Air Liquide: Combined Shareholders’ Meeting of May 16, 2018
May 16 2018 - 1:28PM
Business Wire
Regulatory News:
Air Liquide (Paris:AI):
Commenting on fiscal year 2017 and the Group’s growth outlook,
Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO, stated: “The highlights
of 2017 were the successful integration of Airgas, two years after
its acquisition by the Group, and the implementation of our NEOS
strategic plan. Air Liquide has taken on a new dimension with
annual sales above 20 billion euros and net profit of more
than 2 billion euros. We have strengthened our positions in
terms of both geographic coverage and markets.
“The Group’s operating performance also improved in 2017,
with high efficiency gains and Airgas synergies that outperformed
our initial forecasts. The Group’s balance sheet is strong and the
high level of cash flow has enabled us to significantly reduce our
debt by almost 2 billion euros. The Group has also continued
with its investments, a guarantee of its future growth, notably in
innovation.
“We are therefore a stronger and better-positioned Group
going into 2018. Thanks to its committed teams, the loyalty of its
customers, and the support of its shareholders, the Group is
confident in its ability to create long-term value and contribute
to a more sustainable world.”
The Combined Shareholders’ Meeting, chaired by Benoît
Potier, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, in the presence of the
members of the Board of Directors, was attended by 3,569
people on Wednesday May 16, 2018, at the Palais des Congrès in
Paris. The Shareholders, who represented 52.99% of voting rights,
i.e., 125,755 shareholders present or represented, approved
all of the resolutions that were submitted.
The proposed dividend, with an ex-date of May 28
and a payment date of May 30, 2018, was approved: it
will be €2.65 per share (and €2.91 per share for
Shareholders who are eligible for the loyalty bonus). This amount
represents an increase of +12.4% in shareholders’ return, taking
into account the attribution in October 2017 of one free share for
every 10 held.
The Shareholders renewed, for a period of four years,
the terms of office of Ms. Sin Leng Low, Ms. Annette
Winkler, Mr. Benoît Potier and Mr. Jean-Paul Agon.
Furthermore, Mr. Philippe Dubrulle was reappointed by the France
Group Committee as Director representing the employees for a
period of four years. The Board of Directors is thus composed of
12 members (7 men and 5 women), including 6 members who are
nor French. The composition of the Board offers a complementary mix
of experience, nationalities and cultures, and reflects the
diversity policy conducted by the Group.
In addition, the Shareholders voted in favor of the two
specific resolutions concerning the remuneration of the
Executive Officers for fiscal year 2017. The Shareholders also
approved the principles and criteria for determining the
remuneration of the Chairman and CEO. They also approved two
regulated commitments relating to Mr. Benoît Potier upon the
renewal of his term of office.
During its meeting following the Combined Shareholders’ Meeting,
the Board of Directors, on the recommendation of the Appointments
and Governance Committee, renewed Mr. Benoît
Potier as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the
duration of his term of office as Director. It also renewed
Mr. Jean-Paul Agon as Lead Director.
Finally, during the same meeting, the Board of Directors
appointed/renewed the members of its committees, resulting in the
composition indicated below, effective as of today:
- Audit and Accounts Committee:
Ms. Siân Herbert-Jones (Chairwoman), Ms. Sin-Leng Low, Mr. Thierry
Peugeot, Mr. Brian Gilvary
- Appointments and Governance
Committee: Mr. Jean-Paul Agon (Chairman), Ms. Annette Winkler,
Ms. Karen Katen
- Remuneration Committee: Mr.
Xavier Huillard (Chairman), Mr. Jean-Paul Agon, Ms. Annette
Winkler
- Environment and Society
Committee: Mr. Pierre Dufour (Chairman), Ms. Geneviève Berger,
Mr. Philippe Dubrulle
The entire Combined Shareholders’ Meeting
can be viewed as a webcast on www.airliquide.com
Air Liquide share ownership (as at
December 31, 2017)
- 32% of the capital held by
individual shareholders
- 49% of the capital held by
non-French institutional investors
- 19% of the capital held by
French institutional investors
UPCOMING DATES
Dividend ex-date:Monday, May 28, 2018
Dividend payment date:Wednesday, May 30, 2018
The world leader in gases, technologies, and services for
Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with
approximately 65,000 employees and serves more than 3.5 million
customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen are
essential small molecules for life, matter and energy. They embody
Air Liquide’s scientific territory and have been at the core of the
company’s activities since its creation in 1902.
Air Liquide’s ambition is to lead its
industry, deliver long-term performance, and contribute to
sustainability. The company’s customer-centric transformation
strategy aims at profitable growth over the long term. It relies on
operational excellence, selective investments, open innovation, and
a network organization implemented by the Group worldwide. Through
the commitment and inventiveness of its people, Air Liquide
leverages energy and environment transition, changes in healthcare
and digitization, and delivers greater value to all its
stakeholders.
Air Liquide’s revenue amounted to 20.3
billion euros in 2017, and its solutions that protect life and the
environment represented more than 40% of sales. Air Liquide is
listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and
belongs to the CAC 40, EURO STOXX 50 and FTSE4Good indexes.
www.airliquide.comFollow us on Twitter
@airliquidegroup
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