ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF
SHAREHOLDERS18 MAy 2011
Imagine the result
Jaarlijkse Algemene Vergadering van Aandeelhouders
Toelichting op de agenda
The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of ARCADIS N.V.
will be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011 at 2pm
at the Gustav Mahlerlaan 10 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, at the offices of RBS
Cover image: A new dawn for New Orleans. ARCADIS worked with the United States Army Corps of Engineers on developing a Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System to provide 100-year level flood protection for New Orleans. This project is due for completion in 2011, making life safer for the city and its inhabitants.
3Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Agenda
1. OpeningandNotificationsa. Openingb. Notifications
2. ReportbytheSupervisoryBoardonthefinancialyear2010
(fordiscussion)
3. ReportbytheExecutiveBoardonthefinancialyear2010
(fordiscussion)
4. 2010FinancialStatementsanddividend
a.Adoptionofthe2010FinancialStatements(forresolution)
b. Dividenddistribution(forresolution)
5. Discharge
a. MembersoftheExecutiveBoard(forresolution)b. MembersoftheSupervisoryBoard(forresolution)
6. Appointmentofauditortoauditthe2011FinancialStatements
(forresolution)
7. Remunerationofthemembersofthe SupervisoryBoard (forresolution)
8. Remunerationpolicyformembersofthe
ExecutiveBoarda. Approvalofrevisionstotheremunerationpolicy
(forresolution)b. Adoptionoftheschemeregarding(rightstoacquire)
sharestobeissuedorgrantedtotheExecutiveBoard(forresolution)
9. CompositionoftheSupervisoryBoarda.Re-appointmentofMr.G.Ybema(forresolution)b. Announcementofvacanciesarisingafterthenext
AnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholders(forinformation)
10. CompositionoftheExecutiveBoardAppointmentofMr.N.C.McArthur(forresolution)
11. Delegationofauthoritytograntorissue(rightstoacquire)sharesinARCADISN.V.a. DesignationoftheExecutiveBoardasthebody
authorizedtograntorissue(rightstoacquire) ordinarysharesand/orcumulativefinancingpreferencesharesinARCADISN.V.(forresolution)
b. DesignationoftheExecutiveBoardasthebodyauthorizedtograntorissue(rightstoacquire)cumulativepreferencesharesinARCADISN.V.(forresolution)
c. DesignationoftheExecutiveBoardasthebodyauthorizedtolimitorexcludepre-emptive rights(forresolution)
12. AuthorizationtorepurchaseARCADISN.V.shares(forresolution)
13. Anyotherbusiness
14. Closing
Amsterdam,4April2011ExecutiveBoardARCADISN.V.GustavMahlerplein97-1031082MSAmsterdamTheNetherlands
Agenda
4Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Notes to the agenda
5Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Notes to the agenda
Continued on next page
Agenda item 2: Report by the Supervisory Board on the financial year 2010TheSupervisoryBoardreportsonitsactivitiesduringthefinancialyear2010.
Agenda item 3: Report by the Executive Board on the financial year 2010TheExecutiveBoardreportsonitsactivitiesduringthefinancialyear2010.
Agenda item 4.a: Adoption of the 2010 Financial StatementsPursuanttosection2:101.3oftheDutchCivilCodetheFinancialStatementsareadoptedbytheGeneralMeetingofShareholders.Itisproposedtoadoptthe2010FinancialStatements.
Agenda item 4.b: Dividend distributionItisproposedthatfor2010adividendofe0.47perordinarysharebedistributedtotheholdersofordinarysharesinARCADISN.V.Intotal,thisrepresents40%ofthenetincomefromoperations.ThisdividenddistributionisinaccordancewiththeapplicableprovisionsoftheArticlesofAssociationandthedividendpolicydiscussedandadoptedbytheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholdersinMay2005.Theremainingportionoftheprofitwillbeaddedtothereserves.Paymentofthedividendwillbeexclusivelyincash.Theordinaryshareswillbelistedex-dividendeffective20May2011.Thedividendwillbepaidasfrom1June2011.
Agenda item 5: Discharge of the members of the Executive Board and members of the Supervisory BoardItisproposedthatthemembersoftheExecutiveBoardaredischargedfromliabilityfortheirmanagementoftheCompanyanditsactivitiesduringthefinancialyear2010andthatthemembersoftheSupervisoryBoardaredischargedfortheirsupervisionduringthefinancialyear2010,bothinsofarasevidencedbypubliclyavailableinformationandwithoutprejudicetotheprovisionsofsections2:138and2:149oftheDutchCivilCode.
ThedischargeofthemembersoftheExecutiveBoardandthemembersoftheSupervisoryBoardwillbevotedonseparately.
Explanatory notes to the agendaof the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of ARCAdIS N.V.to be held on Wednesday 18 May 2011
Agenda item 6: Appointment of auditor to audit the 2011 Financial StatementsTheGeneralMeetingofShareholdersisthecorporatebodyauthorizedtoappointtheauditorthatwillauditthefinancialstatementsoftheCompany.FurthertotheadvicegivenbytheARDADISAuditCommittee,theSupervisoryBoardrecommendsthattheassignmenttoauditthe2011FinancialStatementsoftheCompanybeawardedtoKPMGAccountantsN.V.inAmstelveen,theNetherlands.
Agenda item 7: Remuneration members of the Supervisory BoardPursuanttoarticle15.11oftheArticlesofAssociation,theGeneralMeetingsetsthefixedremunerationofthemembersoftheSupervisoryBoard.Thiswaslastdonein2008.AttherequestoftheARCADISSelectionandRemunerationCommitteeabenchmarkanalysiswasperformedwhichshowsthattheremunerationofthemembersoftheSupervisoryBoardcomparedtothatofcomparableDutchlistedcompaniesisclearlylagging.BasedontheoutcomeofthebenchmarkanalysisandgivenbehindtheincreasedresponsibilitiesofthemembersoftheSupervisoryBoard,itisproposedtoadjusttheyearlyremunerationper1July2011asfollows:Members: e45,000.-(currently:e30,000.-);Chairman:e60,000.-(currently:e45,000.-).
In2004theGeneralMeetingdecidedtograntthemembersoftheARCADISAuditCommitteeandthemembersoftheARCADISSelectionandRemunerationCommitteeayearlycompensationofe5,000.-.In2008itwasdecidedtogranttheChairmanoftheARCADISAuditCommitteeacompensationofe7,500.-.Itisproposedtoadjustthesecompensations,basedontheabovementionedbenchmarkanalysis,asfollows:ChairmanAuditCommittee: e10,000.-peryearMemberAuditCommittee: e7,000.-peryearChairmanandmembersSelectionandRemunerationCommittee: e6,000.-peryearInadditiontotheabovementionedamounts,themembersoftheSupervisoryBoardareentitledtoafixedcompensationforexpensesofe2,000.-,whiletheChairmanoftheSupervisoryBoardisentitledtoe3,000.-.Inviewofthetimerequiredto
6Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Notes to the agenda
inflatetheremunerationofdirectorsingeneral,butconsiderstheproposedraisejustifiedinviewofthechangedsizeandpositioningoftheCompany.Moreover,infillingtherecentvacanciesintheExecutiveBoard,ithasbecomeapparentthatraisesarenecessaryinordertoattractcandidateswiththerequiredqualities.
Short-term variable remuneration (cash bonus)Bonusescanvaryfrom0%to60%ofthefixedsalary,whereby40%willbepaidifthetargetsaremet.Thecriteriarelatetoearningspershare,returnoninvestedcapitalanddiscretionarycriteria.ThediscretionarycriteriaaredeterminedforeachmemberoftheExecutiveBoardindividually.ForthosemembersoftheExecutiveBoardthatareresponsibleforageographicarea,theEBITAoftheareacanbeaddedasacriterion.ForfurtherexplanationonthesystematicsreferenceismadetotheremunerationreportintheAnnualReport2010.Otherthanthediscretionarycriterianochangesareproposedtothesystematics.Inthecurrentsystematicstheperformanceonthesecriteriacannotbeexceeded,asaresultofwhichthecontributionofthesecriteriatothebonuscannotbemorethan10%ofthefixedsalary.Itisproposedthatintheeventofexcellentresultsonthesecriteria50%beadded-sameasappliesforthefinancialcriteria-,asaresultofwhichthecontributiontothebonusfromthediscretionarycriteriacanincreaseto15%ofthefixedsalary,wherebythemaximumof60%ofthefixedsalarycannotbeexceeded.
IntheshareholdersmeetingthequestionhasbeenregularlyaskedifgiventheimportanceofsustainabilitytoARCADIS,resultsinthatareashouldformpartofthebonuspolicy.TheSupervisoryBoardbelievesthatthediscretionarycriteriagivesufficientpossibilitytoincludecriteriarelatingtosustainabilityorotherelementsofcorporatesocialresponsibility,particularlynowthattheinfluenceofthesecriteriaaccordingtotheproposalexplainedaboveshowsanapparentincrease.Inaddition,aspartofthediscretionarycriteriathereisflexibilitytoadapttospecificcircumstances.
Long-term variable remunerationIntheinterestoflong-termvaluecreation,theremunerationpolicyincludesalong-termvariableremunerationintheformofperformance-relatedsharesandoptions.Theserestrictedsharesandoptionsareconditionallygrantedeachyearanddependonachievingtheperformancecriteriaafterthreeyears.PerformanceismeasuredasTotalShareholderReturn(TSR),definedassharepriceincrease,includingdividends.Thefollowingmodificationstoourcurrentpolicyareproposed:
Change of the peer groupPerthreeyearcycletheachievementsofARCADISaremeasuredagainstapeergroup.ThenewpeergroupconsistsofthefollowingcompaniesthatarecomparabletoARCADIS:Grontmij(NL),Pöyry(FIN),Sweco(S),Atkins(UK),WSP(UK),RPS(UK),Hyder(UK),AECOM(US),JacobsEngineering(US),TetraTech(US),andURS(US).RPSandHyderwereaddedwhileWhiteYoungGreenisnolongerincludedbecauseWhiteYoungGreenisnolongerlistedontheregularmarketoftheLondonStockExchange.ThepositionofARCADISwithinthe
attendthemeetings,thenon-DutchSupervisoryBoardmembersreceiveanattendancefeeforeveryactualmeetingoftheSupervisoryBoardofe2,000.-fortheEuropeanmembersand$4,000.-fortheUSmembersoftheSupervisoryBoard.
Agenda item 8.a: Remuneration policy for members of the Executive Board; Adoption of revisions to policyPursuanttosection2:135oftheDutchCivilCodeandarticle13oftheArticlesofAssociationtheGeneralMeetingofShareholdersisauthorizedtoadopttheremunerationpolicyforthemembersoftheExecutiveBoardupontheproposaloftheSupervisoryBoard.
TheremunerationpolicyforthemembersoftheExecutiveBoardwasadoptedbytheGeneralMeetinginMay2005andwaslastamendedinMay2008.ThepolicyisexplainedintheremunerationreportthatformspartoftheAnnualReport2010.InlinewiththeARCADISpracticetoreviewtheremunerationpolicyeverythreeyearsandattheinstructionoftheSupervisoryBoard,theARCADISSelectionandRemunerationCommitteehasrecentlyre-evaluatedtheremunerationpolicy.Asastartingpoint,suchpolicywastobereferencedtothecurrentmarketstandards,without(radically)changingthecurrentstructureoftheremuneration.Forthispurpose,anexternaladvisorhasperformedabenchmarkanalysis,basedonaslightlyamendedlabourmarketreferencegroupconsistingofDutchcompaniesofcomparablecomplexityandsize,aswellasanumberofEuropeancompaniesinthesamesectorasARCADIS.TheamendmentstotheearlierreferencegroupstemfromthechangedsizeandpositioningofARCADIS.Thenewreferencegroupconsistsof:Nutreco(NL),Imtech(NL),Heijmans(NL),USGPeople(NL),CSM(NL),Boskalis(NL),Fugro(NL),Draka(NL),Aalberts(NL),Grontmij(NL),Atkins(UK),WSP(UK),Pöyry(Fin),Sweco(S)enRPS(UK).TheremunerationpolicyforthemembersoftheExecutiveBoardconsistsoffourelements:afixedannualsalary,ashort-termvariableremuneration(cashbonus),along-termvariableremuneration(sharesandoptions)andapensionschemeandotherbenefits.
InevaluatingthepolicytheARCADISSelectionandRemunerationCommitteeletitselfbeguidedbythemedianlevelofthevariousremunerationelementsofmainlytheDutchpartofthereferencegroup.AttheproposaloftheARCADISSelectionandRemunerationCommittee,theSupervisoryBoardproposesthefollowingchangestotheremunerationpolicy,andsuggeststheGeneralMeetingofShareholdersapprovesuchchanges(theelementsoftheremunerationpolicythatarenotmentionedwillremainunchanged;referenceismadetotheAnnualReport2010):
Fixed annual salaryThecurrentfixedannualsalaryofthemembersoftheExecutiveBoardisclearlybelowthemedianleveloftheDutchpartofthereferencegroup.Itisproposedtoincreasethefixedannualsalarytothemedianlevelasof1July2011.Thisimpliesincreasesof16-22%forthevariouspositionswithintheExecutiveBoard.TheSupervisoryBoardrealizesthattheuseofareferencegroupmay
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Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Notes to the agenda
maximumof150%ofthementionednumbersifthefirstpositionagainstthepeergroupisobtained.Agenda item 9.a: Composition of the Supervisory Board; Re-appointment of Mr. G. ybema InaccordancewiththerotationscheduledrawnupbytheSupervisoryBoard,Mr.YbemawillstepdownaftertheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholderson18May2011.Mr.Ybemaiseligibleandavailableforreappointment.Mr.YbemahasbeenamemberoftheSupervisoryBoardsince2003.HecomplieswiththeprofiledrawnupbytheSupervisoryBoardandtheindependencecriteriaspecifiedintheCode.
Candidate details for the proposed re-appointment in accordance with section 2:142.3 of the Dutch Civil Code:
Name: Gerrit Ybema
date of birth: 29 October 1945
Latest position: State Secretary for Economic Affairs (1998-2002)
Nationality: dutch
Non Executive Board functions: Ventus Group B.V., Opvangregeling Leven N.V., Alliander N.V.
Shares/options in the Company: None
TheSupervisoryBoardissubmittinganon-bindingnominationforthere-appointmentofMr.YbemaasamemberoftheSupervisoryBoardpertheendoftheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholders2011.Thenominationforthere-appointmentofMr.Ybemaisbasedonhisbroadexpertiseatallgovernmentallevels,hisbroadmanagerialexperience,hisinternationalorientation,aswellashisvaluableinputintheSupervisoryBoardandtheCommitteesofthatBoard.Agenda item 9.b: Composition of the Supervisory Board; Vacancies arising after the next Annual General Meeting of ShareholdersInaccordancewiththescheduleofrotationdrawnupbytheSupervisoryBoard,thefirsttermofMr.J.C.M.SchönfeldwillexpireaftertheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholdersinMay2012.Mr.SchönfeldiseligibleforreappointmentinaccordancewiththeArticlesofAssociation.
Agenda item 10: Composition of the Executive Board; Appointment of Mr. N.C. McArthur On1October2010Mr.C.M.JaskiresignedasmemberoftheExecutiveBoard.Inordertofilltheresultingvacancy,theSupervisoryBoardissubmittingabindingnominationfortheappointmentofMr.NeilC.McArthur(1961)asmemberoftheExecutiveBoard.Thenominationwillbeforaperiodof(nearly)fouryearsasper1September2011untiltheendoftheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholdersin2015.
Mr.McArthuristrainedasacivilandmechanicalengineer.WhileborninScotland,hehaslivedinTheNetherlandsforover25yearsandspeaksDutchfluently.HeobtainedhisBSc.Honors(1stclass)inCivilEngineeringfromtheUniversityofGlasgowandisalsoafullycharteredMechanicalEngineer,M.I.Mech.Eng.Mr.McArthurstartedhiscareerasaprojectmanagerwithShellInternationalPetroleumE&Pwherehe
peergroupdeterminesthefinalnumberof(conditional)sharesandoptionsgrantedearlierthatbecomeunconditional,inaccordancewiththefollowingtable:
Position against the peer group
Number of conditional shares and options that become unconditional
1st 150%
4th 100%
7th 50%
Below 7th 0%
Between 1st and 7th determined by interpolation
Modification of the number of conditional shares and options:In2008thenumberofconditionallygrantedshares/optionshavebeensetforthreeyearsat18,000/36,000peryearfortheChairmanand10,800/21,600peryearfortheothermembersoftheExecutiveBoard.Thesenumbersneedtobedeterminedagainfortheperiod2011-2013,theprinciplebeingthattheexpectedvalue,basedonthesharepriceinthefirstquarterof2011,forms50%ofthefixedannualsalaryoftheChairmanand40%offixedannualsalaryoftheothermembersoftheExecutiveBoard(referenceismadetoagendaitem8.b).
Additional remarks• In2005themaximumshorttermbonuswasreducedfrom
80%to60%ofthefixedsalarywhileatthesametimethevariableremunerationwasincreasedbyincludingrestrictedshares.Consequently,theremunerationforlong-termresultsincreasedwhencomparedtotheremunerationforshort-termresults.
• TheremunerationreportincludedintheAnnualReport2010containsthepolicyfortreatmentofsharesandoptionsintheeventofatakeoverofARCADIS.
• InlinewiththerevisionstotheCode,theSupervisoryBoardhasincludedintheremunerationpolicythe“ultimumremedium”clauseandthe“clawback”clause(seetheremunerationreportincludedintheAnnualReport2010forfurtherexplanation).
Agenda item 8.b: Remuneration policy for members of the Executive Board; Approval scheme regarding grant of (rights to acquire) shares to members of the Executive Board.Pursuanttosection2:135oftheDutchCivilCodeandarticle13oftheArticlesofAssociationtheSupervisoryBoardisauthorizedtodeterminetheremunerationofthemembersoftheExecutiveBoard,withdueobservanceoftheremunerationpolicy.TheSupervisoryBoardsubmitsschemesintheformofsharesorrightstoacquiresharestotheGeneralMeetingofShareholdersforitsapproval.Withrespecttothelong-termvariableremunerationundertheabovementionedremunerationpolicy,itisproposedtosetthenumberofannuallygrantedsharesandoptionstotheExecutiveBoardat17,500sharesand35,000optionsfortheChairmanoftheExecutiveBoardand10,000sharesand20,000optionsfortheothermembersoftheExecutiveBoard.Suchnumberswillapplyforthreeyears(2011,2012and2013)andcanamounttoa
8Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Notes to the agenda
theseverancepaymentofMr.McArthuramountstoonetimehisfixedannualsalary.
PertheendofMarch2011Mr.McArthurdoesnotholdanyARCADISsharesorrightstoacquireshares.
InlinewiththeexistingpolicyforthenominationofcandidatesfortheExecutiveBoard,thenominationofMr.McArthurisbinding.Abindingnominationmayonlybedefeatedbyaresolutionpassedbyatleastatwo-thirdmajorityofthevotes,representingmorethanone-halfoftheoutstandingcapital.UnderNetherlandslaw,whentheSupervisoryBoardmakesabindingnomination,theshareholdersmustbepresentedwithachoiceoftwocandidatesfortheposition.TheSupervisoryBoardhasdeterminedtonominateMs.B.Weerstraasthealternatecandidate.
Ms.Weerstra(1973)isacitizenoftheNetherlands.ShehasworkedasacandidatecivillawnotarywithDeBrauwBlackstoneWestbroekfortwelveyears(1998-2010),ofwhichforoverfouryearsinNewYork.Shewasmainlyengagedincorporategovernanceissues,mergersandacquisitions,financialregulationsandcorporatelawingeneral.ShejoinedARCADISN.V.inApril2010asCompanySecretaryandGeneralCounsel.PertheendofMarch2011Ms.Weerstraholds92ARCADISsharesandnorightstoacquireARCADISshares.
Agenda item 11.a: Designation of the Executive Board as the body authorized to grant or issue (rights to acquire) ordinary and/or cumulative financing preference shares in ARCADIS N.V. ItisproposedtodesignatetheExecutiveBoardasthebodyauthorizedtoissueordinarysharesand/orcumulativefinancingpreferencesharesinthesharecapitalofARCADISN.V.,subjecttothepriorapprovaloftheSupervisoryBoardandoftheARCADISN.V.PriorityFoundation(theholderoftheprioritysharesofARCADISN.V.).Thisincludestheauthoritytograntright(s)toacquireordinarysharesand/orcumulativefinancingpreferenceshares.
Thisdesignationwillbevalidforaperiodofeighteenmonthsasfrom1July2011.Thedesignationshallapplyuptoamaximumof10%ofthetotalnumberofordinaryandcumulativefinancingpreferencesharesissuedatthetimeofthedecisiontoissueordinaryand/orcumulativefinancingpreferencesharesorgrantrightstoacquiresuchshares,increasedby10%toatotalof20%iftheissuetakesplaceinlightofamergerortakeover.
ThepurposeofthisproposalistobeabletodecisivelyanticipateopportunitiestoexpandARCADISbymeansofacquisitions.Itmaybedesirabletoissuesharestofinance(partof)suchacquisitions.Theimpactontheexpectedprofitpersharewillconstituteanimportantaspectofthedecisionmaking.Furthermore,itmaybenecessarytoissuesharesinthecontextofcommitmentsmadeinrelationtooptionschemes.Inviewofthe
workedfrom1982to1989asaprojectmanageronlargeinvestmentprojectsinQuatarandsubsequentlyworkedattheNederlandseAardolieMaatschappijinAssen.In1990Mr.McArthurobtainedanMBA(withdistinction)fromINSEAD,BusinessSchoolinFontainebleau,FranceandjoinedBoozAllenHamilton(nowBooz&Company),aninternationalstrategymanagementconsultingcompany.AsamemberoftheGlobalExecutiveCommitteeandtheManagingDirectorresponsibleforEurope,heisresponsiblefortheactivitiesin15Europeancountries.AlsoandintheroleofSeniorVicePresident,Mr.McArthurprovidesservicestoFortune500customersintheenergy,chemicalsandutilitiesmarket.Besidesoperationallyleadingatoptierconsultancyfirm,hehasalsogainedagreatdealofstrategicdevelopmentandimplementation,managingacquisitionprocessesandoptimizingperformanceandorganizationaldevelopmentforclients.HehasalsoledinternationalmultidisciplinaryteamsthatworkedforclientsinEurope,North-andSouthAmerica,theMiddleEastandAustralia.
Mr.McArthurhasauniquecombinationoftechnicalbackground,broadstrategicandoperationalexperience,globalbusinessexperienceandorientationandprovenleadershipqualitiesinaprofessionalservicesfirm.ThismakeshimaverysuitablememberoftheARCADISExecutiveBoard.
ThetermsandconditionsofemploymentofMr.McArthurareinaccordancewiththeremunerationpolicyasrevisedbytheGeneralMeetingofShareholdersunderitem8.aofthisagenda.SubjecttotheproposedamendmentsbeingadoptedbytheGeneralMeetingofShareholders,thefixedpartoftheannualsalaryamountstoe400,000.-.
Aspartofthetermsandconditionsofemployment,Mr.McArthurisentitledtoalong-termvariableremunerationintheformofsharesandoptions,asapplicabletoeachmemberoftheExecutiveBoard.EqualtotheothermembersoftheExecutiveBoardandsubjecttotheproposednumbersofsharesandoptionsasmentionedunderitem8.bofthisagendabeingadoptedbytheGeneralMeetingofShareholders,Mr.McArthurwillreceive10,000conditionalsharesand20,000conditionaloptions.Inadditionandincompensationfortheexpirationofrightswithhisformeremployer,hewillreceive10,000conditionalshares,20,000conditionaloptionsaswellas70,000unconditionaloptions.AllsuchsharesandoptionswillhaveasgrantdatethefirsttradingdayafterthisAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholders2011onwhichthesharesarequotedex-dividendandanexercisepricefortheoptionsequaltotheclosingpriceoftheARCADISsharesonthegrantdate.Allsharesandoptionsvestafterthreeyears,wherebythevestingofconditionalsharesandoptionsisdependentontheperformancecriteriaestablishedinadvance,inaccordancewiththeremunerationpolicyofthemembersoftheExecutiveBoard.Intheeventofadismissalotherthanincaseofgrossnegligence,ornon-renewaloftheappointmentafterthefouryearterm(s),
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Notes to the agenda
Company’sfinancingstructure,thescopeoftheauthoritytoissuesharesissetatnomorethan10%oftheissuedsharecapital,withtheunderstandingthatsuchauthoritywillexpandto20%incaseofashareissueinsupportofamergerortakeover.
Agenda item 11.b: Designation of the Executive Board as the body authorized to grant or issue (rights to acquire) cumulative preference shares in ARCADIS N.V. ItisproposedtoappointtheExecutiveBoardastheauthorizedbodytoissuecumulativepreferencesharesinthesharecapitalofARCADISN.V.,subjecttothepriorapprovaloftheSupervisoryBoardandtheARCADISN.V.PriorityFoundation.Thisincludestheauthoritytograntright(s)toacquirecumulativepreferenceshares.
Thedesignationwillbevalidforaperiodofeighteenmonthsasfrom1July2011.Thedesignationshallapplyuptoamaximumof100%ofthetotalnumberofsharesofanyotherclassasprovidedforintheauthorizedsharecapitalissuedatthetimeofthedecisiontoissuecumulativepreferencesharesorgrantrightstoacquiresuchshares.ThepurposeoftheissueauthorityistofacilitatethattheExecutiveBoardandSupervisoryBoardhavesufficienttimetopreventthecompany’scontrolstructurefrombeing(drastically)changedwithouttheinterestsoftheenterpriseandofallpartiesinvolvedbeingdulyconsidered.Tomaintaintheeffectivenessoftheissueofcumulativepreferencesharesasaprotectiveinstrument,thescopeoftheauthoritytoissuethesesharesextendstoamaximumnumberofsharesthatcorrespondstothenumberofsharesofotherclassesthatmaybeissuedatthetimeoftheissueofcumulativepreferenceshares.Thebasicassumptionregardingcumulativepreferencesharesisthattheseshareswillnotremainoutstandinganylongerthannecessary,withamaximumoftwoyears.Ifthemotivationforhavingthecumulativepreferencesharesoutstandingnolongerexists,aproposalwillbesubmittedtotheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholderstocancelthepreferenceshares.
Agenda item 11.c: Designation of the Executive Board as the body authorized to limit or exclude pre-emptive rights ItisproposedtodesignatetheExecutiveBoardasthebodyauthorizedtolimitorexcludepre-emptiverightsinrelationtoanyissueorgrantof(rightstoacquire)shares,bytheExecutiveBoardundertheauthoritiesdesignatedtotheExecutiveBoard.Thisdesignationwillbevalidforaperiodofeighteenmonthsasfrom1July2011.
Nopre-emptiverightsexistinrespectofordinarysharesissuedagainstanon-cashcontribution.Intheeventofissueofnewordinarysharesagainstpaymentincash,holdersofordinaryshareshaveapre-emptiverightstosubscribeforthesenewsharesduringaperiodofatleastfourteendays,astobepublishedintheDutchStateGazette.ThedelegationrequestedunderthisagendaitemwillpermittheExecutiveBoardtoexcludeorlimitpre-emptiverightsinrelationtostockoptionschemes.Furthermore,thepre-emptiverightscanbelimitedor
excluded-forupto20%ofthetotalissuedsharecapitalatthetimeofthedecisiontoissuesharesorgrantrightstoacquireshares-ifitwouldbedesirabletopay(partof)anacquisitionintheformofARCADISordinaryshares.TheExecutiveBoardwillonlyexercisethisauthoritytakingintoaccountthelimitationsidentifiedinthisexplanatorynoteandexclusivelyfortheobjectivesdescribedinthisexplanatorynote.
Agenda item 12: Authorization to repurchase ARCADIS N.V. sharesItisproposedthatinaccordancewitharticle7.1oftheArticlesofAssociationtheExecutiveBoardbeauthorizedtoacquireonbehalfoftheCompanyordinarysharesand/orcumulativefinancingpreferencesharesinthesharecapitaloftheCompanyforfinancialconsideration.Theauthorizationwillbevalidforaperiodofeighteenmonthsasfrom1July2011.Theauthorizationshallapplyuptoamaximumof10%oftheissuedsharecapital.Ordinarysharesmaybeacquiredbypurchasingthemonthestockexchange,orotherwise,atapricethatisequaltoatleastthenominalvalueoftheordinarysharesandatmostthelistedsharepriceplus10%.ForthispurposethelistedsharepriceiscalculatedastheaverageoftheshareclosingpriceaccordingtotheDailyOfficialListofEuronextN.V.,Amsterdam,onthefivetradingdaysprecedingthedateonwhichthesharesareacquired.
Thecumulativefinancingpreferencesharesmaybeacquiredatapricethatisequaltoatleastthenominalvalueofthefinancingpreferencesharesandatmosttheamountpaidonthosefinancialpreferenceshares,includingthenominalamountandthesharepremium,increasedbytheamountofthedistributionthatinaccordancewitharticle8oftheArticlesofAssociationshouldbepaidifthesesharesweretobecancelled.
10Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Shareholder Voting Instructions
The holders of ordinary shares entitled to attend and/or vote at this meeting are those persons who, on Wednesday 20 April 2011 (the ‘Record date’), have those rights and are registered as such in the registers designated for that purpose by the Executive Board.
AninvitationtoattendtheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholdersandanannualreportincludingthe2010financialstatementswillbesenttoallholdersofregisteredshares.StartingThursday21April2011holdersofbearershareswishingtoattendtheAnnualGeneralMeetingofShareholderscanapplytotheintermediarythatadministerstheirsharesforaregistrationcertificatethatservesasproofofentitlementforadmissiontotheMeeting.Shareholderrequestsmustbereceivednolaterthan11May2011.ShareholdersareentitledtoberepresentedattheMeetingbyanindependentthirdparty.Holdersofbearersharescan,followingregistrationwiththeintermediary,submitaproxywithvotinginstructionstoATCManagementB.V.inAmsterdam.TheproxyismadeavailableonthecompanywebsiteandcanbeobtainedfromtheintermediaryandmustbereceivedbyATCManagementB.V.fortheattentionofMr.R.Rosenboom,Fred.Roeskestraat123,1076EEinAmsterdam,theNetherlands,nolaterthan11May2011at5pm.Aproxywithvotinginstructionswillalsobesenttotheholdersofregisteredshares.Heretoo,ATCManagementB.V.mustreceivetheproxynolaterthan11May2011at5pmattheaboveaddress.ShouldshareholderswishtodesignateapartyotherthanATCManagementB.V.astheirproxy,thentheycanalsousetheproxythattheCompanyhasmadeavailableonitswebsiteoritcanbeobtainedfromtheintermediary.TogainaccesstotheMeetingthethirdpartygrantedtheproxymusttakesuchproxyand,ifapplicable,theregistrationcertificate,totheMeeting.
ShareholderswhodonotwishtoattendtheMeetinginpersonorbyproxy,cancasttheirvotepriortotheMeetingviatheRBSwebsitedesignatedforthispurpose.TheycanrequestthatATCManagementB.V.asanindependentthirdpartyshallcommunicatesuchvotestotheCompanyintheMeeting.Theshareholdercancasthisvotesviathewebsite,atwww.rbs.com/evotinguntil11may2011.IntermediariesmustsubmitastatementtoRBSon12May2011atthelatestthatidentifies
Shareholder Voting Instructions
thenumberofsharesreportedtotheMeetingfortherelevantshareholder.ShareholdersandproxyholdersmaybeaskedtoidentifythemselvesattheregistrationdeskpriortothecommencementoftheMeeting.WethereforeaskthatallthoseentitledtoattendtheMeetingcarryavalidproofofidentity(passportordrivinglicence).
Holders of New york shares Similartopreviousyears,holdersofNewYorkshareswillbeabletocasttheirvotesthroughtheBankofNewYorkMellon.ShareholderswillbeprovidedwithaproxycardandtheAgendaforthemeeting,includingtheexplanatorynotesthereto.TheBankofNewYorkMellonshouldbeprovidedwiththeexecutedproxycardpriorto5.00pm(NewYorkTime)on9May2011.InaccordancewithDutchLawandtheArticlesofAssociationoftheCompanyholdersofsharesmustholdtheirshareson20April2011(theDutchrecorddate)inorderfortheirvotestobeacceptedattheMeeting.Bysigningandreturningtheproxycardtheshareholderagreesandatteststhathewillnotsellortransferhissharespriortothecloseofbusinesson20April2011.Iftheshareholdersellsortransfershissharesonorbeforethecloseofbusinesson20April2011,hisorhervoteswillnotbecounted.
Public Transport The RBS offices in Amsterdam can easily be reached by public
transport.
The office is at a two minute walk from Amsterdam Zuid station,
where trains, trams, metro, and buses stop.
Metro and tram• From Amsterdam Sloterdijk station take metro 50, direction
Gein. From Duivendrecht station or Bijlmer ArenA station take
metro 50, direction Isolatorweg.
• From Amsterdam Central station or Amstel station take metro
51, direction Westwijk.
• From Amsterdam Central station take tram 5, direction Am-
stelveen Binnenhof
• For further instructions see below
Train• Take the train to Amsterdam Zuid station.
• Take exit Zuid, the station’s south exit. You’ll arrive at a square,
the Gustav Mahlerplein.
• The entrance to RBS is located at your left hand side.
Route Description
By Car From the A10 ring road south, take exit S109 Amsterdam RAI.
From Utrecht/AmersfoortAt the end of the exit turn left (follow the signs WTC). Take the
first right (at the traffic lights) onto the De Boelelaan. See further
below.
From The Hague/HaarlemTurn right at the end of the exit (follow the signs WTC) and take
the first left (at the traffic lights) onto the De Boelelaan.
• After approximately 700 meters turn right onto the
Beethovenstraat.
• At the first traffic lights (RBS Building) turn left onto the Gustav
Mahlerlaan.
• At your left hand side you will find the access to Q-park, where
you can park your car.
• After parking your car please cross the road to the RBS building.
RBS
www.arcadis.com