Dole plc 6-K, filed Apr 19, 2024
Dole plc (DOLE)
6-K
2024-04-19
For: 2024-05-29
View Original
Added on
April 10, 2026
About this 6-K
Dole plc filed this 6-K on April 19, 2024.
6UNITED 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
For the month of April, 2024
Commission File Number 001-40695
Dole plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7
D07 PH36 Ireland
200 S. Tryon St, Suite #600, Charlotte, NC
United States 28202
(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
On or about April 19, 2024, Dole plc (the “Company”) will distribute its definitive proxy statement to shareholders for an annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on May 29, 2024. A copy of the proxy statement is annexed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
The information furnished in this Report on Form 6-K, including the exhibits related thereto, shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liability of such section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
DOLE PLC SIGNATURE
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.
Date: April 19, 2024
DOLE PLC
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Rory Byrne
Name: Rory Byrne
Title: Chief Executive Officer
2024 Proxy Statement
and
Notice of Annual General Meeting
May 29, 2024 | Dublin, Ireland
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Dole plc Notice of 2024 Annual General Meeting | |||||
| Forward-Looking Statements and Website References | |||||
| Our Company | |||||
| Board of Directors and Corporate Governance | |||||
| Composition of our Board of Directors and Directors biographies | |||||
| Director Independence | |||||
| Board Leadership Structure | |||||
| Executive Sessions | |||||
| Board Qualifications & Diversity | |||||
| Procedures for Recommending Individuals to Serve as Directors | |||||
| Committees of the Board of Directors | |||||
| Risk Oversight | |||||
| Communications with Directors | |||||
| Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | |||||
| Corporate Governance Guidelines | |||||
| Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | |||||
| Prohibitions on Hedging and Pledging Transactions | |||||
| Proposal 1 – Election of Directors | |||||
| Proposal 2 – Non-binding ratification of appointment of independent auditors and binding authorization of the Board to determine its remuneration | |||||
| Beneficial ownership by principal shareholders, management and directors | |||||
| Certain relationships and related person transactions | |||||
| Questions and Answers about the Annual General Meeting | |||||
| Other Matters | |||||
1
Dole plc
29 North Anne Street
Dublin 7, D07 PH36
Ireland
Year ended December 31, 2023
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2024 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of Dole plc (“Dole,” “Company” or “we”) will be held at the Arthur Cox Offices, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, DO2 T380, Ireland on May 29, 2024, at 1 p.m., Irish Daylight Time (8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time), for the following purposes:
To receive and consider the Company’s Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, and to review the Company’s affairs.
ORDINARY BUSINESS
1.By separate resolutions, to approve the appointment as directors of the Company (“Directors”) of the following nominees:
1.1Rory Byrne;
1.2Timothy George; and
1.3Imelda Hurley.
2.To ratify, in a non-binding vote, the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as auditors of the Company and to authorize in a binding vote, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) to fix the remuneration of KPMG as statutory auditors.
The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” each director nominee included in Proposal 1 and “FOR” Proposal 2.
The full text of these proposals is set forth in the accompanying proxy statement. Shareholders of the Company at the close of business on the record date for the AGM, which is April 4, 2024, are eligible to vote at the meeting.
2
During the meeting, the Board will present our Irish financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “Irish Financial Statements”) for your consideration. The Irish Financial Statements will be available online at https://www.doleplc.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations and copies are available on request. There is no requirement under Irish law that the Irish Financial Statements be approved by the shareholders, and no such approval will be sought at the AGM.
We recommend that you review the further information on the process for, and deadlines applicable to, voting, attending the meeting and appointing a proxy under “Questions and answers about the Annual General Meeting” on page 21 of the proxy statement.
By order of the Board.
Jared Gale
Company Secretary
29 North Anne Street
Dublin 7, D07 PH36
Ireland
April 11, 2024
3
Forward-Looking Statements and Website References
This document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, relating to our operations, results of operations and other matters that are based on our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections. Although we believe that the expectations and assumptions reflected in these statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity, including the risk factors that we identify in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements. We undertake no duty to update publicly any forward-looking statement that we may make, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or other competent legal authority. Website references throughout this document are provided for convenience only, and the content on the referenced websites is not incorporated by reference into this document.
4
OUR COMPANY
Dole is a global leader in fresh fruits and vegetables, with a portfolio of over 300 products that are grown and sourced, both locally and globally, from over 30 countries in various regions worldwide. These products are distributed and marketed in over 75 countries, across retail, wholesale, and foodservice channels, under our business-to-business and business-to-consumer brands, the most notable being our iconic DOLE brand. Our most significant products hold leading positions in their respective product categories and market territories, and we are one of the world’s largest producers and distributors of fresh bananas and pineapples.
Our owned farming operations combined with a multi-continental sourcing model provides us with operating flexibility and product availability throughout the year. Within many territories in Europe, we operate a partnership model with our grocery retail customers, offering holistic fresh produce management solutions and, in some cases, managing entire categories within their stores.
Our vertically integrated business model is supported by a valuable and extensive infrastructure and asset base, including approximately 110,000 acres of farms and other land holdings around the world. In addition, we own a fleet of refrigerated container carriers and pallet-friendly conventional refrigerated ships and have an extensive portfolio of various business facilities, including packing houses, manufacturing plants and cold storage and distribution facilities. In addition to our owned asset base, we have developed long-standing relationships with independent growers across the globe, including international partnerships, joint ventures and other investments, which provide us additional operational flexibility and extended range and availability.
We are an enthusiastic advocate of a healthy lifestyle and supporting consumers in making healthier choices by consuming more fruits and vegetables. We are committed to continuously improving farming and supply chain practices and the way we operate our business to make a positive impact on society and the environment through our activities.
5
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Composition of our Board of Directors
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our Board of Directors, which currently is comprised of 11 members with Mr. McCann serving as Chair. Our Articles of Association classifies the Board into three classes, with each class serving staggered three-year terms of office. The Board has the exclusive power to fix the number of directors in each class. Directors designated as Class III directors have their terms expiring at this Annual General Meeting. The following table sets forth information with respect to our directors, their terms and board committee memberships and their independence:
| Name | Age | Class | Director Since | Current Term Expires | Position at the Company | Committee Membership | ||||||||||||||||||||
| AC | CC | NGC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rory Byrne | 63 | III | 2021 | 2024 | Chief Executive Officer and Director | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacinta Devine | 51 | II | 2022 | 2026 | Chief Financial Officer and Director | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Timothy George | 71 | III | 2021 | 2024 | Director* | M | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Imelda Hurley | 52 | III | 2021 | 2024 | Director* | M | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rose Hynes | 66 | I | 2021 | 2025 | Director* | C | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Johan Lindén | 57 | II | 2021 | 2026 | Chief Operating Officer and Director | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Carl McCann | 70 | I | 2021 | 2025 | Director and Executive Chair | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Michael Meghen | 69 | I | 2021 | 2025 | Director* | C | M | |||||||||||||||||||
| Helen Nolan | 66 | I | 2021 | 2025 | Director* | M | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Jimmy Tolan | 60 | II | 2021 | 2026 | Director | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kevin Toland | 58 | II | 2021 | 2026 | Director* | C | M | |||||||||||||||||||
AC: Audit Committee CC: Compensation Committee NGC: Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee | M – Member C – Chair | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Independent Director | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nominees for Election to a Three-Year Term at the 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Rory Byrne, B Comm, FCA, has been a director since February 2021 and serves as our Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Byrne was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Total Produce in 2006. Mr. Byrne led Total Produce through 15 years of sustained profitability and significant acquisition-led and organic expansion, with total Group revenues more than tripling during his tenure, from $1.9 billion in 2006 to $6.5 billion in 2021. While serving as Chief Executive Officer, he also oversaw Total Produce's expansion into North American markets, including Total Produce's 2013 investment in Canada-based Oppy and combination with Dole Food Company. Mr. Byrne has over 30 years of experience in the fresh produce industry, having begun his career at Fyffes in 1988. At Fyffes, he held a number of senior positions including Finance Director of the Group’s U.K. business and Managing Director of its Spanish operations before becoming Managing Director of the General Produce Division in 2002. Mr. Byrne is well recognized across the industry for his unique combination of leadership ability, strategic vision, creativity and strong drive for success. We believe that Mr. Byrne is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his very extensive experience as a leader in the fresh produce industry and his experience as an executive director of a publicly traded company. He earned his undergraduate degree from University College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
6
Timothy M. George, BA, MBA, has been a director since July 2021. Mr. George is Group Head of Lazard’s Consumer Retail and Leisure Group and a Vice Chair of Lazard. He has more than 35 years of experience in the investment banking industry and has advised numerous companies in recent years in the consumer, food, beverage and retail sectors including, Alcon, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Diageo PLC, Dine Brands Global, Firmenich, General Mills, Givaudan, Kraft Heinz, McCain Foods, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Novartis, Post Holdings, Wendy’s International, Burger King and 3G Capital. Prior to joining Lazard, Mr. George was a Founding Partner of Greenhill & Co., LLC and a member of Greenhill’s Management Committee. Mr. George also headed Greenhill’s Consumer Products, Food and Beverage Group. Before joining Greenhill & Co., he held numerous senior roles in Morgan Stanley & Co., including Global Head of the Food, Beverage and Consumer Products Group which he founded in 1989. Prior to 1984, Mr. George was a Vice President of Goldman Sachs and Assistant Treasurer of J.P. Morgan & Co. Mr. George served on the Board of Trustees of The University of Chicago and was formerly a member of its Executive Committee and Chair of the Board’s Financial Planning Committee. Also, he was a member of the Advisory Council of the Board of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Mr. George also served on the board of directors of Seminis, Inc., the largest developer, grower and marketer of fruit and vegetable seeds in the world. We believe that Mr. George is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his experience in U.S. leadership positions in investment banking and his detailed knowledge of the food industry. Mr. George has an MBA in Accounting and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in Economics and Finance from the University of Chicago.
Imelda Hurley, FCA, BBS, has been a director since July 2021 and is a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Hurley was appointed to the Board of Total Produce as a Non-Executive Director in January 2019 and was a member of the Audit and Nomination Committees. Ms. Hurley has over 20 years of experience in leadership roles across a variety of sectors, including significant international food and agri-industry experience. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Coillte (appointed in 2019), Ireland’s commercial state forestry company which is responsible for managing over one million acres of primary forested land. In addition, she is a Non-Executive Director of IBEC, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, which is Ireland’s largest business representative group, and previously served as President of that organisation. From 2014 to 2018, Ms. Hurley was an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer at Origin Enterprises plc, an international agri-services business. From 2011 to 2014, she was based between Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China where she was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Sustainability for PCH International, a Silicon Valley-backed product development and supply chain management business. From 2001 to 2011, she held various positions including that of Group Finance Director at Greencore Group plc, an international convenience food producer. In addition, she worked in the Audit & Business Advisory practice of Arthur Andersen from 1994 to 2001. Ms. Hurley has also been a member of the Board of Bord Gais Eireann/ Ervia, Ireland’s state-owned gas and electricity company from 2010 to 2014 and served as Audit Committee Chair from 2011 to 2014. We believe that Ms. Hurley is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive experience in leadership positions in a number of large multinational food and supply chain management businesses, her understanding of finance and financial reporting processes and her experience as an executive director of a publicly traded company. Ms. Hurley holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from the University of Limerick in Ireland, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Rose Hynes, BCL, AITI, has been a director since July 2021, is the lead independent director and is Chair of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee. Ms. Hynes was a director of Total Produce from November 2006. She is also currently Chair of the Irish Aviation Authority and is a Non-Executive Director of Eir, an Irish telecommunications company. She is a member of the University of Limerick Foundation Board. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University since 2014. Ms. Hynes has over 30 years of experience as a Non-Executive Director, senior executive and a commercial lawyer. In 1988, she joined GPA Group plc, the aircraft leasing and financing company, and held a number of senior management positions, including General Counsel and Head of the Commercial Department. GPA was one of the world's largest lessors and financiers of aircraft. She is a former Non-Executive Director of a number of companies, including Bank of Ireland, Fyffes plc, Aer Lingus Group plc and a former Chair of Bord Gais, the Irish Government-owned gas and electricity company and Shannon Group plc (the Irish Government-owned airport and property company) and Origin Enterprises plc (the Irish and UK Stock
7
Exchange listed Agri Services company). We believe that Ms. Hynes is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to her background as a lawyer and her wide-ranging experience as a senior non-executive director of other publicly traded companies. Ms. Hynes is a lawyer and a University College Dublin law graduate. She is an Associate of the Irish Institute of Taxation and of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. She also holds a Diploma in Applied Finance from the Irish Management Institute.
Carl McCann, BBS, MA, FCA, has been a director since February 2021 and serves as our Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. Mr. McCann served as Executive Chair of Total Produce, a role he assumed in 2006. As Executive Chairman, Mr. McCann led Total Produce through numerous strategic initiatives and operational achievements, including its growth and expansion across European and North American markets, and more recently, its combination with Dole Food Company. With over 40 years in the fresh produce industry, Mr. McCann began his career at KPMG moving to work in FII, later renamed Fyffes, in 1980. During this time, he held roles of increasing leadership, including Finance Director, Vice Chair and Executive Chair, while also overseeing the execution of strategic priorities across the business. He notably led FII through its acquisition of Fyffes in 1986 and of Dutch company Velleman in the late 1990’s, both of which allowed the company to expand into key regions across continental Europe and the U.K. Mr. McCann was appointed Chair of Fyffes in 2003, before assuming his role of Executive Chair at Total Produce on the demerger of Total Produce and Fyffes. In addition to these roles, Mr. McCann is also Chair of Balmoral International Land Holdings plc and serves on the boards of several other companies. We believe that Mr. McCann is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his strategic vision for the Company and his long experience as an executive director of publicly traded companies. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Trinity College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Michael Meghen, BBS LLB, has been a director since July 2021 and is chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Meghen was appointed to the Board of Total Produce as a Non-Executive Director in July 2018. Mr. Meghen was Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee of Total Produce. For many years, he was a senior corporate partner at Arthur Cox, Ireland’s leading legal firm in which he held a number of senior leadership roles and where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions. His years with Arthur Cox coincided with a period of transformational growth both in the home market and internationally for many Irish businesses, and he led a diverse range of mergers, acquisitions and disposals across various industry sectors, including manufacturing, information technology, hotels, retailing and distribution. Mr. Meghen also has experience in the negotiation and implementation of acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial contracts in Europe and the U.S. as well as in Central and South America. Mr. Meghen was formerly a non-executive director of Mars Foods Ireland Limited. We believe that Mr. Meghen is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his background as a senior corporate lawyer and his in-depth experience of international mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Meghen is a lawyer and holds degrees in business and in law from Trinity College Dublin.
Helen Nolan, B Comm, FCA, has been a director since July 2021 and is a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Nolan was appointed to the board of Total Produce as a Non-Executive Director in July 2019 and was a member of the Audit Committee. Ms. Nolan has extensive experience in senior leadership roles across a variety of industries. As a senior executive at Bank of Ireland Group plc, she held the roles of Group Secretary and Group Chief Internal Auditor. Prior to that, she held a number of senior finance roles in banking and life and pensions businesses, including Divisional Finance Officer for the Capital Markets Division of Bank of Ireland. Ms. Nolan currently holds the roles of Director and Chair of the Audit Committee at Aviva Life and Pensions Ireland DAC, Companjon Insurance DAC, a European digital insurance company backed by Swiss insurer La Molibiere, and previously held the role of Director at Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services DAC. She is also a Director of the Institute of Directors Ireland, where she chairs the Finance and Governance Committee. She chaired the Audit Committee of the Irish Department of Agriculture for a number of years. We believe that Ms. Nolan is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to her experience in significant leadership positions and her understanding of finance and financial reporting processes. Ms. Nolan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, having trained with KPMG. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and completed the Columbia Senior Executive Program at Columbia Business School.
8
Directors Continuing in Office Until the 2026 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
Jacinta Devine, FCA, was appointed to the Board on June 30, 2022 and serves as our Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this appointment, she served as Corporate Secretary of Dole plc. Ms. Devine was appointed to the role of Company Secretary of Total Produce plc in 2017 having previously held the role of Assistant Company Secretary. Ms. Devine joined the Group in 1996 and during this time has held a number of senior accounting and financial positions including Divisional Finance Director of Ireland and the U.K.. We believe that Ms. Devine is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to her longstanding experience in leadership positions in Total Produce and Dole plc, her understanding of finance and financial reporting processes, her experience in senior financial positions and her experience and knowledge of corporate governance matters from her time as company secretary of a publicly traded company. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Johan Lindén, BBA, MBA, has been a director since July 2021 and serves as our Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Lindén was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dole Food Company in 2017. He began his career at Dole Food Company in 2000 within the European operations, initially serving as general manager at Dole Food Company’s value-added operation until 2008. From 2005 to 2008, he additionally acted as Deputy General Manager for Dole Food Company’s Swedish wholesale operation. In 2008, Mr. Lindén was promoted to General Manager Fresh Fruit Northern Europe and was, subsequently, promoted to President Dole Europe in 2010. In 2015, Mr. Lindén relocated to Dole Food Company’s U.S. corporate headquarters where he served as President and Chief Operating Officer. We believe that Mr. Lindén is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his tenure as a senior leader within Dole Food Company and his extensive global experience within the produce industry. Mr Lindén holds a B.B.A. in Business Administration from Schiller International University, Germany with some of his undergraduate studies being completed at Iowa State University. He attended graduate school at Harvard University and earned his MBA from the University of Cape Town.
Jimmy Tolan, B Comm, FCA, has been a director since July 2021. Mr. Tolan has acted as an adviser to Total Produce on the initial investment in DFC Holdings in 2018 and has served on the Board of Dole Food Company since 2018. Mr. Tolan is currently Chair of CareChoice, which is one of Ireland’s leading nursing home providers and served as Chair of pharmacy retail group McCauley until its sale to Uniphar plc. Mr. Tolan has over 30 years of experience in the fresh produce industry having joined Fyffes plc in 1990. He led the Corporate Development function in Fyffes from 1995 until he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Fyffes in 2006 on the demerger of Total Produce and Fyffes. In 2008 Mr. Tolan was appointed Chief Executive Officer of VHI, Ireland’s largest health insurer where he served as Chief Executive Officer until 2012. He subsequently led PwC Ireland’s healthcare advisory business between 2012 and 2014. Since 2015, Mr. Tolan has been a non-executive Chair of a number of organizations. He is a former chair of the Rehab Group, one of Ireland’s largest intellectual disability service providers. Mr. Tolan's interest throughout his career, as both an executive and non-executive, is in supporting companies and organizations to achieve significant and sustainable growth. We believe that Mr. Tolan is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his significant experience in mergers and acquisitions in the fresh produce industry and his experience as a director and non-executive director of other publicly traded companies. Mr. Tolan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Diploma in Professional Accounting from University College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Kevin Toland, FCMA, has been a director since July 2021 and is Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Toland was appointed to the board of Total Produce as a Non-Executive Director in July 2015 and was Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee (prior Chair). He has 30 years of senior leadership experience in the beverage, food, nutrition, aviation and retail sectors. Mr. Toland was appointed as Chair of Ervia from 1 January 2023 and is also the Chair of Invert Robotics Group Limited. He is Chair of Vasorum, a medical device company, and a Non-Executive Director of Bewleys. He was Chief Executive Officer of Aryzta AG,the global bakery company, from 2017 to 2020, prior to this he was Chief Executive Officer of daa plc,a state-owned international airport and airport related services group, from 2013 to 2017. Mr. Toland has also held various positions with Glanbia Plc,the global cheese and nutrition company, including Executive director of Glanbia PLC from 2002 to 2012, Chief Executive and President of Glanbia USA and Global Nutritionals from 2005 to 2012 and prior to this, experiences including Group Development Director, Chief Executive Officer of Glanbia Consumer Foods and Group Strategy and Marketing Director. He has also worked with Coca Cola in Russia and Ireland and with Diageo in Budapest and Ireland in various senior leadership roles.
9
Mr. Toland also served as a director of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation from 2014 to 2021, including as Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee from 2019 to 2021. He was Chair of Identigen, a private equity owned AgriTech company that was recently sold to Merck plc. We believe that Mr. Toland is qualified to serve on our Board of Directors due to his high-level leadership experience in the food industry and his experience as a director of other publicly traded companies. Mr. Toland is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and holds a Diploma in Applied Finance from the Irish Management Institute.
Director Independence
As a foreign private issuer, under the listing requirements and rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), we are not required to have independent directors on our Board of Directors, except that our audit committee is required to consist fully of independent directors, subject to certain phase-in schedules. Our Board of Directors has determined that each of Timothy George, Imelda Hurley, Rose Hynes, Michael Meghen, Helen Nolan and Kevin Toland do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under NYSE rules.
We intend to comply with the director independence rules generally applicable to U.S. domestic companies listed on the NYSE. We may in the future decide to use the foreign private issuer exemption with respect to some or all of the NYSE corporate governance rules.
Board Leadership Structure
Our Board of Directors periodically reviews its leadership structure to evaluate the structure it deems best for the Company at any given point in time. Our Board of Directors does not have a policy on whether the role of Chair and Chief Executive Officer should be separate or combined. If the Chair of the Board is not an independent director, the Board will designate one of the independent directors to serve as a lead independent director. Rose Hynes is the Board’s lead independent director.
Executive Sessions
In order to promote open discussion among independent directors, our board holds executive sessions of the non-executive directors regularly, but no less than once each year. These executive sessions are led by the Lead Independent Director or by another independent director designated by the Chair or the Lead Independent Director.
Board Qualifications & Diversity
The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for assessing the appropriate balance of criteria required of board members. The criteria that the committee considers includes a candidates ability to make a meaningful contribution to the board’s oversight of the business and affairs of the Company, specific experiences and skills, relevant industry background and knowledge, expertise, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, business judgment, time availability in light of other commitments, dedication, potential conflicts of interest, and other relevant factors that the committee considers appropriate in the context of the board’s needs.
Procedures for Recommending Individuals to Serve as Directors
The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee also considers director candidates recommended by Dole’s shareholders. Any shareholder who wishes to propose director nominees for consideration by our Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, but does not wish to present such proposal at an Annual General Meeting of shareholders, may do so at any time by sending each proposed nominee’s name and a description of their qualifications for board membership to the chair of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee by sending an email to Jared.Gale@dole.com or in writing, c/o our Company Secretary, at Dole plc, 29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7, D07 PH36, Ireland . The recommendation should contain all of the information regarding the nominee required under the “Director Member Nomination at Annual General Meeting” provisions of our Articles
10
of Association (which can be provided free of charge upon request by writing to our Company Secretary at the address listed above).
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board established an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nomination and Corporate
Governance Committee. These committees are each described below. Each of our board’s committees acts pursuant to a written charter, which was adopted and approved by our Board of Directors. Copies of the committees’ charters are available on our website at https://www.doleplc.com/investor-relations/governance/committees/default.aspx.
Committee Membership; Meetings and Attendance
During the fiscal year 2023:
| ● | our Board of Directors held 6 meetings; | |||||||
| ● | our Audit Committee held 5 meetings; | |||||||
| ● | our Compensation Committee held 9 meetings; and | |||||||
| ● | our Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee held 4 meetings. | |||||||
Each of our incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of our Board of Directors and the respective committees of which they were a member held during the period such incumbent director was a director during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are Kevin Toland (Chair), Imelda Hurley and Helen Nolan, all of whom meet the definition of “independent director” for purposes of serving on the audit committee under Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act and the NYSE corporate governance standards. Our Board of Directors has determined that each director appointed to the Audit Committee is financially literate, and each of Kevin Toland, Imelda Hurley and Helen Nolan qualify as “audit committee financial experts” and each is independent as defined under NYSE listing standards.
The Audit Committee, among other things:
• reviews the audit plans and findings of our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal audit and risk review staff, as well as the results of regulatory examinations, and tracks management’s corrective action plans where necessary;
• reviews our financial statements, including any significant financial items and/or changes in accounting policies, with our senior management and independent registered public accounting firm;
• reviews our financial risk and control procedures, compliance programs and significant tax, legal and regulatory matters;
• has the sole discretion to appoint annually our independent registered public accounting firm, evaluate its independence and performance and set clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent registered public accounting firm;
• discusses with management our risk assessment and risk management policies and processes; and
11
• establishes procedures for the receipt and treatment of complaints and employee concerns regarding our financial statements and auditing process.
Compensation Committee
The members of the Compensation Committee are Michael Meghen (Chair) and Kevin Toland, both of whom are “non-employee” directors as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act.
The Compensation Committee, among other things:
• oversees the compensation and benefit plans and practices applicable to the Company’s key management personnel, including its executive directors, and any incentive-compensation and equity-based plans that are subject to Board approval;
• reviews and approves the salaries, benefits and equity incentive grants of executive directors;
• reviews and approves corporate goals and objectives relevant to executive director compensation, evaluates executive director performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determines executive director compensation based on that evaluation;
• reviews and approves the terms of any employment agreements, severance arrangements, change in control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive directors; and
• performs such duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to the Board or the Committee under the terms of any compensation or other employee benefit plan, including any incentive-compensation or equity-based plan.
Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee
The members of the Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee are Rose Hynes (Chair), Michael Meghen and Timothy George.
The Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee, among other things:
• reviews the performance of our Board of Directors and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the selection of candidates, qualification and competency requirements for service on our Board of Directors and the suitability of proposed nominees as directors;
• advises our Board of Directors with respect to the corporate governance principles applicable to us;
• oversees the evaluation of our Board of Directors;
• recommends guidelines or rules to cover specific categories of transactions; and
• reviews and approves in advance any proposed related person transactions.
Risk Oversight
Our board believes that effective risk management and control processes are critical to Dole’s safety and soundness, our ability to predict and manage the challenges that Dole may face and, ultimately, Dole’s long-term corporate success.
In general, management is responsible for the day-to-day oversight and management of strategic, operational, legal, compliance, cybersecurity and financial risks, while our board, as a whole and through its committees, is responsible for the oversight of our risk management framework. Consistent with this approach, management reviews both the framework and certain specific risks with our board and Audit Committee at regular board and Audit Committee meetings as part of management presentations that focus on particular business functions, operations, or strategies, and presents steps taken by management to eliminate or mitigate such risks. While our board is ultimately responsible for the risk oversight of our Company, our Audit Committee has primary
12
responsibility for management and mitigation of the risks facing our Company, including major financial and control risks, and oversight of the measures initiated by management to monitor and control such risks.
Our Audit Committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Our Compensation Committee has responsibility to review the risks arising from our compensation policies and practices applicable to all employees and evaluate policies and practices that could mitigate any such risk. Our Nomination and Corporate Governance Committee has responsibility to review risks relating to our corporate governance practices and considers and approves or disapproves any related person transactions. These committees provide updates on our risk management practices to our full board, as necessary. Our Board believes that the Company’s current leadership structure supports its risk oversight function.
Communications with Directors
Shareholders and other interested parties who wish to communicate with our board or any individual director may do so by sending an email to jared.gale@dole.com. or in writing, c/o our Company Secretary, at Dole plc, 29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7, D07 PH36, Ireland. Communications we receive that relate to accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters or securities law matters will be referred to the Audit Committee unless the communication is directed otherwise. You may communicate anonymously and/or confidentially. Each communication will be reviewed by our Company Secretary to determine whether it is appropriate for presentation to our board or the applicable director(s). The purpose of this screening is to allow our board (or the applicable individual director(s)) to avoid having to consider irrelevant or inappropriate communications (such as advertisements, solicitations, product inquiries or any offensive or otherwise inappropriate materials).
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is posted on our website at https://www.doleplc.com/investor-relations/governance/governance-documents that applies to all employees and each of our directors and officers, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Written copies of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are available free of charge upon written request to us at the address on the first page of this proxy statement. If we make any substantive amendments to the code of conduct and ethics or grant any waivers, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of these codes to our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, we will disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Our board also adopted principles of corporate governance to formalize its governance practices, which serve as a framework within which our Board of Directors and its committees operate. These principles cover a number of areas, including the role of our Board of Directors, board composition and leadership structure, director independence, director selection, qualification and election, director compensation, executive sessions, Chief Executive Officer evaluation, succession planning, annual board assessments, board committees, director orientation and continuing education, shareholder engagement and others. A copy of our corporate governance guidelines is available on our website at https://www.doleplc.com/investor-relations/governance/governance-documents.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of the members of the Compensation Committee are currently, or has been at any time, one of the Company’s officers or employees. None of the Company’s executive officers currently serves, or has served during the last year, as a member of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee.
13
Prohibitions on Hedging and Pledging Transactions
Our Insider Trading Policy specifically prohibits our directors, officers and employees, as well as family members, such as spouses, minor children, adult family members who share the same household, and any other person or entity whose securities trading decisions are influenced or controlled by the officer, director or employee from directly or indirectly hedging the Company’s equity securities. Pledging of company securities in a margin account or as collateral for a loan is also prohibited without prior written approval of the Company.
14
PROPOSAL 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
There are three Class III directors whose term of office expires at the Annual General Meeting. Rory Byrne, Timothy George and Imelda Hurley, the current Class III directors, are standing for re-election at this Annual General Meeting for three-year terms. Our Board has recommended and approved Rory Byrne, Timothy George and Imelda Hurley as nominees for election as Class III directors at the Annual General Meeting. If elected at the Annual General Meeting, each nominee will serve until the 2027 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders or until their successor has been duly elected and qualified, or, if sooner, until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal. Information concerning these nominees and other continuing directors appears under the “Composition of the Board of Directors” section above. Each nominee has consented to serve as a director, if elected, and all of the nominees are currently directors. We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees will be unavailable or, if elected, will decline to serve. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to stand for election as a director, proxies will be voted for any substitute as designated by our Board, or alternatively, our Board may leave a vacancy on our board or reduce the size of our Board.
As required under Irish law and our Articles of Association, our directors will be elected by way of an ordinary resolution at a general meeting, which means that they will be elected by a majority of the votes cast. In contested elections, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the relevant general meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. If the number of the directors is reduced below the fixed minimum number, the remaining director or directors may appoint an additional director or additional directors to make up such minimum or may convene a general meeting for the purpose of making such appointment.
The text of the resolution in respect of Proposal 1 is as follows:
“By separate resolutions, to appoint the following as Directors: (i) Rory Byrne; (ii) Timothy George; and (iii) Imelda Hurley.
| FOR | OUR BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES NAMED ABOVE. | ||||||||||
15
PROPOSAL 2 — NON-BINDING RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND BINDING AUTHORIZATION OF THE BOARD TO DETERMINE ITS REMUNERATION
The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of our independent registered public accounting firm. In accordance with its charter, the Audit Committee evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, performance and independence at least annually.
Our Audit Committee has selected KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024. KPMG has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since 2021. The members of the Audit Committee and our Board of Directors believe that the continued retention of KPMG as Dole’s independent registered public accounting firm is in the best interests of Dole and its shareholders.
Although ratification is not required by our Articles of Association or otherwise, the Board is submitting the selection of KPMG to our shareholders for ratification because we value our shareholders’ views on the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG has served as our auditor since our initial public offering in 2021, and we believe that the continued retention of KPMG is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. If our shareholders fail to ratify the selection, it will be regarded as notice to the Board and the Audit Committee to consider the selection of a different firm. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee in its discretion may select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders.
One or more representatives of KPMG are expected to be present at the Annual General Meeting and will have an opportunity to make a statement if they wish and be available to respond to appropriate questions.
In addition, our shareholders are being asked to authorize the board of directors, acting through the Audit Committee, to determine the remuneration of KPMG. This authorization is required by Irish law. We incurred the following fees from KPMG for professional services for the years ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
| December 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | |||||||
| Principal Accountant Fees: | (U.S. Dollars in thousands) | |||||||
| Audit fees | $9,410 | $9,145 | ||||||
| Tax fees | $462 | $454 | ||||||
| Audit-related fees | $8 | $20 | ||||||
| Total Fees | $9,880 | $9,619 | ||||||
As required under Irish law, the resolution in respect of Proposal 2 is an ordinary resolution that requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast.
16
The text of the resolution in respect of Proposal 2 is as follows:
“To ratify, in a non-binding vote, the appointment of KPMG as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Company until the next annual general meeting of the Company in 2025 and to authorize, in a binding vote, the Board, acting through the Audit Committee, to determine its remuneration as statutory auditor for the year ending 31 December 2024.”
| FOR | OUR BOARD, UPON RECOMMENDATION OF OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF KPMG AS THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM AND AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO FIX THE REMUNERATION OF KPMG FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024. | ||||||||||
17
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP BY PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS, MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS
The following table sets forth each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our Ordinary shares as of February 29, 2024. Our major shareholders do not have different voting rights. Each of the shareholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the shareholder, unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.
Shares Beneficially Owned at March 11, 2022 | |||||||||||
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Shares | Percentage | |||||||||
Greater than 5% Shareholders | |||||||||||
David H. Murdock(1) | 11,917,263 | 12.6% | |||||||||
Pale Fire Capital SE(2) | 7,667,360 | 8.1% | |||||||||
Balkan Investment Unlimited Company and related parties(3) | 7,299,375 | 7.7% | |||||||||
Rubic Capital Management LP(4) | 4,805,000 | 5.1% | |||||||||
(1)Consists of 9,840,699 Ordinary shares held by The Murdock Group, LLC ("TMG"), which is owned by The David H. Murdock Living Trust dated May 28, 1986, as amended, of which Mr. Murdock is the sole trustee, and 2,076,564 Ordinary shares which are held indirectly through Castle& Cooke Investments, Inc., which is wholly owned by TMG, which is owed by The David Murdock Living Trust dated May 28, 1986, as amended, of which Mr. Murdock is the sole trustee.
(2)The number of shares beneficially owned is based on information set forth in a Schedule 13D of Pale Fire Capital SE ("Pale Fire Capital"), filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024. The filing indicated that Pale Fire Capital held 7,667,360 Ordinary Shares as of December 31, 2023.
(3)Consists of (i) 2,231,370 Ordinary shares held directly by Balkan Investment Unlimited Company (“BIUC”) and (ii) 5,068,005 Ordinary shares held by related parties of BIUC. Mary McCann has indirect voting and dispositive power over the shares held by BIUC and related parties in Dole plc. Carl McCann is one of the sons of Mrs. McCann.
(4)In compliance with the provisions of the Irish Companies Act 2014, Rubric Capital Management LP gave notice on February 27, 2024 of a notifiable interest in the share capital of the Company of 4,805,000 ordinary shares.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Ordinary shares as of February 29, 2024 by our executive officers and directors. Each of the shareholders listed has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by the shareholder unless noted otherwise, subject to community property laws where applicable.
18
Ordinary Shares (#) | Ordinary Shares (%) | Stock Options (#) | Time-Based RSUs (#) | RSUs with a market condition (#) | |||||||||||||
Carl McCann | 735,642 | 0.775 % | 106,026 | 99,959 | 70,272 | ||||||||||||
Rory Byrne | 408,482 | 0.430 % | 150,669 | 142,613 | 100,426 | ||||||||||||
Johan Lindén | 110,000 | 0.116 % | 89,285 | 90,901 | 65,901 | ||||||||||||
Jacinta Devine | 31,833 | 0.034 % | — | 23,907 | 22,167 | ||||||||||||
Timothy George | 7,901 | 0.008 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Imelda Hurley | 7,095 | 0.007 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Rose Hynes | 14,093 | 0.015 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Michael Meghen | 9,734 | 0.010 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Helen Nolan | 13,677 | 0.014 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Jimmy Tolan | 17,334 | 0.018 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Kevin Toland | 21,521 | 0.023 % | — | 6,381 | — | ||||||||||||
Total | 1,377,312 | 1.451 % | 345,980 | 402,047 | 258,766 | ||||||||||||
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
On February 16, 2021, a Transaction Agreement was entered between Dole Limited (formerly known as Pearmill Limited), Total Produce, TP USA and Merger Sub (“Total Produce Parties”), DFC Holdings, LLC (“DFC Holdings) and the Castle & Cooke Holdings, Inc. (“C&C Parties”), pursuant to which Total Produce agreed to combine with DFC Holdings. The Transaction was completed on July 29, 2021.
The C&C Parties holding Ordinary shares received in connection with the IPO and the Merger are entitled to certain registration rights pursuant to a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) entered into concurrently with the consummation of the Transaction. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the C&C Parties are entitled to make long form and short form demands, subject to the conditions therein, that we register such Ordinary shares. In addition, the C&C Parties have certain “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to registration statements filed hereafter. If exercised, these registration rights would enable holders to transfer these securities without restriction under the Securities Act, when the applicable registration statement is declared effective. We will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements. The Registration Rights Agreement also contains customary indemnification and contribution provisions.
Our Articles of Association provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Balmoral International Land Holdings plc (“Balmoral”) is a related party of Dole plc, because the Chair of the Board of Dole plc is also the Chair of the Board of Balmoral. In the years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, a subsidiary of Dole sub-leased or leased buildings to or from Balmoral, was in receipt of property management services from Balmoral and provided IT management services to Balmoral. For the years ended December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, total net expenses related to Balmoral were $1.9 million, $2.0 million and $1.6 million, respectively.
Balkan Investment Company (“Balkan”) is a related party of the Company because it is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company’s Ordinary shares. In the year ended December 31, 2023, a subsidiary of Dole
19
subleased a portion of a building and provided other services to Balkan. Total income received for the years ended December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, were $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, and not material for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Mr. Murdock is a significant shareholder of Dole plc and former owner of Legacy Dole. Mr. Murdock owns, inter alia, the real estate company, Castle and Cooke, Inc. Net expenses from various companies of Mr. Murdock were $5.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and primarily relate to the lease of equipment. Net expenses amounted to $4.3 million and $0.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively.
During the normal course of business, Dole has sales to and purchases from unconsolidated affiliates.
Natalia Martinez, the spouse of Mr. Byrne, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, is the Finance Director of EurobananCanarias S.A., one of the Company’s subsidiaries. Ms. Martinez has been an employee of the Group since 1994. Ms. Martinez’s total compensation is commensurate with the amounts paid to similarly situated employees.
David McCann, the brother of the Company’s Executive Chair Mr. Carl McCann, serves as an advisor to the Company through services rendered to Dole Management Services Limited, one of the Company’s subsidiaries. Mr. David McCann’s total compensation is commensurate with the amounts paid to similarly situated employees.
Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions
Our Board of Directors has adopted a written related person transaction policy that sets forth certain policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions, which comprise any transaction, arrangement or relationship in which Dole plc or any of its subsidiaries was, is or will be a participant, the amount of which involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. A “related person” for purposes of such policy includes: (i) any person who is, or at any time during the applicable period was, one of our executive officers or one of the directors; (ii) any person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Ordinary shares; (iii) any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons (which means any child, stepchild, parent, stepparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law or sister-in-law) of a director, executive officer or a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our voting stock and any person (other than a tenant or employee) sharing the household of such director, executive officer or beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Ordinary shares; and (iv) any firm, corporation or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is a partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 10% or greater beneficial ownership interest.
20
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
This proxy statement is being provided to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies by our Board of Directors of the Company for use at the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, May 29, at 1 p.m., Irish Daylight Time, (8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) or at any adjournments or postponements thereof.
1.Where is the Annual General Meeting being held?
Our Board of Directors has determined that the Annual General Meeting will be held in person at the Arthur Cox Offices, Ten Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, D02 T380 Ireland, at 1:00 p.m. Irish Daylight Time (8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time), subject to any adjournments or postponements.
2. What proposals will be addressed at the Annual General Meeting?
Shareholders will be asked to consider the following proposals at the Annual General Meeting:
•By separate resolutions, to approve the appointment as Directors of the following nominees:(i) Rory Byrne; (ii) Timothy George; and (iii) Imelda Hurley.
•To ratify, in a non-binding vote, the appointment of KPMG as auditors of the Company and to authorize, in a binding vote, the Board to fix the remuneration of KPMG as statutory auditors.
Additionally, shareholders are entitled to vote on such other business as may properly be presented at the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. We are not aware of any matters to be voted on by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting other than those included in these proxy materials. If any matter is properly presented at the Annual General Meeting, your executed proxy gives your proxy holder discretionary authority to vote your shares in accordance with their best judgment with respect to the matter.
3. Who can vote at the Annual General Meeting?
Shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2024, the record date, are entitled to participate in and vote at the Annual General Meeting. Pursuant to our Articles of Association, holders of our Ordinary shares of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders.
As of the record date, there were 94,929,179 shares of our Ordinary shares of common stock outstanding. Pursuant to our Articles of Association, holders of Ordinary shares of common stock do not have cumulative voting rights.
4.What is the difference between a shareholder of record and a beneficial owner of shares held in street name?
•Shareholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered the shareholder of record with respect to those shares, and the proxy materials were sent directly to you by the Company.
•Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name. If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, dealer, custodian or other similar organization acting as nominee (each, a “broker”), then you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and the proxy materials were forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the shareholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual General Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. Those instructions are contained in a “vote instruction form.”
21
5.How can I attend, participate in and vote at the Annual General Meeting?
Shareholders of record and beneficial owners of shares of our Ordinary shares as of the record date may attend and participate in the Annual General Meeting, including voting and asking questions during the Annual General Meeting.
The Annual General Meeting will begin at 1 p.m. Irish Daylight Time (8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time) on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Access will begin at approximately 12:45 p.m. Irish Daylight Time (7:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time), and we encourage you to provide sufficient time before the Annual General Meeting begins to check in.
If you were a shareholder as of the close of business on April 4, 2024, the record date, you may vote shares held in your name as the shareholder of record or shares for which you are the beneficial owner. Before the Annual General Meeting, you may vote:
● By mail, by completing, signing, and dating your proxy card (if applicable).
● Online at www.investorvote.com/DOLE if you are a Shareholder of Record or at www.proxyvote.com if you are a Beneficial Owner.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual General Meeting, we encourage you to fill out and return the proxy card or vote by proxy on the Internet as instructed below to ensure your vote is counted. Proxies submitted online must be received no later than 04.59 am Irish Standard Time on May 29, 2024, (11.59 pm Eastern Daylight Time on May 28, 2024.
6. How does the Board of Directors recommend that I vote?
The Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” each director nominees included in Proposal 1 and “FOR” Proposal 2.
7. How many votes must be present to hold the Annual General Meeting?
In order for us to conduct the Annual General Meeting, a quorum must be present, consisting of not less than two persons present in person or by proxy and having the right to attend and vote at the meeting and together holding shares representing more than 50% of the votes that may be cast by all members. Abstentions and withhold votes are counted as “shares present” at the Annual General Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. Proxies submitted by brokers or other holders of record holding shares for you as a beneficial owner that do not indicate a vote for some or all of the proposals because that holder does not have voting authority and has not received voting instructions from you (so-called “broker non-votes”) are also considered “shares present” for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. If you are a beneficial owner, these holders are permitted to vote your shares on the ratification of the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm, even if they do not receive voting instructions from you.
8. What is a proxy card?
The proxy card enables you to appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or a designated person as your representatives at the Annual General Meeting. By completing and returning the proxy card, you are authorizing such persons to vote your shares at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with your instructions on the proxy card. This way, your shares will be voted whether or not you attend the Annual General Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Annual General Meeting, it is strongly recommended that you complete and return your proxy card before the specified deadline in case your plans change. If a proposal comes up for vote at the Annual General Meeting that is not on the proxy card, the proxies will vote your shares, under your proxy, according to their best judgment.
22
9. Will my shares be voted if I do not provide my proxy?
If you hold your shares directly in your own name, they will not be voted if you do not provide a proxy.
Your shares may be voted under certain circumstances if they are held in the name of a broker. Brokers generally have the authority to vote shares not voted by customers on certain “routine” matters. The “routine” proposal in this proxy statement is Proposal 2, for which your broker has discretionary voting authority under the NYSE rules to vote your shares, even if the broker does not receive voting instructions from you. If you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal for which the broker does not have discretionary authority to vote.
Proposals 1 is considered “non-routine” such that, if you are a beneficial owner whose shares are held of record by a broker and you do not provide voting instructions, a broker non-vote will occur, and your shares will not be voted on that proposal.
Brokers cannot exercise discretionary authority regarding non-routine proposals for beneficial owners who have not returned proxies to the brokers (so-called “broker non-votes”). As mentioned above, in the case of broker non-votes, and in cases where you abstain from voting on a matter when present at the Annual General Meeting and entitled to vote, those shares will still be counted for purposes of determining if a quorum is present but will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on Proposals 1.
10. What is the voting standard for each of the proposals discussed in the proxy statement?
| Proposals | Voting standard | Broker discretionary voting allowed | Broker non-votes | Abstentions | ||||||||||
1.Appointment of Directors | Majority of votes cast | No | No effect | No effect | ||||||||||
1.Ratify the appointment and authorization of the Board to fix the remuneration of the auditors | Majority of votes cast | Yes | N/A | No effect | ||||||||||
11. Can I change my vote after I have voted?
You may revoke your proxy and change your vote at any time before the final vote at the Annual General Meeting. If you are a Shareholder of Record, your proxy can be revoked in several ways: (i) by timely delivery of a written revocation to the Corporate Secretary, at Dole plc, 29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7, D07 PH36; (ii) by submitting another valid proxy bearing a later date (including by voting on the Internet or mailing a new Proxy Card); or (iii) by voting during your attendance at the annual meeting. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held by a broker, you must contact your broker in order to revoke your proxy.
Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, you must instruct your broker, bank or other nominee that you wish to change your vote by following the procedures on the voting form provided to you by the broker, bank or other nominee.
23
12. How are votes counted?
You may vote “FOR”, “AGAINST” or “ABSTAIN” with respect to each of the proposals presented. A vote “FOR” will be counted in favor of the proposal or respective director nominee and a vote “AGAINST” will be counted against each proposal or respective nominee. An “ABSTAIN” vote will not be counted “FOR” or “AGAINST” and will have no effect on the voting results for any of the proposals in this proxy statement. Computershare will act as our Inspector of Election at the Annual General Meeting and assist us in tabulating the votes.
13. Where do I find the voting results of the Annual General Meeting?
The final voting results will be tallied by the inspector of election and published on the Company’s website and on a Form 6-K, which the Company will file with the SEC within four business days following the Annual General Meeting
14. Who bears the cost of soliciting proxies?
The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form and will reimburse brokerage firms and others for expenses involved in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners or soliciting their execution. In addition to solicitations by mail, the Company, through its directors and officers, may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by electronic means. Such directors and officers will not receive any special remuneration for these efforts. The Company has also engaged Georgeson LLC as its proxy solicitor.
24
OTHER MATTERS
Other Business
We are not currently aware of any business to be acted upon at the Annual General Meeting other than the matters discussed in this proxy statement. The form of proxy accompanying this proxy statement confers discretionary authority upon the named proxy holders with respect to amendments or variations to the matters identified in the accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting and with respect to any other matters which may properly come before the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If other matters do properly come before the Annual General Meeting, or at any such adjournment or postponement of the Annual General Meeting, we expect that Ordinary shares of our common stock represented by properly submitted proxies will be voted by the proxy holders in accordance with the recommendations of our Board.
Submission of Advance Notice Proposals for the 2025 Annual General Meeting
Our Articles of Association provide notice procedures for shareholders to nominate a person as a director and to propose business to be considered by shareholders at an Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (but not for inclusion in the proxy statement). Notice of a nomination or other proposal of business must be delivered to the Company by email at jared.gale@dole.com or in writing, c/o our Company Secretary, at Dole plc, 29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7, D07 PH36, Ireland no later than the close of business on the 90th day, nor earlier than the close of business on the 60th day, prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual General Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the Annual General Meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days from such anniversary date, to be timely notice by the shareholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such Annual General Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 60th day prior to such Annual General Meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the Annual General Meeting is first made by us. Accordingly, for our 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, notice of a nomination or proposal must be delivered to us no earlier than the close of business on February 28, 2025 and no later than the close of business on March 30, 2025. Nominations and proposals also must satisfy other requirements established by our Articles of Association.
For purposes of these proposals, “close of business” shall mean 6:00 p.m. Irish Daylight Time (1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time) at the principal executive offices of the Company, located at 29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7, D07 PH36 on any calendar day, whether or not the day is a business day.
Householding Information
Unless we have received contrary instructions, we may send a single copy of the Notice or this proxy statement to any household at which two or more shareholders reside. This process, known as “householding,” reduces the volume of duplicate information received at any one household, helps to reduce our expenses, and benefits the environment. However, if shareholders prefer to receive multiple sets of our disclosure documents at the same address this year or in future years, the shareholders should follow the instructions described below. Similarly, if an address is shared with another shareholder and together, both of the shareholders would like to receive only a single set of our disclosure documents, the shareholders should follow these instructions: If the shares are registered in the name of the shareholder, the shareholder should notify our transfer agent, Computershare by email at web.queries@computershare.com, or in writing to, Computershare, PO Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078, United States, to inform us of your request. If a broker holds the shares, the shareholder should contact such broker directly.
25
Where You Can Find More Information
We file annual reports and other reports and information with the SEC. We distribute on request to our shareholders annual reports containing financial statements audited by our independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the reports and other information are filed through Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (known as “EDGAR”) system and are publicly available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website, located at http://www.sec.gov.
If you have any questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, Georgeson LLC, toll free at 1-866-356-0709.
We will provide without charge to you, upon written or oral request, a copy of the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (including the financial statements and schedules) and a copy of the Irish Financial Statements. Any requests for copies of information, reports or other filings with the SEC should be directed to the Company Secretary, at Dole plc, 29 North Anne Street, Dublin 7, D07 PH36, Ireland. The Annual Report, our Irish Financial Statements and this proxy statement are also available online at
https://www.doleplc.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations/default.aspx
26