Last checked at 
19 Sep 2023 12:02
19 September 2023
UTILICO EMERGING MARKETS TRUST PLC
(LEI Number: 2138005TJMCWR2394O39)
Result of Annual General Meeting
Utilico Emerging Markets Trust plc ("UEM" or the "Company") held its 2023 Annual General Meeting of shareholders on 19 September 2023.
All resolutions proposed at the meeting were passed on a show of hands. A copy of the Notice of Meeting is available at www.uemtrust.co.uk.
The proxy voting figures received in advance of the meeting are shown below.
Resolution | Votes for/discretionary | % | Votes against | % | Total votes cast | Votes withheld |
Ordinary Resolutions | ||||||
1. To receive the Company's Accounts and the Reports of the Directors and Auditor | 130,591,780 | 100.00 | 0 | 0.00 | 130,593,634 | 26,767 |
2. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Report | 130,412,862 | 99.94 | 79,139 | 0.06 | 130,493,855 | 126,546 |
3. To approve the Company's dividend policy | 130,589,367 | 100.00 | 2,413 | 0.00 | 130,593,634 | 26,767 |
4. To re-elect Mr Rennocks | 129,425,168 | 99.16 | 1,097,137 | 0.84 | 130,524,159 | 96,242 |
5. To re-elect Mr Bridgeman | 129,594,224 | 99.29 | 928,081 | 0.71 | 130,524,159 | 96,242 |
6. To re-elect Ms Liu | 129,561,580 | 99.27 | 955,940 | 0.73 | 130,519,374 | 101,027 |
7. To re-elect Mr Stobart | 96,783,200 | 74.15 | 33,734,320 | 25.85 | 130,519,374 | 101,027 |
8. To re-appoint KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company | 130,361,092 | 99.88 | 157,087 | 0.12 | 130,520,033 | 100,368 |
9. To authorise the Directors to determine the auditor's remuneration | 130,501,035 | 99.98 | 18,076 | 0.02 | 130,520,965 | 99,436 |
10. To authorise the Directors to allot securities | 130,491,704 | 99.98 | 24,088 | 0.02 | 130,517,646 | 102,755 |
Special Resolutions |
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11. To authorise the Directors to disapply pre-emption rights | 130,352,007 | 99.91 | 110,912 | 0.09 | 130,464,773 | 155,628 |
12. To authorise the Company purchase its own shares | 130,338,483 | 99.85 | 189,571 | 0.15 | 130,529,908 | 90,493 |
While a significant majority of shareholder proxies supported Resolution 7 (re-election of Mr Eric Stobart), the Board is disappointed that a notable number representing 25.85% of the shares voted (17.01% of the issued share capital) were against the annual re-election of Mr Eric Stobart. Over 97% of these shares were voted by one shareholder, with whom the Company has previously engaged and will continue to engage, and who has indicated its opposition to the appointment of Mr Stobart.
Mr Stobart is an Independent Director pursuant to the UK Corporate Governance Code and in accordance with the principles of the Code, all Directors offer themselves for re-election annually. The Board is firmly of the view that Mr Stobart is and remains independent in character and judgement and that his appointment to the Board is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In 2021 the Company announced the appointments of Mark Bridgeman and Isabel Liu as new Independent Directors to the Board of UEM and the Board continues to consider board refreshment.
A copy of the full text of the resolutions (other than those resolutions comprising ordinary business) will shortly be made available for inspection on the National Storage Mechanism at http://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
Name of contact and telephone number for enquiries:
ICM Investment Management Limited +44(0)1372 271486
Charles Jillings / Alastair Moreton
Montfort Communications
Gay Collins, Pippa Bailey +44(0)20 3770 7913
utilico@montfort.london