Avast plc
(the "Company")
Avast plc - Results of AGM
Following the annual general meeting of the Company held today (the "AGM"), the Company announces the results of the poll vote for each resolution (as set out in full in the notice of AGM (the "Notice of AGM")). Resolutions 1 - 16 (inclusive) and 20 were proposed as ordinary resolutions, whereas resolutions 17 - 19 (inclusive) and 21 were proposed as special resolutions:
|
NO. |
RESOLUTION |
VOTES FOR |
% |
VOTES AGAINST |
% |
VOTES TOTAL |
% of ISC VOTED |
VOTES WITHELD |
|
1. |
To receive the annual accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2020, the report of the directors, together with the reports of the auditors thereon |
825,586,858 |
100.00% |
265 |
0.00% |
825,587,123 |
80.19% |
446,151 |
|
2. |
To approve the directors' remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 |
812,969,923 |
98.42% |
13,049,954 |
1.58% |
826,019,877 |
80.23% |
13,397 |
|
3. |
To declare a final dividend of 11.2 US cents per ordinary share |
825,728,609 |
99.96% |
302,270 |
0.04% |
826,030,879 |
80.23% |
2,395 |
|
4. |
To re-elect John Schwarz as a director |
785,853,942 |
95.21% |
39,550,492 |
4.79% |
825,404,434 |
80.17% |
628,840 |
|
5. |
To re-elect Ondrej Vlcek as a director |
814,264,806 |
98.58% |
11,763,838 |
1.42% |
826,028,644 |
80.23% |
4,630 |
|
6. |
To re-elect Philip Marshall as a director |
812,512,150 |
98.36% |
13,516,494 |
1.64% |
826,028,644 |
80.23% |
4,630 |
|
7. |
To re-elect Pavel Baudiš as a director |
776,285,539 |
94.05% |
49,080,158 |
5.95% |
825,365,697 |
80.16% |
667,577 |
|
8. |
To re-elect Eduard Kučera as a director |
776,285,539 |
94.05% |
49,118,895 |
5.95% |
825,404,434 |
80.17% |
628,840 |
|
9. |
To re-elect Warren Finegold as a director |
793,775,311 |
96.10% |
32,252,333 |
3.90% |
826,027,644 |
80.23% |
5,630 |
|
10. |
To re-elect Maggie Chan Jones as a director |
797,996,682 |
96.61% |
28,032,212 |
3.39% |
826,028,894 |
80.23% |
4,380 |
|
11. |
To re-elect Tamara Minick-Scokalo as a director |
823,499,405 |
99.69% |
2,529,489 |
0.31% |
826,028,894 |
80.23% |
4,380 |
|
12. |
To re-elect Belinda Richards as a director |
819,030,431 |
99.15% |
6,998,463 |
0.85% |
826,028,894 |
80.23% |
4,380 |
|
13. |
To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as auditor |
824,844,217 |
99.86% |
1,184,651 |
0.14% |
826,028,868 |
80.23% |
4,406 |
|
14. |
To authorise the directors to set the auditor's remuneration |
820,691,823 |
99.35% |
5,337,677 |
0.65% |
826,029,500 |
80.23% |
3,774 |
|
15. |
To authorise the Company to make "political donations" and incur "political expenditure" |
820,319,006 |
99.41% |
4,885,034 |
0.59% |
825,204,040 |
80.15% |
829,234 |
|
16. |
To authorise the directors to allot shares |
752,803,331 |
91.14% |
73,227,298 |
8.86% |
826,030,629 |
80.23% |
2,645 |
|
17. |
Authority to disapply pre-emption rights without restriction as to use |
813,770,486 |
99.78% |
1,805,196 |
0.22% |
815,575,682 |
79.21% |
10,457,592 |
|
18. |
Authority to disapply pre-emption rights in connection with an acquisition or capital investment |
803,244,648 |
98.49% |
12,345,666 |
1.51% |
815,590,314 |
79.22% |
10,442,960 |
|
19. |
To authorise the Company to purchase its own shares |
824,839,507 |
99.98% |
148,763 |
0.02% |
824,988,270 |
80.13% |
1,045,004 |
|
20. |
To approve the Avast Employee Benefit Trust |
825,929,003 |
99.99% |
101,626 |
0.01% |
826,030,629 |
80.23% |
2,645 |
|
21. |
To authorise the Company to call a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting) on not less than 14 clear days' notice |
804,479,172 |
97.39% |
21,551,707 |
2.61% |
826,030,879 |
80.23% |
2,395 |
As set out in the Notice of AGM, the Company also announces, in respect of resolutions 4, 9, 10, 11, and 12, the result of the vote of the independent shareholders as follows:
|
NO. |
RESOLUTION |
VOTES FOR |
% |
VOTES AGAINST |
% |
VOTES TOTAL |
% of ISC VOTED |
VOTES WITHELD |
|
4. |
To re-elect John Schwarz as a director |
428,877,865 |
91.56% |
39,550,492 |
8.44% |
468,428,357 |
69.64% |
628,840 |
|
9. |
To re-elect Warren Finegold as a director |
436,799,234 |
93.12% |
32,252,333 |
6.88% |
469,051,567 |
69.74% |
5,630 |
|
10. |
To re-elect Maggie Chan Jones as a director |
441,020,605 |
94.02% |
28,032,212 |
5.98% |
469,052,817 |
69.74% |
4,380 |
|
11. |
To re-elect Tamara Minick-Scokalo as a director |
466,523,328 |
99.46% |
2,529,489 |
0.54% |
469,052,817 |
69.74% |
4,380 |
|
12. |
To re-elect Belinda Richards as a director |
462,054,354 |
98.51% |
6,998,463 |
1.49% |
469,052,817 |
69.74% |
4,380 |
Votes "for" include proxy appointments which gave discretion to the Chairman of the AGM. A "vote withheld" is not a vote under English law and is therefore not included in the calculation of votes "for"
and "against" a resolution.
As at 6.30 p.m. on 4 May 2021, being the time at which a person had to be registered in the Company's register of members in order to attend and vote at the AGM, the number of ordinary shares of the Company in issue was 1,029,586,270. In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, on a poll every member present in person or by proxy has one vote for every share held.
In accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.2, copies of the resolutions passed as special business at the AGM will shortly be available for inspection on the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
A copy of the voting results shown above will also be made available on the Company's website at https://investors.avast.com/.
Following the declaration of the final dividend by shareholders at the AGM today, a dividend of 11.2 US cents per ordinary share in the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 will be paid on 18 June 2021 to those shareholders registered at the close of business on 14 May 2021.
Section 430(2B) Companies Act 2006 - Retirement of Ulf Claesson and Erwin Gunst
The following information is provided in accordance with Section 430(2B) of the Companies Act 2006.
As previously announced on 12 August 2020, Ulf Claesson and Erwin Gunst did not stand for re-election at the 2021 Annual General Meeting. Each of their appointments as a director of the Company therefore ended on 6 May 2021.
Ulf and Erwin will continue to be covered by the Company's directors' and officers' insurance and their indemnity in respect of third party liabilities will continue in force according to its terms.
On retiring, Ulf and Erwin will not be entitled to any other payments or any payment for loss of office.
Enquiries:
Trudy Cooke, Company Secretary
Peter Russell, Director of Investor Relations
ir@avast.com
Stephanie Kane, VP PR and Corporate Communications
mediarelations@avast.com
Lulu Bridges / Heather Armstrong / Tim Pearson
Tavistock
Tel: 020 7920 3150
About Avast
Avast (LSE:AVST), a FTSE 100 company, is a global leader in digital security and privacy products. With over 435 million users online, Avast offers products under the Avast and AVG brands that protect people from threats on the internet and the evolving IoT threat landscape. The company's threat detection network is among the most advanced in the world, using machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to detect and stop threats in real time. Avast digital security products for Mobile, PC or Mac are top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Visit: www.avast.com.
LEI Number: 213800IR8G8LCZH4BO27
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