SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a -16 or 15d -16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Report on Form 6-K for the month of December 2004
The BOC Group plc
Chertsey Road, Windlesham,
Surrey GU20 6HJ
England
(Name and address of registrant's principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
----- -----
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as
permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes: |_| No: |X|
Enclosures:
1. A notification dated 1 December 2004 advising that FMR Corp and
Fidelity Investments Limited have a notifiable interest of 3.09% in
the issued Ordinary Share Capital of the Company.
Page 1 of 20
2. A notification dated 2 December 2004 advising that John Lawrence
Walsh will resign as an executive director of the Company with
effect from 1 March 2005 and that Kent Masters will be appointed an
executive director of the Company with effect from 1 March 2005.
3. A notification dated 6 December 2004 to advise that a copy of the
Company's Annual Report 2004 and associated documents, were
available at the UKLA Document Viewing Facility.
4. A notification dated 7 December 2004 to advise that a copy of the
Company's Form 20-F 2004, was available at the UKLA Document
Viewing Facility.
5. A notification dated 9 December 2004 advising of the sale by Ogier
Trustee Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share
Trust (1995) of a total of 67,801 Ordinary shares in the Company in
which the directors have a technical interest.
6. A notification dated 15 December 2004 advising of the exercise of
an option over 10,000 Ordinary shares held under The BOC Group plc
Executive Share Option Scheme by John Lawrence Walsh, a director of
the Company, and subsequent sale of the Ordinary shares acquired.
7. A notification dated 20 December 2004 advising that Rene Medori, an
executive director of the Company, will resign with effect from 31
May 2005.
8. A notification dated 21 December 2004 advising that BOC, through
its subsidiary Thai Industrial Gases PCL, has agreed to sell its
shares in Unique Gas and Petrochemicals PCL.
9. A notification dated 22 December 2004 advising of a number of
transactions including the exercise of options held over 75,000
Ordinary shares under The BOC Group plc Executive Share Option
Scheme, transfer of 32,896 Ordinary shares to spouse and sale of
46,086 shares by Rene Medori, a director of the Company and 44,896
Ordinary shares by Valerie Medori, his spouse.
10. A notification dated 22 December 2004 advising of the sale by Ogier
Trustee Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share
Trust (1995) of a total of 14,416 Ordinary shares in the Company in
which the directors have a technical interest.
11. A notification dated 22 December 2004 advising of the resignation
of Iain Napier as a non-executive director of The BOC Group plc
with immediate effect.
12. A notification dated 24 December 2004 advising of the sale by Ogier
Trustee Limited, as trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share
Trust (1995) of a total of 1,926 Ordinary shares in the Company in
which the directors have a technical interest.
Page 2 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 1 DECEMBER 2004
AT 16.59 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-0112041657-EFFF
SCHEDULE 10
NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES
All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters.
1. Name of company 2. Name of shareholder having a major interest
The BOC Group plc FMR Corp and Fidelity International Limited
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3. Please state whether notification indicates 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one
that it is in respect of holding of the holder, the number of shares held by each of them
shareholder named in 2 above or in respect
of a non-beneficial interest or in the case
of an individual holder if it is a holding
of that person's spouse or children under
the age of 18 See additional information
Notification in respect of party named in 2
above.
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5. Number of 6. Percentage of issued 7. Number of shares/amount 8. Percentage of issued class
shares/amount of class of stock disposed
stock acquired
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9. Class of security 10. Date of transaction 11. Date company informed
Ordinary shares of 25p each 30 November 2004 1 December 2004
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12. Total holding following this notification 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this
notification
15,394,774 3.09%
Page 3 of 20
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14. Any additional information 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries
In a letter dated 30 November 2004 and Sarah Larkins
received on 1 December 2004 The BOC Group Assistant Company Secretary
plc has been notified that FMR Corp and 01276 807383
Fidelity Investments Limited have a 3.09%
notifiable interest in the issued Ordinary
share capital of the Company.
Neither FMR Corp nor Fidelity Investments
Limited own shares for their own account.
The shares are held by Fidelity on behalf
of their clients.
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16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification
Sarah Larkins
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Date of notification ___1 December 2004_________
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Page 4 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 2 DECEMBER 2004 AT 12:00 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-0212041131-9E32
2 December 2004
Board changes at The BOC Group
The BOC Group announced today that John Walsh will resign as an executive
director with effect from 1 March 2005.
Kent Masters, 43, is appointed an executive director, also with effect from 1
March 2005, and will take over Mr Walsh's role as chief executive of Industrial
and Special Products. Mr Masters is currently business unit head for Process Gas
Solutions, North and Latin America, based at Murray Hill in New Jersey. He will
relocate to the UK.
Rob Margetts, chairman of The BOC Group, said: "John Walsh has accepted a senior
role with an energy company in his native United States and will return there
with his family. He has made a significant contribution to BOC during his 18
years with the Group and we wish him well in his future career. We are fortunate
in having management strength in depth in BOC and I am delighted to welcome Kent
Masters to his new role and to our board".
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Contact: Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations
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Tel: 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)
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Page 5 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 6 DECEMBER 2004 AT 12.20 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-0612041216-368A
6 December 2004
THE BOC GROUP plc - ANNUAL REPORT 2004
Copies of the Report and Accounts 2004, Annual Review and Summary Financial
Statements 2004, Notice of Annual General Meeting and Form of Proxy have been
submitted to the UK Listing Authority and will shortly be available for
inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document Viewing Facility which is
situated at:
Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS
Tel.no. (0)20 7676 1000
Page 6 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 7 DECEMBER 2004 AT 13.32 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-0712041331-1E13
7 December 2004
THE BOC GROUP plc - FORM 20-F 2004
A copy of the above document has been submitted to the UK Listing Authority and
will shortly be available for inspection at the UK Listing Authority's Document
Viewing Facility, which is situated at:
Financial Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5HS
Tel.no. (0)20 7676 1000
Page 7 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 9 DECEMBER 2004 AT 16.06 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-0912041605-14F2
9 December 2004
THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995)
The BOC Group plc (the Company) has today been notified of the disposal on 2
December 2004 of 67,801 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at an
exercise price of 851p per share by Ogier Trustee Limited (the Trustee) as
trustee of The BOC Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These
Ordinary shares have been transferred, following exercise of options, to
participants in the Company's senior executive share option plans.
Following this disposal of 67,801 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds
5,549,054 Ordinary shares.
Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under
the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in
all of these 5,549,054 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each
executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the
Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary
shares.
Page 8 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 15 DECEMBER 2004 AT 14.30 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-1512041428-65A0
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Name of company 2. Name of director
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THE BOC GROUP plc JOHN LAWRENCE WALSH
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3. Please state whether notification indicates 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if
that it is in respect of holding of the more than one holder, the number of shares
shareholder named in 2 above or in respect held by each of them (if notified)
of a non-beneficial interest or in the case
of an individual holder if it is a holding
of that person's spouse or children under
the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AS IN 2 ABOVE JOHN LAWRENCE WALSH
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5. Please state whether notification relates to 6. Please state the nature of the transaction.
a person(s) connected with the director For PEP transactions please indicate whether
named in 2 above and identify the connected general/single co PEP and if discretionary/
person(s) non discretionary
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N/A EXERCISE OF EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTIONS AND SALE
OF SHARES ACQUIRED
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7. Number of 8. Percentage of 9. Number of 10. Percentage
shares/amount of issued class shares/amount of issued class
stock acquired of stock disposed
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10,000 LESS THAN 0.01% 10,000 LESS THAN 0.01%
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11. Class of 12. Price per 13. Date of 14. Date
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Page 9 of 20
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security share transaction company informed
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ORDINARY SHARES 722P EXERCISE 15 DECEMBER 2004 15 DECEMBER 2004
OF 25p EACH 941.7P SALE
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15. Total holding following this notification 16. Total percentage holding of issued
class following this notification
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22,175 SHARES 0.13%
627,407 OPTIONS
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Page 10 of 20
If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes.
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17. Date of grant 18. Period during which or date on which
options exercisable
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19. Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the 20. Description of shares or debentures
option involved: class, number
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21. Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) 22. Total number of shares or debentures over
or indication that price is to be fixed at which options held following this notification
time of exercise
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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23. Any additional information 24. Name of contact and telephone number for
queries
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KAREN WESTON, 01276 807388
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making
this notification
KAREN WESTON, COMPANY SECRETARIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Date of notification: 15 DECEMBER 2004
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Page 11 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 20 DECEMBER 2004 AT 12.00 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2012041146-71E4
20 December 2004
Board change at The BOC Group
The BOC Group plc announced today that Rene Medori, Group finance director, will
resign as an executive director with effect from 31 May 2005. Mr Medori has
accepted a role with Anglo American plc.
Rob Margetts, chairman of The BOC Group said, "Rene Medori has been with BOC for
seventeen years, the last four as Group finance director, during which time he
has made an important contribution to the Group. We wish him well in his future
career".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact: Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tel: 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)
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Page 12 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 21 DECEMBER 2004 AT 09. 11 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK- 2112040910-22C0
21 December 2004
BOC agrees to sell its shares in Unique Gas & Petrochemicals
BOC, through its subsidiary Thai Industrial Gases PCL (TIG), the holding company
of Unique Gas and Petrochemicals, has signed an agreement today to sell its
shares in Unique Gas and Petrochemicals PCL (UGP) to VSPP Development Co Ltd, a
wholly owned subsidiary of Siam Gas Co Ltd.
The net asset value is approximately 2.2 billion Baht (around (pound)28
million).
UGP's core business is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The sale agreement
involves the divestment by TIG of its entire interest in UGP's LPG and bulk
ammonia business to VSPP, retaining only its cylinder ammonia and aqueous
ammonia businesses.
For further information please contact Nigel Abbott, tel: 07774 161634
Page 13 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 22 DECEMBER 2004 AT 09.37 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2212040936-304A
SCHEDULE 11
NOTIFICATION OF INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND CONNECTED PERSONS
All relevant boxes should be completed in block capital letters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Name of company 2. Name of director
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BOC GROUP plc RENE MEDORI
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3. Please state whether notification indicates 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if
that it is in respect of holding of the more than one holder, the number of shares
shareholder named in 2 above or in respect held by each of them (if notified)
of a non-beneficial interest or in the case
of an individual holder if it is a holding
of that person's spouse or children under
the age of 18 or in respect of a
non-beneficial interest
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AS IN 2 ABOVE AND SPOUSE RENE MEDORI - 46,086
VALERIE MEDORI - 44,896
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5. Please state whether notification relates to 6. Please state the nature of the transaction.
a person(s) connected with the director For PEP transactions please indicate whether
named in 2 above and identify the connected general/single co PEP and if
person(s) discretionary/non discretionary
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DIRECTOR AND SPOUSE (MRS VALERIE MEDORI) TRANSFER OF 3,982 SHARES TO SPOUSE; EXERCISE
OF 75,000 EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTIONS;
TRANSFER OF 28,914 SHARES ACQUIRED ON
EXERCISE TO SPOUSE; SALE OF 44,896 SHARES BY
SPOUSE; AND SALE OF 46,086 SHARES ACQUIRED ON
EXERCISE BY DIRECTOR
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7. Number of 8. Percentage of 9. Number of 10. Percentage of
shares/amount issued class shares/amount issued class
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Page 14 of 20
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of stock acquired of stock disposed
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75,000 0.015% 90,982 0.018%
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11. Class of security 12. Price per share 13. Date of 14. Date company
transaction informed
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORDINARY SHARES 919P (15,000), 21 DECEMBER 2004 21 DECEMBER 2004
OF 25p EACH 914P (30,000) &
851P (30,000)
EXERCISE
946.2088P SALE
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15. Total holding following this 16. Total percentage
notification holding of issued
class following this
notification
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790 SHARES 0.108%
541,935 OPTIONS
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If a director has been granted options by the company please complete the
following boxes.
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17. Date of grant 18. Period during which
or date on which
options exercisable
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19. Total amount paid (if any) for grant of the 20. Description of shares or debentures
option involved: class, number
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21. Exercise price (if fixed at time of grant) 22. Total number of shares or debentures over
or indication that price is to be fixed at which options held following this
time of exercise notification
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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23. Any additional information 24. Name of contact and telephone number for
queries
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KAREN WESTON, 01276 807388
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Page 15 of 20
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25. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making
this notification
KAREN WESTON, COMPANY SECRETARIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Date of notification: 21 DECEMBER 2004
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Page 16 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 22 DECEMBER 2004 AT 09.40 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2212040939-EB2E
22 December 2004
THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995)
The BOC Group plc (the Company) has been notified of the disposal on 21 December
2004 of 14,416 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at an exercise price
of 851p per share by Ogier Trustee Limited (the Trustee) as trustee of The BOC
Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These Ordinary shares have
been transferred, following exercise of options, to participants in the
Company's senior executive share option plans.
Following this disposal of 14,416 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds
5,534,638 Ordinary shares.
Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under
the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in
all of these 5,534,638 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each
executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the
Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary
shares.
Page 17 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 22 DECEMBER 2004 AT 12.00 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2212041031-A588
22 December 2004
Board change at The BOC Group plc
Iain Napier, chief executive of Taylor Woodrow plc, has resigned with immediate
effect as a non-executive director of The BOC Group plc following his recent
appointment as joint vice chairman of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact: Christopher Marsay, Director - Investor Relations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tel: 01276 477222 (International +44 1276 477222)
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Page 18 of 20
THE BOC GROUP plc ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASED TO A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE
ON 24 DECEMBER 2004 AT 11.19 HRS UNDER REF: PRNUK-2412041117-E737
24 December 2004
THE BOC GROUP plc EMPLOYEE SHARE TRUST (1995)
The BOC Group plc (the Company) has been notified of the disposal on 23 December
2004 of 1,926 Ordinary shares of 25p each in the Company at an exercise price of
851p per share by Ogier Trustee Limited (the Trustee) as trustee of The BOC
Group plc Employee Share Trust (1995) (the Trust). These Ordinary shares have
been transferred, following exercise of options, to participants in the
Company's senior executive share option plans.
Following this disposal of 1,926 Ordinary shares, the Trustee now holds
5,532,712 Ordinary shares.
Each of the executive Directors of the Company is a potential beneficiary under
the Trust and therefore for Companies Act purposes is regarded as interested in
all of these 5,532,712 Ordinary shares. Despite this technical interest, each
executive Director will only be entitled to receive Ordinary shares from the
Trust in satisfaction of options granted to him in respect of these Ordinary
shares.
Page 19 of 20
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant, The BOC Group plc, has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date:January 4, 2005
By: /s/ Sarah Larkins
-------------------------------------------
Name: Sarah Larkins
Title: Assistant Company Secretary
Page 20 of 20