ÅF AB: Welcome to Annual General Meeting 2015
For further information:
Viktor Svensson, Executive Vice President, Corporate Information +46 70 657 20 26
Shareholders of ÅF AB (publ) are invited to the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held on Wednesday, 29 April 2015 at 4 pm (CET) at the Company headquarters, Frösundaleden 2A, Solna, Sweden. Registration starts at 3:30 pm (CET).
Registration and participation
Shareholders who wish to participate in the Annual General Meeting shall
- have their names entered in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB on Thursday, 23 April 2015, and
- give notice of attendance to the Company at the latest on Thursday, 23 April 2015 via ÅF's website
www.afconsult.com, or by telephone +46 (0)10 505 00 00 on weekdays between 9 am - 4 pm (CET), or by post to:
ÅF AB
Annual General Meeting
SE-169 99 Stockholm, Sweden
Please state name, personal ID, address, telephone no. and any attending assistants together with the notice of attendance.
The personal information kept in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB will be used to register and draw up the list of voters for the Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting will be conducted in Swedish.
Nominee-registered shares
Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee (a bank or other nominee) must, if they wish to exercise their right to participate in the Annual General Meeting, re-register their shares in their own name per Thursday, 23 April 2015. Shareholders who wish to exercise their right in this way should inform their nominee of their intention to do so in good time before the aforementioned day.
Proxies
Shareholders who are represented through proxy must issue a power of attorney, duly signed and dated, for the proxy to act on their behalf. If the power of attorney has been issued by a legal person, a certified copy of the certificate of incorporation for the legal person must also be provided that confirms the right to issue the power of attorney. It is desirable that the power of attorney in original and, where appropriate, the certificate of incorporation, be submitted in good time before the Annual General Meeting to ÅF AB, Annual General Meeting, SE-169 99 Stockholm, Sweden.
A proxy template for making power of attorney arrangements is available on the ÅF website www.afconsult.com.
Annual Report
It is anticipated that the Annual Report in English will be published on www.afconsult.com during the week beginning on 6 April 2015. Printed copies may be ordered by phoning the ÅF Group switchboard, +46 (0)10 505 00 00.
Proposed agenda
1 Election of Chairman of the Meeting.
2 Preparation and approval of the voting list.
3 Approval of the agenda.
4 Election of persons to approve the minutes.
5 Determination whether the meeting has been properly convened.
6 The CEO's address.
7 Statement of the work of the Board and of the Remuneration and Audit Committees.
8 Presentation of the Annual Report and the Auditors' Report together with the consolidated accounts and the auditors' report for the same.
9 Adoption of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet of ÅF AB and the Income Statement and Balance Sheet of the ÅF Group.
10 Resolution regarding discharge from liability of the Board and of the CEO.
11 Appropriations and allocations of the profit or loss made by the Company according to the approved balance sheet, and the record day for the right to receive a shareholders' dividend.
12 The Nomination Committee's proposals, election of board members etc.
12a Decision concerning the number of board members and deputy members to be elected by the meeting.
12b Election of Chairman of the Board, other members of the Board and any deputies.
12c Election of Auditors and any Deputy Auditors.
12d Resolution regarding the remuneration to be awarded to the Board and the Auditors.
12e Resolution regarding the Principles of the Nomination Committee.
13 Resolution regarding the principles relating to salary and other remuneration for the CEO and other members of the senior management team.
14 Resolution regarding long term incentive programme (Convertible Debenture 2015), authority for the Board to repurchase the Company's own shares and decision to reduce the number of shares in the Company.
15 Resolutions authorising the Board to sell the Company's own shares on Nasdaq Stockholm and to transfer own shares to participants in Performance Related Share Programs 2011-2014.
16 Resolution authorising the Board to decide on new issue of shares.
17 Close of the Annual General Meeting.
Item 1 - Election of Chairman of the Meeting
The Nomination Committee proposes that the Chairman of the Board, Anders Narvinger, chairs the meeting.
Item 11 - Shareholders' dividend
The Board proposes a shareholders' dividend of SEK 3.50 per share. It is proposed that Thursday, 4 May 2015 be made the record day for the right to receive the dividend. It is anticipated that payment will be made via Euroclear Sweden AB on 7 May 2015.
Item 12 - The Nomination Committee's proposals, election of the Board etc.
The Nomination Committee, which was elected in accordance with the Principles for the Nomination Committee adopted by the Annual General Meeting 2014, consists of the Chairman of the Nomination Committee Staffan Westlin (The ÅForsk Foundation), Annika Andersson (Swedbank Robur funds), Frank Larsson (Handelsbanken Asset Management), Henrik Schmidt, (Montanaro Asset Management), Johan Strandberg (SEB Investment Management), Karl Åberg (CapMan) and Anders Narvinger (Chairman of the Board).
Item 12a - Number of members of the Board and deputies
The Nomination Committee proposes that the Board of the Company shall consist of eight (8) members elected by the Annual General Meeting with no deputies.
Item 12b - Election of the Board
The Nomination Committee proposes re-election of all Board members: Marika Fredriksson, Staffan Jufors, Anders Narvinger, Björn O. Nilsson, Maud Olofsson, Joakim Rubin, Kristina Schauman och Anders Snell.
Anders Narvinger is proposed as Chairman of the Board.
Item 12c - Election of Auditors
The Nomination Committee proposes that the auditing company Ernst & Young AB - EY - shall be appointed auditor to the Company, with Hamish Mabon as auditor in charge, to serve until the end of the 2016 Annual General Meeting.
Item 12d - Remuneration to the Board and the Auditors
The Nomination Committee proposes that remuneration to the Board, including its committees, until the time of the next Annual General Meeting shall total SEK 2 785 000.
For the work of the Board, SEK 600 000 is allocated to the Chairman of the Board and SEK 260 000 is allocated to each of the seven other directors. This brings the total fees paid for board work to SEK 2 420 000.
For the members of the Audit Committee, it is proposed an increase of the remuneration with SEK 10 000, from SEK 90 000 to SEK 100 000 to be paid to the Chair and an increase of SEK 5 000 from SEK 45 000 to SEK 50 000 for each of the other two members of the committee. For the members of the Remuneration Committee, it is proposed that remuneration of SEK 75 000 is paid to the Chair and SEK 45 000 for each of the other two members of the committee. This brings the total of fees paid out for committee work to SEK 365 000.
Proposed remuneration to the Board and its committees compared to what was decided by the AGM 2014 means an increase of remuneration to members of the Remuneration Committee with a total amount of SEK 20 000. The other remunerations for the board are proposed to remain unchanged.
The Nomination Committee also proposes that, as long it is not more costly for the Company and if agreed between the Company and a (Swedish) limited company wholly owned by the board member, the remuneration may be invoiced by said company. The invoiced amount shall then be increased with a sum corresponding to statutory employer's contribution and VAT.
It is proposed that remuneration to the auditors be paid in accordance with approved invoices.
Item 12e - Principles for the Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee proposes that the Principles for the Nomination Committee shall remain the same as those approved by the 2014 Annual General Meeting:
The Nomination Committee shall consist of representatives of a minimum of three and a maximum of five of the largest shareholders by voting entitlement, together with the Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board will contact and ask the five largest shareholders by voting entitlement to invite them to participate in the Nomination Committee. The entitlement shall be based on Euroclear Sweden AB's list of shareholders (by groups of owners) on the last banking day in August, and on other reliable information provided to the Company on the last banking day in August.
The names of the members of the Nomination Committee and the names of the shareholders they represent are to be published at the latest six months before the Annual General Meeting. If any of the five largest shareholders by voting entitlement waives the invitation to appoint a representative to the Nomination Committee, the next largest shareholder in terms of voting rights shall be given the opportunity to appoint a representative. It is however not required to ask more than seven of the largest shareholders by voting entitlement unless the Nomination Committee has fewer than three representatives. The person appointed by the largest shareholder by voting entitlement shall be appointed Chair of the Nomination Committee, unless the Nomination Committee decides otherwise. The Nomination Committee exercises its mandate until the appointment of a new Nomination Committee.
If a significant change takes place in the ownership structure after the Nomination Committee has been constituted and more than two months before the Annual General Meeting and in the event that a major new owner expresses a wish to participate in the work of the committee, the composition of the Nomination Committee shall be altered to accord with the principles specified above, either by replacing the committee member who has been appointed by the smallest shareholder by voting entitlement, or by expanding the Nomination Committee to include one additional member. Shareholders who acquire sufficient shares to qualify as one of the three largest shareholders by voting entitlement within the two months immediately preceding the Annual General Meeting shall have the right to a co-opted representative on the Nomination Committee, if they so wish.
Shareholders who have appointed a member of the Nomination Committee have the right to relieve this member of his/her duties and to appoint a new member in the Nomination Committee in his/her place.
The Nomination Committee shall submit proposals to the Annual General Meeting on:
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the election of someone to chair the Annual General Meeting,
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the election of a Chairman of the Board and other members of the Board,
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the allocation of Directors' fees between the Chairman of the Board and other members, and any remuneration for committee work,
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election and remuneration of Auditors and Deputy Auditors (if any), and
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resolution regarding the principles for the appointment of the Nomination Committee.
The Nomination Committee shall have the right to charge the Company for expenses such as those incurred in conjunction with the use of recruitment consultants, whose assistance may be required to enable the Nomination Committee to execute its duties properly. No fees are payable to members of the Nomination Committee.
Item 13 - Resolutions regarding the principles relating to salary and other remuneration for the CEO and other members of the senior management team
The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting adopts the following principles relating to remuneration to the senior management team up until the time of the 2016 Annual General Meeting.
The Remuneration Committee
The Board appoints a Remuneration Committee to prepare proposals relating to the CEO's employment conditions, pension benefits and bonuses and to make decisions on corresponding conditions for the other senior executives. The Remuneration Committee shall also consider principles relating to terms of employment and other remuneration for all employees in the ÅF Group.
Senior executives
Senior executives include the CEO, members of the Company management team and executives who report directly to the CEO.
Remunerations
The ÅF Group bases remunerations on the principle that remuneration shall be on competitive market terms that enable the Group to recruit and retain senior executives. ÅF employs the "grandfather principle", meaning that all employment conditions shall be approved by the closest manager for the manager who has negotiated the conditions.
The remuneration of senior executives consists of the following components: basic salary, variable remuneration, pensions and long-term incentive programmes. Other remuneration may also be provided, usually in the form of car benefits.
The Board shall safeguard an appropriate balance between fixed and variable remuneration.
Basic salary and variable remuneration
These forms of remuneration are renegotiated annually. Remuneration shall be based on factors such as duties, expertise, experience, position and performance. In addition, the ratio between basic salary and variable remuneration shall be related to the individual's position and duties. Variable remuneration for the CEO and other senior executives is a maximum of 60% of fixed annual salary. Fixed annual salary is current monthly salary multiplied by 12. The variable component of salary is based on outcomes in relation to targets. The targets and salary of the CEO are set by the Board. For other senior executives, these are set by the Remuneration Committee.
Long term incentive programmes
Key personnel within the ÅF Group may be eligible to participate in various types of incentive programmes on market terms. The emphasis shall be placed on share-related incentive programmes that aim to reward performance, increase and spread share ownership among senior executives, and encourage them to remain with the Company. The assumption is that a personal, long-term ownership commitment among key personnel stimulates greater interest in the business and in profitability, while also strengthening motivation and identification with the Company, thus safeguarding the Company's needs for key competence.
To encourage embracing the challenges presented by the integration of Epsilon, an incentive programme of a one-off nature was set up in 2013. The programme was offered to a limited number of key personnel who will receive an extra remuneration of a maximum of 60% of fixed annual salary during the period 2013-2015 if ÅF at the end of year 2015 has met certain financial goals relating to the integration.
The form and structure of incentive programmes shall be determined by the Board and shall, as regards share and share related programmes, be subject to the final decision of the Annual General Meeting.
Pensions
Senior executives shall have defined contribution pension plans with premiums that reflect current market terms and conditions. All pension benefits shall be vested, and shall not, therefore, be dependent on future employment. The retirement age is 60 for the CEO and 65 for other senior executives. Remuneration resulting from the long term incentive programmes shall not constitute pensionable salary.
Termination of employment and severance pay
In the event that the CEO is given notice by the Company, the period of notice is 24 months. If the CEO gives notice, the period of notice is 6 months.
The period of notice between the Company and other senior executives, the period of notice from the Company's side is normally 12 months and from the employee's side, 6 months.
Item 14 - Resolution regarding long-term incentive programme (Convertible Debenture 2015), authority for the Board to repurchase the Company's own shares and decision to reduce the number of shares in the Company
The Board proposes that the meeting decides on a convertible debenture programme for ÅF employees on the following terms.
The main purpose of the program is to award performance, increase the ownership of shares among key staff and to incentivize them to stay in the Company. A personal long term ownership among key staff is expected to increase the interest for the business and the financial results and increase the motivation and identification with the Company, thus attracting and retaining talent.
In the program, ÅF AB takes up a debenture loan at a nominal amount not exceeding SEK 200 000 000 through emitting convertible debentures. The subscription price for each debenture shall correspond to its nominal amount.
Participants shall, with exception from the shareholders rights, be employees of the ÅF Group who have not at the end of the subscription period given or been given notice of termination of employment. The allocation of debentures shall be determined by the board within the following guidelines.
The CEO shall be entitled to subscribe to debentures to a nominal amount of SEK 2 000 000 and may as a maximum subscribe to SEK 6 000 000. Members of the group management shall be guaranteed a subscription of SEK 1 000 000 each and may as a maximum subscribe to an amount of SEK 3 000 000 each. Key staff (approximately 190 persons) shall all be guaranteed a subscription of a nominal amount of SEK 300 000 each and may subscribe up to SEK 900 000 each. If the final total amount of the debenture loan is adjusted to avoid exceeding the maximum dilution, the allocated subscribed amounts shall be adjusted in proportion to this. In case of oversubscription employees shall in the first instance be granted the guaranteed allotment and then be allotted additional debentures with the same percentage regardless of category and in relation to their subscriptions in addition to the guaranteed amount (within the specified maximum amount for each category). When determining the number of convertibles in addition to the guaranteed allotment, only the desired subscription up to the specified maximum subscribed amount for each category shall be considered. The convertibles shall be subscribed for in multiples of SEK 50 000, rounded off to the closest whole number of convertible debentures. The lowest nominal amount to be subscribed for shall be SEK 50 000, rounded off to the closest whole number of convertible debentures.
Trading of the convertibles shall not be subject to restrictions.
Between 15 June 2018 and 15 March 2019 (inclusive), each convertible may be converted by the owner into a class B share at a conversion rate calculated at 120 percent of the average latest price paid for the Company's class B share on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange each day during the period 7-13 of May 2015 (inclusive), but not lower than SEK 10. Days without a noted price paid shall not be included in the calculation. The thus calculated conversion price shall be rounded off to the closest whole number of 10 öre (SEK 1/10), where 5 öre (SEK 1/20) shall be rounded off upwards. The conversion price shall be determined by the board immediately after the specified measurement period.
The convertibles are due for payment on 10 April 2019 if conversion has not taken place by then. The convertibles shall carry an interest to be determined considering inter alia the conversion price and the estimated market value of the convertibles when issued. The interest is paid in arrears on February 10 each year and on the maturity of the loan. Assuming an average share price of SEK 125 during the measurement period and a conversion price of SEK 150 and the current interest rate situation the interest will be approximately 1.5-2.4 percent per annum.
The debentures shall in case of the winding up or liquidation of the Company entitle to payment only after non subordinated debt and along (pari passu) with other subordinated debt not expressly subordinated to this loan.
Subscription for the convertibles shall take place from 25 May 2015 until and including 10 June 2015. The convertibles shall be issued at a price of 100 percent of the nominal value. Subscription is made at market price in accordance with valuation by EY, requested by the Board of the Company. For the evaluation EY has applied methods considered by market professionals as established for comparable securities.
The complete terms and conditions are included in Appendix 1. As stated in the terms and conditions in Appendix 1, the conversion price may be adjusted for new issues and other certain situations.
The reason for deviating from the shareholders right to subscription is that the convertible debenture program constitutes a personal long term ownership among the employees, which is expected to promote the interest for the business and its results. It is therefore advantageous for the Company to be able to offer employees an opportunity to share in the development of the Group in a way that is also beneficial for the shareholders.
If all convertibles are assigned and the conversion rate is assumed to be SEK 150, which corresponds to 120 percent of SEK 125, on full conversion the share capital will increase by SEK 3 333 333 based on a quota value of SEK 2.50 per share. This corresponds to a dilution effect of approximately 1.7 percent on share capital and 1.2 percent of voting rights after full conversion.
In case the conversion rate at the time of issue should be set at a value that would bring a dilution after full conversion of more than 2 percent of the share capital and the votes, the maximum amount of the loan shall be reduced by a lower subscription to bring the maximum dilution to 2 percent (provided however that the maximum dilution may be larger than 2 percent due to a later recalculation of the conversion price as per Appendix 1).
The proposed convertible debentures cause the earnings per share to change in direct opposite proportion to the change in the number of shares a full conversion results in (the dilution). Since the dilution of the share capital under the terms and conditions can never exceed 2 percent, the earnings per share can never decrease by more than 2 percent at full conversion.
Authorisation for the Board to acquire the Company's own shares to fulfil ÅF's obligations pursuant to the programme and to reduce the number of shares
The purpose of the Boards proposal to acquire the company's own shares to fulfil its obligations pursuant to the programme and to reduce the number of shares is that the Company shall be able to reduce the share capital corresponding to the number of shares which the subscribed debentures can be converted to.
The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting grant the Board a mandate to make decisions on one or more occasions before the next Annual General Meeting about purchases of the Company's class B shares corresponding to a maximum of 2 percent of the total of shares in the Company. Buy-backs may be made only on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange and only at a price within the current registered price range on the purchase date. The Board also proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolve that the Company's share capital be reduced by the number of shares that may be acquired under the terms of the mandate given to the Board as described above for transfer to non-restricted reserves (non-restricted equity). The reduction shall be not less than SEK 0 and not more than SEK 3 929 431 (2% of the shares multiplied by the quota value of SEK 2.50).
According to the Swedish Companies Act the decision on reduction may only be executed after registration with and the approval from the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Sw: Bolagsverket).
Preparation of the proposal
The convertible debenture program has been prepared by the remuneration committee and the Board with advise from external experts. The proposal has been decided by the Board. The CEO has not participated in the preparation of the proposal or the Boards decision.
Ongoing share related incentive programmes
The Company's ongoing share related incentive programmes - convertible debenture and performance share programmes - are described in the Company's Annual Report for 2014, note 4.
Costs for the convertible debenture programme
The programme costs pertaining to fees to external advisors and banks are estimated to amount to less than SEK 1 000 000 during the course of the programme.
In the Board's opinion the proposed convertible debentures will not entail any future costs except for employer's contributions at the time of conversion to shares in certain countries (not Sweden).
Authority for the Board
The Board shall be authorised to make such minor changes to the decisions as may be deemed necessary in connection with registration at the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Sw: Bolagsverket) and Euroclear Sweden AB.
Majority rules
A resolution by the annual general meeting about issuing convertible debentures as proposed by the Board requires a majority of 9/10 of the vote and of the shares present at the meeting. For a decision by the general meeting to authorise the Board to repurchase the Company's own shares and for the decision to reduce the share capital of the Company it is necessary that the decision is supported by at least 2/3 of the votes cast as well as of the vote present at the meeting.
Financing
One or two Swedish commercial banks will offer financing for the employees who subscribe to the convertible debenture programme. The financing will be at market terms.
Item 15 - Resolutions authorising the Board to sell the Company's own shares on Nasdaq Stockholm and to transfer own shares to participants in performance related share programmes 2011-2014
The purpose of the proposed mandate is to enable the Company to secure ÅF's commitments with regard to the Performance Related Share Programmes already in place.
Transfer of own shares at Nasdaq Stockholm
The Board proposes that the general meeting authorises the Board to, on one or more occasions prior to the annual general meeting 2016, decide to transfer a maximum of 33 000 of shares of series B for the purpose of covering certain costs for the Performance related Share Programmes, mainly employer contributions. Transfer may only be made on Nasdaq Stockholm and at a price within the registered price range at the time.
The authorisations above also includes the right to purchase or transfer the larger amount of shares resulting from split or free issue of shares or other similar circumstances. The numbers are calculated with a safety margin to account for that variations in the share price will affect the number of shares included in the programmes.
The majority required for the decision is least 2/3 of the votes cast as well as of the vote present at the meeting.
Transfer of own shares to participants in performance related share programmes 2011-2014
To fulfil obligations under performance related share programmes 2011-2014 the Board proposes that the general meeting decides to authorise the Board to, prior to the annual general meeting 2016, decide to transfer shares of series B as follows.
A maximum of 153 000 shares of series B may be transferred to participants in the programmes. The right to receive shares shall belong to the participants in the programmes, with the right of each participant to receive the number of shares set out in each programme. The right to receive shares requires that all the conditions for this in the programmes are met. The transfer will be made without consideration. The number of shares which may be transferred can be altered by split or free issue of shares or other similar circumstances.
The reason for the deviation from the shareholders rights when transferring own shares is to be able to transfer the shares to the participants in the programmes.
The decision requires a majority of 9/10 of the vote and of the shares present at the meeting.
Item 16 - Resolution authorising the Board to make new issue of shares
The Board proposes that the Annual General Meeting grants the Board a mandate to issue new class B shares on one or more occasions before the next Annual General Meeting. Payment for new shares may be in capital contributed in kind or, with preferential rights for shareholders, in cash. The purpose of such an issue is to increase share capital by issuing shares on market terms. However, the maximum number of new shares issued must not exceed 10 percent of the Company's share capital at the time of the annual general meeting.
The mandate above also extends to the right to issue a larger number of shares as a consequence of a share split, new issue or similar measures.
Shares and votes
ÅF's share capital totals SEK 195 512 425 and comprises a total of 78 204 970 shares, of which 3 217 752 are class A shares and 74 987 218 are class B shares, corresponding to a total of 107 164 738 votes. Class A shares entitle the holder to 10 votes per share. Class B shares entitle the holder to one vote per share. At the time when this invitation to the Annual General Meeting was issued, ÅF AB held 863 484 of the Company's own class B shares, corresponding to 863 484 votes for which there can be no representation at the Annual General Meeting.
Information to the Annual General Meeting
The Board of the Company and the CEO shall, if requested to do so by a shareholder and on condition that the Board considers that such a request can be met without any significant adverse effects on the Company, provide information about circumstances that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda, or of the financial situation of the Company or one of the Company's subsidiaries, and/or of the Company's relationship to another Group company. Shareholders who wish to do so may submit their questions in advance to ÅF AB, Annual General Meeting, SE-169 99 Stockholm, Sweden.
Further information
The Board's statements with regard to the proposals concerning shareholders' dividend and reduction of numbers of shares in the company, the Board's evaluation of remuneration to members of the senior management team and the Auditor's report in accordance with Chapter 8, Section 54 of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551), on whether the guidelines adopted by the Annual General Meeting regarding remuneration to senior management team have been complied with, will be available at the Company's headquarters (visiting address: Frösundaleden 2A, Solna, Sweden) from 8 April 2015 and will also be posted on the Company's website www.afconsult.com. Shareholders who wish to avail themselves of these documents may apply to the Company to have the material sent to them by post or e-mail.
Stockholm, March 2015
ÅF AB (publ)
Board of Directors
This English version is a translation of the Swedish original. The Swedish text is the binding version and shall prevail in the event of any discrepancies.
ÅF is an engineering and consulting company for the energy, industrial and infrastructure markets, creating progress for our clients since 1895. By connecting technologies we provide profitable, innovative and sustainable solutions to shape the future and improve people's lives. Building on our strong base in Europe, our business and clients are found all over the world.
ÅF - Innovation by experience
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