4 May 2017 18:16
4 May 2017
RESULT OF VOTING AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF
RECKITT BENCKISER GROUP PLC
HELD ON 4 MAY 2017
The resolutions proposed at the Annual General Meeting of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc (the "Company") held earlier today were passed by the requisite majority by poll. The results are set out below:
STATEMENT OF POLL
RESOLUTION | No of votes For | % | No of Votes Against | % | Total No of Votes Cast | No of Votes Withheld |
1. To receive the 2016 report and financial statements | 519,624,101 | 100.00 | 20,189 | 0.00 | 519,644,290 | 1,237,007 |
2. To receive and approve the Directors' Remuneration Report | 452,280,484 | 87.38 | 65,301,720 | 12.62 | 517,582,204 | 3,295,372 |
3. To declare a final dividend | 520,145,832 | 100.00 | 1,437 | 0.00 | 520,147,269 | 733,881 |
4. To re-elect Adrian Bellamy | 334,891,091 | 85.26 | 57,891,639 | 14.74 | 392,782,730 | 128,072,383 |
5. To re-elect Nicandro Durante | 513,866,390 | 99.24 | 3,919,080 | 0.76 | 517,785,470 | 3,038,595 |
6. To re-elect Mary Harris | 515,252,406 | 98.95 | 5,476,685 | 1.05 | 520,729,091 | 94,804 |
7. To re-elect Adrian Hennah | 517,537,637 | 99.39 | 3,193,100 | 0.61 | 520,730,737 | 93,328 |
8. To re-elect Kenneth Hydon | 312,428,440 | 69.22 | 138,920,360 | 30.78 | 451,348,800 | 69,506,318 |
9. To re-elect Rakesh Kapoor | 506,346,495 | 97.39 | 13,593,264 | 2.61 | 519,939,759 | 884,356 |
10. To re-elect Pamela Kirby | 475,594,699 | 91.48 | 44,291,803 | 8.52 | 519,886,502 | 936,689 |
11. To re-elect Andre Lacroix | 508,231,358 | 97.60 | 12,499,445 | 2.40 | 520,730,803 | 93,262 |
12. To re-elect Chris Sinclair | 517,409,938 | 99.36 | 3,318,002 | 0.64 | 520,727,940 | 96,125 |
13. To re-elect Judith Sprieser | 467,830,763 | 93.66 | 31,657,769 | 6.34 | 499,488,532 | 21,335,045 |
14. To re-elect Warren Tucker | 518,431,479 | 99.56 | 2,297,663 | 0.44 | 520,729,142 | 94,823 |
15. To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Auditor | 510,042,694 | 98.41 | 8,231,980 | 1.59 | 518,274,674 | 2,549,321 |
16. To authorise the Audit Committee to determine the Auditor's remuneration | 516,708,984 | 99.23 | 4,018,738 | 0.77 | 520,727,722 | 95,339 |
17. To authorise the Company to make political donations | 503,871,044 | 97.27 | 14,131,230 | 2.73 | 518,002,274 | 2,820,642 |
18. To renew the Directors' authority to allot shares | 483,312,815 | 93.14 | 35,587,172 | 6.86 | 518,899,987 | 1,938,900 |
19. To renew the Directors' power to disapply pre-emption rights in respect of up to 5 per cent of issued share capital (Special Resolution) | 508,431,235 | 97.93 | 10,724,894 | 2.07 | 519,156,129 | 1,684,987 |
20. To renew the Directors' power to disapply pre-emption rights in respect of an additional 5 per cent of issued share capital (Special Resolution) | 497,243,900 | 95.78 | 21,899,345 | 4.22 | 519,143,245 | 1,695,867 |
21. To renew the Company's authority to purchase its own shares (Special Resolution) | 513,219,402 | 98.60 | 7,264,042 | 1.40 | 520,483,444 | 340,671 |
22. To approve the calling of General Meetings on 14 clear days' notice (Special Resolution) | 467,076,779 | 90.06 | 51,542,890 | 9.94 | 518,619,669 | 2,204,446 |
A copy of the above results will shortly be available on the Company's website at www.rb.com.
A copy of the resolution will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and in due course will be available to view at http://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM.
As at the close of business on 3 May 2017, the issued share capital of the Company consisted of 736,535,179 ordinary shares of 10 pence each, 35,900,270 of which were held as treasury shares. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at that time were 700,634,909.
The Board notes that 138,920,360 shares (representing 30.78% of votes validly cast) were voted against the re-election of Ken Hydon (resolution 8) and notes 57,891,639 shares voted against the re-election of Adrian Bellamy (resolution 4), representing 14.74% of votes validly cast. The Board believes this relates in part to the desire of certain shareholders to ensure Board level accountability for the tragic events in South Korea relating to a Humidifier Sanitiser product withdrawn in 2011. The Board accepts that this is a matter for the full Board. The Board deeply regrets these events, for which an apology has been given and extensive remedial action taken. We will continue to engage with shareholders on this and all matters of board governance.
Contact: Rupert Bondy
Company Secretary
Tel. 01753 217800
103-105 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3UH
Registered in England and Wales, No. 6270876
Reckitt Benckiser Group plc's LEI code is 5493003JFSMOJG48V108