FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of November 2006
UNILEVER PLC
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
UNILEVER HOUSE, BLACKFRIARS, LONDON, ENGLAND
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):_____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper
as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):_____
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No .X..
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _______
Exhibit 99 attached hereto is incorporated herein by reference.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
UNILEVER PLC
/S/ S G WILLIAMS
By S G WILLIAMS
SECRETARY
Date: November 08, 2006
EXHIBIT INDEX
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EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
99 Notice to London Stock Exchange dated
08 November 2006, Unilever Agrees Settlement
Exhibit 99
UNILEVER AGREES SETTLEMENT
Rotterdam, 8 November 2006 - Unilever N.V. today announced that it has agreed a
settlement with the main parties in the legal dispute over its 1999 Unilever
N.V. Preference Shares. These parties, with whom constructive talks have been
held, include the Dutch Shareholders Association, VEB, and several institutional
shareholders.
Unilever N.V. will pay an amount of EUR1.38 (plus interest of EUR0.16)
compensation per Preference Share held at the beginning of 24 March 2004, the
day on which Unilever N.V. announced its intention to convert the Preference
Shares into N.V. Ordinary Shares. Unilever N.V. also agreed to reimburse the VEB
and the other parties who initiated the Enterprise Chamber procedure for costs
and expenses.
The agreement is subject to the requirement that all Preference Shareholders who
requested the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal to order an
inquiry join in the agreement. It also includes a term that the signatories will
no longer take legal action against Unilever.
The offer will be extended to all those other former Preference Shareholders who
held Preference Shares at the beginning of 24 March 2004.
Payment is expected to be made as from 1 February 2007.
The settlement follows publication on 8 September 2006 of the report of the
investigators appointed by the Enterprise Chamber. The criticisms made in the
report related to communications but did not extend to Unilever's decision to
convert the Preference Shares into Ordinary Shares in 2004 which was
acknowledged to be correct.
The Unilever Board set up a Board Committee composed of independent
non-executive Board members and chaired by Professor Wim Dik to deal with the
matter. The Committee, which was supported by external legal advisers,
considered the matter carefully and recommended that the Unilever Board settle
the dispute with those who held the Preference Shares at the beginning of 24
March 2004.
The Board agreed with the recommendation, concluding, without any admission of
liability, that it is in the best interest of Unilever and its shareholders to
settle this issue rather than enter into potentially lengthy and uncertain
litigation.
It cannot be excluded that, notwithstanding this settlement agreement, other
former Preference Shareholders may still take legal action. If so, Unilever is
confident about the strength of its legal position vis-a-vis those parties.
Unilever previously announced a provision of EUR300 million for possible
compensation along with its Q3 results.
This announcement today does not yet constitute an offer to the eligible former
Preference Shareholders. The offer, including further details such as
information on the duration of the offer and other conditions, will be made
public in the short term.
- - - - - -
2006
SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-looking
statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as '
expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding
anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not
historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among
others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, the
ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain
sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions
and complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, the
ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters
within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments,
political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the
Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of
potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the
Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report & Accounts on
Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.