Statement in Advance of Aer L

RNS Number : 8134N

Ryanair Holdings PLC

17 June 2010

 



RYANAIR TO OPPOSE AN UNDEMOCRATIC CHANGE OF AER LINGUS'

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AT TOMORROW'S AGM

Ryanair, the world's favourite airline, today (Thu, 17 Jun) confirmed that it will vote against Resolution 10 at Aer Lingus' AGM tomorrow. Resolution 10 proposes a number of reasonable amendments to Aer Lingus' Articles of Association, which Ryanair would be happy to support, but includes one undemocratic provision that shareholders can only table resolutions for Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) at least 30 days in advance of an EGM, whereas Aer Lingus can call EGMs at just 14 day notice, which effectively deprives shareholders of their right to put forward resolutions at EGMs called by the Company, and is therefore undemocratic.

Ryanair wrote to Aer Lingus on 25 May, 31 May and 1 June, requesting that this undemocratic (30 day notice) clause be removed from Resolution 10, and that shareholders be allowed to put forward EGM resolutions up to 7 days in advance of such EGMs. This would allow shareholders 7 days to propose resolutions in the case of EGMs called by Aer Lingus at 14 day notice, which would be both fair and reasonable. Regrettably, Ryanair's reasonable requests have been rejected by Aer Lingus.

Ryanair has no objection to the other amendments in Resolution 10, with the exception of a typographical error which has already been pointed out to Aer Lingus. Ryanair calls on the Board of Aer Lingus to arrange an early EGM and put a new Resolution 10 to shareholders without the undemocratic clause which would deprive those same shareholders of their right to propose resolutions at EGMs called by the Company. Ryanair is willing to support such a change to the Articles of Association as long as it does not restrict or undermine shareholder rights.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:

"It is disappointing that Aer Lingus appears determined to deprive its shareholders of their reasonable right to propose EGM resolutions. Ryanair has been left with no alternative but to oppose the current Resolution 10 (which contains this undemocratic clause) in order to protect the rights of all Aer Lingus shareholders.

We hope the Board of Aer Lingus will arrange an EGM at their convenience in order to approve the remainder of Resolution 10, i.e., all those amendments to Articles of Association which are not undemocratic. Ryanair will happily support such a revised resolution provided that the rights of Aer Lingus' shareholders are not restricted or undermined." 

Ends.                                                    Thursday, 17^th June 2010

For further information 

Please contact: 

Stephen McNamara                          Pauline McAlester

Ryanair Ltd                                        Murray Consultants

Tel: [phone]                          Tel. [phone]

 

END

 

 

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