17. Equity

Share capital (incl. disclosures in accordance with Sec. 240 of the Austrian Commercial Code (UGB))

The share capital remained unchanged during the reporting period. As of March 31, 2012, the share capital amounts to EUR 307,132,044.75 and is divided into 169,049,163 ordinary no-par value shares. All shares are fully paid up.

Under Sec. 4 (2) of the Articles of Incorporation, the Management Board of voestalpine AG is authorized to increase the share capital of the Company by up to EUR 152,521,231.38 by issuing up to 83,949,516 ordinary no-par value bearer shares (about 49.66%) up to June 30, 2014, against cash contributions and/or, if necessary, by excluding shareholders’ subscription rights in full or in part, (i) against contributions in kind, including but not limited to contributions of equity interests, companies, businesses, or business units, and/or (ii) to be issued to employees, executives, and members of the Management Board of the Company or an affiliated company under an employee stock ownership plan or stock option plan (authorized capital increase). The Management Board did not exercise this authority during the reporting period.

Under Sec. 4 (6) of the Articles of Incorporation, the Management Board of voestalpine AG is authorized to increase the share capital of the Company by up to EUR 145,345,668.35 by issuing up to 80,000,000 ordinary no-par value bearer shares (= 47.32%) for issuance to creditors of financial instruments within the meaning of Sec. 174 of the Austrian Stock Corporation Act (convertible bonds, income bonds, or participation rights); the Management Board was authorized to issue these shares during the Annual General Meeting on July 1, 2009 (contingent capital increase). During the reporting period, the Management Board did not exercise the authority granted on July 1, 2009 to issue financial instruments within the meaning of Sec. 174 of the Austrian Stock Corporation Act.

During the Annual General Meeting on July 7, 2010, the Management Board was authorized to repurchase own shares up to December 31, 2012, representing no more than 10% of the respective share capital. The repurchase price may not be more than 20% below or 10% above the average stock exchange price of the shares on the three market trading days prior to the repurchase. The Management Board did not exercise this authority during the reporting period.

Capital reserves mainly include the share premium (net of capital funding costs), gains/losses from the sale of own shares, and share-based compensation.

Reserves for own shares include the deducted cost of acquisition and the increase in equity from disposal of own shares at cost.

Retained earnings include the profit for the period less dividend distributions. When increasing majority interests, the difference between the cost of acquisition for the additional shares and the pro-rated carrying amount of the non-controlling interests is recognized directly in retained earnings. Actuarial gains and losses from severance and pension obligations are recognized directly in equity in the year in which they are incurred.

The translation reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries.

The hedging reserve comprises gains and losses from the effective portion of the cash flow hedges. The cumulative gains or losses from hedged transactions recognized in the reserves are not recognized in the income statement until the hedged transaction also affects the result.

The number of shares outstanding for the periods presented in the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2012, has changed as follows:

Hybrid capital

On October 16, 2007, voestalpine AG issued a EUR 1 billion subordinated bond with an indefinite term (hybrid bond). The coupon rate of the bond, which can also be suspended if dividends are suspended, is 7.125%. Seven years after issue of the bond, voestalpine AG, but not the creditors, will have its first opportunity to redeem the bond or to continue it at a variable interest rate (three-month Euribor plus 5.05%).

As the hybrid bond satisfies the IAS 32 criteria for equity, the proceeds from the bond issue are recognized as part of equity. Accordingly, coupon payments are also presented as dividend payments. The issue costs and the bond discount amounted to EUR 10.5 million. A tax benefit related to this position in the amount of EUR 2.6 million was recognized. Thus, the increase in equity was EUR 992.1 million.

Non-controlling interests

The non-controlling interests as of March 31, 2012, result primarily from non-controlling interests in the VAE Group, voestalpine Railpro B.V., and Danube Equity AG.