Statutes

Adopted on 3 November 1993 in Emmaboda. Additions on 14 March 1995 under § 5. Revised on 26 May 1997 with decision on 14 May 1998 § 10. Revised at the annual meeting on 13 May 2003 (decision 1) and the association meeting on 11 November 2003 (decision 2). Revised at the annual meeting on 3 May 2006 (decision 1) and the autumn meeting on 28 November 2006 (decision 2). Revised at the autumn meeting on 13 November 2007 (decision 1) and the annual meeting on 13 May 2008 (decision 2). Revised at the autumn meeting on 6 May 2015 (decision 1) and the autumn meeting on 12 November 2015 (decision 2). Revised at the autumn meeting 2020-11-18 (decision 1) and the extraordinary annual meeting 2021-02-19 (decision 2). Revised at the autumn meeting 2022-11-30 (decision 1) and adopted at the annual meeting 2023-05-31 (decision 2).

§1 Purpose

The purpose of the industry association is to work for healthy development within the industry and to safeguard and promote the interests of its members, especially in relation to other organizations and authorities within the industry, by:

• Be a powerful meeting place for members
• Promote a good business climate
• Be a knowledgeable representative of members' interests

§ 2 Seat

The association is headquartered in Stockholm.

§ 3 Operating year

The association's operating year is the calendar year.

§ 4 Membership obligations

Members must comply with the association's statutes and decisions made in accordance with them.

§ 5 Membership

The board may accept as members of the association companies or organizations that are active in the water industry in Sweden and are prepared to actively work to develop the industry.

When a group/holding company applies or is a member, the constituent companies do not automatically become members but must apply for their own membership, i.e. a constituent legal entity must be a member to participate in the membership.

Applications for membership must be made in writing to the association's office.

Withdrawal from the association may only take place at the end of the financial year. Membership must be terminated in writing to the office no later than six months before the end of the financial year. Anyone who withdraws from the association is not entitled to a refund of fees paid or a share in the association's assets.

Members who act in violation of the association's purpose according to § 1 and the membership obligations § 4 above may be expelled from the association. Decisions on expulsion shall be made by the annual meeting. A three-quarters majority of members present at the meeting is required for decisions on expulsion.

A company whose membership has expired is not entitled to services that the association has concluded after the membership has expired.

§ 6 Fees and reimbursement of expenses

To cover the association's costs, members must pay membership fees upon invoice. In the event that the association also conducts service activities under its own management or under the management of another, decided service fees must also be paid. Fees for the following year for the association are determined at the autumn meeting. To the extent that the determined fees and compensation prove insufficient to cover the costs for the operating year, the association has the right to decide on additional fees.

§ 7 Company signature and financial responsibility

The association's name is signed by the board and the chairman individually, or by those appointed by the board. The board is responsible for the association's assets and can only enter into obligations within the framework of the association's assets.

§ 8 Organization

The annual meeting is the association's highest decision-making body. The annual meeting appoints a board of directors responsible for the association's ongoing operations.

An office is under the board.

§ 9 Agenda for member meetings

The regular annual meeting shall be held once per fiscal year no earlier than March 15 and no later than June 30, and the autumn meeting no earlier than October 1 and no later than November 30.

The following matters shall be addressed at the annual meeting:

1. Election of meeting chairperson
2. Election of meeting secretary and at least 1 adjuster and vote teller
3. Establishment and approval of the electoral roll
4. Examination of whether the annual meeting has been duly convened
5. Presentation and adoption of annual accounts
6. Discharge of liability for the board of directors
7. Election of the board of directors
8. Election of the Nomination Committee
9. Motions received on time

The following matters will be addressed at the autumn meeting:

1. Election of meeting chairperson
2. Election of meeting secretary and at least 1 adjuster and vote teller
3. Establishment and approval of the electoral roll
4. Examination of whether the autumn meeting has been duly convened
5. Presentation and adoption of the business plan
6. Presentation and adoption of budget
7. Presentation and determination of membership fees for the next financial year

Each member represented at the meeting, with the exception of probationary members, has one vote. Decisions are made by simple majority unless otherwise stated in § 5, § 17 and § 18. In the event of a tie, the chairman of the meeting has the casting vote.

Members who wish to submit a motion to the annual meeting must report this in writing to the office, no later than February 28. Probationary members do not have the right to make motions.

§ 10 Extraordinary annual meeting

An extraordinary annual meeting shall be held when the board deems it appropriate or when requested in writing by at least five members. The request for an extraordinary annual meeting shall state the matters to be dealt with at the extraordinary annual meeting.

§ 11 Notice

Notices to the annual meeting, autumn meeting and extraordinary annual meeting, with agenda, must be sent out no later than 3 weeks before the meeting.

§12 Board of Directors

The association's affairs are managed by a board of directors. The board shall consist of a minimum of five and a maximum of nine members.

The representative of the office shall be given the opportunity to participate in board meetings, but shall not have the right to vote.

The annual meeting appoints the board and, from among the board members, a chairman and two vice-chairmen.

The board's representatives should reflect the member companies.

Each board member is elected for a 2-year term.

The board is convened by the chairman.

Board meetings must be held at least once a year.

The board has a quorum when at least three members are present. Decisions are made by simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chairman has the casting vote. When three members are present, decisions shall be made unanimously.

§ 13 Duties of the Board

It is the responsibility of the board of directors to:

• a) To carry out investigations and projects and to examine and issue opinions on submitted proposals
• b) To be responsible for the association's funds and accounts
• c) To submit a management report with a balance sheet and profit and loss account

§ 14 Minutes

Minutes shall be kept at board meetings, which shall be checked by a checker, in addition to the meeting chairman and the meeting secretary.

Minutes shall be kept at the association's meetings, which shall be approved by the meeting chairman and the meeting secretary.

§ 15 Nomination Committee

The Nomination Committee shall propose candidates to the Board. In its work, the Nomination Committee shall strive to propose candidates so that the Board consists of an uneven number of members.

The nomination committee shall consist of at least two people and a maximum of 5 people, one of whom shall be appointed as convener.

§ 16 Office

The office's task is to administer and be an information and service body for the association's activities.

§ 17 Amendment of the statutes

To amend these statutes, decisions are required at two consecutive annual meetings with an interval of at least three months.

The notice of such a meeting shall state that proposed amendments to the statutes will be considered. For a decision to amend the statutes to be valid, it is required that at least two-thirds of the members are represented and that at least three-quarters of the members agree with the decision.

§ 18 Dissolution of the association

A decision regarding the dissolution of the association is not valid unless all members agree to it, or the decision is made at two consecutive association meetings held at least one month apart and at the last meeting held, at least three quarters of the voting members are present. A decision regarding the liquidation or dissolution of the association shall also contain a provision on how to proceed with the association's surplus assets.