Cancellation of Unilever NV preference shares and depositary receipts
Public offer by Unilever PLC for all preference shares in Unilever N.V.
In 2017 and 2018, Unilever Corporate Holdings Nederland B.V., a wholly-owned (indirect) subsidiary of Unilever PLC, successfully completed the public offer, acquisition and delisting of (the depositary receipts of) all 6% and 7% cumulative preference (sub)shares (together the "Preference Shares") in the share capital of Unilever N.V. Subsequently, the Preference Shares were cancelled on 6 February 2019.
In November 2020, the Unilever Group completed the unification of its legal structure under a single parent company, Unilever PLC, and Unilever N.V. ceased to exist.
Downloads
- Final offer results - 99% of all Unilever N.V. Preference Shares tendered after post-acceptance period (PDF 658.11 KB)
- Unilever PLC launches offer for all preference shares in Unilever N.V. (PDF 180.85 KB)
- Offer memorandum dated 11 October 2017 Recommended, unconditional and irrevocable cash offer by Unilever Corporate Holdings Nederland B.V. (PDF 1.02 MB)
- Position statement of Unilever N.V. dated 11 October 2017 regarding the recommended, unconditional and irrevocable cash offer by Unilever Corporate Holdings Nederland B.V. (PDF 6.94 MB)
- Unilever N.V. Articles of Association – English (PDF 824.57 KB)
- Annual Report and Accounts 2016 (PDF 9.73 MB)
Trust Office to terminate Unilever NV depositary receipt structure
Unification
Please note that in November 2020, the Unilever Group completed the unification of its legal structure under a single parent company, Unilever PLC, and Unilever NV ceased to exist. On implementation of unification, the remaining NV ordinary shares held by the Board of the Foundation Unilever Trust Office (“Trust Office”) were cancelled and new PLC ordinary shares were issued to the Trust Office on a one-for-one basis.
Termination
On 26 June 2019, the Trust Office resolved to terminate the depositary receipt structure. The termination of the depositary receipt structure was effected in respect of the holders of book-entry depositary receipts on 28 June 2019. Holders of non book-entry depositary receipts for which bearer certificates had been issued by the predecessor of the Trust Office ("Bearer Certificates") had the opportunity for a period of two (2) years, i.e. up to and including 26 June 2021, to exchange their Bearer Certificates free of charge for ordinary shares in Unilever N.V. and after unification of the legal structure of the Unilever Group on 29 November 2020, for ordinary shares in Unilever PLC.
In accordance with the Trust Conditions of the Trust Office, the Board of the Trust Office has sold the remaining shares held by the Trust Office and has given the sale proceeds less costs into consignment (in consignatie) to the deposit fund (consignatiekas) at the Dutch Ministry of Finance ("Consignatiekas").
Holders of Bearer Certificates
Holders of Bearer Certificates no longer have rights towards the Trust Office but only towards the Consignatiekas. Holders of Bearer Certificates can hand their Bearer Certificates in at the Consignatiekas for another twenty (20) years from 16 July 2021, and will then receive the value of their Bearer Certificates in cash. The cash compensation is calculated in accordance with the provisions in the Regulations for Conversion referred to in Article 14.2 of the Trust Conditions of the Trust Office. The original Bearer Certificates must thereby be handed over. For the record, it is stated that, as previously announced in 2019, the Bearer Certificates no longer entitle the holder thereof to any dividends.
Holders of Bearer Certificates can report to the Consignatiekas to turn in their original Bearer Certificates. The following link provides further information on requesting a payment from the Consignatie Office: https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/consignatiekas/claim-indienen (Opens in a pop-up window )
A request for payment can be sent to:
Ministry of Finance
Consignation Office
P.O. Box 20201
2500 EE The Hague
The Netherlands
e-mail: consignatiekas@minfin.nl