Experian 2009 Annual Report Download - page 60

58 Experian Annual Report 2009
Governance
Corporate governance statement continued
by a poll. Shareholders also have the
opportunity to send in questions prior
to the annual general meeting.
In line with the Combined Code,
details of proxy voting by shareholders,
including votes withheld, are made
available on request and are placed on
the Company’s website
www.experianplc.com following the
meeting. At the meeting, the Company
complies with the Combined Code
as it relates to voting, the separation
of resolutions and the attendance of
committee chairmen. All directors were
present during the 2008 annual general
meeting and met with shareholders
on an informal basis before the main
business of the meeting. In 2008, voting
levels at the annual general meeting
showed an increase to 56% of the
issued share capital of the Company,
compared with 54% in 2007.
Engagement with shareholders
and others
The Company places a high degree
of importance on maintaining good
relationships and communications
with institutional investors, private
investors and others and makes every
effort to ensure that shareholders are
kept informed of signicant Company
developments.
There is an ongoing programme of
dialogue and meetings between the
executive directors and institutional
investors and analysts. At these
meetings, a wide range of relevant
issues including strategy, nancial
performance, management and
governance are discussed within the
constraints of the information already
made public. The announcement of
interim management statements,
trading updates, half-year and annual
results also provide opportunities for
the Company to answer questions
from analysts covering a wide range
of topics. During the year, Experian’s
investor relations team arranged
a number of visits for investors to
Experian operations, including in the
USA and UK.
To assist members of the board to
gain an understanding of the views
of institutional shareholders, at each
of its meetings the board receives
an investor relations and media
report, which covers a wide range of
matters including a commentary on
the perception of the Company and
views expressed by the investment
community, media reports, share price
performance and analysis.
The board is equally interested in the
concerns of private shareholders and,
on its behalf, the Company Secretary
oversees communication with these
investors. It is the practice of the
Company to issue a ‘Shareholder
Questions’ card with the annual
general meeting documentation
to enable shareholders to put
relevant questions to the Company.
Shareholders are also able to put
questions to the Company via
its website.
The Company has taken advantage
of the provisions allowing
communications to be made
electronically to shareholders
where they have not requested
hard copy documentation. As a
result the Company’s website has
become a very important method of
communication with shareholders.
The website provides shareholders
and potential investors with
information about the Company,
including annual and half-yearly
reports, recent announcements, share
price information, and information
on corporate responsibility and
governance matters. All material
information reported via a regulatory
news service is simultaneously
published on the Company’s website
affording all shareholders full access
to Company announcements.
The board notes that Section 2
of the Combined Code seeks to
encourage more active participation
by institutional shareholders,
including entering into a dialogue with
companies and making considered
use of their votes – principles which
the Company supports.
Annual general meeting
The annual general meeting is
an important event in Experian’s
corporate calendar and provides a
valuable opportunity for the board to
communicate with private investors.
All directors, including the chairmen
of the audit, remuneration and
nomination committees, attend the
meeting.
Experian’s 2009 annual general
meeting will take place on Wednesday
15 July 2009 and shareholders are
encouraged to attend the meeting
and use the opportunity to ask
questions. However, given the
size and geographical diversity
of the Company’s shareholder
base, attendance may not always
be practical and shareholders are
encouraged to use proxy voting on the
resolutions put forward. Every vote
cast, whether in person or by proxy, is
counted, because votes on all matters
except procedural issues are taken