This blog gives you the latest topical news plus some informal comments on them from ShareSoc’s directors and other contributors. These are the personal comments of the authors and not necessarily the considered views of ShareSoc. The writers may hold shares in the companies mentioned. You can add your own comments on the blog posts, but note that ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit comments where they are inappropriate or defamatory.

RBS, Akzo Nobel and Hornby

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) AGM is tomorrow and it will be interesting to see what excuses the board of directors give for rejecting the requisition of a resolution to establish a Shareholder Committee. ShareSoc believes the rejection has no sound legal basis and ShareSoc directors will raise this issue at the meeting.

Another similar case is that of Akzo Nobel in Holland where Elliott Advisors have been pushing the board to consider a takeover offer from US company PPG Industries. But they have stubbornly refused to entertain it. Elliott submitted a requisition for a General Meeting to consider the removal of the Chairman of Akzo, Antony Burgmans. Elliott had the required support of over 10% of the shareholders. The company rejected the request so Elliott are taking the matter to the Amsterdam Court of Appeal. The legal position is complicated by the presence of “priority” shares held by a foundation which was established as a defence against hostile takeovers.

Comment: this looks like a similar blatant attempt to defeat shareholder democracy by the directors, as at RBS. Let us hope that it is not successful.

Meanwhile the extraordinary General Meeting called by Hornby following a requisition to consider changes of directors by Alexander Anton and other shareholders will be adjourned indefinitely as the requisition has been withdrawn. That follows a declaration by the company that they had committed votes to defeat the resolutions proposed.

Roger Lawson

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