AGM Statement, trading update & strategic update

De La Rue PLC

25 September 2024

 

25 September 2024

De La Rue plc

Results of AGM, trading update and strategic update

The Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of De La Rue plc (LSE: DLAR) ("De La Rue", the "Group" or the "Company") was held today, 25 September 2024, at 12:00pm at De La Rue House, Jays Close, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 4BS, United Kingdom.

All the Resolutions (as set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting) were duly passed on a poll, in which every member present in person or proxy had one vote for each Ordinary Share held. Details of the votes for and against each resolution are set out below.

Trading update

The Board remains confident of achieving Group adjusted operating profit for FY25 significantly ahead of FY24, in the mid- to high- £20millions.  For the first half of FY25, which ends on 28 September 2024, we expect Group adjusted operating profit to be in the low single digit range.  As in prior years, the Group business performance will be H2 weighted, and this has been somewhat amplified by the timing of certain deliveries within the Currency division moving into the second half of FY25.

Working capital will show an adverse movement in the first half as we build inventory to fulfil customer orders and await payment on a number of key customer contracts. We have also started to incur costs in relation to the separation process.  As a result, we expect net debt at 28 September 2024 to be in excess of that at the end of FY24. 

The actual outturn for the Group in FY25 will also depend on the nature and timing of any business disposal.

Strategic update 

As we explained in the results announcement of 25 July 2024, we are pursuing various strategic options in relation to our operating divisions.  Discussions with parties in relation to the disposal of either of the Group's divisions have progressed significantly since that date. We have also begun work on the physical and legal separation of the two divisions.  The Board expects to provide a further update on these matters within the next few weeks.

Poll Voting Figures

The poll results on the Resolutions are as follows:

	RESOLUTION	FOR		AGAINST			TOTAL		WITHHELD
		Number of Votes	% of votes Cast	Number of Votes	% of votes Cast		Votes Cast (Excluding Withheld)	% of Issued Share Capital	Number of Votes
Ordinary Resolutions
1.	Receive the Annual Report and Accounts	118,774,615	99.92%	99,857	0.08%		118,874,472	60.64%	19,851
2.	Approve the Directors' Remuneration Report	115,310,107	97.16%	3,366,033	2.84%		118,676,140	60.54%	218,183
3.	Re-elect Nick Bray	96,509,057	98.82%	1,147,630	1.18%		97,656,687	49.82%	21,237,636
4.	Re-elect Ruth Euling	118,491,641	99.86%	169,980	0.14%		118,661,621	60.53%	232,702
5.	Re-elect Mark Hoad	117,497,060	99.02%	1,162,834	0.98%		118,659,894	60.53%	234,429
6.	Re-elect Dean Moore	115,569,695	97.39%	3,096,981	2.61%		118,666,676	60.53%	227,647
7.	Re-elect Brian Small	117,468,011	98.99%	1,200,133	1.01%		118,668,144	60.53%	226,179
8.	Re-elect Clive Vacher	94,121,022	96.37%	3,547,848	3.63%		97,668,870	49.82%	21,225,453
9.	Re-elect Clive Whiley	114,180,267	96.22%	4,487,877	3.78%		118,668,144	60.53%	226,179
10.	Re-appoint Ernst and Young LLP as Auditor	118,710,152	99.87%	151,637	0.13%		118,861,789	60.63%	32,534
11.	Authorise the Directors to determine the Auditor's remuneration	118,755,036	99.89%	130,062	0.11%		118,885,098	60.64%	9,225
12.	Authorise political donations and political expenditure	117,739,080	99.05%	1,134,613		0.95%	118,873,693	60.64%	20,032
13.	Authorise the Directors to allot shares	118,649,698	99.82%	219,483	0.18%		118,869,181	60.64%	25,142

Special Resolutions
14.	Dis-application of pre-emption rights	118,364,257	99.75%	291,625	0.25%	118,655,882	60.53%	238,441
15.	Additional dis-application of pre-emption rights	118,355,137	99.75%	300,71	0.25%	118,655,854	60.53%	238,469
16.	Authorise the Company to make on-market purchases of its own shares	118,606,047	99.77%	272,814	0.23%	118,878,861	60.64%	15,462
17.	Shortened notice of general meetings	115,407,881	97.08%	3,469,398	2.92%	118,877,279	60.64%	17,044

1.     The percentages voted 'For' and 'Against' are expressed as a proportion of the total votes cast, which does not include votes withheld since for legal purposes a vote withheld is not a vote cast.

2.     Any proxy appointments which gave discretion to the Chairman of the meeting have been included in the 'For' totals.

3.     As at 6:00 p.m. on 23 September 2024 (being the record time for the Annual General Meeting), the Company had 196,038,354 Ordinary Shares in issue and the total number of voting rights in respect of these Ordinary Shares was 196,038,354, each Ordinary Share carrying one vote.

In accordance with Listing Rule 6.4.2R, a copy of the Resolutions, other than those concerning ordinary business, will be submitted to the National Storage Mechanism, where they will shortly be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism. In addition, a copy of the Resolutions will also be filed with Companies House. The results of the Annual General Meeting held on 25 September 2024 will be available to view on the Company's website at www.delarue.com.

Enquiries

De La Rue plc		[phone]
Clive Whiley		Chairman
Clive Vacher		Chief Executive Officer
Louise Rich		Head of Investor Relations
Brunswick		[phone]
Stuart Donnelly
Ed Brown

About De La Rue

Established over 210 years ago, De La Rue is trusted by governments, central banks, and international brands, providing digital and physical solutions that protect their supply chains and cash cycles from counterfeiting and illicit trade.

With operations in five continents, customers in 140 countries and solutions that include advanced track and trace software, security document design, banknotes, brand protection labels, tax stamps, security features and passport bio-data pages, De La Rue brings unparalleled knowledge and expertise to its partnerships and projects.

Our core focus areas are:

- Authentication: leveraging advanced digital software solutions and security labels to protect revenues and reputations from the impacts of illicit trade, counterfeiting, and identity theft.

- Currency: designing and manufacturing highly secure banknotes and banknote components that are optimised for security, manufacturability, cash cycle efficacy and public engagement.

The security and trust derived from our solutions pave the way for robust economies and flourishing societies. This is underpinned by a significant Environmental, Social, and Governance commitment that is evidenced by accolades such as the ISO 14001 certification and a consistent ranking in the top tier of the Financial Times European Climate Leaders list.

De La Rue's shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DLAR). De La Rue plc's LEI code is 213800DH741LZWIJXP78. For further information please visit www.delarue.com.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

Certain statements contained in this document relate to the future and constitute 'forward-looking statements'. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "plans", "may", "will", "could", "shall", "risk", "aims", "predicts", "continues", "assumes", "positioned" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. They appear in a number of places throughout this document and include statements regarding the intentions, beliefs or current expectations of the Directors, De La Rue or the Group concerning, amongst other things, the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and dividend policy of De La Rue and the industry in which it operates.

By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees or predictions of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, many of which are beyond the Group's control, and which may cause the Group's actual results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, dividend policy and the development of the industry and business sectors in which the Group operates to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. In addition, even if the Group's actual results of operations, financial condition and the development of the business sectors in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this document, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance and should not be taken as a representation or assurance that trends or activities underlying past performance will continue in the future. Accordingly, readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

Other than as required by English law, none of the Company, its Directors, officers, advisers or any other person gives any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this document will occur, in part or in whole. Additionally, statements of the intentions of the Board and/or Directors reflect the present intentions of the Board and/or Directors, respectively, as at the date of this document, and may be subject to change as the composition of the Company's Board of Directors alters, or as circumstances require.

The forward-looking statements contained in this document speak only as at the date of this document. Except as required by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, the London Stock Exchange or applicable law (including as may be required by the UK Listing Rules and/or the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules), De La Rue expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this document to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

 

END