Heavitree Brewery PLC (the "Company")
Trood Lane
Matford
Exeter
Devon EX2 8YP
Date: 19 March 2020
Contact: Graham Crocker - Managing Director 01392 217733
Nicola McLean -Company Secretary 01392 217733
Patrick Castle /Anita Ghanekar - Shore Capital - 0207 408 4090
Heavitree Brewery PLC
Update on COVID-19 in Regards to Dividend and Annual General Meeting
Heavitree Brewery PLC ("the Company") today announces that the Board is no longer recommending a final dividend for the year ended 31 October 2019 and therefore it intends to withdraw Resolution number 2 as set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 10 March 2020 relating to the approval of a proposed final dividend of 4.25p per Ordinary and 'A' Limited Voting Ordinary Share at its forthcoming Annual General Meeting ("AGM").
Today's announcement is made in the context of the uncertainty of the impact on the Company's business due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the Board believes it is appropriate to be prepared for a material level of disruption and therefore the necessity to preserve cash wherever possible.
The Board will consider paying a second interim dividend (in lieu of the final dividend) once there is clear visibility on the effects of COVID-19 on the Company's business.
As previously announced, the Company's AGM will be held at 11:30am on 15 April 2020 at its offices at Trood Lane, Matford, Exeter, Devon EX2 8YP.
In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is encouraging all shareholders to appoint the Chairman as their proxy with their voting instructions, rather than attend the AGM in person. The deadline for doing this is by 11:30am on 13 April 2020. In order to reduce the risk of infection, the meeting will end immediately following the business of the AGM and there will be no refreshments. The Company is taking these precautionary measures to safeguard its shareholders' and employees' health and make the AGM as safe and efficient as possible
ISIN: GB0004182506 for Ordinary Shares
ISIN: GB0004182720 for 'A' Limited Voting Ordinary Shares
Ends.