Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I extend a warm welcome to all shareholders and proxies of shareholders attending this extraordinary general meeting of Pick n Pay Stores Limited. I'd also like to welcome the board members, members of management, representatives from our South African legal counsel, Bowman Gilfillan Incorporated, and all other guests who are able to join us today. I note that this meeting is being conducted entirely through electronic participation, as provided for in the Companies Act, the Memorandum of Incorporation of the Company, which will hereinafter be referred to as the Memorandum, and in terms of the JSE Listings Requirements.
In terms of Section 64(1)(a) of the Companies Act, the quorum requirement for this meeting to begin is sufficient persons present at this meeting to exercise in aggregate at least 25% of all the voting rights that are entitled to be exercised in respect of at least one matter to be decided at this meeting. In terms of Article 20.15 of the memorandum, this meeting may not begin unless, in addition, at least three persons entitled to vote are present at this meeting. The company secretary informs me that the necessary quorum is present, and accordingly, I declare this meeting duly constituted. The notice convening this extraordinary general meeting was attached to and formed part of the circular distributed to shareholders electronically on the 27th of May, 20...
2024, and by post on the 28th of May, 2024, and contains full details of the resolutions to be considered at this meeting. There being no changes to the proposed resolutions, I propose that the notice be taken as read and as prevailing in all circumstances. Are there any objections? There being no objections, I will now provide a short opening address, which will be followed by an explanation of the question and answer session, and voting, and the tabling of the resolutions. As you may have seen in the Pick n Pay Group's audited financial statements for the period ended 25 February, 2024, which was our financial year end 24, which were released by the company on the 27th of May, 2024.
While the capital investment to date in the group's Boxer business in the Pick n Pay Clothing division has generated strong investment returns, a deterioration in the performance of the group's core Pick n Pay supermarket business resulted in a substantial trading loss in the Pick n Pay division and an overall loss for the period at a group level. The board undertook several steps to safeguard the group's liquidity, maintain the group's ability to continue trading as a going concern, and to strengthen the underlying performance of the Pick n Pay supermarket business, including the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Sean Summers, to lead the Pick n Pay turnaround strategy and the structure of senior leadership and operational structures.
Alongside this immediate action taken at an operational level, the board has prioritized the development of a sustainable capital structure for the group, which would reduce the debt levels and provide sufficient support for investment in the turnaround of Pick n Pay and unlock shareholder value inherent in the group. To this end, the group announced on the Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE, referred to as SENS, and the A2X News Service of the A2X Markets on the 22nd of February 2024, that it intended to undertake a two-step recapitalization plan, which, subject to the company obtaining the relevant board, shareholder, and regulatory approvals, will comprise a rights offer to existing shareholders of the company of ZAR 4 billion, followed by an offering and listing of shares in the group's Boxer business on the main board of the JSE.
The rights offer is expected to take place in the coming month, followed by the Boxer listing towards the end of 2024. Details of the rights offer, including the timing thereof and the rights offer circular, setting out the full terms and conditions of the rights offer, will be distributed to shareholders in due course. The main purpose of this meeting is to obtain shareholder approval for the resolutions that are required to affect the rights offer. Shareholder approval will also be sought for amendments to the memorandum in respect of the B share terms to facilitate a reduction in the voting rights exercisable by B shares.
As announced by the company on SENS on the 27th of May 24, this proposed amendment to the memorandum will facilitate the reduction through mechanics that are still to be finalized of the Ackerman family's majority shareholder voting control in the company to slightly below 50% post the planned rights offer. Finally, shareholder approval will also be sought for an amendment to the memorandum to better align the director rotation provisions in the memorandum with the company's governance charter. If we now look at the formalities of the proceeds.
In terms of questions, all shareholder questions relating to items under consideration at this meeting, being the resolutions which were included and explained in the circular and notice of the EGM distributed to all shareholders electronically on the 27th of May 2024, and by post on the 28th of May 2024, will be answered after all the resolutions have been put to the meeting. So we're not gonna take questions when we put each resolution, we'll do all the questions at the end. I encourage all our registered shareholders to engage with us using the functions available on the Lumi Platform, which allows for both written and verbal questions. For verbal questions, please follow the instructions on the Home tab of the Lumi Platform.
When we get to the question and answer session on the matters under consideration at this meeting, including for the resolutions, you will have the opportunity to ask your question, which will be audible to all participants in the meeting. We will respond only to your questions relating to items under consideration at this meeting, including the resolutions, and we will do so only once all the resolutions have been read out loud and displayed on your screens, but before the voting is closed. All questions unrelated to the items under consideration at this meeting, including on the resolutions, will be noted and will be addressed only at the upcoming AGM of the company on the 27th of August, 2024. So we're not gonna answer questions on items other than the matters under discussion today.
I encourage shareholders to read the company's integrated annual report for 2024, as well as the company's corporate governance report, which will be released later today, as well as our ESG performance summary and data book, which will be released soon for further details on the matters I highlighted in my opening address. Any members of the media are requested to contact the company secretary after this meeting with any specific questions they may have, and who will direct such questions to the relevant members of management to address. The results of the voting on the resolutions will be announced at this meeting shortly after the voting is closed and the voting results have been determined, and will be published through SENS and the A2X News Service in accordance with applicable listings requirements of these exchanges.
Before we proceed to the resolutions, I would wish to advise you on the practicality of the voting. Please note that only participants who are in possession of a valid proxy, which has been filed in accordance with the notice of the meeting, or shareholders who are reflected on the share register of the company as at Friday the 21st of June, 2024, or who are in possession of a written letter of representation from their CSDP, are entitled to participate, speak, and vote at this meeting. Just a few pointers on how to cast your votes. All shareholders or their proxies who have requested to vote would have received a link to access the voting platform, which has been sent to either the phone number or the email address which that participant has provided.
Please go to the Voting tab at the top of your screen in order to cast your vote. You will notice that the voting platform contains all the resolutions which have been published in the notice of the meeting. You may vote on all the resolutions simultaneously by defaulting all your votes as either for or against, or as abstained. You may also exercise your votes individually per resolution by selecting the relevant option, for, against, or abstain on a resolution by resolution basis. If you fail to exercise a vote one way or the other, the failure to exercise a vote will be regarded as an abstention. Once you have voted on the resolution or abstained, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Submit. It is vital to click Submit for your vote to be cast.
A message will pop up on your screen confirming that your votes have been received. Until voting has been closed at the end of the question and answer session, voting can be changed on the Lumi Platform. The voting is now open and will remain open until the question and answer session is completed. However, I urge you to complete your voting after each of the resolutions have been tabled to the meeting. For the purpose of voting at today's meeting, the company's transfer secretary, Computershare Investor Services, have been appointed as scrutineers. I've also arranged for a director, who is also a shareholder, to second all the resolutions. Lerena Olivier has agreed to second all the motions at today's meeting. In light of this, and with your agreement, I will dispense with the usual formalities of asking for a seconder for all resolutions.
In accordance with good governance practice, the voting on all resolutions at this meeting will be conducted by poll. Shareholders or their proxies or representatives present would have registered on the electronic platform to be able to vote on the resolutions.... As a reminder, that the electronic system is open for voting and will remain open until the question on succession has concluded. Given the number and the length of the resolutions, I will take them as read, and will only provide a short summary of each resolution and provide a brief explanation of the necessity of the resolution and or its consequences where necessary. Before the resolutions relating to the matters are put to this meeting, I will hand over to the company's lead independent and non-executive director, James Formby, who will take a few moments to explain certain voting technicalities that relate to such resolutions.
Please follow the resolutions on your screens. They are proposed in the order in which they appear in the notice of the meeting. I note that all resolutions to be proposed at this meeting are special resolutions. The following special resolutions, as set out in the notice of the meeting, are now proposed to this meeting, as I mentioned. James Formby will explain certain diverse technicalities that relate to the resolutions immediately prior to me putting any resolutions to this meeting. James, can I please hand over to you?
Thank you, Gareth. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. You'd have seen that the proposal to convert the company's ordinary share capital from par value shares to no par value shares requires shareholder approval by means of four special resolutions, being Special Resolutions Numbers 1.1 and 1.2, which I'll detail shortly. In respect of the amendments to the memorandum to reflect the share conversion, Special Resolutions Numbers 4.1 and 4.2, which I'll talk through later. Special Resolutions Numbers 1.1 and 1.2 propose the conversion of... Sorry, just lost my place. Something went wrong there. Hold on. I'm back with you now.
Special Resolutions Numbers 1.1 and 1.2 propose the conversions of the company's issued and unissued ordinary shares from par value shares to no par value shares, which require that the memorandum be amended. I'll refer to these as the conversion amendments. Special Resolution Number 1.1 will be voted on by the ordinary shareholders only, being the holders of the class of shares, being the ordinary shares being converted as required in terms of the company's regulations. Special Resolution Number 1.2 will be voted on by all shareholders, including the B shareholders, to comply specifically with the company's regulations, which require approval for a share conversion by means of a further special resolution adopted by a meeting of the company's shareholders called for that purpose.
I'll now hand back over to the chairperson to continue with the presentation of the resolutions to this meeting.
Thanks, James. I put to this meeting Special Resolution Number 1.1, being the conversion of the company's authorized share capital, whether issued or unissued, from par value shares to no par value shares. In order for Special Resolution 1.1 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by the ordinary shareholders only, being the holders of the class of shares which are being converted. Special Resolution Number 1.2, being the conversion of the company's authorized ordinary share capital, whether issued or unissued, from par value shares to no par value shares.
In order for Special Resolution Number 1.2 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all shareholders of the company, including the B shareholders, as the Special Resolution Number 1.2 will constitute a further special resolution adopted by the meeting of the company's shareholders called for that purpose, as contemplated by Regulations 31(6)(b)(i) and (ii) of the company's regulations. I note that shareholders were provided with a report prepared by the board in respect of the proposed share conversion, as required by Regulations 31(7) and 31(8) of the company's regulations, as the report was attached as an annexure to the circular and notice of meeting, which was distributed to shareholders in anticipation of this meeting.
As required, this report was also filed with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission and South African Revenue Service. The report confirms, among other things, that the proposed conversion has and will have no adverse effect on ordinary shareholders, which remain in the same position and enjoy the same rights before as after the proposed conversion. I will now hand you over to James, who will explain the technicalities of special resolutions two and three.
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, you'd have seen that the proposal to increase the company's ordinary and B share capital requires shareholder approval by means of three special resolutions in each instance. Being, as regards the ordinary and B share increase, Special Resolutions Numbers Two and Three, which I'll detail shortly, and in respect of the amendments to the memorandum to reflect the respective share increases, Special Resolutions Number four... Numbers 4.1 and 4.2, which I will talk through later.... Special Resolution Number Two proposes an increase to the company's authorized share, ordinary share capital, which in addition requires that the memorandum be amended. I'll refer to this as the ordinary share capital amendments. Special Resolution Number Two will be voted on by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders.
Special Resolution Number Three proposes an increase to the company's authorized B share capital, which in addition requires that the memorandum be amended. I will refer to this as the B share capital amendments. Special Resolution Number Three will be voted on by all shareholders, including the B shareholders. I will now hand back over to the chairperson to continue with the presentation of the resolutions to this meeting.
Thank you. I put to the meeting the Special Resolution Number Two, being the increase of the company's authorized ordinary share capital by the creation of additional ordinary shares. In order for Special Resolution Number Two to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all shareholders of the company, including the B shareholders. Given the proposed size of the rights offer and the fact that the price of each rights offer will only reach... Each rights offer share will only be determined immediately before the rights offer, depending on, among other things, the market conditions at the time. The company is proposing the ordinary share capital increase to give it sufficient flexibility to cater for any unforeseen market volatility that may occur between now and the time at which the rights offer share price is determined.
However, shareholders are reminded that in order to ensure that the company's authorized share capital is set at an appropriate level post-implementation of the rights offer, the company will propose a resolution at the AGM of the company following the rights offer, authorizing the reduction of the ordinary authorized share capital to a number of ordinary shares, such that following the reduction, the authorized but unissued ordinary shares of the share capital of the company will not constitute more than 10% of the total number of issued ordinary shares immediately after the date of the completion of the rights offer. This additional 10% would provide the company with additional headroom for any potential future ordinary share issues which the company may require, whether for capital raises, share incentive schemes, or otherwise, although these would remain subject to any requisite authorizations and approvals being obtained.
Special Resolution Number Three, being the increase of the company's authorized B share capital by the creation of additional B shares. In order for Special Resolution Number Three to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders. As you would have seen in the circular, if a B shareholder follows its rights in the rights offer, this will constitute an adjustment event in terms of the B shares, and the company will be legally obliged, in terms of its memorandum, to issue additional B shares to such B shareholder to maintain the B share issue ratio set out in the B share terms.
For this reason, and in order to ensure the company is able to comply with its legal obligations in terms of the memorandum, it is proposing to increase the authorized B shares. However, shareholders are reminded that if the newly created B shares are not required for these purposes, the company will, at the AGM of the company following the rights offer, propose a resolution authorizing the reduction of the authorized B share capital to such a number of B shares that following the reduction, the authorized but unissued B shares in the share capital of the company constitutes no more than 10% of the total number of issued B shares immediately after the date of completion of the rights offer.
The additional 10% would provide the company with additional headroom for any potential future B share issues which the company may be required to make in terms of the memorandum for any adjustment event. Shareholders are reminded that the number of new authorized ordinary shares and B shares proposed to be created should not be taken as an indication as to the number of such shares to be issued by the company for purposes of the rights offer. The company will only issue such number of ordinary shares as is required to raise ZAR 4 billion, and such additional number of B shares as it is legally required to issue in terms of the memorandum. I'll now hand over to James to explain the technicalities of Special Resolutions Numbers 4.1 and 4.2. James?
Thank you, Chair. Ladies and gentlemen, as I mentioned earlier, the conversion amendments, the ordinary share capital amendments, and the B share capital amendments each require amendments to be made to the memorandum. In this regard, Article 5 of the memorandum requires that these amendments be approved by means of a special resolution passed by the holders of the ordinary shares, and for so long as they carry voting rights and remain in issue, as is currently the case, a separate class resolution of the holders of the B shares. As such, Special Resolution Numbers 4.1 and 4.2 seeks these ordinary and B shareholder approvals respectively. I'll now hand over, or back over, to the chairperson to continue with the presentation of the resolutions to this meeting.
Thank you, James. Just I have been informed by the administrators that there is no submit button on the, on the voting screen. You just, just continue to vote, but I'll, I'll, refresh that later at the end. So Special Resolution Number 4.1 are put to the meeting, being for the approval of the amendments to the memorandum that need to be made in connection with the proposed amendment to the ordinary and B share capital of the company contemplated in Special Resolutions Number 1.1, 1.2, Two, and Three. In order for Special Resolution Number 4.1 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all the shareholders, including B shareholders.
Special Resolution Number 4.2, being for the approval of amendments to the memorandum that need to be made in connection with the proposed amendments to the ordinary and B share capital of the company, as contemplated in Special Resolutions Number 1.1, 1.2, Two, and Three. In order for Special Resolution Number 4.2 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by B shareholders only. Only the votes exercised by the B shareholders, whether present in person or represented by proxy at this meeting, will be taken into account for the purposes of determining whether this Special Resolution Number 4.2 has been adopted by the requisite majority.
I'll now hand over to James Formby to explain the technicalities of Special Resolutions Number 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2. James?
Right. Thank you, Chair. Ladies and gentlemen, Special Resolution Number 5.1 proposes amendments to the terms of the B shares, which require that the memorandum be amended. I'll refer to these as the B terms amendments. Special Resolution Number 5.1 will be voted on by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders. Special Resolution Number 6.1 proposes amendments to the director retirement by rotation provisions, which require that the memorandum be amended. I'll refer to these as the director rotation amendments. Special Resolution Number 6.1 will be voted on by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders.
Article 5 of the memorandum requires that the B terms amendments and the director rotation amendments, which each require amendments to be made to the memorandum, be approved by means of a special resolution passed by the holders of the ordinary shares, and for so long as they carry voting rights and remain in issue, as is currently the case, a separate class resolution of the holders of the B shares. As such, Special Resolution Number 5.2 will seek the required B shareholder approval in respect of the B terms amendments, and Special Resolution Number 6.2 will seek the required B shareholder approval in respect of the director rotation amendments.
To summarize, the B terms amendments will therefore require shareholder approval by means of two special resolutions, being Special Resolutions Number 5.1 and 5.2, and the director rotation amendments require shareholder approval by means of two special resolutions, being Special Resolutions Numbers 6.1 and 6.2. I'll now hand back over to the chairperson to continue with the presentation of the resolutions to this meeting.
Thanks, James. I put to this meeting Special Resolution Number 5.1, being for the approval of the amendments to the memorandum that need to be made in connection with the proposed amendments in terms of the B shares. In order for Special Resolution 5.1 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders. Special Resolution 5.2, being for the approval of the amendments to the memorandum that need to be made in connection with the proposed amendments to the terms of the B shares. In order for Special Resolution Number 5.2 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by the B shareholders only.
Only the votes exercised by the B shareholders, whether present in person or represented by proxy at this meeting, will be taken into account for the purposes of determining whether the Special Resolution Number 5.2 has been adopted by the requisite majority. Shareholders are reminded that the company is proposing amendments to the terms of the B shares in order to allow the B share terms to be amended in conjunction with the rights offer, to allow for, with the approval of the B shareholders, a reduction in the ratio of the B shares to stapled ordinary shares in order to facilitate a reduction in the Ackerman family's majority shareholding voter control in the company to slightly below 50% post the planned rights offer.
Resolution Number 6.1, being for the approval of the amendments to the memorandum that need to be made in connection with the proposed amendments to the director retirement provisions for the alignment to the company's governance charter. In order for Special Resolution Number 6.1 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders. Resolution Number 6.2, being for the approval of the amendments to the memorandum that need to be made in connection with the proposed amendments to the director retirement provisions for alignment to the company's corporate governance charter. In order for Special Resolution Number 6.2 to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by the B shareholders.
Only the votes exercised by the B shareholders, whether present in person or represented by proxy at this general meeting, will be taken into account for the purposes of determining whether the Special Resolution Number 6.2 has been adopted by the requisite majority. I'll now hand over to James Formby to explain the technicalities for our final resolution, Special Resolution Number Seven.
Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, Special Resolution Number Seven will be voted on once by all shareholders, including the B shareholders. This is so because all the B shares are stapled to certain ordinary shares, and therefore the B shareholders are entitled to the same voting rights at a meeting of shareholders as the ordinary shareholders, i.e., one vote for every share held. I'll now hand back over to the chair to present the final resolution to this meeting.
I put to this meeting Special Resolution Number Seven, being the authorization to directors to issue ordinary shares and B shares to the relevant shareholders pursuant to the rights offer, with voting power equal or exceeding 30% of the voting power of existing ordinary shares and B shares in issue, and letters of allocation in relation to the rights offer shares. In order for Special Resolution Number Seven to be adopted, it must be supported by at least 75% of the voting rights exercised on it by all the shareholders, including the B shareholders. I confirm that all resolutions have now been tabled at this meeting, and I'll now hand over to James Formby to answer any questions specifically on the voting technicalities he described for all the resolutions I presented to this meeting. James?
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, I'll now take and answer any questions from participants related specifically to the voting technicalities that I've described during the presentation of various resolutions to this meeting. A reminder that all other questions relating to the resolutions will be taken and addressed during the main question and answer session that follows. A reminder that voting will remain open until after the end of the main question and answer session. Are there any questions?
Okay. No questions at present, James.
If there are no questions, ladies and gentlemen, since there are no questions on the voting technicalities I described, we'll now move on to the main question and answer session, which I'll be facilitating. We'll now respond to all questions from participants on the items under consideration at this EGM, at this meeting. Are there any questions?
No questions so far.
Okay, we'll just wait a moment.
Okay.
I think if there are no questions at this time, then thank you very much for your participation. I'll now hand over to the chairperson to continue with the facilitation of the proceedings of this meeting.
Thank you, James. I'm delighted you didn't have to get your technical skills going there. But thank you anyway. So now that we've completed the question and answer session, I will give the shareholders or the proxies who have not yet cast their votes an opportunity to do so now. Please press the Voting tab, and please note that there is no Submit button, as I mentioned earlier. But that'll go through automatically. So I'll just give you a couple of moments to do that. Okay, I think there's probably been enough time for everybody to submit their vote. I now declare the voting closed. We will now give the scrutineers an opportunity to finalize the counting of the vote. The results will be announced and displayed on your screen shortly. I see they've already come through.
Ladies and gentlemen, the scrutineers have finalized the counting of the votes. I will now read out the results of the voting for each resolution which has been tabled this meeting, in the order in which the resolutions were voted on and which will also be displayed on your screen at this time. So resolution number 1.1 passed with greater than 99.9%. Special Resolution Number 1.2 passed with greater than 99.9%. Special R esolution Number Two was passed with 97.3%. Special Resolution Number Three, the creation of the additional B shares, was 95.83%. Special Resolution Number 4.1 was approval of the MOI share capital amendments for all shareholders, was 97.3%.
Special Resolution 4.2, the approval of MOI capital amendments for the B shares, was 100%. Special Resolution 5.1, approval of MOI B shares terms amendments for all shareholders, was 99.9%. Special Resolution 5.2, approval of MOI B shares terms amendment for the B shareholders, was 100%. Special Resolution 6.1, MOI director rotation amendments, was 96.2%. Special Resolution 6.2, approval of MOI director rotation amendments for B shareholders, was 100%. Special Resolution Number Seven, authorization to issue shares pursuant to the rights offer with voting power equal or exceeding 30% of the voting power of existing shares, was 99.95%. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for your cooperation.
As you have seen on your screens, all the resolutions tabled at this meeting have been approved by the requisite majority. So, ladies and gentlemen, as there is no further business, I now formally close the proceedings of this extraordinary general meeting of Pick n Pay Stores, and look forward to seeing you at the AGM on the 27th of August. Thank you very much for your attendance, your participation, and most particularly, for your support. Thank you and goodbye.