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Diageo PLC Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2011

Sep 12, 2011

5249_agm-r_2011-09-12_9d89c41d-f05f-4b0d-83be-08ed8acc814d.pdf

Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement

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DIAGEO

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

This document is important and requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or other professional independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold all of your shares, please pass this document and its enclosures to the stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale was effected, for transmission to the purchaser.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Diageo plc will be held at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 at 2.30 pm.

The business of the AGM will be as follows (explanations of the resolutions are given in the Chairman's letter on page 9 of this AGM notice):

Report and accounts 2011

  1. To receive the directors' and auditor's reports and the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2011.

Directors' remuneration report 2011

  1. To approve the directors' remuneration report for the year ended 30 June 2011.

Declaration of final dividend

  1. To declare a final dividend on the ordinary shares of 24.90 pence per share for the year ended 30 June 2011.

Directors' re-election

  1. To re-elect PB Bruzelius as a director.
  2. To re-elect LM Danon as a director.
  3. To re-elect Lord Davies as a director.
  4. To re-elect BD Holden as a director.
  5. To re-elect Dr FB Humer as a director.
  6. To re-elect D Mahlan as a director.
  7. To re-elect PG Scott as a director.
  8. To re-elect HT Stitzer as a director.
  9. To re-elect PS Walsh as a director.

Re-appointment of auditor

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: THAT KPMG Audit Plc be hereby re-appointed as auditor of the company to hold office from the conclusion of this AGM until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the company.

Remuneration of auditor

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: THAT the board be hereby authorised to determine the auditor's remuneration.

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Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Authority to allot shares

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: THAT the board be hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to allot shares in the company and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the company:

a) up to a nominal amount of £241,511,000 (such amount to be reduced by the nominal amount allotted or granted under paragraph (b) below in excess of such sum); and

b) comprising equity securities (as defined in the Companies Act 2006 (the 'Act')) up to a nominal amount of £483,023,000 (including within such limit any shares and rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares allotted under paragraph (a) above) in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:

i. to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and

ii. to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities or as the board otherwise consider necessary,

and so that the board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, or legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter (including any such problems arising by virtue of equity securities being represented by depositary receipts),

such authorities to apply until the conclusion of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 31 December 2012) but, in each case, so that the company may make offers and enter into agreements during the relevant period which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares to be granted after the authority ends and the board may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.

Disapplication of pre-emption rights

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution: THAT if resolution 15 is passed, the board be hereby given power to allot equity securities (as defined in the Act) for cash under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell ordinary shares held by the company as treasury shares for cash, in each case free of the restriction in section 561(1) of the Act, such power to be limited:

a) to the allotment of equity securities in connection with an offer of, or invitation to apply for, equity securities (but in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (b) of resolution 15, by way of a rights issue only):

i. to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and

ii. to holders of other equity securities, as required by the rights of those securities, or as the board otherwise considers necessary,


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

and so that the board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, or legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter (including any such problems arising by virtue of equity securities being represented by depositary receipts); and

b) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (a) of resolution 15 and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares for cash to the allotment (otherwise than under paragraph (a) above) of equity securities up to a nominal amount of £39,843,000; and

c) to the allotment of equity securities in connection with the company's employee share plans and the company's employee share option plans for employees of joint ventures in which the company and/or any of its subsidiary undertakings (as defined in the Act) participates,

such power to apply until the conclusion of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 31 December 2012) but during this period the company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted after the power ends and the board may allot equity securities under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.

Authority to purchase own ordinary shares

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution: THAT the company be hereby authorised for the purposes of section 701 of the Act to make one or more market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of its ordinary shares of 28% pence each ('Ordinary Share(s)'), on such terms and in such manner as the board may from time to time determine but subject to the following restrictions and provisions:

a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 250,399,000;

b) the minimum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is 28% pence;

c) the maximum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is the higher of:

i. an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for an Ordinary Share (as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List) for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which that Ordinary Share is contracted to be purchased; and

ii. the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the London Stock Exchange at the time the purchase is carried out; and


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

d) unless previously revoked or varied, this authority will expire at the conclusion of next year's AGM or on 31 December 2012, whichever is the sooner, but so that the company may enter into, prior to such expiry, a contract to purchase Ordinary Shares which will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after such expiry, and may purchase Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract under this authority.

Authority to make political donations and/or to incur political expenditure in the European Union ('EU')

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution: THAT, in accordance with sections 366 and 367 of the Act, the company and all companies that are at any time during the period for which this resolution has effect subsidiaries of the company be hereby authorised to:

a) make political donations (as defined in section 364 of the Act) to political parties (as defined in section 363 of the Act) or independent election candidates (as defined in section 363 of the Act), not exceeding £200,000 in total;

b) make political donations (as defined in section 364 of the Act) to political organisations other than political parties (as defined in section 363 of the Act) not exceeding £200,000 in total; and

c) incur political expenditure (as defined in section 365 of the Act) not exceeding £200,000 in total;

in each case during the period beginning with the date of passing this resolution and ending at the end of next year's AGM or on 31 December 2012, whichever is the sooner, and provided that the aggregate amount of political donations and political expenditure so made and incurred by the company and its subsidiaries pursuant to this resolution shall not exceed £200,000.

Reduced notice of a general meeting other than an annual general meeting

  1. To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution: THAT a general meeting of the company, other than an AGM, may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.

By order of the board

Paul Tunnacliffe

Secretary

12 September 2011

Diageo plc

Registered office:

Lakeside Drive

Park Royal

London

NW10 7HQ

Registered in England No. 23307


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Notes

(1) Copies of the directors' service contracts (or, where appropriate, letters of appointment) are available for inspection during normal business hours at the company's registered office on any business day and will be available at the place where the AGM is being held from 15 minutes prior to and during the AGM.

(2) To be admitted to the AGM, shareholders are asked to bring their admittance pass or notice of availability card that they have received through the post and be able to confirm their name, address and unique investor code as it appears on the register.

(3) Any shareholder attending the AGM has the right to ask questions. The company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the AGM but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the AGM or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on the company's website (www.diageo.com) in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the company or the good order of the AGM that the question be answered.

(4) Only holders of Ordinary Shares on the register at 6.00 pm on the day prior to the day immediately before the AGM or any adjourned AGM (as the case may be) shall be entitled to attend and/or vote at the AGM. Such shareholders can vote in respect of the number of shares registered in their names at that time, but any subsequent changes to the register shall be disregarded in determining rights to attend and vote.

(5) Any shareholder is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of his/her rights to attend the AGM and to speak and act on his/her behalf. If a shareholder appoints more than one proxy, each proxy must be appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the company. A Form of Proxy which may be used to make such appointment and give proxy instructions can be found on the company's website (www.diageo.com) or can be requested from the Registrar at the address below. To be effective, a duly completed Form of Proxy, together with any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed or a notarially certified copy of such power or authority, must reach The Registrar, Diageo plc, Edinburgh Park, 5 Lochside Way, Edinburgh EH12 9DT or, in the case of a proxy appointed electronically, the electronic address specified for this purpose on the company's website (please see 'Electronic Voting' on the homepage of www.diageo.com) by 2.30 pm on Monday, 17 October 2011 (or not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for any adjourned AGM). Participants in the company's Employee Share Plans or holders of shares in the Diageo Sharestore should refer to note 10. To appoint a proxy electronically you will need your unique investor code (which can be found on either your share certificate, dividend tax voucher or similar documentation as issued by the Registrar). Please note that any electronic communication that is found to contain a computer virus will not be accepted.

If two or more valid but differing appointments of a proxy are received in


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

respect of the same share for use at the same AGM, the one which is last received (regardless of its date or the date of its signature) shall be treated as replacing and revoking the others as regards that share; if the company is unable to determine which was last received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share.

(6) Unless voting instructions are indicated on the Form of Proxy, a proxy may vote or withhold his vote as he thinks fit on the resolutions or on any other business (including amendments to resolutions) which may come before the AGM. A vote withheld is not a vote in law and will not be counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes for or against a resolution.

(7) If you are an ordinary shareholder and wish to attend the AGM, the return of the Form of Proxy or the appointment of a proxy via the electronic voting section of the company's website or via CREST will not prevent you from attending and voting in person. In the case of joint holders, any one holder may vote. If more than one holder is present at the AGM, only the vote of the senior will be accepted, seniority being determined by the order in which names appear on the register.

(8) A shareholder must inform the company in writing of any termination of the authority of a proxy.

(9) CREST members who wish to appoint and/or give instructions to a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so in accordance with the procedures described in the CREST manual (available via www.euroclear.com/CREST). In order for a proxy appointment made through

CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a 'CREST Proxy Instruction') must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID R015) by the latest time(s) for receipt of proxy appointments as set out in note 4 above. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Application Host) from which the issuer's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means. The company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a service provider(s) should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his/her CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system provider are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

(10) Participants in the company's Employee Share Plans and holders of shares in the Diageo Sharestore should complete the Letter of Direction section of the Form of Proxy. Those who are ordinary shareholders and/or participants in such plans and/or holders of shares in the Diageo Sharestore should complete both the Form of Proxy and the Letter of Direction section. The Letter of Direction must reach the Registrar (at the address specified in note 5), or in the case of a Letter of Direction completed electronically, the electronic address specified for this purpose on the company's website (please see 'Electronic Voting' on the homepage of www.diageo.com), by 2.30 pm on Thursday, 13 October 2011. The votes of employees or former employees of the company will be taken to include their Employee Share Plans and Sharestore shares together with holdings in their own name unless they notify the Registrar to the contrary at least 48 hours before the AGM. Holders of shares in the Diageo Sharestore should contact the Registrar and request a letter of admittance should they wish to attend the company's AGM.

(11) Any corporation which is a shareholder can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a shareholder provided that, if it is appointing more than one corporate representative, it does not do so in relation to the same shares.

(12) On arrival at the AGM venue, all those entitled to vote will be required to register and collect a poll card. In order to facilitate these arrangements, please arrive at the AGM venue in good time. You will be given instructions on how to complete your poll card at the AGM.

(13) As soon as practicable following the AGM, the results of the voting at the AGM and the number of votes cast for and against and the number of votes withheld in respect of each resolution will be announced via a Regulatory Information Service and placed on the company's website (www.diageo.com).

(14) A copy of this AGM notice has been provided for information only to persons who have been nominated by a shareholder to enjoy information rights under section 146 of the Act ('nominated persons'). The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies does not apply to nominated persons. However, a nominated person may, under an agreement between him and the shareholder by whom he was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the AGM or to have someone else so appointed. If a nominated person does not have such a right or does not wish to exercise it, he may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.

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Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

(15) Under section 527 of the Act shareholders that meet the threshold requirements set out in that section have the right to require the company to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to:

i. the audit of the company's accounts (including the auditor's report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the AGM; or
ii. any circumstance connected with an auditor of the company ceasing to hold office since the previous AGM at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with section 437 of the Act.

The company may not require the shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 527 or 528 of the Act. Where the company is required to place a statement on a website under section 527 of the Act, it must forward the statement to the company's auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the AGM includes any statement that the company has been required under section 527 of the Act to publish on a website.

(16) A copy of this AGM notice, and other information required by section 311(A) of the Act can be found at the company's website (www.diageo.com).

(17) Any electronic address provided either in this AGM notice or any related documents (including the Chairman's letter and Form of Proxy) may not be used to communicate with the company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

(18) The company's issued share capital at 19 August 2011 was 2,503,994,684 Ordinary Shares carrying one vote each, excluding any Ordinary Shares held as treasury shares. As at 19 August 2011, the company held 250,006,411 Ordinary Shares as treasury shares, representing 10% of the company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) as at that date. As at 19 August 2011, the total number of voting rights in the company was therefore 2,503,994,684.


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

To the ordinary shareholders, employees and former employees who are holders of ordinary shares in the Diageo Sharestore, participants in the Profit Sharing Plans, The Diageo plc 2009 International Share Match Plan and the 2001 Share Incentive Plan of Diageo ('Employee Share Plans') and, for information only, to participants in other Diageo share plans.

Dear Shareholder

Annual General Meeting

The AGM of Diageo plc will be held at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 at 2.30 pm.

My explanation of each of the resolutions to be proposed is set out below. Resolutions 1 to 12 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. Voting at the AGM will be by way of poll rather than on a show of hands, using a poll card. This is a more transparent method of voting as shareholder votes are to be counted according to the number of shares held. This will ensure an exact and definitive result.

Resolution 1 (report and accounts 2011)

These Diageo annual reports and accounts are for the year ended 30 June 2011.

Resolution 2 (directors' remuneration report 2011)

Sections 439 and 440 of the Act require that quoted companies put the directors' remuneration report to a vote of the shareholders. The vote is advisory only, however, and the directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on the resolution being passed.

Resolution 3 (declaration of final dividend)

The company paid an interim dividend of 15.50 pence per Ordinary Share in April 2011. The board recommends a final dividend of 24.90 pence per Ordinary Share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 40.40 pence per Ordinary Share. Subject to approval by shareholders, the final dividend will be paid on 24 October 2011 to shareholders on the register on 9 September 2011. A Dividend Reinvestment Plan ('DRIP') is available in respect of this dividend and the plan notice date is 3 October 2011. A DRIP booklet and mandate form are available from the Registrar at the address given in note 5 on page 5 of this AGM notice or from the company's website (www.diageo.com).

Resolutions 4 to 12 (directors seeking re-election)

In accordance with section B.7.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code published in June 2010, all of the directors of the company will stand for re-election with the exception of Lord Hollick and PA Walker, who will retire as directors at the AGM and will therefore not be seeking re-election. Lord Davies of Abersoch will succeed Lord Hollick as senior non-executive director with effect from 19 October 2011.

In relation to the re-election of PB Bruzelius, LM Danon, Lord Davies, BD Holden, PG Scott and HT Stitzer as non-executive directors, I can confirm that following formal performance evaluation, their performance continues to be effective and they continue to demonstrate commitment to their roles as non-executive directors, including commitment of the necessary time for board and committee meetings and other duties. Biographical details of the company's directors seeking re-election are set out in the Appendix to this letter.

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Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Resolution 13 (re-appointment of auditor)

At the AGM held on 14 October 2010, KPMG Audit Plc was re-appointed auditor of the company, to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid, such meeting being the AGM to be held on 19 October 2011. The company is required to appoint an auditor to serve for each financial year of the company. KPMG Audit Plc has agreed to continue as the company's auditor for the financial year ending 30 June 2012. Resolution 13 is to re-appoint KPMG Audit Plc for the financial year ending 30 June 2012.

Resolution 14 (remuneration of auditor)

Resolution 14 authorises the board to determine the remuneration of the company's auditor.

Resolution 15 (authority to allot shares)

At the AGM held on 14 October 2010, shareholders gave authority to the board, which will expire on 19 October 2011, to allot a maximum of £241,661,000 in nominal value of Ordinary Shares and any securities convertible into Ordinary Shares. Resolution 15 replaces the authority granted in 2010 and would allow the board to allot, or to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into Ordinary Shares:

  • Under paragraph (a), up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £241,511,000 (representing 834,664,000 Ordinary Shares). This amount represents approximately one-third of the company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) as at 19 August 2011, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this AGM notice (the 'Latest Practicable Date'); and

  • Under paragraph (b), up to an aggregate amount equal to £483,023,000 (representing 1,669,329,000 Ordinary Shares), to existing shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings, in connection with a rights issue, such amount to be reduced by any allotments made under paragraph (a) of this resolution. The amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two-thirds of the company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) as at the Latest Practicable Date.

The authorities sought under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this resolution will expire at the earlier of 31 December 2012 and the conclusion of next year's AGM.

The board will continue to seek to renew these authorities at each AGM, in accordance with current best practice and to provide flexibility to take advantage of business opportunities as these arise, including acquisitions. The board has no present firm intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under resolution 15, except, under paragraph (a), to satisfy options under the company's share option plans. The board intends to follow ABI recommendations in relation to the general power to allot.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, 250,006,411 Ordinary Shares are held by the company in treasury (representing approximately 10% of the total issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) of the company.


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Resolution 16 (disapplication of pre-emption rights)

Resolution 16 would give the board the authority to allot Ordinary Shares (or sell any Ordinary Shares which the company elects to hold in treasury) for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings.

This authority would be limited to allotments of new Ordinary Shares or sales of treasury shares, for cash, in connection with a rights issue or other pre-emptive offer or to allotments of equity securities to employees of joint ventures in which the group participates, or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £39,843,000 (representing 137,700,000 Ordinary Shares), equivalent to 5% of the issued Ordinary Share capital (including treasury shares) of the company as at the Latest Practicable Date. In respect of this aggregate nominal amount, the board confirms its intention to follow the provisions of the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles regarding cumulative usage of authorities of no more than 7.5% of the issued Ordinary Share capital (excluding treasury shares issued for cash) within a rolling 3 year period without prior consultation with shareholders. The board will continue to seek to renew this authority at each AGM, in accordance with current best practice.

This authority will expire at the earlier of 31 December 2012 and the conclusion of next year's AGM.

Resolution 17 (authority to purchase own ordinary shares)

At the AGM held on 14 October 2010, the shareholders granted authority for the company to buy up to a maximum of 250,554,000 of its own Ordinary Shares in the market.

Resolution 17 renews and replaces that authority and would allow the company to buy back up to 250,399,000 Ordinary Shares (i.e. £72,453,000 in nominal value) in the market (approximately 10% of the issued Ordinary Share capital, exclusive of treasury shares, at the Latest Practicable Date). The company had options to subscribe for Ordinary Shares outstanding at the Latest Practicable Date relating to 395,373 Ordinary Shares. This figure represents 0.02% of the issued Ordinary Share capital, exclusive of treasury shares, at the Latest Practicable Date and would, assuming no further Ordinary Shares are issued, represent 0.02% of the issued Ordinary Share capital if full authority to purchase shares (both the existing authority and that sought at this year's AGM) was used.

The resolution sets out the lowest and highest prices that the company can pay for the Ordinary Shares (for each Ordinary Share, the lowest being the nominal value of an Ordinary Share and the highest being the higher of (i) 105% of the average middle market quotation for an ordinary share as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days preceding the day of purchase and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the London Stock Exchange at the time the purchase is carried out). The authority will expire at the conclusion of next year's AGM or on 31 December 2012, if earlier. Any buy back would be by market purchases through the London Stock Exchange.


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Any Ordinary Shares so purchased would be either held as treasury shares or cancelled. In the period from 15 October 2010 to the Latest Practicable Date, 1,320,300 Ordinary Shares have been purchased and held as treasury shares under the existing authority.

The board would only authorise such purchases after careful consideration, taking account of other investment opportunities, appropriate gearing levels, the overall financial position of the group and whether the effect would be an increase on earnings per share and in the best interests of shareholders generally.

Resolution 18 (political donations and political expenditure in the European Union ('EU')) Under section 366 of the Act, the company is required to seek shareholders' authority for any political donations and/or political expenditure made by the company in the EU. On 14 October 2010 the board was granted authority to make such political donations and/or incur such political expenditure, capped at £200,000.

Within the EU, it has been the company's longstanding practice not to make payments to political parties and the intention is that this will remain the case. However, the legislation is very broadly drafted and may catch activities such as funding seminars and other functions to which politicians are invited, supporting certain bodies involved in policy review, and law reform and matching employees' donations to certain charities. The group made no donations to EU political organisations and incurred no EU political expenditure during the year. The group made contributions to non-EU political parties totalling £0.6 million during the year (2010 – £0.5 million). These were all made, consistent with applicable laws, to federal and state candidates

and committees in North America, where it is common practice to make political contributions. No particular political persuasion was supported and contributions were made with the aim of promoting a better understanding of the group and its views on commercial matters, as well as a generally improved business environment.

The board has decided to continue to seek shareholders' authority for political donations and political expenditure in the EU in case any of the company's normal activities are caught by the legislation. The authority sought would be capped at £200,000 for the next year. The authority will expire at the conclusion of next year's AGM or on 31 December 2012, if earlier. The board will continue to seek to renew this authority at each AGM, in accordance with current best practice.

Resolution 19 (reduced notice of a general meeting other than an annual general meeting) Changes made to the Act by the Companies (Shareholders' Rights) Regulations 2009 require the company to call general meetings (other than AGMs) on at least 21 clear days' notice unless the company:

  • has obtained shareholder approval for the holding of such general meetings on 14 clear days' notice by passing a special resolution at its most recent AGM (or at a general meeting held since the AGM); and
  • offers the facility to vote by electronic means for all shareholders who are entitled to vote.

Following shareholder approval at the 2010 AGM, which currently allows the company to call general meetings (other than AGMs) on 14 clear day's notice, shareholders are being asked to approve Resolution 19, to preserve this ability.


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

The approval will be effective until the company's next AGM. The company does not intend to use this authority routinely, but only in limited circumstances for time-sensitive matters where a shorter notice period would be advantageous to shareholders as whole.

Issued share capital

The company's issued share capital at the Latest Practicable Date was 2,503,994,684 Ordinary Shares carrying one vote each, excluding any Ordinary Shares held as treasury shares. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the company held 250,006,411 Ordinary Shares as treasury shares, representing 10% of the company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) as at that date. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the total number of voting rights in the company was therefore 2,503,994,684.

Annual Report

The 2011 Annual Report can be viewed at or downloaded from the company's website (www.diageo.com) or a copy requested by writing to The Registrar, Diageo plc, Edinburgh Park, 5 Lochside Way, Edinburgh EH12 9DT, or calling +44 (0) 131 519 2090, or by emailing [email protected].

Electronic communications

Diageo encourages you to receive communications and documents electronically, by registering your email address at www.diageoregistrars.com. You will be sent an email letting you know that your shareholder documents will be available online at our website (www.diageo.com) for you to view or download.

Gleneagles offers

For shareholder offers please visit www.gleneagles.com/diageoshareholder

Recommendation

The board considers that the resolutions contained in this AGM notice and to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the company and shareholders as a whole and recommend that you vote in favour of them. Directors who hold shares in the company intend to vote in favour of these resolutions in respect of their own beneficial holdings.

Yours sincerely

Dr Franz B Humer

Chairman

12 September 2011

Diageo plc

Registered office:

Lakeside Drive

Park Royal

London

NW10 7HQ

Registered in England No. 23307


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Appendix

Biographies of directors standing for re-election

Peggy B Bruzelius, non-executive director

Appointed a non-executive director of Diageo plc in April 2009. She is chairman of Lancelot Asset Management and vice chairman of Electrolux AB, both in Sweden, and sits on the boards of Akzo Nobel NV in the Netherlands, Syngenta AG in Switzerland and Axfood AB and Husqvarna AB in Sweden. She was formerly managing director of ABB Financial Services AB and headed the asset management arm of Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB. She was also non-executive director of Scania AB.

Age: 61.

Nationality: Swedish.

(Committees: 1, 3, 4)

Laurence M Danon, non-executive director

Appointed a non-executive director of Diageo plc in January 2006. She is chairman of the executive board of Edmond de Rothschild Corporate Finance and a non-executive director of Groupe BPCE, Rhodia SA and TF1, all in France. Formerly she served with the French Ministry of Industry and Energy, held a number of senior management posts with Total Fina Elf and was chairman and chief executive officer of France Printemps. She was also a non-executive director of Experian Group Limited.

Age: 55.

Nationality: French.

(Committees: 1, 3, 4)

Lord Davies of Abersoch, non-executive director

Appointed a non-executive director of Diageo plc in September 2010. Lord Davies is a partner of Corsair Capital, non-executive chairman of Pinebridge Investments Limited, a non-executive director of Bharti Airtel Limited and chair of the advisory board of Moelis & Co. He is also a trustee of the Royal Academy of Arts and chair of the Council, University of Wales Bangor. Previously he was minister for Trade, Investment and Small Business for the UK Government between January 2009 and May 2010. Prior to this role, Lord Davies was chairman of Standard Chartered PLC.

Age: 58.

Nationality: British.

(Committees: 1, 3, 4)

Betsy D Holden, non-executive director

Appointed a non-executive director of Diageo plc in September 2009. She is a senior adviser to McKinsey & Company and holds non-executive directorships of MediaBank LLC, Tribune Company and Western Union Company, all in the United States. She is a member of the board of trustees at Duke University and a member of the Dean's advisory board at the Kellogg School of Management. She was formerly president, global marketing and category development and co-chief executive officer of Kraft Foods, Inc.

Age: 55.

Nationality: American.

(Committees: 1, 3, 4)


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Dr Franz B Humer, Chairman, non-executive director

Appointed chairman of Diageo plc in July 2008, having been a non-executive director since April 2005. He is also chairman of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd in Switzerland and chairman of INSEAD's board of directors. He was formerly chief operating director of Glaxo Holdings plc and has held a number of other non-executive directorships.

Age: 65.

Nationality: Swiss/Austrian.

(Committee: 3*)

Deirdre Mahlan, Chief financial officer, executive director

Appointed chief financial officer and a director of Diageo plc in October 2010, prior to which she was deputy chief financial officer, Diageo plc, and before that head of tax and treasury. She joined the company in 2001, having held various senior finance positions in Joseph E Seagram & Sons Inc since 1992, having formerly been a senior manager with Pricewaterhouse. She is also a member of the Main Committee of the 100 Group of Finance Directors.

Age: 49.

Nationality: American.

(Committee: 2)

Philip G Scott, non-executive director

Appointed a non-executive director of Diageo plc and chairman of the Audit Committee in October 2007. He is the president elect of the Council of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and is a non-executive director of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc. He was previously chief financial officer of Aviva plc.

Age: 57.

Nationality: British.

(Committees: 1*, 3, 4)

H Todd Stitzer, non-executive director

Appointed a non-executive director of Diageo plc in June 2004. He is a non-executive director of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. He is also a member of the advisory board of Hamlin Capital Management, LLC, a New York based investment advisory firm, and a member of the advisory committee of Virgin Group Holding Limited. He was previously chief executive of Cadbury plc.

Age: 59.

Nationality: American.

(Committees: 1, 3, 4)


Diageo Notice of Annual General Meeting 2011

Paul S Walsh, chief executive officer, executive director

Appointed chief executive of Diageo plc in September 2000. He has served in a number of management roles since joining GrandMet's brewing division in 1982, including chief executive officer of The Pillsbury Company. He was appointed to the GrandMet board in October 1995 and to the Diageo plc board in December 1997. He is lead non-executive and deputy chair of the board of the Department of Energy and Climate Change, a non-executive director of Unilever PLC, and a non-executive director of FedEx Corporation in the United States. He is also a member of the Business Advisory Group and chairman of the Scotch Whisky Associaton.

Age: 56.

Nationality: British.

(Committee 2*)

Key to committees

1 Audit
2 Executive
3 Nomination
4 Remuneration
* chairman of committee

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