Greenyard’s ordinary general shareholders’ meeting was held on Friday 18 September 2020 under the chairmanship of Mr. Koen Hoffman, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
In addition to a number of proposals regarding the remuneration policy for Greenyard’s directors, the shareholders approved the renewal of the mandate of Mr. Aalt Dijkhuizen (Aalt Dijkhuizen B.V.) as Independent Director of the company. The mandate of Mr. Dijkhuizen - who was unable to participate in the meeting due to the current COVID-19 travel advice from the Belgian government for the Netherlands – would have expired following the present annual shareholders' meeting, but was renewed for a period of four years, until the ordinary general shareholders' meeting in 2024.
The shareholders also approved the annual accounts 2019/2020, including the allocation of the result, as proposed by the Board of Directors. In this regard, it was decided not to distribute a dividend for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2020.
The chairman announced - on behalf of the Board of Directors – his satisfaction that despite the current COVID-19 crisis, today's meeting could be held. He pointed out the extra efforts needed to organise the meeting in accordance with the imposed government measures, which is also the reason why the meeting was not held at Greenyard’s registered office in Sint-Katelijne-Waver.
The full version of the minutes of the ordinary general shareholders' meeting are available on Greenyard’s website under the heading Investor Relations - Corporate Governance - Shareholder information.
Mr. Hein Deprez, co-CEO, looked back on the past year in which the strategy and vision remained the same, but during which its implementation was realised in a faster and more efficient way. The
strategy was reconfirmed by the various steps that were taken with new partnerships. Greenyard continues to have a unique position in a market showing growth trends due to more at-home consumption of fruit and vegetables (in the different categories), as well as more online purchases of fruit and vegetables via the retailers.
Mr. Marc Zwaaneveld, co-CEO, focused on the various pillars of the transformation that the company has undergone in the past year. These pillars contributed to the result and the continuously improving profitability. He indicated that the time has come to consider these
transformation initiatives as actions in normal business, consolidated by local management. In addition, Mr. Zwaaneveld explained the model of integrated partnerships and the short supply chain. Such integrated commercial relationships will further increase the chain’s sustainability and value. He emphasised the future efforts and investments that Greenyard will make to develop its sustainability policy even faster and further, as the company wants to continue to assume its vital role and responsibility in society in this domain.
Mr. Geert Peeters, CFO, elaborated on the results of the past fiscal year and gave the shareholders a summary of the most important elements and figures from its recent annual report.