As an ordinary shareholder you are entitled to attend, speak and vote at general meetings of the company.
As an ADR holder you are entitled to vote by proxy which is then exercised on your behalf by the depositary bank, The Bank of New York.
If you attend a general meeting, you can vote in person on each resolution. If you cannot attend, you may appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf and your proxy can vote on a poll.
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The Diageo AGM is held in October each year and gives you the opportunity to vote on various company matters, either by attending the meeting and voting in person or by sending in a proxy vote (to be used for a polled vote) in hard copy or electronic form.
If you attend the AGM, you have the opportunity to put questions to the board of directors and to speak to individual directors personally after the meeting. If you are unable to attend, or if you have any questions you wish to put to any of the directors during the course of the year, you may write to the company
Click here for contact details
Holders of Diageo ADRs will receive voting materials and have the sole right to vote the ordinary shares of Diageo represented by their ADRs, which are held by The Bank of New York. The proxy votes received by the return-by-date are then exercised through The Bank of New York. To be eligible to vote, ADR holders must be on the Register on the AGM record date.
Click here to find our the AGM record date
2008 AGM
The 2008 Diageo AGM was held at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE on Wednesday 15 October 2008 at 2.30 pm.
The following resolutions were passed at the meeting.
Resolution |
Votes for |
%* |
Votes against |
%* |
Votes withheld |
| Reports and accounts 2008 |
1,696,809,740 |
97.90 |
36,389,112 |
2.10 |
2,480,482 |
| Directors' remuneration report 2008** |
1,669,341,825 |
97.35 |
45,462,070 |
2.65 |
20,870,345 |
| Declaration of final dividend |
1,733,473,195 |
99.98 |
328,287 |
0.02 |
1,876,401 |
| Re-election of Dr F B Humer |
1,710,934,417 |
98.71 |
22,396,591 |
1.29 |
2,345,557 |
| Re-election of Ms M Lilja |
1,722,952,506 |
99.40 |
10,361,859 |
0.60 |
2,356,260 |
| Re-election of Mr W S Shanahan |
1,717,001,764 |
99.35 |
11,210,218 |
0.65 |
7,302,719 |
| Re-election of Mr H T Stitzer |
1,722,873,462 |
99.42 |
10,031,421 |
0.58 |
2,608,266 |
| Election of Mr P G Scott |
1,723,013,049 |
99.43 |
9,888,646 |
0.57 |
2,613,473 |
| Re-appointment and remuneration of auditor |
1,693,575,097 |
99.03 |
16,537,850 |
0.97 |
25,399,204 |
| Authority to allot relevant securities |
1,710,332,121 |
98.71 |
22,381,184 |
1.29 |
2,795,883 |
| Disapplication of pre-emption rights |
1,696,763,123 |
97.94 |
35,606,546 |
2.06 |
3,144,611 |
| Authority to purchase own ordinary shares |
1,731,495,978 |
99.89 |
1,947,590 |
0.11 |
2,071,958 |
| Authority to make political donations/expenditure** |
1,591,473,182 |
96.60 |
56,087,198 |
3.40 |
87,958,697 |
| Performance Share Plan** |
1,601,938,103 |
94.27 |
97,408,071 |
5.73 |
36,160,171 |
| Senior Executive Share Option Plan** |
1,646,112,795 |
96.27 |
63,777,381 |
3.73 |
25,615,150 |
| International Share Plans** |
1,674,229,067 |
96.87 |
54,170,901 |
3.13 |
7,117,950 |
| Amendments to articles of association** |
1,679,526,588 |
97.10 |
50,207,947 |
2.90 |
5,779,663 |
* As a percentage of the aggregate of votes For plus votes Against (i.e. excluding votes Withheld).
**Resolutions passed other than those concerning ordinary business.
Click here for 2008 AGM documents
Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
The company will call an EGM if an important matter requiring shareholder approval cannot wait until the next AGM.
For example, an EGM was held on 2 October 2000 to enable shareholders to vote on the proposed disposal of Pillsbury to General Mills, Inc.
