UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

November 7, 2019

 

 

 

BHP GROUP LIMITED

(ABN 49 004 028 077)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)

 

171 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE,

VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA

(Address of principal executive offices)

   

BHP GROUP PLC

(REG. NO. 3196209)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

ENGLAND AND WALES

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)

 

NOVA SOUTH, 160 VICTORIA STREET

LONDON, SW1E 5LB

UNITED KINGDOM

(Address of principal executive offices)

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    ☐ 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):  ☐

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):  ☐

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

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): n/a

 

 

 

   LOGO

Group Governance

7 November 2019

 

To:  Australian Securities Exchange

   

cc:   New York Stock Exchange

   

London Stock Exchange

   

JSE Limited

   

FOR ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE MARKET

Please find attached the results of the business conducted at the meeting of shareholders of BHP Group Limited held in Sydney, Australia on 7 November 2019 and at the meeting of shareholders of BHP Group Plc held in London, United Kingdom on 17 October 2019.

As required by the Dual Listed Company Structure, a poll was conducted on each of the proposed resolutions. Each resolution is a Joint Electorate Action. The poll results for BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc are attached.

The final proxy position for each company is detailed in Appendix 1. The additional information required in respect of BHP Group Plc by the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 is provided in Appendix 2.

A copy of the resolutions passed at the closure of the poll today has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection at: www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/NSM.

 

 

LOGO

Rachel Agnew

Company Secretary

 

BHP Group Limited ABN 49 004 028 077    BHP Group plc Registration number 3196209
LEI WZE1WSENV6JSZFK0JC28    LEI 549300C116EOWV835768
Registered in Australia    Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 18, 171 Collins Street    Registered Office: Nova South, 160 Victoria Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia    London SW1E 5LB United Kingdom
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015    Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111

Members of the BHP Group which is headquartered in Australia

The poll results for BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc as follows:

 

    

Business

    Votes For      %     Votes Against      %     Total Votes Cast      Abstentions1     

Result

1

    To receive the 2019 Financial Statements and Reports for BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,113,182,321        99.60 %      12,565,307        0.40 %      3,125,747,628        36,059,445      CARRIED

2

    To appoint Ernst & Young as the auditor of BHP Group Limited and Ernst & Young LLP as the auditor of BHP Group Plc (an ordinary resolution)      3,153,312,644        99.90 %      3,061,009        0.10 %      3,156,373,653        5,431,081      CARRIED

3

    To authorise the Risk and Audit Committee to agree the remuneration of the auditor of BHP Group Plc (an ordinary resolution)      3,150,595,541        99.83 %      5,390,202        0.17 %      3,155,985,743        5,801,538      CARRIED

4

    To approve the general authority to issue shares in BHP Group Plc (an ordinary resolution)      3,095,761,004        98.18 %      57,296,223        1.82 %      3,153,057,227        8,750,165      CARRIED

5

    To approve the authority to allot equity securities in BHP Group Plc for cash (a special resolution)      3,095,772,396        98.19 %      56,994,023        1.81 %      3,152,766,419        9,039,487      CARRIED

6

    To authorise the repurchase of shares in BHP Group Plc (a special resolution)      3,134,981,652        99.36 %      20,237,429        0.64 %      3,155,219,081        6,553,647      CARRIED

7

    To approve the Directors’ remuneration policy (an ordinary resolution)      2,934,332,039        93.50 %      203,907,720        6.50 %      3,138,239,759        23,166,578      CARRIED

8

    To approve the 2019 Remuneration Report other than the part containing the Directors’ remuneration policy (a non-binding ordinary resolution)      3,054,188,352        97.25 %      86,216,379        2.75 %      3,140,404,731        21,012,150      CARRIED

9

    To approve the 2019 Remuneration Report (a non-binding ordinary resolution)      3,044,797,424        96.65 %      105,394,556        3.35 %      3,150,191,980        11,217,511      CARRIED

10

    To approve the grant to the Executive Director (an ordinary resolution)      3,072,293,401        97.48 %      79,330,750        2.52 %      3,151,624,151        10,460,699      CARRIED

    

Business

    Votes For      %     Votes Against      %     Total Votes Cast      Abstentions1      

Result

11

    To elect Ian Cockerill as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,149,581,523        99.82 %      5,801,867        0.18 %      3,155,383,390        6,433,861      CARRIED

12

    To elect Susan Kilsby as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,122,110,362        98.94 %      33,427,852        1.06 %      3,155,538,214        6,271,454      CARRIED

13

    To re-elect Terry Bowen as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,124,014,076        99.01 %      31,257,113        0.99 %      3,155,271,189        6,547,598      CARRIED

14

    To re-elect Malcolm Broomhead as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,027,052,874        98.93 %      32,716,019        1.07 %      3,059,768,893        102,047,893      CARRIED

15

    To re-elect Anita Frew as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,122,452,983        98.95 %      33,228,397        1.05 %      3,155,681,380        6,135,407      CARRIED

16

    To re-elect Andrew Mackenzie as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,123,743,399        98.98 %      32,305,653        1.02 %      3,156,049,052        5,765,867      CARRIED

17

    To re-elect Lindsay Maxsted as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      2,980,191,068        97.40 %      79,567,527        2.60 %      3,059,758,595        102,057,892      CARRIED

18

    To re-elect John Mogford as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,124,165,627        99.01 %      31,360,788        0.99 %      3,155,526,415        6,290,372      CARRIED

19

    To re-elect Shriti Vadera as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,023,504,331        98.81 %      36,352,546        1.19 %      3,059,856,877        101,954,982      CARRIED

20

    To re-elect Ken MacKenzie as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      3,092,635,298        98.00 %      63,120,017        2.00 %      3,155,755,315        6,063,471      CARRIED

21

    To amend the constitution of BHP Group Limited (a special resolution)      444,144,845        15.32 %      2,455,287,247        84.68 %      2,899,432,092        262,330,577      NOT CARRIED

    

Business

    Votes For      %     Votes Against      %     Total Votes Cast      Abstentions1      

Result

   Resolution 22 was NOT valid as it was conditional on Resolution 21 being approved by the required majority. Poll figures are provided below for information purposes only and do not constitute a voting result.
22    To suspend memberships of Industry Associations that are involved in lobbying inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement (an ordinary resolution, the validity of which is conditional on Item 21 being passed)2      820,616,635        27.07 %      2,210,659,290        72.93 %      3,031,275,925        130,375,242      NOT VALID

1.    In calculating the results of the respective polls under the joint electoral procedure, “withheld” votes at BHP Group Plc’s meeting are aggregated with “abstained” votes at BHP Group Limited’s meeting. For all relevant purposes “withheld” votes and “abstained” votes have the same meaning. They are not included in the calculation of the proportion of votes for and against each resolution.

2.    BHP consulted extensively with its shareholders on Resolution 22 in the lead up to the Annual General Meetings and will be conducting further consultations in the next few months in relation to shareholders’ views on this matter. The shareholder consultations conducted to date helped inform the enhancements to the scope and methodology of BHP’s 2019 Industry Association Review, which are outlined on the company’s website at https://www.bhp.com/our-approach/operating-with-integrity/industry-associations-bhps-approach/2019-industry-association-review.

APPENDIX 1

BHP Group Limited & BHP Group Plc - Final Proxy Position

 

          Limited      Plc  

1

    To receive the 2019 Financial Statements and Reports for BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,569,372,532        1,552,627,984  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,537,065,060        1,543,360,176  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      3,438,549        9,120,379  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      28,354,999        7,702,065  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,868,923        147,429  

2

    To appoint Ernst & Young as the auditor of BHP Group Limited and Ernst & Young LLP as the auditor of BHP Group Plc (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,595,143,455        1,557,484,853  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,563,829,781        1,557,014,692  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      2,721,696        332,827  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      2,581,736        2,845,197  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,591,978        137,334  

3

    To authorise the Risk and Audit Committee to agree the remuneration of the auditor of BHP Group Plc (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,776,192        1,557,468,657  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,561,410,399        1,556,737,135  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      4,778,190        594,129  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      2,931,546        2,861,393  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,587,603        137,393  

4

    To approve the general authority to issue shares in BHP Group Plc (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,258,130        1,555,070,683  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,558,570,677        1,504,960,851  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      6,994,661        49,972,393  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,470,479        5,258,867  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,692,792        137,439  

          Limited      Plc  

5

    To approve the authority to allot equity securities in BHP Group Plc for cash (a special resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,593,964,515        1,555,067,790  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,559,123,906        1,504,078,698  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      6,109,195        50,851,053  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,762,108        5,262,260  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,731,414        138,039  

6

    To authorise the repurchase of shares in BHP Group Plc (a special resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,088,189        1,557,397,306  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,560,087,804        1,542,473,206  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      5,425,374        14,785,089  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,606,555        2,931,445  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,575,011        139,011  

7

    To approve the Directors’ remuneration policy (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,589,799,645        1,545,439,698  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,483,944,394        1,418,931,950  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      77,354,639        126,368,803  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      7,912,041        14,890,309  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,500,612        138,945  

8

    To approve the 2019 Remuneration Report other than the part containing the Directors’ remuneration policy (a non-binding ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,588,553,195        1,548,837,775  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,528,295,900        1,494,567,018  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      31,998,403        54,131,447  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      9,168,993        11,492,274  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,258,892        139,310  

          Limited      Plc  

9

    To approve the 2019 Remuneration Report (a non-binding ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,589,913,221        1,557,271,099  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,526,285,735        1,487,162,816  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      35,284,225        69,969,029  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      7,802,077        3,058,450  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,343,261        139,254  

10

    To approve the grant to the Executive Director (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,590,023,118        1,557,871,509  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,538,700,181        1,501,646,593  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      23,080,627        56,084,197  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      7,679,434        2,758,409  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,242,310        140,719  

11

    To elect Ian Cockerill as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,236,616        1,557,396,567  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,561,207,580        1,555,752,921  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      4,285,459        1,506,312  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,489,999        2,933,363  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,743,577        137,334  

12

    To elect Susan Kilsby as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,389,626        1,557,398,962  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,546,871,859        1,542,744,888  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      18,878,434        14,518,736  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,329,345        2,931,029  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,639,333        135,338  

          Limited      Plc  

13

    To re-elect Terry Bowen as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,136,622        1,557,396,172  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,560,969,600        1,530,432,037  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      4,424,551        26,825,200  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,591,409        2,933,878  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,742,471        138,935  

14

    To re-elect Malcolm Broomhead as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,372,498        1,461,662,535  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,560,433,207        1,433,825,553  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      5,004,894        27,697,499  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,356,533        98,667,514  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,934,397        139,483  

15

    To re-elect Anita Frew as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,609,821        1,557,329,002  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,559,746,360        1,530,043,504  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      6,065,907        27,147,842  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,119,210        3,001,048  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,797,554        137,656  

16

    To re-elect Andrew Mackenzie as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,896,877        1,557,400,094  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,560,768,326        1,530,434,254  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      5,455,042        26,829,005  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      2,824,612        2,929,956  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,673,509        136,835  

17

    To re-elect Lindsay Maxsted as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,594,484,326        1,461,522,862  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      1,526,675,555        1,420,827,824  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      38,999,867        40,558,119  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      3,244,705        98,807,188  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      28,808,904        136,919  

          Limited      Plc  

18

   

To re-elect John Mogford as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)

      

*

   

Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed

      1,594,405,041        1,557,383,117  

*

   

Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -

      

–

   

was to vote for the resolution

      1,561,553,346        1,529,924,893  

–

   

was to vote against the resolution

      4,031,279        27,320,890  

–

   

was to abstain on the resolution

      3,323,990        2,946,933  

–

   

may vote at the proxy’s discretion

      28,820,416        137,334  

19

   

To re-elect Shriti Vadera as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)

      

*

   

Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed

      1,594,527,036        1,461,586,146  

*

   

Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -

      

–

   

was to vote for the resolution

      1,558,411,265        1,432,353,796  

–

   

was to vote against the resolution

      7,250,381        29,089,002  

–

   

was to abstain on the resolution

      3,198,067        98,742,904  

–

   

may vote at the proxy’s discretion

      28,865,390        143,348  

20

   

To re-elect Ken MacKenzie as a Director of BHP (an ordinary resolution)

      

*

   

Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed

      1,594,603,154        1,557,401,616  

*

   

Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -

      

–

   

was to vote for the resolution

      1,550,561,040        1,509,195,921  

–

   

was to vote against the resolution

      15,038,020        48,067,261  

–

   

was to abstain on the resolution

      3,125,877        2,927,433  

–

   

may vote at the proxy’s discretion

      29,004,094        138,434  

21

   

To amend the constitution of BHP Group Limited (a special resolution)

      

*

   

Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed

      1,499,715,407        1,396,086,514  

*

   

Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -

      

–

   

was to vote for the resolution

      152,449,967        289,452,233  

–

   

was to vote against the resolution

      1,319,450,787        1,106,490,643  

–

   

was to abstain on the resolution

      97,974,307        164,239,074  

–

   

may vote at the proxy’s discretion

      27,814,653        143,638  

          Limited      Plc  
   Resolution 22 was NOT valid as it was conditional on Resolution 21 being approved by the required majority. Proxy figures are provided below for information purposes only.

 

22

    To suspend memberships of Industry Associations that are involved in lobbying inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement (an ordinary resolution, the validity of which is conditional on Item 21 being passed)      

*

    Total number of votes exercisable by all proxies validly appointed      1,587,854,333        1,439,923,426  

*

    Total number of votes in respect of which the appointments specified that the proxy -      

–

    was to vote for the resolution      472,571,252        345,799,507  

–

    was to vote against the resolution      1,087,762,035        1,093,979,115  

–

    was to abstain on the resolution      9,845,544        120,406,023  

–

    may vote at the proxy’s discretion      27,521,046        144,804  

APPENDIX 2

Additional Information

For the purposes of section 341 of the United Kingdom’s Companies Act 2006 and in respect of BHP Group Plc, the votes validly cast1 as a percentage of the company’s total issued share capital (as at 6pm on 17 October 2019) are:

 

    

Item of Business

   

Votes cast
%1

1   

To receive the 2019 Financial Statements and Reports for BHP

    73.62%
2   

To appoint Ernst & Young LLP as the auditor of BHP Group Plc and Ernst & Young as the auditor of BHP Group Limited

    73.85%
3   

To authorise the Risk and Audit Committee to agree the remuneration of the auditor of BHP Group Plc

    73.84%
4   

To approve the general authority to issue shares in BHP Group Plc

    73.73%
5   

To approve the authority to allot equity securities in BHP Group Plc for cash

    73.73%
6   

To authorise the repurchase of shares in BHP Group Plc

    73.84%
7   

To approve the Directors’ remuneration policy

    73.27%
8   

To approve the 2019 Remuneration Report other than the part containing the Directors’ remuneration policy

    73.44%
9   

To approve the 2019 Remuneration Report

    73.83%
10   

To approve the grant to the Executive Director

    73.86%
11   

To elect Ian Cockerill as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
12   

To elect Susan Kilsby as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
13   

To re-elect Terry Bowen as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
14   

To re-elect Malcolm Broomhead as a Director of BHP

    69.31%

15   

To re-elect Anita Frew as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
16   

To re-elect Andrew Mackenzie as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
17   

To re-elect Lindsay Maxsted as a Director of BHP

    69.30%
18   

To re-elect John Mogford as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
19   

To re-elect Shriti Vadera as a Director of BHP

    69.31%
20   

To re-elect Ken MacKenzie as a Director of BHP

    73.84%
21   

To amend the constitution of BHP Group Limited

    66.20%
22   

To suspend memberships of Industry Associations that are involved in lobbying inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement2

   68.28%

1. This calculation does not include the votes cast at the BHP Group Limited Annual General Meeting which are added to the votes cast at the BHP Group Plc Annual General Meeting to give the final result in relation to each resolution. Final poll results for BHP Group Plc and BHP Group Limited can be found on pages 2 to 4 of this announcement.

2. Resolution 22 was not valid as it was conditional on Resolution 21 being approved by the required majority. The information contained above is for information purposes only.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

          BHP Group Limited and BHP Group Plc

Date: November 7, 2019

    By:   

/s/ Rachel Agnew

   Name:    Rachel Agnew
   Title:    Company Secretary