Asset Reunification Programme

Diageo plc has launched an asset reunification programme in partnership with AssetTrace+ with the aim of reuniting our shareholders who have, for one reason or another, become disconnected from their Diageo shareholding and have unclaimed dividends as a result.

Shareholders can lose touch with us for a variety of reasons, such as not notifying our Registrar of a change of address or simply forgetting about their shareholding. This is particularly common among beneficiaries or executors of estates who may be unaware of the holdings.

We want to drive shareholder engagement and reunite as many shareholders as possible with their lost assets. Therefore, we have asked AssetTrace+ to contact all shareholders with unclaimed dividends over 12 months old.

If you have received a letter from AssetTrace+, please take action.

Why is this entitlement due?

Cheques that have been issued in respect of dividends paid by Diageo plc may have been returned undelivered and/or remain uncashed. They may also have been retained where no mandate instruction has been received since Diageo removed cheques as a payment option. Diageo has instructed AssetTrace+ to try to find and assist shareholders or their legal representatives with the repatriation of unclaimed amounts to which they may be entitled.

Who are AssetTrace+ and how did they obtain my data?

AssetTrace+ is a trading name of Link Market Services Limited and is part of Link Group who are the registrar for Diageo plc. AssetTrace+ operate a service which helps reunite individuals, or their legal representatives, with unclaimed assets relating to companies in which they are or were a shareholder. For more information on AssetTrace+, refer to https://assettraceplusclaims.linkgroup.eu/

It is important you understand how Link Group uses and protects your personal data, and we advise that you read their Privacy Notice which you can find online at https://assettraceplusclaims.linkgroup.eu/privacy-notice/

What should you do if you have received a letter?

AssetTrace+ will send a letter only to an address where they are reasonably certain the shareholder or their legal representative currently resides. The process is designed to simplify the recovery of entitlements. Please follow the instructions in the letter to claim your entitlement online or, if required, return the signed and dated form along with any necessary documents to AssetTrace+.

What is a dividend forfeiture?

The Diageo plc Articles of Association permit the forfeiture of unclaimed dividend payments that were declared twelve or more years ago, and which remain unclaimed. Therefore, if you do not respond by the deadline specified in the claim letter, these outstanding dividend proceeds may be forfeited and returned to Diageo.

What is a share forfeiture?

The Diageo plc Articles of Association allow certificated shares to be sold on behalf of the shareholder if certain conditions are met, including the issue of a Sale Notice and twelve years of inactivity during which no dividend payments have been cashed and no contact has been made by the shareholder. If the shareholder does not respond by the deadline specified in the Sale Notice, their shares can be sold, and the proceeds will belong to Diageo. If no claim for the net proceeds of the sale is made by the shareholder within six years of the sale, these will be forfeited, and Diageo will have no debt in respect of the net proceeds.

How to contact AssetTrace+?

AssetTrace+ is part of Link Group who are Diageo plc’s Registrars.

If you have received a claim form from AssetTrace+ and have any questions or concerns, please find their contact details below:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: UK 0333 300 1935 or from overseas +44 333 300 1935

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am - 5.30 pm UK time excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider. Calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate.

Post: AssetTrace+, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL

What should I do if I do not want to use the AssetTrace+ Service?

To make your own arrangements to recover your entitlements please contact our Registrar, Link Group. Please be aware that there may also be charges for the services provided by Link.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: UK 0371 664 0300 or from overseas +44 371 664 0300

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am - 5.30 pm UK time excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider. Calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate.

Post: Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL