Statutes of the trade association for manufacturers and importers of electric hand tools, accessories and attachments

Established: 1986-02-04.

Revised: 2023-05-11 and adopted 2023-06-16

§1 Purpose

LEH shall constitute a non-profit association of suppliers of tools, accessories and fasteners.

LEH shall work to promote the common interests of its members in their capacity as suppliers within this industry on the Swedish market. LEH shall primarily act in the following areas:

1. promote sound and appropriate business principles,
   1. provide members with market information, including in the form of sales statistics,
   1. influence the work on regulations, standards and norms in drawing towards international harmonisation and thereby counteract technical barriers to trade,
   1. assert the industry's interests towards authorities and other industry organizations,
   1. be a powerful meeting place for members.

§ 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                                   

Suppliers of electric hand tools can be admitted as members of the association. Member companies shall have exclusive sales rights for Sweden.

In exceptional cases, companies that do not have exclusive sales rights may be accepted as members. In such cases, measures must be taken to secure data for sales statistics, etc. from across the country.

It is the responsibility of the member to contribute to promoting the interests of the association in their activities and to follow the decisions made by the association and to observe the association's statutes and code of conduct. The member shall also ensure that its agent or dealer in the activities that concern LEH also follows the association's statutes and decisions.

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. However, the board may, if special reasons exist, grant a shorter notice period. 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.

§ 6 Fees and reimbursement of expenses 

To cover the association's costs, members must pay decided membership fees after invoice. In the event that the association also conducts service activities under its own or third-party auspices, decided service fees and a trademark fee must also be paid.

The membership fee for the following year for the association is determined at the autumn meeting. To the extent that the established 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 or 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 will 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 of annual accounts
6. Adoption of annual accounts
7. Discharge of liability for the board of directors
8. Election of the board of directors
9. Election of the Nomination Committee
10. Motions received on time 
11. Time and place for the next association meeting

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 of the business plan and budget for the next financial year
6. Determination of membership fee                                                                  

Each member represented at the meeting 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 28th.

§ 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 consisting of a chairman and a maximum of five members, plus a maximum of five deputies. Board members must belong to a member company. 

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

The annual meeting appoints the board and a chairman from among the board members. The board may also appoint other function holders, such as a vice chairman.

The board's representatives should reflect the members.

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

The board is convened by the chairman.

Board meetings shall be held at least twice 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: 

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

§ 14 Minutes 

Minutes must be taken at all meetings and adjusted by the meeting chair.

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

§ 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 two 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 present agree on 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 by at least three quarters of the voting members. 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.