Result of AGM

HAYS PLC
 
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008
 
RESULTS OF THE POLL
 
Hays held its twenty first Annual General Meeting today at the Royal College of Physicians. A poll was held on each Resolution.

All Resolutions were passed and the results are shown below.
 
POLL RESULTS
 
The results of the poll are as follows:
 
Resolution                                                                  Votes        Votes        Total Votes 
                                                                            For          Against                  
1.  To receive/adopt the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2008           958,372,611  4,144,807    962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
2.  To declare a final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2008             953,722,359  8,925,364    962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
3.  To approve the Board's report on remuneration                           498,238,264  424,215,934  962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
4.  To re-appoint R J Smelt as a Director of the Company                    932,399,174  30,219,431   962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
5.  To re-elect C W Eccelshare as a Director of the Company                 931,402,341  30,130,251   962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
6.  To re-elect P H Stoneham as a Director of the Company                   925,356,690  36,172,702   962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
7.  To re-elect P Venables as a Director of the Company                     961,765,977  844,230      962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
8.  To re-appoint Deloitte and Touche LLP as Auditors of the Company        961,161,714  1,466,601    962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
9.  To authorise the Directors to determine the Auditors' remuneration      962,213,216  363,751      962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
10. To authorise the Directors to allot Ordinary shares in the Company up   959,681,229  2,927,239    962,659,747 
    to £4,585,884                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                  
11. To authorise the Directors to disapply pre-emption rights               961,139,063  1,454,718    962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
12. To authorise the Company to purchase up to 206,364,799 of its own       957,751,822  2,532,322    962,659,747 
    shares                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                  
13. To amend the Company's Articles of Association                          939,778,012  9,485,899    962,659,747 
                                                                                                                  
 
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TO UK LISTING AUTHORITY

Hays plc has today submitted to the UK Listing Authority prints of Resolutions 10, 11, 12 and 13 passed at the Annual General Meeting on 12 November 2008 concerning items other than ordinary business.

These documents will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document Viewing Facility which is situated at:-
The Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf 
London E14 5HS
 
COMMENT
 

The Board notes and takes seriously that a number of our institutional
shareholders have not supported Resolution 3 to approve the Board's report on
remuneration for the year ended 30 June 2008.  The Board wishes to reiterate
that it believes that re-weighting of the remuneration package towards shorter
term performance targets is necessary in light of the current economic
uncertainty and the increasingly limited visibility in the sectors in which the
Group operates.  The total incentive potential for senior executives is
unchanged and 70% of any annual bonus awarded will be deferred into restricted
shares which will only vest after a minimum of three years from 1 July 2009. These
changes are for the year ending 30 June 2009 only.  Work is under way to
determine the most appropriate incentive arrangements for future years and the
Remuneration Committee will continue to consult with our largest shareholders
in advance of any future changes.

 
 

ENQUIRIES

 

Hays plc

Martin Abell          Investor Relations         [phone]


Brunswick

Gill Ackers                                      [phone]

Catherine Colloms

 
 
 
 
12 November 2008