.
Composition and independence of the board of directors
The composition of the board of directors is designed to protect the common interests of the shareholders and the Company’s need for expertise, capacity and diversity. The board of directors shall be composed in such a way that it can act independently of special interests. Executive staff, and material business contacts and at least two of the members elected by the shareholders shall be independent of the Company’s main shareholders.
Members of the board of directors shall be elected for a period of two years at a time.
The work of the board of directors
The board of directors has the overall responsibility for the management of the Company. The chief executive shall be elected by the board of directors and shall have a duty to report to the board. A separate set of instructions for the board of directors defines the cases to be considered by the board of directors and its areas of responsibility, along with the responsibilities of the chief executive.
Risk management and internal controls
Efficient management focusing on risk and good internal controls is an overarching criterion for the success of NRS and forms an integrated part of its business operations. The ability to plan, structure, implement and evaluate projects is an important part of the business. The Company is governed according to set financial targets. Reporting takes place on a monthly basis and includes both financial and non-financial parameters. Focus is on profitability and risk linked to each area of business. Emphasis is placed on following up results, and focus is directed towards measures in areas that are not achieving the desired level of growth. The aim of risk management and internal controls is to handle risks linked to the business and to improve the quality of financial reporting. Effective risk management and internal controls help protect the shareholders’ investments and the Company’s assets. The board of directors believes NRS has effective internal controls and a level of risk management appropriate to the business.
Remuneration of the board of directors
Remuneration of the board of directors shall reflect the board’s responsibilities, expertise and time use, as well as the complexity of the business. Remuneration shall not be linked to financial results. Options shall not be issued to members of the board of directors. Remuneration shall be set by the general meeting based on recommendiation of the nomination committee. Further information about remuneration of the board of directors is given in the notes to the annual accounts.
Remuneration of executive staff
Remuneration of the chief executive shall be set by the board of directors. The remuneration comprises a fixed salary and a variable part (bonus), which is dependent on achieving set goals.
Information and communication
NRS shall ensure that all shareholders receive accurate, clear, relevant and timely information concerning all matters of financial importance to the shareholders. Financial information is published on NRS’ website and in press releases. The annual report and quarterly reports are published in both Norwegian and English.
Takeovers
In the event of a takeover bid, the board of directors shall not seek to prevent or obstruct such a bid being made for the Company’s business or shares, unless there are particular grounds for doing so. If a bid is made for the Company’s shares, the board of directors shall issue a statement with an assessment of the bid and a recommendation as to whether or not shareholders should accept it. The board of directors’ statement will specify whether the assessment was unanimous.
Auditor
The auditor shall participate in board meetings at which the annual accounts are being discussed. Each year the auditor shall present a main outline of the auditing of the Company to the board of directors.
