Table of Contents

 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 20-F
(Mark one)
     
o   REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
     
ý   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
     
o   SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report

 
For the transition period from                        to                       
Commission file number 001-04546
UNILEVER PLC
 
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
ENGLAND
 
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Unilever House, Blackfriars, London, England
 
(Address of principal executive offices)
T. E. Lovell, Group Secretary
Tel: +44(0)2078225252, Fax: +44(0)2078226108
Unilever House, 100 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DY UK

(Name, telephone number, facsimile number and address of Company Contact)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
     
Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
American Shares (evidenced by Depositary Receipts) each representing one ordinary share of the nominal amount of 3 1/9p each   New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
The total number of outstanding shares of the issuer’s capital stock at the close of the period covered by the annual report was: 1,310,156,361 ordinary shares
     Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act:
Yes ý      No o
     If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
Yes o      No ý
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ý      No o
 
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated filer  ý      Accelerated filer  o      Non-accelerated filer  o
     Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
         
U.S. GAAP o   International Financial Reporting Standards   Other o
    as issued by the International Accounting    
    Standards Board ý    
If ‘Other’ has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 o      Item 18 o
     If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):
Yes o      No ý
 
 

 


Table of Contents

Cautionary statement
This document may contain forward-looking statements, including ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’ or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.
Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and activities, economic slowdown, industry consolidation, access to credit markets, recruitment levels, reputational risks, commodity prices, continued availability of raw materials, prioritisation of projects, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain sources, consumer demands, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, the ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Group’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2010 and the Annual Report and Accounts 2010. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein 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.

 


Table of Contents

(COVER PAGE)

 


 

Form 20-F
 
Contents
         
Item 1   2  
Item 2   2  
Item 3   3  
Item 4   7  
Item 4A   7  
Item 5   7  
Item 6   12  
Item 7   13  
Item 8   14  
Item 9   14  
Item 10   15  
Item 11   18  
Item 12   19  
Item 13   20  
Item 14   20  
Item 15   21  
Item 16   21  
Item 17   22  
Item 18   23  
Item 19   31  
  Exhibit 1.1
  Exhibit 4.2
  Exhibit 4.3
  Exhibit 4.8
  Exhibit 12.1
  Exhibit 13.1
  Exhibit 15.1
  Exhibit 15.2
      


Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     1


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
References set forth below are to certain references that include pages incorporated therein, including any page references incorporated in the incorporated material, unless specifically noted otherwise.
The following pages and sections of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010, regardless of their inclusion in any cross-reference below, are hereby specifically excluded and are not incorporated by reference into this report on Form 20-F:
•    Page 1,
•    “Operational highlights” on page 2;
•    pages 4 to 7;
•    pages 10 and 11;
•    pages 14 and 15;
•    “The best return on brand and customer investment” on page 17;
•    pages 20 and 21;
•    “Principal risk factors” on pages 33 to 37;
•    pages 58 to 60;
•    pages 70 and 71; and
•    “Additional statutory disclosures” on page 67 and pages 128 to 138.
This 20-F Report and the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 (furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K) contain certain measures that are not defined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) such as IFRS. We believe this information, along with comparable GAAP measurements, is useful to investors because it provides a basis for measuring our operating performance, ability to retire debt and invest in new business opportunities. Our management uses these financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, in evaluating our operating performance and value creation. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures as reported by us may not be comparable with similarly titled amounts reported by other companies.
We report on the following Non-GAAP measures:
  Underlying sales growth;
 
  Underlying volume growth;
 
  Underlying operating margin (including explanation of restructuring, business disposals, impairments and other one-off items (RDIs));
 
  Free cash flow; and
 
  Net debt.
The information set forth under the heading “Financial Review 2010 – Non-GAAP measures” on pages 31 to 32 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference. Within these pages further information about the above measures can be found.
Unilever N.V. (NV) is a public limited company registered in the Netherlands, which 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 which 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 constitute a single reporting entity for the purposes of presenting consolidated accounts. Accordingly, the accounts of the Unilever Group are presented by both NV and PLC as their respective consolidated accounts.
This document contains references to our website. Information on our website or any other website referenced in this document is not incorporated into this document and should not be considered part of this document. We have included any website as an inactive textual reference only.
Item 1 – Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2 – Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.

2     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Item 3 – Key Information
A. Selected financial data
The information set forth under the heading “Unilever Group – Financial record” on pages 124 and 125 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Dividends
The information set forth under the headings “Dividend record” on page 125 and “Financial calendar” on page 141 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Exchange rates
Unilever reports its financial results and balance sheet position in euros. Other currencies which may significantly impact our financial statements are sterling and US dollars. Average and year end exchange rates for these two currencies for the last five years are given below.
                                                 
            2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  
   
Year end
                                               
€1 = US $
            1.337       1.433       1.417       1.471       1.317  
€1 = £
            0.862       0.888       0.977       0.734       0.671  
Average
                                               
€1 = US $
            1.326       1.388       1.468       1.364       1.254  
€1 = £
            0.858       0.891       0.788       0.682       0.682  
   
On 28 February 2011 the exchange rates between euros and US dollars and between euros and sterling as published in the Financial Times in London were as follows: €1.00 = US $1.375 and €1.00 = £0.855.
Noon Buying Rates in New York for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York were as follows:
 
            2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  
   
Year end
                                               
€1 = US $
            1.327       1.433       1.392       1.460       1.320  
Average
                                               
€1 = US $
            1.326       1.394       1.473       1.371       1.256  
High
                                               
€1 = US $
            1.454       1.510       1.601       1.486       1.333  
Low
                                               
€1 = US $
            1.196       1.255       1.245       1.290       1.186  
   
High and low exchange rate values for each of the last six months:
                                                 
    September     October     November     December     January     February(a)  
    2010     2010     2010     2010     2011     2011  
   
High
                                               
€1 = US $
    1.364       1.407       1.422       1.340       1.372     1.379  
Low
                                               
€1 = US $
    1.271       1.369       1.304       1.309       1.294     1.347  
   
(a) Through 25 February 2011
Share capital
The information set forth under the heading “Note 22 Share capital” on page 113 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
B. Capitalisation and indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the offer and use of proceeds
Not applicable.

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     3


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
D. Risk factors
The information set forth under the heading “Note 15 Financial instruments and treasury risk management” on pages 98 to 104 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Risk factors
Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary from those described in this document, or that could impact on our future performance or our ability to meet our published targets, are identified below. This list is not intended to be exhaustive and there may be other risks and uncertainties that are not mentioned below that could impact our future performance or our ability to meet published targets. The risks and uncertainties discussed below should be read in conjunction with the Group’s consolidated financial statements and related notes and the portions of the Report of the Directors that are incorporated by reference from the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 (furnished separately on 4 March 2011 on Form 6-K) and other information included in or incorporated by reference in this Report on Form 20-F.
     
Principal risk
  Description of risk
 
   
Economic
   
 
   
Economic slowdown could adversely impact the markets in which we operate by reducing the ability of consumers to buy our products. If we are unable to respond to changing consumer demand our cashflow, turnover, profits, profit margins and the carrying value of our brands could be adversely affected.
  Unilever’s business is dependent on continuing consumer demand for our brands. Reduced consumer wealth driven by adverse economic conditions may result in our consumers becoming unwilling or unable to purchase our products, which could adversely affect our cash flow, turnover, profits and profit margins. In addition we have a large number of global brands, some of which have a significant carrying value as intangible assets: adverse economic conditions may reduce the value of those brands which could require us to impair their balance sheet value.

During economic downturns access to credit could be constrained. This could impact the viability of our suppliers and customers and could temporarily inhibit the flow of day-to-day cash transactions with suppliers and customers via the banks.

Adverse economic conditions may affect one or more countries within a region, or may extend globally. The impact on our overall portfolio will depend on the severity of the economic slowdown, the mix of countries affected and any government response to reduce the impact such as fiscal stimulus, changes to taxation and measures to minimise unemployment.
 
   
 
   
Markets
   
 
   
Unilever operates globally in competitive markets where the activities of competitors may adversely impact our market shares and therefore place our cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins under pressure. Further, we derive significant revenues from Developing & Emerging (D&E) markets which are typically more volatile than developed markets. Social, political and/or economic developments could adversely impact our business.
  Unilever operates globally in competitive markets where the activities of other multinational companies, local and regional companies and customers which have a significant private label business may adversely affect our market shares, cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins.

In 2010, more than half of Unilever’s turnover came from developing and emerging markets including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Turkey, South Africa, China, Mexico and Russia. These markets are typically more volatile than developed markets, so we are continually exposed to changing economic, political and social developments outside our control, any of which could adversely affect our business. Failure to understand and respond effectively to local market developments could put at risk our cash flow, turnover, profit and/or profit margins.
 
   
 
   
Brands and Innovation
   
 
   
Unilever is a branded goods business and our success is dependent on producing superior innovations that meet the needs of our consumers. Failure to achieve this could damage our reputation and hence our growth prospects and future profitability.
  Unilever’s Mission is to help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. This is achieved by designing and delivering superior branded products/services at relevant price points to consumers across the globe. Failure to provide sufficient funding to develop new products, lack of technical capability in the research and development function, lack of prioritisation of projects and/or failure by operating management to successfully and quickly roll out the products may adversely impact our cash flow, turnover, profit and/or profit margins and may impact our reputation.
 
   

4     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
     
Principal risk
  Description of risk
 
   
Customer
   
 
   
Increasing competitive pressure from and consolidation of customers could adversely impact our cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins.
  Maintaining successful relationships with our customers is key to ensuring our brands are successfully presented to our consumers and are available for purchase at all times. Any breakdown in the relationships with customers could reduce the availability to our consumers of existing products and new product launches and therefore impact our cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins.
 
   
 
  The retail industry continues to consolidate in many of our markets. Further consolidation and the continuing growth of discounters could increase the competitive retail environment by increasing customers’ purchasing power, increasing the demand for competitive promotions and price discounts, increase cross-border sourcing to take advantage of pricing arbitrage and thus adversely impact our cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins. Increased competition between retailers could place pressure on retailer margins and increase the counterparty risk to Unilever.
 
   
 
   
Financial/Treasury
   
 
   
Our global operations expose us to changes in liquidity, interest rates, currency exchange rates, pensions and taxation, which may have a negative impact on our business.
  As a global organisation Unilever’s asset values, earnings and cash flows are influenced by a wide variety of currencies, interest rates, tax jurisdictions and differing taxes. If we are unable to manage our exposures to any one, or a combination, of these factors, this could adversely impact our cash flow, profits and/or profit margins. A material and significant shortfall in net cash flow could undermine Unilever’s credit rating, impair investor confidence and hinder our ability to raise funds, whether through access to credit markets, commercial paper programmes, long-term bond issuances or otherwise. In times of financial market volatility, we are also potentially exposed to counterparty risks with banks.
 
   
 
  We are exposed to market interest rate fluctuations on our floating rate debt. Increases in benchmark interest rates could increase the interest cost of our floating rate debt and increase the cost of future borrowings. Our inability to manage the interest cost effectively could have an adverse impact on our cash flow, profits and/or profit margins.
 
   
 
  Because of the breadth of our international operations we are subject to risks from changes to the relative value of currencies which can fluctuate widely and could have a significant impact on our assets, cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins. Further, because Unilever consolidates its financial statements in euros it is subject to exchange risks associated with the translation of the underlying net assets of its foreign subsidiaries. We are also subject to the imposition of exchange controls by individual countries which could limit our ability to import materials paid by foreign currency or to remit dividends to the parent company.
 
   
 
  Certain businesses have defined benefit pension plans, most now closed to new employees, which are exposed to movements in interest rates, fluctuating values of underlying investments and increased life expectancy. Changes in any or all of these inputs could potentially increase the cost to Unilever of funding the schemes and therefore have an adverse impact on profitability and cash flow.
 
   
 
  In view of the current economic climate and deteriorating government deficit positions, tax legislation in the countries in which we operate may be subject to change, which may have an adverse impact on our profits.
 
   
 
   
Consumer safety and sustainability
   
 
   
Our industry is subject to focus on social and environmental issues, including sustainable development, product safety and renewable resources. If we fail to meet applicable standards or expectations with respect to these issues, our reputation could be damaged and our business adversely affected.
  Unilever has developed a strong corporate reputation over many years for its focus on social and environmental issues, including promoting sustainable renewable resources. The Unilever brand logo is now displayed on all our products and increasingly displayed in our advertising, increasing our external exposure. In 2010, we launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan that sets out our social and environmental ambitions for the coming decade.

The environmental measures that we regard as most significant are those relating to CO 2 from energy that we use, the water we consume as part of our production processes and the amount of waste that we generate for disposal. Failure to design products with a lower environmental footprint could damage our reputation and hence long-term cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins. Should we fail to meet high product safety, social, environmental and ethical standards across all our products and in all our operations and activities it could impact our reputation, leading to the rejection of products by consumers, damage to our brands including growth and profitability, and diversion of management time into rebuilding our reputation.
 
   

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     5


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
     
Principal risk
  Description of risk
 
   
Operations
   
 
   
Our input costs are subject to fluctuation and we are reliant on efficient suppliers and regional/global supply chains to produce and deliver our products to our customers.
  Our ability to make products is dependent on securing timely and cost-effective supplies of production materials, some of which are globally traded commodities. The price of commodities and other key materials, labour, warehousing and distribution fluctuates according to global economic conditions, which can have a significant impact on our product costs. We saw commodity prices rise during the second half of 2010 and this looks set to continue in 2011. If we are unable to increase prices to compensate for higher input costs, this could reduce our cash flow, profits and/or profit margins. If we increase prices more than our competitors, this could undermine our competitiveness and hence market shares.
 
   
 
  Further, two-thirds of the raw materials that we buy come from agriculture. Changing weather patterns, water scarcity and unsustainable farming practices threaten the long-term viability of agricultural production. A reduction in agricultural production may limit our ability to manufacture products in the long term.
 
   
 
  We are dependent on regional and global supply chains for the supply of raw materials and services and for the manufacture, distribution and delivery of our products. We may be unable to respond to adverse events occurring in any part of this supply chain such as changes in local legal and regulatory schemes, labour shortages and disruptions, environmental and industrial accidents, bankruptcy of a key supplier or failure to deliver supplies on time and in full, which could impact our ability to deliver orders to our customers. Any of the foregoing could adversely impact our cash flow, turnover, profits and/or profit margins and harm our reputation and our brands.
 
   
 
   
People and talent
   
 
   
Our success depends on attracting, developing and retaining talented people within our business. Any shortfall in recruitment or retention could adversely affect our ability to deliver our strategy and compete in our markets.
  Attracting, developing and retaining talented employees is essential to the delivery of our strategy. If we fail to determine the appropriate mix of skills required to implement our strategy and subsequently fail to recruit or develop the right number of appropriately qualified people, or if there are high levels of staff turnover, this could adversely affect our ability to operate successfully, and hence grow our business and effectively compete in the marketplace.
 
   
 
   
Legal and regulatory
   
 
   
Unilever is subject to many local, regional and global jurisdictions. Failure to comply with local laws and regulatory regimes could expose Unilever to litigation, penalties, fines and/or imprisonment of its executives.
  Unilever is subject to local, regional and global rules, laws and regulations, covering such diverse areas as product safety, product claims, trademarks, copyright, patents, employee health and safety, the environment, corporate governance, listing and disclosure, employment and taxes. Important regulatory bodies in respect of our business include the European Commission and the US Food and Drug Administration. Failure to comply with laws and regulations could leave Unilever open to civil and/or criminal legal challenge and, if upheld, fines or imprisonment imposed on us or our employees. Further, our reputation could be significantly damaged by adverse publicity relating to such a breach of laws or regulations and such damage could extend beyond a single geography.
 
   
 
   
Integration of acquisitions,
restructuring and change management
   
 
   
Integration of acquisitions and ongoing restructuring initiatives involve significant changes to our organisation. If we are unable to successfully implement these changes in a timely manner, we may not realise the expected benefits from the restructuring.
  Since 2009, Unilever has announced €4.6 billion of acquisitions and our global and regional restructuring programmes will continue in 2011. In the event that we are unable to successfully implement these changes in a timely manner or at all, or effectively manage third-party relationships and/or outsourced processes, we may not be able to realise some or all of the anticipated expense reductions. In addition, because some of the restructuring changes involve important functions, any disruption could harm the operations of our business, our reputation and/or relationship with our employees.
 
   
 
   
Other risks
  Unilever is exposed to varying degrees of risk and uncertainty related to other factors including physical, environmental, political, social and terrorism risks within the environments in which we operate, failure to complete planned divestments, taxation risks, failure to resolve insurance matters within current estimates and changing priorities of our boards of directors. All these risks could materially affect the Group’s business, our turnover, operating profits, net profits, net assets and liquidity. There may be risks which are unknown to Unilever or which are currently believed to be immaterial.
 
   

6     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

Item 4 – Information on the Company
A. History and development of the Company
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “The Unilever Group” on page 3;
 
  “Financial Review 2010” on pages 22 to 32;
 
  “Our requirements and compliance” on pages 51 to 55;
 
  “Note 26 Acquisitions and disposals” on pages 117 to 119; and
 
  “Shareholder information” on pages 139 to 142.
Please refer also to “Financial Review 2009” within Item 5A of this report.
B. Business overview
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “The Unilever Group” on page 3;
 
  “Our footprint” on pages 8 and 9;
 
  “Laws and regulations” on page 32; and
 
  “Note 2 Segment information” on pages 81 to 82;
 
  “Simplifying the Supply Chain” and “Superior Service” on pages 16 and 17.
Raw materials
Our products use a wide variety of raw and packaging materials which we source internationally, and which may be subject to price volatility. We saw commodity prices rise during the second half of 2010 and this looks set to continue into 2011.
Seasonability
Certain of our businesses, such as ice cream, are subject to significant seasonal fluctuations in sales. However, Unilever operates globally in many different markets and product categories, and no individual element of seasonality is likely to be material to the results of the Group as a whole.
Intellectual property
We have a large portfolio of patents and trademarks, and we conduct some of our operations under licences that are based on patents or trademarks owned or controlled by others. We are not dependent on any one patent or group of patents. We use all appropriate efforts to protect our brands and technology.
C. Organisational structure
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “The Unilever Group” on page 3; and
 
  “Principal group companies and non-current investments” on pages 126 and 127.
D. Property, plant and equipment
We have interests in properties in most of the countries where there are Unilever operations. However, none is material in the context of the Group as a whole. The properties are used predominantly to house production and distribution activities and as offices. There is a mixture of leased and owned property throughout the Group. There are no environmental issues affecting the properties which would have a material impact upon the Group, and there are no material encumbrances on our properties. Any difference between the market value of properties held by the Group and the amount at which they are included in the balance sheet is not significant. We believe our existing facilities are satisfactory for our current business and we currently have no plans to construct new facilities or expand or improve our current facilities in a manner that is material to the Group.
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Note 10 Property, plant and equipment” on pages 89 and 90; and
 
  “Principal Group companies and non-current investments” on pages 126 and 127.
Item 4A – Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.
Item 5 – Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
A. Operating results
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Outlook” on page 33;
 
  “Financial Review 2010” on pages 22 to 32; and
 
  “Currency risks” on page 98.


Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     7


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

Financial Review 2009
Basis of reporting
The information set forth under the heading “Basis of reporting” on page 30 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Group results and earnings per share
The following discussion summarises the results of the Group during the years 2009 and 2008. The figures quoted are in euros, at current rates of exchange, being the average rates applying in each period as applicable, unless otherwise stated. Information about exchange rates between the euro, pound sterling and US dollar is given on page 3.
In 2009 and 2008, no disposals qualified to be disclosed as discontinued operations for purposes of reporting.
                         
    € million     € million     %  
                    Increase/  
    2009     2008     (Decrease)  
 
Turnover
    39,823       40,523       (1.7 )
Operating profit
    5,020       7,167       (30.0 )
Underlying operating profit
    5,888       5,898       0  
Net profit
    3,659       5,285       (31 )
 
 
                       
Diluted EPS
    1.17       1.73       (32 )
 
Turnover in 2009 at €39,823 million was 1.7% lower than in 2008. Underlying sales growth, excluding the impact of acquisitions, disposals and currency impacts, was 3.5%, including underlying volume growth of 2.3%.
Reported operating profit was €5,020 million, compared with €7,167 million in 2008, which benefited significantly from one-off profits arising on the disposal of Group companies. Underlying operating margin before the net impact of these and other RDI items was 14.8% compared with 14.6% in 2008. Reported operating margin for the year was 12.6% (2008: 17.7%).
The cost of financing net borrowings was €429 million, €29 million higher than last year. The interest rate on net borrowings was 4.9%, compared with 4.5% in 2008.
There was a net charge of €164 million for pensions financing compared with a credit of €143 million in 2008. Expected returns on assets were much reduced in 2009 due to the fall in asset values caused by the credit crunch.
The tax rate before RDIs was 26.6%, in line with 2008. The reported tax rate for the year was 26.2% compared with 26.4% for 2008.
Net profit from joint ventures and associates, together with other income from non-current investments, contributed €489 million, which included a gain of €327 million from the disposal of the majority of our equity interest in JohnsonDiversey. This compares with €219 million in 2008, which included a gain of €61 million on the disposal of our interests in plantations in Côte D’lvoire.
Reported earnings per share of €1.21 were 33% lower than 2008 which was boosted by one-off profits on disposals of businesses. Earnings per share before RDIs at €1.33 for the year were 7% lower, principally due to the net charge for pensions financing, compared with a credit in 2008.


8     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

Asia, Africa and Central & Eastern Europe
                         
    € million     € million     %  
                    Increase/  
    2009     2008     (Decrease)  
 
Turnover
    14,897       14,471       2.9  
Operating profit
    1,927       1,701       13.3  
 
                       
Underlying operating margin (%)
    13.9       11.7       2.2  
 
                       
Underlying sales growth at constant rates (%)
    7.7                  
Underlying volume growth (%)
    4.1                  
Effect of price changes (%)
    3.4                  
 
                       
 
Turnover at current rates of exchange grew by 2.9%, after the impact of acquisitions, disposals and exchange rate changes as set out in the table above. Operating profit at current rates of exchange grew by 13.3%, after including an adverse currency movement of 2.8%. The comments that follow reflect the underlying performance of the business, removing the impact of currency translation and all costs related to acquisitions and disposals, restructuring and impairment.
Despite market conditions being both challenging and volatile in most parts of the region, 2009 was a year of strong volume-led growth and significant improvement in operating margin. Underlying sales growth for the year was 7.7%, with a strong volume component of 4.1%. Volume growth accelerated through the year, reaching 9.4% in the fourth quarter. It was also broad-based with strong performances in particular from Indonesia, China, Turkey, Vietnam, Arabia and Australia.
Market shares also progressed positively through the year in most parts of the region, with the exception of India where competition intensified significantly, especially from lower-cost local players. Here, robust actions have been taken across the portfolio to strengthen market positions. We have continued to invest aggressively behind key fast-growing emerging markets including China and Russia. Business performance in China has been strong, and in Russia, despite a particularly difficult economic background, encouraging progress was made over the year.
Underlying price growth was positive for the year as a whole but turned negative towards the end of the year in most markets. This downward trend reflects the passing back to consumers of the benefits from commodity cost reductions and selective price adjustments. Underlying operating margin grew by 2.2% reflecting the positive impact of operational leverage and the combined impact of higher prices and lower commodity costs.
Other key developments in the year included a significant and
broad-based improvement in customer service, the acquisition of the Baltimor sauce business in Russia and the establishment of the regional supply chain centre in Singapore. With this in place and related IT systems development progressing well the region is increasingly well-placed to exploit benefits of speed, scale and simplification in many aspects of its operations.
The Americas
                         
    € million     € million     %  
                    Increase/  
    2009     2008     (Decrease)  
 
Turnover
    12,850       13,199       (2.6 )
Operating profit
    1,843       2,945       (37.4 )
 
                       
Underlying operating margin (%)
    16.1       15.4       0.7  
 
                       
Underlying sales growth at constant rates (%)
    4.2                  
Underlying volume growth (%)
    2.5                  
Effect of price changes (%)
    1.6                  
 
                       
 
Turnover at current rates of exchange fell by 2.6%, after the impact of acquisitions, disposals and exchange rate changes as set out in the table above. Operating profit at current rates of exchange fell by 37.4%, after including a small adverse currency movement of 0.8%. This fall reflects the significant income received from business disposals in 2008. The comments below reflect the underlying performance of the business, removing the impact of currency translation and all costs related to acquisitions and disposals, restructuring and impairment.
Consumer confidence in the region was fragile throughout 2009, particularly in the USA. Against this backdrop, underlying sales growth for the year of 4.2% and volume growth of 2.5% represent a highly competitive performance. The volume trend showed improved momentum through the year with growth reaching 5.5% in the fourth quarter.
All major units in the region contributed positive volume growth, with strong performances in particular from Brazil, Chile and the USA. Pricing was positive for the year as a whole, but turned negative in the fourth quarter, particularly in the US and Brazilian markets. Partly this reflected the lapping of increases taken late in 2008, but it was also driven by a more intensive competitive pricing environment, especially in key Home and Personal Care categories.
Underlying operating margin grew by 0.7% despite the impact of overhead dilution from the major business disposals completed in 2008. This was driven by improvements in gross margin from mix, lower commodity costs and pricing, allowing an increase in advertising and promotional investment in addition to the improvement in underlying margin.
Other key developments in the year included the leveraging of the ‘Customer Insight and Innovation Centre’ in New Jersey, enabling us to provide a range of solutions to help our customers grow faster, and the acquisition of TIGI hair care business. There were also significant improvements in customer services and in-store presence throughout the region.


Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     9


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

Western Europe
                         
    € million     € million     %  
                    Increase/  
    2009     2008     (Decrease)  
 
Turnover
    12,076       12,853       (6.0 )
Operating profit
    1,250       2,521       (50.4 )
 
                       
Underlying operating margin (%)
    14.4       16.8       (2.4 )
 
                       
Underlying sales growth at constant rates (%)
    (1.9 )                
Underlying volume growth (%)
    (0.1 )                
Effect of price changes (%)
    (1.8 )                
 
                       
 
Turnover at current rates of exchange fell by 6.0%, after the impact of acquisitions, disposals and exchange rate changes as set out in the table above. Operating profit at current rates of exchange fell by 50.4%, after including a small adverse currency movement of 0.5%. This fall reflects in part the significant income received from business disposals in 2008. The comments below reflect the underlying performance of the business, removing the impact of currency translation and all costs related to acquisitions and disposals, restructuring and impairment.
Consumer confidence in Western Europe remained low throughout 2009 with unemployment rising and varying degrees of economic difficulty in many countries. Against this background an underlying volume decline of 0.1% was encouraging, and performance showed steadily improving momentum through the year. Volume growth in the UK was particularly strong, and France and Belgium also achieved positive volume growth for the year overall. Conditions were most challenging in Southern Europe, with Spain and Greece in particular experiencing difficult years.
Underlying sales growth was negative 1.9%, reflecting a price decline of 1.8%. This downward trend was experienced in nearly all major countries. This again reflected falling commodity costs. We also corrected prices in categories or markets where consumer value propositions were out of line.
Market share performance was however encouraging, with differing performances by category but a slight increase overall in volume share for the year as a whole and more significant gains in the last quarter. Underlying operating margin for the year was down by 2.4%. Significant drivers of this were a substantial increase in marketing investment and the negative impact of sterling weakness on the UK business.
Other key developments in 2009 included the region beginning to fully leverage the power of a single IT system to improve operational execution and drive efficiencies. We also announced the acquisition of the Personal Care business of Sara Lee.
Non-GAAP measures
The information set forth under the heading “Financial Review 2010 – Non-GAAP measures” on pages 31 and 32 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Underlying sales growth (USG)
The reconciliation of USG to changes in the GAAP measure turnover is as follows:
Total Group
                 
    2009     2008  
    vs 2008     vs 2007  
   
Underlying sales growth (%)
    3.5       7.4  
Effect of acquisitions (%)
    0.6       0.4  
Effect of disposals (%)
    (3.0 )     (1.8 )
Effect of exchange rates (%)
    (2.7 )     (4.8 )
Turnover growth (%)
    (1.7 )     0.8  
   
Asia, Africa and Central & Eastern Europe
                 
    2009     2008  
    vs 2008     vs 2007  
   
Underlying sales growth (%)
    7.7       14.2  
Effect of acquisitions (%)
    0.5       1.1  
Effect of disposals (%)
    (0.9 )     (0.4 )
Effect of exchange rates (%)
    (4.0 )     (6.2 )
Turnover growth (%)
    2.9       7.8  
   
The Americas
                 
    2009     2008  
    vs 2008     vs 2007  
   
Underlying sales growth (%)
    4.2       6.5  
Effect of acquisitions (%)
    0.7       0.1  
Effect of disposals (%)
    (6.0 )     (2.9 )
Effect of exchange rates (%)
    (1.2 )     (5.1 )
Turnover growth (%)
    (2.6 )     (1.8 )
   
Western Europe
                 
    2009     2008  
    vs 2008     vs 2007  
   
Underlying sales growth (%)
    (1.9 )     1.3  
Effect of acquisitions (%)
    0.5       (0.0 )
Effect of disposals (%)
    (2.2 )     (2.1 )
Effect of exchange rates (%)
    (2.5 )     (2.8 )
Turnover growth (%)
    (6.0 )     (3.6 )
   
Underlying volume growth (UVG)
Underlying volume growth is underlying sales growth after eliminating the impact of price changes. The relationship between the two measures is set out below:
                 
    2009     2008  
    vs 2008     vs 2007  
   
Underlying volume growth (%)
    2.3       0.1  
Effect of price changes (%)
    1.2       7.2  
Underlying sales growth (%)
    3.5       7.4  
   


10     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

Underlying operating margin
The reconciliation of underlying operating profit and underlying operating margin to the reported measures is as follows:
                 
    € million     € million  
    2009     2008  
   
Operating profit
    5,020       7,167  
Restructuring costs
    897       868  
Business disposals
    (4 )     (2,190 )
Impairments and other one-off items
    (25 )     53  
   
Underlying operating profit
    5,888       5,898  
   
Turnover
    39,823       40,523  
Operating margin
    12.6 %     17.7 %
Underlying operating margin
    14.8 %     14.6 %
   
Free cash flow (FCF)
FCF represents the cash generation from the operation and financing of the business. The movement in FCF measures our progress against the commitment to deliver strong cash flows. FCF is not used as a liquidity measure within Unilever.
FCF includes the cash flow from Group operating activities, less income tax paid, less net capital expenditure less net interest and preference dividends paid. The reconciliation of FCF to net profit is as follows:
                      
    € million     € million  
    2009     2008  
   
Net profit
    3,659       5,285  
Taxation
    1,257       1,844  
Share of net profit of joint ventures/associates
               
and other income from non-current investments
    (489 )     (219 )
Net finance cost
    593       257  
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment
    1,032       1,003  
Changes in working capital
    1,701       (161 )
Pensions and similar provisions less payments
    (1,028 )     (502 )
Restructuring and other provisions less payments
    (258 )     (62 )
Elimination of (profits)/losses on disposals
    13       (2,259 )
Non-cash charge for share-based compensation
    195       125  
Other adjustments
    58       15  
 
               
Cash flow from operating activities
    6,733       5,326  
 
               
Income tax paid
    (959 )     (1,455 )
Net capital expenditure
    (1,258 )     (1,099 )
Net interest and preference dividends paid
    (444 )     (382 )
   
Free cash flow
    4,072       2,390  
   
Net debt
The reconciliation of net debt to the GAAP measure total financial liabilities is as follows:
                    
    € million     € million  
    2009     2008  
   
Total financial liabilities
    (9,971 )     (11,205 )
 
               
Financial liabilities due within one year
    (2,279 )     (4,842 )
Financial liabilities due after one year
    (7,692 )     (6,363 )
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents as per balance sheet
    2,642       2,561  
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents as per
cash flow statement
    2,397       2,360  
Add bank overdrafts deducted therein
    245       201  
 
               
Financial assets
    972       632  
   
Net debt
    (6,357 )     (8,012 )
   
Acquisitions and disposals
The information set forth under the heading “Note 26 Acquisitions and disposals – 2009 and 2008” on page 118 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
B. Liquidity and capital resources
(i) Information regarding the Group’s liquidity
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Finance and liquidity” and “Treasury” on page 29;
 
  “Liquidity management” on page 98;
 
  “Liquidity risk” on pages 98 and 99;
 
  “Capital management” on page 103;
 
  “Going concern” on page 69;
 
  “Cash flow” on page 28;
 
  “Consolidated cash flow statement” on page 75;
 
  “Note 28 Reconciliation of net profit to cash flow from operating activities” on page 120; and
 
  “Note 14 Financial assets and liabilities” on pages 93 to 97.
(ii) Information regarding the type of financial instruments used, the maturity profile of debt, currency and interest rate structure
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Note 14 Financial assets and liabilities” on pages 93 to 97;
 
  “Note 15 Financial instruments and treasury risk management” on pages 98 to 104; and
 
  “Treasury” on page 29.
(iii) Information regarding the Group’s material commitments for capital expenditure
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Note 25 Commitments and contingent liabilities” on pages 115 and 116; and
 
  “Note 10 Property, plant and equipment” on pages 89 and 90.
C. Research and development, patent and licences, etc
The information set forth under the heading “Bigger, better, faster innovation” on pages 12 to 13 and “Note 3 Gross profit and operating cost” (first table) on page 83 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.


Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     11


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

D. Trend information
Please refer also to Item 3D “Risk Factors” on pages 4 to 6 of this report.
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Outlook” on page 33; and
 
  “Financial Review 2010” on pages 22 to 32;
Please refer also to “Financial Review 2009” within Item 5A of this report.
E. Off-balance sheet arrangements
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Off-balance sheet arrangements” on page 28;
 
  “Note 15 Financial instruments and treasury risk management” on pages 98 to 104; and
 
  “Note 25 Commitments and contingent liabilities” on page 115 (last two paragraphs only).
F. Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations
The information set forth under the heading “Contractual obligations at 31 December 2010” on page 28 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
G. Safe harbour
This document may contain forward-looking statements, including ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’ or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.
Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and activities, economic slowdown, industry consolidation, access to credit markets, recruitment levels, reputational risks, commodity prices, continued availability of raw materials, prioritization of projects, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain sources, consumer demands, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, the ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext
Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Group’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2010 and the Annual Report and Accounts 2010. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein 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.
Item 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees
A. Directors and senior management
(i) Name, experience and functions
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Unilever Executive” on page 40,
 
  “Non-Executive Directors” on page 40
 
  “Board of Directors” on pages 40; and
 
  “Our Directors” and “Our Committees” on pages 44 to 48.
(ii) Activities outside the issuing company
The information set forth under the headings “Board of Directors”, Non-Executive Directors” and “Unilever Executive (UEx)” on page 40 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
(iii) Age
The information set forth under the headings “Board of Directors”, Non-Executive Directors” and “Unilever Executive (UEx)” on page 40 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
(iv) Family relationship
The information set forth under the heading “Executive Directors” (paragraph 4) on page 46 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
(v) Other arrangements
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Executive Directors (paragraph 4)” on page 46; and
 
  “Non-Executive Directors – Independence” (paragraph 5) on page 45.
B. Compensation
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Executive Directors” on pages 61 and 62;
 
  “The supporting policies” on page 62;
 
  “Our remuneration practices” on pages 63 and 64;


12     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 

  “Proposed changes from 2011 onwards” on pages 64 and 65;
 
  “Executive Directors’ remuneration in 2010” on pages 65 to 66;
 
  “Non-Executive Directors” on page 67;
 
  “Note 29 Share-based compensation plans” on pages 121 to 122;
 
  “Note 4 Staff and management costs – Key management compensation” on page 84; and
 
  “Note 19 Pension and similar obligations” on pages 107 to 111.
C. Board practices
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Board of Directors” and “Unilever Executive (UEx)” page 40;
 
  “Appointment of Directors” on page 43;
 
  “Executive Directors” (paragraph 2) on page 46;
 
  “Non-Executive Directors” on pages 44 to 46;
 
  “Our Committees” on pages 47 and 48;
 
  “Report of the Audit Committee” on pages 56 and 57; and
 
  “Directors’ Remuneration Report” on pages 61 to 67.
D. Employees
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Note 4 Staff and management costs – Average number of employees during the year” on page 84; and
 
  “Employee numbers” table on page 18.
We believe our relationship with our employees and any labour unions of which they may be part is satisfactory in all material respects.
E. Share ownership
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Our remuneration practices” on pages 63 and 64;
 
  “Executive Directors’ remuneration in 2010” on pages 65 to 66;
 
  “Non-Executive Directors” on page 67; and
 
  “Note 29 Share-based compensation plans” on pages 121 and 122.
Item 7 – Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
A. Major shareholders
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Foundation Unilever NV Trust office” and “Margarine Union (1930) Limited” on page 50; and
 
  “Analysis of shareholding” on page 140.
The principal trading markets upon which Unilever shares are listed are Euronext Amsterdam for NV depositary receipts of ordinary and preference shares and the London Stock Exchange
for PLC ordinary shares. NV ordinary shares mainly trade in the form of depositary receipts for shares.
In the United States, NV New York Registry Shares and PLC American Depositary Receipts are traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Citibank, N.A. acts for NV and PLC as issuer, transfer agent and, in respect of the PLC American Depositary Receipts, depositary.
There have not been any significant trading suspensions in the past three years.
At 28 February 2011 there were 5,645 registered holders of NV New York Registry Shares and 873 registered holders of PLC American Depositary Receipts in the United States. We estimate that approximately 16% of NV’s ordinary shares were held in the United States (approximately 15% in 2009), while most holders of PLC ordinary shares are registered in the United Kingdom – approximately 99% in 2010 and in 2009.
NV and PLC are separate companies with separate stock exchange listings and different shareholders. Shareholders cannot convert or exchange the shares of one for shares of the other and the relative share prices on the various markets can, and do, fluctuate. Each NV ordinary share represents the same underlying economic interest in the Unilever Group as each PLC ordinary share (save for exchange rate fluctuations).
If you are a shareholder of NV, you have an interest in a Dutch legal entity, your dividends will be paid in euros (converted into US dollars if you have shares registered in the United States) and you may be subject to tax in the Netherlands. If you are a shareholder of PLC, your interest is in a UK legal entity, your dividends will be paid in sterling (converted into US dollars if you have American Depositary Receipts) and you may be subject to UK tax. Nevertheless, the Equalisation Agreement means that as a shareholder of either company you effectively have an interest in the whole of Unilever. You have largely equal rights over our combined net profit and capital reserves as shown in the consolidated accounts.
The information set forth under the heading “Equalisation Agreement” on page 51 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
B. Related party transactions
The information set forth under the heading “Note 30 – Related party transactions” on page 122 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Transactions with related parties are conducted in accordance with agreed transfer pricing policies and include sales to joint ventures and associates. Other than those disclosed in the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts (and incorporated herein as above), there were no related party transactions that were material to the Group or to the related parties concerned that are required to be reported in 2009 or the two preceding years.
C. Interest of experts and counsel
Not applicable.


Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     13


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Item 8 – Financial Information
A. Consolidated statements and other financial information
Please refer also to Item 18 “Financial Statements” on pages 23 to 31 of this report.
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Financial statements” on page 69 and pages 72 to 123 (excluding Note 31 on page 123);
 
  “Legal proceedings” on pages 32 and 116; and
 
  “Dividend record” on page 125 and “Financial calendar” on page 141.
B. Significant changes
The information set forth in “Note 32 Events after the balance sheet date” on page 123 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Item 9 – The Offer and Listing
A. Offer and listing details
Please refer to information given on page 13 under Item 7A “Major shareholders”.
Share prices at 31 December 2010
The share prices of the ordinary shares at the end of the year were as follows:
         
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in Amsterdam
    €23.30  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in New York
  US $31.40
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in London
    £19.63  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in New York
  US $30.88
   
Monthly high and low prices for the most recent six months
                                                         
            September     October     November     December     January     February  
            2010     2010     2010     2010     2011     2011  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in Amsterdam (in €)
  High       22.40       22.05       22.84       24.08       23.99     22.68  
 
  Low       21.09       20.82       21.17       21.68       21.46     21.54  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       30.28       30.53       32.13       31.76       31.84     30.53  
 
  Low       26.97       28.85       28.20       28.79       29.26     29.24  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in London (in £)
  High       18.66       18.82       19.44       20.09       19.94     19.10  
 
  Low       17.13       17.58       17.76       17.74       18.16     17.87  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       29.48       29.63       31.46       31.07       31.23     30.10  
 
  Low       26.74       28.14       27.72       28.22       28.87     28.82  
   

14     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Quarterly high and low prices for 2010 and 2009
                                         
    2010     1st     2nd     3rd     4th  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in Amsterdam (in €)
  High       23.00       23.89       24.11       24.08  
 
  Low       20.82       21.17       20.68       20.82  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       33.10       31.36       31.03       32.13  
 
  Low       28.35       26.02       26.22       28.20  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in London (in £)
  High       20.07       20.03       19.60       20.09  
 
  Low       18.08       17.72       16.62       17.58  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       32.41       30.75       30.26       31.46  
 
  Low       28.20       25.74       25.90       27.72  
   
                                         
    2009     1st     2nd     3rd     4th  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in Amsterdam (in €)
  High       18.11       17.97       19.88       22.88  
 
  Low       13.59       14.42       17.13       19.33  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       25.16       25.19       28.86       32.80  
 
  Low       17.04       18.70       23.93       28.36  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in London (in £)
  High       16.69       15.33       17.78       20.15  
 
  Low       12.30       12.68       14.27       17.60  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       24.06       24.88       28.68       32.19  
 
  Low       17.04       18.36       23.26       28.29  
   
Annual high and low prices
                                                 
            2010     2009     2008     2007     2006  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in Amsterdam (in €)
  High       24.11       22.88       25.61       25.72       20.84  
 
  Low       20.68       13.59       16.20       18.89       16.53  
   
NV per €0.16 ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       33.10       32.80       37.18       37.31       27.32  
 
  Low       26.02       17.04       21.27       24.94       20.72  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in London (in £)
  High       20.09       20.15       19.47       19.24       14.28  
 
  Low       16.62       12.30       12.49       13.20       11.25  
   
PLC per 3 1 / 9 p ordinary share in New York (in US $)
  High       32.41       32.19       38.02       38.25       27.95  
 
  Low       25.74       17.04       20.22       25.57       20.66  
   
B. Plan of distribution
Not applicable.
C. Markets
The information set forth under the heading “The Unilever Group” on page 3 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
D. Selling shareholders
Not applicable.
E. Dilution
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the issue
Not applicable.
Item 10 – Additional Information
A. Share capital
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and articles of association
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
  “Corporate governance” on pages 41 to 55; and
 
  “Note 22 Share Capital” on page 113.

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     15


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
C. Material contracts
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Financial Review 2010 – Acquisitions and disposals” on page 29;
 
  “Note 26 Acquisition and disposals – 2009 and 2008” on page 118; and
 
  “Our Foundation agreements” on page 51.
D. Exchange controls
Under the Netherlands Act on Financial Supervision (Wet op het financieel toezicht (Wft)) the Minister of Finance is authorised to issue regulations relating to financial transactions. To date no regulations of this type have been issued which are applicable to Unilever N.V.
There are currently no exchange controls affecting PLC shareholders.
E. Taxation
Taxation for US persons holding shares in NV
The following notes are provided for guidance. US persons should consult their local tax advisers, particularly in connection with potential liability to pay US taxes on disposal, lifetime gift or bequest of their shares. A US person is a US individual citizen or resident, a corporation organised under the laws of the United States, or any other legal person subject to US federal income tax on its worldwide income.
Taxation on dividends in the Netherlands
As of 1 January 2007 dividends of companies in the Netherlands are in principle subject to dividend withholding tax of 15%. Where a shareholder is entitled to the benefits of the current Income Tax Convention (‘the Convention’) concluded on 18 December 1992 between the United States and the Netherlands, when dividends are paid by NV to:
  a corporation organised under the laws of the United States (or any territory of it) having no permanent establishment in the Netherlands of which such shares form a part of the business property; or
 
  any other legal person subject to United States Federal income tax with respect to its worldwide income, having no permanent establishment in the Netherlands of which such shares form a part of the business property,
these dividends qualify for a reduction of withholding tax on dividends in the Netherlands from 15% to 5% if the beneficial owner is a company which directly holds at least 10% of the voting power of NV shares and to 0% if the beneficial owner is a qualified ‘Exempt Organisation’ as defined in Article 36 of the Convention.
Where a United States person has a permanent establishment in the Netherlands, which has shares in NV forming part of its business property, dividends it receives on those shares are included in that establishment’s profit. They are subject to income tax or corporation tax in the Netherlands, as appropriate, and tax on dividends in the Netherlands will generally be applied at the full rate of 15%. This tax will be treated as foreign income tax eligible for credit against the shareholder’s United States income taxes.
Under the Convention, qualifying United States organisations that are generally exempt from United States taxes and that are constituted and operated exclusively to administer or provide pension, retirement or other employee benefits may be exempt at source from withholding tax on dividends received from a Dutch corporation. A Competent Authority Agreement between the US and Dutch Tax Authorities on 6 August 2007, published in the US as Announcement 2007-75, 2007-2 Cumulative Bulletin 540 as amended by a Competent Authority Agreement published in the United States as Announcement 2010-26, 2010-1 Cumulative Bulletin 604, describes the eligibility of these US organisations for benefits under the Convention and procedures for claiming these benefits.
A United States trust, company or organisation that is operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, educational or public purposes is subject to an initial 15% withholding tax rate. Such an exempt organisation is entitled to reclaim from Tax Authorities in the Netherlands a refund of the Dutch dividend tax, if and to the extent that it is exempt from United States Federal Income Tax and it would be exempt from tax in the Netherlands if it were organised and carried on all its activities there.
If you are an NV shareholder resident in any country other than the United States or the Netherlands, any exemption from, or reduction or refund of, dividend withholding tax in the Netherlands may be governed by the ‘Tax Regulation for the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ or by the tax convention, if any, between the Netherlands and your country of residence.
United States taxation on dividends
If you are a United States person, the dividend (including the withheld amount) up to the amount of our earnings and profits for United States Federal income tax purposes will be ordinary dividend income. Dividends received by an individual during taxable years before 2013 will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, provided the individual has held the shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date, that NV is a qualified foreign corporation and that certain other conditions are satisfied. NV is a qualified foreign corporation for this purpose. Dividends received by an individual for taxable years after 2012 will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates. The dividends are not eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations.

16     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
For US foreign tax credit purposes, the dividend is foreign source income, and withholding tax in the Netherlands is a foreign income tax that is eligible for credit against the shareholder’s United States income taxes. However, the rules governing the US foreign tax credit are complex, and additional limitations on the credit apply to individuals receiving dividends eligible for the 15% maximum tax rate on dividends described above.
Any portion of the dividend that exceeds our United States earnings and profits is subject to different rules. This portion is a tax free return of capital to the extent of your basis in our shares, and thereafter is treated as a gain on a disposition of the shares.
Under a provision of the Dividend Tax Act in the Netherlands, NV is entitled to a credit (up to a maximum of 3% of the gross dividend from which dividend tax is withheld) against the amount of dividend tax withheld before remittance to tax authorities in the Netherlands. The United States tax authority may take the position that withholding tax in the Netherlands eligible for credit should be limited accordingly.
Disclosure requirements for US individual holders
US individuals that hold certain specified foreign financial assets, which include stock in a foreign corporation, may be subject to additional US return disclosure obligations (and related penalties for failure to disclose). Investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of this disclosure requirement to their investment in the shares.
Taxation on capital gains in the Netherlands
Under the Convention, if you are a United States person and you have capital gains on the sale of shares of a Dutch company, these are generally not subject to taxation by the Netherlands. An exception to this rule generally applies if you have a permanent establishment in the Netherlands and the capital gain is derived from the sale of shares which form part of that permanent establishment’s business property.
Succession duty and gift taxes in the Netherlands
Under the Estate and Inheritance Tax Convention between the United States and the Netherlands of 15 July 1969, individual US persons who are not Dutch citizens who have shares will generally not be subject to succession duty in the Netherlands on the individual’s death, unless the shares are part of the business property of a permanent establishment situated in the Netherlands.
A gift of shares of a Dutch company by a person who is not a resident or a deemed resident of the Netherlands is generally not subject to gift tax in the Netherlands. A non-resident Netherlands citizen, however, is still treated as a resident of the Netherlands for gift tax purposes for ten years and any other non-resident person for one year after leaving the Netherlands.
Taxation for US persons holding shares in PLC
The following notes are provided for guidance. US persons should consult their local tax advisers, particularly in connection with potential liability to pay US taxes on disposal, lifetime gift or bequest of their shares. A US person is a US individual citizen or resident, a corporation organised under the laws of the United States, or any other legal person subject to US federal income tax on its worldwide income.
United Kingdom taxation on dividends
Under United Kingdom law, income tax is not withheld from dividends paid by United Kingdom companies. Shareholders, whether resident in the United Kingdom or not, receive the full amount of the dividend actually declared.
United States taxation on dividends
If you are a US person, the dividend up to the amount of our earnings and profits for United States Federal income tax purposes will be ordinary dividend income. Dividends received by an individual during taxable years before 2013 will be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, provided the individual has held the shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date, that PLC is a qualified foreign corporation and certain other conditions are satisfied. PLC is a qualified foreign corporation for this purpose. Dividends received by an individual for taxable years after 2012 will be subject to tax at ordinary income rates. The dividend is not eligible for the dividends received deduction allowable to corporations. The dividend is foreign source income for US foreign tax credit purposes.
Any portion of the dividend that exceeds our United States earnings and profits is subject to different rules. This portion is a tax free return of capital to the extent of your basis in our shares, and thereafter is treated as a gain on a disposition of the shares.
Disclosure Requirements for US individual holders
US individuals that hold certain specified foreign financial assets, which include stock in a foreign corporation, may be subject to additional US return disclosure obligations (and related penalties for failure to disclose). Investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of this disclosure requirement to their investment in the shares.

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     17


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
UK taxation on capital gains
Under United Kingdom law, when you sell shares you may be liable to pay capital gains tax. However, if you are either:
  an individual who is neither resident nor ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom; or
 
  a company which is not resident in the United Kingdom
you will generally not be liable to United Kingdom tax on any capital gains made on disposal of your shares.
Two exceptions are: if the shares are held in connection with a trade or business which is conducted in the United Kingdom through a branch or an agency; and if the shares are held by an individual who has left the UK for a period of non-residence of less than five tax years having been resident for at least four of the seven tax years prior to leaving the UK.
UK inheritance tax
Under the current estate and gift tax convention between the United States and the United Kingdom, ordinary shares held by an individual shareholder who is:
  domiciled for the purposes of the convention in the United States; and
 
  is not for the purposes of the convention a national of the United Kingdom
will not be subject to United Kingdom inheritance tax on:
  the individual’s death; or
 
  on a gift of the shares during the individual’s lifetime.
The exception is if the shares are part of the business property of a permanent establishment of the individual in the United Kingdom or, in the case of a shareholder who performs independent personal services, pertain to a fixed base situated in the United Kingdom.
F. Dividends and paying agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by experts
Not applicable.
H. Documents on display
The information set forth under the heading “Shareholder information” on pages 139 to 142 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010
Filed with the SEC on the SEC’s website. Printed copies are available, free of charge, upon request to Unilever PLC, Investor Relations Department, Unilever House, 100 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DY, United Kingdom.
Documents on display in the United States
Unilever files and furnishes reports and information with the United States SEC. Such reports and information can be inspected and copied at the SEC’s public reference facilities in Washington DC, Chicago and New York. Certain of our reports and other information that we file or furnish to the SEC are also available to the public over the internet on the SEC’s website.
I. Subsidiary information
Not applicable.
Item 11 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Please refer also to Item 3D “Risk Factors” of this report.
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Outlook” on page 33;
 
  “Note 13 Trade and other receivables” on page 92;
 
  “Note 14 Financial assets and liabilities” on pages 93 to 97;
 
  “Note 15 Financial instruments and treasury risk management” on pages 98 to 104; and
 
  “Note 16 Trade payables and other liabilities” on page 104.

18     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Item 12 – Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
The Unilever Group has appointed Citibank, N.A. (‘Citibank’) as both its transfer agent and registrar pursuant to the New York Registered Share program for Unilever N.V. and as its depositary pursuant to its American Depositary Receipt program for Unilever PLC. Any fee arrangement with Citibank will therefore cover both programmes.
D.3 Transfer Agent Fees and Charges for Unilever N.V.
Although items 12.D.3 and 12.D.4 are not applicable to Unilever N.V. the following fees, charges and transfer agent payments are listed, as any fee arrangement with Citibank will cover both programmes.
Under the terms of the Transfer Agent Agreement for the Unilever N.V. New York Registered Share program, a New York Share (NYS) holder may have to pay the following service fees to the transfer agent:
  Issuance of NYSs: Up to US 5¢ per NYS issued.
 
  Cancellation of NYSs: Up to US 5¢ per NYS cancelled.
An NYS holder will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the transfer agent and certain taxes and governmental charges such as:
  Fees for the transfer and registration of Shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the Shares in the Netherlands (i.e. upon deposit and withdrawal of Shares);
 
  Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into US dollars;
 
  Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities;
 
  Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities (i.e. when shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit); and
 
  Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of shares on deposit.
Transfer agent fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of NYSs are typically paid to the transfer agent by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly-issued NYSs from the transfer agent and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the NYSs to the transfer agent for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these transaction fees to their clients.
Note that the fees and charges an investor may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the Transfer Agent. Notice of any changes will be given to investors.
D.3 Depositary Fees and Charges for Unilever PLC
Under the terms of the Deposit Agreement for the Unilever PLC American Depositary Shares (ADSs), an ADS holder may have to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank:
  Issuance of ADSs: Up to US 5¢ per ADS issued.
 
  Cancellation of ADSs: Up to US 5¢ per ADS cancelled.
An ADS holder will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges such as:
  Fees for the transfer and registration of Shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the Shares in the United Kingdom (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of Shares);
 
  Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into US dollars;
 
  Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities;
 
  Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities (i.e. when shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit); and
 
  Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of shares on deposit.
Depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly-issued ADSs from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these transaction fees to their clients.
Note that the fees and charges an investor may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary bank. Notice of any changes will be given to investors.

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     19


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
D.4 Transfer Agent Payments – Fiscal Year 2010 for Unilever N.V.
In 2010, we received the following payments from Citibank, N.A., the Transfer Agent and Registrar for our New York Registered Share program:
         
    US $  
   
Reimbursement of listing fees (NYSE/NASDAQ)
    248,748.00  
   
Reimbursement of settlement infrastructure fees (including DTC feeds)
    33,674.37  
   
Reimbursement of proxy process expenses (printing, postage and distribution)
    231,782.13  
   
Tax reclaim services
    40,000.00  
   
Program-Related Expenses (that include expenses incurred from the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
    795,795.50  
   
Indirect payments
As part of its service to the Company, Citibank, N.A. has agreed to waive fees for the standard costs associated with the administration of the ADR Program, associated operating expenses and investor relations advice estimated to total $150,000.
D.4 Depositary Payments – Fiscal Year 2010 for Unilever PLC
In 2010, we received the following payments from Citibank, N.A., the Depositary Bank for our American Depositary Receipt program:
         
    US $  
   
Reimbursement of listing fees (NYSE/NASDAQ)
    105,624.00  
   
Reimbursement of settlement infrastructure fees (including DTC feeds)
    21,853.74  
   
Reimbursement of proxy process expenses (printing, postage and distribution)
    258,866.16  
   
Program-Related Expenses (that include expenses incurred from the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
    963,656.10  
   
Indirect payments
As part of its service to the Company, Citibank, N.A. has agreed to waive fees for the standard costs associated with the administration of the ADR Program, associated operating expenses and investor relations advice estimated to total US $150,000.
Item 13 – Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
A. Defaults
There has been no material default in the payment of principal, interest, a sinking or purchase fund instalments or any other material default relating to indebtedness of the Group.
B. Dividend arrearages and delinquencies
There have been no arrears in payment of dividends on, and material delinquency with respect to, any class of preferred stock of any significant subsidiary of the Group.
Item 14 – Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.

20     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Item 15 – Controls and Procedures
The information set forth under the headings “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in Item 18 of this report,“Risk management approach” on pages 38 and 39, “The United States” on page 55 and “Risk management and internal control arrangements” on page 56 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting
In accordance with the requirements of Section 404 of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the following report is provided by management in respect of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in rule 13a-15(f) or rule 15d-15(f) under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934):
  Unilever’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Group;
 
  Unilever’s management has used the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) framework to evaluate the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Management believes that the COSO framework is a suitable framework for its evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting because it is free from bias, permits reasonably consistent qualitative and quantitative measurements of internal controls, is sufficiently complete so that those relevant factors that would alter a conclusion about the effectiveness of internal controls are not omitted and is relevant to an evaluation of internal control over financial reporting;
 
  Management has assessed the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2010, and has concluded that such internal control over financial reporting is effective; and
 
  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V., who have audited the consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2010, have also audited the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as at 31 December 2010 and have issued an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting. For the Auditors’ Report please refer to Item 18.
Item 16 – Reserved
A. Audit Committee financial expert
The information set forth under the heading “Audit Committee” on page 47 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
B. Code of Ethics
The information set forth under the following headings of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference:
  “Foundation and principles” on page 38; and
 
  “The United States” on page 55.

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     21


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
C. Principal accountant fees and services
The information set forth under the heading “Report of the Audit Committee” on pages 56 and 57 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
                         
    € million     € million     € million  
    2010     2009     2008  
   
Audit fees (a)
    (17 )     (18 )     (21 )
Audit-related fees (b)
    (1 )           (1 )
Tax fees
    (1 )     (2 )     (2 )
All other fees
    (3 )     (1 )     (2 )
   
(a)   Excludes €1 million of out of pocket expenses and €1 million fees paid in respect of services supplied for associated pension schemes.
 
(b)   Includes other audit services which comprise audit and similar work that regulations or agreements with third parties require the auditors to undertake.
D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
E. Purchases of equity securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers
Share purchases during 2010
                                 
                            € million  
                    Of which, numbers of     Maximum value that  
                    shares purchased     may yet be purchased  
    Total number of     Average price     as part of publicly     as part of publicly  
    shares purchased     paid per share     announced plans (a)   announced plans  
   
January
                       
February
                       
March
    59,547     €22.95              
April
                       
May
                       
June
                       
July
                       
August
                       
September
                       
October
                       
November
    4,720,000     €22.37              
December
    4,280,000     €22.25              
   
Total
    9,059,547     €22.32              
   
(a)   Shares were purchased to satisfy commitments to deliver shares under our share-based plans as described in note 29 on pages 121 and 122 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K and incorporated by reference.
F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
Not applicable.
G. Corporate governance
The information set forth under the heading “Corporate governance” on pages 41 to 55 of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Item 17 – Financial Statements
The Company has responded to Item 18 in lieu of this item.

22     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Item 18 – Financial Statements
The information set forth under the heading “Financial statements” on page 69 and pages 72 to 123 (excluding Note 31 on page 123) of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 furnished separately on 4 March 2011 under Form 6-K is incorporated by reference.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
In our opinion, the consolidated income statements and the related consolidated balance sheets, consolidated cash flow statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of changes in equity set forth under the heading “Financial Statements” on pages 72 to 123 (excluding Note 31 on page 123) of Unilever Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 2010 and the summarised presentation of the NV and PLC parts of the Group and the Guarantor financial information included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Unilever Group at 31 December 2010 and 31 December 2009 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended 31 December 2010, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and in conformity with IFRS as adopted by the European Union. Also in our opinion, the Group maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of 31 December 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Group’s Directors and management are responsible for these consolidated financial statements.
The Group’s management are responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying ‘Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting’ included in Item 15 of this Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these consolidated financial statements and on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall consolidated financial statements presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
     
Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1 March 2011
  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V.
  London, United Kingdom
As auditors of Unilever N.V.
  As auditors of Unilever PLC
 
   
R A J Swaak RA
  1 March 2011

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     23


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Summarised presentation of the NV and PLC parts of the Group (audited)
NV and PLC and their group companies constitute a single entity for the purposes of presenting consolidated accounts. The following supplemental information shows the consolidated income statement and balance sheet of the Group analysed according to the relative legal ownership of the individual entities by NV or PLC.
                                                 
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    NV     NV     NV     PLC     PLC     PLC  
Income statement for the year ended 31 December   2010     2009     2008     2010     2009     2008  
   
 
                                               
Turnover
    23,579       21,917       22,108       20,683       17,906       18,415  
 
                                               
Operating profit
    3,490       2,700       4,033       2,849       2,320       3,134  
 
                                               
Net finance costs
    (103 )     (259 )     (170 )     (291 )     (334 )     (87 )
Share in net profit of joint ventures
    61       61       49       59       50       76  
Share in net profit of associates
    (7 )     (5 )     (3 )     (2 )     9       9  
Other income from non-current investments
    44       350       12       32       24       76  
       
   
Profit before taxation
    3,485       2,847       3,921       2,647       2,069       3,208  
Taxation
    (821 )     (715 )     (971 )     (713 )     (542 )     (873 )
       
 
                                               
Net profit
    2,664       2,132       2,950       1,934       1,527       2,335  
       
 
                                               
Attributable to:
                                               
Non-controlling interests
    67       60       16       287       229       242  
Shareholders’ equity
    2,597       2,072       2,934       1,647       1,298       2,093  
   

24     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
                                 
    € million     € million     € million     € million  
    NV     NV     PLC     PLC  
Balance sheet as at 31 December   2010     2009     2010     2009  
   
   
Goodwill and intangible assets
    10,691       10,984       7,587       6,063  
Property, plant and equipment
    3,732       3,365       4,122       3,279  
Pension asset for funded schemes in surplus
    809       700       101       59  
Deferred tax assets
    433       435       174       303  
Other non-current assets
    617       572       417       445  
             
 
                                               
Total non-current assets
    16,282       16,056       12,401       10,149  
 
                                               
Inventories
    2,614       2,133       1,695       1,445  
Trade and other current receivables
    2,318       1,931       1,817       1,498  
Cash and cash equivalents
    1,469       2,004       847       638  
Other financial assets
    574       844       274       301  
Assets held for sale
    800       10       76       7  
             
 
                                               
Total current assets
    7,775       6,922       4,709       3,889  
Financial liabilities
    (1,793 )     (1,472 )     (483 )     (807 )
Trade payables and other current liabilities
    (6,398 )     (5,358 )     (4,467 )     (3,542 )
Provisions
    (258 )     (262 )     (150 )     (158 )
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale
    (57 )                  
             
 
                                               
Total current liabilities
    (8,506 )     (7,092 )     (5,100 )     (4,507 )
             
 
                                               
Net current assets/(liabilities)
    (731 )     (170 )     (391 )     (618 )
             
 
                                               
Total assets less current liabilities
    15,551       15,886       12,010       9,531  
   
   
Financial liabilities due after one year
    5,035       5,532       2,223       2,160  
Pensions and post-retirement healthcare liabilities
                               
Funded schemes in deficit
    603       635       478       884  
Unfunded schemes
    1,023       902       876       920  
Provisions
    591       510       295       219  
Deferred tax liabilities
    745       671       135       93  
Other non-current liabilities
    276       185       203       170  
             
 
                                               
Non-current liabilities
    8,273       8,435       4,210       4,446  
 
                                               
Intra-group - NV/PLC
    (9,141 )     (5,727 )     9,141       5,727  
 
                                               
Shareholders’ equity
    16,357       13,128       (1,872 )     (1,063 )
Non-controlling interests
    62       50       531       421  
             
 
                                               
Total equity
    16,419       13,178       (1,341 )     (642 )
             
 
                                               
Total capital employed
    15,551       15,886       12,010       9,531  
   

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     25


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
Guarantor statements (audited)
On 18 November 2008, NV and Unilever Capital Corporation (UCC) filed a US Shelf registration, which is unconditionally and fully guaranteed, jointly and severally, by N.V., PLC and Unilever United States, Inc. (UNUS). This superseded the previous NV and UCC US Shelf registration filed on 2 October 2000, which is unconditionally and fully guaranteed, jointly and severally, by NV, PLC and UNUS. Of the US Shelf registration, US $2.5 billion of Notes were outstanding at 31 December 2010 (2009: US $4.25 billion, 2008: US $2.75 billion) with coupons ranging from 3.65% to 5.9%. These Notes are repayable between 15 February 2014 and 15 November 2032.
Provided below are the income statements, cash flow statements and balance sheets of each of the companies discussed above, together with the income statement, cash flow statement and balance sheet of non-guarantor subsidiaries. These have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and, aside from the basis of accounting for investments at net asset value (equity accounting), comply in all material respects with International Financial Reporting Standards. The financial information in respect on NV, PLC and UNUS has been prepared with all subsidiaries accounted for on an equity basis. The financial information in respect of the non-guarantor subsidiaries has been prepared on a consolidated basis.
                                                         
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    Unilever     Unilever             Unilever                      
    Capital     N.V.             United                      
    Corporation     parent     Unilever PLC     States Inc.     Non-                
Income statement   subsidiary     issuer/     parent     subsidiary     guarantor             Unilever  
for the year ended 31 December 2010   issuer     guarantor     guarantor     guarantor     subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
   
 
                                               
Turnover
                            44,262             44,262  
 
                                               
       
Operating profit
          342       (62 )     (21 )     6,080             6,339  
Finance income
                            77             77  
Finance costs
    (182 )     (143 )     (40 )           (126 )           (491 )
Pensions and similar obligations
          (5 )           (24 )     49             20  
Inter-company finance costs
    184       97       (26 )     (10 )     (245 )            
Dividends
          1,098       1,187             (2,285 )            
Share of net profit/(loss) of joint ventures
                            120             120  
Share of net profit/(loss) of associates
                            (9 )           (9 )
Other income from non-current investments
                            76             76  
 
                                               
       
Profit before taxation
    2       1,389       1,059       (55 )     3,737             6,132  
Taxation
    (1 )     (91 )     8       434       (1,884 )           (1,534 )
 
                                               
       
Net profit
    1       1,298       1,067       379       1,853             4,598  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries
          3,300       3,531       96             (6,927 )      
       
 
                                               
Net profit
    1       4,598       4,598       475       1,853       (6,927 )     4,598  
       
 
                                               
Attributable to:
                                                       
Non-controlling interests
                            354             354  
Shareholders’ equity
    1       4,598       4,598       475       1,499       (6,927 )     4,244  
   

26     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
                                                         
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    Unilever     Unilever             Unilever                      
    Capital     N.V.             United                      
    Corporation     parent     Unilever PLC     States Inc.     Non-                
Income statement   subsidiary     issuer/     parent     subsidiary     guarantor             Unilever  
for the year ended 31 December 2009   issuer     guarantor     guarantor     guarantor     subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
   
 
                                               
Turnover
                            39,823             39,823  
 
                                               
       
Operating profit
          91       37       (31 )     4,923             5,020  
Finance income
                            75             75  
Finance costs
    (183 )     (159 )     (24 )           (138 )           (504 )
Pensions and similar obligations
          1             (61 )     (104 )           (164 )
Inter-company finance costs
    185       52       (36 )     (10 )     (191 )            
Dividends
          1,321       1,112               (2,433 )            
Share of net profit/(loss) of joint ventures
                            111             111  
Share of net profit/(loss) of associates
                            4             4  
Other income from non-current investments
                            374             374  
 
                                               
       
Profit before taxation
    2       1,306       1,089       (102 )     2,621             4,916  
Taxation
    (1 )     (34 )     (1 )     (245 )     (976 )           (1,257 )
 
                                               
       
Net profit
    1       1,272       1,088       (347 )     1,645             3,659  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries
          2,387       2,571       643             (5,601 )      
 
                                               
       
Net profit
    1       3,659       3,659       296       1,645       (5,601 )     3,659  
 
                                               
       
Attributable to:
                                                       
Non-controlling interests
                            289             289  
Shareholders’ equity
    1       3,659       3,659       296       1,356       (5,601 )     3,370  
 
                                               
   
 
                                                       
Income statement
                                                       
for the year ended 31 December 2008
                                                       
 
                                               
   
 
                                               
Turnover
                            40,523             40,523  
 
                                               
       
 
                                               
Operating profit
    (1 )     381       114       (19 )     6,692             7,167  
Finance income
          1                   105             106  
Finance costs
    (167 )     (146 )                 (193 )           (506 )
Pension and similar obligations
          1             (27 )     169             143  
Inter-company finance costs
    196       42       42       (4 )     (276 )            
Dividends
          1,473       1,160             (2,633 )            
Share of net profit/(loss) of joint ventures
                            125             125  
Share of net profit/(loss) of associates
                            6             6  
Other income from non-current investments
                            88             88  
 
                                               
       
Profit before taxation
    28       1,752       1,316       (50 )     4,083             7,129  
Taxation
    (11 )     (41 )     (134 )     (619 )     (1,039 )           (1,844 )
 
                                               
       
Net profit
    17       1,711       1,182       (669 )     3,044             5,285  
Equity earnings of subsidiaries
          3,316       3,845       1,637             (8,798 )      
 
                                               
       
Net profit
    17       5,027       5,027       968       3,044       (8,798 )     5,285  
 
                                               
       
 
                                               
Attributable to:
                                                       
Non-controlling interests
                            258             258  
Shareholders’ equity
    17       5,027       5,027       968       2,786       (8,798 )     5,027  
   

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     27


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
                                                         
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    Unilever     Unilever             Unilever                      
    Capital     N.V.             United                      
    Corporation     parent     Unilever PLC     States Inc.     Non-                
    subsidiary     issuer/     parent     subsidiary     guarantor             Unilever  
Balance sheet at 31 December 2010   issuer     guarantor     guarantor     guarantor     subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
   
 
                                               
Goodwill and intangible assets
          40       80             18,158             18,278  
Property, plant and equipment
                            7,854             7,854  
Pension asset for funded schemes in surplus
          6             14       890             910  
Deferred tax assets
                      383       224             607  
Other non-current assets
                            1,034             1,034  
Amounts due from Group companies after one year
    2,382       3,912                   (6,294 )            
Net assets of subsidiaries (equity accounted)
          34,216       19,255       11,662       (15,939 )     (49,194 )      
 
                                               
       
Total non-current assets
    2,382       38,174       19,335       12,059       5,927       (49,194 )     28,683  
 
                                               
       
Inventories
                            4,309             4,309  
Amounts due from Group companies within one year
          1,834       661       1,968       (4,463 )            
Trade and other current receivables
          69             6       4,060             4,135  
Current tax assets
          184       29       77       8             298  
Other financial assets
                            550             550  
Cash and cash equivalents
                      (3 )     2,319             2,316  
Assets held for sale
                            876             876  
       
 
                                               
Total current assets
          2,087       690       2,048       7,659             12,484  
 
                                               
       
Financial liabilities
    (224 )     (558 )     (2 )           (1,492 )           (2,276 )
Amounts due to Group companies within one year
          (17,042 )     (4,496 )     (13 )     21,551              
Trade payables and other current liabilities
    (24 )     (150 )     (21 )     (16 )     (10,015 )           (10,226 )
Current tax liabilities
    (1 )     (173 )     (93 )     (6 )     (366 )           (639 )
Provisions
          (78 )     (48 )           (282 )           (408 )
Liabilities directly associated with non-current assets held for sale
                            (57 )           (57 )
 
                                               
       
Total current liabilities
    (249 )     (18,001 )     (4,660 )     (35 )     9,339             (13,606 )
 
                                               
       
Net current assets/liabilities
    (249 )     (15,914 )     (3,970 )     2,013       16,998             (1,122 )
 
                                               
       
Total assets less current liabilities
    2,133       22,260       15,365       14,072       22,925       (49,194 )     27,561  
 
                                               
   
 
                                                       
Financial liabilities due after one year
    1,853       3,235       864             1,306             7,258  
Amounts due to Group companies after one year
          4,407             5,062       (9,469 )            
Pensions and post-retirement healthcare liabilities
                                                       
Funded schemes in deficit
                            1,081             1,081  
Unfunded schemes
          95             610       1,194             1,899  
Provisions
          21             2       863             886  
Deferred tax liabilities
          13       16             851             880  
Other non-current liabilities
          4             119       356             479  
 
                                               
       
Total non-current liabilities
    1,853       7,775       880       5,793       (3,818 )           12,483  
 
                                               
       
Shareholders’ equity attributed to:
                                                       
NV
                16,357                   (16,357 )      
PLC
          (1,872 )                       1,872        
Called up share capital
          274       210                         484  
Share premium account
          25       109       106       (106 )           134  
Other reserves
    6       (2,787 )     (2,619 )     (619 )     (981 )     1,594       (5,406 )
Retained profit
    274       18,845       428       8,792       27,237       (36,303 )     19,273  
 
                                               
       
Total shareholders’ equity
    280       14,485       14,485       8,279       26,150       (49,194 )     14,485  
Non-controlling interests
                            593             593  
 
                                               
       
Total equity
    280       14,485       14,485       8,279       26,743       (49,194 )     15,078  
       
Total capital employed
    2,133       22,260       15,365       14,072       22,925       (49,194 )     27,561  
   

28     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
                                                         
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    Unilever     Unilever             Unilever                      
    Capital     N.V.             United                      
    Corporation     parent     Unilever PLC     States Inc.     Non-                
    subsidiary     issuer/     parent     subsidiary     guarantor             Unilever  
Balance sheet at 31 December 2009   issuer     guarantor     guarantor     guarantor     subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
   
 
                                               
Goodwill and intangible assets
          44       26             16,977             17,047  
Property, plant and equipment
                            6,644             6,644  
Pension asset for funded schemes in surplus
                      35       724             759  
Deferred tax assets
                      495       243             738  
Other non-current assets
                      13       1,004             1,017  
Amounts due from Group companies after one year
    3,264       3,242                   (6,506 )            
Net assets of subsidiaries (equity accounted)
          30,824       16,709       11,017       (33,116 )     (25,434 )      
 
                                               
       
Total non-current assets
    3,264       34,110       16,735       11,560       (14,030 )     (25,434 )     26,205  
 
                                               
       
Inventories
                            3,578             3,578  
Amounts due from Group companies within one year
          1,668       421       2,015       (4,104 )            
Trade and other current receivables
          44       1       10       3,374             3,429  
Current tax assets
          28             26       119             173  
Other financial assets
                            972             972  
Cash and cash equivalents
          14             (3 )     2,631             2,642  
Assets held for sale
                            17             17  
 
                                               
       
Total current assets
          1,754       422       2,048       6,587             10,811  
 
                                               
       
Financial liabilities
    (1,229 )     (33 )                 (1,017 )           (2,279 )
Amounts due to Group companies within one year
    (6 )     (16,939 )     (4,157 )           21,102              
Trade payables and other current liabilities
    (37 )     (176 )     (13 )     (24 )     (8,163 )           (8,413 )
Current tax liabilities
    (1 )     (15 )     (69 )     (4 )     (398 )           (487 )
Provisions
                              (420 )           (420 )
 
                                               
       
Total current liabilities
    (1,273 )     (17,163 )     (4,239 )     (28 )     11,104             (11,599 )
 
                                               
       
Net current assets/(liabilities)
    (1,273 )     (15,409 )     (3,817 )     2,020       17,691             (788 )
 
                                               
       
Total assets less current liabilities
    1,991       18,701       12,918       13,580       3,661       (25,434 )     25,417  
 
                                               
   
 
                                                       
Financial liabilities due after one year
    1,728       3,213       838             1,913             7,692  
Amounts due to Group companies after one year
          3,299             3,256       (6,555 )            
Pensions and post-retirement healthcare liabilities
                                                       
Funded schemes in deficit
                            1,519             1,519  
Unfunded schemes
          90             620       1,112             1,822  
Provisions
          15             2       712             729  
Deferred tax liabilities
          16       15             733             764  
Other non-current liabilities
          3             84       268             355  
 
                                               
       
Total non-current liabilities
    1,728       6,636       853       3,962       (298 )           12,881  
 
                                               
       
Shareholders’ equity attributed to:
                                                       
NV
                13,128                   (13,128 )      
PLC
          (1,063 )                       1,063        
Called up share capital
          274       210                         484  
Share premium account
          25       106       97       (97 )           131  
Other reserves
    (9 )     (3,629 )     (2,271 )     936       (1,966 )     1,039       (5,900 )
Retained profit
    272       16,458       892       8,585       5,551       (14,408 )     17,350  
 
                                               
       
Total shareholders’ equity
    263       12,065       12,065       9,618       3,488       (25,434 )     12,065  
Non-controlling interests
                            471             471  
 
                                               
       
Total equity
    263       12,065       12,065       9,618       3,959       (25,434 )     12,536  
       
Total capital employed
    1,991       18,701       12,918       13,580       3,661       (25,434 )     25,417  
 
                                               
   

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     29


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
                                                         
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    Unilever     Unilever             Unilever                      
    Capital     N.V.             United                      
    Corporation     parent     Unilever PLC     States Inc.     Non-                
Cash flow statement   subsidiary     issuer/     parent     subsidiary     guarantor             Unilever  
for the year ended 31 December 2010   issuer     guarantor     guarantor     guarantor     subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
   
 
                                                       
Cash flow from operating activities
          469       (22 )     (81 )     6,452             6,818  
Income tax
          (86 )     4       (148 )     (1,098 )           (1,328 )
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from operating activities
          383       (18 )     (229 )     5,354             5,490  
 
                                               
       
Interest received
    184       76       6             (385 )     189       70  
Net capital expenditure
          (10 )                 (1,691 )           (1,701 )
Acquisitions and disposals
                (54 )           (307 )           (361 )
Other investing activities
    1,073       (9 )           2,564       (1,059 )     (1,741 )     828  
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from/(used in) investing activities
    1,257       57       (48 )     2,564       (3,442 )     (1,552 )     (1,164 )
 
                                               
       
Dividends paid on ordinary share capital
          (193 )     138       (2,276 )     8             (2,323 )
Interest and preference dividends paid
    (198 )     (36 )     (68 )     (10 )     7       (189 )     (494 )
Change in borrowings and finance leases
    (1,062 )     (96 )     (51 )     (52 )     (1,853 )     1,741       (1,373 )
Share buy-back programme
                                         
Other movement in treasury stocks
          (177 )     47             6             (124 )
Other finance activities
                            (295 )           (295 )
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from/(used in) financing activities
    (1,260 )     (502 )     66       (2,338 )     (2,127 )     1,552       (4,609 )
 
                                               
       
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and
                                                       
cash equivalents
    (3 )     (62 )           (3 )     (215 )           (283 )
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning
                                                       
of the year
          14                   2,383             2,397  
 
                                                       
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
    3       48                   (199 )           (148 )
 
                                               
       
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
                      (3 )     1,969             1,966  
 
                                               
   
 
                                                       
Cash flow statement
                                                       
for the year ended 31 December 2009
                                                       
   
 
                                                       
Cash flow from operating activities
    13       153       (55 )     71       6,551             6,733  
Income tax
          (86 )     (42 )     (52 )     (779 )           (959 )
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from operating activities
    13       67       (97 )     19       5,772             5,774  
 
                                               
       
Interest received
    186       48       13       (10 )     27       (191 )     73  
Net capital expenditure
          (6 )                 (1,252 )           (1,258 )
Acquisitions and disposals
                            (139 )           (139 )
Other investing activities
          403                   (292 )     (50 )     61  
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from/(used in) investing activities
    186       445       13       (10 )     (1,656 )     (241 )     (1,263 )
 
                                               
       
Dividends paid on ordinary share capital
          118       189             (2,413 )           (2,106 )
Interest and preference dividends paid
    (167 )     (142 )     (59 )           (340 )     191       (517 )
Change in borrowings and finance leases
    (31 )     (612 )     (82 )     3       (895 )     50       (1,567 )
Share buy-back programme
                                         
Other movement in treasury stocks
          131       36       (11 )     (53 )           103  
Other finance activities
                            (214 )           (214 )
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from/(used in) financing activities
    (198 )     (505 )     84       (8 )     (3,915 )     241       (4,301 )
 
                                               
       
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents
    1       7             1       201             210  
 
                                                       
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning
of the year
    (3 )     7             (4 )     2,360             2,360  
 
                                                       
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
    2                         (175 )           (173 )
 
                                               
       
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
          14             (3 )     2,386             2,397  
 
                                               
   

30     Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010


Table of Contents

Form 20-F
 
                                                         
    € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million     € million  
    Unilever     Unilever             Unilever                      
    Capital     N.V.             United                      
    Corporation     parent     Unilever PLC     States Inc.     Non-                
Cash flow statement   subsidiary     issuer/     parent     subsidiary     guarantor             Unilever  
for the year ended 31 December 2008   issuer     guarantor     guarantor     guarantor     subsidiaries     Eliminations     Group  
   
 
                                               
Cash flow from operating activities
          73       (527 )     568       5,212             5,326  
Income tax
          (10 )     (162 )     (533 )     (750 )           (1,455 )
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from operating activities
          63       (689 )     35       4,462             3,871  
 
                                               
       
Interest received
    196       3       31             151       (276 )     105  
Net capital expenditure
          (2 )           2       (1,099 )           (1,099 )
Acquisitions and disposals
                            2,265             2,265  
Other investing activities
          (675 )     (2,665 )           843       2,641       144  
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from/(used in) investing activities
    196       (674 )     (2,634 )     2       2,160       2,365       1,415  
 
                                               
       
Dividends paid on ordinary share capital
          297       271             (2,654 )           (2,086 )
Interest and preference dividends paid
    (166 )     (111 )           (4 )     (482 )     276       (487 )
Change in borrowings and finance leases
    (34 )     1,490       3,315             (1,080 )     (2,641 )     1,050  
Share buy-back programme
          (1,225 )     (278 )                       (1,503 )
Other movement in treasury stocks
          165       15       (40 )     (37 )           103  
Other finance activities
                            (207 )           (207 )
 
                                               
       
Net cash flow from/(used in) financing activities
    (200 )     616       3,323       (44 )     (4,460 )     (2,365 )     (3,130 )
 
                                               
       
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents
    (4 )     5             (7 )     2,162             2,156  
 
                                                       
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning
of the year
    1       2             (2 )     900             901  
 
                                                       
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
                      5       (702 )           (697 )
 
                                               
       
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
    (3 )     7             (4 )     2,360             2,360  
 
                                               
   
Item 19 – Exhibits
Please refer to the exhibit list located immediately following the signature page for this Form 20-F as filed with the SEC.

Unilever Annual Report on Form 20-F 2010     31


Table of Contents

 

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3000 DK Rotterdam
The Netherlands
T +31 (0)10 217 4000
F +31 (0)10 217 4798
Commercial Register Rotterdam
Number: 24051830
Unilever PLC
Unilever House
100 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DY
United Kingdom
T +44 (0)20 7822 5252
F +44 (0)20 7822 5951
Unilever PLC registered office
Unilever PLC
Port Sunlight
Wirral
Merseyside CH62 4ZD
United Kingdom
Registered in England and Wales
Company Number: 41424
www.unilever.com


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorised the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.
Unilever PLC.
(Registrant)
         
  /s/ T. E. Lovell    
  T. E. LOVELL,   
  Group Secretary   
Date: 4 March, 2011

 


Table of Contents

2010 20-F Exhibits   UNILEVER PLC — 20-F EXHIBIT LIST    
     
Exhibit Number   Description of Exhibit
 
   
1.1
  Articles of Association of Unilever PLC
 
   
2.1
  Indenture dated as of August 1, 2000, among Unilever Capital Corporation, Unilever N.V., Unilever PLC, Unilever United States, Inc. and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, relating to Guaranteed Debt Securities 1
 
   
2.2
  Trust Deed dated as of July 22, 1994, among Unilever N.V., Unilever PLC, Unilever Capital Corporation, Unilever United States, Inc. and The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c., relating to Guaranteed Debt Securities 2
 
   
4.1
  Equalisation Agreement between Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC 3
 
   
4.2
  Service Contracts of the Executive Directors of Unilever PLC
 
   
4.3
  Letters regarding compensation of Executive Directors of Unilever PLC
 
   
4.4
  Unilever North America 2002 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan 4
 
   
4.5
  The Unilever PLC International 1997 Executive Share Option Scheme 5
 
   
4.6
  The Unilever Long Term Incentive Plan 6
 
   
4.7
  Global Share Incentive Plan 2007 7
 
   
4.8
  The Management Co-Investment Plan
 
   
8.1
  List of Subsidiaries 8
 
   
12.1
  Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Financial Director/Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
13.1
  Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Financial Director/Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
15.1
  Annual Report and Accounts sections incorporated by reference
 
   
15.2
  Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
   
Certain instruments which define rights of holders of long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries are not being filed because the total amount of securities authorized under each such instrument does not exceed 10% of the total consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries hereby agree to furnish a copy of each such instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
 
1   Incorporated by reference to the Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on October 23, 2000.
 
2   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 28, 2002.
 
3   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 5, 2010.
 
4   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Form S-8 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2003.
 
5   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 of Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 28, 2002.
 
6   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 28, 2002.
 
7   Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 26, 2008.
 
8   The required information is set forth on pages 126 to 127 of the 2010 Annual Report and Accounts.

Exhibit 1.1
 
     
Company No. 41424

Articles of Association


and Special and other Resolutions of
Unilever PLC
(incorporated 21 June 1894)
  (UNIVER)
(GIF)
     
12 May 2010
   
 
   
 
 
  Creating a better future every day

 


 

Table of Contents of Articles of Association
and Special and other Resolutions

             
        Page  
 
 
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION     4  
OF LEVER BROTHERS, LIMITED        
CERTIFICATE OF CHANGE OF NAME     5  
TO LEVER BROTHERS & UNILEVER LIMITED        
CERTIFICATE OF CHANGE OF NAME     6  
TO UNILEVER LIMITED        
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION     7  
AS A PUBLIC COMPANY        
 
           
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION     8  
Article        
 
  Interpretation        
1
  Exclusion of Model Articles     8  
2
  Definitions     8  
 
           
 
  Agreement for Distribution of Profits and Assets        
3
  Agreement with Unilever N.V.     9  
 
           
 
  Limited Liability        
4
  Limited liability     9  
 
           
 
  Share Capital        
5
  Rights attached to shares     9  
6
  Redemption of shares     9  
7
  Trusts not recognised     9  
8
  Allotment of shares     9  
9
  Payment of commission     9  
10
  Repayment of capital in a winding-up     9  
11
  Modification of rights     9  
 
           
 
  Evidence of Title to Shares        
12
  Uncertificated shares     10  
13
  Certificated shares     11  
14
  Replacement of certificates     11  
15
  Execution of share certificates     11  
 
           
 
  Lien        
16
  Company's lien on shares not fully paid     11  
17
  Enforcing lien by sale     11  
18
  Validity of sales     11  
19
  Application of proceeds of sale     11  
 
           
 
  Calls on Shares        
20
  Calls     11  
21
  Payment on calls     12  
22
  Liability of joint holders     12  
23
  Interest due on non-payment     12  
24
  Sums due on allotment to be treated as calls     12  
25
  Power to differentiate     12  
26
  Payment of calls in advance     12  
 
           
 
  Forfeiture of Shares        
27
  Notice may be given if call or instalment not paid     12  
28
  Form of notice     12  
29
  Forfeiture of shares if non-compliance with notice     12  
30
  Notice after forfeiture     12  
31
  Sale of forfeited shares     12  
32
  Arrears to be paid notwithstanding forfeiture     12  
33
  Effect of forfeiture     12  
34
  Statutory declaration as to forfeiture     13  
             
        Page  
 
 
 
  Transfer of Shares        
35
  Transfer     13  
36
  Execution of transfer     13  
37
  Right to decline to register transfer of partly     13  
 
  paid shares        
38
  Further rights to decline to register transfer     13  
39
  Notice of refusal     13  
40
  No fee payable on registration     13  
 
           
 
  Transmission of Shares        
41
  Transmission of registered shares on death     13  
42
  Entry of transmission in register     13  
43
  Election of person entitled by transmission     14  
44
  Rights of person entitled by transmission     14  
 
           
 
  Conversion of Shares into Stock        
45
  Conversion of shares into stock     14  
46
  Rights of stockholders     14  
 
           
 
  Share Warrants to Bearer        
47
  Issue of share warrants     14  
48
  Bearer of warrants deemed a member     14  
 
  of the Company        
49
  Restrictions on attending and voting at meetings     14  
50
  One name only to be received as holder     15  
 
  of share warrant        
51
  Issue of deposit certificate in respect     15  
 
  of share warrants        
52
  Surrender of deposit certificate     15  
53
  Restriction on exercise of rights of membership     15  
54
  Issue of new share warrants     15  
55
  Transfer of share warrants     15  
56
  Issue of shares on surrender of share warrants     15  
 
           
 
  Untraced Shareholders        
57
  Sale of shares of untraced shareholders     15  
58
  Cessation of sending dividend payments     16  
 
           
 
  Alteration of Capital        
59
  Sub-division     16  
60
  Fractions     16  
 
           
 
  General Meetings        
61
  Insufficient Directors within the United Kingdom     16  
 
           
 
  Notice of General Meetings        
62
  Omission or non-receipt of notice     16  
 
           
 
  Proceedings at General Meetings        
63
  Quorum     16  
64
  Dissolution and adjournment of meeting        
 
  if quorum not present     16  
65
  Chairman of general meeting     17  
66
  Entitlement to attend and speak     17  
67
  Adjournments and notice of adjournment     17  
68
  Amendments to resolutions     17  
69
  Security and other arrangements at general meetings     17  


 


 

             
        Page  
 
 
 
  Voting        
70
  Method of voting     18  
71
  Effect of properly demanded poll     18  
72
  When poll to be taken     18  
73
  Continuance of business after demand for poll     18  
74
  Voting rights     18  
75
  Voting rights of joint holders     18  
76
  Exercise of voting rights for incapable member     18  
77
  No right to vote where sums still payable     18  
78
  Suspension of rights where non-disclosure of interest     18  
79
  Objections     20  
 
           
 
  Proxies        
80
  Appointment of proxies     20  
81
  Receipt of proxies     20  
82
  Maximum validity of proxy     21  
83
  Form of proxy     21  
84
  Determination of authority     21  
 
           
 
  Appointment, Retirement and Removal        
 
  of Directors        
85
  Number of Directors     21  
86
  Shareholding qualification     21  
87
  Power for Directors to fill casual vacancies or        
 
  appoint additional Directors     21  
88
  Retirement of Directors     21  
89
  Meeting to fill up vacancies     21  
90
  Persons eligible as Directors     21  
91
  Provisions if no eligible persons available     21  
92
  Provisions if insufficient eligible persons elected     22  
93
  Power to remove Director by special resolution     22  
94
  Disqualification of Directors     22  
95
  Alternate Directors     22  
96
  Executive Directors     22  
97
  Non-Executive Directors     23  
 
           
 
  Remuneration and Expenses of Directors        
98
  Directors’ remuneration     23  
99
  Extra remuneration     23  
100
  Expenses     23  
 
           
 
  Directors’ Interests        
101
  Conflicts of interest requiring board authorisation     23  
102
  Other conflicts of interest     23  
103
  Benefits     24  
104
  Quorum and voting requirements     24  
105
  General     25  
 
           
 
  Powers and Duties of the Directors        
106
  General powers of Company vested in Directors     25  
107
  Establishment of local boards     25  
108
  Powers of attorney     25  
109
  Delegation to individual Directors     26  
110
  Registers     26  
111
  Power to borrow money and give security     26  
112
  Pensions     27  
113
  Provision for employees     27  
             
        Page  
 
 
 
  Proceedings of the Directors        
114
  Meetings of Directors     27  
115
  Notice of meetings     27  
116
  Quorum     27  
117
  Effect of vacancies in number of Directors     27  
118
  Power to appoint chairman     27  
119
  Competence of meetings     27  
120
  Voting     27  
121
  Delegation to committees     27  
122
  Delegation to Chief Executive Officer     28  
123
  Participation in meetings by telephone     28  
124
  Resolution in writing     28  
125
  Validity of acts of Directors or committee     28  
126
  Minutes to be made     28  
 
           
 
  Seals        
127
  Use of seals     28  
 
           
 
  Dividends and Other Payments        
128
  Application of profits     28  
129
  Declaration of dividends     29  
130
  Interim dividends     29  
131
  Dividends to be paid according to amounts paid     29  
 
  up on shares        
132
  Debts may be deducted     29  
133
  Dividend not to bear interest against the Company     29  
134
  Payment procedures     29  
135
  Unclaimed dividends     29  
136
  Dividends in specie     29  
 
           
 
  Capitalisation of Profits        
137
  Power to capitalise profits     29  
138
  Scrip Dividends     30  
139
  Settlement of difficulties in distribution on     30  
 
  capitalisation of profits        
 
           
 
  Record Dates and Accounting Records        
140
  Record dates     30  
141
  Inspection of records     31  
 
           
 
  Service of Notices and Other Documents        
142
  Service of notices     31  
143
  Members resident abroad     31  
144
  When notice deemed served     31  
145
  Service of notice to person entitled by transmission     31  
146
  Notice when post not available and notice given     32  
 
  by advertisement        
 
           
 
  Destruction of Documents        
147
  Consequences of destruction of documents     32  
 
           
 
  Winding-Up        
148
  Order of priority in winding-up     32  
 
           
 
  Indemnity        
149
  Indemnification of Directors     32  


     
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010
  1

 


 

         
    Page  
 
 
CAPITAL ALTERATIONS
       
12th October, 1937
    33  
Special Resolution for Reduction of Capital to £117,000,000; conversion of 4,015,310 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each into 4,015,310 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each; consolidation of 24,850,752 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares of 5s. each and conversion into 6,212,688 Ordinary Shares of £1 each; conversion of 7,000,000 20 per cent. Cumulative A Preferred Ordinary Shares of £1 each into 7,000,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 each; subdivision of 2,150,000 Ordinary Shares of £10 each into 21,500,000 Ordinary Shares of £1 each; increase of capital to £141,418,750; conversion of unissued shares into stock when issued and fully paid; and change of name of Company to Lever Brothers & Unilever Limited
       
 
       
15th November, 1937
    34  
Order of the High Court sanctioning the Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation between Unilever Limited and its Stockholders and Lever Brothers, Limited and confirming the reduction of the capital to £117,000,000
       
 
       
15th November, 1937
    35  
Minute approved by the Court on reduction of capital
       
 
       
30th November, 1937
    36  
Certificate of registration of the above mentioned Order of the High Court and Minute on reduction of capital
       
 
       
27th February, 1952
    37  
Special Resolution to change name of Company to Unilever Limited
       
 
       
20th September, 1966
    37  
Special Resolutions for Reduction of Capital by the cancellation of assented Preferential Stock (as defined in the Scheme of Arrangement dated 25th August, 1966 between Unilever Limited and its six classes of members) and of the 1,655,310 unissued 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each and the 24,338,251 unissued 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Shares of £1 each; increase of capital to £141,418,750; redesignation of Preference and Preferred Ordinary Stock and Shares
       
 
       
24th October, 1966
    38  
Order of the High Court sanctioning (with modifications) Scheme of Arrangement dated 25th August, 1966, between Unilever Limited and its six classes of members as set forth in the First Schedule to the Order; confirming the reduction of the capital to £64,274,506; approving Minute (on reduction of capital) as set forth in the Second Schedule to the Order
       
         
    Page  
 
 
5th December, 1966
    45  
Certificate of registration on 2nd December, 1966 of the above mentioned Order of the High Court dated 24th October, 1966 and relative Minute on reduction of capital
       
 
       
12th December, 1983
    46  
Special Resolution for the Reduction of Capital by the cancellation of 24,993,904 Ordinary Shares and the increase of the authorised Capital to £141,418,750
       
 
       
24th January, 1984
    47  
Order of the High Court confirming the reduction of capital from £141,418,750 to £135,170,274 and Minute approved by the Court
       
 
       
14th February, 1984
    49  
Certificate of registration on 27th January, 1984 of the above mentioned Order of the High Court dated 24th January, 1984 and relative Minute on reduction of capital
       
 
       
23rd January, 1989
    50  
Special Resolution for the Reduction of Capital by the repayment of the 7 per cent. and 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stocks, the 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock and the 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares
       
 
       
23rd January, 1989
    50  
Extraordinary Resolution at Class Meeting of the holders of the 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference relating to the Reduction of Capital referred to above
       
 
       
23rd January, 1989
    51  
Extraordinary Resolutions at Class Meetings of the holders of 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stocks and the 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock relating to the Reduction of Capital referred to above
       
 
       
23rd January, 1989
    52  
Extraordinary Resolutions at Class Meeting of the holders of the 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares relating to the Reduction of Capital referred to above
       
 
       
27th February, 1989
    53  
Order of the High Court confirming the Reduction of Capital from £141,418,750 to £136,275,682 and Minute approved by the Court
       
 
       
13th March, 1989
    55  
Certificate of registration on 2nd March, 1989 of the above mentioned Order of the High Court dated 27th February, 1989 and the relative Minute on Reduction of Capital
       


     
2
  Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

         
    Page  
 
 
SPECIAL AND OTHER RESOLUTIONS
       
18th June, 1931
    56  
Resolution for Conversion of Shares into Stock
       
 
       
12th July, 1951
    56  
Resolution of Ordinary Stockholders sanctioning modification of the terms of the Agreement dated 28th June, 1946 between Lever Brothers & Unilever N.V. and the Company referred to in Article 3 of the Company’s Articles of Association
       
 
       
27th October, 1961
    57  
Resolution re-converting the issued Ordinary Stock into Ordinary Shares of 5s. 0d. each and sub-dividing the unissued Ordinary Shares of £1 each into Ordinary Shares of 5s. 0d. each
       
 
       
Special Resolution relating to resolutions for conversion of Shares into Stock ceasing to apply to the Ordinary Share capital
       
 
       
17th May, 1978
    57  
Resolution re-converting 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock into Shares
       
 
       
9th April, 1981
    58  
Resolution of the Directors to re-register as a public company and to amend the Memorandum of Association
       
 
       
18th May, 1983
    58  
Special Resolution adopting new Clause 3 of the Memorandum of Association
       
 
       
20th May, 1987
    59  
Resolution sub-dividing the Ordinary Shares of 25p each into Ordinary Shares of 5p each
       
 
       
Special Resolution adopting new Articles of Association
       
 
       
3rd May, 1989
    59  
Special Resolution amending the Articles of Association on repayment of Preference Stocks and Preferred Ordinary Shares
       
 
       
Special Resolution amending Article 145(a) of the Articles of Association
    60  
 
       
Special Resolution adopting new Article 117 of the Articles of Association
    60  
 
       
4th May, 1994
    62  
Special Resolution amending Article 110 and adopting new Article 158 of the Articles of Association
       
 
       
Special Resolution adopting new Article 127 of the
    62  
Articles of Association
       
         
    Page  
 
 
3rd May, 1995
    63  
Special Resolution adopting new Articles 14, 128 and 141 of the Articles of Association
       
 
       
Special Resolution adopting new Articles 57 and 134 of the Articles of Association
    63  
 
       
Special Resolution adopting new Articles 75 and 76 of the Articles of Association
    64  
 
       
6th May, 1997
    65  
Special Resolution amending Articles 2, 35, 38, 39, 56, 57, 141, 145, 147, 150, 152 and 153 and adopting new Articles 12.1, 12.2, 34, 37, 42 and 70 of the Articles of Association
       
 
       
22nd September, 1997
    67  
Special Resolution adopting new Article 9 and amending Article 83
       
 
       
4th May, 1999
    68  
Special Resolution adopting new Article 9 and amending Article 83
       
 
       
9th May, 2001
    69  
Special Resolution amending Articles 2, 69, 72, 85, 92, 93, 104, 105, 121, 126, 129, 150, 151 and 152 and adopting new Articles 89, 90, 91 and 95
       
 
       
12th May, 2004
    72  
Special Resolution amending Articles 2, 77, 118 and 134, adopting new Articles 74, 97, 101, 103, 108, 109 and 130, and deleting Articles 107, 127, 132 and 133
       
 
       
Special Resolution amending Articles 3, 11, 44, 56, 72,
    74  
75, 110, 144, 145, 156 and 158
       
 
       
11th May, 2005
    75  
Special Resolution amending Articles 107 and 108 and substituting Articles 130 and 159
       
 
       
9th May, 2006
    76  
Special resolution substituting Articles 9, 11(C), 99, 101, 102 and 103 and amending Article 109
       
 
       
16th May, 2007
    79  
Special resolutions amending Articles 2, 9, 83, 90(C), 109, 151 and 154 and substituting Article 155(A)
       
 
       
14th May, 2008
    80  
Special resolution adopting new Articles of Association of the Company
       
 
       
12th May, 2010
    80  
Special resolution adopting new Articles of Association of the Company
       


     
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010
  3

 


 

No. 41424 C   N.L. 40439
 
Certificate of Incorporation
of Lever Brothers, Limited
 
I hereby Certify
that LEVER BROTHERS, LIMITED is this day Incorporated under the Companies Acts, 1862 to 1890, and that the Company is Limited.
Given under my hand at London this Twenty-first day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and ninety-four.
Fees and Deed Stamps: £51 5s. 0d.
Stamp Duty on Capital: £1,500.
J. S. PURCELL,
Registrar of Joint Stock Companies.

     
4
  Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

No. 41424
 
Certificate of
Change of Name
 
I hereby Certify
that LEVER BROTHERS, LIMITED having, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the said Company and with the approval of the BOARD OF TRADE, changed its name, is now called LEVER BROTHERS & UNILEVER LIMITED, and I have entered such new name on the Register accordingly.
Given under my hand at London, this Thirty-first day of December,
One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven.
P. MARTIN,
Registrar of Companies.

     
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010
  5

 


 

No. 41424
 
Change of
Name Certificate
pursuant to Section 18(3) of the Companies Act 1948
 
I hereby Certify
that LEVER BROTHERS & UNILEVER LIMITED having, with the sanction of a Special Resolution of the said Company and with the approval of the BOARD OF TRADE, changed its name, is now called UNILEVER LIMITED, and I have entered such new name on the Register accordingly.
Given under my hand at London, this First day of March,
One thousand nine hundred and fifty-two.
J. D. TODD,
Registrar of Companies.

     
6
  Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

No. 41424
 
Certificate of Incorporation on
Re-registration as a Public Company
 
I hereby Certify
that UNILEVER PLC has this day been re-registered under the Companies Acts 1948 to 1980 as a public company, and that the company is limited.
Dated at Cardiff the 1st June, 1981.
D. B. NOTTAGE,
Registrar of Companies.

     
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010
  7

 


 

The Companies Act 1985
Public company limited by shares
 
Articles of Association
of Unilever PLC
(Articles adopted with effect from 12 May, 2010 pursuant to a Special Resolution of the Company dated 12 May, 2010.)
 

INTERPRETATION
Exclusion of Model Articles
1   No articles set out in any statute, or in any statutory instrument made under any statute, concerning companies shall apply as articles of the Company.
Definitions
2   In these articles unless the context otherwise requires:-
 
    “address”, includes a number or address used for sending or receiving documents or information by electronic means;
 
    “these articles” means these articles of association as altered from time to time by special resolution and the expression “this article” shall be construed accordingly;
 
    “the auditors” means the auditors for the time being of the Company or, in the case of joint auditors, any one of them;
 
    “the Bank of England base rate” means the base lending rate most recently set by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England in connection with its responsibilities under Part 2 of the Bank of England Act 1998;
 
    “certificated share” means a share which is not an uncertificated share;
 
    “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means that period excluding the day when the notice is served or deemed to be served and the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect;
 
    “the Companies Acts” means every statute (including any order, regulations or other subordinated legislation made under it) from time to time in force concerning companies in so far as the same applies to the Company;
 
    “Company” means Unilever PLC;
 
    “the Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company for the time being;
 
    “the holder” in relation to any shares means the member whose name is entered in the register as the holder of those shares;
 
    “the office” means the registered office for the time being of the Company;
    “paid up” means paid up or credited as paid up;
 
    “participating class” means a class of shares title to which is permitted by an Operator to be transferred by means of a relevant system;
 
    “person entitled by transmission” means a person whose entitlement to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or of any other event giving rise to its transmission by operation of law has been noted in the register;
 
    “the register” means the register of members of the Company;
 
    “seal” means any common or official seal that the Company may be permitted to have under the Companies Acts;
 
    “the Secretary” means the secretary, or (if there are joint secretaries) any one of the joint secretaries, of the Company and includes an assistant or deputy secretary and any person appointed by the Directors to perform any of the duties of the secretary;
 
    “shares” includes stock;
 
    “uncertificated share” means a share of a class which is for the time being a participating class, title to which is recorded on the register as being held in uncertificated form;
 
    “the uncertificated securities rules” means provisions of the Companies Acts relating to the holding, evidencing of title to, or transfer of uncertificated shares and any legislation, rules or other arrangements made under or by virtue of such provision;
 
    “Unilever N.V.” means Unilever N.V. of Rotterdam in the Netherlands (company number 24051830) or any company which is inserted as a holding company and parent of Unilever N.V. under any form of corporate reconstruction or reorganisation and which becomes a party to the Equalisation Agreement referred to in article 3;
 
    “United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
 
    references to a document being executed include references to its being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method except authentication as specified by the Companies Acts;


8            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

    references to a document being signed or to signature include references to it being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method and, in the case of a communication in electronic form, such references are to its being authenticated as specified by the Companies Acts;
 
    references to writing include references to any method of representing or reproducing words in a legible and non-transitory form whether sent or supplied in electronic form or otherwise and written shall be construed accordingly;
 
    words or expressions to which a particular meaning is given by the Companies Acts or the uncertificated securities rules in force when these articles or any part of these articles are adopted bear the same meaning in these articles or that part (as the case may be) save that the word “company” shall include any body corporate; references to a meeting shall not be taken as requiring more than one person to be present if any quorum requirement can be satisfied by one person; and headings and notes are included only for convenience and shall not affect construction.
AGREEMENT FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS AND ASSETS
Agreement with Unilever N.V.
3   The Company having entered into an Agreement dated 28th June, 1946 (as amended by Supplemental Agreements dated 20th July, 1951, 21st December, 1981, 15th May, 2006 and 20th May, 2009) with Unilever N.V. of the Netherlands known as the Equalisation Agreement for the distribution of profits and assets of both companies the Directors shall carry the same into effect, with full power nevertheless from time to time, subject to the sanctions hereinafter mentioned, to agree to any modification of the terms of the said Agreement and the provisions of these articles shall be subject to the said Agreement. No modification of the terms of the said Agreement shall be made without the previous sanction of:
 
    (A)  an ordinary resolution of the Company in general meeting; and
 
    (B)  an ordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the Ordinary Shares,
 
    and the provisions of article 11 shall apply to the separate general meeting hereinbefore mentioned, except only that the quorum necessary for the said meeting shall be the holders of a majority in nominal value of the Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy, but so that, if at any adjourned separate general meeting of the holders of the Ordinary Shares such quorum be not present, those holders who are present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.
LIMITED LIABILITY
Limited liability
4   The liability of members of the Company is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares in the Company held by them.
SHARE CAPITAL
Rights attached to shares
5   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and to any rights conferred on the holders of any other shares, any share may be issued with or have attached to it such rights and restrictions as the Company may by ordinary resolution decide or, if no such resolution has been passed or so far as the resolution does not make specific provision, as the Directors may decide. Such rights and restrictions shall apply to the relevant shares as if the same were set out in these articles.
Redemption of shares
6   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts and to any rights conferred on the holders of any class of shares, any share may be issued which is to be redeemed, or is to be liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the holder. The Directors may determine the terms, conditions and manner of redemption of any redeemable share so issued. Such terms and conditions shall apply to the relevant shares as if the same were set out in these articles.
Trusts not recognised
7   Except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or as required by law, no person shall be recognised by the Company as holding any share upon any trust and the Company shall not be bound by or required in any way to recognise (even when having notice of it) any interest in any share other than an absolute right to the whole of the share in the holder.
Allotment of shares
8   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts these articles and to any resolution passed by the Company and without prejudice to any rights attaching to existing shares, the Directors may offer, allot, grant options over or otherwise deal with or dispose of shares in the Company to such persons, at such times and for such consideration and upon such terms as the Directors may decide.
Payment of commission
9   The Company may in connection with the issue of any shares or the sale for cash of treasury shares exercise all powers of paying commission and brokerage conferred or permitted by the Companies Acts. Any such commission or brokerage may be satisfied by the payment of cash or by the allotment of fully or partly-paid shares or other securities or partly in one way and partly in the other.
Repayment of capital in a winding-up
10   The Deferred Shares shall confer on the holders thereof the right in a winding-up to repayment of the capital paid up or credited as paid up thereon pari passu with the Ordinary Shares but shall not confer any further right to participation in the surplus assets of the Company.
Modification of rights
11   (A)  So long as the capital is divided into different classes of shares, but subject to the Companies Acts, all or any of the rights and privileges attached to each class may from time to time be modified or abrogated in any manner with the consent in writing


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           9


 

    of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares) or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of shares of the class. To any such general meeting all the provisions of these articles as to general meetings of the Company shall mutatis mutandis apply but so that the necessary quorum shall be two persons at least holding or representing by proxy one-third of the capital paid up on the issued shares of the class (excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares), that every holder of shares of the class shall be entitled on a poll to one vote for every such share held by him, that every holder of shares of the class present in person or by proxy may demand a poll and that if at any adjourned meeting a quorum as above defined be not present those of such holders who are present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.
 
    (B)  Any increase in the number of Deferred Shares shall be deemed to be an alteration of the rights and privileges attaching to the Deferred Shares.
 
    (C)  Any alteration of the rights set out in article 90 shall be treated as a variation of the class rights of the holders of the Deferred Shares provided, however, that an alteration to such rights may be effected (without any such consent or sanction as aforesaid) by a resolution passed at a general meeting of the Company by a majority consisting of not less than two-thirds of such members as being entitled to vote at such meeting in person or by proxy, such majority comprising the holders of not less than one-half in nominal value of the entire issued share capital for the time being of the Company (but excluding any shares held as treasury shares) and being computed by reference to the number of votes to which each member is entitled by virtue of these articles.
 
    (D)  Subject as aforesaid the rights and privileges attached to any class shall for the purposes of this article not be deemed to be modified unless the modification prejudicially affects such rights or privileges
EVIDENCE OF TITLE TO SHARES
Uncertificated shares
12   (A)  Pursuant and subject to the uncertificated securities rules, the Directors may permit title to shares of any class to be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate and title to shares of such a class to be transferred by means of a relevant system and may make arrangements for a class of shares (if all shares of that class are in all respects identical) to become a participating class. Title to shares of a particular class may only be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate where that class of shares is for the time being a participating class. The Directors may also, subject to compliance with the uncertificated securities rules, determine at any time that title to any class of shares may from a date specified by the Directors no longer be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate or that title to such a class shall cease to be transferred by means of any particular relevant system.
(B) In relation to a class of shares which is, for the time being, a participating class and for so long as it remains a participating class, no provision of these articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is inconsistent in any respect with:
(i) the holding of shares of that class in uncertificated form;
(ii) the transfer of title to shares of that class by means of a relevant system; and
(iii) any provision of the uncertificated securities rules,
and, without prejudice to the generality of this article, no provision of these articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is in any respect inconsistent with the maintenance, keeping or entering up by the Operator, so long as that is permitted or required by the uncertificated securities rules, of an Operator register of securities in respect of that class of shares in uncertificated form.
(C) Shares of a class which is for the time being a participating class may be changed from uncertificated to certificated form, and from certificated to uncertificated form, in accordance with and subject as provided in the uncertificated securities rules, and the Directors shall record on the register of members that the shares are held in certificated or uncertificated form as appropriate.
(D) If, under these articles or the Companies Acts, the Company is entitled to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, forfeit, re-allot, accept the surrender of or otherwise enforce a lien over an uncertificated share, then, subject to these articles and the Companies Acts, such entitlement shall include the right of the board to:
(i) require the holder of that uncertificated share by notice in writing to change that share from uncertificated to certificated form within such period as may be specified in the notice and keep it as a certificated share for as long as the board requires;
(ii) appoint any person to take such other steps, by instruction given by means of a relevant system or otherwise, in the name of the holder of such share as may be required to effect the transfer of such share and such steps shall be as effective as if they had been taken by the registered holder of that share; and
(iii) take such other action that the board considers appropriate to achieve the sale, transfer, disposal, forfeiture, re-allotment or surrender of that share or otherwise to enforce a lien in respect of that share.
(E) Unless the Directors otherwise determine, shares which a member holds in uncertificated form shall be treated as separate holdings from any shares which that member holds in certificated form. However shares held in uncertificated form shall not be treated as forming a class which is separate from certificated shares with the same rights.


10            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

    (F)  Unless the Directors otherwise determine or the uncertificated securities rules otherwise require, any shares issued or created out of or in respect of any uncertificated shares shall be uncertificated shares and any shares issued or created out of or in respect of any certificated shares shall be certificated shares.
 
    (G)  The Company shall be entitled to assume that the entries on any record of securities maintained by it in accordance with the uncertificated securities rules and regularly reconciled with the relevant Operator register of securities are a complete and accurate reproduction of the particulars entered in the Operator register of securities and shall accordingly not be liable in respect of any act or thing done or omitted to be done by or on behalf of the Company in reliance on such assumption; in particular, any provision of these articles which requires or envisages that action will be taken in reliance on information contained in the register shall be construed to permit that action to be taken in reliance on information contained in any relevant record of securities (as so maintained and reconciled).
Certificated shares
13   Subject to the provisions of the uncertificated securities rules, the rules of any relevant system and these articles, every person (except a person to whom the Company is not by law required to issue a certificate) whose name is entered in the register as a holder of any certificated shares shall be entitled, without payment, to receive within two months after allotment or lodgment of a transfer to him of the shares or within two months after the relevant Operator-instruction is received by the Company (or within such other period as the terms of issue shall provide) one certificate for all the shares of any one class or several certificates each for one or more of the shares of the class in question upon payment for every certificate after the first of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as the Directors may from time to time decide. In the case of a certificated share held jointly by several persons, delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. A member who has transferred some of the shares comprised in his holding shall be entitled to a certificate for the balance without charge.
Replacement of certificates
14   If a share certificate is defaced, worn out, lost or destroyed, it may be replaced without fee but on such terms (if any) as to evidence and indemnity and to payment of the costs and any exceptional out-of-pocket expenses of the Company in investigating the evidence and preparing the indemnity as the Directors may decide and, where it is defaced or worn out, after delivery of the old certificate to the Company.
Execution of share certificates
15   Every share certificate shall be executed under a seal or in such other manner as the Directors having regard to the terms of issue and any listing requirements may authorise and shall specify the number and class of shares to which it relates and the amount or respective amounts paid up on the shares. The Directors may by resolution decide, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any share
    certificates need not be autographic but may be applied to the certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed on them or that the certificates need not be signed by any person.
LIEN
Company’s lien on shares not fully paid
16   The Company shall have a first and paramount lien on every share (not being a fully paid share) for all amounts payable to the Company (whether presently or not) in respect of that share. The Company’s lien on a share shall extend to all distributions and other amounts payable in respect of it. The Directors may at any time either generally or in any particular case waive any lien that has arisen or declare any share to be wholly or in part exempt from the provisions of this article.
Enforcing lien by sale
17   The Company may sell, in such manner as the Directors may decide, any shares on which the Company has a lien if a sum in respect of which the lien exists is presently payable and is not paid within 7 clear days after a notice in writing has been served on the holder of the shares, demanding payment and stating that if the notice is not complied with the shares may be sold. For giving effect to the sale the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares sold to or in accordance with the directions of the purchaser.
Validity of sales
18   The transferee shall be registered as the holder of the shares and he shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money, nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. After his name has been registered the validity of the sale shall not be impeached by any person, and the remedy of any person aggrieved by the sale shall be in damages only and against the Company exclusively.
Application of proceeds of sale
19   The net proceeds, after payment of the costs, of the sale by the Company of any shares on which it has a lien shall be applied in or towards payment or discharge of the debt or liability in respect of which the lien exists so far as it is presently payable, and any residue shall (subject to a like lien for debts or liabilities not presently payable as existed upon the shares prior to the sale and upon surrender, if required by the Company, for cancellation of the certificate for the shares sold) be paid to the holder immediately before the sale.
CALLS ON SHARES
Calls
20   The Directors may from time to time make calls upon the members in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares (whether on account of the nominal amount of the shares or by way of premium) and not payable on a date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue, and each member shall (subject to the Company serving upon him at least fourteen clear days’ notice specifying the time or times and place of payment)


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           11


 

    pay to the Company at the time or times and place so specified the amount called on his shares. A call may be revoked or postponed as the Directors may decide. A person upon whom a call is made shall remain liable for the call notwithstanding the subsequent transfer of the shares in respect of which the call was made.
Payment on calls
21   A call may be made payable by instalments and shall be deemed to have been made at the time when the resolution of the Directors authorising the call was passed.
Liability of joint holders
22   The joint holders of a share shall be jointly and severally liable to pay all calls in respect of the share.
Interest due on non-payment
23   If a call remains unpaid after it has become due and payable, the person from whom it is due and payable shall pay interest on the amount unpaid from the day it is due and payable to the time of actual payment at such rate (not exceeding the Bank of England base rate by more than five percentage points) as the Directors may decide, and all expenses that have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment, but the Directors shall be at liberty in any case or cases to waive payment of the interest or expenses wholly or in part.
Sums due on allotment to be treated as calls
24   Any sum which becomes payable on allotment or on any other date fixed by or in accordance with the terms of issue, whether on account of the nominal amount of the share or by way of premium, shall be deemed to be a call made, notified and payable on the date on which, by the terms of issue, it becomes payable and, in case of non-payment, all the relevant provisions of these articles as to payment of interest, forfeiture or otherwise shall apply as if the sum had become payable by virtue of a call properly made and notified.
Power to differentiate
25   The Directors may on the issue of shares differentiate between the allottees or holders as to the amount of calls to be paid and the times of payment.
Payment of calls in advance
26   The Directors may, if they think fit, receive from any member who is willing to advance them all or any part of the moneys uncalled and unpaid upon any shares held by him and upon all or any of the moneys so advanced may (until they would, but for the advance, become presently payable) pay interest at such rate, (not exceeding the Bank of England base rate by more than five percentage points unless the Company by ordinary resolution shall otherwise direct) as the Directors may decide.
FORFEITURE OF SHARES
Notice may be given if call or instalment not paid
27   If any call or instalment of a call remains unpaid on any share after the day appointed for payment, the Directors may at any time serve a notice on the holder requiring payment of so much
    of the call or instalment as is unpaid, together with any interest which may have accrued, and all expenses that may have been incurred by the Company by reason of such non-payment.
Form of notice
28   The notice shall name a further day (not being less than fourteen clear days from the date of the notice) on or before which, and the place where, the payment required by the notice is to be made and shall state that in the event of non-payment on or before the day and at the place appointed, the shares in respect of which the call was made or instalment is payable will be liable to be forfeited. The Directors may accept the surrender of any share liable to be forfeited and, in that event, references in these articles to forfeiture shall include surrender.
Forfeiture of shares if non-compliance with notice
29   If the requirements of the notice are not complied with, any share in respect of which it was given may, at any time before payment of all calls or instalments and interest due in respect of it has been made, be forfeited by a resolution of the Directors to that effect and the forfeiture shall include all dividends declared and other moneys payable in respect of the forfeited shares and not paid before the forfeiture.
Notice after forfeiture
30   When any share has been forfeited, notice of the forfeiture shall be served upon the person who was before forfeiture the holder of the share but no forfeiture shall be invalidated by any omission or neglect to give the notice.
Sale of forfeited shares
31   Until cancelled in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Acts, a forfeited share shall be deemed to be the property of the Company and may be sold, re-allotted or otherwise disposed of either to the person who was, before forfeiture, the holder or to any other person upon such terms and in such manner as the Directors shall decide, and at any time before a sale, re-allotment or disposition the forfeiture may be cancelled by the Directors on such terms as the Directors may decide.
Arrears to be paid notwithstanding forfeiture
32   A person whose shares have been forfeited shall cease to be a member in respect of them and shall surrender to the Company for cancellation the certificate for the forfeited shares but shall remain liable to pay to the Company all moneys which at the date of the forfeiture were payable by him to the Company in respect of those shares with interest thereon at such rate (not exceeding the Bank of England base rate by more than five percentage points) as the Directors may decide from the date of forfeiture until payment, and the Company may enforce payment without being under any obligation to make any allowance for the value of the shares forfeited or for any consideration received on their disposal.
Effect of forfeiture
33   The forfeiture of a share shall involve the extinction of all interest in and also of all claims and demands against the Company in respect of the share and all other rights incident to the share,


12            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

    except only such of those rights as by these articles are expressly saved.
Statutory declaration as to forfeiture
34   A statutory declaration that the declarant is a Director of the Company or the Secretary and that a share has been forfeited on a specified date shall be conclusive evidence of the facts stated in it as against all persons claiming to be entitled to the share. The Company may receive the consideration (if any) given for the share on its sale, re-allotment or disposition and the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the share to the person to whom it is sold, re-allotted or disposed of and, if the share is in registered form, he shall be registered as the holder of the share and shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase money (if any) nor shall his title to the share be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the forfeiture, sale, re-allotment or disposal.
TRANSFER OF SHARES
Transfer
35   Subject to such of the restrictions of these articles as may be applicable:-
 
    (A)  any member may transfer all or any of his uncertificated shares by means of a relevant system in such manner provided for, and subject as provided in the uncertificated securities rules, and accordingly no provision of these articles shall apply in respect of an uncertificated share to the extent that it requires or contemplates the effecting of a transfer by an instrument in writing or the production of a certificate for the share to be transferred; and
 
    (B)  any member may transfer all or any of his certificated shares by an instrument of transfer in any usual form or in any other form which the Directors may approve.
Execution of transfer
36   The instrument of transfer of a certificated share shall be executed by or on behalf of the transferor and (in the case of a partly paid share) the transferee, and the transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the share concerned until the name of the transferee is entered in the register in respect of it. All instruments of transfer, when registered, may be retained by the Company. The transfer books may be closed during such time as the Directors think fit, not exceeding in the whole thirty days in each year.
Right to decline to register transfer of partly paid shares
37   The Directors can decline to register any transfer of any share which is not a fully paid share.
Further rights to decline to register transfer
38   (A)  Registration of a transfer of an uncertificated share can be declined in the circumstances set out in the uncertificated securities rules, and where, in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the uncertificated share is to be transferred exceeds four.
    (B)  The Directors may decline to register any transfer of a certificated share unless:-
 
    (i)  the instrument of transfer is duly stamped or duly certified or otherwise shown to the satisfaction of the Directors to be exempt from stamp duty and is left at the office or such other place as the Directors may from time to time determine accompanied (save in the case of a transfer by a person to whom the Company is not required by law to issue a certificate and to whom a certificate has not been issued) by the certificate for the share to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the person signing the instrument of transfer to make the transfer and, if the instrument of transfer is signed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person so to do;
 
    (ii)  the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share; and
 
    (iii)  in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four.
 
    (C)  For all purposes of these articles relating to the registration of transfers of shares, the renunciation of the allotment of any shares by the allottee in favour of some other person shall be deemed to be a transfer and the Directors shall have the same powers of refusing to give effect to such a renunciation as if it were a transfer.
Notice of refusal
39   If the Directors decline to register a transfer they shall, within two months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged or, in the case of uncertificated shares, within two months after the date on which the relevant Operator-instruction is received, send to the transferee notice of the refusal.
No fee payable on registration
40   No fee shall be charged by the Company for registering any transfer or document relating to or affecting the title to any share or for making any other entry in the register.
TRANSMISSION OF SHARES
Transmission of registered shares on death
41   If a member dies, the survivor or survivors, where he was a joint holder, and his personal representatives, where he was a sole holder or the only survivor of joint holders, shall be the only persons recognised by the Company as having any title to his shares; but nothing contained in these articles shall release the estate of a deceased holder from any liability in respect of any share held by him solely or jointly with other persons.
Entry of transmission in register
42   Where the entitlement of a person to a share in consequence of the death or bankruptcy of a member or of any other event giving rise to its transmission by operation of law is proved to the satisfaction of the Directors, the Directors shall cause the entitlement of that person to be noted in the register.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           13


 

Election of person entitled by transmission
43   Any person entitled by transmission to a share may, subject as provided elsewhere in these articles, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder. If he elects to be registered himself, he shall give notice to the Company to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered, he shall transfer title to the share to that person. All the provisions of these articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply to the notice or transfer as if the death or bankruptcy of the member or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or transfer was given or executed by the member.
Rights of person entitled by transmission
44   Where a person becomes entitled by transmission to a share, the rights of the holder in relation to that share shall cease, but the person entitled by transmission to the share may give a good discharge for any dividends or other moneys payable in respect of it and shall have the same rights in relation to the share as he would have had if he were the holder of it, provided that, in order to vote at any general meeting in respect thereof, he shall have satisfied the Directors of his entitlement 48 hours at least before the time of holding the meeting at which he proposes to vote, or the Directors have previously admitted his right to vote in respect thereof. The Directors may at any time give notice requiring the person to elect either to be registered himself or to transfer the share and if the notice is not complied with within sixty days the Directors may withhold payment of all dividends and other moneys payable in respect of the share until the requirements of the notice have been complied with or, where the share is fully paid up, may deem the person to have elected to be registered as a member in respect thereof and he may be registered accordingly.
CONVERSION OF SHARES INTO STOCK
Conversion of shares into stock
45   The Company in general meeting may convert any paid-up shares (excluding any shares held as treasury shares) into stock and may reconvert any stock into paid-up shares of any denomination. When any shares have been converted into stock the several holders of such stock may thenceforth transfer their respective interests therein or any part of such interest in the same manner and subject to the same regulations and restrictions as and subject to which shares in the Company’s capital may then be transferred or as near thereto as circumstances will admit. But the Directors may from time to time, if they think fit, fix the minimum amount of stock transferable, and direct that fractions of a pound shall not be dealt with, with power, nevertheless, at their discretion to waive such rules in any particular case.
Rights of stockholders
46   The stock shall confer on the holders thereof respectively the same privileges and advantages as regards participation in profits and voting at meetings of the Company, and for other purposes as would have been conferred by shares of equal amount in the capital of the Company, of the same class as the
    shares from which such stock was converted, but so that none of such privileges or advantages except the participation in profits of the Company or in the assets of the Company on a winding-up shall be conferred by any such aliquot part of stock as would not, if existing in shares, have conferred such privileges or advantages. No such conversion shall prejudice or affect any preference or other special privilege attached to the shares so converted. Save as aforesaid all the provisions herein contained shall, so far as circumstances will admit, apply to stock as well as to shares. The stock resulting from the conversion of any class of shares into stock shall be described in the same manner as such class with the substitution of the word “stock” for shares.
SHARE WARRANTS TO BEARER
Issue of share warrants
47   No share warrants shall be issued in respect of any Deferred Shares of the Company, but subject to this provision the Company is hereby authorised to issue share warrants under the powers given by the Companies Acts, and the Directors may accordingly, with respect to any shares which are fully paid-up (in any case in which they shall in their discretion think fit so to do), upon an application in writing signed by the person registered as the holder of such shares and authenticated by such statutory declaration or other evidence (if any) as the Directors may from time to time require as to the identity of the person signing the request, and upon receiving the certificate (if any) of such shares, and the amount of the stamp duty on such warrant, or if the Company shall previously have compounded for such stamp duty, then such sum (if any) as the Directors may determine in respect of the amount payable for such composition, and such fee as the Directors may from time to time require, issue under a seal at the expense in all respects of the person applying for the same a warrant duly stamped stating that the bearer of the warrant is entitled to the shares therein specified, and may, in any case in which a warrant is so issued, provide by coupons or otherwise for the payment of the future dividends or other moneys on the shares included in such warrant.
Bearer of warrants deemed a member of the Company
48   Subject to the provisions of these articles and of the Companies Acts, the bearer of a warrant shall be deemed to be a member of the Company and shall be entitled to the same privileges and advantages as he would have had if his name had been included in the register as the holder of the shares specified in such warrant.
Restrictions on attending and voting at meetings
49   No person shall as bearer of a warrant, be entitled (a) to sign a requisition for calling a meeting or to give notice of intention to submit a resolution to a meeting, or (b) to attend or vote by himself or his proxy, or exercise any privilege as a member at a meeting, unless he shall, in case (a) before or at the time of lodging such requisition or giving such notice of intention as aforesaid, or in case (b) three days at least before the day fixed for the meeting, have deposited at the office or at such other place as may be specified in the notice the warrant in respect


14            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

    of which he claims to act, attend or vote as aforesaid, and unless the warrant shall remain so deposited until after the meeting and any adjournment thereof shall have been held.
One name only to be received as holder of share warrant
50   Not more than one name shall be received as that of the holder of a warrant.
Issue of deposit certificate in respect of share warrants
51   To any person so depositing a warrant there shall be delivered a certificate stating his name and address, and describing the shares included in the warrant so deposited, and bearing the date of issue of the certificate, and such certificate shall entitle him, or his proxy duly appointed, as hereinafter provided, to attend and vote at any general meeting held within three months from the date of the certificate in the same way as if he were the registered holder of the shares specified in the certificate.
Surrender of deposit certificate
52   Upon delivery up of the certificate to the Company, the bearer of the certificate shall be entitled to receive the warrant in respect of which the certificate was given.
Restriction on exercise of rights of membership
53   The holder of a warrant shall not, save as aforesaid, be entitled to exercise any right as a member, unless (if called upon by any Director or the Secretary so to do) he produces his warrant and states his name and address.
Issue of new share warrants
54   The Directors may from time to time make regulations as to the terms upon which, if they in their discretion think fit, a new warrant or coupon may be issued in any case in which a warrant or coupon may have been worn out, defaced or destroyed, but no new warrant may be issued to replace one that has been destroyed unless the Directors are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the original has been destroyed.
Transfer of share warrants
55   The shares included in any warrant shall be transferred by the delivery of the warrant without any written transfer and without registration, and to shares so included the provisions hereinbefore contained with reference to the transfer of shares shall not apply.
Issue of shares on surrender of share warrants
56   Upon the surrender of his warrant together with the outstanding dividend coupons, if any, in respect thereof to the Company for cancellation, the bearer of a warrant shall be entitled to have his name entered as a member in the register in respect of the shares included in the warrant, but the Company shall in no case be responsible for any loss or damage incurred by any person by reason of the Company entering in its register upon the surrender of a warrant the name of any person not the true and lawful owner of the warrant surrendered.
UNTRACED SHAREHOLDERS
Sale of shares of untraced shareholders
57   The Company may sell any shares in the Company on behalf of the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares by instructing a member of the London Stock Exchange plc to sell them in accordance with the best practice then obtaining if:-
 
    (A)  the shares are in certificated form,
 
    (B)  the shares have been in issue either in certificated or uncertificated form throughout the qualifying period and at least three cash dividends have become payable on the shares during the qualifying period,
 
    (C)  no cash dividend payable on the shares has either been claimed by presentation to the paying bank of the relative cheque or warrant or been satisfied by the transfer of funds to a bank account designated by the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares or by the transfer of funds by means of a relevant system at any time during the relevant period,
 
    (D)  so far as any Director of the Company at the end of the relevant period is then aware, the Company has not at any time during the relevant period received any communication from the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares, and
 
    (E)  the Company has caused two advertisements to be published, one in a daily newspaper with a national circulation in the United Kingdom and the other in a newspaper circulating in the area of the address of the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares shown in the register, giving notice of its intention to sell the shares and a period of three months has elapsed from the date of publication of the advertisements or of the last of the two advertisements to be published if they are published on different dates.
 
    For the purpose of this article:
 
    “the qualifying period” means the period of twelve years immediately preceding the date of publication of the advertisements referred to in sub-paragraph (E) above or of the first of the two advertisements to be published if they are published on different dates; and
 
    “the relevant period” means the period beginning at the commencement of the qualifying period and ending on the date when all the requirements of sub-paragraphs (A) to (E) above have been satisfied.
 
    If, after the publication of either or both of the advertisements referred to in sub-paragraph (E) above but before the Company has become entitled to sell the shares pursuant to this paragraph of this article, the requirements of sub-paragraph (C) or (D) above cease to be satisfied, the Company may nevertheless sell those shares after the requirements of sub-paragraphs (A) to (E) above have been satisfied afresh in relation to them.


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    If during any relevant period further shares have been issued in right of those held at the beginning of that relevant period or of any previously so issued during that relevant period and all the requirements of sub-paragraphs (A) and (C) to (E) above have been satisfied in regard to the further shares, the Company may also sell the further shares.
 
    To give effect to any sale of shares pursuant to this paragraph of this article the Directors may authorise some person to transfer the shares in question and an instrument of transfer executed by that person shall be as effective as if it had been executed by the holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares. The purchaser shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase moneys nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity or invalidity in the proceedings relating to the sale. The net proceeds of sale shall belong to the Company and, upon their receipt, the Company shall become indebted to the former holder of, or person entitled by transmission to, the shares for an amount equal to the net proceeds unless and until forfeited under this article. No trust shall be created in respect of the debt and no interest shall be payable in respect of it and the Company shall not be required to account for any moneys earned from the net proceeds which may be employed in the business of the Company or as it thinks fit. If no valid claim for the money has been received by the Company during a period of six years from the date on which the relevant shares were sold by the Company under this article, the money will be forfeited and will belong to the Company.
Cessation of sending dividend payments
58   The Company may cease to send any cheque or warrant or other financial instrument through the post or employ any other means of payment, including by means of a relevant system, for any dividend payable on any shares in the Company which is normally paid in that manner on those shares if either (a) in respect of at least two consecutive dividends payable on those shares the cheques or warrants or other financial instruments have been returned undelivered or remain uncashed or that means of payment has failed or (b) following one such occasion reasonable enquiries have failed to establish any new address or account of the registered holder. Subject to the provisions of these articles, the Company may recommence sending cheques or warrants or other financial instruments or employing such other means in respect of dividends payable on those shares if the holder or person entitled by transmission requests such recommencement in writing.
ALTERATION OF CAPITAL
Sub-division
59   Any resolution authorising the Company to sub-divide its shares or any of them may determine that, as between the shares resulting from the sub-division, any of them may have any preference or advantage or be subject to any restriction as compared with the others.
Fractions
60   Whenever as a result of a consolidation, any members would become entitled to fractions of a share, the Directors may deal with the fractions as they think fit and in particular may sell the shares representing the fractions to any person (including, subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, the Company) and distribute the net proceeds of sale in due proportion among those members and the Directors may authorise some person to transfer or deliver the shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, the purchaser. The person to whom any shares are transferred or delivered shall not be bound to see to the application of the purchase moneys nor shall his title to the shares be affected by any irregularity in, or invalidity of, the proceedings relating to the sale.
GENERAL MEETINGS
Insufficient Directors within the United Kingdom
61   If at any time there are not within the United Kingdom sufficient Directors capable of acting to form a quorum, any Director or any two members of the Company may convene a general meeting in the same manner as nearly as possible as that in which meetings may be convened by the Directors.
NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS
Omission or non-receipt of notice
62   (A)  The accidental omission to give any notice of a meeting or the accidental omission to send any document relating to any meeting, or the non-receipt (even if the Company becomes aware of such non-receipt) of any such notice or document or other information, by any person entitled to receive the notice or document shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting; and
 
    (B)  A member present in person or by proxy at a meeting shall be deemed to have received proper notice of that meeting and, where applicable, of the purpose of that meeting.
PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS
Quorum
63   No business shall be transacted at any general meeting (except the declaration and sanction of a dividend) unless a quorum is present when the meeting proceeds to business, but the absence of a quorum shall not preclude the choice or appointment of a chairman which shall not be treated as part of the business of the meeting. Save as otherwise provided by these articles, seven members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall be quorum for all purposes.
Dissolution and adjournment of meeting if quorum not present
64   If within five minutes (or such longer time not exceeding one hour as the chairman of the meeting may decide to wait) after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, shall be dissolved and in any other case it shall stand adjourned


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    to such other day (not being less than ten clear days later) and at such other time or place as the chairman of the meeting may decide and at such adjourned meeting one member present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote (whatever the number of shares held by him) shall be a quorum and the notice of the adjourned meeting shall state that one member present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote (whatever the number of shares held by him) shall be a quorum.
Chairman of general meeting
65   The chairman (if any) of the Directors or, in his absence, a vice chairman (if any) shall preside as chairman at every general meeting. If there is no chairman or vice chairman, or if at any meeting neither the chairman nor any vice chairman is present within five minutes after the time appointed for the commencement of the meeting, or if neither the chairman nor any vice chairman is willing to act as chairman, the Directors present shall choose one of their number to act, or if one Director only is present he shall preside as chairman if willing to act. If no Director is present, or if each of the Directors present declines to take the chair, the persons present and entitled to vote shall appoint one of their number to be chairman.
Entitlement to attend and speak
66   Each Director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company.
Adjournments and notice of adjournment
67   (A)  The chairman may at any time without the consent of the meeting adjourn any meeting (whether or not it has commenced or a quorum is present) either sine die or to another time or place where it appears to him that (a) the members entitled to vote wishing to attend cannot be conveniently accommodated in the place appointed for the meeting or (b) the conduct of persons present prevents or is likely to prevent the orderly continuation of business or (c) an adjournment is otherwise necessary so that the business of the meeting may be properly conducted. In addition, the chairman may at any time with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting either sine die or to another time or place. When a meeting is adjourned sine die the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Directors. No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place.
 
    (B)  When a meeting is adjourned for three months or more, or sine die, or if business is to be transacted at an adjourned meeting the general nature of which was not stated in the notice of the original meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Except as provided in this article, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.
Amendments to resolutions
68   In the case of a resolution duly proposed as a special resolution no amendment thereto (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may be considered or voted upon and in the case of a resolution duly proposed as an ordinary resolution no amendment thereto (other than an amendment to correct a patent error) may be considered or voted upon unless either at least two working days prior to the date appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which such ordinary resolution is to be proposed notice in writing of the terms of the amendment and intention to move the same has been received by the Company at the office or the chairman of the meeting in his absolute discretion decides that it may be considered or voted upon. With the consent of the chairman of the meeting, an amendment may be withdrawn by its proposer before it is put to the vote.
Security and other arrangements at general meetings
69   The Directors may direct that members or proxies wishing to attend any general meeting should submit to such searches or other security arrangements or restrictions as the Directors shall consider appropriate in the circumstances and shall be entitled in their absolute discretion to (or to authorise some one or more persons to) refuse entry to, or to eject from, such general meeting to any member or proxy who fails to submit to such searches or to otherwise comply with such security arrangements or restrictions.
 
    In the case of any general meeting the Directors may, notwithstanding the specification in the notice of the place of the general meeting (the “Principal Place”) at which the chairman of the meeting shall preside, make arrangements for simultaneous attendance and participation at other places by members and proxies entitled to attend the general meeting but excluded from the Principal Place under the provisions of this article.
 
    Such arrangements for simultaneous attendance at the meeting may include arrangements regarding the level of attendance at the other places provided that they shall operate so that any members and proxies excluded from attendance at the Principal Place are able to attend at one of the other places. For the purpose of all other provisions of these articles any such meeting shall be treated as being held and taking place at the Principal Place.
 
    The Directors may, for the purpose of facilitating the organisation and administration of any general meeting to which such arrangements apply, from time to time make arrangements, whether involving the issue of tickets (on a basis intended to afford to all members and proxies entitled to attend the meeting an equal opportunity of being admitted to the Principal Place) or the imposition of some random means of selection or otherwise as they shall in their absolute discretion consider to be appropriate, and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make new arrangements in their place and the entitlement of any member or proxy to attend a general meeting at the Principal Place shall be subject to such arrangements as may be for the time being in force whether stated in the


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    notice of the meeting to apply to that meeting or notified to the members concerned subsequent to the provision of the notice of the meeting.
VOTING
Method of voting
70   At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll) a poll is properly demanded. Without prejudice to the other provisions of this article, the chairman may, in his absolute discretion, demand a poll on all or some of the resolutions put to the vote of the meeting before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll. Subject to the Companies Acts, a poll may be demanded by:-
 
    (A)  the chairman of the meeting, or
 
    (B)  at least three members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, or
 
    (C)  any member or members present in person or by proxy and representing in the aggregate not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to attend and vote at the meeting; or
 
    (D)  any member or members present in person or by proxy and holding shares conferring a right to attend and vote at the meeting on which there have been paid-up sums in the aggregate equal to not less than one-tenth of the total sum paid-up on all the shares conferring that right.
 
    Unless a poll is so demanded and the demand is not withdrawn, a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or not carried by a particular majority or lost and an entry to that effect in the book of proceedings of the Company shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded for or against the resolution.
Effect of properly demanded poll
71   If a poll is demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the chairman shall direct and he may appoint scrutineers who need not be members. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.
When poll to be taken
72   A poll demanded on the election of a chairman, or on a question of adjournment, shall be taken forthwith. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either forthwith or on such date (being not later than thirty days after the date of the demand) and at such time and place as the chairman shall direct. It shall not be necessary (unless the chairman otherwise directs) for notice to be given of a poll.
Continuance of business after demand for poll
73   The demand for a poll (other than on the election of a Chairman of the meeting or on a question of adjournment) shall not prevent the continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll was demanded, and it may be withdrawn with the consent of the chairman at any time before the close of the meeting or the taking of the poll, whichever is the earlier, and in that event shall not invalidate the result of a show of hands declared before the demand was made.
Voting rights
74   On a show of hands, members shall be entitled to vote at a general meeting in accordance with the Companies Acts. For this purpose, where a proxy is given discretion as to how to vote on a show of hands, this shall be treated as an instruction by the relevant member to vote in the way in which the proxy elects to exercise that discretion. On a poll every member who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for every 3 1 / 9 pence nominal of capital held by him of whatever class.
Voting rights of joint holders
75   In the case of joint holders of a share the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register in respect of the joint holding.
Exercise of voting rights for incapable member
76   A member in respect of whom an order has been made by any competent court or official on the ground that he is or may be suffering from mental disorder or is otherwise incapable of managing his affairs may vote at any general meeting of the Company and may exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings by or through any person authorised in such circumstances to do so on his behalf (and that person may vote by proxy) provided that evidence to the satisfaction of the Directors of the authority of the person claiming to exercise the right to vote or such other right shall be received by the Company not later than the last time at which appointments of proxies should have been received in order to be valid for use at that meeting or on the holding of that poll.
No right to vote where sums still payable
77   No member shall, unless the Directors otherwise decide, be entitled to vote (either personally or by proxy) at any general meeting of the Company or upon a poll or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings or polls unless all calls or other sums presently payable by him in respect of shares in the Company have been paid.
Suspension of rights where non-disclosure of interest
78   (A)  Where the holder of any shares in the Company, or any other person appearing to be interested in those shares, fails to comply within the relevant period with any statutory notice in respect of those shares or, in purported compliance with such a notice, has made a statement


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    which is false or inadequate in a material particular, the Company may give the holder of those shares a further notice (a “ restriction notice ”) to the effect that from the service of the restriction notice those shares will be subject to some or all of the relevant restrictions, and from service of the restriction notice those shares shall, notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, be subject to those relevant restrictions accordingly. For the purpose of enforcing the relevant restriction referred to in sub-paragraph (iii)  of the definition of “relevant restrictions”, the Directors may give notice to the relevant member requiring the member to change the relevant shares held in uncertificated form to certificated form by the time stated in the notice. The notice may also state that the member may not change any of the relevant shares held in certificated form to uncertificated form. If the member does not comply with the notice, the Directors may authorise any person to instruct the Operator to change the relevant shares held in uncertificated form to certificated form.
 
    (B)  If after the service of a restriction notice in respect of any shares the Directors are satisfied that all information required by any statutory notice relating to those shares or any of them from their holder or any other person appearing to be interested in the shares the subject of the restriction notice has been supplied, the Company shall, within seven days, cancel the restriction notice. The Company may at any time at its discretion cancel any restriction notice or exclude any shares from it. The Company shall cancel a restriction notice within seven days after receipt of a notice in writing that the relevant shares have been transferred pursuant to an arm’s length sale.
 
    (C)  Where any restriction notice is cancelled or ceases to have effect in relation to any shares, any moneys relating to those shares which were withheld by reason of that notice shall be paid without interest to the person who would but for the notice have been entitled to them or as he may direct.
 
    (D)  Any new shares in the Company issued in right of any shares subject to a restriction notice shall also be subject to the restriction notice, and the Directors may make any right to an allotment of the new shares subject to restrictions corresponding to those which will apply to those shares by reason of the restriction notice when such shares are issued.
 
    (E)  Any holder of shares on whom a restriction notice has been served may at any time request the Company to give in writing the reason why the restriction notice has been served, or why it remains uncancelled, and within 14 days of receipt of such a notice the Company shall give that information accordingly.
 
    (F)  If a statutory notice is given by the Company to a person appearing to be interested in any share, a copy shall at the same time be given to the holder, but the failure or omission to do so or the non-receipt of the copy by the holder shall not invalidate such notice.
    (G)  This article is in addition to, and shall not in any way prejudice or affect, the statutory rights of the Company arising from any failure by any person to give any information required by a statutory notice within the time specified in it. For the purpose of this article a statutory notice need not specify the relevant period, and may require any information to be given before the expiry of the relevant period.
 
    (H)  In this article:-
 
    a sale is an “ arm’s length sale ” if the Directors are satisfied that it is a bona fide sale of the whole of the beneficial ownership of the shares to a party unconnected with the holder or with any person appearing to be interested in such shares and shall include a sale made by way of or in pursuance of acceptance of a takeover offer and a sale made through a recognised investment exchange or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom. For this purpose an associate (within the definition of that expression in any statute relating to insolvency in force at the date of adoption of this article) shall be included amongst the persons who are connected with the holder or any person appearing to be interested in such shares;
 
    person appearing to be interested ” in any shares shall mean any person named in a response to a statutory notice or otherwise notified to the Company by a member as being so interested or shown in any register or record kept by the Company under the Companies Acts as so interested or, taking into account a response or failure to respond in the light of the response to any other statutory notice and any other relevant information in the possession of the Company, any person whom the Company knows or has reasonable cause to believe is or may be so interested;
 
    person with a 0.25 per cent. interest ” means a person who holds, or is shown in any register or record kept by the Company under the Companies Acts as having an interest in, shares in the Company which comprise in total at least 0.25 per cent. in number or nominal value of the shares of the Company (calculated exclusive of any shares held as treasury shares), or of any class of such shares (calculated exclusive of any shares of that class held as treasury shares), in issue at the date of service of the restriction notice;
 
    relevant period ” means a period of 14 days following service of a statutory notice;
 
    relevant restrictions ” mean in the case of a restriction notice served on a person with a 0.25 per cent. interest that:-
 
    (i)  the shares shall not confer on the holder any right to attend or vote either personally or by proxy at any general meeting of the Company or at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company or to exercise any other right conferred by membership in relation to general meetings;


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    (ii)  the Directors may withhold payment of all or any part of any dividends or other moneys payable in respect of the shares and the holder shall not be entitled to receive shares in lieu of dividend;
 
    (iii)  the Directors may decline to register a transfer of any of the shares which are certificated shares, unless such a transfer is pursuant to an arm’s length sale

and in any other case mean only the restriction specified in sub-paragraph (i) of this definition; and
 
    statutory notice ” means a notice served by the Company under the Companies Acts requiring particulars of interests in shares or of the identity of persons interested in shares.
Objections
79   If:-
 
    (A)  any objection shall be raised to the qualification of any voter, or
 
    (B)  any votes have been counted which ought not to have been counted or which might have been rejected, or
 
    (C)  any votes are not counted which ought to have been counted,
 
    the objection or error shall not vitiate the decision of the meeting or adjourned meeting on any resolution unless it is raised or pointed out at the meeting or, as the case may be, the adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is given or tendered or at which the error occurs. Any objection or error shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and shall only vitiate the decision of the meeting on any resolution if the chairman decides that the same may have affected the decision of the meeting. The decision of the chairman on such matters shall be conclusive.
PROXIES
Appointment of proxies
80   An appointment of a proxy shall be in writing signed by the appointor or his duly authorised attorney or, if the appointor is a corporation, shall either be executed under its seal or signed by an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign it. If a member appoints more than one proxy and the proxy forms appointing those proxies would give those proxies the apparent right to exercise votes on behalf of the member in a general meeting over more shares than are held by the member, then each of those proxy forms will be invalid and none of the proxies so appointed will be entitled to attend, speak or vote at the relevant general meeting.
Receipt of proxies
81   (A)  The appointment of a proxy must:
 
    (i)  in the case of an appointment made in hard copy form, be received at the office (or such other place as may be
    specified by the Company for the receipt of appointments of proxy in hard copy form) together with (if required by the Directors) any authority under which it is made or a copy of the authority, certified notarially or in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 or in some other manner approved by the Directors not less than forty eight hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote;
 
    (ii)  in the case of an appointment made by electronic means, be received at the address specified by the Company for the receipt of appointments of proxy by electronic means not less than forty eight hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote. Any authority pursuant to which such an appointment is made or a copy of the authority, certified notarially or in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 or in some other manner approved by the Directors, must, if required by the Directors, be received at such address or at the office (or such other place in the United Kingdom as may be specified by the Company for the receipt of notices) not less than forty eight hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote;
 
    (iii)  in the case of a poll taken more than forty eight hours after it was demanded, be received as aforesaid not less than twenty four hours (or such shorter time as the Directors may determine) before the time appointed for the taking of the poll;
 
    (iv)  in the case of a poll taken following the conclusion of a meeting or adjourned meeting but not more than forty eight hours after it was demanded, be received as aforesaid before the end of the meeting at which it was demanded (or such later time as the board may determine),
and an appointment of a proxy in a manner which is not or in respect of which the authority or copy thereof is not, permitted by these articles shall be invalid. When two or more valid but differing appointments of a proxy are received in respect of the same share for use at the same meeting or poll, the one which is last received (regardless of its date or of the date of its signature) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the others as regards that share; if the Company is unable to determine which was last received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share. The appointment of a proxy shall not preclude a member from attending and voting in person at the meeting or poll concerned. The proceedings at a general meeting shall not be invalidated where an appointment of proxy in respect of that meeting is sent in electronic form as provided in these articles but, because of a technical problem, it cannot be read by the recipient.


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    (B)  The Directors may at their discretion determine that in calculating the periods mentioned in this article no account shall be taken of any part of a day that is not a working day.
Maximum validity of proxy
82   No appointment of a proxy shall be valid after twelve months have elapsed from the date of its receipt. The appointment of a proxy shall not preclude a member from attending and voting in person at the meeting or poll concerned.
Form of proxy
83   The appointment of a proxy shall be in any usual form or in such other form as the Directors may approve and the Directors may, if they think fit, but subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, send out with the notice of any meeting forms of instrument of proxy for use at the meeting. The appointment of a proxy shall be deemed to confer authority to demand or join in demanding a poll and to vote on any amendment of a resolution put to the meeting for which it is given as the proxy thinks fit. The appointment of a proxy shall, unless the contrary is stated in it, be valid as well for any adjournment of the meeting as for the meeting to which it relates.
Determination of authority
84   A vote given or poll demanded by a proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous determination (whether by death, revocation or otherwise) of the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll, unless notice in writing of the determination was received by the Company at the office (or such other place or address as was specified by the Company for the receipt of appointments of proxy in the notice) not later than the last time at which an appointment of a proxy should have been received in order to be valid for use at the meeting or on the holding of the poll at which the vote was given or the poll taken.
APPOINTMENT, RETIREMENT AND REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Number of Directors
85   Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution of the Company, the Directors shall be not less than six nor more than thirty in number.
Shareholding qualification
86   There shall be no requirement for any Director to hold shares in the capital of the Company.
Power for Directors to fill casual vacancies or appoint additional Directors
87   Subject to the provisions of article 120 the Directors shall have power from time to time and at any time to appoint any other person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the Board of Directors, but so that the total number of Directors shall not at any time exceed the maximum number fixed by or in accordance with the provisions of these articles.
Retirement of Directors
88   At every annual general meeting all the Directors shall retire from office, with such retirement to become effective at the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company or the corresponding annual general meeting of Unilever N.V. (whichever is the later).
Meeting to fill up vacancies
89   The Company at any annual general meeting at which Directors retire may fill up the vacated office by electing a like number of eligible persons to be Directors. The Company may also in general meeting subject as last mentioned elect any eligible person to be a Director either to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing Board but so that the total number of Directors shall not at any time exceed the maximum number fixed by or in accordance with these articles.
Persons eligible as Directors
90   No person shall be eligible to be elected as Directors unless:
    (A)  he is recommended by the Board; or
 
    (B)  a resolution to appoint that person as a Director has been requisitioned by a member or members in accordance with the Companies Acts.
 
    Where a resolution to appoint a person as a Director is passed at a general meeting of the Company such appointment shall not become effective:
 
    (i)  unless a resolution to appoint such person as a Director of Unilever N.V. has been passed at the corresponding general meeting of Unilever N.V. where such meeting is prior to the general meeting of the Company or at any adjournment thereof; or, as the case may be.
 
    (ii)  until a resolution to appoint such person as a Director of Unilever N.V. is passed at the corresponding general meeting of Unilever N.V. where such meeting is to follow the general meeting of the Company or at any adjournment thereof (and if such a resolution is not passed, such appointment shall no longer be capable of becoming effective).
 
    The corresponding general meeting of Unilever N.V. means the Unilever N.V. general meeting which is closest in time to the relevant general meeting of the Company.
Provisions if no eligible persons available
91   If at the annual general meeting in any year no persons shall be eligible to be elected as Directors in accordance with article 90 or if the number of persons so eligible is less than the minimum number for the time being in force under article 85 then the retiring Directors (other than those eligible for re-election under article 90) or so many of them as shall be willing to offer themselves for re-election shall be deemed to be eligible for election under article 90 as Directors or Director for the succeeding year.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           21


 

Provisions if insufficient eligible persons elected
92   (A)  If at the annual general meeting in any year any resolution or resolutions for the election or re-election of the persons eligible for election or re-election as Directors for the succeeding year are put to the meeting and lost such that the number of Directors re-elected or elected is fewer than the minimum number of Directors for the time being in force under article 85, then all such eligible persons who are Directors as at the commencement of the annual general meeting and are standing for re-election shall be deemed to have been re-elected as Directors and shall remain in office but so that such Directors may only act for the purpose of summoning general meetings of the Company and perform such duties as are essential to maintain the Company as a going concern but not for any other purpose.
 
    (B)  Such Directors shall convene a general meeting as soon as reasonably practicable following the annual general meeting referred to in article 92(A) at which all the Directors shall retire from office. To the extent that the circumstances envisaged in article 92(A) occur in relation to any meeting convened pursuant to this article 92(B), then the provisions of this article 92 shall also apply to that general meeting and, if relevant, any subsequent general meeting or meetings.
Power to remove Director by special resolution
93   In addition to any power of removal conferred by the Companies Acts, the Company may by special resolution remove any Director before the expiration of his period of office.
Disqualification of Directors
94   Without prejudice to the provisions for retirement otherwise contained in these articles, the office of a Director shall be vacated if:-
 
    (A)  he resigns his office by notice in writing delivered to or received at the office or tendered at a meeting of the Directors, or
 
    (B)  he is or has been suffering from mental or physical ill health and the Directors resolve that his office is vacated, or
 
    (C)  he is absent without the permission of the Directors from meetings of the Directors (whether or not an Alternate Director appointed by him attends) for six consecutive months and the Directors resolve that his office is vacated, or
 
    (D)  he becomes bankrupt or compounds with his creditors generally, or
 
    (E)  he is prohibited by law from being a Director, or
 
    (F)  he ceases to be a Director by virtue of the Companies Acts or is removed from office pursuant to these articles.
 
    In this article references to in writing include the use of communications by electronic means.
Alternate Directors
95   (A)  Each Director shall have the power to appoint any other Director to be his alternate and may at his discretion remove an Alternate Director so appointed from appointment as his alternate. Any appointment or removal of an Alternate Director shall be effected by notice in writing signed by the appointor and delivered to or received at the office or tendered at a meeting of the Directors, or in any other manner approved by the Directors. If his appointor so requests, an Alternate Director shall be entitled to receive notice of all meetings of committees of the Directors of which his appointor is a member. He shall also be entitled to attend and vote as a Director at any such meeting at which the Director appointing him is not personally present and at the meeting to exercise and discharge all the functions, powers and duties of his appointor as a Director.
 
    (B)  Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall (except as regards power to appoint an alternate and remuneration) be subject in all respects to the provisions of these articles relating to Directors and shall alone be responsible to the Company for his acts and defaults and shall not be deemed to be the agent of or for the Director appointing him. An Alternate Director may be paid expenses and shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Company as a Director but shall not be entitled to receive from the Company any fee in his capacity as an Alternate Director.
 
    (C)  Every person acting as an Alternate Director shall have one vote for each Director for whom he acts as alternate, in addition to his own vote as a Director. Signature by an Alternate Director of any resolution in writing of the Directors or a committee of the Directors shall, unless the notice of his appointment provides to the contrary, be as effective as signature by his appointor.
 
    (D)  An Alternate Director shall ipso facto cease to be an Alternate Director if his appointor ceases for any reason to be a Director except that, if at any meeting any Director retires but is reappointed or deemed to be reappointed at the same meeting, any appointment made by him pursuant to this article which was in force immediately before his retirement shall remain in force as though he had not retired.
 
    In this article references to in writing include the use of communications by electronic means.
Executive Directors
96   The Directors may from time to time appoint one or more of its body to hold executive office with the Company (including that of a Chief Executive Officer) for such period (subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts) and upon such other terms as the Directors may decide and may revoke or terminate any appointment so made. Any appointment of a Director to an executive office shall terminate if he ceases to be a Director of the Company. A Director so appointed shall receive such remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Directors may decide, and either in addition to or in lieu of his remuneration as a Director.


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Non-Executive Directors
97   Those Directors who do not hold executive office with the Company pursuant to article 96 shall, in the execution of their duties and obligations as Directors, take into account the nature of their role as such non-executive directors (recognising where appropriate that it is not a day-to-day involvement but a periodic and supervisory role) and as part of their role shall assist in the development of strategy and monitor the performance of the Company and the management.
REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES OF DIRECTORS
Director’s remuneration
98   Each of the Directors shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Directors provided that the aggregate of all fees so paid to Directors (excluding amounts payable under any other provisions of these articles) shall not exceed £2,000,000 per annum (or its equivalent in any other currency based upon such foreign currency exchange rates as the Directors shall determine) or such higher amount as may from time to time be decided by ordinary resolution of the Company.
Extra remuneration
99   Any Director who, by request, goes or resides abroad for any purposes of the Company or who performs services which in the opinion of the Directors go beyond the ordinary duties of a Director may be paid such extra remuneration (whether by way of salary, commission, participation in profits or otherwise) as the Directors may determine in addition to any remuneration provided for by or pursuant to any other article.
Expenses
100   Each Director may be paid his reasonable travelling, hotel and incidental expenses of attending and returning from meetings of the Directors or committees of the Directors or general meetings of the Company or any other meeting which as a Director he is entitled to attend and shall be paid all expenses properly and reasonably incurred by him in the conduct of the Company’s business or in the discharge of his duties as a Director.
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS
Conflicts of interest requiring board authorisation
101   (A ) The Directors may, subject to the quorum and voting requirements set out in this article, authorise any matter which would otherwise involve a Director breaching his duty under the Companies Acts to avoid conflicts of interest (“ Conflict ”).
 
    (B)  A Director seeking authorisation in respect of a Conflict shall declare to the Directors the nature and extent of his interest in a Conflict as soon as is reasonably practicable. The Director shall provide the Directors with such details of the relevant matter as are necessary for the Directors to decide how to address the Conflict together with such additional information as may be requested by the Directors.
    (C)  Any Director (including the relevant Director) may propose that the relevant Director be authorised in relation to any matter the subject of a Conflict. Such proposal and any authority given by the Directors shall be effected in the same way that any other matter may be proposed to and resolved upon by the Directors under the provisions of these articles save that:
 
    (i)  the relevant Director and any other Director with a similar interest shall not count towards the quorum nor vote on any resolution giving such authority; and
 
    (ii)  the relevant Director and any other Director with a similar interest may, if the other Directors so decide, be excluded from any board meeting while the Conflict is under consideration.
 
    (D)  Where the Directors give authority in relation to a Conflict, or where any of the situations described in article 102(B) apply in relation to a Director (“ Relevant Situation ”):
 
    (i)  the Directors may (whether at the relevant time or subsequently) (a) require that the relevant Director is excluded from the receipt of information, the participation in discussion and/or the making of decisions (whether at meetings of the Directors or otherwise) related to the Conflict or Relevant Situation; and (b) impose upon the relevant Director such other terms for the purpose of dealing with the Conflict or Relevant Situation as it may determine;
 
    (ii)  the relevant Director will be obliged to conduct himself in accordance with any terms imposed by the Directors in relation to the Conflict or Relevant Situation;
 
    (iii)  the Directors may provide that where the relevant Director obtains (otherwise than through his position as a Director of the Company) information that is confidential to a third party, the Director will not be obliged to disclose that information to the Company, or to use or apply the information in relation to the Company’s affairs, where to do so would amount to a breach of that confidence;
 
    (iv)  the terms of the authority shall be recorded in writing (but the authority shall be effective whether or not the terms are so recorded); and
 
    (v)  the Directors may revoke or vary such authority at any time but this will not affect anything done by the relevant Director prior to such revocation in accordance with the terms of such authority.
Other conflicts of interest
102   (A)  If a Director is in any way directly or indirectly interested in a proposed contract with the Company or a contract that has been entered into by the Company, he must declare the nature and extent of that interest to the Directors in accordance with the Companies Acts.
 
    (B)  Provided he has declared his interest in accordance with paragraph (A), a Director may:


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           23


 

    (i)  be party to, or otherwise interested in, any contract with the Company or in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest;
 
    (ii)  hold any other office or place of profit with the Company (except that of auditor) in conjunction with his office of Director for such period and upon such terms, including as to remuneration, as the Directors may decide;
 
    (iii)  act by himself or through a firm with which he is associated in a professional capacity for the Company or any other Company in which the Company may be interested (otherwise than as auditor);
 
    (iv)  be or become a director or other officer of, or employed by or otherwise be interested in any holding Company or subsidiary company of the Company or any other company in which the Company may be interested; and
 
    (v)  be or become a director of any other company in which the Company does not have an interest and which cannot reasonably be regarded as giving rise to a conflict of interest at the time of his appointment as a director of that other company.
Benefits
103   A Director shall not, by reason of his office or of the fiduciary relationship thereby established, be liable to account to the Company or the members for any remuneration, profit or other benefit realised by reason of his having any type of interest authorised under Article 101(A) or permitted under Article 102(B) and no contract shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of a Director having any type of interest authorised under Article 101(A) or permitted under Article 102(B).
Quorum and voting requirements
104   (A)  A Director shall not vote on or be counted in the quorum in relation to any resolution of the Directors concerning his own appointment, or the settlement or variation of the terms or the termination of his own appointment, as the holder of any office or place of profit with the Company or any other company in which the Company is interested.
 
    (B)  Where proposals are under consideration concerning the appointment, or the settlement or variation of the terms or the termination of the appointment, of two or more Directors to offices or places of profit with the Company or any other company in which the Company is interested, a separate resolution may be put in relation to each Director and in that case each of the Directors concerned shall be entitled to vote and be counted in the quorum in respect of each resolution unless it concerns his own appointment or the settlement or variation of the terms or the termination of his own appointment or the appointment of another Director to an office or place of profit with a company in which the Company is interested and the Director seeking to vote or be counted in the quorum has a Relevant Interest in it.
    (C)  A Director shall not vote on, or be counted in the quorum in relation to, any resolution of the Directors in respect of any contract in which he has an interest and, if he shall do so, his vote shall not be counted, but this prohibition shall not apply to any resolution where that interest cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest or where that interest arises only from one or more of the following matters:-
 
    (i)  the giving to him of any guarantee, indemnity or security in respect of money lent or obligations undertaken by him or by any other person at the request of or for the benefit of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings;
 
    (ii)  the giving to a third party of any guarantee, indemnity or security in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
 
    (iii)  the giving to him of any other indemnity where all other Directors are also being offered indemnities on substantially the same terms;
 
    (iv)  the funding by the Company of his expenditure on defending proceedings or the doing by the Company of anything to enable him to avoid incurring such expenditure where all other Directors are being offered substantially the same arrangements;
 
    (v)  where the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings is offering securities in which offer the Director is or may be entitled to participate as a holder of securities or in the underwriting or sub-underwriting of which the Director is to participate;
 
    (vi)  any contract in which he is interested by virtue of his interest in shares or debentures or other securities of the Company or by reason of any other interest in or through the Company;
 
    (vii)  any contract concerning any other company (not being a company in which the Director has a Relevant Interest) in which he is interested directly or indirectly whether as an officer, shareholder, creditor or otherwise howsoever;
 
    (viii)  any contract concerning the adoption, modification or operation of a pension fund, superannuation or similar scheme or retirement, death or disability benefits scheme or employees’ share scheme which relates both to Directors and employees of the Company or of any of its subsidiary undertakings and does not provide in respect of any Director as such any privilege or advantage not accorded to the employees to which the fund or scheme relates;
 
    (ix)  any contract for the benefit of employees of the Company or of any of its subsidiary undertakings under which he benefits in a similar manner to the employees and which does not accord to any Director as such any privilege or advantage not accorded to the employees to whom the contract relates; and


24            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

    (x)  any contract for the purchase or maintenance of insurance against any liability for, or for the benefit of, any Director or Directors or for, or for the benefit of, persons who include Directors.
 
    (D)  A company shall be deemed to be one in which a Director has a Relevant Interest if and so long as (but only if and so long as) he is to his knowledge (either directly or indirectly) the holder of or beneficially interested in one per cent. or more of any class of the equity share capital of that company (calculated exclusive of any shares of that class in that company held as treasury shares) or of the voting rights available to members of that company. In relation to an alternate director, an interest of his appointor shall be treated as an interest of the alternate director without prejudice to any interest which the alternate director has otherwise.
 
    (E)  Where a company in which a Director has a Relevant Interest is interested in a contract, he also shall be deemed interested in that contract.
 
    (F)  If any question shall arise at any meeting of the Directors as to the interest of a Director (other than the chairman of the meeting) in a contract and whether it is likely to give rise to a conflict of interest or as to the entitlement of any Director (other than the chairman of the meeting) to vote or be counted in the quorum and the question is not resolved by his voluntarily agreeing to abstain from voting or not to be counted in the quorum, the question shall be referred to the chairman of the meeting and his ruling in relation to the Director concerned shall be conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the Director’s interest (so far as it is known to him) has not been fairly disclosed to the Directors. If any question shall arise in respect of the chairman of the meeting, the question shall be decided by a resolution of the Directors (for which purpose the chairman of the meeting shall be counted in the quorum but shall not vote on the matter) and the resolution shall be conclusive except in a case where the nature or extent of the interest of the chairman of the meeting (so far as it is known to him) has not been fairly disclosed to the Directors.
 
    (G)  Subject to these articles, the Directors may cause any voting power conferred by the shares in any other company held or owned by the Company or any power of appointment to be exercised in such manner in all respects as it thinks fit, including the exercise of the voting power or power of appointment in favour of the appointment of the Directors or any of them as directors or officers of the other company, or in favour of the payment of remuneration to the Directors or officers of the other company. Subject to these articles, a Director may also vote on and be counted in the quorum in relation to any of such matters.
General
105   (A)  References in articles 101 - 104 and in this article to:
 
    (i)  a contract include references to any proposed contract and to any transaction or arrangement or proposed transaction or arrangement whether or not constituting a contract; and
 
    (ii)  a conflict of interest include a conflict of interest and duty and a conflict of duties.
 
    (B)  The Company may by ordinary resolution suspend or relax the provisions of articles 101 - 104 to any extent or ratify any contract not properly authorised by reason of a contravention of such articles.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DIRECTORS
General powers of Company vested in Directors
106   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts and these articles and to any directions given by the Company in general meeting by special resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company whether relating to the management of the business of the Company or not. The alteration of these articles or the passing of a special resolution shall not invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that resolution had not been passed. The powers given by this article shall not be limited by any special power given to the Directors by any other article.
Establishment of local boards
107   The Directors may establish local or divisional boards or agencies for managing any of the affairs of the Company, either in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and may appoint any persons to be members of the local or divisional boards, or any managers or agents, and may fix their remuneration. The Directors may delegate to any local or divisional board, manager or agent any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Directors, with power to sub-delegate, and may authorise the members of any local or divisional board, or any of them, to fill any vacancies and to act notwithstanding vacancies. Any appointment or delegation made pursuant to this article may be made upon such terms and subject to such conditions as the Directors may decide and the Directors may remove any person so appointed and may revoke or vary the delegation but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it.
Powers of attorney
108   The Directors may, by power of attorney or otherwise, appoint any person to be the agent of the Company upon such terms (including terms as to remuneration) as it may decide and may delegate to any person so appointed any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Directors, including power to sub-delegate. The Directors may remove any person appointed under this article and may revoke or vary the delegation but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           25


 

Delegation to individual Directors
109   The Directors may entrust to and confer upon any Director any of the powers, authorities and discretions vested in or exercisable by them upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as they think fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, their own powers, authorities and discretions and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of them but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it.
Registers
110   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, the Company may keep an overseas or local or other register in any place, and the Directors may make and vary such regulations as it may think fit respecting the keeping of the register.
Power to borrow money and give security
111   (A)  The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital and to issue debentures and other securities but shall restrict the Borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiaries with a view to securing that Borrowings shall not at any time without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company in general meeting exceed an amount equal to three times the Adjusted Capital and Reserves of the Company.
 
    (B)  For the purposes of this article
 
    (i)  “Borrowings” means the aggregate principal amount for the time being remaining outstanding of all borrowings of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether secured or unsecured, but excluding:-
 
    (a)  borrowings by the Company from any subsidiary,
 
    (b)  borrowings by any subsidiary from another subsidiary or from the Company,
 
    (c)  borrowings by any subsidiary in its capacity as a trustee of any pension or other fund for the benefit of employees,
 
    (d)  borrowings of a company which becomes a subsidiary hereafter for a period of twelve months from the date it becomes a subsidiary,
 
    and deducting therefrom an amount equal to:-
 
    (e)  the principal amount of any obligations, whether secured or unsecured, issued by the Company or any subsidiary the proceeds of which are intended to be used within six calendar months in repayment of other borrowings of the Company or such subsidiary then outstanding, and
 
    (f)  all cash deposits, certificates of deposit and securities of governments and companies and similar instruments owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
    (ii)  “Adjusted Capital and Reserves” means the aggregate of:-
 
    (a)  the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of the Company,
 
    (b)  the amounts standing to the credit of the capital and revenue reserves, including share premium account, plus the balance at the credit of profit and loss account (or minus the amount, if any, standing to the debit of such account), and
 
    (c)  the amounts standing as attributed to outside interests
 
    all as shown in the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries provided always that appropriate adjustments shall be made in respect of any variation in the paid-up share capital or in the share premium account of the Company since the date of such audited accounts and provided further that in arriving at the said aggregate there shall be added back amounts equal to:-
 
    (d)  the premium arising on consolidation of acquired subsidiaries, associated companies and businesses which, as at the date of calculation, have been written off against the consolidated reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with United Kingdom accounting practices provided that the Company shall not have sold its interest in such subsidiaries, associated companies and businesses at the date of calculation, less a sum equal to amortisation of such premiums over 40 years on a straight line basis,
 
    (e)  any provision made for deferred taxation in excess of the amount required to be provided by United Kingdom accounting practices.
 
    (C)  The determination of the auditors as to the amount of Borrowings and Adjusted Capital and Reserves shall be conclusive and binding on all concerned and for the purposes of their computation the auditors may make such other adjustments as they deem fit. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this article the Directors may at any time act in reliance on a bona fide estimate of the said aggregates and if the limit herein contained is inadvertently exceeded, the amount borrowed in excess of the limit shall be disregarded until the expiration of 182 days after the date on which the Directors became aware that the situation had arisen.
 
    No debt incurred or security given in respect of moneys borrowed or secured in excess of the limit hereby imposed shall be invalid or ineffectual except in the case of express notice at the time the debt was incurred or the security given that the limit hereby imposed had been or was thereby exceeded.


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Pensions
112   The Directors may grant retiring pensions or annuities or other allowances, including allowances on death, to any person or to the widow or dependants of any person in respect of services rendered by him to the Company as Executive Director, manager, or in any other office or employment under the Company or indirectly as an officer or employee of any subsidiary company of the Company, notwithstanding that he may be or may have been a Director of the Company and may make payments towards insurances or trusts for such purposes in respect of such persons and may include rights in respect of such pensions, annuities and allowances in the terms of engagement of any such person. No Director or former Director or other person shall be accountable to the Company or the members for any benefit provided pursuant to this article and the receipt of any such benefit shall not disqualify any person from being or becoming a Director of the Company.
Provision for employees
113   The Directors may by resolution exercise any power conferred by the Companies Acts to make provision for the benefit of persons employed or formerly employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in connection with the cessation or the transfer to any person of the whole or part of the undertaking of the Company or that subsidiary.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE DIRECTORS
Meetings of Directors
114   The Directors may meet for the despatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit. A Director at any time may, and the Secretary on the requisition of a Director at any time shall, summon a meeting of the Directors.
Notice of meetings
115   Notice of a meeting of the Directors shall be deemed to be properly given to a Director if it is given to him personally or by word of mouth or sent in writing to him at his last known address or any other address given by him to the Company for this purpose. A Director may waive his entitlement to notice of any meeting either prospectively or retrospectively and any retrospective waiver shall not affect the validity of the meeting or of any business conducted at the meeting.
Quorum
116   The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Directors may be fixed by the Directors and, unless so fixed at any other number, shall be two. Subject to the provisions of these articles, any Director who ceases to be a Director at a meeting of the Directors may continue to be present and to act as a Director and be counted in the quorum until the termination of the meeting of the Directors if no other Director objects and if otherwise a quorum of Directors would not be present.
Effect of vacancies in number of Directors
117   The continuing Directors or a sole continuing Director may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their number but, if and so long as the number of Directors is reduced below the minimum number fixed by or in accordance with these articles, the continuing Directors or Director, notwithstanding that the number of Directors is below the number fixed by or in accordance with these articles as the quorum or that there is only one continuing Director, may act for the purpose of filling vacancies or of summoning general meetings of the Company but not for any other purpose.
Power to appoint chairman
118   The Directors may appoint a chairman and vice chairman or vice chairmen of their meetings and fix the period for which they are respectively to hold office. If no chairman or vice chairman is appointed, or if at any meeting neither the chairman nor any vice chairman is present within five minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Directors present may choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting.
Competence of meetings
119   A meeting of the Directors at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the powers, authorities and discretions for the time being vested in or exercisable by the Directors.
Voting
120   Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by a majority of votes, except that the powers conferred on the Directors by article 87 shall only be exercisable by the decision of a majority of the Directors consisting of three-fourths of all the Directors for the time being and for this purpose the vote of any Director may be given either in person at a meeting of the Directors or (in the case of any Director not present at the meeting called for this purpose) by notice in writing signed by such Director prior to the holding of such meeting. In the case of an equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have no additional or casting vote.
 
    In this article references to in writing include the use of communication by electronic means subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide.
Delegation to committees
121   (A)  The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) to any committee, consisting of such person or persons (whether or not a Director or Directors) as they think fit.
 
    (B)  Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed on it by the Directors. The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these articles for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Directors so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Directors.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           27


 

    (C)  The power to delegate contained in this article shall be effective in relation to the powers, authorities and discretions of the Directors generally and shall not be limited by the fact that in certain articles, but not in others, express reference is made to particular powers, authorities or discretions being exercised by the Directors or by a committee authorised by the Directors.
Delegation to Chief Executive Officer
122   The Board may entrust to and confer upon the Chief Executive Officer any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, authorities and discretions and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of them but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variations shall be affected by it. The power to delegate contained in this article shall be effective in relation to the powers, authorities and discretions of the Board generally and shall not be limited by the fact that in certain articles, but not in others, express reference is made to particular powers, authorities or discretions being exercised by the Board or by a committee authorised by the Board.
Participation in meetings by telephone
123   All or any of the Directors or members of any committee may participate in a meeting of the Directors or that committee by means of a conference telephone or any communication equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other. A person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be entitled to vote or be counted in a quorum accordingly. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting then is.
Resolution in writing
124   A resolution in writing signed by all the Directors for the time being entitled to receive notice of a meeting of the Directors (if that number is sufficient to constitute a quorum) or by all the members of a committee for the time being shall be as valid and effectual as a resolution passed at a meeting of the Directors or, as the case may be, of the committee properly called and constituted. The resolution may be contained in one document or in several documents in like form each signed by one or more of the Directors or members of the committee concerned.
Validity of acts of Directors or committee
125   All acts done by the Directors or by any committee or by any person acting as a Director or member of a committee shall, notwithstanding that it is afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of any member of the Directors or committee or person so acting or that they or any of them were disqualified or had vacated office, be as valid as if each such member or person had been properly appointed and was qualified and had continued to be a Director or member of the committee.
Minutes to be made
126   The Directors shall cause minutes or records to be made in books provided for the purpose:-
 
    (A)  of the names of the Directors present at each meeting of the Directors or committee of the Directors, and
 
    (B)  of all resolutions and proceedings at all meetings of the Company and of the holders of any class of shares in the Company and of the Directors and of any committee of the Directors.
SEALS
Use of seals
127   The Directors shall provide for the custody of every seal. A seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or a committee authorised by the Directors in that behalf pursuant to articles 121 and 122. Subject as otherwise provided in these articles, any instrument to which the common seal is applied shall be signed by at least one Director and the Secretary or by at least two Directors or by one Director in the presence of a witness who attests the signature or by at least two persons for the time being appointed to a committee authorised by the Directors as aforesaid, and any instrument to which an official seal is applied need not, unless the Directors for the time being otherwise decide or the law otherwise requires, be signed by any person.
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER PAYMENTS
Application of profits
128   The profits of the Company at any time available for dividend and determined to be distributed by way of dividend for any period shall be applicable in order of priority and manner following:
 
    FIRST to the payment of a dividend for such period at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Ordinary Shares.
 
    SECONDLY to the payment of a dividend for such period at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum or at such less rate as may be payable under the provisions of the Trust Deed dated 1st May, 1909, and made between William Hesketh Lever of the first part, the Company of the second part and Sydney Gross, Robert Barrie, John Lever Tillotson, John Gray and James Lever Ferguson of the third part and Deeds supplemental thereto on the nominal amount of the then issued and outstanding Preferential Certificates therein mentioned, such dividend to be paid to the Trustees of the said Trust Deed for distribution amongst the holders of such Preferential Certificates.
 
    THIRDLY to the payment of a further dividend for such period at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Ordinary Shares.
 
    FOURTHLY to the payment of a dividend for such period at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Deferred Shares.


28            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

    LASTLY the surplus after making the payments aforesaid shall be applied to the payment of an additional dividend on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Ordinary Shares.
Declaration of dividends
129   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, the Company may by ordinary resolution from time to time declare dividends to be paid to the members according to their rights and interests in the profits available for distribution, but no dividend shall be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the Directors, or contrary to the provisions of the Agreement referred to in article 3.
Interim dividends
130   The Directors may from time to time, out of accrued or accruing profits, pay to the members such interim dividends as in their judgment the position of the Company justifies.
Dividends to be paid according to amounts paid up on shares
131   Except in so far as the rights attaching to, or the terms of issue of, any share otherwise provide:-
 
    (A)  all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the amounts paid up on the shares in respect of which the dividend is paid, but no amount paid up on a share in advance of calls shall be treated for the purposes of this article as paid up on the share, and
 
    (B)  all dividends shall be apportioned and paid pro rata according to the amounts paid up on the shares during any portion or portions of the period in respect of which the dividend is paid.
Debts may be deducted
132   The Directors may deduct from any dividend or other moneys payable to a member by the Company on or in respect of any shares all sums of money (if any) presently payable by him to the Company on account of calls or otherwise in respect of shares of the Company.
Dividend not to bear interest against the Company
133   No dividend or other moneys payable by the Company on or in respect of any share shall bear interest against the Company.
Payment procedures
134   Any dividend or any other moneys payable on or in respect of shares may be paid by cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument, or by other means, sent direct to the registered address of the holder or person entitled thereto or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named in the register, or sent to such person and to such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Such payment may be sent through the post or equivalent means of delivery or by such other means, including by electronic media and more specifically, in respect of uncertificated shares, by means of the facilities and requirements of a relevant system, offered by the Company as the holder or joint holders may in writing agree. Every such cheque, warrant, financial instrument
    or other form of payment shall be made payable to the person to whom it is sent or to such other person as the holder, or joint holders, may in writing direct, and payment of the cheque, warrant, financial instrument or other form of payment shall be a good discharge to the Company. Every such payment shall be sent at the risk of the person entitled to the money represented thereby. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by them.
Unclaimed dividends
135   Any dividend unclaimed after a period of twelve years from the date of declaration of the dividend shall be forfeited and shall revert to the Company and the payment by the Directors of any unclaimed dividend or other sum payable on or in respect of a share into a separate account shall not constitute the Company a trustee in respect of it.
Dividends in specie
136   Any general meeting declaring a dividend may, upon the recommendation of the Directors, by ordinary resolution direct, and the Directors may in relation to any interim dividend direct, payment or satisfaction of the dividend wholly or in part by the distribution of specific assets, and in particular of paid up shares or debentures of any other company, and the Directors shall give effect to the direction, and where any difficulty arises in regard to the distribution the Directors may settle it as they think expedient, and in particular may issue fractional certificates or authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may ignore fractions altogether, and may fix the value for distribution purposes of any specific assets to be distributed and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any members upon the footing of the value so fixed in order to secure equality of distribution and may vest any specific assets to be distributed in trustees as may seem expedient to the Directors.
CAPITALISATION OF PROFITS
Power to capitalise profits
137   The Company may, upon the recommendation of the Directors, at any time and from time to time pass an ordinary resolution to the effect that it is desirable to capitalise all or any part of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including the profit and loss account) whether or not the same is available for distribution and accordingly that the amount to be capitalised be set free for distribution among the holders of Ordinary Shares of the Company who would be entitled to it if it were distributed by way of dividend and in the same proportions, on the footing that it is applied either in or towards paying up the amounts for the time being unpaid on Ordinary Shares of the Company held by those members respectively or in paying up in full Ordinary Shares that are to be allotted and distributed as fully paid up, debentures or other obligations of the Company to be allotted and distributed credited as fully paid up among those members, or partly in one way and partly in the other, but so that, for the purposes of this article: (i) a share premium account and a capital redemption reserve,


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           29


 

    and any reserve or fund representing unrealised profits, may be applied only in paying up in full Ordinary Shares of the Company that are to be allotted and distributed as fully paid up, and (ii) where the amount capitalised is applied in paying up in full shares that are to be allotted and distributed as fully paid up, the Company will also be entitled to participate in the relevant distribution in relation to any shares of the relevant class held by it as treasury shares and the proportionate entitlement of the relevant class of members to the distribution will be calculated accordingly.
Scrip dividends
138   The Directors may, if authorised by an ordinary resolution of the Company, offer the holders of Ordinary Shares (excluding any member holding shares as treasury shares) the right to elect to receive Ordinary Shares, credited as fully paid, instead of cash in respect of any dividend or any part of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution.
 
    The following provisions shall apply:-
 
    (A)  An ordinary resolution may specify a particular dividend, or may specify all or any dividends declared within a specified period, but such period may not end later than the expiry of two months following the conclusion of the annual general meeting next following the date of the meeting at which the ordinary resolution is passed.
 
    (B)  The entitlement of each holder of Ordinary Shares to new Ordinary Shares shall be such that the relevant value of the entitlement shall be as nearly as possible equal to (but not greater than) the cash amount that such holder would have received by way of dividend. For this purpose “relevant value” shall be calculated by reference to the average of the middle market quotations for the Company’s Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange plc as derived from the Daily Official List, on the day on which the Ordinary Shares are first quoted “ex” the relevant dividend and the four subsequent dealing days, or in such other manner as may be determined by or in accordance with the ordinary resolution. A certificate or report by the auditors as to the amount of the relevant value in respect of any dividend shall be conclusive evidence of that amount.
 
    (C)  The Directors, after determining the basis of allotment, may notify the holders of Ordinary Shares in writing of the right of election offered to them, and specify the procedure to be followed and place at which, and the latest time by which, elections must be lodged in order to be effective.
 
    (D)  The Directors may exclude from any offer any holders of Ordinary Shares where the Directors believe that the making of the offer to them would or might involve the contravention of the laws of any territory or that for any other reason the offer should not be made to them.
 
    (E)  The dividend (or that part of the dividend in respect of which a right of election has been offered) shall not be payable on Ordinary Shares in respect of which an election has been made (“the elected Ordinary Shares”) and instead additional Ordinary
    Shares shall be allotted to the holders of the elected Ordinary Shares on the basis of allotment calculated as stated. For such purpose the Directors shall capitalise, out of any amount for the time being standing to the credit of any reserve or fund (including the profit and loss account) whether or not the same is available for distribution as the Directors may determine, a sum equal to the aggregate nominal amount of the additional Ordinary Shares to be allotted on that basis and apply it in paying up in full the appropriate number of unissued Ordinary Shares for allotment and distribution to the holders of the elected Ordinary Shares on that basis.
 
    (F)  The additional Ordinary Shares when allotted shall rank pari passu in all respects with the fully paid Ordinary Shares then in issue except that they will not be entitled to participate in the relevant dividend.
 
    (G)  Unless the Directors otherwise determine, or unless the uncertificated securities rules and/or the rules of the relevant system concerned otherwise require, the new ordinary share or shares which a member has elected to receive instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part) of the specified dividend declared in respect of his elected ordinary shares shall be in uncertificated form (in respect of the member’s elected ordinary shares which were in uncertificated form on the date of the member’s election) or in certificated form (in respect of the member’s elected ordinary shares which were in certificated form on the date of the member’s election).
Settlement of difficulties in distribution on capitalisation of profits
139   Where any difficulty arises in regard to any distribution under the last two preceding articles the Directors may settle the matter as they think expedient and in particular may issue fractional certificates or authorise any person to sell and transfer any fractions or may resolve that the distribution should be as nearly as may be practicable in the correct proportion but not exactly so or may ignore fractions altogether, and may determine that cash payments shall be made to any members in order to adjust the rights of all parties, as may seem expedient to the Directors. The Directors may authorise any person to enter into an agreement with the Company on behalf of the persons entitled to participate in the distribution providing for the allotment to them respectively of any shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company to which they are entitled on the capitalisation and the agreement shall be binding on those persons.
RECORD DATES AND ACCOUNTING RECORDS
Record dates
140   Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles the Company or the Directors may fix any date as the record date for any dividend, distribution, allotment or issue and such record date may be on or at any time before or after any date on which the dividend, distribution, allotment or issue is declared, paid or made. The power to fix any such record date shall include the power to fix a time on the chosen date.


30            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

Inspection of records
141   The accounting records shall be kept at the office or, subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, at such other place or places as the Directors may think fit and shall always be open to inspection by the officers of the Company. No member in his capacity as such shall have any right of inspecting any accounting record or book or document of the Company except as conferred by law or authorised by the Directors or by ordinary resolution of the Company.
SERVICE OF NOTICES AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
Service of notices
142   Any notice, document (including a share certificate) or other information may be served on, sent or supplied to any member by the Company either personally or by sending it through the post addressed to the member at his registered address or by leaving it at that address addressed to the member or by means of a relevant system or, where appropriate, by sending or supplying it in electronic form to an address for the time being notified by the member concerned to the Company for that purpose or by publication on a website in accordance with the Companies Acts or in any other manner provided by these articles. In the case of joint holders of a share, service, sending or delivery of any notice or document on or to one of the joint holders shall for all purposes be deemed a sufficient service on or sending or delivery to all the joint holders. If on three consecutive occasions a notice to a member has been returned undelivered, such member shall not thereafter be entitled to receive notices from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied to the Company (or its agent) a new registered address, or a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, or shall have informed the Company, in such manner as may be specified by the Company, of an address for the service of notices in electronic form. For these purposes, a notice sent by post shall be treated as returned undelivered if the notice is sent back to the Company (or its agent), and a notice sent in electronic form shall be treated as returned undelivered if the Company (or its agent) receives notification that the notice was not delivered to the address to which it was sent. The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion choose to serve, send or supply notices, documents or other information in hard copy form alone to some or all of the members.
Members resident abroad
143   Any member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom or some other part of Europe or any holder of a share warrant and who gives to the Company a postal address within the United Kingdom at which notices may be served upon him shall be entitled to have notices served on or sent or delivered to him at that address or where applicable by making them available on a website and notifying the holder at that address. Any member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom and who gives to the Company an address for the purposes of electronic communications may, at the absolute discretion of the Board, be entitled to have notices or documents
    served upon, or delivered to, him at that address or where applicable by making them available on a website and notifying the holder at that address. Otherwise, a member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom, shall not be entitled to receive any notice or other document from the Company.
When notice deemed served
144   Any notice or document, if sent by post, shall be deemed to have been served on the day following that on which it was put in the post and, in proving service or delivery, it shall be sufficient to prove that the notice or document was properly addressed, stamped and put in the post. Any notice or document not sent by post but left at a registered address (other than an address for the purposes of communication by electronic means) shall be deemed to have been served or delivered on the day it was so left. Any notice served or delivered by the Company by means of a relevant system shall be deemed to have been served or delivered when the Company or any sponsoring system participant acting on its behalf sends the issuer-instruction relating to the notice.
 
    Any notice or document sent by the Company using electronic means shall be deemed to have been received on the day following that on which it was sent notwithstanding that the Company subsequently sends a hard copy of such notice, document or information by post. Any notice, document or other information made available on a website shall be deemed to have been received on the day on which the notice, document or other information was first made available on the website or, if later, when a notice of availability is received or deemed to have been received pursuant to this article. In proving that a notice, document or other information served, sent or supplied by electronic means was served, sent or supplied, it shall be sufficient to prove that it was properly addressed. Any notice, document or other information served, sent or supplied by the Company by any other means authorised in writing by the member concerned shall be deemed to have been received when the Company has carried out the action it has been authorised to take for that purpose.
Service of notice to person entitled by transmission
145   Where a person is entitled by transmission to a share, any notice or document shall be served upon or delivered to him, and any dividend or other sum payable in cash in respect of the share may be paid to him, as if he was the holder of that share and his address noted in the register was his registered address. A person who is entitled by transmission to a share, upon supplying the Company with an address for the purpose of communications by electronic means for the service of notices, may, at the absolute discretion of the Directors, have sent to him at such address any notice or document to which he would have been entitled if he were the holder of that share. Except where there is a person entitled by transmission to a share, any notice or document served on or delivered to any member pursuant to these articles shall, notwithstanding that the member is then dead or bankrupt or that any other event giving rise to the transmission of the share by operation of law has occurred


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           31


 

    and whether or not the Company has notice of the death, bankruptcy or other event, be deemed to have been properly served or delivered in respect of any share registered in the name of that member as sole or joint holder unless, before the day of posting (or, if it is not sent by post, before the day of service or delivery) of the notice or document, his name has been removed from the register as the holder of the share. Service or delivery in the foregoing manner shall be deemed for all purposes a sufficient service or delivery of the notice or document on all persons interested (whether jointly with or as claiming through or under that member) in the share.
Notice when post not available and notice given by advertisement
146   (A)  If there is a suspension or curtailment of postal services within the United Kingdom or some part of the United Kingdom, the Company need only give notice of a general meeting to those members with whom the Company can communicate by electronic means and who have provided the Company with an address for this purpose. The Company shall also advertise the notice in at least two newspapers with a national circulation in the United Kingdom and make it available on its website from the date of such advertisement until the conclusion of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If at least six clear days prior to the meeting the sending or supply of notices by post in hard copy form has again become generally possible, the Company shall send or supply confirmatory copies of the notice by post to those members who would otherwise receive the notice in hard copy form.
 
    (B)  Any notice to the bearer of a warrant or to any other person who holds or is interested in shares in the Company in bearer form or any related coupons or talons shall be sufficiently given if advertised in at least two daily newspapers with a national circulation in the United Kingdom and any such notice shall be deemed given on the day when the advertisement appears.
DESTRUCTION OF DOCUMENTS
Consequences of destruction of documents
147   If the Company destroys:
 
    (A)  any share certificate which has been cancelled at any time after a period of one year has elapsed from the date of cancellation; or
 
    (B)  any instruction concerning the payment of dividends or other moneys in respect of any share or any notification of change of name or address at any time after a period of two years has elapsed from the date the instruction or notification was recorded by the Company; or
 
    (C)  any instrument of transfer of shares which has been registered at any time after a period of six years has elapsed from the date of registration; or
    (D)  any other document on the basis of which any entry is made in the register at any time after a period of six years has elapsed from the date the entry was first made in the register in respect of it,
and the Company destroys the document in good faith and without express notice that its preservation was relevant to a claim, it shall be presumed irrebuttably in favour of the Company that every share certificate so destroyed was a valid certificate and was properly cancelled, that every instrument of transfer so destroyed was a valid and effective instrument of transfer and was properly registered and that every other document so destroyed was a valid and effective document and that any particulars of it which are recorded in the books or records of the Company were correctly recorded. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as imposing upon the Company any liability by reason only of the destruction of any document of the kind mentioned above before the relevant period mentioned in this article has elapsed or of the fact that any other condition precedent to its destruction mentioned above has not been fulfilled. References in this article to the destruction of any document include references to its disposal in any manner.
WINDING-UP
Order of priority in winding-up
148   If the Company shall be wound-up, the assets available for distribution amongst the members (excluding any member holding shares as treasury shares) shall be applied first in repaying to the holders of the Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares pari passu the capital paid or credited as paid up thereon respectively and any balance of such assets then remaining shall belong to the holders of the Ordinary Shares.
INDEMNITY
Indemnification of Directors
149   To the extent permitted by the Companies Acts, the Company may indemnify any Director against any liability and may purchase and maintain for any Director insurance against any liability. No Director of the Company or of any associated company shall be accountable to the Company or the members for any benefit provided pursuant to this article and the receipt of any such benefit shall not disqualify any person from being or becoming a Director of the Company. For the purpose of this article the term “Director” shall include any former Director of the Company.


32            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

Capital Alterations
 
 
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 12th day of October, 1937, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 

That subject to and upon the printed Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation dated the 11th August, 1937 (which has been produced to this Meeting and for the purpose of identification signed by the Chairman thereof) being sanctioned by the Court pursuant to Sections 153 and 154 of the Companies Act, 1929, and coming into operation with or without any such modification as therein provided for:
A   The Capital of the Company be reduced to £117,000,000, divided into:
 
    £30,762,082 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, 9,237,918 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each,
 
    £15,655,173 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock,
 
    24,344,827 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Shares of £1 each,
 
    £2,287,312 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock,
 
    24,850,752 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares of 5s. each,
 
    7,000,000 20 per cent. Cumulative A Preferred Ordinary Shares of £1 each
 
    and
 
    2,150,000 Ordinary Shares of £10 each
 
    by the cancellation pursuant to and for the purposes of the said Scheme of:
 
    £1,500,000 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock,
    £3,000,000 20 per cent. Cumulative A Preferred Ordinary Stock,
 
    and
 
    £8,500,000 Ordinary Stock
 
    which three Stocks are beneficially held by Unilever Limited;
 
B   The Capital of the Company be thereupon converted, consolidated, sub-divided and increased pursuant to and in accordance with the said Scheme so as thereafter to be constituted as provided in Clause 7 of the said Scheme;
 
C    All Shares in the capital of the Company from time to time unissued be converted into Stock as and when the same are issued and are fully paid up;
 
D   The name of the Company be changed to “Lever Brothers & Unilever Limited”.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           33


 

No. 00539 of 1937
 
In the High Court of Justice
 
     
CHANCERY DIVISION
MR. JUSTICE SIMONDS


Monday the 15th day of November, 1937

In the Matter of UNILEVER LIMITED
and
In the Matter of LEVER BROTHERS, LIMITED
and
In the Matter of THE COMPANIES ACT, 1929
 
Fo. 272
W.4
Stamp £2
(Seal)
Upon the Petition of the above-named Unilever Limited whose Registered Office is situate at Unilever House Blackfriars in the City of London and Lever Brothers, Limited whose Registered Office is situate at Port Sunlight in the County of Chester on the 19th October, 1937 preferred unto this Court And upon hearing Counsel for the Petitioners and for Naamlooze Vennootschap Elma and United Holdings Limited the holders of £100,000 Deferred Stock of Unilever Limited Blackfriars Nominees Limited and British Oil & Cake Mills Limited the holders of 3,000,000 20 per cent. A Preferred Ordinary Stock of Lever Brothers, Limited Blackfriars Nominees Limited as holder of £6,100,000 Ordinary Stock of Lever Brothers, Limited and Unilever Naamlooze Vennootschap and “Mavibel” (Maatschappij voor Internationale Beleggingen) Naamlooze Vennootschap referred to in Clause 10 of the Agreement set forth in the Schedule to the Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation hereinafter sanctioned And upon reading the said Petition the Order dated the 11th August 1937 (whereby the said Unilever Limited was ordered to convene separate meetings of the Holders of (1) its 7 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Stock and 5 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Stock and (2) its Ordinary Stock for the purpose of considering and if thought fit approving with or without modification a Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation proposed to be made between the said Unilever Limited and its respective Stockholders and Lever Brothers, Limited) the Order dated the 1st November 1937 (dispensing with the settlement of a list of Creditors of the said Lever Brothers, Limited) the “London Gazette” and the “Times” Newspaper both of the 21st September 1937 (each containing an advertisement of the notice convening the meetings directed to be held by the said Order dated the 11th August 1937) the “London Gazette” and the “Times” Newspaper both of the 5th November 1937 (each containing a notice of the presentation of the said Petition and that the same was appointed to be heard this day) the three Affidavits of Francis D’Arcy Cooper filed respectively the 20th July 1937 and the 19th and 20th October 1937 the Affidavit of Hugh Quennell filed the 11th August 1937 the joint and several Affidavit of Luke Val Fildes John William Heywood and Ronald Geoffrey Rowe filed the 19th October 1937 the joint and several Affidavit of Percy Farnworth and Fred Homer filed the 29th October 1937 and the Exhibits in the said Affidavits respectively referred to
And the said Naamlooze Vennootschap Elma United Holdings Limited Blackfriars Nominees Limited British Oil & Cake Mills Limited Unilever Naamlooze Vennootschap and “Mavibel” (Maatschappij voor Internationale Beleggingen) Naamlooze Vennootschap by their Counsel submitting to be bound by the Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation hereinafter sanctioned
This Court doth hereby sanction the Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation as set forth in the Schedule to the said Petition subject to the modifications approved by the Court on the hearing of the said Petition which Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation as so modified and sanctioned is set forth in the First Schedule hereto
And this Court doth order that the reduction of the capital of the said Lever Brothers, Limited from £130,000,000 to £117,000,000 resolved on and effected by the Special Resolution passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the said Lever Brothers, Limited held on the 12th October 1937 be and the same is hereby confirmed in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned Act
And the Court doth hereby approve the Minute set forth in the Second Schedule hereto
And it is ordered that this Order be produced and a copy of the said Minute delivered to the Registrar of Companies by Lever Brothers, Limited and that each of them the above-named Unilever Limited and Lever Brothers, Limited do deliver to such Registrar an office copy of this Order
And it is ordered that Notice of the Registration by the Registrar of Companies of this Order so far as it confirms the reduction of the capital of the said Lever Brothers, Limited and of the said Minute be published once in the “London Gazette” and in the “Times” Newspaper within ten days after such Registration
And it is ordered that the above-named Lever Brothers, Limited and Unilever Limited or either of them be at liberty to apply in Chambers for an Order or orders under Section 154 of the above-mentioned Act as there may be occasion
ARTHUR STIEBEL,
Registrar
Seal


34            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

 
Minute Approved by the Court
 
15th November, 1937.
The capital of Lever Brothers, Limited was by virtue of a Special Resolution of the Company and with the sanction of an Order of the High Court of Justice dated the 15th day of November, 1937, reduced from £130,000,000 to £117,000,000, divided into £30,762,082 Preference Stock, 9,237,918 Preference Shares of £1 each, £15,655,173 A Preference Stock, 24,344,827 A Preference Shares of £1 each, £2,287,312 Preferred Ordinary Stock, 24,850,752 Preferred Ordinary Shares of 5s. each, 7,000,000 A Preferred Ordinary Shares of £1 each and 2,150,000 Ordinary Shares of £10 each.
At the date of the registration of this Minute, none of the said shares had been issued.
By virtue of a Scheme of Arrangement and Amalgamation between Unilever Limited and its respective Stockholders and the Company sanctioned by the said Order and of a Special Resolution passed by the Company, the capital of the Company on the registration of this Minute is £141,418,750, divided into £30,762,082 Preference Stock, £15,655,173 A Preference Stock, £2,287,312 Preferred Ordinary Stock, 9,237,918 Preference Shares of £1 each, 24,344,827 A Preference Shares of £1 each, 59,031,438 Ordinary Shares of £1 each and 100,000 Deferred Shares of £1 each none of which shares has been issued.
      


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           35


 

No. 41424
 
Certificate of Registration
of Order of Court and Minute on reduction of Capital
(Pursuant to Sec. 58 of the Companies Act, 1929.)
 
LEVER BROTHERS, LIMITED having by Special Resolution reduced its Capital, as confirmed by an Order of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, bearing date the 15th day of November, 1937.
I hereby Certify
the Registration of the said Order and of a Minute, showing the present capital and shares of the Company, as fixed by the said Order.
Given under my hand at London this thirtieth day of November
One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven.
P. MARTIN,
Assistant Registrar of Companies.
36            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 27th day of February, 1952, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That the name of the Company be changed to
“UNILEVER LIMITED”.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 20th day of September, 1966, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolutions
 

1   That the Scheme of Arrangement dated 25th August, 1966, between the Company and its six classes of members, a print of which has been submitted to this Meeting and for the purpose of identification subscribed by the Chairman hereof, be and it is hereby approved.
 
2   That subject to the said Scheme being sanctioned the capital of the Company be reduced by the cancellation of the assented Preferential Stock (as in the said Scheme defined) and of the 1,655,310 unissued 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each and the 24,338,251 unissued 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Shares of £1 each in the capital of the Company.
3   That forthwith upon the said reduction of capital taking effect:
 
    (a)  the capital of the Company be increased to its former amount of £141,418,750 by the creation of the appropriate number of Ordinary Shares of 5s. each.
 
    (b)  the 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock and Shares, the 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock and Shares, the 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock and Shares and the 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock and Shares be redesignated as 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock and Shares, 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock and Shares, 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock and Shares and 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock and Shares respectively.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           37


 

No. 00987 of 1966
 
In the High Court of Justice
 
     
CHANCERY DIVISION
MR. JUSTICE PLOWMAN


FO. 123 R.28

Monday the 24th day of October 1966
 
Seal
Supreme
Court of
Judicature
In the Matter of UNILEVER LIMITED
and In the Matter of THE COMPANIES ACT, 1948
Upon the Petition of the above-named Unilever Limited (hereinafter called “the Company”) whose registered office is situate at Port Sunlight Birkenhead in the County of Chester on the 26th September 1966 preferred unto this Court
And Upon Hearing Counsel for the Company
And Upon Reading the said Petition the Order dated the 14th July 1966 (whereby the Company was ordered to convene separate Meetings of the holders of (i) its 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock (ii) its 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock (iii) its 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock (iv) its 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock and (v) its Ordinary Shares for the purpose of considering and if thought fit approving, with or without modification, a Scheme of Arrangement proposed to be made between the Company the holders of its said Stocks and Shares and the holders of its Deferred Stock) the Order dated the 7th October 1966 (dispensing with the settlement of a list of Creditors) The Times newspaper of the 26th August 1966 (containing an advertisement of the notice convening the Meetings directed to be held by the said Order dated the 14th July 1966) The Times newspaper of the 15th October 1966 (containing a notice of the presentation of the said Petition and that the same was appointed to be heard this day) and three Affidavits of George James Baron Cole of Blackfriars filed respectively the 11th July 1966 and the 27th September 1966 the two joint Affidavits of John Arthur Smethurst and William Favager filed respectively the 8th September 1966 and the 19th October 1966 the Affidavit of Kenneth Lysberg Barber and the Affidavit of Edward James Wells both filed the 27th September 1966 and the Exhibits in the said Affidavits respectively referred to
This Court doth hereby sanction the Scheme of Arrangement as set forth in the Schedule to the said Petition (subject to the modifications approved by this Court on the hearing of the said Petition) which Scheme of Arrangement as so modified and sanctioned is set forth in the First Schedule hereto
And this Court doth order that the reduction of the capital of the Company resolved on and effected by a Special Resolution passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company held on the 20th September 1966 be and the same is hereby confirmed in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned Act
And the Court doth hereby approve the Minute set forth in the Second Schedule hereto
And it is ordered that this Order be produced to the Registrar of Companies and that an Office Copy hereof be delivered to him together with a copy of the said Minute
And it is ordered that notice of the registration by the Registrar of Companies of this Order (so far as it confirms the reduction of the capital of the Company) and of the said Minute be published once in The Times newspaper within 21 days after such registration
MAURICE BERKELEY,
Registrar


38            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

THE FIRST SCHEDULE before referred to
No. 00987 of 1966
 
In the High Court of Justice
 
CHANCERY DIVISION
In the Matter of UNILEVER LIMITED
and
In the Matter of THE COMPANIES ACT, 1948
 
Scheme of Arrangement
(under Section 206 of the Companies Act, 1948)
 
between
UNILEVER LIMITED and the holders of:
(1)   its 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock;
 
(2)   its 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock;
 
(3)   its 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock;
 
(4)   its 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock;
 
(5)   its Ordinary Shares of 5s. each; and
 
(6)   its Deferred Stock.
PRELIMINARY
In this Scheme the following expressions shall bear the following meanings:–
     
“the Company”
  means Unilever Limited;
 
   
“the Preferential Stock”
  means the £35,984,690 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, the £2,360,000 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, the £15,661,749 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock and the £2,287,312 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock in the capital of the Company;
     
the term “non-assented” in relation to Preferential Stock
  means Preferential Stock in respect of which the holder shall give a valid Notice of Non-Assent under Clause 5 of this Scheme;
 
   
the term “assented” in relation to Preferential Stock
  means Preferential Stock which is not non-assented;
 
   
“the New Loan Stock”
  means the Unsecured Loan Stock of the Company to be created pursuant to Clause 1 of this Scheme;
 
   

“the Effective Date”
 
means the day on which this Scheme becomes effective in accordance with Clause 9 of this Scheme;
 
   
“this Scheme”
  means this Scheme (including the Appendices hereto) in its present form or with any modification thereof or addition thereto or condition approved or imposed by the Court;
 
   
“holder”
  includes person entitled by transmission.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           39


 

THE SCHEME
Creation of New Loan Stock
1   (a)  The Company shall create New Loan Stock up to £62,695,050 in aggregate nominal amount as follows:–
 
    (i) up to £60,335,050 7 3 / 4 per cent. Unsecured Loan Stock 1991/2006;
 
    (ii) up to £2,360,000 5 1 / 2 per cent. Unsecured Loan Stock 1991/2006.
 
    (b)  The New Loan Stock shall be constituted by a Trust Deed between the Company of the one part and The Law Debenture Corporation, Limited as trustees of the other part and shall contain or incorporate provisions to the effect of those set forth in Appendix A to this Scheme and shall be in the form of the draft already prepared and subscribed for the purposes of identification by Slaughter and May, Solicitors, with such modifications and additions, if any, as may prior to the execution thereof be approved by the Company and the Trustees.
Reduction of Share Capital
2   (a)  The share capital of the Company shall be reduced by the cancellation of the assented Preferential Stock and of the 1,655,310 unissued 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each and the 24,338,251 unissued 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Shares of £1 each in the capital of the Company.
 
    (b)  Forthwith upon the said reduction of capital taking effect the share capital of the Company shall be increased to its former amount by the creation of Ordinary Shares of 5s. each.
Allotment of New Loan Stock
3   (a)  In consideration of the cancellation of the assented Preferential Stock the Company shall within 28 days after the Effective Date (but subject as regards fractions to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Clause) allot and issue credited as fully paid to the persons who at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the Effective Date are the registered holders of the assented Preferential Stock for every £100 in nominal amount of assented Preferential Stock of the class shown in column 1 of the Table below set out New Loan Stock of the nominal amount and class shown in column 2 of the said Table and so in proportion for holdings of less than £100 or which are not an exact multiple thereof:–
         
 
  Table
1
£100 Preferential Stock

7 per cent.
Cumulative Preference
Stock.
  2
New Loan Stock

£100 7 3 / 4 per cent.
Unsecured Loan
Stock 1991/2006.
 
       
 
  5 per cent.
Cumulative Preference
Stock.
  £100 5 1 / 2 per cent.
Unsecured Loan
Stock 1991/2006.
         
 
  8 per cent.
Cumulative A Preference
Stock.
  £114 7 3 / 4 per cent.
Unsecured Loan
Stock 1991/2006.
 
       
 
  20 per cent.
Cumulative Preferred
Ordinary Stock.
  £284 7 3 / 4 per cent.
Unsecured Loan
Stock 1991/2006.
    (b)  No holder of any of the assented Preferential Stock shall be entitled to be allotted any fraction of £1 of New Loan Stock but any fractional amounts to which but for this provision holders of assented Preferential Stock would have been entitled shall be aggregated and allotted to the Secretary of the Company or to some person or persons nominated by him upon trust to sell the same and the Company shall distribute the net proceeds of such sale to the persons entitled thereto.
 
    (c)  The amount of 7 3 / 4 per cent. Unsecured Loan Stock to be allotted to a holder of assented Preferential Stock of two or more classes and the fractional entitlement, if any, of any such holder shall be determined by aggregating the amounts of 7 3 / 4 per cent. Unsecured Loan Stock which, but for the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Clause, would have been allotted to such holder.
Dividends and Interest
4   (a)  The New Loan Stock to be issued pursuant to this Scheme shall carry interest calculated as from and including the 1st July, 1966.
 
    (b)  The holders of the assented Preferential Stock shall not be entitled to receive any dividends on the assented Preferential Stock held by them respectively in respect of any period commencing after the 30th June, 1966.
 
    (c)  Each mandate in force at the close of business on the day immediately preceding the Effective Date relating to the payment of dividends on assented Preferential Stock shall unless and until revoked be deemed as from such date to be a valid and effective mandate to the Company in relation to interest on the corresponding New Loan Stock.
Notice of Non-Assent
5   (a)  If any holder of Preferential Stock shall, in manner provided in paragraph (b) of this Clause, give notice in the form prescribed by the Company (herein called “Notice of Non-Assent”) to the Company that such holder does not wish to have all or some part of the Preferential Stock held by him cancelled, the Preferential Stock held by such holder shall, to the extent specified in such Notice of Non- Assent, for the purposes of this Scheme be non-assented.
 
    (b)  Every such notice shall be signed (or in the case of a body corporate executed under its Common Seal, if any) by the holder or, in the case of joint holdings, all the holders of the Preferential Stock concerned and sent or delivered to the Joint Registrars of the Company accompanied by the relative stock certificate or certificates so as to be received by the Joint Registrars on or before the 19th September, 1966, or posted before the 19th September, 1966 and received by the said Joint Registrars on or before the 27th September, 1966.


40            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

Modification of Rights attached to Classes of Share Capital
6   (a)  The Company shall alter its Articles of Association by substituting for Articles 3 and 49 the new Articles 3 and 49 set forth in Resolution numbered 3 in the Notice convening an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company for the 20th September, 1966.
 
    (b)  From and after the Effective Date the rights set forth in Appendix B to this Scheme shall be attached to the non-assented Preferential Stock in substitution for and to the exclusion of those rights now set forth in paragraph (viii) of Article 9 of the Articles of Association of the Company.
 
    (c)  Nothing in this Scheme contained shall prevent the alteration or variation of any rights attached to any Stock or Shares in the capital of the Company or any provision in the Articles of Association of the Company in any manner for the time being authorised by law or by such Articles.
Certificates for New Loan Stock and Cash Payments
7   As soon as practicable after the allotments of the New Loan Stock, the Company shall send to the allottees notices informing them that this Scheme has become effective and, unless prohibited by law, enclosing certificates for the amounts of New Loan Stock and shall, either simultaneously or as soon as practicable thereafter and unless prohibited by law, send to the allottees cheques or postal orders for any cash payments in respect of fractions, being the amounts and payments to which they are respectively entitled under this Scheme.
 
8   (a)  All certificates for New Loan Stock shall be sent by the Company to the holders of the assented Preferential Stock through the post in prepaid envelopes addressed to such holders at their respective registered addresses (or, in the case of joint holders, to the address of that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the register in respect of such joint holding) and the Company shall not be responsible for any loss in transmission.
 
    (b)  All cash payments in respect of fractions required to be made pursuant to this Scheme to holders of assented Preferential Stock shall be made by the Company to such holders by sending cheques or postal orders for the amounts payable through the post in the manner and to the addresses mentioned in paragraph (a) of this Clause, and the Company shall not be responsible for any loss in transmission.
 
    All such cheques and postal orders shall be made payable to the order of the person to whom the payment is due or, in the case of joint holders entitled to such payment, to the order of that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the register in respect of such joint holding. Payment of any cheque or encashment of any postal order (as the case may be) shall be a complete discharge to the Company for the moneys represented thereby.
The Effective Date
9   This Scheme shall become effective as soon as an office copy or office copies of the Order of the Court sanctioning under Section 206 of the Companies Act, 1948 this Scheme and confirming under Section 68 of the said Act the reduction of capital provided for in this Scheme shall have been duly delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration; and unless this Scheme shall have become effective as aforesaid on or before the 31st December, 1966, or such later date, if any, as the Court may allow, the same shall never become effective.
 
10   The Company may consent on behalf of all concerned to any modification of or addition to this Scheme or to any conditions which the Court may think fit to approve or impose.
Fundamental Condition
11   Notwithstanding anything hereinbefore contained if less than 50 per cent. in aggregate nominal amount of the Preferential Stock (or such lesser nominal amount as the Company shall within fourteen days after the holding of the meetings convened by Order of the Court for the purpose of considering this Scheme by Resolution of its Board of Directors decide) falls to be treated as assented Preferential Stock for the purposes of this Scheme, this Scheme shall not be capable of becoming effective.
 
    Dated 25th August, 1966.
APPENDIX A
Provisions relating to New Loan Stock
The 5 1 / 2 per cent. Unsecured Loan Stock 1991/2006 (“the 5 1 / 2 per cent. Stock”) and the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Unsecured Loan Stock 1991/2006 (“the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Stock”) – together referred to herein as “the Stocks” – will be created by a Resolution of the Board of Directors and will be constituted by a Trust Deed in favour of The Law Debenture Corporation, Limited, as Trustees. The Trust Deed will contain provisions, inter alia , to the following effect:–
1   Amounts
 
    The 5 1 / 2 per cent. Stock will not exceed £2,360,000;
the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Stock will not exceed £60,335,050.
 
2   Interest
 
    The 5 1 / 2 per cent. Stock and the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Stock will carry interest respectively at the rates of 5 1 / 2 per cent. and 7 3 / 4 per cent. per annum, payable half-yearly on 30th June and 31st December. The first payment of interest will be made on 31st December, 1966 and will amount to £2 15s. 0d. (less income tax) per £100 nominal of the 5 1 / 2 per cent. Stock and £3 17s. 6d. (less income tax) per £100 nominal of the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Stock.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           41


 

3   Redemption, Purchase and Final Repayment
 
    (a)  The Stocks, unless previously purchased or redeemed, will be repaid on 30th June, 2006, at par plus accrued interest.
 
    (b)  The Company will be entitled to redeem the whole or any part, to be selected by drawings, of the Stocks at par plus accrued interest on or at any time after 30th June, 1991, on giving not less than three months’ notice in writing.
 
    (c)  The Company may at any time purchase any part of the Stocks on any recognised Stock Exchange or by tender (available to all Stockholders of the particular Stock alike) at any price or by private treaty at a price not exceeding par in the case of the 5 1 / 2 per cent. Stock and £105 per cent. in the case of the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Stock (exclusive in each case of expenses and accrued interest) but not otherwise.
 
    (d)  The Company may exercise its rights and powers of redemption and purchase as regards the 5 1 / 2 per cent. Stock and the 7 3 / 4 per cent. Stock at its sole discretion and without obligation to maintain any ratio between the amounts for the time being outstanding of either of such series.
 
    (e)  All stock purchased or redeemed shall be cancelled and shall not be available for re-issue.
4      Limitation on Borrowings
    (A)  The Company shall procure that so long as any part of the Stocks remains outstanding the aggregate principal amount (including any premium payable on final repayment) outstanding of borrowings by the Company and all its subsidiaries (but excluding borrowings by any of such companies from any other of them) shall not exceed a sum equal to twice the adjusted total of capital and reserves (as defined below).
 
    (B)  The Company shall procure that so long as any part of the Stocks remains outstanding the aggregate principal amount (including any premium payable on final repayment) outstanding of (a) secured borrowings of the Company (otherwise than from any of its subsidiaries) and (b) all borrowings whether secured or unsecured of its subsidiaries (otherwise than from the Company or from another subsidiary) shall not exceed a sum equal to two thirds of the adjusted total of capital and reserves.
 
    For the purposes of the provisions of (A) and (B) above relating to borrowing:–
 
    (i) the principal amount (together with any premium payable on final repayment) of any debentures within the meaning of Section 455 of the Companies Act, 1948 issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall (unless otherwise taken into account) be deemed to be borrowings;
 
    (ii) the principal amount raised by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by acceptances under any acceptance credit opened on its behalf by any bank or accepting house shall be deemed to be borrowings;
    (iii) the nominal amount of any issued share capital and the principal amount of any borrowings (together in each case with any premium on redemption or repayment) the repayment whereof is guaranteed by the Company or by any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to be borrowings by the guaranteeing company unless otherwise taken into account;
 
    (iv) any borrowings of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for the express purpose of repaying the whole or any part of any borrowings of the Company or any of its subsidiaries for the time being outstanding (including any premium on redemption or repayment) and taken into account and applied for that purpose within four months of such borrowing shall pending application for such purpose within such period be deemed not to be borrowings;
 
    (v) the nominal amount of any issued share capital (not being equity share capital) of a subsidiary owned otherwise than by the Company or by a subsidiary shall be deemed to be borrowings of the subsidiary;
 
    (vi) in the case of a subsidiary, part of whose equity share capital is held otherwise than by the Company or another subsidiary, the proportion of the total amounts borrowed by such subsidiary which is borrowed otherwise than from the Company or another subsidiary which corresponds to the proportion of the total nominal amount of the issued equity share capital of such subsidiary held otherwise than by the Company or another subsidiary shall be deemed not to be borrowings.
 
5   Definitions
 
    The expression “the adjusted total of capital and reserves” means at any material time the amount of the issued and paid-up share capital of the Company plus the aggregate amount standing to the credit of the consolidated capital and revenue reserves (including any share premium account and capital redemption reserve fund) plus or minus the amount standing to the credit or debit (as the case may be) of the consolidated profit and loss account of the Company and its subsidiaries all as shown in the latest audited consolidated accounts of the Company but:–
 
    (i) adjusted as may be appropriate to take account of (a) any increase in or reduction of the issued and paid-up share capital or the share premium account of the Company since the date to which the consolidated balance sheet incorporated in such accounts shall have been made up and any distributions (other than normal preference dividends and interim dividends paid in each case out of profits earned since such date) in cash or specie made from such reserves or profit and loss account since such date and (b) any subsidiary not consolidated in such accounts, any companies which since the date of such accounts have ceased to be subsidiaries and any companies which will become subsidiaries as a result of the transaction in relation to which the calculation falls to be made;


42            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

 
    (ii) excluding any sums set aside for taxation, other than any sums set aside in respect of taxation equalisation;    
 
    (iii) after deducting any amount for goodwill or any other intangible asset (not being an amount representing part of the cost of an acquisition of shares or other property) incorporated as an asset in such balance sheet (as adjusted);
 
    (iv) excluding any amounts attributable to minority interests in subsidiaries;
 
    (v) after making such other adjustments (if any) as the Auditors of the Company may consider appropriate.
 
6   Transfer
 
    The Stocks will each be registered and transferable in amounts and multiples of £1.
 
7   Modification of Rights
 
    The provisions of the Trust Deed and the rights of the holders of the Stocks will be subject to modification by Extraordinary Resolution of the Stockholders concerned as provided in the Trust Deed. In addition, the Trustees may from time to time without any consent or sanction of the Stockholders concerned (but only if and in so far as in the opinion of the Trustees the interests of such Stockholders will not be materially prejudiced thereby) assent to any modification of the provisions of the Trust Deed or any Supplemental Trust Deed. Provision will be made for separate meetings of the holders of the series concerned where the subject matter of any proposed Resolution is considered by the Trustees to involve a conflict of interest between the holders of one series of the Stock and the holders of the other series of the Stock.
 
8   Indemnification
 
    The Trust Deed will contain provisions for indemnifying the Trustees and for relieving them from responsibility in certain events.
APPENDIX B
(see Clause 6(b) of the Scheme)
On a return of assets in a winding-up or otherwise the 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Shares, 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Shares, 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Shares and 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares shall be entitled to rank for repayment of the capital paid up or credited as paid up thereon in the same priorities respectively as they rank for dividend together with a sum equal to any arrears or deficiency of dividend in respect thereof (whether declared or undeclared) and together also by way of premium with an amount per share equal to the excess (if any) of the market value of such Preference and Preferred Ordinary Shares respectively over the amount paid up or credited as paid up thereon, such market value to be established by taking the average as certified by the Company’s Auditors of the means of the daily quotations at which the said Preference Shares and Preferred Ordinary Shares respectively shall have been quoted in the Daily Official List published by The Stock Exchange, London, during the six months immediately preceding the relevant date, after first deducting from the mean on each day a sum equal to any arrears or deficiency of dividend in respect thereof (whether declared or undeclared) up to that day (less an amount equivalent to income tax on such sum at the standard rate for the time being in force). Provided that in the event of a reduction of capital involving repayment of part only of the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the said Preference Shares and Preferred Ordinary Shares a proportionate part only of any such premium as aforesaid shall be payable. “The relevant date” means in the case of a compulsory winding-up the commencement of the winding-up and in the case of a voluntary winding-up or reduction of capital the date thirty days before the despatch of the notice convening the meeting to pass the resolution for winding up or reduction of capital as the case may be. The said Preference Shares and Preferred Ordinary Shares shall confer no further or other right to participate in profits or assets.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           43


 

THE SECOND SCHEDULE before referred to
 
Minute Approved by the Court
 
The capital of Unilever Limited was by virtue of a Special Resolution and a Scheme of Arrangement sanctioned by an Order of the High Court of Justice dated the 24th day of October 1966 reduced from the former capital of £141,418,750 divided into £35,984,690 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, £2,360,000 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, £15,661,749 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock, £2,287,312 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock, 1,655,310 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Shares of £1 each, 24,338,251 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Shares of £1 each, 236,125,752 Ordinary Shares of 5s. each and £100,000 Deferred Stock to £64,274,506 divided into £3,502,564 7 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, £172,382 5 per cent. Cumulative Preference Stock, £1,218,546 8 per cent. Cumulative A Preference Stock, £249,576 20 per cent. Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock, 236,125,752 Ordinary Shares of 5s. each and £100,000 Deferred Stock. At the date of the registration of this Minute 181,348,592 of the said Ordinary Shares have been issued and are deemed to be fully paid and none of the remaining Ordinary Shares has been issued. By virtue of a Special Resolution of the Company to take effect forthwith upon the said reduction of capital taking effect the capital of the Company has been increased to £141,418,750 by the creation of 308,576,976 Ordinary Shares of 5s. each.
      


44            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

No. 41424
 
Certificate of Registration
of Order of Court and Minute on reduction of Capital
(Pursuant to Sec. 69 of the Companies Act, 1948.)
 
UNILEVER LIMITED having by Special Resolution reduced its Capital, as confirmed by an Order of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of October One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six.
I hereby Certify
That the said Order and a Minute showing the capital and shares of the Company as approved by the said Order were Registered pursuant to Section 69 of the Companies Act, 1948, on the Second day of December One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six.
Given under my hand at London this Fifth day of December
One Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Six.
A. E. WHITBY,
Assistant Registrar of Companies.
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           45


 

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 12th day of December, 1983, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That
(a) the capital of the Company be reduced from £141,418,750 to £135,170,274, such reduction to be effected by cancelling the whole of the capital paid up on 24,993,904 Ordinary Shares of 25p each, being that part of the holding of Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company registered in the names of Sir David Alexander Orr, The Right Honourable Philip William Bryce Third Viscount Leverhulme, Seamus George Sweetman, Kenneth Durham and Cecil Frazer Sedcole, which is held by them as Trustees of the Will of the First Viscount Leverhulme in the Fund known as the Office Holders Fund, and by cancelling and extinguishing such Ordinary Shares; and
(b) forthwith upon such reduction of capital taking effect, the authorised capital of the Company be increased to its former amount of £141,418,750 by the creation of 24,993,904 Ordinary Shares of 25p each.
      


46            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

No. 007556 of 1983
 
In the High Court of Justice
 
CHANCERY DIVISION
MR. JUSTICE HARMAN
FO. 228 C1
Tuesday the 24th Day of January, 1984
In the Matter of UNILEVER PLC
and
In the Matter of THE COMPANIES ACT 1948
Upon the Petition of the above-named Unilever PLC whose registered office is situate at Port Sunlight Wirral Merseyside L62 4XN on the 12th December, 1983 preferred unto this Court
And upon hearing Counsel for the Petitioner
And upon reading the said Petition (as amended) the Order dated the 22nd December, 1983 (dispensing with the settlement of a list of Creditors) the Affidavit of Kenneth Durham filed the 15th December, 1983 the Affidavit of James Dewar Keir filed the 18th January, 1984 the Exhibits in the said Affidavits respectively referred to and “The Times” Newspaper of the 14th January, 1984 (containing a notice of the presentation of the said Petition and that the same was appointed to be heard this day)
This Court doth order that the reduction of the capital of the said Company from £141,418,750 to £135,170,274 resolved on and effected by a Special Resolution passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the said Company held on the 12th December, 1983 be and the same is hereby confirmed in accordance with the provisions of the above mentioned Act.
And the Court doth hereby approve the Minute set forth in the Schedule hereto
And it is ordered that this Order be produced to the Registrar of Companies and that an Office Copy hereof be delivered to him together with a copy of the said Minute
And it is ordered that notice of the registration by the Registrar of Companies of this Order and of the said Minute be published once in “The Times” newspaper within 21 days after such registration.
JOHN BRADBURN,
Registrar
      


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           47


 

THE SCHEDULE before referred to
 
Minute Approved by the Court
 
The Capital of Unilever PLC was by virtue of a Special Resolution and with the sanction of an Order of the High Court of Justice dated the 24th January, 1984 reduced from £141,418,750 divided into £3,502,564 7 per cent First Cumulative Preference Stock £172,382 5 per cent First Cumulative Preference Stock £1,218,546 8 per cent Second Cumulative Preference Stock £249,576 20 per cent Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock 544,702,728 Ordinary Shares of 25p each and £100,000 Deferred Stock to £135,170,274 divided into £3,502,564 7 per cent First Cumulative Preference Stock £172,382 5 per cent First Cumulative Preference Stock £1,218,546 8 per cent Second Cumulative Preference Stock £249,576 20 per cent Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock 519,708,824 Ordinary Shares of 25p each and £100,000 Deferred Stock At the date of the registration of this Minute 158,073,358 of the said Ordinary Shares have been issued and are deemed to be fully paid and none of the remaining Ordinary Shares has been issued. By virtue of a Special Resolution of the Company to take effect forthwith upon the said reduction of capital taking effect the capital of the Company has been increased to £141,418,750 by the creation of 24,993,904 Ordinary Shares of 25p each.
      


48            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

No. 41424
 
Certificate of Registration
of Order of Court and Minute on reduction of Capital
 
Whereas UNILEVER PLC having by Special Resolution reduced its capital
as confirmed by an Order of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division
dated the 24th January, 1984.
Now therefore
I hereby Certify
that the said Order and Minute approved by the Court were registered pursuant to section 69 of the Companies Act, 1948, on the 27th January, 1984.
Given under my hand at Cardiff the 14th February, 1984
T. G. THOMAS,
An Authorised Officer
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           49


 

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 23rd January, 1989, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That subject to the consent of the holders of the Company’s 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock, 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock, 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock and 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares of 25p each given by extraordinary resolutions as provided in Article 11 of the Company’s Articles of Association, the authorised capital of the Company be reduced from £141,418,750 to £136,275,682 and that such reduction be effected by returning the whole of the capital paid up on the £3,502,564 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock together with a premium of 7p per £1 nominal of such Stock,
78p of the capital paid up on each £1 nominal of the £172,382 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock, the whole of the capital paid up on the £1,218,546 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock together with a premium of 14p per £1 nominal of such Stock and the whole of the capital paid up on each of the 998,304 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares together with a premium of 40p per share and cancelling and extinguishing all the said Preference Stocks and Preferred Shares.


At a Class Meeting of holders of 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock of the Company duly convened and held on the 23rd January, 1989, the following Resolution was duly passed as an Extraordinary Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That this Class Meeting of the holders of the 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock in the capital of the Company hereby consents on behalf of all the holders of such Stock to the reduction of the capital of the Company on the terms set out in the Special Resolution contained in the Notice dated the 16th day of December 1988 convening the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company for 23rd January, 1989 (a copy of such notice having been produced to this Meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the Chairman thereof) and sanctions any variation of the rights and privileges attached to the said Stock which is effected or authorised by the said resolution or is involved therein to the intent that such resolution shall be binding on all the holders of the said Stock.
      


50            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At a Class Meeting of holders of 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock of the Company duly convened and held on the 23rd January, 1989, the following Resolution was duly passed as an Extraordinary Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That this Class Meeting of the holders of the 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock in the capital of the Company hereby consents on behalf of all the holders of such Stock to the reduction of the capital of the Company on the terms set out in the Special Resolution contained in the Notice dated the 16th day of December 1988 convening the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company for 23rd January 1989 (a copy of such notice having been produced to this Meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the Chairman thereof) and sanctions any variation of the rights and privileges attached to the said Stock which is effected or authorised by the said resolution or is involved therein to the intent that such resolution shall be binding on all the holders of the said Stock.
      


At a Class Meeting of holders of 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock of the Company duly convened and held on the 23rd January, 1989, the following Resolution was duly passed as an Extraordinary Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That this Class Meeting of the holders of the 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock in the capital of the Company hereby consents on behalf of all the holders of such Stock to the reduction of the capital of the Company on the terms set out in the Special Resolution contained in the Notice dated the 16th day of December 1988 convening the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company for 23rd January 1989 (a copy of such notice having been produced to this Meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the Chairman thereof) and sanctions any variation of the rights and privileges attached to the said Stock which is effected or authorised by the said resolution or is involved therein to the intent that such resolution shall be binding on all the holders of the said Stock.
      


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           51


 

At a Class Meeting of holders of 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares in the Company duly convened and held on the 23rd January, 1989, the following Resolution was duly passed as an Extraordinary Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That this Class Meeting of the holders of the 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company hereby consents on behalf of all the holders of such Shares to the reduction of the capital of the Company on the terms set out in the Special Resolution contained in the Notice dated the 16th day of December 1988 convening the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company for 23rd January 1989 (a copy of such notice having been produced to this Meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the Chairman thereof) and sanctions any variation of the rights and privileges attached to the said Shares which is effected or authorised by the said resolution or is involved therein to the intent that such resolution shall be binding on all the holders of the said Shares.
      


52            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

No. 00433 of 1989
 
In the High Court of Justice
 

CHANCERY DIVISION
COMPANIES COURT
MR. JUSTICE MILLETT
Monday the 27th day of February 1989
In the Matter of UNILEVER PLC
and
In the Matter of THE COMPANIES ACT 1985
Upon the Petition of the above-named Unilever PLC (hereinafter called “the Company”) whose registered office is situate at Port Sunlight Wirral Merseyside L62 4ZA
And Upon Hearing Counsel for the Company
And Upon Reading the documents recorded on the Court File as having been read
It is ordered that the reduction of the capital of the Company from £141,418,750 to £136,275,682 resolved on and effected by a Special Resolution passed at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company held on the 23rd January 1989 be confirmed.
And the Court approves the Minute set forth in the Schedule hereto
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED
(1)   that this Order be produced by the Company to the Registrar of Companies and that it deliver an Office Copy to him together with a copy of the said Minute
 
(2)   that notice of the registration by the Registrar of Companies of this Order and of the said Minute be published by the Company once in the Financial Times newspaper within 21 days after such registration.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010            53

 


 

THE SCHEDULE
 
Minute Approved by the Court
 

“The capital of Unilever PLC was by virtue of a Special Resolution and with the sanction of an Order of the High Court of Justice dated 27th day of February 1989 reduced from £141,418,750 (divided into £3,502,564 7 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock £172,382 5 per cent. First Cumulative Preference Stock £1,218,546 8 per cent. Second Cumulative Preference Stock 998,304 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares of 25p each 2,723,513,640 Ordinary Shares of 5p each and £100,000 Deferred Stock) to £136,275,682 (divided into 2,723,513,640 Ordinary Shares of 5p each and £100,000 Deferred Stock). At the date of the registration of this Minute 794,082,087 Ordinary Shares of 5p each have been issued and are deemed to be fully paid and none of the remaining Ordinary Shares has been issued”.


54           Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

No. 41424
 
Certificate of Registration
of Order of Court and Minute

on reduction of Share Capital
 
Whereas UNILEVER PLC having by Special Resolution reduced its capital as confirmed by an Order of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division dated the 27th February 1989. Now therefore
I hereby Certify
that the said Order and Minute approved by the Court were registered pursuant to section 138 of the Companies Act 1985 on the 2nd March 1989.
Given under my hand at Cardiff the 13th March 1989.
An Authorised Officer.
Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           55

 


 

Special and other Resolutions
 
 
At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 18th day of June, 1931, the following Resolution was duly passed:–
 
Resolution
 
That all the fully paid Shares in the capital of the Company now issued and outstanding be converted into Stock and that all Shares in the capital of the Company at present unissued be converted into Stock as and when the same are issued and are fully paid up.
At a separate General Meeting of the Ordinary Stockholders of the Company duly convened and held on the 12th day of July, 1951, the following Resolution was duly passed:–
 
Resolution
 
That this separate General Meeting of the holders of the issued 13,694,008 Ordinary Shares of £1 each in the capital of Lever Brothers & Unilever Limited (now represented by £13,694,008 Ordinary Stock) hereby, in pursuance of Article 3 of the Company’s Articles of Association, sanctions the modification of the terms of the Agreement dated the 28th day of June, 1946, between Lever Brothers & Unilever N.V. of the one part and the Company of the other part (being the Agreement referred to in the said Article 3) in manner provided
by a Supplemental Agreement in the terms of the draft produced to this Meeting and, for the purpose of identification subscribed by the Chairman thereof, and authorises the Directors of the Company to enter into and carry into effect such Supplemental Agreement.


56           Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 27th day of October, 1961, the following Resolutions were duly passed as an Ordinary Resolution and a Special Resolution respectively:–
 
Resolutions
 
That the whole of the issued Ordinary Stock in the capital of the Company be re-converted into fully paid Ordinary Shares of 5s. 0d. each and that each of the unissued Ordinary Shares of £1 each in the capital of the Company be sub-divided into four Ordinary Shares of
5s. 0d. each.
That as from the date of the passing of this Resolution the provisions of the Resolutions passed on the 18th June, 1931, and the 12th October, 1937, that all unissued Shares in the capital of the Company be converted into Stock as and when the same are issued and are fully paid up, shall cease to apply to the Ordinary Share capital of the Company.


At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 17th day of May, 1978, the following Resolution was duly passed:–
 
Resolution
 
That the £249,576 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Stock in the capital of the Company be re-converted into 998,304 fully paid 20 per cent. Third Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares of
25p each.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           57

 


 

At a Meeting of the Directors duly convened and held on the 9th day of April, 1981, the following Resolution was duly passed:–
 
Resolution
 
That
(1)   Pursuant to Section 8 of the Companies Act, 1980 the Company be re-registered as a public company.
 
(2)   The Memorandum of Association of the Company be altered in manner following:
  (a)   By deleting Clause 1 and substituting therefor the following clause:–
 
      “1 The name of the Company is “Unilever PLC”.”
  (b)   By adding after Clause 1 the following Clause 1a:–
 
      “1a The Company is to be a public company.”
 
  (c)   By deleting Clause 2 and substituting therefor the following clause:–
 
      “2 The registered office of the Company will be situated in
    England and Wales.”


At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 18th May, 1983, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:—
 
Resolution
 
That the Memorandum of Association of the Company be altered by deleting the present Clause 3 and substituting for it the Clause 3 set out in the document which accompanied the notice of this meeting.


58           Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 20th May, 1987, the following Resolutions were duly passed as an Ordinary Resolution and a Special Resolution respectively:–
 
Resolutions
 
That with effect from and including 29th June, 1987, the 544,702,728 Ordinary Shares of 25p each in the capital of the Company be sub-divided into 2,723,513,640 Ordinary Shares of 5p each.
That with effect from and including 29th June, 1987, the draft regulations contained in the printed document submitted to the meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the Chairman thereof, be approved and adopted as the Articles of Association of the Company in substitution for and to the exclusion of all existing Articles thereof.


At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 3rd May, 1989, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolutions
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered as follows:
(a)   by deleting in article 2 the words, “Preference Shares.” includes Preferred Ordinary Shares;
 
(b)   by deleting in article 3 the second and third sentences and substituting therefor the following:
 
    ‘No modification of the terms of the said Agreement shall be made without the previous sanction of
 
    (a) an ordinary resolution of the Company in general meeting; and
 
    (b) an ordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of the Ordinary Shares.
 
    The provisions of article 11 shall apply to the separate general meeting hereinbefore mentioned, except only that the quorum necessary for the said meeting shall be the holders of a majority in nominal value of the Ordinary Shares present in person or by proxy, but so that if at any adjourned separate general meeting of the holders of the Ordinary Shares such quorum be not
    present, those of such holders who are present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.’;
 
(c)   by deleting article 5 and substituting therefor the following:
  ‘5   Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts and to any rights conferred on the holders of any class of shares, any share may be issued which is to be redeemed, or is to be liable to be redeemed at the option of the Company or the holder, on such terms and in such manner as may be provided by these articles.’;
(d)   by deleting article 9 and substituting therefor the following:
  ‘9   (i) On the 3rd May, 1989 the authorised capital of the Company is £136,275,682, divided as follows: 2,723,513,640 Ordinary Shares of 5p each. 100,000 Deferred Shares of £1 each, all of which have been issued and are now represented by £100,000 Deferred Stock.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           59

 


 

      (ii) The Ordinary Shares of 5p each and the Deferred Shares of £1 each shall respectively confer on the holders thereof the right to receive dividends in accordance with the provisions of article 135 hereof.’;
(e)   by deleting in article 10 all sentences save the last;
 
(f)   by deleting in article 11 paragraph (D) and substituting therefor the following:
 
    (D) Subject as aforesaid the rights and privileges attached to any class shall for the purposes of this article not be deemed to be modified unless the modification prejudicially affects such rights or privileges.’;
 
(g)   by deleting in article 58 the last sentence;
 
(h)   by deleting in article 67 the words ‘one-tenth of the issued Preference Shares or’;
 
(i)   by deleting in article 117 the words ‘and an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting held in manner provided by article 11 of the holders of the whole of the Preference and Preferred Ordinary Shares (which for this purpose shall be deemed to constitute a single class)’;
 
(j)   by deleting article 135 and substituting therefor the following:
  ‘135   The profits of the Company at any time available for dividend and determined to be distributed by way of dividend for any period shall be applicable in order of priority and manner following:
 
      FIRST to the payment of a dividend for such period at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Ordinary Shares.
 
      SECONDLY to the payment of a dividend for such period at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum or at such less rate as may be payable under the provisions of the Trust Deed dated 1st May, 1909, and made between
 
      William Hesketh Lever of the first part, the Company of the second part and Sydney Gross, Robert Barrie, John Lever Tillotson, John Gray and James Lever Ferguson of the third part and Deeds supplemental thereto on the nominal amount of the then issued and outstanding Preferential Certificates therein mentioned, such dividend to be paid to the Trustees of the said Trust Deed for distribution amongst the holders of such Preferential Certificates.
 
      THIRDLY to the payment of a further dividend for such period at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Ordinary Shares.
      FOURTHLY to the payment of a dividend for such period at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Deferred Shares.
 
      LASTLY the surplus after making the payments aforesaid shall be applied to the payment of an additional dividend on the capital paid up or credited as paid up on the Ordinary Shares.’;
(k)   by deleting in article 137 the words ‘the preferential dividends on their Preference Shares for the time being, and also’; and
 
(l)   by deleting article 156 and substituting therefor the following:
  ‘156   If the Company shall be wound-up, the assets available for distribution amongst the members shall be applied first in repaying to the holders of the Ordinary Shares and Deferred Shares pari passu the capital paid or credited as paid up thereon respectively and any balance of such assets then remaining shall belong to the holders of the Ordinary Shares.’
That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered by deleting in article 145(a) the word ‘beginning’ and substituting therefor the words ‘expiry of two months following the conclusion’.
That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered by deleting article 117 and substituting therefor the following:
‘117   (A) The Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital and to issue debentures and other securities but shall restrict the Borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiaries with a view to securing that Borrowings shall not at any time without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company in general meeting exceed an amount equal to three times the Adjusted Capital and Reserves of the Company.
 
    (B) For the purposes of this article
 
    (i) “Borrowings” means the aggregate principal amount for the time being remaining outstanding of all borrowings of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether secured or unsecured, but excluding:—
 
    (a) borrowings by the Company from any subsidiary
 
    (b) borrowings by any subsidiary from another subsidiary or from the Company


60           Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010

 


 

    (c) borrowings by any subsidiary in its capacity as a trustee of any pension or other fund for the benefit of employees
 
    (d) borrowings of a company which becomes a subsidiary hereafter for a period of twelve months from the date it becomes a subsidiary
 
    and deducting therefrom an amount equal to:–
 
    (e) the principal amount of any obligations, whether secured or unsecured, issued by the Company or any subsidiary the proceeds of which are intended to be used within six calendar months in repayment of other borrowings of the Company or such subsidiary then outstanding, and
 
    (f) all cash deposits, certificates of deposit and securities of governments and companies and similar instruments owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
 
    (ii) “Adjusted Capital and Reserves” means the aggregate of:–
 
    (a) the amount paid up or credited as paid up on the issued share capital of the Company,
 
    (b) the amounts standing to the credit of the capital and revenue reserves, including share premium account, plus the balance at the credit of profit and loss account (or minus the amount, if any, standing to the debit of such account), and
 
    (c) the amounts standing as attributed to outside interests.
 
    all as shown in the latest published audited consolidated accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries Provided always that appropriate adjustments shall be made in respect of any variation in the paid up share capital or in the share premium account of the Company since the date of such audited accounts and Provided Further that in arriving at the said aggregate there shall be added back amounts equal to:–
    (d) the premium arising on consolidation of acquired subsidiaries, associated companies and businesses which, as at the date of calculation, have been written off against the consolidated reserves of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with United Kingdom accounting practices provided that the Company shall not have sold its interest in such subsidiaries, associated companies and businesses at the date of calculation, less a sum equal to amortisation of such premiums over 40 years on a straight line basis.
 
    (e) any provision made for deferred taxation in excess of the amount required to be provided by United Kingdom accounting practices.
 
    (C) The determination of the auditors as to the amount of Borrowings and Adjusted Capital and Reserves shall be conclusive and binding on all concerned and for the purposes of their computation the auditors may make such other adjustments as they deem fit. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this article the Directors may at any time act in reliance on a bona fide estimate of the said aggregates and if the limit herein contained is inadvertently exceeded, the amount borrowed in excess of the limit shall be disregarded until the expiration of 182 days after the date on which the Directors became aware that the situation had arisen.
 
    No debt incurred or security given in respect of moneys borrowed or secured in excess of the limit hereby imposed shall be invalid or ineffectual except in the case of express notice at the time the debt was incurred or the security given that the limit hereby imposed had been or was thereby exceeded.’


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           61

 


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 4th May, 1994, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolutions
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered as follows:–
(a)   by deleting in Article 110(F) ‘and (ix) the Agreement referred to in Article 3 or any matters arising thereout’ and substituting therefor the following:–
 
    ‘(ix) any contract for the purchase or maintenance for any Director or Directors of insurance against any liability, and
 
    (x) the Agreement referred to in Article 3 or any matters arising thereout.’
 
(b)   by deleting Article 158 and substituting therefor the following:—
‘158. Indemnity of Officers
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, the Company may indemnify any Director or other officer against any liability and may purchase and maintain for any Director or other officer or auditor insurance against any liability. Subject to these provisions, but without prejudice to any indemnity to which the person concerned may otherwise be entitled, every Director or other officer of the Company shall be indemnified, and if the Directors so determine an auditor may be indemnified, out of the assets of the Company against any liability incurred by him as a Director or other officer of the Company, or as auditor, in defending any proceedings (whether civil or criminal) in which judgment is given in his favour or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application under the Companies Acts in which relief from liability is granted to him by the court.’
That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered by deleting Article 127 and substituting therefor the following:—
‘127. Delegation to Committees
(A)   The Directors may delegate any of their powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) to any committee, consisting of such person or persons (whether or not a Director or Directors) as they think fit.
 
(B)   Any committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers, authorities and discretions so delegated, conform to any regulations which may be imposed on it by the Directors. The meetings and proceedings of any committee consisting of two or more members shall be governed by the provisions contained in these articles for regulating the meetings and proceedings of the Directors so far as the same are applicable and are not superseded by any regulations imposed by the Directors.
 
(C)   The power to delegate contained in this article shall be effective in relation to the powers, authorities and discretions of the Directors generally and shall not be limited by the fact that in certain articles, but not in others, express reference is made to particular powers, authorities or discretions being exercised by the Directors or by a committee authorised by the Directors.’


62            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 3rd May, 1995, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolutions
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered as follows:–
(a)   by deleting Article 14 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Execution of share certificates
14   Every share certificate shall be executed under a seal or in such other manner as the Directors having regard to the terms of issue and any listing requirements may authorise and shall specify the number and class of shares to which it relates and the amount or respective amounts paid up on the shares. The Directors may by resolution decide, either generally or in any particular case or cases, that any signatures on any share certificates need not be autographic but may be applied to the certificates by some mechanical means or may be printed on them or that the certificates need not be signed by any person.’
 
(b)   by deleting Article 128 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Participation in meetings by telephone
128   All or any of the Directors or members of any committee may participate in a meeting of the Directors or that committee by means of a conference telephone or any communication equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other. A person so participating shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting and shall be entitled to vote or be counted in a quorum accordingly. Such a meeting shall be deemed to take place where the largest group of those participating is assembled, or, if there is no such group, where the chairman of the meeting then is.’
 
(c)   by deleting Article 141 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Payment procedures
141   Any dividend or any other moneys payable on or in respect of shares may be paid by cheque, warrant or similar financial instrument, or by other means, sent direct to the registered address of the holder or person entitled thereto or, in the case of joint holders, to the registered address of the holder who is first named in the register, or sent to such person and to such address as the holder or joint holders may in writing direct. Such payment may be sent through the post or equivalent means of delivery or by such other means, including by electronic media, offered by the Company as the holder or joint holders may in writing agree. Every such cheque, warrant, financial instrument or other form of payment shall be made payable to the person to whom it is
    sent or to such other person as the holder, or joint holders, may in writing direct, and payment of the cheque, warrant, financial instrument or other form of payment shall be a good discharge to the Company. Every such payment shall be sent at the risk of the person entitled to the money represented thereby. Any one of two or more joint holders may give effectual receipts for any dividends or other moneys payable or property distributable in respect of the shares held by them.’
That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered as follows:–
(a)   by deleting Article 57 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Cessation of sending dividend payments
57   The Company may cease to send any cheque or warrant or other financial instrument through the post or employ any other means of payment for any dividend payable on any shares in the Company which is normally paid in that manner on those shares if either (a) in respect of at least two consecutive dividends payable on those shares the cheques or warrants or other financial instruments have been returned undelivered or remain uncashed or that means of payment has failed or (b) following one such occasion reasonable enquiries have failed to establish any new address of the registered holder. Subject to the provisions of these articles, the Company may recommence sending cheques or warrants or other financial instruments or employing such means in respect of dividends payable on those shares if the holder or person entitled by transmission requests such recommencement in writing.’


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           63


 

(b)   by deleting Article 134 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Use of seals
134   The Directors shall provide for the custody of every seal.
 
    A seal shall only be used by the authority of the Directors or a committee authorised by the Directors in that behalf pursuant to Article 127. Subject as otherwise provided in these articles, any instrument to which the common seal is applied shall be signed by at least one Director and the Secretary or by at least two Directors or by at least two persons for the time being appointed to a committee authorised by the Directors as aforesaid, and any instrument to which an official seal is applied need not, unless the Directors for the time being otherwise decide or the law otherwise requires, be signed by any person.’
That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered as follows:–
(a)   by deleting Article 75 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Adjournments and notice of adjournment
75   (A) The chairman may at any time without the consent of the meeting adjourn any meeting (whether or not it has commenced or a quorum is present) either sine die or to another time or place where it appears to him that (a) the members wishing to attend cannot be conveniently accommodated in the place appointed for the meeting or (b) the conduct of persons present prevents or is likely to prevent the orderly continuation of business or (c) an adjournment is otherwise necessary so that the business of the meeting may be properly conducted. In addition, the chairman may at any time with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting either sine die or to another time or place. When a meeting is adjourned sine die the time and place for the adjourned meeting shall be fixed by the Directors.
 
    No business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting except business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place.
 
    (B)  When a meeting is adjourned for three months or more, or sine die , notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Except where these articles otherwise require, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.’
(b)   by deleting Article 76 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Security and other arrangements at general meetings
76   The Directors may direct that members or proxies wishing to attend any general meeting should submit to such searches or other security arrangements or restrictions as the Directors shall consider appropriate in the circumstances and shall be entitled in their absolute discretion to refuse entry to such general meeting to any member or proxy who fails to submit to such searches or to otherwise comply with such security arrangements or restrictions.
 
    In the case of any general meeting the Directors may, notwithstanding the specification in the notice of the place of the general meeting (the “Principal Place”) at which the chairman of the meeting shall preside, make arrangements for simultaneous attendance and participation at other places by members and proxies entitled to attend the general meeting but excluded from the Principal Place under the provisions of this article.
 
    Such arrangements for simultaneous attendance at the meeting may include arrangements regarding the level of attendance at the other places provided that they shall operate so that any members and proxies excluded from attendance at the Principal Place are able to attend at one of the other places. For the purpose of all other provisions of these articles any such meeting shall be treated as being held and taking place at the Principal Place.
 
    The Directors may, for the purpose of facilitating the organisation and administration of any general meeting to which such arrangements apply, from time to time make arrangements, whether involving the issue of tickets (on a basis intended to afford to all members and proxies entitled to attend the meeting an equal opportunity of being admitted to the Principal Place) or the imposition of some random means of selection or otherwise as they shall in their absolute discretion consider to be appropriate, and may from time to time vary any such arrangements or make new arrangements in their place and the entitlement of any member or proxy to attend a general meeting at the Principal Place shall be subject to such arrangements as may be for the time being in force whether stated in the notice of the meeting to apply to that meeting or notified to the members concerned subsequent to the provision of the notice of the meeting.’


64            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 6th May, 1997, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered as follows:–
(a)   by amending Article 2:
 
(i)   by adding the following definitions:
  (a)   ‘ “certificated share” means a share which is not an uncertificated share;’
 
  (b)   ‘ “anticipating class” means a class of shares title to which is permitted by an Operator to be transferred by means of a relevant system;’
 
  (c)   ‘ “uncertificated share” means a share of a class which is for the time being a participating class title to which is recorded on the register as being held in uncertificated form;
 
      “the Uncertificated Securities Regulations” means The Uncertificated Securities Regulations 1995 as amended from time to time and any provisions of or under the Companies Acts (including any orders, regulations or other subordinate legislation made thereunder) which supplement or replace such Regulations;’
(ii)   by inserting the words ‘or the Uncertificated Securities Regulations’ between the words ‘Companies Acts’ and ‘in force’ in the penultimate paragraph.
 
(b)   by deleting the heading ‘CERTIFICATES’ before Article 12 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Evidence of Title to Shares’
(c)   by deleting Article 12 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Uncertificated shares
12.1   (A)  Pursuant and subject to the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the Directors may permit title to shares of any class to be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate and title to shares of such a class to be transferred by means of a relevant system and may make arrangements for a class of shares (if all shares of that class are in all respects identical) to become a participating class. Title to shares of a particular class may only be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate where that class of shares is for the time being a participating class. The Directors may also, subject to compliance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and the rules of any relevant system, determine at any time that title to any class of shares may from a date
    specified by the Directors no longer be evidenced otherwise than by a certificate or that title to such a class shall cease to be transferred by means of any particular relevant system. For the avoidance of doubt, shares which are uncertificated shares shall not be treated as forming a class which is separate from certificated shares with the same rights.
 
    (B)  In relation to a class of shares which is, for the time being, a participating class and for so long as it remains a participating class, no provision of these articles shall apply or have effect to the extent that it is inconsistent in any respect with:
 
    (i) the holding of shares of that class in uncertificated form;
 
    (ii) the transfer of title to shares of that class by means of a relevant system; and
 
    (iii) any provision of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations.
 
    (C)  Shares of a class which is for the time being a participating class may be changed from uncertificated to certificated form, and from certificated to uncertificated form, in accordance with and subject as provided in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and the rules of any relevant system, and the Directors shall record on the register of members that the shares are held in certificated or uncertificated form as appropriate.
Certificated shares
12.2   Subject to the provisions of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, the rules of any relevant system and these articles, every person (except a person to whom the Company is not by law required to issue a certificate) whose name is entered in the register as a holder of any certificated shares shall be entitled, without payment, to receive within two months after allotment or lodgment of a transfer to him of the shares or within two months after the relevant Operator-instruction is received by the Company (or within such other period as the terms of issue shall provide) one certificate for all the shares of any one class or several certificates each for one or more of the shares of the class in question upon payment for every certificate after the first of such reasonable out-of-pocket expenses as the Directors may from time to time decide. In the case of a certificated share held jointly by several persons, delivery of a certificate to one of several joint holders shall be sufficient delivery to all. A member who has transferred some of the shares comprised in his holding shall be entitled to a certificate for the balance without charge.’


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           65


 

(d)   by deleting Article 34 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Transfer
34   Subject to such of the restrictions of these articles as may be applicable:–
 
    (i) any member may transfer all or any of his uncertificated shares by means of a relevant system in such manner provided for, and subject as provided in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and the rules of any relevant system, and accordingly no provision of these articles shall apply in respect of an uncertificated share to the extent that it requires or contemplates the effecting of a transfer by an instrument in writing or the production of a certificate for the share to be transferred; and
 
    (ii) any member may transfer all or any of his certificated shares by an instrument of transfer in any usual form or in any other form which the Directors may approve.’
 
(e)   by amending Article 35 by inserting the following words:
 
    (i) ‘certificated’ between the words ‘a’ and ‘share’ in the first line;
 
    (ii) ‘concerned’ between the words ‘share’ and ‘until’ in the third line.
 
(f)   by deleting the sub-heading before Article 36 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Right to decline to register transfer of partly paid shares’
(g)   by deleting Article 37 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Further rights to decline to register transfer
37   (A)  The Directors may only decline to register a transfer of an uncertificated share in the circumstances set out in the Uncertificated Securities Regulations, and where, in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the uncertificated share is to be transferred exceeds four.
 
    (B)  The Directors may decline to register any transfer of a certificated share unless:–
 
    (i) the instrument of transfer is lodged with the Company accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as the Directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer,
 
    (ii) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of share, and
 
    (iii) in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four.’
(h)   by amending Article 38 by inserting the following words:
 
    “or, in the case of uncertificated shares, within two months after the date on which the relevant Operator-instruction is received” between the words ‘lodged’ and ‘send’ in the second line.
 
(i)   by amending Article 39 by deleting the word ‘other’ in the first line.
 
(j)   by deleting Article 42 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Election of person entitled by transmission
42   Any person entitled by transmission to a share may, subject as provided elsewhere in these articles, elect either to become the holder of the share or to have some person nominated by him registered as the holder. If he elects to be registered himself, he shall give notice to the Company to that effect. If he elects to have another person registered, he shall transfer title to the share to that person. All the provisions of these articles relating to the transfer of shares shall apply to the notice or transfer as if the death or bankruptcy of the member or other event giving rise to the transmission had not occurred and the notice or transfer was given or executed by the member.’
 
(k)   by deleting the sub-heading before Article 55 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Issue of shares on surrender of share warrants’
(l)   by amending Article 56:
  (i)   by the addition of a new sub-paragraph:
‘(i) the shares are in certificated form,’
The former sub-paragraphs (i) to (v) become sub-paragraphs (ii) to (vi).
  (ii)   by inserting the following words:
(a) ‘either in certificated or uncertificated form’ between the words ‘issue’ and ‘throughout’ in the first line of the former sub-paragraph (i);
(b) ‘or by the transfer of funds by means of a relevant system’ between the words ‘shares’ and ‘at’ in the fourth line of the former sub-paragraph (ii).
(m)   by amending Article 57 by inserting the following words:
  (i)   ‘including by means of a relevant system,’ between the words ‘payment’ and ‘for’ in the second line;
 
  (ii)   ‘or account’ between the words ‘address’ and ‘of’ in the eighth line;
 
  (iii)   ‘other’ between the words ‘such’ and ‘means’ in the tenth line.


66            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

(n)   by deleting Article 70 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Omission or non-receipt of notice
70   The accidental omission to give any notice of a meeting or the accidental omission to send any document relating to any meeting, or the non-receipt of any such notice or document, by any person entitled to receive the notice or document shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.’
 
(o)   by amending Article 141 by inserting the following words:
 
    ‘and more specifically, in respect of uncertificated shares, by means of the facilities and requirements of a relevant system’ between the words ‘media’ and ‘offered’ in the seventh line.
 
(p)   by amending Article 145 by the addition of a new sub-paragraph:
 
    ‘(g) Unless the Directors otherwise determine, or unless the Uncertificated Securities Regulations and/or the rules of the relevant system concerned otherwise require, the new ordinary share or shares which a member has elected to receive instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part) of the specified dividend declared in respect of his elected ordinary shares shall be in uncertificated form (in respect of the member’s elected ordinary shares which were in uncertificated form on the date of the member’s election) and in certificated form (in respect of the member’s elected ordinary shares which were in certificated form on the date of the member’s election).’
  (q)   by amending Article 147 by the addition of a final sentence:
 
      ‘The power to fix any such record date shall include the power to fix a time on the chosen date.’
 
  (r)   by amending Article 150:
  (i)   by deleting the word ‘other’ where it occurs in the first and sixth lines;
 
  (ii)   by inserting the following words:
 
      ‘or by means of a relevant system’ between the words ‘member’ and ‘or’ in the fourth line.
(s)   by amending Article 152:
  (i)   by deleting the word ‘other’ where it occurs in the first and fifth lines;
 
  (ii)   by the addition of a final sentence:
 
      ‘Any notice served or delivered by the Company by means of a relevant system shall be deemed to have been served or delivered when the Company or any sponsoring system participant acting on its behalf sends the issuer-instruction relating to the notice.’
(t)   by amending Article 153 by deleting the word ‘other’ where it occurs in the first and sixth lines.


At an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 22nd September, 1997, the following Resolutions were duly passed as an Ordinary Resolution and a Special Resolution respectively:–
 
Resolutions
 
That each Ordinary Share of 5p nominal value in the capital of the Company, whether issued or unissued, be sub-divided into four Ordinary Shares of 1.25p each, such sub-division to be subject to, and to take effect simultaneously with, the admission of the Ordinary Shares of 1.25p each to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange on 13 October 1997, or such later date as the Directors may determine.
That , conditional upon the passing of Resolution 1 above, subject to and with effect from the admission of the Ordinary Shares of 1.25p each to the Official List of the London Stock Exchange on 13 October 1997, or such later date as the Directors may determine, the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby altered as follows:–
(a)   by deleting Article 9 and substituting therefor the following:
‘9     (i)   On 13 October, 1997 the authorised capital of the Company is £136,275,682, divided as follows:
      10,894,054,560 Ordinary Shares of 1.25p each 100,000 Deferred Shares of £1 each, all of which have been issued and are now represented by £100,000 Deferred Stock.
 
  (ii)   The Ordinary Shares of 1.25p each and the Deferred Shares of £1 each shall respectively confer on the holders thereof the right to receive dividends in accordance with the provisions of article 135 hereof.’
(b)   by amending Article 83 by substituting ‘1.25p’ for ‘5p’ in the third line.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           67


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 4 May 1999, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolutions
 
That, conditional upon the admission of the issued New Ordinary Shares (as defined below) to the Official List of London Stock Exchange Limited becoming effective, on listing of the Company’s new American Depositary Receipts arising on consolidation on the New York Stock Exchange, on the resolutions in relation to the payment of a special dividend and a share capital consolidation by Unilever N.V. to be proposed at the meeting of shareholders of Unilever N.V. to be held on the same day as this meeting in the form produced to the meeting and initialled by the Chairman of the meeting for the purposes of identification being passed, on the new Unilever N.V. ordinary shares arising as a result of the consolidation referred to in such resolutions being admitted to listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange and on the new Unilever N.V. depositary receipts arising as a result of such consolidation being admitted to listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange:
(a)   the part of the final dividend which comprises the special dividend of 66.13p for each Ordinary Share to be paid to Ordinary Shareholders shown on the register as holders of Ordinary Shares at the close of business on 7 May 1999 and as described in the circular to Ordinary Shareholders produced to the Annual General Meeting and initialled by the Chairman of the meeting for the purposes of identification be and is hereby declared;
 
(b)   (i) each issued and each authorised but unissued Ordinary Share of 1.25p in the capital of the Company (‘Existing Ordinary Share’) be and is hereby sub-divided into 100 Ordinary Shares of 0.0125p each in the capital of the Company (‘Intermediate Ordinary Shares’);
 
    (ii) immediately thereafter every 112 of the issued Intermediate Ordinary Shares be and are hereby consolidated into one new ordinary share of 1.4p in the capital of the Company (a ‘New Ordinary Share’) on terms that fractional entitlements to such New Ordinary Shares shall be aggregated and sold and the proceeds of sale distributed in due proportion amongst those members entitled; and
 
    (iii) immediately thereafter, every 112 of the authorised but unissued Intermediate Ordinary Shares be and are hereby consolidated into one New Ordinary Share;
(c)   the Company’s Articles of Association be and are hereby amended by deleting Article 9 and substituting therefor the following:
‘Capital
9 (i)   On 10 May, 1999 the authorised capital of the Company is £136 275 682, divided as follows: 9 726 834 428 Ordinary Shares of 1.4p each. 100 000 Deferred Shares of £1 each, all of which have been issued and are now represented by £100 000 Deferred Stock.
 
  (ii)   The Ordinary Shares of 1.4p each and the Deferred Shares of £1 each shall respectively confer on the holders thereof the right to receive dividends in accordance with the provisions of Article 135 hereof’.
(d)   the Company’s Articles of Association be and are hereby amended by deleting the reference to ‘11.25p’ in Article 83 and substituting therefor a reference to ‘1.4p’.


68            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 9 May 2001, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered by making the amendments set out in Appendix 2 to the Notice of this meeting.
Appendix 2:–
1   the amendment of article 2 by:
 
    (i) the addition of the following definitions:
 
    (a) “ “address”, in relation to electronic communications, includes any number or address used for the purposes of such communications;”;
 
    (b) “ “electronic signature” means anything in electronic form which the Directors require to be incorporated into or otherwise associated with an electronic communication for the purpose of establishing the authenticity or integrity of the communication;”;
 
    (ii) the insertion of the words “except by means of an electronic signature” after the words “executed under hand or under seal or by any other method”;
 
    (iii) the insertion of as a new sub-paragraph the words: “references to a document being signed or to signature include references to its being executed under hand or under seal or by any other method and, in the case of an electronic communication, are to its bearing an electronic signature;”;
 
    (iv) the insertion of the words “including by way of electronic communications where specifically provided in a particular article or where permitted by the Directors in their absolute discretion” after the words “in a legible and non-transitory form”;
 
2   the amendment of articles 69 and 72 by the addition of a final paragraph:
 
    “References in this article to notice in writing include the use of electronic communications and publication on a website in accordance with the Companies Acts.”
3   the amendment of article 85:
 
    (i) by deleting the word “delivered” and inserting the word “received” in the seventh line;
 
    (ii) by deleting the words “delivery of instruments appointing a proxy” and inserting the words “receipt of appointments of a proxy in writing which are not electronic communications” in the eighth line;
 
    (iii) by deleting the words “an instrument of proxy” and inserting the words “such an appointment” in the ninth line;
 
    (iv) by deleting the word “delivered” and inserting the word “received” in the tenth line;
 
4   the deletion of article 89 and substitution therefor of the following:
 
    “Appointment of proxies
 
    An appointment of a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of the appointor or his attorney duly authorised in writing or, if the appointor is a corporation, shall either be executed under its seal or signed by an officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign it.
 
    In this article references to in writing include the use of electronic communications subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide.”;
 
5   the deletion of article 90 and substitution therefor of the following:
 
    “Receipt of proxies
 
    The appointment of a proxy must:
 
(a)   in the case of an appointment which is not contained in an electronic communication, be received at the office (or such other place in the United Kingdom as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment or, in either case, in any accompanying document) together with (if required by the Directors) any authority under which it is made or a copy of the authority, certified notarially or in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 or in some other manner approved by the Directors not less than forty eight hours (or any shorter time specified in such notice) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote;


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           69


 

(b)   in the case of an appointment contained in an electronic communication, where an address has been specified for the purposes of receiving electronic communications in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment or, in either case, in any accompanying document, be received at such address not less than forty eight hours (or any shorter time specified in such notice) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote. Any authority pursuant to which an appointment contained in an electronic communication is made or a copy of the authority, certified notarially or in accordance with the Powers of Attorney Act 1971 or in some other manner approved by the Directors, must, if required by the Directors, be received at the office (or such other place in the United Kingdom as may be specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any notice of any adjournment or, in either case, in any accompanying document) not less than forty eight hours (or any shorter time specified in such notice) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the appointment proposes to vote; or
 
(c)   in the case of a poll taken subsequently to the date of the meeting or adjourned meeting, be received as aforesaid not less than twenty four hours (or any shorter time specified in such notice) before the time appointed for the taking of the poll,
 
    and an appointment of a proxy which is not so received in a manner so permitted shall be invalid. When two or more valid but differing appointments of a proxy are received in respect of the same share for use at the same meeting, the one which is last received (regardless of its date or of the date of its signature) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the others as regards that share; if the Company is unable to determine which was last received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share.”;
 
6   the deletion of article 91 and substitution therefor of the following:
 
    “Validity of proxy
 
    No appointment of a proxy shall be valid after twelve months have elapsed from the date of its receipt. The appointment of a proxy shall not preclude a member from attending and voting in person at the meeting or poll concerned.”;
7   the amendment of article 92:
 
  (i) by deleting the words “Instruments of” and inserting the words “The appointment of a” in the first line;
 
  (ii) by deleting the words “instrument of” and inserting the words “appointment of a” in the fourth line;
 
  (iii) by deleting the words “instrument of” and inserting the words “appointment of a” in the seventh line;
 
8   the amendment of article 93:
 
  (i) by deleting the words “in the United Kingdom” and inserting the words “or address” in the fifth line;
 
  (ii) by deleting the words “delivery of instruments” and inserting the words “receipt of appointments” in the sixth line.;
 
9   the amendment of articles 93, 104, 105, 121, 126 and 129 by inserting a final paragraph:
 
    “In this article references to in writing include the use of electronic communications subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide.”;
 
10   the deletion of article 95 and substitution therefor of the following:
 
    “Resolution in writing
 
    A resolution in writing signed by or on behalf of each member who would have been entitled to vote upon it if it had been proposed at a general meeting at which he was present shall be as effectual as if it had been passed at a general meeting properly convened and held and may consist of several instruments in the like form each signed by or on behalf of one or more of the members.
 
    In this article references to in writing include the use of electronic communications subject to such terms and conditions as the Directors may decide.”;
 
11   the amendment of article 104 by inserting the words “or received at” after the words “delivered to” in sub-paragraph (a)”;


70            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

12   the amendment of article 105:
 
    (i) by deleting the word “executed” and inserting the word “signed” in the fourth line in sub-paragraph A;
 
    (ii) by inserting the words “or received at” after the words “delivered to” in the fifth line in sub-paragraph A;
 
    (iii) by deleting the word “Execution” and inserting the word “Signature” in the third line in sub-paragraph C;
 
    (iv) by deleting the word “execution” and inserting the word “signature” in the fifth line in sub-paragraph C.”;
 
13   the amendment of article 129 by deleting the word “executed” and inserting the word “signed” in the first line and in the seventh line;
 
14   the amendment of article 150:
 
    (i) by inserting the word “sent” after the word “on” in the first line;
 
    (ii) by inserting the words “or, where appropriate, by sending it using electronic communications to an address for the time being notified by the member concerned to the Company for that purpose or by publication on a website in accordance with the Companies Acts” after the word “system” in the fifth line;
 
    (iii) by inserting the word “sending” after the word “service” in the sixth line;
 
    (iv) by inserting the words “or sending” after the words “service on” in the seventh line;
15   the amendment of article 151:
 
    (i) by deleting the words “an address” and inserting the words “a postal address” in the third line;
 
    (ii) by deleting the words “upon him at that address but, unless he does so” and inserting the words “on or sent or delivered to him at that address. Any member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom and who gives to the Company an address for the purposes of electronic communications may, at the absolute discretion of the Board, be entitled to have notices or documents served upon, or delivered to, him at that address. Otherwise, a member whose registered address is not within the United Kingdom”;
 
16   the amendment of article 152:
 
    (i) by deleting the words “by post” in the title;
 
    (ii) by inserting the words “(other than an address for the purposes of electronic communications)” after the word “address” in the fifth line; and
 
    (iii) by inserting a final paragraph: “Any notice or document sent by the Company by using electronic communications shall be deemed to have been received on the day following that on which it was sent. Proof that a notice contained in an electronic communication was sent in accordance with guidance issued from time to time by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators shall be conclusive evidence that the notice was given.”


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           71


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 12th May 2004, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolution
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered by making the amendments set out in Part 2 of Appendix 1 to the Notice of this meeting provided that this resolution will only become effective if resolution 4 as set out in the notice of Annual General Meeting of Unilever N.V. dated 26 March 2004 is approved by the shareholders of Unilever N.V. at the Annual General Meeting of Unilever N.V. to be held on Wednesday 12 May 2004 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, or at any adjournment thereof.
Appendix 1, Part 2:–
1   the amendment of article 2 by
(i) deleting the words “but does not include an Advisory Director or Advisory Directors” from the definition of “the Directors”, and
(ii) inserting the following definition in the relevant place in the alphabetical list: “Unilever N.V. means Unilever N.V. of Rotterdam in the Netherlands (company number 24051830) or any company which is inserted as a holding company and parent of Unilever N.V. under any form of corporate reconstruction or reorganisation and which becomes a party to the Equalisation Agreement referred to in article 3;”;
2   the deletion of article 74 and substitution therefore of the following:
“Entitlement to attend and speak
  74   Each Director shall be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting of the Company and at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company. Any proxy appointed by a member shall also be entitled to speak at any general meeting of the Company and at any separate general meeting of the holders of any class of shares in the Company at which such member would have been entitled to attend and speak.”;
3   the amendment of article 77 by inserting the words “Without prejudice to the other provisions of this article, the chairman may, in his absolute discretion, demand a poll on all or some of the resolutions put to the vote of the meeting before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands or on the withdrawal of any other demand for a poll.” after the first sentence of the article and before the sentence beginning “Subject to the Companies Acts”;
4   the deletion of article 97 and substitution therefore of the following:
“Shareholding qualification
  97   There shall be no requirement for any Director to hold shares in the capital of the Company.”;
5   the deletion of article 101 and substitution therefore of the following:
“Persons eligible as Directors
  101   No persons shall be eligible to be elected as Directors except such persons as shall:–
(A) have been nominated in writing by the holders for the time being of the majority of the Deferred Shares, and
(B) have offered themselves for election to the board of directors of Unilever N.V. at or about the same time as their nomination has been made in accordance with paragraph (A) of this article.
Such persons shall be considered eligible in accordance with this article whether or not, having offered themselves for election in accordance with paragraph (B) of this article, they are so elected to the board of directors of Unilever N.V..”;
6   the insertion of a new article 103 as follows and the consequential renumbering of all subsequent articles:
“Provisions if insufficient eligible persons elected
  103   (A) If at the annual general meeting in any year the resolution or resolutions for the election or re-election of all, or all but one, of the eligible persons nominated for election or re-election as Directors for the succeeding year are put to the meeting and lost, then all such eligible persons who are Directors as at the commencement of the annual general meeting and are standing for re-election shall be deemed to have been re-elected as Directors and shall remain in office but so that such Directors may act only for the purpose of summoning general meetings of the Company and to perform such duties as are essential to maintain the Company as a going concern but not for any other purpose.


72            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

(B) Such Directors shall convene a general meeting as soon as reasonably practicable following the annual general meeting referred to in article 103(A) at which all the Directors shall retire from office. To the extent that the circumstances envisaged in article 103(A) occur in relation to any meeting convened pursuant to this article 103(B), then the provisions of this article 103 shall also apply to that general meeting and, if relevant, any subsequent general meeting or meetings.”;
7   the insertion of a new article 108 (after the article headed “Executive Directors” which is numbered article 106 in the current articles) as follows and the consequential renumbering of all subsequent articles:
“Non-Executive Directors
Those Directors who do not hold an employment or executive office with the Company pursuant to article 107 shall, in the execution of their duties and obligations as Directors, take into account the nature of their role as such non-executive directors (recognising that it is not a day-to-day involvement but a periodic and supervisory role) and as part of their role shall assist in the development of strategy and monitor the performance of the Company and the management.”;
8   the deletion of article 107 and substitution therefore of the following (renumbered to take into account the other proposed changes to the articles):
“Directors’ Remuneration
  109   Each of the Directors shall be paid a fee at such rate as may from time to time be determined by the Directors provided that the aggregate of all fees so paid to Directors (excluding amounts payable under any other provisions of these articles) shall not exceed £600,000 per annum or such higher amount as may from time to time be decided by ordinary resolution of the Company.”;
9   the amendment of article 118 by deleting the words “Advisory Director,” in the article;
10   the insertion of a new article 130 (after the article headed “Delegation to committees” which is numbered article 127 in the current articles) as follows and the consequential renumbering of all subsequent articles;
“Delegation to Executive Committee
  130   (A) Without prejudice to the powers conferred on the Directors by article 129 above, and in addition to such powers, the Directors may delegate their powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) in relation to the operational running of the Company to an executive committee consisting, from time to time, of all of the Directors who have been appointed to hold any employment or executive office with the Company pursuant to article 107 (for the purposes of this article “executive directors”) and such other person or persons (whether or not a Director or Directors) as the Directors shall agree from time to time, provided that the number of such other persons appointed to the committee shall not at any time equal or exceed the number of executive directors appointed to the committee.
(B) The provision of article 129(B) and 129(C) shall apply to an executive committee constituted pursuant to this article as if such committee had been formed pursuant to article 129.”;
11   the deletion of articles 132 and 133 (including the headings to these articles) and the heading “ADVISORY DIRECTORS” above these articles;
 
12   the amendment of article 134 by deleting the words “Article 127” and inserting the words “articles 129 and 130” in their place in this article; and
 
13   the renumbering of the articles and relevant cross-references to take into account the changes set out above.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           73


 

 
Resolution
 
That the Articles of Association of the Company be altered by making the amendments set out in Part 2 of Appendix 2 to the Notice of this meeting.
Appendix 2, Part 2:–
1   the amendment of article 3 by deleting the word “Board” and inserting the word “Directors” in its place in the first paragraph;
 
2   the amendment of article 11 by
  (i)   inserting the words “(excluding any shares of that class held as treasury shares)” after the words “three-fourths of the issued shares of that class” and after the words “one-third of the capital paid up on the issued shares of the class” in paragraph (A) of that article, and
 
  (ii)   inserting the words “(but excluding any shares held as treasury shares)” after the words “one-half in nominal value of the entire issued share capital for the time being of the Company” in paragraph (C) of that article;
3   the amendment of article 44 by inserting the words “(excluding any shares held as treasury shares)” after the words “may convert any paid-up shares” in the first sentence of that article;
 
4   the amendment of articles 56 and 145 by deleting the words “The International Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland Limited” and inserting the words “the London Stock Exchange plc” in their place in the first paragraph of article 56 and paragraph (b) of article 145;
 
5   the amendment of article 56 by
  (i)   inserting the word “and” at the end of paragraph (iv),
 
  (ii)   deleting “, and” at the end of paragraph (v) and inserting a full stop in its place, and
 
  (iii)   deleting paragraph (vi);
6   the amendment of article 72 by inserting the words “and entitled to vote” after the words “in person or by proxy” in both places where they appear in the article;
7   the amendment of article 75 by inserting the words “entitled to vote” after the words “it appears to him that (a) the members” in paragraph (A) of that article;
 
8   the amendment of article 110 by inserting the words “(calculated exclusive of any shares of that class of that company held as treasury shares)” after the words “equity share capital of that company” in the first sentence of paragraph (G) of that article;
 
9   the amendment of article 144 by
  (i)   inserting “: (i)” after the words “but so that, for the purposes of this article” in the article, and
 
  (ii)   deleting the full stop at the end of the article and inserting in its place the words “, and (ii) where the amount capitalised is applied in paying up in full unissued shares, the Company will also be entitled to participate in the relevant distribution in relation to any  shares of the relevant class held by it as treasury shares and the proportionate entitlement of the relevant class of members to the distribution will be calculated accordingly.” at the end of the article;
10   the amendment of article 145 by inserting the words “(excluding any member holding shares as treasury shares)” after the words “offer the holders of Ordinary Shares” in the first paragraph of that article;
 
11   the amendment of article 156 by inserting the words “(excluding any member holding shares as treasury shares)” after the words “the assets available for distribution amongst the members” in the article;
 
12   the amendment of article 158 by
  (i)   removing the words “or auditor” in the first sentence and the words “, and if the Directors so determine an auditor may be indemnified,” and “, or as auditor,” in the second sentence of the article, and
 
  (ii)   inserting a new sentence at the end of the article as follows: “For the purpose of this article the terms “Director” or “officer” shall include any former Director or officer of the Company.”; and
13   to the extent necessary, the renumbering of the articles and relevant cross-references to take into account the changes set out above.


74            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the Company duly convened and held on the 11th May 2005, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolution
 
1   THAT the Articles of Association be altered by making the following amendments provided that this resolution will only become effective if resolution 5 as set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting of Unilever N.V. dated 24 March 2005 was approved by the shareholders of Unilever N.V. at the Annual General Meeting of Unilever N.V. held on Tuesday 10 May 2005 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, or at any adjournment thereof:
  (a)   the words “any employment or” which follow the words “its body to hold” in article 107 be deleted;
 
  (b)   the words “Managing Director” in article 107 be replaced by the words “Group Chief Executive”;
 
  (c)   the words “an employment or” which follow the words “do not hold” in article 108 be deleted;
 
  (d)   the words “, where appropriate,” be inserted following the word “recognising” and before the words “that it is not” in article 108; and
 
  (e)   article 130 be deleted and the following substituted therefor:
“Delegation to Group Chief Executive
  130   The Board may entrust to and confer upon the Group Chief Executive any of its powers, authorities and discretions (with power to sub-delegate) upon such terms and conditions and with such restrictions as it thinks fit, and either collaterally with, or to the exclusion of, its own powers, authorities and discretions and may from time to time revoke or vary all or any of them but no person dealing in good faith and without notice of the revocation or variation shall be affected by it. The power to delegate contained in this article shall be effective in relation to the powers, authorities and discretions of the board generally and shall not be limited by the fact that in certain articles, but not in others, express reference is made to particular powers, authorities or discretions being exercised by the Board or by a committee authorised by the Board.”
2   THAT article 159 be deleted and the following substituted therefor:
“Indemnification of Directors
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Acts, the Company may indemnify any Director against any liability and may purchase and maintain for any Director insurance against any liability. For the purpose of this article the term “Director” shall include any former Director of the Company.”


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           75


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the company duly convened and held on 9 May 2006, the following resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolution
 
1   THAT, conditional upon the admission of the issued new Ordinary shares (as defined below) to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority becoming effective, upon listing of the Company’s new American Depositary Receipts arising on consolidation on the New York Stock Exchange, upon the resolutions in relation to a share capital sub-division by Unilever N.V. as described in the Notice of Meeting dated 29 March 2006 convening the Annual General Meeting of Unilever N.V. being passed, upon the new Unilever N.V. Ordinary shares arising as a result of the sub-division referred to in such resolutions being admitted to listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and on the New York Stock Exchange and upon the new Unilever N.V. depositary receipts arising as a result of such sub-division being admitted to listing on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange:
  (a)   all the Ordinary shares of 1.4 pence each in the capital of the Company which at 6.00 pm on 19 May 2006 (or such other time and date as the Directors of the Company may determine) which are shown in the books of the Company as authorised, whether issued or unissued, shall be sub-divided into new Ordinary shares of 7 / 45 pence each in the capital of the Company (the “Intermediate Ordinary Shares”);
 
  (b)   immediately thereafter, all Intermediate Ordinary Shares that are unissued shall be consolidated into new Ordinary shares of 3 1 / 9 pence each in the capital of the Company (the “Unissued New Ordinary Shares”) provided that, where such consolidation would otherwise result in a fraction of an Unissued New Ordinary Share, that number of Intermediate Ordinary Shares which would otherwise constitute such fraction shall be cancelled pursuant to section 121(2)(e) of the Companies Act 1985;
 
  (c)   immediately thereafter, all Intermediate Ordinary Shares that are in issue shall be consolidated into new Ordinary shares of 3 1 / 9 pence each in the capital of the Company (the “New Ordinary Shares”), provided that, where such consolidation results in any shareholder being entitled to a fraction of New Ordinary Share, such fraction shall, so far as possible, be aggregated with the fractions of New Ordinary Share to which other shareholders of the Company may be entitled and the Directors of the Company be and are hereby authorised in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association to sell (or appoint any other person to sell), on behalf of the relevant shareholders, all the New Ordinary Shares representing such aggregated fractions at the best price reasonably obtainable to any person and to distribute the proceeds of sale (net of expenses) in due proportion among the relevant shareholders
      entitled thereto (save that any fraction of a penny which would otherwise be payable shall be rounded up or down in accordance with the usual practice of the registrar of the Company) and that any Director of the Company (or any person appointed by the Directors of the Company) shall be and is hereby authorised to execute an instrument of transfer in respect of such shares on behalf of the relevant shareholders and to do all acts and things as the Directors of the Company consider necessary or expedient to effect the transfer of such shares to, or in accordance with the directions of, any buyer of any such shares;
 
  (d)   the Company’s Articles of Association be and are hereby amended by deleting Article 9 and substituting therefor the following:
“(i) On the 9th May 2006 the authorised capital of the Company is £136,275,682, divided as follows: 4,377,075, 492 Ordinary Shares of 3 1 / 9 pence each and 100,000 Deferred Shares of £1 each, all of which Deferred Shares have been issued and are now represented by £100,000 Deferred Stock.
(ii) The Ordinary Shares of 3 1 / 9 pence each and the Deferred Shares of £1 each shall respectively confer on the holders thereof the right to receive dividends in accordance with the provisions of article 136 hereof.”, and
 
  (e)   the Directors be authorised to agree to modify the Agreement dated 28 June 1946 (as amended by Supplemental Agreements dated 20 July 1951 and 21 December 1981) with Unilever N.V. of the Netherlands known as the Equalisation Agreement by replacing all references therein to Fl.12 with references to EUR 0.16 and by replacing all references therein to £1 with references to 3 1 / 9 pence and to make certain other minor modifications as reflected in the form of Equalisation Agreement Amendment Agreement produced to the meeting and for the purposes of identification signed by the Chairman thereof (subject to any non-material changes as may be approved by the Director(s) executing the Equalisation Agreement Amendment Agreement).


76            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

2   THAT the Company’s Articles of Association be and are hereby amended by:
  (a)   deleting article 11(C) and substituting therefor the following:
 
      “Any alteration of the rights set out in article 101 shall be treated as a variation of the class rights of the holders of the Deferred Shares provided, however, that an alteration to such rights may be effected (without any such consent or sanction as aforesaid) by a resolution passed at a general meeting of the Company by a majority consisting of not less than two-thirds of such members as being entitled to vote at such meeting vote thereat in person or by proxy, such majority comprising the holders of not less than one-half in nominal value of the entire issued share capital for the time being of the Company (but excluding any  shares held as treasury shares) and being computed by reference to the number of votes to which each member is entitled by virtue of these articles.”
 
  (b)   deleting article 99 and substituting therefor the following:
“Retirement of Directors
  99   At every annual general meeting all the Directors shall retire from office, with such retirement to become effective at the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company or the corresponding annual general meeting of Unilever N.V. (whichever is the later).”
  (c)   deleting article 101 and substituting therefor the following:
“Persons eligible as Directors
  101   No person shall be eligible to be elected as a Director unless:
(A) he is recommended by the Board; or
(B) a resolution to appoint that person as a Director has been requisitioned by a member or members in accordance with the Companies Acts.
Where a resolution to appoint a person as a Director is passed at a general meeting of the Company such appointment shall not become effective:
(i) unless a resolution to appoint such person as a Director of Unilever N.V. has been passed at the corresponding general meeting of Unilever N.V. where such meeting is prior to the general meeting of the Company or at any adjournment thereof; or, as the case may be (ii) until a resolution to
appoint such person as a Director of Unilever N.V. is passed at the corresponding general meeting of Unilever N.V. where such meeting is to follow the general meeting of the Company or at any adjournment thereof (and, if such a resolution is not passed, such appointment shall no longer be capable of becoming effective).
The corresponding general meeting of Unilever N.V. means the Unilever N.V. general meeting which is closest in time to the relevant general meeting of the Company.”
  (d)   deleting article 102 and substituting therefor the following:
“Provisions if no eligible persons available
  102   If at the annual general meeting in any year no persons shall be eligible to be elected as Directors in accordance with article 101 or if the number of persons so eligible is less than the minimum number for the time being in force under article 96 then the retiring Directors (other than those eligible for re-election under article 101) or so many of them as shall be willing to offer themselves for re-election shall be deemed to be eligible for election under article 101 as Directors or Director for the succeeding year.”
  (e)   deleting article 103 and substituting therefor the following:
“Provisions if insufficient eligible persons elected
  103   (A) If at the annual general meeting in any year the resolution or resolutions for the election or re-election of all, or all but the minimum number for the time being in force under article 96, of the persons eligible for election or re-election as Directors for the succeeding year are put to the meeting and lost, then all such eligible persons who are Directors as at the commencement of the annual general meeting and are standing for re-election shall be deemed to have been re-elected as Directors and shall remain in office but so that such Directors may act only for the purposes of summoning general meetings of the Company and perform such duties as are essential to maintain the Company as a going concern but not for any other purpose.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           77


 

(B) Such Directors shall convene a general meeting as soon as reasonably practicable following the annual general meeting referred to in article 103(A) at which all the Directors shall retire from office. To the extent that the circumstances envisaged in article 103(A) occur in relation to any meeting convened pursuant to this article 103(B), then the provisions of this article 103 shall also apply to that general meeting and, if relevant, any subsequent general meeting or meetings.”
3   That article 109 of the Company’s Articles of Association be and is hereby amended by deleting the amount of £600,000 and inserting the amount of £1,500,000 in its place.
      


78            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the company duly convened and held on 16th May 2007, the following Resolutions were duly passed as Special Resolutions:–
 
Resolution
 
1   THAT the Company’s Articles of Association be and are hereby amended by:
  (a)   deleting the definition of “address” below the definition of “electronic signature” in Article 2;
 
  (b)   adding the following sentence to the end of Article 90(c) after the words, “in respect of that share.” – “The proceedings at a general meeting shall not be invalidated where an appointment of a proxy in respect of that meeting is delivered in a manner permitted by these articles by electronic communications but, because of a technical problem, it cannot be read by the recipient.”;
 
  (c)   adding the following sentences to the end of Article 151 after the words, “sending or delivering to all the joint holders.” – “If on three consecutive occasions a notice to a member has been returned undelivered, such member shall not thereafter be entitled to receive notices from the Company until he shall have communicated with the Company and supplied to the Company (or its agent) a new registered address, or a postal address within the United Kingdom for the service of notices, or shall have informed the Company, in such manner as may be specified by the Company, of an address for the service of notices by electronic communications. For these purposes, a notice sent by post shall be treated as returned undelivered if the notice is sent back to the Company (or its agent), and a notice sent by electronic communications shall be treated as returned undelivered if the Company (or its agent) receives notification that the notice was not delivered to the address to which is was sent.”;
 
  (d)   adding the following sentence to Article 154 after the end of the first sentence which ends with the words, “his registered address.” – “A person who is entitled by transmission to a share, upon supplying the Company with an address for the purposes of the electronic communication for the service of notices, may, at the absolute discretion of the Directors, have sent to him at such address any notice or document to which he would have been entitled if he were the holder of that share.” The wording of the article will then continue with, “Except where there is a person entitled by transmission to a share”;
  (e)   deleting Article 155(A) and substituting therefor the following: “155(A) if at any time by reason of the suspension or curtailment of postal services or of the relevant electronic communication system within the United Kingdom the Company is unable effectively to convene a general meeting by notice sent through the post or by electronic communications, a general meeting may be convened by notice advertised in at least two daily newspapers with a national circulation in the United Kingdom and in that event the notice shall be deemed to have been served on all members and persons entitled by transmission who are entitled to have notice of the meeting served upon them on the day when the advertisement appears. If at least six clear days prior to the meeting the posting of notices or sending by electronic communications to addresses through the United Kingdom has again become practicable, the Company shall send confirmatory copies of the notice by post or by electronic communications to the persons entitled to receive them.”;
 
  (f)   deleting the words “On the 9th May 2006 the authorised capital of the Company is £136 275 682” in Article 9 of the Company’s Articles of Association and replacing them with – “On the 22nd May 2006 the authorised capital of the Company was £136 275 682”; and
 
  (g)   deleting the amount of “1.4p” in Article 83 and inserting “3 1 / 9 p” in its place.
2   THAT Article 109 of the Company’s Articles of Association be and is hereby amended by deleting “1 500 000” and inserting “£2 000 000” in its place.


Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010           79


 

At the Annual General Meeting of the company duly convened and held on 14th May 2008, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:–
 
Resolution
 
1   THAT the Articles of Association produced to the meeting and initialled by the Chairman of the meeting for the purpose of identification be adopted as the Articles of Association of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the existing Articles of Association.
      


At the Annual General Meeting of the company duly convened and held on 12th May 2010, the following Resolution was duly passed as a Special Resolution:—
 
Resolution
 
1   THAT
  (a)   the Articles of Association of the Company be amended by deleting all the provisions of the Company’s Memorandum of Association which, by virtue of Section 28 of the Companies Act 2006, are to be treated as provisions of the Company’s Articles of Association; and
 
  (b)   the Articles of Association produced to the meeting and initialled by the Chairman of the meeting for the purpose of identification be adopted as the Articles of Association of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the existing Articles of Association.
      


80            Unilever PLC Articles of Association 2010


 

(UNILEVER LOGO)
 

Unilever N.V.
Weena 455, PO Box 760
3000 DK Rotterdam
The Netherlands
T  +31 (0)10 217 4000
F  +31 (0)10 217 4798
Commercial Register Rotterdam
Number: 24051830
Unilever PLC
Unilever House
100 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DY
United Kingdom
T  +44 (0)20 7822 5252
F  +44 (0)20 7822 5951
Unilever PLC registered office
Unilever PLC
Port Sunlight
Wirral
Merseyside CH62 4ZD
United Kingdom
Registered in England and Wales
Company Number: 41424
www.unilever.com
(GRAPHIC)


Exhibit 4.2
CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 7th day of October Two Thousand and Eight
B E T W E E N
(1)   Unilever NV (Commercial Register No. 24051830) whose registered office is at Rotterdam (“NV”) and Unilever PLC (registered in England No. 41424) whose registered office is at Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 4ZD (“PLC”) (together the “Company”) and
 
(2)   Paul Polman of 31 Av de L’Ermitage, 1224 Chene Bougeries, Geneva, Switzerland (the Executive”)
 
1.   Definitions and interpretation
 
1.1   Throughout this document, the following definitions shall apply:
 
    “Board” means the board of directors of NV and PLC;
 
    “Commencement Date” means; 1 st October 2008
 
    “Company” means together Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC
 
    “Confidential Information” means information (whether or not reduced to writing) in respect of the business, affairs and financing of the Company or any member of the Unilever Group, its or their suppliers, agents, distributors or customers, including but not limited to information relating to trade secrets or secret information, research, technical know-how, products, designs, pricing, marketing, business and financial plans, acquisition plans, clients and customers, stored or kept in any format including but not limited to software, diskettes including but not limited to copy-rightable material and/or documents, books, notes, tapes, instruments and property of any kind (either tangible or intangible);
 
    “CLO” means the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the Unilever Group.
 
    “Intellectual Property Rights” means patents, copyright and related or neighbouring rights, trade marks and services marks, rights in goodwill or to sue for passing off, rights in designs, rights in computer software, database rights, topography rights, rights in Confidential Information (including know-how and trade secrets) and any other intellectual property rights (including, without limitation, rights in get-up and rights to Inventions, trade or business names or signs and domain names) in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications (or rights to apply) for, and renewals or extensions of, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which may now or in the future subsist in any part of the world;
 
    “Inventions” means inventions, ideas and improvements, whether or not patentable, and whether or not recorded in any medium;
 
    “Group Secretary” means the Secretary of NV and PLC;
 
    “Remuneration Committee” means the remuneration committee of the Board;
 
    “Termination Date” means the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates, as referred to in Clause 6;
 
    “Unilever Executive” means the principal Executive Committee of the Board under the chairmanship of the Group Chief Executive;
 
    “Unilever Group” means PLC, NV and any company in which either or both together directly or indirectly owns or controls the voting rights attaching to not less than 50% of the issued share capital, or controls directly or indirectly the appointment of a majority of the board of management, and references to a member of the Unilever Group or a Unilever Group company will be construed accordingly;

 


 

 
2.   Commencement
 
    This Agreement is effective as of the Commencement Date which for the purpose of the UK Employment Rights Act 1996 is the date on which the Executive’s continuous period of employment began.
 
3.   Duties of the Executive
 
3.1   The Executive shall be employed as a member of the Unilever Executive as Group Chief Executive and shall carry out all duties (including, if relevant, the duties of a Board director) as may reasonably be assigned to him in whatever location is reasonably required.
 
3.2   All such duties shall be carried out honestly, faithfully, to the best of the Executive’s ability and at all times in compliance with the Unilever Code of Business Principles.
 
3.3   Further the Executive shall comply with all rules, regulations and legal requirements relevant to the business of the Unilever Group.
 
3.4   The Executive shall report to the Board in his capacity as a Director and, when requested by the Board, shall promptly provide (in writing if requested) all information, explanations and assistance relevant to any matters which have an impact on the business and affairs of the Unilever Group or any member thereof.
 
3.5   The Executive’s normal place of work shall be London or such other place as the Company may from time to time reasonably require. The Executive shall travel to such places as are necessary for the proper discharge of his duties.
 
4   Remuneration and Benefits
 
4.1   The remuneration of the Executive will be reviewed annually by the Company and communicated to the Executive in writing and paid in accordance with the Unilever Group’s payroll practice, as amended from time to time.
 
4.2   The Executive will not be entitled to receive any fees or other remuneration additional to the agreed remuneration by virtue of, or in respect of, any directorships that may be held from time to time of any Unilever Group company.
 
4.3   Any remuneration arising from a directorship of an organisation outside the Unilever Group shall be treated in accordance with the prevailing Company policy.
 
4.4   Details of the Executive’s pension entitlement shall be notified to him separately in writing by the Company.
 
4.5   The Company shall reimburse the Executive, against production of receipts, for all reasonable travelling, hotel, entertainment and other out-of-pocket expenses which he may from time to time incur in the proper execution of his duties hereunder and pursuant to any Company policy in force from time to time.
 
5.   Working Hours and Holidays
 
5.1   The Executive shall work such hours as are necessary for the proper performance of his duties and devote the whole of his professional time, attention and abilities to carrying out his duties hereunder.
 
5.2   The Executive shall be entitled to thirty working days holiday in each calendar year (in addition to Public Holidays applicable in the Executive’s normal place of work) to be taken at times mutually agreed between the Executive and the Chairman.

 


 

6.   Termination
 
    The Executive’s employment shall continue unless and until it is terminated:
    by the Company giving the Executive twelve months’ prior written notice; or
 
    by the Executive giving the Company six months’ prior written notice; or
 
    by the Executive giving six months prior written notice to terminate his employment with NV which shall automatically constitute the same notice of termination by the Executive of his employment with PLC; or
 
    at any time in accordance with clauses 7 or 8.
7.   Severance Payments
 
7.1   In the event of termination of the employment of the Executive by the Company for any reason other than a reason pursuant to Clause 8, the Company may, instead of requiring the Executive to work during the period of notice, elect to make a severance payment to the Executive, in which case the Executive’s employment will immediately terminate and such date shall be the date of termination for the purposes of this Agreement. If the Company so elects, the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits referred to in Clauses 7.2 to 7.4.
 
7.2   In such circumstances, the Executive shall, subject as provided in Clause 7.5 be entitled to receive a severance payment which shall be the aggregate of:-
    a sum equal to the basic salary together with a sum equal to the benefits in kind payable by the Company to the Executive for the period for which this Agreement would otherwise have continued;
 
    the amount of the variable pay award estimated by the Company to be payable to the Executive in respect of the financial year in which the notice is served, pro rated to the date of termination
7.3   By this means, if the Company elects to operate Clause 7.1, termination may be effected by a payment of basic salary and benefits in lieu of notice for the period of notice or a combination of notice period followed by such a payment in lieu of the remaining notice period. Bonus and other share based awards shall be made pro rated to the date of termination.
 
7.4   Further, in these circumstances, the Company will ensure that the Executive shall be credited with twelve months service for the purposes of the pension scheme referred to in the notification to be made under Clause 4.4 – such twelve month period to run from the date of serving of notice of termination.
 
7.5   The Executive will if requested sign a general release of all and any claims (contractual and statutory) in a form satisfactory to the Company in exchange for any payment under this Clause 7.
 
8.   Summary Termination
 
8.1   The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment forthwith, without notice or compensation, in any circumstances where the Executive:
    shall become incapacitated from any cause whatsoever from performing his duties hereunder for at least twelve months (provided that termination of employment will not deprive the Executive of benefits under any permanent health insurance scheme provided by the Company); or
 
    if being a director of the Company, shall be or become prohibited by law from being a director in either the UK or the Netherlands; or

 


 

    is convicted of any criminal offence which prevents him from fulfilling his duties hereunder: or
 
    shall fail to perform his duties competently or is guilty of any serious or persistent neglect in the discharge of duties, or commits any wilful, serious or persistent breach of any codes of conduct, policies and procedures issued by the Company; or
 
    becomes bankrupt or makes any composition or enters into any deed of arrangement with creditors;
8.2   Any delay by the Company in exercising the right to terminate summarily under the clauses set out above shall not constitute a waiver of that right. The Executive shall have no claim for compensation in respect of such termination.
 
9.   Following Termination
 
9.1   Following the termination of employment, for whatever reason or by whatever means, the Executive shall not represent, either expressly or impliedly, to any person, firm or company that he is authorised to act on behalf of any member of the Unilever Group, nor represent himself as being connected in any way with any member of the Unilever Group.
 
9.2   Upon termination of employment, the Executive shall tender his resignation with immediate effect from any directorship that he may then be holding in any member of the Unilever Group without any right to any claim whether for compensation or otherwise.
 
    In the event that the Executive fails to tender his resignation as aforesaid, and without prejudice to the Company’s and/or the Unilever Group’s rights and remedies under law and in equity, the Executive will automatically be deemed to have tendered such resignation with immediate effect and the Group Secretary and the CLO are hereby irrevocably, and severally, authorised by the Executive, in the Executive’s name and on his behalf to sign documents (including but not limited to letters of resignation) for the purpose of bringing such deemed resignation into immediate effect.
 
10.   Confidential Information
 
10.1   The Executive shall not (except in the proper course of his duties) at any time during the course of employment or any time thereafter, without the prior written consent of the Company or the Unilever Group, use or disclose directly or indirectly any Confidential Information to any person for any reason other than for the proper conduct of the Company’s business whilst in the course of their employment, except as required by law (provided that the Executive shall at the Company’s expense resist any alleged requirement if the Company properly asks him to do so).
 
10.2   All Confidential Information that the Executive has received or made (alone or with others) during employment with the Company or any other member of the Unilever Group is the property of the Company or the Unilever Group and the Executive shall promptly, whenever requested by the Company and in any event upon the termination of his employment for whatever reason, return such Confidential Information to the Company and the Executive shall not be entitled to and shall not retain any copies thereof. Title and copyright therein shall vest in the Company.
 
10.3   The Executive shall not during the continuance of employment or for 12 months thereafter without the Company’s prior written consent, publish or cause to be published any opinion, fact or material relating to or connected with the business of the Company or any member of the Unilever Group or its or their suppliers, customers or partners (whether confidential or not) without first obtaining the consent of the Board. This restriction shall not apply where the information has already come into the public domain other than through unauthorised disclosure by the Executive.

 


 

 
11.   Executive’s Covenants
 
11.1   The Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, be or become directly or indirectly engaged or concerned or interested in any other business, trade, profession or occupation or undertake any work for any other person, firm or company whether paid or unpaid during his employment hereunder. However nothing herein shall prevent the Executive from holding, or otherwise having an interest in, any shares or other securities of any company for investment purposes only, unless that holding is a significant one in a company that is a material competitor of any member of the Unilever Group.
 
11.2   The Executive shall not, for the period of six months following the Termination Date, work for or be engaged by, or otherwise be involved with, any material competitors, suppliers, customers or partners of the Company or of any member of the Unilever Group, without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.
 
12.   Intellectual Property
 
12.1   The Executive shall notify the Company of the existence of all Inventions and of all works embodying Intellectual Property Rights made wholly or partially by him at any time during the course of his employment with the Company and, at the Company’s request, shall provide full written details thereof. The Executive acknowledges that all Intellectual Property Rights subsisting (or which may in the future subsist) in all such Inventions and works shall automatically, on creation, vest in either NV or PLC absolutely. To the extent that they do not vest automatically, the Executive holds them on trust for either NV or PLC and shall, at the request and expense of the Company, (during the course of his employment or thereafter) assign them to the either NV or PLC their nominee. The Executive agrees promptly to execute all documents and do all acts as may, in the opinion of either NV or PLC, be necessary or desirable to give effect to this clause 12.1 and/or to effect all relevant registration(s) and protections.
 
12.2   The Executive hereby irrevocably waives all moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (and all similar rights in other jurisdictions) which he has or will have in any existing or future works.
 
12.3   The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to execute and do any such instrument or thing and generally to use his name for the purpose of giving the Company or its nominee the benefit of this clause.
 
13.   Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
 
    Other than as set out in this Agreement, there are no explicit disciplinary rules in force in relation to the Executive who is expected at all times to conduct himself in a manner consistent with his senior status. There is no formal grievance procedure but in the event of any grievance, the Executive may raise the matter with the Chairman or the Board, as may be appropriate.
 
14.   Directorship/Indemnity
 
14.1   Subject and without prejudice to the Company’s rights under Clause 8 of this Agreement, if the Executive is a director of the Company, the Company’s failure to nominate the Executive for re-election to the office of director of the Company, the removal of the Executive from the office of director of the Company or failure of the shareholders in general meeting to re-elect the Executive as a director of the Company, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Executive, shall be deemed notice of termination by the Company under the provisions of Clause 6. In accordance with the Articles of Association, where an Executive is disqualified or removed as a director of PLC he will be deemed to have been removed as a director of NV with immediate effect.
 
14.2   If a director of the Company, details of indemnity protection shall be notified to the Executive separately in writing by the Company.

 


 

 
15.   Garden Leave
 
15.1   Once notice is given under clause 6, the Company shall be under no obligation to vest in or assign to the Executive any powers or duties or to provide any work for the Executive, and the Company may at any time or from time to time during any period of notice (whether given by the Company or the Executive) require that the Executive does not attend at any premises of the Company.
 
15.2   Salary and benefits will not cease to be payable by reason of such requirement and the Executive shall continue to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and must continue at all times to conduct himself with good faith towards the Company and not do anything that is harmful to the Company.
 
16   Suspension
 
    In circumstances where the Company believes there is a reasonable suspicion of breach of this Agreement, in order that the circumstances giving rise to that belief may be investigated, the Company may suspend the Executive from the performance of his duties. Salary and benefits will not cease to be payable by reason of such suspension and the Executive shall continue to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and must continue at all times to conduct himself with good faith towards the Company and not do anything that is harmful to the Company.
 
17.   Miscellaneous
 
17.1   If the Executive is at any time granted options or rights pursuant to any share option or share incentive scheme of the Company or any other member of the Unilever Group, those options or rights shall be subject to the rules of that scheme as in force from time to time which rules shall not form part of the Executive’s service contract. In particular, if the Executive’s employment should terminate for any reason (including as a result of a repudiatory breach of contract by the Company) his rights will be governed entirely by the terms of that scheme and he will not be entitled to any further or other compensation for any loss of any right or benefit or prospective right or benefit under any such scheme which he may have enjoyed, whether such compensation is claimed by way of damages for wrongful dismissal or other breach of contract or by way of compensation for loss of office or otherwise.
 
17.2   The Executive consents to the Company or any member of the Unilever Group holding and processing both electronically and manually the data it collects which relates to the Executive for the purposes of the administration and management of its employees and its business and for compliance with applicable procedures, laws and regulations. The Executive also consents to the transfer of such personal information to other offices the Company may have or to any member of the Unilever Group or to other third parties whether or not outside the European Economic Area for administration purposes in connection with the Executive’s employment where it is necessary or desirable for the Company to do so.
 
17.3   If any clause, or identifiable part of any clause, of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then this shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining clauses or identifiable parts of such.
 
17.4   No modification, variation or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and has been signed by, or on behalf of, the parties.

 


 

 
18.   Status of these terms and conditions
 
    This Agreement is supplemental to the letter dated 29 th August 2008 setting out the Executive’s reward package and the pensions notification but otherwise it supersedes and replaces all agreements or arrangements whether written, oral or implied between the Company or any member of the Unilever Group and the Executive relating to the employment of the Executive or the termination of that employment and the Executive acknowledges and warrants that he is not entering into this Agreement in reliance on any representation not expressly set out herein and shall have no remedy in relation to any such representation.
 
19.   Notices
 
19.1   Any notice, or other communication which is required to be served by the Company under these terms and conditions, shall be signed by the CLO, and/or the Group Secretary if the Executive is a director of the Company, and addressed to the Executive at the appropriate business address.
 
19.2   Any notice or other communication which is required to be served by the Executive on the Company, will require the signature of the Executive and be addressed to either the CLO or the Group Secretary at their office.
 
20.   Governing Law
 
    All communications, agreements and contracts pertaining to the Executive’s employment with the Company (including, without limitation, this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and each of the parties hereby irrevocably agrees for the exclusive benefit of the Company and the Unilever Group that the Courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with those documents, this Agreement or the Executive’s employment with the Company.
     
Signed for and on behalf of the Company:
  Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions by the Executive:
 
   
Sgd/S G Williams, Authorised Signatory
  Sgd/P G J M Polman
Sgd/S H M A Dumoulin, Authorised
   
Signatory
   
END
   
CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made on the 19th day of March Two Thousand and Ten
B E T W E E N
(1)   Unilever NV (Commercial Register No. 24051830) whose registered office is at Rotterdam (“NV”) and Unilever PLC (registered in England No. 41424) whose registered office is at Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 4ZD (“PLC”) (together the “Company”) and
 
(2)   Jean Marc Huët of c/o Unilever PLC, 100 Victoria Embankment, Blackfriars, London EC4Y 0DY (the Executive”)
1.   Definitions and interpretation
 
1.1   Throughout this document, the following definitions shall apply:

 


 

    “Board” means the board of directors of NV and PLC;
    “Commencement Date” means; 1 st February 2010
    “Company” means together Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC
    “Confidential Information” means information (whether or not reduced to writing) in respect of the business, affairs and financing of the Company or any member of the Unilever Group, its or their suppliers, agents, distributors or customers, including but not limited to information relating to trade secrets or secret information, research, technical know-how, products, designs, pricing, marketing, business and financial plans, acquisition plans, clients and customers, stored or kept in any format including but not limited to software, diskettes including but not limited to copy-rightable material and/or documents, books, notes, tapes, instruments and property of any kind (either tangible or intangible);
    “CLO” means the General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the Unilever Group.
    “Intellectual Property Rights” means patents, copyright and related or neighbouring rights, trade marks and services marks, rights in goodwill or to sue for passing off, rights in designs, rights in computer software, database rights, topography rights, rights in Confidential Information (including know-how and trade secrets) and any other intellectual property rights (including, without limitation, rights in get-up and rights to Inventions, trade or business names or signs and domain names) in each case whether registered or unregistered and including all applications (or rights to apply) for, and renewals or extensions of, such rights and all similar or equivalent rights or forms of protection which may now or in the future subsist in any part of the world;
    “Inventions” means inventions, ideas and improvements, whether or not patentable, and whether or not recorded in any medium;
    “Group Secretary” means the Secretary of NV and PLC;
    “Remuneration Committee” means the remuneration committee of the Board;
    “Termination Date” means the date on which the Executive’s employment terminates, as referred to in Clause 6;
    “Unilever Executive” means the principal Executive Committee of the Board under the chairmanship of the Group Chief Executive;

 


 

    “Unilever Group” means PLC, NV and any company in which either or both together directly or indirectly owns or controls the voting rights attaching to not less than 50% of the issued share capital, or controls directly or indirectly the appointment of a majority of the board of management, and references to a member of the Unilever Group or a Unilever Group company will be construed accordingly;
2.   Commencement
 
    This Agreement is effective as of the Commencement Date which for the purpose of the UK Employment Rights Act 1996 is the date on which the Executive’s continuous period of employment began.
3.   Duties of the Executive
3.1   The Executive shall be employed as a member of the Unilever Executive as Chief Financial Officer and shall carry out all duties (including, if relevant, the duties of a Board director) as may reasonably be assigned to him in whatever location is reasonably required.
3.2   All such duties shall be carried out honestly, faithfully, to the best of the Executive’s ability and at all times in compliance with the Unilever Code of Business Principles.
3.3   Further the Executive shall comply with all rules, regulations and legal requirements relevant to the business of the Unilever Group.
3.4   The Executive shall report to the Board in his capacity as a Director and, when requested by the Board, shall promptly provide (in writing if requested) all information, explanations and assistance relevant to any matters which have an impact on the business and affairs of the Unilever Group or any member thereof.
3.5   The Executive’s normal place of work shall be London or such other place as the Company may from time to time reasonably require. The Executive shall travel to such places as are necessary for the proper discharge of his duties.
4   Remuneration and Benefits
4.1   The remuneration of the Executive will be reviewed annually by the Company and communicated to the Executive in writing and paid in accordance with the Unilever Group’s payroll practice, as amended from time to time.

 


 

4.2   The Executive will not be entitled to receive any fees or other remuneration additional to the agreed remuneration by virtue of, or in respect of, any directorships that may be held from time to time of any Unilever Group company.
4.3   Any remuneration arising from a directorship of an organisation outside the Unilever Group shall be treated in accordance with the prevailing Company policy.
4.4   Details of the Executive’s pension entitlement shall be notified to him separately in writing by the Company.
4.5   The Company shall reimburse the Executive, against production of receipts, for all reasonable travelling, hotel, entertainment and other out-of-pocket expenses which he may from time to time incur in the proper execution of his duties hereunder and pursuant to any Company policy in force from time to time.
5.   Working Hours and Holidays
5.1   The Executive shall work such hours as are necessary for the proper performance of his duties and devote the whole of his professional time, attention and abilities to carrying out his duties hereunder.
5.2   The Executive shall be entitled to thirty working days holiday in each calendar year (in addition to Public Holidays applicable in the Executive’s normal place of work) to be taken at times mutually agreed between the Executive and the Chairman.
6.   Termination
    The Executive’s employment shall continue unless and until it is terminated:
    by the Company giving the Executive twelve months’ prior written notice; or
 
    by the Executive giving the Company six months’ prior written notice; or
 
    by the Executive giving six months prior written notice to terminate his employment with NV which shall automatically constitute the same notice of termination by the Executive of his employment with PLC; or
 
    at any time in accordance with clauses 7 or 8.

 


 

7.   Severance Payments
7.1   In the event of termination of the employment of the Executive by the Company for any reason other than a reason pursuant to Clause 8, the Company may, instead of requiring the Executive to work during the period of notice, elect to make a severance payment to the Executive, in which case the Executive’s employment will immediately terminate and such date shall be the date of termination for the purposes of this Agreement. If the Company so elects, the Executive shall be entitled to the payments and benefits referred to in Clauses 7.2 to 7.4.
7.2   In such circumstances, the Executive shall, subject as provided in Clause 7.5 be entitled to receive a severance payment which shall be the aggregate of:-
    a sum equal to the basic salary together with a sum equal to the benefits in kind payable by the Company to the Executive for the period for which this Agreement would otherwise have continued;
    the amount of the variable pay award estimated by the Company to be payable to the Executive in respect of the financial year in which the notice is served, pro rated to the date of termination
7.3   By this means, if the Company elects to operate Clause 7.1, termination may be effected by a payment of basic salary and benefits in lieu of notice for the period of notice or a combination of notice period followed by such a payment in lieu of the remaining notice period. Bonus and other share based awards shall be made pro rated to the date of termination.
7.4   Further, in these circumstances, the Company will ensure that the Executive shall be credited with twelve months service for the purposes of the pension scheme referred to in the notification to be made under Clause 4.4 – such twelve month period to run from the date of serving of notice of termination.
7.5   The Executive will if requested sign a general release of all and any claims (contractual and statutory) in a form satisfactory to the Company in exchange for any payment under this Clause 7.
8.   Summary Termination
8.1   The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment forthwith, without notice or compensation, in any circumstances where the Executive:
    shall become incapacitated from any cause whatsoever from performing his duties hereunder for at least twelve months (provided that termination of employment will not deprive the Executive of benefits under any permanent health insurance scheme provided by the Company); or

 


 

    if being a director of the Company, shall be or become prohibited by law from being a director in either the UK or the Netherlands; or
 
    is convicted of any criminal offence which prevents him from fulfilling his duties hereunder: or
    shall fail to perform his duties competently or is guilty of any serious or persistent neglect in the discharge of duties, or commits any wilful, serious or persistent breach of any codes of conduct, policies and procedures issued by the Company; or
 
    becomes bankrupt or makes any composition or enters into any deed of arrangement with creditors;
8.2   Any delay by the Company in exercising the right to terminate summarily under the clauses set out above shall not constitute a waiver of that right. The Executive shall have no claim for compensation in respect of such termination.
9.   Following Termination
9.1   Following the termination of employment, for whatever reason or by whatever means, the Executive shall not represent, either expressly or impliedly, to any person, firm or company that he is authorised to act on behalf of any member of the Unilever Group, nor represent himself as being connected in any way with any member of the Unilever Group.
9.2   Upon termination of employment, the Executive shall tender his resignation with immediate effect from any directorship that he may then be holding in any member of the Unilever Group without any right to any claim whether for compensation or otherwise.
 
    In the event that the Executive fails to tender his resignation as aforesaid, and without prejudice to the Company’s and/or the Unilever Group’s rights and remedies under law and in equity, the Executive will automatically be deemed to have tendered such resignation with immediate effect and the Group Secretary and the CLO are hereby irrevocably, and severally, authorised by the Executive, in the Executive’s name and on his behalf to sign documents (including but not limited to letters of resignation) for the purpose of bringing such deemed resignation into immediate effect.

 


 

10.   Confidential Information
 
10.1   The Executive shall not (except in the proper course of his duties) at any time during the course of employment or any time thereafter, without the prior written consent of the Company or the Unilever Group, use or disclose directly or indirectly any Confidential Information to any person for any reason other than for the proper conduct of the Company’s business whilst in the course of their employment, except as required by law (provided that the Executive shall at the Company’s expense resist any alleged requirement if the Company properly asks him to do so).
 
10.2   All Confidential Information that the Executive has received or made (alone or with others) during employment with the Company or any other member of the Unilever Group is the property of the Company or the Unilever Group and the Executive shall promptly, whenever requested by the Company and in any event upon the termination of his employment for whatever reason, return such Confidential Information to the Company and the Executive shall not be entitled to and shall not retain any copies thereof. Title and copyright therein shall vest in the Company.
 
10.3   The Executive shall not during the continuance of employment or for 12 months thereafter without the Company’s prior written consent, publish or cause to be published any opinion, fact or material relating to or connected with the business of the Company or any member of the Unilever Group or its or their suppliers, customers or partners (whether confidential or not) without first obtaining the consent of the Board. This restriction shall not apply where the information has already come into the public domain other than through unauthorised disclosure by the Executive.
 
11.   Executive’s Covenants
 
11.1   The Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company, be or become directly or indirectly engaged or concerned or interested in any other business, trade, profession or occupation or undertake any work for any other person, firm or company whether paid or unpaid during his employment hereunder. However nothing herein shall prevent the Executive from holding, or otherwise having an interest in, any shares or other securities of any company for investment purposes only, unless that holding is a significant one in a company that is a material competitor of any member of the Unilever Group.
 
11.2   The Executive shall not, for the period of six months following the Termination Date, work for or be engaged by, or otherwise be involved with, any material competitors, suppliers, customers or partners of the Company or of any member of the Unilever Group, without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld.

 


 

12.   Intellectual Property
 
12.1   The Executive shall notify the Company of the existence of all Inventions and of all works embodying Intellectual Property Rights made wholly or partially by him at any time during the course of his employment with the Company and, at the Company’s request, shall provide full written details thereof. The Executive acknowledges that all Intellectual Property Rights subsisting (or which may in the future subsist) in all such Inventions and works shall automatically, on creation, vest in either NV or PLC absolutely. To the extent that they do not vest automatically, the Executive holds them on trust for either NV or PLC and shall, at the request and expense of the Company, (during the course of his employment or thereafter) assign them to the either NV or PLC their nominee. The Executive agrees promptly to execute all documents and do all acts as may, in the opinion of either NV or PLC, be necessary or desirable to give effect to this clause 12.1 and/or to effect all relevant registration(s) and protections.
 
12.2   The Executive hereby irrevocably waives all moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (and all similar rights in other jurisdictions) which he has or will have in any existing or future works.
 
12.3   The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to execute and do any such instrument or thing and generally to use his name for the purpose of giving the Company or its nominee the benefit of this clause.
 
13.   Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures
 
    Other than as set out in this Agreement, there are no explicit disciplinary rules in force in relation to the Executive who is expected at all times to conduct himself in a manner consistent with his senior status. There is no formal grievance procedure but in the event of any grievance, the Executive may raise the matter with the Chairman or the Board, as may be appropriate.
 
14.   Directorship/Indemnity
 
14.1   Subject and without prejudice to the Company’s rights under Clause 8 of this Agreement, if the Executive is a director of the Company, the Company’s failure to nominate the Executive for re-election to the office of director of the Company, the removal of the Executive from the office of director of the Company or failure of the shareholders in general meeting to re-elect the Executive as a director of the Company, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Executive, shall be deemed notice of termination by the Company under the provisions of Clause 6. In accordance with the Articles of Association, where an Executive is disqualified or removed as a director of PLC he will be deemed to have been removed as a director of NV with immediate effect.

 


 

14.2   If a director of the Company, details of indemnity protection shall be notified to the Executive separately in writing by the Company.
 
15.   Garden Leave
 
15.1   Once notice is given under clause 6, the Company shall be under no obligation to vest in or assign to the Executive any powers or duties or to provide any work for the Executive, and the Company may at any time or from time to time during any period of notice (whether given by the Company or the Executive) require that the Executive does not attend at any premises of the Company.
 
15.2   Salary and benefits will not cease to be payable by reason of such requirement and the Executive shall continue to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and must continue at all times to conduct himself with good faith towards the Company and not do anything that is harmful to the Company.
 
16   Suspension
 
    In circumstances where the Company believes there is a reasonable suspicion of breach of this Agreement, in order that the circumstances giving rise to that belief may be investigated, the Company may suspend the Executive from the performance of his duties. Salary and benefits will not cease to be payable by reason of such suspension and the Executive shall continue to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement and must continue at all times to conduct himself with good faith towards the Company and not do anything that is harmful to the Company.
 
17.   Miscellaneous
 
17.1   If the Executive is at any time granted options or rights pursuant to any share option or share incentive scheme of the Company or any other member of the Unilever Group, those options or rights shall be subject to the rules of that scheme as in force from time to time which rules shall not form part of the Executive’s service contract. In particular, if the Executive’s employment should terminate for any reason (including as a result of a repudiatory breach of contract by the Company) his rights will be governed entirely by the terms of that scheme and he will not be entitled to any further or other compensation for any loss of any right or benefit or prospective right or benefit under any such scheme which he may have enjoyed, whether such compensation is claimed by way of damages for wrongful dismissal or other breach of contract or by way of compensation for loss of office or otherwise.

 


 

17.2   The Executive consents to the Company or any member of the Unilever Group holding and processing both electronically and manually the data it collects which relates to the Executive for the purposes of the administration and management of its employees and its business and for compliance with applicable procedures, laws and regulations. The Executive also consents to the transfer of such personal information to other offices the Company may have or to any member of the Unilever Group or to other third parties whether or not outside the European Economic Area for administration purposes in connection with the Executive’s employment where it is necessary or desirable for the Company to do so.
 
17.3   If any clause, or identifiable part of any clause, of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then this shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining clauses or identifiable parts of such.
 
17.4   No modification, variation or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and has been signed by, or on behalf of, the parties.
 
18.   Status of these terms and conditions
 
    This Agreement is supplemental to the letter dated 29 th August 2008 setting out the Executive’s reward package and the pensions notification but otherwise it supersedes and replaces all agreements or arrangements whether written, oral or implied between the Company or any member of the Unilever Group and the Executive relating to the employment of the Executive or the termination of that employment and the Executive acknowledges and warrants that he is not entering into this Agreement in reliance on any representation not expressly set out herein and shall have no remedy in relation to any such representation.
 
19.   Notices
 
19.1   Any notice, or other communication which is required to be served by the Company under these terms and conditions, shall be signed by the CLO, and/or the Group Secretary if the Executive is a director of the Company, and addressed to the Executive at the appropriate business address.

 


 

19.2   Any notice or other communication which is required to be served by the Executive on the Company, will require the signature of the Executive and be addressed to either the CLO or the Group Secretary at their office.
 
20.   Governing Law
 
    All communications, agreements and contracts pertaining to the Executive’s employment with the Company (including, without limitation, this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and each of the parties hereby irrevocably agrees for the exclusive benefit of the Company and the Unilever Group that the Courts of England are to have jurisdiction to settle any disputes which may arise out of or in connection with those documents, this Agreement or the Executive’s employment with the Company.
     
Signed for and on behalf of the Company:   Acceptance of these Terms and Conditions by the Executive:
 
   
Sgd/S G Williams
  Sgd/RJ-M Huët
END
   

 

Exhibit 4.3
STRICTLY PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
Mr P Polman
1st March 2010
Dear Paul,
Your reward package effective 1st January 2010
This is to confirm your reward package as from 1st January 2010.
Base Salary
Your 2010 salary will remain at the 2009 level of GBP 920,000.
Annual Bonus
Your 2009 maximum bonus continues to be 200% of your base salary.
As a member of the Executive Team, you will participate in the Group’s global annual bonus fund. The business targets for 2010 for the fund are:
   Underlying Volume Growth (weighted 40%)
   Underlying Operating Margin (weighted 40%)
   Average Trade Working Capital Improvement (weighted 20%)
Your personal bonus will be based both on the level of achievement of the Group’s business targets, and your personal achievement against your ‘3+1’ goals. As discussed the “3+1’ goals must be stretching, ambitious, and output oriented.
One-quarter of your annual bonus will continue to be paid in the form of Unilever shares (1). The company will match these shares, and the matching shares will form part of your long-term incentive program described below.
Appendix 1 shows details of the business targets agreed with the Remuneration Committee. I understand that recently your “3+1” goals also have been set.
 
(1)   If you are no longer an employee at the moment of Bonus payment the Bonus will be paid wholly in cash.
Long-Term Stock Incentives
Global Share Incentive Plan (GSIP)
The face value of your stock incentive award for 2010 under the GSIP remains 190% of your salary. The number of shares will be calculated using the share prices as of the 2010 grant date later in March.
Actual vested awards of these performance shares will range between 0% and 200% of the granted shares.
The performance measures for the Executive Team, as from 2010, are:
   Underlying Sales Growth
   Underlying Operating Margin
   Operating Cash Flow
   Relative Total Shareholder Return

 


 

These performance measures are equally weighted, and USG and OM are mutually dependent whereby the threshold levels of both need to be achieved before either vests.
Appendix 2 shows details of the targets for the 2010 award agreed with the Remuneration Committee.
Matching Shares
As mentioned, under your Annual Bonus, a part of your bonus is paid in the form of Unilever shares. The company will match this investment with the same number of shares.
All these shares have to be held for a period of three years. Once the three-year period has elapsed, full ownership of the shares will pass to you.
Personal Shareholding requirement
Your personal shareholding requirement has been increased to four times your Base Salary. You will have a period of five years to attain this increased level.
Perquisites and benefits
Local practice will continue to apply to you for company car and other employee provisions. However, as agreed, you have personal arrangements in place to cover your medical cost. As an Executive Team member, 5% of your base salary may be spent each year on travelling expenses for your partner when accompanying you on business travel.
You are also provided with an entertainment cost allowance of £1,000 gross a year. This is to compensate for small, out of pocket costs.
Pension
You will continue to be a member of the Unilever’s International Pension Plan (IPP). Furthermore in addition we will accrue on your behalf a supplemental 12% of salary, with investment returns replicating those of the IPP. The latter value of the accumulated supplement will vest at age 60 or later at actual retirement.
Your pensionable salary is your base salary only.
With kind regards,
         
/S/ Michael Treschow      
Michael Treschow     
 
END
STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Jean-Marc Huet
20 October 2009
REVISED LETTER — This letter supersedes our offer letter of 09 October 2009.
Dear Jean-Marc,

 


 

We are very pleased to offer you an appointment as Chief Financial Officer of Unilever.
You will be a member of the Unilever Executive Team (UEx), reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, with election to our Board of Directors subject to our AGM.
Below I highlight the main components of the compensation package we are prepared to offer you which is supported by our remuneration Committee.
Base Salary
The annual base salary is set at GBP 680,000 per annum.
Variable Pay/Bonus
Your annual target bonus is 100% of base salary. The maximum limit is 175% of base salary as follows:
    A maximum of 140% of salary will be based on the achievement of Underlying Volume Growth, Operating Margin and Working Capital targets (1), equally weighted.
 
    A maximum of 35% of salary will be based upon achievement of your personal targets.
One-quarter of your annual bonus will be paid in the form of Unilever NCV and PLC shares. These are matched with an equivalent number of matching shares forming part of your overall long-term Incentive opportunity. The matching shares will vest after three years provided you remain an employee of Unilever.
With regard to any forfeited annual bonus for 2009 from your current employer, Unilever will compensate you up to our target award level of GBP 680,000, or 100% of your base pay. Payment will be made in the normal course at the same time 2009 payments would otherwise have been made.
 
(1)   measures applicable for 2009 bonus plan.
Global Share Incentive Plan
You will be awarded an annual share grant under the Leadership Performance Share Plan. The face value of your award in 2010 will be 180% of base salary, or GBP 1,224,000, delivered half in Unilever NV shares and half in Unilever PLC shares. Vesting of the shares can range from 0% to 200% of the grant level, and is conditional on the achievement of three performance conditions(2) as follows:
    The vesting of 40% of the shares in the award is based on Unilever’s relative TSR performance against a comparator group consisting of 20 other FMCG companies over a three year period. The vesting schedule under the TSR portion of the plan is as follows: 50% of the target award will vest if Unilever is ranked 11 th among the peer group of companies, 100% if ranked 7 th , and 200% if ranked 3 rd or above — straight line vesting will occur between these discreet points;
 
    The vesting of a further 30% of the shares in the award is conditional on average underlying sales growth performance over a three-year period; and
 
    The vesting of the final 30% of shares in the award is conditional on cumulative ungeared free cash flow performance which is the basic driver of the returns that Unilever is able to generate for shareholders.
Please note that the Remuneration Committee is currently discussing changes to the performance measures applicable to our variable pay programmes to ensure the measures used to continue to be aligned with our business strategy. There is also the possibility of the introduction of performance measures on the vesting of matching shares under the annual bonus deferral arrangement.

 


 

Personal Shareholding Requirement
In this role, you are required to demonstrate a significant personal shareholding commitment to Unilever. Within five years of appointment, you will be expected to hold shares worth 300% of your annual base salary. As a UEx member, it is Unilever policy that approval by the CEO is required before the selling of any shares is transacted.
Perquisites and Benefits
Local UK practice will apply to you for company car and other employee provisions.
You are provided with a GBP 80,000 allowance p.a. for housing.
As a UEx member, 5% of your base salary may be spent each year on travelling expenses for your partner when accompanying you on business travel.
You are entitled to an education subsidiary of £16,000 per child per calendar year in accordance with our existing Company Policy.
The medical cover for you and your family will be via the Unilever BUPA International medical arrangement for UEx members.
Pension
Our policy on all post-retirement benefits and in-service death and disability benefits is to deliver benefits in accordance with the typical arrangements in place for all employees in their “home” country. If this is not allowed, or not workable, due to legislative requirements, equivalent benefits will be provided outside the home country arrangements. With specific regard to your pension, it is likely that you will join our International Pension Plan which is a defined contribution plan. Further details will be provided to you shortly.
  (2)   Measures applicable for 2009 share grants
Sign-On Award
A one-time sign-on award with a face value of GBP 2,600,000 made up of restricted shares will be granted to you as soon as administratively possible upon joining Unilever. The sign-on award will be made in restricted shares vesting over three years. Your rights to receive shares under this award will vest in cumulative instalments of 1/3 of the total number of restricted shares on each anniversary of the grant date over the next three years, provided that you remain an employee of the company through each vesting date. The amount of shares awarded will be determined based on the share price on the date of grant, expectant to be around 20 March 2010.
Relocation to the UK
Unilever will arrange and bear the cost of moving your household belongings to the UK, following the “normal” Unilever relocation policy.
Housing Support in the US
Unilever will provide you with housing assistance concerning your home in the US that is consistent with out North America policy. The assistance would cover closing costs as well as loss on sale protection capped at 10% of the purchase price of your home.
Service Contract
Our Corporate Secretaries Department will send to you as soon as possible the formal service contract between yourself and Unilever, for your signature and approval.

 


 

Please sign and return a copy of this offer letter at your earliest convenience.
Jean-Marc, we are looking forward to you joining our team, and helping us build upon the momentum we have created.
With kind regards,
         
/S/ AJ Ogg      
Sandy Ogg     
 
Please indicate your acceptance of our offer by signing below and returning one copy to me in the enclosed addressed envelope.
JM Huet
Name
         
     
/s/ JM Huet      
Signature     
 
December 15 th 2009
Date
Strictly Personal
Jean-Marc Huet
12 February 2010
Dear Jean-Marc,
Further to our letter of 20 October 2009, we write to confirm the following items we have discussed:
Appointment date
We are pleased to confirm that your official start date with Unilever is 1 st February 2010.
Variable Pay/Bonus
As mutually agreed, we will not approach the Remuneration Committee for the shareholder approval required to set the maximum limit of your bonus opportunity at 175% at this time. Therefore, the maximum limit of your bonus opportunity is limited to 150% until such time as we both agree the timing is more appropriate to seek shareholder approval.
Medical Cover
We have added you to the Unilever International BUPA Plan membership effective from 1 st January 2010, as previously communicated. This will provide you with the standard medical cover. Unilever is paying the premium for this cover. There is an option to purchase at your own cost the additional cover for dentist and optical plans if you wish.
I trust we have covered most of the outstanding issues we discussed.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Once again, my best wishes to you in your career with Unilever.
Your sincerely,
         
/S/ S. O. Ogg      
Sandy Ogg     
Chief Human Resources Officer     
 
END

 


 

STRICTLY PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
Mr J-M Huet
1st March 2010
Dear Jean-Marc,
I am very pleased to inform you of the details of the 2010 variable pay programmes.
Annual Bonus
Your target bonus is 75% of your base salary. As a member of the Executive Team, you will participate in the Group’s global annual bonus fund.
The business targets for 2010 for the fund are:
    Underlying Volume Growth (weighted 40%)
    Underlying Operating Margin (weighted 40%)
    Average Trade Working Capital Improvement (weighted 20%)
Your personal bonus will be based both on the level of achievement of the Group’s business targets, and your personal achievement against your ‘3+1’ goals. As discussed in the UEx, the “3+1’ goals must be stretching, ambitious, and output oriented.
One-quarter of your annual bonus will continue to be paid in the form of Unilever shares (1). The company will match these shares, and the matching shares will form part of your long-term incentive program described below.
Appendix 1 shows details of the business targets agreed with the Remuneration Committee. We agreed recently your “3+1” goals also.
Long-Term Incentives
GSIP
Under the GSIP, you are granted a target number of shares at the beginning of each year for the upcoming 3 year performance period. Your grant value for 2010 will be 180% of your base salary. The number of shares will be calculated using the share prices as of the 2010 grant date in March.
The performance measures for the Executive Team, as from 2010, are:
    Underlying Sales Growth
    Underlying Operating Margin
    Operating Cash Flow
    Relative Total Shareholder Return

 


 

If you are no longer an employee at the moment of bonus payment the bonus will be paid wholly in cash.... 2
These performance measures are equally weighted, and USG and OM are mutually dependent whereby the threshold levels of both need to be achieved before either vests.
The number of shares eventually earned will range from 0% to 2000% of the par award, based on actual performance, and the value of your vested award ultimately is dependent on share price and level of goal achievement. Vesting and delivery of your GSIP shares will occur 3 years after the grant date.
Appendix 2 show details of the targets for the 2010 award agreed with the Remuneration Committee.
Matching Shares
As mentioned, under your Annual Bonus, a part of your bonus is paid in the form of Unilever shares. The company will match this investment with the same number of shares.
All these shares have to be held for a period of three years. Once the three-year period has elapsed, full ownership of the shares will pass to you.
With kind regards,
         
/S/ P. Polman      
Paul Polman     
 
END
STRICLY PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
Jean-Marc Huet
20 May 2010
Dear Jean-Marc,
Further to my letter of 12 February 2010 and the letter of Paul Polman of March 2010, we write to confirm the following items that we discussed:
Annual Variable Pay
As we mutually agreed the current maximum opportunity of your annual variable pay is limited to 150% (for reasons as described in my letter of 12 February 2010). Also we agreed that your 2010 target bonus will be 100% (and not 75%) of your base salary, the same as it is for the other UEx members.
I trust we have covered this issue.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Kind regards,
         
/S/ AJ Ogg      
Sandy Ogg    
 

 

Exhibit 4.8
UNILEVER
RULES OF THE
MANAGEMENT CO-INVESTMENT PLAN
     
Shareholders’ Approval:   PLC 12 May 2010
    NV 11 May 2010
Board’s Adoption:   28 April 2010
Expiry Date:   12 May 2020

 


 

Table of Contents
                 
  Contents   Page  
  1    
Definitions
    1  
       
 
       
  2    
Invitations
    2  
       
 
       
  3    
Granting Awards
    3  
       
 
       
  4    
Before Vesting
    6  
       
 
       
  5    
Timing of Vesting
    7  
       
 
       
  6    
Consequences of Vesting
    8  
       
 
       
  7    
Leaving the Group before Vesting
    9  
       
 
       
  8    
Takeovers and Restructurings
    10  
       
 
       
  9    
Exchange of Awards
    11  
       
 
       
  10    
General
    12  
       
 
       
  11    
Amending the Plan and Termination
    15  
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010


 

Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan
1   Definitions
 
    In these rules:
 
    Acquiring Company ” means a person who obtains Control of NV or PLC;
 
    Annual Bonus Award ” means the total annual award under the Unilever Annual Bonus Program, which may be paid in one or more instalments;
 
    Award ” means a conditional right to acquire Shares granted under the Plan;
 
    Award Date ” means the date which the Board sets for the grant of an Award;
 
    Board ” means, subject to rule 8.5 (Board), the board of directors of NV or PLC or a duly authorised committee appointed by the board of directors, except that in respect of Awards to executive directors of the Board, Board shall mean RemCo;
 
    Business Day ” means a day on which the London Stock Exchange or Euronext, as applicable, (or, if relevant and if the Board determines, any stock exchange nominated by the Board on which the Shares are traded) is open for the transaction of business;
 
    Company ” means NV or PLC;
 
    Control ” has the meaning given to it in Section 995 of the Income Tax Act 2007 in relation to NV or PLC;
 
    Dealing Restrictions ” means restrictions imposed by statute, order, regulation or Government directive or by the Model Code or any code adopted by NV or PLC based on the Model Code or a statute, order, regulation or Government directive;
 
    Dividend Equivalents ” means an amount equal in value to the ordinary dividends which would have been payable on the number of Vested Shares between the Award Date and the date of Vesting had they been issued/transferred at the Award Date;
 
    Employee ” means any employee (including an executive director) of a Member of the Group;
 
    Euronext ” means Euronext Amsterdam;
 
    Expiry Date ” means the tenth anniversary of shareholder approval of the Plan;
 
    Grantor ” means, in respect of an Award, the entity which grants that Award under the Plan, which can be:
  (i)   the Company;
 
  (ii)   any other Member of the Group; or
 
  (iii)   a trustee of any trust set up for the benefit of Employees or any Member of the Group.
    Group ” means NV, PLC and their Subsidiaries or associated companies and “ Member of the Group ” shall be construed accordingly;
 
    Investment Shares ” means Shares acquired for or on behalf of a Participant as described in rule 2.3 (Acquisition of Investment Shares);
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

1


 

    Listing Rules ” means the rules relating to admission to the Official List;
 
    London Stock Exchange ” means the London Stock Exchange plc;
 
    Matching Ratio ” means the ratio which the number of Shares subject to an Award bears to the number of Investment Shares acquired for or on behalf of a Participant and will be set by the Grantor under rule 2.2 (Terms of Invitation);
 
    Model Code ” means the Model Code on dealings in securities set out in Listing Rule 9, annex 1 (of the London Stock Exchange), as varied from time to time;
 
    NV ” means Unilever NV;
 
    Official List ” means the list maintained by the Financial Services Authority for the purposes of Section 74(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;
 
    Participant ” means a person holding an Award or his personal representatives;
 
    Performance Condition ” means any performance condition imposed under rule 3.6 (Performance Conditions);
 
    Performance Period ” means the period in respect of which a Performance Condition is to be satisfied;
 
    Plan ” means these rules known as “The Management Co-Investment Plan”, as changed from time to time;
 
    PLC ” means Unilever PLC;
 
    RemCo ” means the Remuneration Committee of the Board;
 
    Shares ” means fully paid ordinary shares in NV or PLC and includes:
  (i)   depositary receipts representing ordinary shares in NV listed on Euronext; and
 
  (ii)   any Shares representing NV and/or PLC Shares following a reconstruction;
    Subsidiary ” means a body corporate which is a subsidiary of NV within the meaning of 24a Book 2 (Civil Code) or company which is a subsidiary of the PLC within the meaning of Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006;
 
    Vesting ” means a Participant becomes entitled to have the Shares subject to an Award transferred to him subject to these rules; and
 
    Vesting Period ” means the period from the Award Date to the date of Vesting set by the Board on the grant of the Award.
2     Invitations
 
2.1   Eligibility
 
    The Grantor may invite any Employee to participate in the Plan in accordance with any selection criteria that the Board in its discretion may set. However, unless the Board considers that special circumstances exist, the Grantor will not invite an Employee who on the date of invitation has given or received notice of termination of employment, whether or not such termination is lawful.
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

2


 

2.2   Terms of Invitation
 
    The Grantor will decide the following for each invitation and specify in the invitation document:
  2.2.1   the maximum percentage of an Annual Bonus Award which a Participant or group of Participants may elect to use to acquire Investment Shares under the Plan and the manner in which and the date by which such irrevocable election must be communicated to the Grantor;
 
  2.2.2   any percentage of Annual Bonus Award which a Participant or group of Participants is required to use to acquire Investment Shares; and
 
  2.2.3   the Matching Ratio,
    subject, in each case, to rule 2.4 (Individual Limits).
 
2.3   Acquisition of Investment Shares
 
    The amounts that a Participant elects to be used and is required to use to acquire Investment Shares under rules 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 will be deducted from the Participant’s Annual Bonus Award. The Grantor will ensure that these amounts (or, if the Grantor so decides, the gross equivalent of these) are used to acquire Investment Shares for or on behalf of the Participant.
 
    The Investment Shares will be valued based on the closing share price of such Shares on the Award Date, unless the Grantor decides otherwise.
 
    The Investment Shares will be registered in the name of the Participant or be held by a nominee chosen by the Grantor on such terms as the Grantor may decide.
 
    Any mandatory taxes due on the full Annual Bonus Award, will be deducted from the Participant’s Annual Bonus Award. If for any reason, the net amount of cash available from the Participant’s Annual Bonus Award, after deduction of any tax and social security contributions and any amount already paid, is less than the amount that the Participant elected to be used to acquire Investment Shares, the Participant will be required to pay the additional amount due to the Grantor through payroll deductions or such other arrangements as the Grantor deems appropriate.
 
2.4   Individual Limits
  2.4.1   The amount of a Participant’s Annual Bonus Award, which can be used to acquire Investment Shares under the Plan in any one year (as determined by totalling the percentages defined under rules 2.2.1 and 2.2.2) will not exceed 60 per cent of the Annual Bonus Award before any deductions for tax and social security contributions.
 
  2.4.2   The Matching Ratio for an Award will not exceed one Share subject to an Award for every Investment Share which could be acquired pursuant to rule 2.3 (Acquisition of Investment Shares).
3   Granting Awards
 
3.1   Conditions to Granting Awards
 
    An Award will not be granted to a Participant if, on the date it is granted, the Participant:
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

3


 

  3.1.1   has ceased to be an Employee;
 
  3.1.2   has given or received notice of termination of employment, whether or not such termination is lawful (unless the Board considers that special circumstances exist); or
 
  3.1.3   has not irrevocably agreed to allocate the percentage of the Participant’s Annual Bonus Award to acquire Investment Shares as specified under rules 2.2.1 on such terms as the Grantor may specify.
3.2   Grantor
 
    The Grantor of an Award will be:
  3.2.1   the Company (it being noted that in respect of Awards granted to executive directors of the Board, it shall be RemCo that resolves on the Awards);
 
  3.2.2   any other Member of the Group; or
 
  3.2.3   a trustee of any trust set up for the benefit of Employees or any Member of the Group,
    but having regard to relevant registration requirements such as rules on financial assistance and securities laws.
 
3.3   Timing of Award
 
    Awards may not be granted at any time after the Expiry Date and Awards may only be granted within 42 days starting on any of the following:
  3.3.1   the date of shareholder approval of this Plan;
 
  3.3.2   the day after the announcement of NV’s and PLC’s results for any period;
 
  3.3.3   any day on which the Board resolves that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the grant of Awards;
 
  3.3.4   any day on which changes to the legislation or regulations affecting share plans are announced, effected or made; or
 
  3.3.5   the lifting of Dealing Restrictions which prevented the granting of Awards during any period specified above.
3.4   Number of Shares subject to Award
 
    The number of Shares subject to Award shall be the number of Investment Shares acquired for or on behalf of the Participant under rule 2.3 (Acquisition of Investment Shares) multiplied by the Matching Ratio.
 
3.5   Other Terms of Awards
 
    Awards are subject to the rules of the Plan and any Performance Condition. Awards subject to English law must be granted by deed. Awards subject to Dutch law will be in such form as specified by the Board. The terms of the Award must be determined by the Grantor and approved by the Board (it being noted that in respect of Awards granted to executive directors of the Board, it shall be RemCo that resolves on the Awards including their terms), including:
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

4


 

  3.5.1   the Performance Condition as determined under rule 3.6 (Performance Condition);
 
  3.5.2   any condition specified under rule 3.7 (Other conditions);
 
  3.5.3   the date of Vesting, unless specified in the Performance Condition;
 
  3.5.4   whether the Participant is entitled to receive any cash or Shares under rule 6.2 (Dividend Equivalents); and
 
  3.5.5   the Award Date.
3.6   Performance Condition
 
    When granting an Award, the Grantor will make its Vesting conditional on the satisfaction of one or more conditions linked to the performance of the Group and the Participant’s continued employment until Vesting, subject to rules 3.7 (Other Conditions), 7 (Leaving the Group before Vesting) and 8 (Takeovers and Restructurings). A Performance Condition must be objective and determined at the Award Date and may provide that an Award will lapse to the extent that it is not satisfied. The Grantor, with the consent of the Board, may waive or change a Performance Condition in accordance with its terms or if anything happens which causes the Grantor reasonably to consider it appropriate to do so.
 
3.7   Other Conditions
 
    The Grantor may impose other conditions when granting an Award. Any condition must be objective, specified at the Award Date and may provide that an Award will lapse to the extent that it is not satisfied. The Grantor, with the consent of the Board, may waive or change a condition imposed under this rule 3.7.
 
3.8   Award Certificates
 
    Each Participant will receive a certificate setting out the terms of the Award as soon as practicable after the Award Date. The certificate may be the deed or other document referred to in rule 3.5 (Other Terms of Awards) or any other document. If any certificate is lost or damaged, the Company may replace it on such terms as it decides.
 
3.9   Administrative Errors
 
    If the Grantor grants an Award which is inconsistent with rule 2.1 (Eligibility), it will lapse immediately. If the Grantor makes an invitation or tries to grant an Award which is inconsistent with rules 2.4 (Individual Limits), 3.10 (10 Per Cent in 10 Years Limit) or 3.11 (5 Per Cent in 10 Years Limit), the invitation or Award will be limited and will take effect from the Award Date on a basis consistent with those rules.
 
3.10   10 Per Cent in 10 Years Limit
 
    A Grantor must not grant an Award if the number of Shares committed to be issued under that Award exceeds 10 per cent of the ordinary share capital of NV and PLC in issue immediately before that day when added to the number of Shares which have been issued or are committed to be issued to satisfy Awards under the Plan, or options or awards under any other employee share plan operated by NV and PLC, granted in the previous 10 years.
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

5


 

3.11   5 Per Cent in 10 Years Limit
 
    A Grantor must not grant an Award if the number of Shares committed to be issued under that Award exceeds 5 per cent of the ordinary share capital of NV and PLC in issue immediately before that day when added to the number of Shares which have been issued or are committed to be issued to satisfy Awards under the Plan, or options or awards under any other discretionary employee share plan adopted by NV and PLC, granted in the previous 10 years.
 
3.12   Listing Rules
 
    No Shares will be issued under the Plan if it would cause Listing Rule 6.1.19 (shares in public hands) to be breached.
 
3.13   Inclusions and Exclusions
 
    For the purposes of rules 3.10 (10 per cent in 10 years limit) and 3.11 (5 per cent in 10 years limit), as long as so required by the Association of British Insurers, Shares transferred from treasury are counted as Shares issued by the Company.
 
    Where the right to acquire Shares is released or lapses, the Shares concerned are ignored when calculating the limits in rules 3.10 (10 per cent in 10 years limit) and 3.11 (5 per cent in 10 years limit).
 
3.14   Clawback
 
    In the event of a significant downward restatement of the financial results of the Company the Board, at its discretion, may:
    reduce or lapse any Award, and/or;
 
    require some or all of the after-tax number of Shares which have vested to be transferred to the Company or as it directs or the value (on such date as the Board determines) of the Shares to the Company or as it directs.
4   Before Vesting
 
4.1   Rights
 
    A Participant will not be entitled to vote, to receive dividends or to have any other rights of a shareholder in respect of Shares subject to an Award until the Shares are issued or transferred to the Participant.
 
    Subject to rule 4.2 (Transfer of Investment Shares), the Participant will have all the rights of a shareholder, including dividend and voting rights during the Vesting Period, in respect of the Participant’s Investment Shares. When dividends are paid on Shares during the Vesting Period, the Board will have sole discretion to determine whether dividends will be reinvested as additional Investment Shares or paid in cash on the dividend payment date.
 
4.2   Transfer of Investment Shares
 
    If a Participant transfers, assigns, pledges or otherwise disposes or encumbers of any Investment Shares or any interest therein before the corresponding Award has Vested, the corresponding Award will immediately lapse.
 
    This will not apply to:
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

6


 

  4.2.1   a disposal of Investment Shares (or an undertaking to dispose of them) in connection with a change of Control;
 
  4.2.2   the sale of sufficient nil-paid rights in relation to an Investment Share to take up the balance of the rights under a rights issue or similar transaction;
 
  4.2.3   the transfer of Investment Shares to a Participant’s personal representatives following his death; or
 
  4.2.4   a disposal of Investment Shares acquired as a result of reinvested dividend shares.
4.3   Transfer of Awards
 
    A Participant may not transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber an Award or any rights in respect of it. If he does, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then it will immediately lapse. This rule 4.3 (Transfer of Awards) does not apply to the transmission of an Award on the death of a Participant to the Participant’s personal representatives or assignment by way of court order.
 
4.4   Rights Issues and Other Variations of Capital
 
    If there is:
  4.4.1   a variation in the equity share capital of NV and/or PLC, including a capitalisation or rights issue, sub-division, consolidation or reduction of share capital;
 
  4.4.2   any change in the certification of NV Shares by the Foundation Unilever N.V. Trust Office or any of its successors;
 
  4.4.3   a demerger (in whatever form) or exempt distribution by virtue of Section 213 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988;
 
  4.4.4   a special dividend or distribution; or
 
  4.4.5   any other corporate event which might affect the current or future value of any Award,
    the Board may adjust the number or class of Shares or securities subject to the Award.
 
    Any securities which a Participant receives in respect of his Investment Shares as a result of an event described above will, unless the Board decides otherwise, also be treated as Investment Shares. This will not apply to any Shares which a Participant acquires on a rights issue to the extent that they exceed the number he would have acquired on a sale of sufficient rights under the rights issued nil-paid to take up the balance of the rights.
 
5   Timing of Vesting
 
5.1   Satisfying conditions
 
    As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the Performance Period, the Board will determine whether and to what extent any Performance Condition or other condition imposed under rule 3.7 (Other Conditions) has been satisfied or waived and how many Shares will Vest for each Award, subject to the Participant’s continued employment until the date of Vesting. The Board has authority, in its discretion, to adjust the Awards downwards, and upwards with prior shareholders’ approval if, in the Board’s opinion, taking all circumstances in to account, it would produce an unfair result.
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

7


 

5.2   Timing of Vesting
 
    Subject to rules 3.7 (Other Conditions), 7 (Leaving the Group before Vesting) and 8 (Takeovers and Restructurings), an Award Vests, to the extent determined under rule 5.1 (Satisfying conditions), on the date of Vesting or, if on that date a Dealing Restriction applies, the first date on which it ceases to apply.
 
5.3   Lapse
 
    To the extent that any Performance Condition is not satisfied at the end of the Performance Period, the relevant portion of the Award will lapse to the extent that the Performance Condition is not satisfied, unless otherwise specified in the Performance Condition. To the extent that any other condition is not satisfied, the Award will lapse if so specified in the terms of that condition.
 
    If an Award lapses under the Plan, it cannot Vest and a Participant has no rights in respect of it.
 
6   Consequences of Vesting
 
6.1   Delivery of Shares
 
    Within 30 days of an Award Vesting, the Grantor will arrange (subject to rules 6.4 (Tax and Social Security Contributions Withholding) and 10.8 (Consents)) for the transfer or issue to, or to the order of, the Participant of the number of Shares in respect of which the Award has Vested.
 
6.2   Dividend Equivalents
 
    An Award will, unless the Board decides otherwise, include the right to the extent the Awards have Vested, to receive Dividend Equivalents, subject to rule 6.4 (Tax and Social Security Contributions Withholding). Dividend Equivalents will be delivered in additional Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole Share if the Board so decides), unless otherwise determined at any time by the Grantor with the consent of the Board.
 
    Dividend Equivalents will be paid to any relevant Participant as soon as practicable after Vesting.
 
6.3   Cash Alternative
 
    The Grantor may, subject to the approval of the Board, decide to satisfy an Award by paying an equivalent amount in cash (subject to rule 6.4 (Tax and Social Security Contributions Withholding).
 
6.4   Tax and Social Security Contributions Withholding
 
    The Company, the Grantor, any employing company or trustee of any employee benefit trust may withhold such amount and make such arrangements as it considers necessary to meet any liability to taxation or social security contributions in respect of Annual Bonus Awards, Investment Shares or Awards. These arrangements may include the sale or reduction in number of any Shares subject to an Award or Investment Shares or the Participant discharging the liability himself as the Grantor deems appropriate.
Rules of the Management Co-Investment Plan - 12 May 2010

8


 

6.5   Tax Elections
 
    The Participant will, if required to do so, make an election regarding the method of payment of any mandatory taxes.
 
7   Leaving the Group before Vesting
 
7.1   General Rule on Leaving Employment
  7.1.1   Unless rule 7.2 (Leaving in specified circumstances) applies, an Award which has not Vested will lapse on the date the Participant ceases to be an Employee.
 
  7.1.2   The Board may decide that an Award which has not Vested will lapse on the date on which the Participant gives or receives notice of termination of his employment with any Member of the Group (whether or not such termination is lawful), unless the reason for giving or receiving notice is listed in rule 7.2.1(i) to 7.2.1(iv) below.
7.2   Leaving in Specified Circumstances
  7.2.1   If a Participant ceases to be an Employee before the date of Vesting for any of the reasons set out below, then his Awards will Vest as described in rule 7.3 (Vesting – Awards) and lapse as to the balance. The reasons are:
  (i)   ill health, injury or disability, as established to the satisfaction of NV or PLC;
 
  (ii)   retirement with the agreement of the Participant’s employer;
 
  (iii)   the Participant’s employing company ceasing to be under the Control of neither NV or PLC;
 
  (iv)   a transfer of the undertaking, or the part of the undertaking, in which the Participant works to a person which is neither under the Control of NV or PLC nor a Member of the Group;
 
  (v)   redundancy;
 
  (vi)   death; and
 
  (vii)   any other reason, if the Board so decides in any particular case.
  7.2.2   The Board may only exercise the discretion provided for in rule 7.2.1(vii) within 2 months after cessation of the relevant Participant’s employment or office, and the Award will lapse or Vest (as appropriate) on the earlier of the date on which the discretion is exercised and the end of the 2-month period. The Board may delegate decisions under this rule 7.2 (Leaving in Specified Circumstances) and 7.3 (Vesting – Awards) as it considers appropriate.
7.3   Vesting — Performance
 
    Where rule 7.2 applies, the Award does not lapse and the extent to which it will Vest is measured in accordance with rule 5.1 (Satisfying conditions) at the end of the Performance Period. However, the Board may decide in its discretion that the Performance Period in respect of an Award should be treated as ending on the date of the termination of employment or office and that the Award should Vest immediately, to the extent that the Performance Condition has been satisfied (as determined by the Board in the manner specified in the Performance Condition or in such manner as it considers reasonable). Unless the Board decides otherwise, the level of Award should be reduced pro rata so that
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    it reflects only the proportion of the original Vesting Period which has elapsed before the termination of employment or office.
7.4   Meaning of “ceasing to be an Employee”
 
    For the purposes of this rule 7, a Participant will not be treated as ceasing to be an Employee until he is no longer an Employee of any Member of the Group or if he then recommences employment with, or becomes a director of, a Member of the Group within 30 days.
 
8   Takeovers and Restructurings
 
8.1   Takeover
  8.1.1   If rule 8.3 (Reconstruction) does not apply, where a person (or a group of persons acting in concert) obtains Control of NV and/or PLC as a result of making an offer to acquire Shares, an Award Vests, subject to rule 8.1.3, on the date the person obtains Control.
 
  8.1.2   Where an Award Vests under rule 8.1.1, the Board will determine the extent to which any Performance Condition has been satisfied under rule 6.1 (Delivery of Shares) and the proportion of the Award which will Vest.
 
      The Board may decide that an Award which has Vested under rule 8.1.1 is reduced pro rata to reflect the acceleration of Vesting.
 
      To the extent that an Award has not Vested, it shall lapse as to the balance, unless exchanged under rule 9 (Exchange of Awards).
 
  8.1.3   An Award will not Vest under rule 8.1.1 but will be exchanged under rule 9 (Exchange of Awards) if:
  (i)   an offer to exchange Awards is made and accepted by a Participant; or
 
  (ii)   the Board, with the consent of the Acquiring Company, decides before the person obtains Control that the Awards will be automatically exchanged.
8.2   Scheme of Arrangement
  8.2.1   If rule 8.3 (Reconstruction) does not apply, when under Section 895 of the Companies Act 2006 a court sanctions a compromise or arrangement in connection with the acquisition of PLC Shares or any similar Dutch law in connection with NV Shares, an Award Vests, subject to rule 8.2.3, on the date of court sanction. This rule also applies where there is an equivalent procedure under local legislation.
 
  8.2.2   Where an Award Vests under rule 8.2.1, the Board will determine the extent to which any Performance Condition has been satisfied under rule 6.1 (Delivery of Shares) and the proportion of the Award which will Vest.
 
      The Board may decide that an Award which has Vested under rule 8.2.1 is reduced pro rata to reflect the acceleration of Vesting.
 
      To the extent that an Award has not Vested, it shall lapse as to the balance, unless exchanged under rule 9 (Exchange of Awards).
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  8.2.3   An Award will not Vest under rule 8.2.1 but will be exchanged under rule 9 (Exchange of Awards) if:
  (i)   an offer to exchange Awards is made and accepted by a Participant; or
 
  (ii)   the Board, with the consent of the Acquiring Company, decides before court sanction that the Awards will be automatically exchanged.
8.3   Reconstruction
 
    If there is any internal reconstruction, reorganisation or acquisition of NV and/or PLC which does not involve a significant change in the identity of the ultimate shareholders of NV and PLC, this rule applies to any Awards which have not Vested by the day the reconstruction takes effect. The Board will arrange for the Awards to be replaced by an equivalent award of shares in the new parent company or companies as determined by the Board. The Board may amend (or waive) any Performance Condition as it considers appropriate, subject to applicable laws.
 
8.4   Demerger or Other Corporate Event
  8.4.1   If the Board becomes aware that NV and/or PLC is or is expected to be affected by any demerger, distribution (other than an ordinary dividend) or other transaction not falling within rule 8.1 (Takeover) or rule 8.2 (Scheme of Arrangement) which, in the opinion of the Board, would affect the current or future value of any Award, the Board may allow an Award to Vest and subject to any such conditions as the Board may decide to impose.
 
  8.4.2   Where an Award Vests under rule 8.4.1, the Board will determine the extent to which any Performance Condition has been satisfied under rule 6.1 and the proportion of the Award which will Vest.
 
      The Board may decide that an Award which has Vested under rule 8.4.1 is reduced pro rata to reflect the acceleration of Vesting.
 
      To the extent that an Award has not Vested, it shall lapse as to the balance.
 
  8.4.3   Participants will be notified if they are affected by the Board exercising its discretion under this rule.
8.5   Board
 
    In this rule 8, “ Board ” means those people who were members of the board of NV and PLC immediately before the change of Control.
 
9   Exchange of Awards
 
9.1   Exchange
 
    If an Award is to be exchanged under rule 8 (Takeovers and Restructuring), the exchange will take place as soon as practicable after the relevant event.
 
9.2   Exchange Terms
 
    Where a Participant is granted a new award in exchange for an existing Award, the new award:
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  9.2.1   must confer a right to acquire shares in the Acquiring Company or another body corporate determined by the Acquiring Company;
 
  9.2.2   must be equivalent to the existing Award, subject to rule 9.2.4;
 
  9.2.3   is treated as having been acquired at the same time as the existing Award and, subject to rule 9.2.4, Vests in the same manner and at the same time;
 
  9.2.4   must either:
  (i)   be subject to a Performance Condition which is, so far as possible, equivalent to any Performance Condition applying to the existing Award; or
 
  (ii)   not be subject to any Performance Condition, but be in respect of the number of shares which is equivalent to the number of Shares comprised in the existing Award which would have Vested under rule 8.1 (Takeover), and Vest at the end of the Performance Period; or
 
  (iii)   be subject to such other terms as the Board considers appropriate in all the circumstances; and
  9.2.5   is governed by the Plan as if references to Shares were references to the shares over which the new award is granted and references to NV and PLC were references to the Acquiring Company or the body corporate determined under rule 9.2.1.
10   General
 
10.1   Terms of Employment
  10.1.1   For the purposes of this rule 10.1, “Employee” means any person who is or will be eligible to be a Participant.
 
  10.1.2   This rule 10.1 applies:
  (i)   whether NV, PLC or the Grantor (including acting through its Board) has full discretion in the operation of the Plan, or whether NV or PLC could be regarded as being subject to any obligations in the operation of the Plan;
 
  (ii)   during an Employee’s employment or employment relationship; and
 
  (iii)   after the termination of an Employee’s employment or employment relationship, whether or not the termination is lawful.
  10.1.3   Nothing in these rules or the operation of the Plan forms part of the contract of employment of an Employee. The rights and obligations arising from the employment relationship between the Employee and his employer are separate from, and are not affected by, the Plan. Participation in the Plan does not create any right to, or expectation of, continued employment.
 
  10.1.4   No Employee has a right to participate in the Plan. Participation in the Plan, payment of an Annual Bonus Award or the grant of Awards on a particular basis in any year does not create any right to or expectation of invitation, participation in the Plan or the grant of Awards on the same basis, or at all, in any future year.
 
  10.1.5   The terms of the Plan do not entitle the Employee to the exercise of any discretion in his favour.
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  10.1.6   The Employee will have no claim or right of action in respect of any decision, omission or discretion which may operate to the disadvantage of the Employee even if it is unreasonable, irrational or might otherwise be regarded as being in breach of the duty of trust and confidence (and/or any other implied duty) between the Employee and his employer.
 
  10.1.7   No Employee has any right to compensation for any loss in relation to the Plan, including any loss in relation to:
  (i)   any loss or reduction of rights or expectations under the Plan in any circumstances (including lawful or unlawful termination of employment);
 
  (ii)   any exercise of a discretion or a decision taken in relation to an Award or to the Plan, or any failure to exercise a discretion or take a decision;
 
  (iii)   the operation, suspension, termination or amendment of the Plan.
10.2   Board’s Decisions Final and Binding
 
    The decision of the Board on the interpretation of the Plan or regarding any dispute relating to any Award or matter relating to the Plan will be final and conclusive.
 
10.3   Third Party Rights
 
    Nothing in this Plan confers any benefit, right or expectation on a person who is not a Participant. No such third party has any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Plan. This does not affect any other right or remedy of a third party which may exist.
 
10.4   Documents Sent to Shareholders
 
    NV or PLC is not required to send to Participants copies of any documents or notices normally sent to the holders of its Shares.
 
10.5   Costs
 
    NV and PLC will pay the costs of introducing and administering the Plan. A Participant’s employer will be required to bear the costs in respect of an Award to that Participant.
 
10.6   Employee Trust
 
    NV, PLC and any Subsidiary may provide money to the trustee of any trust or any other person to enable them or him to acquire Shares to be held for the purposes of the Plan, or enter into any guarantee or indemnity for those purposes, to the extent permitted by Sections 681-683 of the Companies Act 2006 or any applicable law.
 
10.7   Data Protection
 
    By participating in the Plan the Participant consents to the holding and processing of personal data provided by the Participant to any Member of the Group, trustee or third party service provider for all purposes relating to the operation of the Plan. These include, but are not limited to:
  10.7.1   administering and maintaining Participant records;
 
  10.7.2   providing information to Members of the Group, trustees of any employee benefit trust, registrars, brokers or third party administrators of the Plan;
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  10.7.3   providing information to future purchasers of the NV, PLC or the business in which the Participant works; and
 
  10.7.4   transferring information about the Participant to a country or territory outside the European Economic Area that may not provide the same statutory protection for the information as the Participant’s home country.
10.8   Consents
 
    All allotments, issues and transfers of Shares will be subject to any necessary consents under any relevant enactments or regulations for the time being in force in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom or elsewhere. The Participant is responsible for complying with any requirements he needs to fulfil in order to obtain, or avoid the necessity for, any such consent.
 
10.9   Share Rights
 
    Shares issued to satisfy Awards under the Plan or as Investment Shares will rank equally in all respects with the Shares in issue on the date of allotment. They will not rank for any rights attaching to Shares by reference to a record date preceding the date of allotment. Where Shares are transferred to a Participant, including a transfer out of treasury, the Participant will be entitled to all rights attaching to the Shares by reference to a record date on or after the transfer date. The Participant will not be entitled to rights before that date.
 
10.10   Listing
  10.10.1   If and so long as the NV Shares are listed on Eurolist by Euronext and traded on Euronext, NV will apply for listing of any NV Shares issued under the Plan as soon as practicable.
 
  10.10.2   If and so long as PLC Shares are listed on the Official List and traded on the London Stock Exchange, PLC will apply for listing of any PLC Shares issued under the Plan as soon as practicable.
10.11   Notices
  10.11.1   Any notice or other document which has to be given to a person who is or will be eligible to be a Participant under or in connection with the Plan may be:
  (i)   delivered or sent by post to him at his home address according to the records of his employing company; or
 
  (ii)   sent by e-mail or fax to any e-mail address or fax number which according to the records of his employing company is used by him;
      or, in either case, such other address which the Board considers appropriate.
 
  10.11.2   Any notice or other document which has to be given to NV, PLC, the Grantor or other duly appointed agent under or in connection with the Plan may be delivered or sent by post to it at its registered office (or such other place as the Board or duly appointed agent may from time to time decide and notify to Participants) or sent by e-mail or fax to any e-mail address or fax number notified to the Participant.
 
  10.11.3   Notices sent by post will be deemed to have been given on the second day after the date of posting. However, notices sent by or to a Participant who is working overseas will be deemed to have been given on the seventh day after the date of posting. Notices sent by e-mail or fax, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, will be deemed to have been received on the day after sending.
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10.12   Governing Law and Jurisdiction
  10.12.1   Dutch law governs the Plan in respect of Awards granted over NV Shares and the Rotterdam District Court has non-exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any disputes arising.
 
  10.12.2   English law governs the Plan in respect of Awards granted over PLC Shares and the English Courts have non-exclusive jurisdiction in respect of any disputes arising.
 
  10.12.3   Where Awards are granted over a combination of NV and PLC Shares, the applicable law and jurisdiction in relation to such Awards will be determined on the Award Date by the Grantor.
11   Amending the Plan and Termination
 
11.1   Board’s powers
 
    Except as described in the rest of this rule 11 and in accordance with relevant provisions of UK and Dutch company law, the RemCo may at any time change the Plan in any way.
 
11.2   Shareholder approval
  11.2.1   Except as described in rule 11.2.2, the shareholders of NV or PLC in general meeting must approve in advance by ordinary resolution any proposed change to the Plan to the advantage of present or future Participants, which relates to:
  (i)   the persons to or for whom Shares may be provided under the Plan;
 
  (ii)   the limits on the number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan;
 
  (iii)   the individual limit for each Participant under the Plan;
 
  (iv)   any rights attaching to existing and/or future Awards and the Shares;
 
  (v)   the rights of a Participant in the event of a capitalisation issue, rights issue, sub-division or consolidation of Shares or reduction or any other variation of capital of NV and/or PLC; or
 
  (vi)   the terms of this rule 11.2.1.
  11.2.2   The RemCo can change the Plan and/or any Awards granted under it and need not obtain the approval of NV or PLC in general meeting for any changes:
  (i)   to benefit the administration of the Plan;
 
  (ii)   to comply with or take account of the provisions of any proposed or existing legislation;
 
  (iii)   to take account of any changes to legislation; or
 
  (iv)   to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment of NV, PLC, any Subsidiary or any present or future Participant.
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11.3   Notice
 
    The RemCo is not required to give written notice of any changes made to any Participant affected.
 
11.4   Termination
 
    The Plan will terminate on the Expiry Date, but the Board may terminate the Plan at any time before that date. The termination of the Plan will not affect existing Awards.
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Exhibit 12.1
Section 302 Certification
CERTIFICATIONS
I, PAUL POLMAN, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of UNILEVER PLC ;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: 1 March, 2011
/s/ Paulus Gerardus Josephus Maria Polman
Chief Executive Officer

 


 

Section 302 Certification
CERTIFICATIONS
I, JEAN-MARC HUET, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of UNILEVER PLC ;
 
2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.   The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.   The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: 1 March, 2011
/s/ Raoul Jean-Marc Sidney Huet
Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit 13.1
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
In connection with the Annual Report on Form 20-F of Unilever PLC , a corporation organized under the laws of the United Kingdom (the “Company”) for the period ending December 31, 2010 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that:
1. the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Dated: 1 March, 2011
         
/s/ Paulus Gerardus Josephus Maria Polman      
Paulus Gerardus Josephus Maria Polman     
Chief Executive Officer     
Dated: 1 March, 2011
         
/s/ Raoul Jean-Marc Sidney Huet      
Raoul Jean-Marc Sidney Huet     
Chief Financial Officer     

 

Exhibit 15.1
Specific portions of the Unilever 2010 Annual Report are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 20-F (incorporated by reference from Exhibit I of Unilever’s Current Report on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on March 4, 2011).

Exhibit 15.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form F-3 (No. 333-155427) and Form S-8 (No. 333-151802) of Unilever N.V. and on Form F-3 (No. 333-155427-02) and Form S-8 (No. 333-103491-01) of Unilever PLC of our report dated 1 March, 2011 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting which appears in this Form 20-F.
Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 4 March, 2011
PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V.
As auditors of Unilever N.V.
         
/s/ R A J Swaak RA      
R A J Swaak RA     
         
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP      
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP     
London, United Kingdom
As auditors of Unilever PLC
4 March, 2011