AGM Information • May 7, 2020
AGM Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice from your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant, bank manager or other independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised financial adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Amati AIM VCT plc (the "Company"), please send this document, together with the accompanying form of proxy, as soon as possible, to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for onward transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 04138683)
Notice of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on 5 June 2020 at 2.00 p.m. (the "Annual General Meeting" or "AGM") at the offices of Amati Global Investors Limited, 8 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7AL is set out at the end of this document. Given the risks posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Association and Government guidance, the Company may impose entry restrictions on shareholder attendance at the AGM.
Shareholders are encouraged to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM in advance. In order to ensure that your votes are registered in the event that attendance at the AGM is not possible or restricted, shareholders are strongly advised to vote through the Registrar's online voting facility or by form of proxy. Shareholders who hold their shares through an investment platform or other nominee service are encouraged to contact their investment platform provider or nominee as soon as possible to arrange for votes to be lodged on their behalf.
Shareholders may register their votes electronically by visiting the website of the Registrar. Votes lodged through the online facility must be received by the Registrar not later than 2.00 p.m. on 3 June 2020. You will need to register in order to be able to use this service. To register, please visit www.shareregistrars.uk.com and click on "Register" under the title Account Log In. If you have already registered, log in and click on "My Meeting Votes".
Alternatively, the form of proxy accompanying this document may be completed and returned, in accordance with the instructions printed on it, to the Company's registrars at Share Registrars Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham GU9 7DR or by scan and email to [email protected] (please include Amati AIM VCT plc and your name in the subject line of the email) to be received as soon as possible, but in any event not later than 2.00 p.m. on 3 June 2020.
Peter Lawrence (Chairman) 27/28 Eastcastle Street Julia Henderson London Susannah Nicklin W1W 8DH Brian Scouler
Directors Registered Office
7 May 2020
Dear Shareholder
The AGM will be held on 5 June 2020 at 2.00 p.m. at the offices of Amati Global Investors Limited (the "Manager"), 8 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7AL. Notice of the AGM is set out at the end of this document.
As investors are aware, the Company has always encouraged shareholder attendance at its annual general meetings, taking the opportunity for the Manager to run an investor event alongside the annual general meeting, inviting representatives from portfolio companies to present and also holding the Amati Guildhall Creative Entrepreneurs Award.
The Company is required by law to hold an annual general meeting. However, given the circumstances of the current global COVID-19 pandemic, the Board is concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the shareholders and other attendees of the AGM. Having carefully considered all of the options available, the Board has decided that the Company will conduct only the formal, statutory business of the AGM on 5 June 2020. In order to meet the Company's legal requirements and to protect the health of shareholders the Board has put the following measures in place:
The Board acknowledges that this is an unprecedented approach for the Company, but we hope that shareholders will appreciate that these are unique circumstances. The Board will continue to monitor Government guidance and will update shareholders on any changes to the above measures by way of an announcement to the London Stock Exchange and through the page dedicated to the AGM on the Manager's website.
The Manager will be making available a portfolio update to shareholders on their website, along with short presentations from a selection of the VCT's portfolio companies. If you already receive emails from Amati you will be advised separately how to view this presentation. If not, please email [email protected] to join the email distribution list.
In order to maintain shareholder engagement with the Board and the Manager, I would encourage shareholders to email any questions they may have either on the business of the AGM or the portfolio to [email protected] by 27 May 2020. The Manager intends to publish the questions and answers on the page dedicated to the AGM on the Manager's website on 1 June 2020 prior to the AGM being held.
An explanation in relation to the special business to be proposed at the AGM is set out below.
As required under the Articles it is proposed that the Company continue in being as a venture capital trust. This resolution will be proposed as an ordinary resolution.
Resolution 10 seeks authority for the Directors to be authorised pursuant to Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to allot relevant securities up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £1,500,000. Subject to the passing of resolution 10, resolution 12 renews the Directors authority to allot equity securities for cash without pre-emption rights applying in certain circumstances. This resolution will authorise the Directors, until the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of the resolution or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, to issue ordinary shares for cash without pre-emption rights applying up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £1,500,000 (being 30,000,000 ordinary shares). Resolution 12 will be proposed as a special resolution.
The Company's current authority to make market purchases of up to approximately 14.99 per cent. of its issued share capital expires shortly. The Company's remaining authority is for 11,467,542 ordinary shares. Resolution 13 seeks renewal of such authority until the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of the resolution or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company. The price paid for shares will not be less than the nominal value of the shares nor more than the maximum amount permitted to be paid in accordance with the rules of the FCA in force as at the date of purchase. This authority will only be exercised if, in the opinion of the Directors, a repurchase would be in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. Any shares repurchased under this authority will either be cancelled or held in treasury at the discretion of the Board for future re-sale in appropriate market conditions.
The maximum number of shares authorised to be purchased pursuant to the authority represents 14.99 per cent. of the total number of the total number of shares in issue at the date the resolution is passed. As at the date of this notice 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital represents 15,639,895 ordinary shares. Resolution 13 will be proposed as a special resolution.
In addition to the business set out above and in accordance with the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, all Directors are proposed for re-election at the AGM. Biographies in relation to each of the Directors are set out on page 6 of this document.
You may register your votes electronically by visiting the website of the Registrar. Votes lodged through the online facility must be received by the Registrar not later than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the start of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. You will need to register in order to be able to use this service. To register, please visit www.shareregistrars.uk.com and click on "Register" under the title Account Log In. If you have already registered, log in and click on "My Meeting Votes".
Shareholders who hold their shares electronically may submit their votes through CREST, by submitting the appropriate and authenticated CREST message so as to be received by the Registrar not later than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the start of the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Instructions on how to vote through CREST can be found by accessing the following website: www.euroclear.com.
Shareholders who hold their shares through an investment platform or other nominee service are encouraged to contact their investment platform provider or nominee as soon as possible to arrange for votes to be lodged on their behalf.
Shareholders will also find enclosed a form of proxy for use in connection with the AGM. Shareholders who wish to register their votes using the form of proxy are requested to complete, sign and return the form of proxy as soon as possible, in accordance with the instructions printed on it.
To be valid, the enclosed form of proxy must be lodged with the Company's registrars at Share Registrars Limited, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham GU9 7DR or by scan and email to [email protected] (please include Amati AIM VCT plc and your name in the subject line of the email) to be received as soon as possible, but in any event not later than 2.00 p.m. on 3 June 2020.
The completion and return of the form of proxy will not prevent a shareholder from attending and voting in person at the AGM however given the risks posed by the spread of Covid-19 and in accordance with the provisions of the Company's Articles and Government guidance, the Company may impose entry restrictions on attendance at the AGM. If a shareholder does not hold their Ordinary Shares directly, they are requested to arrange for their nominee to vote on their behalf.
In the event that the developing situation surrounding COVID-19 should alter the plans in relation to the AGM the Company will update shareholders through an announcement to the London Stock Exchange and will provide further details on the page dedicated to the AGM on the Manager's website. The Board would encourage all shareholders to exercise your votes in respect of the AGM in advance. This should ensure that your votes are registered in the event that attendance at the AGM is not possible or is restricted.
The Directors consider the passing of the resolutions to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions.
The Directors intend to vote in favour of the resolutions in respect of their own beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares (amounting to 863,897 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 0.83 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company as at the date of this document).
Yours faithfully
Peter Lawrence Chairman
Peter Lawrence joined the Board in May 2018 and is chairman of the Company. He is also chairman of Baronsmead Venture Trust plc and of Anpario plc, which is traded on AIM. On 7 March 2019 he retired as chairman of ECO Animal Health Group plc, an AIM traded company which he founded in 1972. Peter was chairman of Amati VCT plc prior to the merger with Amati AIM VCT plc.
Susannah Nicklin joined the Board in May 2016. She is an investment and financial services professional with 25 years of experience in executive roles at Goldman Sachs and Alliance Bernstein in the US, Australia and the UK. She has also worked in the social impact private equity sector with Bridges Ventures and the Global Impact Investing Network. Susannah is a non-executive director and senior independent director at Pantheon International plc, a non-executive director and senior independent director of City of London Investment Group plc, a non-executive director of the North American Income Trust and a non-executive director of Baronsmead Venture Trust plc. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst credential from the CFA Institute.
Julia Henderson joined the Board in May 2018. She has specialised in advising quoted and unquoted companies for over thirty years. Her corporate finance career began at ANZ Merchant Bank after which she became a co-founder of Beeson Gregory Limited, a mid-market investment bank. Since 2004 she has been an independent consultant, chairman and nonexecutive director to companies across a broad range of sectors. Previous non-executive directorships include Alkane Energy plc, ECO Animal Health Group plc, GTL Resources plc and TP Group plc. She was a director of Amati VCT plc prior to the merger with Amati AIM VCT plc.
Brian Scouler joined the Board in May 2018. He spent 25 years in Private Equity with Charterhouse, Royal Bank of Scotland and Dunedin. He has wide experience of buying and selling private companies and investment portfolio management, sitting on numerous investee company boards. He was formerly manager of a quoted investment trust and a member of the steering committee of LPEQ, the listed private equity group. He is a Chartered Accountant with a number of non-executive and advisory appointments. He was a director of Amati VCT plc prior to the merger with Amati AIM VCT plc.
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 04138683)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual general meeting of AMATI AIM VCT plc (the "Company") will be held on 5 June 2020 at 2.00 p.m. at the offices of Amati Global Investors Limited, 8 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7AL to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions.
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following Resolutions 1 to 11 as Ordinary Resolutions of the Company:
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following Resolution 11 (continuation of the Company as a venture capital trust) as an Ordinary Resolution, Resolution 12 (disapplication of pre-emption rights) and Resolution 13 (share buy-backs) as Special Resolutions of the Company:
By order of the Board Registered office
The City Partnership (UK) Limited 27/28 Eastcastle Street Secretary London W1W 8DH
7 May 2020
A reply paid Form of Proxy is enclosed with members' copies of this document. To be valid, it should be lodged with the Registrar at Share Registrars Ltd, The Courtyard, 17 West Street, Farnham GU9 7DR so as to be received not later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Meeting or any adjourned meeting or, in the case of a poll taken subsequent to the date of the Meeting or adjourned meeting, so as to be received no later than 24 hours before the time appointed for taking the poll.
proxies via CREST. For further information on CREST procedures, limitations and system timings please refer to the CREST Manual. The Company may treat as invalid a proxy appointment sent by CREST in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
You may not use any electronic address provided either in this Notice or any related documents (including the chairman's letter and Form of Proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than those expressly stated.
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of
or failing him/her the chairman of the Meeting to be my/our proxy and exercise all or any of my/our rights to attend, speak and vote for me/us in respect of my/our voting entitlement on my/our behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of Amati Global Investors Limited, 8 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh EH3 7AL on 5 June 2020 at 2.00pm, notice of which was dated 7 May 2020, and at any adjournment thereof. The proxy will vote as indicated below in respect of the resolution set out in the notice of meeting:
Please indicate by placing an X in this box if this proxy appointment is one of multiple appointments being made (see note 2 overleaf).
| Resolutions | Against | Vote Withheld |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | To receive the Directors' Report and Financial Statements together with the Independent Auditor's Report |
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| 2. | To approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy | |||
| 3. | To approve the Directors' Annual Report on Remuneration | |||
| 4. | To re-appoint BDO LLP as auditor | |||
| 5. | To authorise the directors to fix the remuneration of the auditor | |||
| 6. | To re-elect Peter Lawrence as a director of the Company | |||
| 7. | To re-elect Susannah Nicklin as a director of the Company | |||
| 8. | To re-elect Julia Henderson as a director of the Company | |||
| 9. | To re-elect Brian Scouler as a director of the Company | |||
| 10. To empower the directors to allot Ordinary Shares up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £1,500,000 |
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| 11. To approve the continuaton of the Company as a venture capital trust |
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| 12. To renew the directors' authority to disapply pre-emption rights | ||||
| 13. To authorise the directors to buy back shares | ||||
| Signature(s) | Date |
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