Shareholder poll results for Auckland Airport

The annual meeting of shareholders of Auckland International Airport Limited was held at the Ellerslie Events Centre today. All resolutions put to the meeting were passed by shareholders. Full details of the polls conducted are set out below.

Joan Withers was re-elected to the board. She was initially appointed a director of the company in 1997 and is a member of the audit and risk committee and the nominations committee.

Three new directors were also elected by shareholders. The new directors are Richard Didsbury, John Brabazon and Lloyd Morrison.

Shareholders approved an increase of $490,000 to the total pool of directors’ fees, taking the total quantum of annual directors’ fees from $660,000 to $1,150,000. This increase provides for a full complement of eight directors in accordance with the company’s constitution.

Deloitte was confirmed as the company’s auditors. Directors were authorised to fix the fees and expenses of the auditors.

Results of polls:

Resolution                                                            For                              Against               %
1. To re-elect Joan Withers as a director   445,765,040                  257,812,761    63.36
2. To elect Richard Didsbury as a director 635,951,824                 67,314,474      90.43
3. To elect John Brabazon as a director    524,127,518                   177,990,992   74.65
4. To elect Lloyd Morrison as a director 6  11,116,057                    126,168,252    82.89
5. To increase the total quantum of annual directors’ fees by $490,000 from $660,000 to $1,150,000, such amount to be divided among directors as they deem appropriate. 404,747,326 246,652,734 62.13
6. To authorise the directors to fix the fees and expenses of the auditor. 696,125,235 2,728,833 99.61


“Congratulations to the new directors and I look forward to welcoming them onto the board of Auckland Airport,” said Chairman John Maasland.

At the meeting Mr Maasland said, “It is with some sadness, but with appreciation for the leadership he provides, that I also have to announce the eventual farewell of chief executive officer Don Huse.

In line with his advice last year, Don has confirmed to the board that he will be retiring and that after completing more that five years service he intends to step down by the next annual meeting. There will be an appropriate time for a more formal farewell next year. In due course, the board will commence an international search for a new CEO. It will canvass both internal and external candidates.”


Note to media: These results of the shareholder polls taken at the 2007 Auckland Airport annual meeting have been counted by Computershare Investor Services and scrutinised by the company’s auditor, Deloitte.