Thomas Cook AG / MyTravel Group plc merger
Thomas Cook Group plc was formed in June 2007 upon the merger of Thomas Cook AG and MyTravel Group plc.
MyTravel Group plc shareholders received one Thomas Cook Group plc ordinary share for every one MyTravel Group plc share previously held. MyTravel Group plc share certificates are no longer valid and can be destroyed. Replacement Thomas Cook Group plc share certificates were sent to shareholders, who held shares in certificated form, on or around 19 June 2007.
Electronic communications
At the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") on 10 April 2008, the Company passed a resolution allowing the Thomas Cook Group plc website to be used as the primary means of communication with its shareholders. A consultation card was sent to shareholders enabling them to choose either to:
- receive notification by email when shareholder documentation is available on the website;
- continue to receive shareholder documentation in hard copy.
Shareholders who did not respond were deemed, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, to have agreed to receive shareholder documentation via the Thomas Cook Group plc website. The new arrangements for electronic shareholder communications provide shareholders with the opportunity to access information in a timely manner and help Thomas Cook Group plc to reduce both its costs and environmental impact.
Website
The Company’s website, provides information including:
- news, updates, press releases and regulatory announcements;
- investor information, including the Annual Report, investor presentations and share price information;
- biographies of the Board of Directors and the senior executive team;
- details of the Company’s governance framework;
- corporate responsibility reporting.
Holiday booking discount
Shareholders, subject to the restrictions set out below, are entitled to receive a discount of 10% off the latest retail high street price of any holiday booked under the following brands: Airtours, Aspro, Club 18-30, Cresta, Manos, Neilson, Panorama, Style, Sunset, Sunworld Holidays Ireland, Swiss Travel Service, Thomas Cook, Thomas Cook Signature and Thomas Cook Tours. In order to benefit from this service, shareholders should call the telephone number detailed below:
Shareholder booking line: 0844 800 7003
Opening times: 9:00am to 5:30pm Monday – Saturday
Please note it is not possible to claim the discount through Thomas Cook stores, other travel agents, Thomas Cook websites or other telephone numbers.
To qualify, shareholders must hold a minimum of 500 shares, held for a period of six months prior to making the booking and will need to quote their shareholder number shown on their share certificate when booking their holiday. Shareholders who hold shares through a nominee can claim this discount, but will be required to show proof of ownership from that nominee and that those shares continue to be held at the date of booking.
It is not possible to use this discount against "flight-only" bookings and it does not apply to "Air Passenger Duty", fuel charges or any other supplements. This discount may not be used in conjunction with any other offer.
Preferential foreign exchange rates
In addition to these travel benefits, when buying foreign currency or travellers cheques in any Thomas Cook or Going Places store, shareholders are entitled to a commission free transaction and a preferential exchange rate, subject to the confirmation that they meet the shareholding criteria set out above.
Shareview
To be able to access information about their shares and other investments online, shareholders can register with Shareview (www.shareview.co.uk) where they can view details of recent movements in their shareholding and change their address and bank mandate details online. Once registered, shareholders will also receive emails when shareholder documentation is available on the Thomas Cook Group plc website and be able to register their vote for the AGM online.
Dividends
An interim dividend payment of 3.25 pence per share was paid on 5 September 2008, to all ordinary shareholders on the register at 5.00pm on 1 August 2008. The directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 6.5 pence per share, to be paid on 27 March 2009 to all shareholders on the register at 5.00pm on 6 March 2009.
As an alternative to having dividends paid by cheque, shareholders can, if they wish, have them credited directly into their bank or building society account on the dividend payment date. Having dividends paid in this way avoids the risk of cheques being lost or intercepted in the post and is more convenient as payment is credited automatically on the payment date. Shareholders wishing to set up a dividend mandate can do so by completing the dividend mandate form attached to the dividend cheque or by contacting the Registrar.
Share register and shareholder enquiries
The Company’s share register is maintained by Equiniti. Queries relating to Thomas Cook Group plc shares, should be addressed to:
The Registrar
Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex BN99 6DA
Tel: 0871 384 2154 (international telephone number: +44 (0)121 415 7047)
Shareholders should quote the Company reference number 3174 and their account number (which can be found on their share certificates), when contacting the Registrar.
Unsolicited telephone calls and correspondence
Shareholders are advised to be wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount, or offers of free reports about the Company. Details of any share dealing facilities that the Company endorses will be included in Company mailings or on our website.
Sharegift
Shareholders with a small number of shares, the value of which make it uneconomical to sell, may wish to consider donating them to the charity ShareGift (Registered Charity Number 1052686). Find out more about ShareGift at www.sharegift.org or by telephoning +44 (0)20 7930 3737.
Shareview dealing
A telephone and internet dealing service has been
arranged through the Registrar to provide a simple way of
buying and selling Thomas Cook Group plc shares for
existing and prospective UK based shareholders. For
telephone sales call 08456 037 037 between 8.00am and
4.30pm, Monday to Friday, or visit the website:
www.shareview.co.uk/dealing.
Shareholders will need the shareholder reference
number shown on their share
certificate(s).
Financial calendar
| Interim management statement | 12 February 2009 |
|---|---|
| Ex-dividend date for 2007/08 final dividend | 4 March 2009 |
| Final dividend record date | 6 March 2009 |
| Last date for AGM proxy votes to be received by the Registrar | 17 March 2009 |
| AGM | 19 March 2009 |
| Final dividend payment date | 27 March 2009 |
| 2008/09 half-year results announcement | 14 May 2009 |
| Ex-dividend date for 2008/09 interim dividend | 5 August 2009 |
| Interim dividend record date | 7 August 2009 |
| Interim management statement | 13 August 2009 |
| Interim dividend payment date | 4 September 2009 |
| Year end | 30 September 2009 |
Analysis of shareholders as at 30 September 2008
| Distribution of shares by the type of shareholder | Number of holdings | Number of shares |
|---|---|---|
| Nominees and institutional investors | 1,110 | 901,726,630 |
| Individuals | 15,662 | 3,380,875 |
| Total | 16,772 | 905,107,505 |
| Size of shareholding | Number of holdings | Number of shares |
|---|---|---|
| 1-100 | 11,455 | 363,813 |
| 101-500 | 3,613 | 817,502 |
| 501-1,000 | 669 | 479,785 |
| 1,001-5,000 | 449 | 950,433 |
| 5,001-10,000 | 89 | 643,261 |
| 10,001-100,000 | 230 | 8,553,698 |
| 100,001-500,000 | 141 | 33,807,639 |
| 500,000 and above | 126 | 859,491,374 |
| Total | 16,772 | 905,107,505 |
Registered office
The Thomas Cook Business Park, Coningsby Road, Peterborough PE3 8SB
Registered Number: 6091951
Shareholder contacts
Shareholder helpline: 0871 384 2154
(international telephone number: +44 (0) 121 415 7047)
Website: www.thomascookgroup.com
Registrar’s website: www.shareview.co.uk