Unilever 2012 Annual Report Download - page 6

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3
Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2012 Report of the Directors About Unilever
ABOUT UNILEVER GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION
For Directors’ biographies,
please see page 42.
our aim to increase that percentage, and
the introduction of these Non-Executive
Directors, should they be elected, will
achieve this.
Board evaluation
Following the external evaluation in 2011,
our internal process this year suggested
minor recommendations to the operation
of the Boards and confirmed that no
major modifications were required. The
process concluded that overall the Boards
continued to operate in an effective manner.
More information on previous evaluations
and this year’s agreed actions is found
within the Corporate Governance report.
Shareholder return
2012 has been yet another reliable year
under our dividend policy. Unilever’s
consistent improvement in profits has
enabled us to pay a steady increase in
dividends year on year. The full-year
dividend in 2012 rose to €0.954 – an
8% increase from 2011.
Finally, on behalf of the Boards, I would
like to extend my sincere thanks to all of
Unilever’s 173,000 employees across the
world. They have delivered exceptional
results in difficult economic conditions
while at the same time reinforcing
Unilever’s growing reputation as a
business committed to sustainable
and equitable growth.
Michael Treschow
Chairman
1 Michael Treschow
Chairman
2012 HIGHLIGHTS
• Further delivery against our
Compass strategy, with sustainable
growth despite challenging markets.
• Succession planning leading to the
proposal of three new Non-Executive
Directors at the 2013 AGMs.
• A consistent dividend that continues
to provide a good return to
shareholders.
The Unilever Group
Unilever N.V. (NV) is a public limited company registered in the Netherlands. It has listings of shares and
depositary receipts for shares on Euronext Amsterdam and of New York Registry Shares on the New York Stock
Exchange. Unilever PLC (PLC) is a public limited company registered in England and Wales. It has shares listed
on the London Stock Exchange and, as American Depositary Receipts, on the New York Stock Exchange.
The two parent companies, NV and PLC, together with their group companies, operate as a single economic entity
(the Unilever Group, also referred to as Unilever or the Group). NV and PLC and their group companies, regardless
of legal ownership, constitute a single reporting entity for the purposes of presenting consolidated financial
statements. Accordingly, the accounts of the Unilever Group are presented by both NV and PLC as their respective
consolidated financial statements. The same people sit on the Boards of NV and PLC and other officers are officers
of both companies. Any references to the Board in this document mean the Boards of NV and PLC.
Names are listed in alphabetical order with the exception of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Financial Officer.
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