14 December 2016
Bowleven plc ("Bowleven" or the "Company")
RESULT OF Annual General Meeting
Bowleven held its Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") earlier today. Each resolution put to the AGM is set out in full in the Notice of AGM and summarised in Table 1 in the Appendix together with the results of the vote. Each shareholder present in person or by proxy was entitled to one vote per share held. Resolutions 1-6 (inclusive) were successfully passed. Resolutions 7 and 8 (relating to the disapplication of pre-emption rights and purchase of own shares) were not passed.
The Company wishes shareholders to note that excluding the votes of Crown Ocean Capital ("COC"), a Monaco-based offshore private investment vehicle, all resolutions tabled would have been passed with a vast majority of votes cast in favour of each resolution (see Table 2 in the Appendix). All major institutional shareholders who voted, voted in favour of all the resolutions.
Billy Allan, Chairman of the Board of Directors said:
"We believe the actions of Crown Ocean Capital are part of a broader agenda to frustrate the strategy of the management team and to try cheaply to obtain control of the future direction of the Company for its own interests. We believe the Board's strategy for creating future value is in the best interests of all shareholders. No satisfactory explanation has been provided as to why COC has voted against the resolutions, nor has COC made clear its intentions, despite having previously expressed confidence in the Chairman and the executive management team.
As a result of COC's actions, we have been required to cease our share buyback programme which was implemented under authority granted by an overwhelming majority of shareholders at the 2015 AGM. As part of my remit since joining the Company in October 2015, I have overseen a comprehensive review of the composition, skill-set and governance framework provided by the Board and we remain absolutely focused on ensuring that the Board delivers on its strategy for the benefit of all shareholders."
ENQUIRIES
For further information please contact:
Bowleven plc
Kevin Hart, Chief Executive 00 44 131 524 5678
Kerry Crawford, Finance Director
Brunswick Group LLP
Patrick Handley 00 44 207 404 5959
Andrew Garfield
Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited (NOMAD)
Alex Reynolds 00 44 203 037 2000
Nicholas Harland
Nick Stamp
Appendix
Table 1 - Results of vote at AGM
RESOLUTION |
FOR |
% |
AGAINST |
% |
Resolution 1 (Ordinary) Annual Report and Accounts |
71,302,206 |
60.26 |
47,028,333 |
39.74 |
Resolution 2 (Ordinary) Re-elect David Clarkson |
67,789,262 |
56.70 |
51,767,642 |
43.30 |
Resolution 3 (Ordinary) Re-elect Kevin Hart |
69,454,704 |
58.00 |
50,285,995 |
42.00 |
Resolution 4 (Ordinary) Re-appointment of Auditor |
104,263,603 |
89.49 |
12,249,339 |
10.51 |
Resolution 5 (Ordinary) Auditor's Remuneration |
105,854,558 |
89.57 |
12,327,360 |
10.43 |
Resolution 6 (Ordinary) Allot Relevant Securities |
68,964,251 |
57.97 |
49,993,736 |
42.03 |
Resolution 7 (Special) Disapplication of Pre-emption Rights |
65,864,184 |
55.37 |
53,093,803 |
44.63 |
Resolution 8 (Special) Market Purchases |
71,330,604 |
60.12 |
47,317,942 |
39.88 |
Table 2 - Illustrative results excluding COC vote
RESOLUTION |
FOR |
% |
AGAINST |
% |
Resolution 1 (Ordinary) Annual Report and Accounts |
71,302,206 |
94.08 |
4,489,125 |
5.92 |
Resolution 2 (Ordinary) Re-elect David Clarkson |
67,789,262 |
88.02 |
9,228,434 |
11.98 |
Resolution 3 (Ordinary) Re-elect Kevin Hart |
69,454,704 |
89.97 |
7,746,787 |
10.03 |
Resolution 4 (Ordinary) Re-appointment of Auditor |
70,263,603 |
94.98 |
3,710,131 |
5.02 |
Resolution 5 (Ordinary) Auditor's Remuneration |
71,854,558 |
94.99 |
3,788,152 |
5.01 |
Resolution 6 (Ordinary) Allot Relevant Securities |
68,964,251 |
90.25 |
7,454,528 |
9.75 |
Resolution 7 (Special) Disapplication of Pre-emption Rights |
65,864,184 |
86.19 |
10,554,595 |
13.81 |
Resolution 8 (Special) Market Purchases |
71,330,604 |
93.72 |
4,778,734 |
6.28 |