AGM Information • Jul 9, 2020
AGM Information
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Registered in Scotland No.: SC117119 Registered Office: Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 3AQ
If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you should seek your own advice from an independent professional adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares in SSE plc, you should pass this Notice and any documents that came with it to the person through whom the sale or transfer was made for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
Dear Shareholder,
I would like to inform you that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of SSE plc (the Company) will be held at Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ on Wednesday, 12 August 2020 at 11:00 am. In light of the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the social distancing measures, this year's AGM will be held with only the minimum number of shareholders present as required to form a quorum under the Company's Articles of Association, who will be officers or employees of the Company. To ensure safety, other shareholders will not be able to gain access to the AGM on the day.
This Notice of Meeting for the 2020 AGM sets out in full the resolutions to be voted on, together with explanatory notes on all the business to be considered. It is recommended that you take time to consider the 2020 Annual Report before voting on the resolutions at the AGM. The 2020 Annual Report is accessible on the Company's website; sse.com.
Please note the following information is accurate as at the date of this Notice. Any changes to these arrangements will be communicated on the Company's website and announced via RNS. All shareholders are, therefore, encouraged to monitor the Company's website for the most up to date information.
The Board recognises that the AGM is an important event, providing the opportunity to present the Company's performance and strategy to shareholders and to listen and respond to questions. Notwithstanding, the Board's overriding priority must be the safety of shareholders and employees. After careful consideration of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the social distancing measures and the proposed Corporate Governance and Insolvency Bill, the Board has therefore taken the decision that shareholders will not be permitted to attend the AGM. Subject to any Government restrictions prevailing at the time, the Company anticipates the AGM will return to a physical meeting format next year.
Although shareholders will not be allowed to attend the AGM, they are strongly encouraged to participate by voting electronically or by proxy ahead of the meeting. As third parties will not be allowed to attend the meeting, if appointing a proxy, shareholders are encouraged to appoint the Chair of the AGM to submit proxy votes at the meeting. Voting at the AGM will be taken on a poll.
All voting instructions should be made as soon as possible and by no later than 11:00 am on Monday, 10 August 2020. Full details of voting procedures are set out on pages 11 and 12 of the Notice of Annual General Meeting 2020.
The Board is committed to engaging with shareholders and maintaining an ongoing dialogue. In line with this, and as shareholders will not be able to attend the AGM this year, the Board has put in place arrangements to allow shareholders to submit questions which will be answered by the Board through a virtual shareholder event (see below). Any shareholder who wishes to raise a question in connection with the business to be conducted at the AGM can do so by sending it by email to [email protected]. A set window for submission will open on Monday, 3 August 2020 at 9:00 am and close on Tuesday, 4 August 2020 at 5:00 pm. Any questions submitted outwith this time will not be received by the Company. The Company reserves the right to consolidate questions of a similar nature.
The virtual shareholder event will be available on the Company's website on the day of the AGM. It will be pre-recorded and used to provide an overview of the Company's performance and strategy and will address questions which have been pre-submitted by shareholders.
The Board believes that Resolutions 1 to 20 contained in the Notice of Annual General Meeting 2020 are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings.
Yours faithfully
Richard Gillingwater CBE Chair
SSE employees only. Participants in SSE's UK Share Incentive Plan who wish to vote should submit a Form of Direction electronically in respect of shares held in the employee trust. This can be done through accessing the share portal www.sse-shares.com and clicking the 'Quick Vote' button. You will require your Investor Code (IVC) shown on your Form of Proxy. Any instruction should be lodged no later than Wednesday, 5 August 2020 at 11:00 am. You should continue to vote by proxy in respect of all other shares held in your name.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the THIRTIETH FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of SSE plc (the 'Company') will be held at Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ on Wednesday, 12 August 2020 at 11:00 am for the purpose of transacting the following business:
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which Resolutions 1 to 17 will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolutions 18, 19 and 20 will be proposed as Special Resolutions:
Resolution 1: to receive the Financial Statements and the Reports of the Directors and of the Auditors for the year ended 31 March 2020.
Resolution 2: to approve the 2020 Remuneration Report.
Resolution 3: to declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2020 of 56 pence per Ordinary Share payable on 18 September 2020.
Resolution 4: to re-appoint Gregor Alexander as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 5: to re-appoint Sue Bruce as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 6: to re-appoint Tony Cocker as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 7: to re-appoint Crawford Gillies as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 8: to re-appoint Richard Gillingwater as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 9: to re-appoint Peter Lynas as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 10: to re-appoint Helen Mahy as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 11: to re-appoint Alistair Phillips-Davies as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 12: to re-appoint Martin Pibworth as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 13: to re-appoint Melanie Smith as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 14: to appoint Angela Strank as a Director of the Company.
Resolution 15: that Ernst & Young LLP be re-appointed Auditor of the Company, to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which Financial Statements are laid before the Company.
Resolution 16: that the Audit Committee of the Board be authorised to determine the Auditor's remuneration.
Resolution 17: that the Directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company, and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company, up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £173,240,508 and such authority to apply until the earlier of the conclusion of the 2021 Annual General Meeting and close of business on 30 September 2021, except that the Company may pursuant to the authority granted make offers and enter into agreements before such expiry which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to be subscribed for, or convert securities into, shares to be granted after the authority ends, and the Directors 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 expired.
Resolution 18: that, subject to the passing of Resolution 17, the Directors be authorised to allot equity securities (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) for cash under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell Ordinary Shares held by the Company as Treasury Shares for cash as if section 561 of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such authority to be limited:
(a) to the allotment of equity securities and sale of Treasury Shares for cash in connection with an offer of, or invitation to apply for, equity securities to or in favour of: (i) Ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and (ii) holders of other equity securities, as required by the rights of those securities or as the Directors otherwise consider necessary, and so that the Directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with Treasury Shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter; and
(b) to the allotment of equity securities or sale of Treasury Shares (otherwise than under paragraph (a) above) up to a nominal amount of £25,986,075.
Such authority to expire at the end of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, at the close of business on 30 September 2021, but, in each case, prior to its expiry the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and Treasury Shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Board may allot equity securities (and sell Treasury Shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.
Resolution 19: that the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of Ordinary Shares of 50 pence each in the Company provided that:
(a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares authorised to be purchased is 103,944,305;
(b) the minimum price which may be paid for such shares is 50 pence per share which amount shall be exclusive of expenses; (c) the maximum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for each such Ordinary Share is the higher of: (i) an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for an Ordinary Share in the Company as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the share is contracted to be purchased; and (ii) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an Ordinary Share and the highest current independent bid for an Ordinary Share as derived from the London Stock Exchange Trading System in each case at the time the purchase is agreed; and (d) this authority shall expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the 2021 Annual General Meeting and close of business on 30 September 2021 (except in relation to a purchase of such shares, the contract for which was concluded before such time and which will or may be executed wholly or partly after such time and the Company may purchase Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract as if the power had not ended).
Resolution 20: that a general meeting of the Company other than an Annual General Meeting may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
By order of the Board
Sally Fairbairn Company Secretary 16 June 2020
Resolutions 1 to 17 will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions which require a simple majority of votes to be cast in favour to be passed. Resolutions 18, 19 and 20 will be proposed as Special Resolutions which require a 75% majority of the votes to be cast in favour to be passed.
The Directors of the Company must present their Annual Report and the Accounts, including the Independent Auditor's Report, to the Meeting and shareholders may raise any questions on the Annual Report and Accounts under this resolution.
The Remuneration Report in the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 comprises: (1) the statement by the Remuneration Committee Chair; and (2) the Annual Report on Remuneration, which sets out the remuneration paid to the Company's Directors during the year ended 31 March 2020.
The Annual Report on Remuneration as set out on pages 124 to 137 of the Annual Report 2020, is put to shareholders for approval by Ordinary Resolution and is the subject of Resolution 2. The Resolution is advisory and does not affect the remuneration already paid to any Director.
A final dividend can be paid only after it has been approved by shareholders. A final dividend of 56 pence per Ordinary Share is recommended by the Directors for payment in cash on 18 September 2020 to shareholders on the Register of Members as at close of business on 24 July 2020 but excluding such of the shareholders in respect of whom a valid election to participate in the Company's Scrip Dividend Scheme shall have been received by the Company by 4:30 pm on 21 August 2020. Shareholders for whom valid elections have been received by 4:30 pm on 21 August 2020 will receive the final dividend in the form of new Ordinary Shares in the Company. Full details of the Company's Scrip Dividend Scheme are available on the Company's website, sse.com.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, all Directors of FTSE 350 companies should be subject to election or re-election by their shareholders every year. The Company continues this practice for this year's AGM. Separate resolutions are proposed for each Director's appointment or re-appointment. More detail on specific reasons why each Directors' contribution is, and continues to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success can be found on pages 7 to 10 under skills and experience for each Director, and on pages 75 to 77 of the Annual Report 2020.
The Board, its Committees and the individual Directors participate in an annual performance evaluation. Further details of the performance evaluation process are set out on pages 96 and 97 of the 2020 Annual Report. The performance evaluation process confirmed the continuing independent and objective judgement of all the non-Executive Directors. The process also confirmed that the performance of all the current Directors standing for re-appointment and appointment continued to be effective and that they continue to demonstrate commitment in their respective roles. The Board recommends to shareholders the proposed appointment and re-appointment of all Directors set out in Resolutions 4 to 14. Full biographical details of each Director are set out in this Notice of Meeting. The Executive Directors' service contracts and non-Executive Directors' letters of appointment are available for inspection as specified in Note 13 of this Notice of Meeting.
The Company is required to appoint an Auditor at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company, to hold office until the conclusion of the next such meeting. This resolution, on the Audit Committee's recommendation, proposes the re-appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as Auditor of the Company. If approved, Ernst and Young LLP, will be appointed External Auditor for the year ending 31 March 2021.
This resolution authorises the Audit Committee, in accordance with standard practice, to agree the remuneration of the Auditor.
This resolution gives the Directors authority to allot shares, or grant rights over shares, limited to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £173,240,508 (representing 346,481,017 Ordinary Shares of 50 pence each excluding Treasury Shares) which, as at 16 June 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice, represented one third of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding Treasury Shares).
The authority will expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the 2021 AGM and close of business on 30 September 2021 (the last date by which the Company must hold an AGM in 2021).
The Directors have no present intention of issuing any shares, or of granting rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares, except in relation to, or in connection with, the operation and management of the Company's Scrip Dividend Scheme and the exercise of options under the Company's share plans. However, the Directors may consider issuing shares if they believe it would be appropriate to do so in respect of business opportunities that may arise consistent with the Company's strategic objectives.
As at 16 June 2020 (being the last practicable day prior to the printing of this Notice) the issued share capital of the Company consisted of 1,046,340,882 Ordinary Shares, with a nominal value of 50p each and carrying one vote each. This figure includes 6,897,830 Ordinary Shares which are held in treasury. The voting rights on Treasury Shares are automatically suspended. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company was 1,039,443,052 as at 16 June 2020.
The Companies Act 2006 provides that if the Directors wish to allot new shares or other equity securities, or sell Treasury Shares, for cash (other than in connection with any employee share scheme) they must in the first instance offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings (a pre-emptive offer). This Special Resolution seeks shareholder's approval to allot a limited number of Ordinary Shares or other equity securities, or sell Treasury Shares, for cash without offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholding first. There may be occasions when the Directors will need the flexibility to finance business opportunities by the issue of Ordinary Shares without a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders. The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority in the year ending 31 March 2021. However, in any event, the Directors would seek to adhere to the current institutional shareholder guidelines not to allot more than 7.5% of the issued share capital, cumulatively, in any three-year rolling period without prior consultation with shareholders. Accordingly, the resolution seeks approval for the allotment of up to an aggregate nominal amount of £25,986,075 (representing 51,972,151 Ordinary Shares of 50 pence each), representing 5% of the issued share capital (excluding Treasury Shares) of the Company as at 16 June 2020. This limit also applies to shares issued from treasury.
Subject to shareholder approval, the authority under this Resolution will expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the 2021 AGM and close of business on 30 September 2021. A renewal of this authority will be proposed at each subsequent AGM.
In some circumstances, the Company may find it advantageous to have the authority to purchase its own shares in the market. The Directors believe that it is an important part of the financial management of the Company to have the flexibility to repurchase issued shares in order to manage its capital base. This Special Resolution renews the authority that was given at last year's AGM, authorising the Company to purchase its own Ordinary Shares in the market and will if approved, renew the Company's authority from shareholders to make such purchases until the earlier of the conclusion of the 2021 AGM and close of business on 30 September 2021. This resolution complies with investor guidelines, which limit share purchases to 10% of the issued share capital (excluding Treasury Shares) per annum.
The Company will seek to purchase shares where the Directors believe this would be in the best interests of shareholders generally, for example, to manage any excess share dilution created by take-up of the Scrip dividend option that is above the level required to maintain appropriate balance sheet strength. The authority will only be used after careful consideration, taking into account market conditions prevailing at the time, other investment and financing opportunities, appropriate gearing levels and the overall financial position of the Company. Any shares purchased in this way will either be cancelled (and the number of shares in issue reduced accordingly) or held in treasury. Shares held in treasury may subsequently be sold for cash (within the limit of the shareholder pre-emption disapplication contained in Resolution 18), cancelled, or used for the purposes of employee share schemes, either immediately or at some point in the future. Treasury Shares transferred for the purposes of the Company's employee share schemes will count towards the limits in those schemes on the number of New Shares which may be issued.
The Resolution specifies the maximum number of shares which may be acquired (10% of the Company's issued share capital as at 16 June 2020) and minimum and maximum prices at which they may be bought. As at 16 June 2020, options were outstanding over 6.4m Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 0.61% of the issued share capital (excluding treasury shares). If the proposed market purchase authority were used in full, shares over which these options were outstanding would represent approximately 0.68% of the adjusted share capital (excluding treasury shares) on that date. Information of Share repurchase programmes run in 2019 and 2020 can be found below:
As part of SSE's £200m capital return programme, announced on 1 February 2019, and in accordance with the Company's share buyback authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 19 July 2018 (being 101,517,639 shares) and 18 July 2019 (being 103,475,152 shares), the EU Market Abuse Regulation and Chapter 12 of the UK Listing Rules, SSE initiated a discretionary share repurchase programme to reduce the share capital of the company. The programme commenced on 1 April 2019 and was completed on 20 August 2019. The Company purchased 17,850,924 Ordinary shares at a total cost of £199,999,971 at an average share price of 1,120.39p per share. All 17,850,924 of the shares purchased were cancelled.
The Company confirmed on 30 August 2019 that in light of the SCRIP take up of the 2018/19 dividend exceeding 20%, it intended to buy-back shares with certain pre-set parameters and in accordance with the authority granted by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 18 July 2019 (being 103,475,152 shares), the EU Market Abuse Regulation and Chapter 12 of the Listing Rules. In line with this, the Company announced on 30 September 2019 (updated on 31 January 2020) a programme to repurchase its ordinary shares for cancellation up to the value of £150m and not exceeding 13,420,470 ordinary shares. The programme commenced on 1 October 2019 and was completed on 26 February 2020. The Company purchased 10,909,709 Ordinary shares at a total cost of £149,999,996.86 at an average market price of 1,374.92p per share. All 10,909,709 of the shares purchased were cancelled. More information on the Company's Share Repurchase Programmes can be found on sse.com.
Resolution 20 will be proposed as a Special Resolution and would allow the Company to hold general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on 14 days' notice. Annual general meetings must always be called with at least 21 days' notice but other general meetings of the Company may be called on less notice if shareholders agree to a shorter period. At the AGM in 2019, a resolution was passed which allowed the Company to hold general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on 14 days' notice. The Board is proposing a similar resolution to renew the authority granted last year. The approval will be effective until the Company's next AGM, when it is intended that the approval will be renewed.
This shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine. Instead, the Board will consider on a case by case basis whether the flexibility offered by the shorter notice period would be in the best interests of shareholders generally, taking into account the circumstances and business of the meeting.

Melanie Smith
As announced on 27 March 2020, Dame Angela Strank joined the Board as a new non-Executive Director on 1 May 2020 and became a member of the Nomination Committee and Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee as of the same date.
10 11
Dame Angela Strank DBE
The Board considered and approved the new external appointments undertaken by Richard Gillingwater and Melanie Smith during the period. In each case it was confirmed that they would not impact upon the time commitment or objectivity required to discharge their respective duties as Directors of SSE.
Energy Markets Risk Committee Remuneration Committee
Non-Executive Director since May 2007
Appointed Deputy Chair in January 2015 and has been Chair since July 2015
Richard has extensive and diverse leadership experience, and a sound practical understanding of corporate governance having held the position of Chair, Senior Independent Director and non-Executive Director across a number of private and public sector organisations, including Janus Henderson, the Shareholder Executive and CDC Group plc. In conjunction with a City career spanning over 20 years, he has a deep appreciation of capital markets and investor sentiment which he brings to Board deliberations, in addition to financial expertise. Matters surrounding the long-term direction of the Company, including strategic development, are supported by a long-standing, developed knowledge of the energy sector and the environment in which SSE operates. Richard has an interest in the broader role of business in society and is a member of the Future of the Corporation Corporate Advisory Group, and is committed to ensuring stakeholder views are heard, understood and considered in the Boardroom.
Finance Director
Energy Markets Risk Committee
Finance Director since October 2002
Gregor joined SSE in 1990 and has been Finance Director on the Board since 2002. Prior to Finance Director, Gregor worked in various senior finance roles and led specialist teams such as Treasury and Tax. Over the course of his career, he has directed significant corporate projects and has been instrumental in the major transactions and investments which define the SSE Group, supported by his experience of operating within an evolving energy sector and an understanding of the risks and opportunities which this can present. His extensive knowledge of financial markets and shareholder views has influenced the development of SSE's financial strategy to create long-term value, demonstrated through sustainable debt financing, and the commitment to Fair Tax and the Living Wage. The Board benefits from Gregor's regulatory insight through his role as Chair of Scottish and Southern Energy Power Distribution and of Scotia Gas Networks.
2 Alistair Phillips-Davies
Chief Executive
Executive Director since January 2002 and Chief Executive from July 2013
Alistair joined SSE in 1997 and through a variety of senior roles possesses extensive knowledge of each business area. Prior to joining the Board in 2002 as Energy Supply Director, Alistair was Director of Corporate Finance and Business Development. In 2010, he became Generation and Supply Director, before becoming Deputy Chief Executive in 2012, then Chief Executive in 2013. Alistair's career has supported the development of sound leadership skills, and a considered strategic approach to business matters. He has a detailed understanding of the energy markets in Great Britain and Ireland, including the factors which can have a material impact on the operating context such as politics and regulation. He is a Fellow of the Energy Institute and holds a broad knowledge of markets across Europe as a former Vice President of Eurelectric. Through regular and proactive engagement, he understands stakeholder priorities, and provides focus to people development and efficient operations in order to develop SSE's capabilities for future growth.
Committee Membership
Energy Markets Risk Committee
Executive Director since September 2017
Martin joined SSE in 1998 as an energy trader, which was followed by a series of commercial roles before becoming Managing Director, Energy Portfolio Management, and a member of SSE's then Management Board, in 2012. In 2014, he was appointed Managing Director, Wholesale, and a member of SSE's Group Executive Committee, taking on responsibility for SSE's electricity generation assets and associated capital investment programme. Martin has overseen the development of SSE's diverse and flexible generation portfolio including its growing renewable fleet. Having joined the Board in 2017 as Energy Director, he currently leads on SSE's renewables, thermal, customer and energy portfolio management businesses. He brings significant knowledge of energy markets and experience of commercial, technical and operational matters, with his innovative approach to strategy in seeking opportunities to create future value being a key Board attribute.
• Member of Energy UK Board
Senior Independent Director
Committee Membership Nomination Committee Audit Committee Energy Markets Risk Committee
Remuneration Committee
Non-Executive Director since August 2015
Crawford has substantial international and cross-sector experience, including in utilities, which has been gained through a career of over 40 years. With this, he has expertise in the development of corporate strategy for multi-business organisations. Through both private and public sector roles in the areas of management consultancy, finance, risk, and trade and industry, he brings strong commercial knowledge to the Board. This experience provides SSE's businesses with the benefit of extensive external insight and breadth of outlook. Having served on the Board and Board Committees of a number of organisations, including in the position of Chair, and twice as a FTSE 50 Senior Independent Director, he has the oversight and understanding required for his current Board role. This includes an established view and understanding of governance and Boardroom dynamics.
Tony Cocker Non-Executive Director
Nomination Committee
Audit Committee
Energy Markets Risk Committee (Chair) Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee
Non-Executive Director since May 2018
Tony possesses highly detailed knowledge of the energy sector gained through a 20 year career with E.ON. He brings wide-ranging and relevant insight to the Board regarding technical and operational matters, including energy infrastructure and assets, and a comprehensive understanding of commodity markets, energy trading and risk. Latterly, as CEO and Chair of E.ON UK plc, which comprised E.ON's main businesses in the UK, Tony oversaw the supply of energy to households, businesses and communities, digital transformation programmes and the smart meter roll-out. This industry experience in combination with his current external appointments, enhances the Board's knowledge of trends relevant to SSE's operations and of utilities regulation. Tony has experience in strategic planning and development through early consultancy roles, and in governance and energy and utility stakeholder management, through his non-executive roles.
Non-Executive Director
Committee Membership Nomination Committee Remuneration Committee (Chair)
Non-Executive Director since September 2013
Sue has extensive public sector experience from a career which spanned almost 40 years, holding a variety of roles in local government, including the position of Chief Executive at East Dunbartonshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, and latterly the City of Edinburgh Council. Her strategic and operational experience of leading organisations with large numbers of employees, significant assets, construction projects, and an important place in the community they serve, make her an excellent source of knowledge on these matters for the Board, as does her experience in stakeholder engagement. This experience in relationship building, and collating and understanding a diverse range of views, is evident in her roles as Remuneration Committee Chair and Non-Executive Director for Employee Engagement. Sue has also held a number of Board and Board Committee positions in organisations across the arts, education and charitable sectors.
Committee Membership Nomination Committee Audit Committee (Chair) Remuneration Committee
Non-Executive Director since July 2014
Peter has over 30 years business experience spanning all areas of finance. As a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and through his recently retired role as Finance Director, BAE Systems plc, he brings recent and relevant financial experience to the Board and strong direction to the Audit Committee. Within BAE he previously served as Director, Financial Control, Reporting and Treasury, and his early career involved roles within GEC Marconi, where he was appointed Finance Director of Marconi Electronic Systems prior to the completion of the British Aerospace/Marconi merger. This background affords international experience, in addition to an understanding of long-term project management and delivery, including investment appraisal and contracting. Peter also brings pensions experience having been Chair of the trustee Board of a major UK scheme.
Non-Executive Director
Committee Membership
Nomination Committee
Audit Committee
Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee (Chair)
Date of appointment
Non-Executive Director since March 2016
Helen's depth of knowledge of the energy sector brings valuable external perspective to discussions. Through her previous role of Company Secretary and General Counsel at National Grid plc, she has a comprehensive understanding of legal, compliance, governance and risk issues, and of the regulatory framework in which SSE's businesses operate. As a member of the Parker Review steering committee into the Ethnic Diversity of UK Boards, a patron of the charity Social Mobility Business Partnership, and an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, she brings knowledge of, and interest in, inclusion and diversity, and cultural focus to the Board. Helen's previous directorships include Aga Rangemaster plc, Stagecoach Group plc, SVG Capital plc and she was formerly chair of MedicX Fund Limited. Through these cross-sectoral and international roles she has experience in investor and stakeholder engagement.
Non-Executive Director
Committee Membership
Nomination Committee
Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee
Remuneration Committee Date of appointment
Non-Executive Director since January 2019
Melanie has over 20 years in-depth strategy experience, advising on strategy and transformation to consumer and retail clients worldwide. She is currently CEO of Ocado Retail, the world's largest online only grocer and the no.1 online supermarket in the UK. Prior to this she was Strategy Director for Marks & Spencer with responsibility for group strategy, M&S Bank and M&S Services. Earlier roles include Global Strategy and Marketing Director at Bupa and Chief Operating Officer at TalkTalk. This career experience, in conjunction with insight from her time as partner in McKinsey's Consumer practice, brings deep commercial and customer experience across multiple goods and services categories, including insurance, telco and energy. Having overseen and led operational teams, she brings further valuable perspectives surrounding people leadership and development.
Key external appointments and changes during the period
Safety, Health and Environment Advisory Committee
Non-Executive Director since May 2020
Angela has a depth of executive experience through a long-standing international career at BP, in which she has held a variety of business and technical leadership positions spanning the areas of technology and digital, innovation, engineering and renewables. Her notable contribution has been recognised through appointment to the BP plc Executive Team in 2018, and a number of scientific and engineering fellowships and awards, including a DBE in 2017. Currently, she is Head of Downstream Technology and Group Chief Scientist of BP plc, and will fully retire from these roles by the end of 2020. Through this career and her non-executive Board activities, she brings broader energy industry expertise, including applicable sector regulation, and has an international outlook from working in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and America. Corporate social responsibility and sustainability impacts are key areas of interest, having worked actively in climate science research, pioneered women in STEM careers and been a champion of inclusion and diversity.
The following notes explain your general rights as a shareholder and your right to attend and vote at the meeting or to appoint someone else to vote on your behalf.
As at 16 June 2020 (being the last practicable day prior to the printing of this Notice) the issued share capital of the Company consisted of 1,046,340,882 Ordinary Shares, with a nominal value of 50p each and carrying one vote each. This figure includes 6,897,830 Ordinary Shares which are held in treasury. The voting rights on Treasury Shares are automatically suspended. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company was 1,039,443,052 as at 16 June 2020.
Pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, and section 360B(2) of the Companies Act 2006, the Company specifies that only shareholders registered in the Register of Members of the Company at 11:00 am on 10 August 2020 or, in the event that the AGM is adjourned, registered in the Register of Members of the Company 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting(s), shall be entitled to vote at the AGM in respect of the number of Ordinary Shares registered in their name at that time. Save in relation to any adjourned meeting(s), changes to entries on the Register of Members of the Company after 11:00 am on 10 August 2020 shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to vote at the AGM.
Voting on each of the resolutions to be put to the AGM will be taken on a poll, rather than a show of hands, to reflect the number of shares held by a shareholder, whether or not the shareholder is able to attend the meeting. As soon as practicable following the AGM, the results of the voting will be announced via a Regulatory Information Service and also placed on the Company's website sse.com. In light of the impact of coronavirus, the Board seeks to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the Company's shareholders and employees, therefore shareholders may not physically attend the AGM and will not be permitted access to the venue on the day of the meeting.
A shareholder entitled to routinely attend, speak and vote at the AGM may appoint one or more proxies to attend, speak and vote at the AGM on their behalf provided that (if more than one) each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to different shares held by the shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. In the case of joint shareholders, the vote of the first named in the Register of Members of the Company who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of other joint holders. Due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, shareholders are strongly encouraged to participate in the AGM by voting electronically or by proxy ahead of the meeting. As third parties will not be allowed to the meeting, if appointing a proxy, shareholders are encouraged to appoint the Chair of the AGM to submit proxy votes at the meeting. As noted above, in light of the impact of coronavirus, the Board seeks to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the Company's shareholders and employees, therefore shareholders may not physically attend the AGM and will not be permitted access to the venue on the day of the meeting.
A Form of Proxy which may be used to make such appointment and give proxy instructions accompanies this Notice for shareholders who have elected to receive a hard copy of the Annual Report.
To be valid, the appointment of a proxy, and the original or duly certified copy of the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed or authenticated, should reach the Registrar, Link Asset Services, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU no later than 11:00 am on 10 August 2020 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, 48 hours before the time fixed for holding the adjourned meeting). If you appoint more than one proxy, additional Form(s) of Proxy can be obtained by contacting Link Asset Services on 0345 143 4005. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom are charged at the applicable international rate. We are open between 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays in England and Wales.
You can appoint a proxy electronically by accessing sse.com and clicking on the AGM 2020 link on the homepage. You will be asked to enter your Investor Code (IVC) printed on the Form of Proxy and agree to certain terms and conditions. On submission of your vote you will be issued with a reference number. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, it must be received by the Registrar no later than 11:00 am on 10 August 2020. Should you complete your Form of Proxy electronically and then post a hard copy, the form that arrives last will be counted to the exclusion of instructions received earlier, whether electronic or postal. Please refer to the terms and conditions of the service on the website.
CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. 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.
In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a 'CREST Proxy Instruction') must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com/CREST).
The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID RA10) by 11:00 am on 10 August 2020. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp 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.
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. Therefore, normal system timings and limitations will apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member 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 their 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 providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. 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.
Any corporation which a shareholder can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a shareholder provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
Any person to whom this notice is sent who is a person nominated under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 to enjoy information rights (a 'Nominated Person') may, under an agreement with the shareholder by whom they were nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the AGM. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, they may under such an agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholders as to the exercise of voting rights. The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to appointment of proxies in paragraph 4 of these notes does not apply to Nominated Persons. The rights described in paragraph 4 can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.
Any shareholder or appointed proxy/proxies has the right to ask questions. The Board is committed to engaging with shareholders and maintaining an ongoing dialogue. In line with this, and as shareholders will not be able to attend the AGM this year, the Board has put in place arrangements to allow shareholders to submit questions which will be answered by the Board through a virtual shareholder event. Any shareholder who wishes to raise a question in connection with the business to be conducted at the AGM can do so by sending it by email to [email protected]. A set window for submission will open on Monday, 3 August 2020 at 9:00 am and close on Tuesday, 4 August 2020 at 5:00 pm. Any questions submitted outwith this time will not be received by the Company. The Company reserves the right to consolidate questions of a similar nature.
The Company must cause to answer 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 a website 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.
Under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, shareholders meeting 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 Auditors' Report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the AGM; or (ii) any circumstances connected with an Auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which the Annual Report and Accounts were laid in accordance with section 437 of the Companies Act 2006. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, it must forward the statement to the Company's Auditors 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 Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.
Copies of the Notice of Annual General Meeting 2020, the Annual Report 2020 and other information required by section 311A of the Companies Act 2006 can be found at sse.com.
Copies of Directors' service contracts and non-Executive Directors' letters of appointment will be available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during normal business hours on any weekday (public holidays excepted) from the date of this Notice until the date of the AGM and thereafter at the place of the AGM from 10:00 am until the conclusion of the AGM. In order to safeguard health and wellbeing of the Company's shareholders and employees, viewing of relevant documents will be available by appointment only. This is a temporary measure employed by the Company given the coronavirus pandemic outbreak. Those shareholders interested in viewing documents available for inspections are asked to email to [email protected] and indicate date and time when they would like to visit the Company's registered office (Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ) to ensure that any social distancing measures applicable at the time can be followed.
You may not use any electronic address provided in either this Notice or any related documents (including the Form of Proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
Shareholders who wish to change their communication preference can do so by contacting the Company's Share Registrar: Link Asset Services, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU. Contact details are also available on the SSE website. An e-Communications Form and other useful forms can also be accessed on the Company's website; sse.com, under Shareholder Services and Contacts section.
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