Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

UPDATE 2-Tesco survives investor protest over share options

Fri Jul 3, 2009 6:04pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

* 57 pct of AGM votes cast back share option changes

* Union resolution on migrants' treatment easily defeated

(Adds detail, background)

By Ian MacKenzie

GLASGOW, July 3 (Reuters) - Tesco (TSCO.L: Quote, Profile, Research), Britain's largest retailer, narrowly survived a big investor protest over changes to its management share option plan and more comfortably saw off complaints it should do more to help migrant workers.

Shareholders represented at the supermarket group's annual general meeting on Friday voted about 57 percent in favour of Tesco's plan to extend the period during which leaving or retiring executives can exercise their share options.

The protest is the latest sign that investors are prepared to voice their displeasure publicly against company boards -- something they have been reluctant to do it the past -- particularly over pay. On Thursday, some 36 percent of Home Retail (HOME.L: Quote, Profile, Research) shareholders at the company's annual general meeting voted against the retailer's executive bonus scheme, with a further 7 percent abstaining. [ID:nL2093759]

Tesco more comfortably saw off a rebel resolution from Unite, Britain's biggest trade union, which was defeated 89 percent of the votes to 11 percent.

The resolution, supported by protestors wearing yellow chicken suits and waving placards outside the meeting, called on the company to do more to ensure the fair treatment of migrant workers at meat suppliers.  Continued...

REUTERS WEEKEND

Glory for Big B

Lifetime award for Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.  Video 

'Trashy' Affair

Beijing man turns unwanted plastic bags into kites.  Video 

 
The new Droid phone, a Motorola Inc. and Verizon Wireless phone based on Google Inc's Android 2.0 system, is shown at a media event in New York October 28, 2009.REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Motorola Droid

Not the Droid you’re looking for?  Blog 

View of the Casa Poporului or House of the People, now the Parliament Palace, in downtown Bucharest November 6, 2009.  REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel
Travel Postcard

48 hours in Bucharest for architecture buffs.  Full Article 

 
Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks, as finance minister Alistair Darling listens at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in St. Andrews, Scotland. REUTERS/POOL New
UK joins G20 push for world levy on banks

Britain threw its weight behind proposals to impose a global levy on banks to fund future bailouts and called on the G20 to work toward a $100 billion deal to meet the cost of climate change.  Full Article | Full Coverage 

Pampering Pooches

Taipei's dogs are living it up at hotels, complete with VIP suites and pools.  Video | Full Article 

Photo
Miss England gives up crown over brawl reports Friday, 6 Nov 2009 

LONDON (Reuters) - Beauty pageant winner Miss England gave up her title on Friday after reports she had been involved in a nightclub brawl with another beauty queen.  Full Article