Shareholders of Wolters Kluwer approved all resolutions at today’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In addition to adopting the financial statements for 2016, shareholders approved a total dividend of €0.79 per ordinary share, resulting in a final dividend of €0.60 per share. Mr. Frans Cremers and Ms. Ann Ziegler were appointed as new members of the Supervisory Board.
Supervisory board changes and composition
Mr. Peter Wakkie, having completed the maximum of three four-year terms, retired as chairman and member of the Supervisory Board at the conclusion of today’s AGM. He is succeeded as chairman by Mr. Frans Cremers, whose appointment to the Supervisory Board was approved today. Mr. Len Forman also retired today, having come to the end of his third four-year term.
Following the appointment of Ann Ziegler announced today, women now represent 43% (three out of seven) of our Supervisory Board members, bringing the gender balance in line with Dutch governance standards and our preferred profile for the Supervisory Board. The composition of the Supervisory Board is also in line with the preferred profile as it relates to expertise, nationality, and age. Five nationalities are represented on the Supervisory Board, bringing diverse expertise and experience.
Other AGM resolutions
The AGM also resolved:
- To re-appoint Kevin Entricken as member of the Executive Board;
- To authorize the Executive Board, for a period of 18 months, to acquire the company’s own paid-up shares, up to a maximum of 10% of the issued share capital on April 20, 2017; and
- To cancel for capital reduction purposes any or all ordinary shares in the share capital of the company held, or to be acquired by the company as authorized.
Shareholders represented
Wolters Kluwer shareholders were represented in person, by proxy voting, or by voting instruction, representing a total of 70.25% of the total issued share capital entitled to vote. The voting results by agenda item will be available on our website as of close of business on April 21, 2017.