BP 2013 Annual Report Download - page 117

Corporate governance
BP Annual Report and Form 20-F 2013 113
Remuneration of non-executive directors shall be determined in the
aggregate by resolution of the shareholders. Remuneration of executive
directors is determined by the remuneration committee. This committee is
made up of non-executive directors only. There is no requirement of share
ownership for a director’s qualification.
Dividend rights; other rights to share in company profits; capital calls
If recommended by the directors of BP, BP shareholders may, by
resolution, declare dividends but no such dividend may be declared in
excess of the amount recommended by the directors. The directors may
also pay interim dividends without obtaining shareholder approval. No
dividend may be paid other than out of profits available for distribution, as
determined under IFRS and the Act. Dividends on ordinary shares are
payable only after payment of dividends on BP preference shares. Any
dividend unclaimed after a period of 12 years from the date of declaration
of such dividend shall be forfeited and reverts to BP.
The directors have the power to declare and pay dividends in any currency
provided that a sterling equivalent is announced. It is not the company’s
intention to change its current policy of paying dividends in US dollars. At
the company’s AGM held on 15 April 2010, shareholders approved the
introduction of a Scrip Dividend Programme (Programme) and to include
provisions in the Articles of Association to enable the company to operate
the Programme. The Programme enables ordinary shareholders and BP
ADS holders to elect to receive new fully paid ordinary shares (or BP ADSs
in the case of BP ADS holders) instead of cash. The operation of the
Programme is always subject to the directors’ decision to make the scrip
offer available in respect of any particular dividend. Should the directors
decide not to offer the scrip in respect of any particular dividend, cash will
automatically be paid instead.
Apart from shareholders’ rights to share in BP’s profits by dividend (if any is
declared or announced), the Articles of Association provide that the
directors may set aside:
• A special reserve fund out of the balance of profits each year to make up
any deficit of cumulative dividend on the BP preference shares.
• A general reserve out of the balance of profits each year, which shall be
applicable for any purpose to which the profits of the company may
properly be applied. This may include capitalization of such sum,
pursuant to an ordinary shareholders’ resolution, and distribution to
shareholders as if it were distributed by way of a dividend on the
ordinary shares or in paying up in full unissued ordinary shares for
allotment and distribution as bonus shares.
Any such sums so deposited may be distributed in accordance with the
manner of distribution of dividends as described above.
Holders of shares are not subject to calls on capital by the company,
provided that the amounts required to be paid on issue have been paid off.
All shares are fully paid.
Voting rights
The Articles of Association of the company provide that voting on
resolutions at a shareholders’ meeting will be decided on a poll other than
resolutions of a procedural nature, which may be decided on a show of
hands. If voting is on a poll, every shareholder who is present in person or
by proxy has one vote for every ordinary share held and two votes for
every £5 in nominal amount of BP preference shares held. If voting is on a
show of hands, each shareholder who is present at the meeting in person
or whose duly appointed proxy is present in person will have one vote,
regardless of the number of shares held, unless a poll is requested.
Shareholders do not have cumulative voting rights.
Holders of record of ordinary shares may appoint a proxy, including a
beneficial owner of those shares, to attend, speak and vote on their behalf
at any shareholders’ meeting.
Record holders of BP ADSs are also entitled to attend, speak and vote at
any shareholders’ meeting of BP by the appointment by the approved
depositary, JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., of them as proxies in respect of
the ordinary shares represented by their ADSs. Each such proxy may also
appoint a proxy. Alternatively, holders of BP ADSs are entitled to vote by
supplying their voting instructions to the depositary, who will vote the
ordinary shares represented by their ADSs in accordance with their
instructions.
Proxies may be delivered electronically.
Matters are transacted at shareholders’ meetings by the proposing and
passing of resolutions, of which there are two types: ordinary or special.
An annual general meeting must be held once in every year.
An ordinary resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the
votes of those persons voting at a meeting at which there is a quorum. A
special resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than three-
fourths of the persons voting at a meeting at which there is a quorum. Any
AGM requires 21 days’ notice. The notice period for a general meeting is
14 days subject to the company obtaining annual shareholder approval,
failing which, a 21-day notice period will apply.
Liquidation rights; redemption provisions
In the event of a liquidation of BP, after payment of all liabilities and
applicable deductions under UK laws and subject to the payment of
secured creditors, the holders of BP preference shares would be entitled to
the sum of (i) the capital paid up on such shares plus, (ii) accrued and
unpaid dividends and (iii) a premium equal to the higher of (a) 10% of the
capital paid up on the BP preference shares and (b) the excess of the
average market price over par value of such shares on the LSE during the
previous six months. The remaining assets (if any) would be divided pro
rata among the holders of ordinary shares.
Without prejudice to any special rights previously conferred on the holders
of any class of shares, BP may issue any share with such preferred,
deferred or other special rights, or subject to such restrictions as the
shareholders by resolution determine (or, in the absence of any such
resolutions, by determination of the directors), and may issue shares that
are to be or may be redeemed.