Shareholders and the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Annual General Meeting of shareholders (AGM) is an integral part of the governance of the company and its system of checks and balances. The AGM reviews the annual report and decides on the adoption of the financial statements and the dividend proposal, as well as the discharge of the members of the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management.
The AGM is convened by public notice and the agenda, notes to the agenda, and the procedure for attendance and voting at the meeting are published in advance and posted on the company’s website. Matters proposed for consideration, approval or adoption are tabled as separate agenda items and explained in writing in advance of the meeting.
These proposals include where relevant:
- The adoption of the financial statements
- The dividend proposal
- The discharge of the members of the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management
- The appointment of members of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board
- The remuneration of Supervisory Board members
- Material changes to the remuneration policy of the Board of Management
- Other important matters, such as major acquisitions or the sale of a substantial part of the company, as required by law
- The authorization of the Board of Management to issue new shares, buy back shares or cancel shares
- Amendments to the Articles of Association
The company provides remote voting possibilities to its shareholders. Holding shares in the company on the record date determines the right to exercise voting rights and other rights relating to the AGM. All resolutions are made on the basis of the “one share, one vote” principle (assuming an equal par value for each class of shares). All resolutions are adopted by absolute majority, unless the law or the company’s Articles of Association stipulate otherwise.
Holders of common shares in aggregate representing at least 1 percent of the total issued capital may submit proposals for the AGM agenda. Such proposals must be adequately substantiated and must be submitted in writing, or electronically, to the company at least 60 calendar days in advance of the meeting. The draft minutes of the AGM (in Dutch) are made available on the company’s website within three months of the meeting date. The final and duly signed minutes are made available on the company’s website within six months after the meeting date.
Young people in Virginia are learning about climate change and sustainability at EBase USA, an off-grid, self-powered classroom set up by AkzoNobel employees. The initiative was led by James Bray (Regional Sales Manager – Cabinets, North America for our Wood Coatings business) who drew inspiration from a leadership expedition to Antarctica in 2008. A 99-year-old railway boxcar was converted over a period of four years to create the unique learning resource, which highlights the community focus of our global Human Cities initiative.
Share classes
AkzoNobel has three classes of shares: common shares, cumulative preferred shares and priority shares. Common shares are traded on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange. Common shares are also traded over-the-counter on OTCQX in the US in the form of American Depositary Receipts (each American Depositary Receipt representing one-third of a common share). On December 31, 2016, a total of 252,176,412 common shares and 48 priority shares had been issued. The company has been informed that by December 31, 2016, MFS Investment Management and Causeway Capital Management each held more than 5 percent of the company’s share capital.
The priority shares are held by the Foundation Akzo Nobel (Stichting Akzo Nobel). The Foundation’s Board consists of members of AkzoNobel’s Supervisory Board who are not members of the Audit Committee. The Meeting of Holders of Priority Shares has the nomination rights for the appointment of members of the Board of Management and of the Supervisory Board, as well as the right to approve amendments to the Articles of Association of the company.
No cumulative preferred shares have been issued to date. These shares merely have a financing function, which means that if necessary, and possible, they will be issued at or near to the prevailing quoted price for common shares.
The AGM held on April 20, 2016, authorized the Board of Management for a period of 18 months after that date – subject to approval from the Supervisory Board – to issue shares in the capital of the company free from pre-emptive rights, up to a maximum of 10 percent of the issued share capital, or 20 percent in case of a merger or acquisition. At the same meeting, for a period of 18 months or if earlier, until the date on which the AGM again extends it, authorization was granted to the Board of Management to acquire common shares in the company’s share capital at any time during this period. The number of common shares to be acquired being limited to the maximum number of shares – as permitted within the limits of the law and the Articles of Association – the company may at any time hold in its own share capital. The maximum number of shares the company will hold in its own share capital at any one time shall not exceed 10 percent of its issued share capital. A resolution of the Board of Management to acquire shares in the company’s share capital is subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board.
Anti-takeover provisions and control
According to the Code, the company is required to provide an overview of its actual or potential anti-takeover measures, and to indicate in what circumstances it is expected that they may be used. The priority shares may be considered to constitute a form of anti-takeover measure. In relation to the right of the Meeting of Holders of Priority Shares to make binding nominations for appointments to the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board, the Foundation Akzo Nobel has confirmed that it intends to make use of such rights in exceptional circumstances only.
These circumstances include situations where, in the opinion of the Board of the Foundation, the continuity of the company’s management and policies is at stake. This may be the case if a public bid for the common shares of the company has been announced, or has been made, or the justified expectation exists that such a bid will be made, without any agreement having been reached in relation to such a bid with the company.
The same shall apply if one shareholder, or more shareholders acting in a concerted way, hold a substantial percentage of the issued common shares of the company without making an offer or if, in the opinion of the Board of the Foundation Akzo Nobel, the exercise of the voting rights by one shareholder or more shareholders, acting in a concerted way, is materially in conflict with the interests of the company. In such cases, the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management, in accordance with their statutory responsibility, will evaluate all available options with a view to serving the best interests of the company, its shareholders and other stakeholders. The Board of the Foundation Akzo Nobel has reserved the right to make use of its binding nomination rights for the appointment of members of the Supervisory Board and of the Board of Management in such circumstances.
Although a deviation from provision IV.1.1 of the Code, the Supervisory Board and the Board of Management are of the opinion that these provisions will enhance the continuity of the company’s management and policies.
In the event of a hostile takeover bid, or other action which the Board of Management and Supervisory Board consider to be adverse to the company’s interests, the two Boards reserve the right to use all available powers (including the right to invoke a response time in accordance with provisions IV.4.4 and II.1.9 of the Code), while taking into account the relevant interests of the company and its affiliate enterprise and stakeholders.
Annual General Meeting of shareholders.
Everything we do for and with society is channeled through our Human Cities initiative. This incorporates AkzoNobel’s Community Program, which encourages and gives financial support for employees to get involved, hands-on, in their local communities; and our “Let’s Colour” program, which uses the power of color to improve people’s lives.