NV trust office to terminate Unilever NV depositary receipt structure

Unilever annouced that, following the approval by the meeting of depositary receipt holders, the board of the NV Trust Office has resolved to terminate the depositary receipt structure of Unilever NV. This follows Unilever’s request, as announced on 1 May 2019, that the NV Trust Office consider initiating the termination. This represents a further step in Unilever’s commitment to be at the forefront of good corporate governance.

The depositary receipt structure will be terminated on Friday 28 June 2019 after close of trading on Euronext Amsterdam. As a result, the depositary receipts of Unilever NV ordinary shares (the “DRs”) will be cancelled and the DR holders will in return receive Unilever NV ordinary shares, which will become the primary Unilever NV listing. The process will be carried out in accordance with the timetable below. Holders of DRs do not need to take any action.

Friday 28 June 2019

• Last day of trading of DRs on Euronext Amsterdam (ISIN NL0000009355). The ticker symbol will temporarily change from UNA to UNAT. The ISIN code will remain unchanged on that day.
• Ticker symbol of the Unilever NV ordinary shares on Euronext Amsterdam (ISIN NL0000388619) will temporarily change from UNIA to UNIAT. The ISIN code will also remain unchanged on that day.
• After close of trading on the Euronext Amsterdam, the depositary receipt structure will be terminated.

Monday 1 July 2019

• On Euronext Amsterdam, the DRs (ISIN NL0000009355) will no longer be available and all trading will be in the Unilever NV ordinary shares (ISIN NL0000388619). The ticker symbol of the Unilever NV ordinary shares will permanently change to UNA.

From 1 July 2019, the NV Trust Office will not be able to exercise any voting rights, nor to issue depositary receipts for ordinary shares. Following the termination of the depositary receipt structure of Unilever NV, there remains an obligation for the NV Trust Office, until 27 June 2021, to facilitate the exchange of a limited number of bearer certificates into Unilever NV ordinary shares. After 27 June 2021, it is intended that the foundation NV Trust Office will liquidate.

These changes do not affect Unilever NV shares held in New York Registry form (CUSIP 904784709); nor do they affect Unilever PLC shares held in American Depositary Receipt form (CUSIP 904767704) or in registered form (ISIN GB00B10RZP78).

Please see www.unilever.com/investor-relations/unilever-shares and www.administratiekantoor-unilever.nl for more information. 

SAFE HARBOUR

Where relevant, these actions are subject to the appropriate consultations and approvals.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including ’forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ’will’, ’aim’, ’expects’, ’anticipates’, ’intends’, ’looks’, ’believes’, ’vision’, or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Unilever Group (the ’Group’). They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance.

Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Among other risks and uncertainties, the material or principal factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are: Unilever’s global brands not meeting consumer preferences; Unilever’s ability to innovate and remain competitive; Unilever’s investment choices in its portfolio management; inability to find sustainable solutions to support long-term growth; the effect of climate change on Unilever’s business; customer relationships; the recruitment and retention of talented employees; disruptions in our supply chain; the cost of raw materials and commodities; the production of safe and high quality products; secure and reliable IT infrastructure; successful execution of acquisitions, divestitures and business transformation projects; economic and political risks and natural disasters; financial risks; failure to meet high and ethical standards; and managing regulatory, tax and legal matters. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 and the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts 2018.