Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Feb 3, 2021
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own advice from a stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares in Sure Ventures plc, please forward this document and the accompanying documents as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
26 September 2019
Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to send you details of the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of Sure Ventures plc (the "Company").
The AGM will be held on 26 September 2019 at Shard Capital AIFM LLP (the "Investment Manager"), 23rd Floor, 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 3BY and will start at 14.00 p.m. Shareholder registration will be available from 13.30 p.m. A map showing how to get to Shard Capital AIFM LLP is set out at the end of my letter.
The following documentation is enclosed with this letter:
Please note that the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements in respect of the year ended to 31 March 2019 (the "Annual Report") are available to view and to download electronically on the Company's website at www.sureventuresplc.com/documents.
If you have previously indicated that you would prefer to receive a printed copy of the Annual Report, then you will also find a copy of the Annual Report enclosed.
The AGM is an opportunity for shareholders to express their views directly to the Board and the Investment Manager and I hope that you will take the opportunity to do so.
If you cannot attend the AGM, I strongly encourage you to exercise your right to vote by appointing a proxy to vote at the AGM on your behalf. To appoint a proxy, please complete the enclosed Form of Proxy, and return it in the prepaid envelope provided (no postage is required if posted within the UK) to the Company's Registrars, Computershare Investor Services plc, at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY, England so as to arrive as soon as possible but in any event not later than 10.00 a.m. on 24 September 2019. Alternatively, if you would prefer to appoint a proxy or proxies electronically, you may do so via the website run by Computershare at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy using the Control Number, Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and PIN provided on the Form of Proxy or, if you are a CREST member, by following the procedure explained in paragraph 13 of the Notes to the Notice of AGM. In any event, your proxy appointment must be received by Computershare by 10.00 a.m. on 25 September 2019. If you hold your shares through a nominee service, please contact the nominee service provider regarding the process for appointing a proxy. The appointment of a proxy will not prevent you attending the AGM and voting in person should you so wish. Further details relating to voting by proxy are set out in the Notes to the Notice of AGM on pages 11 to 14 of this document.
If you have any questions relating to the enclosed documents, please call the Company's Registrars, Computershare, on +44 (0) 370 702 0003. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday. The helpline cannot give any financial, legal or tax advice.
The following documents are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during usual business hours on any weekday (public holidays excepted) from the date of the Notice of AGM until conclusion of the AGM and will also be available for inspection at the AGM venue from at least 15 minutes before the AGM until the conclusion of the AGM:
Explanatory notes on each of the resolutions to be considered at the AGM are set out on pages 5 to 6 of this document. Biographical details of each Director seeking re-election are set out in on pages 13 to 14 of this document and are also available for viewing on the Company's website at http://www.sureventuresplc.com/directors/.
The Directors believe that all the proposed resolutions to be considered at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its members as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions.
Yours sincerely,
Perry Wilson Chairman
Fenchurch Street Overground served by National Rail services is a 5-10 minute walk from the venue.
Canon Street Overground served by National Rail services is a 10-12 minute walk from the venue.
London Bridge Overground served by National Rail services is a 10-15 minute walk from the venue.
Bank underground station, served by the Central, Northern, DLR and Waterloo & City lines, is a 5-10 minute walk from the venue.
Monument underground station, served by the District and Circle line, is 5minutes walk from the venue.
Unfortunately, there is no car parking available at the venue.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2018 Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of Sure Ventures plc (the "Company") will be held at Shard Capital [AIFM LLP], 23rd Floor, 20 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 3BY on 26 September 2019 at 14.00 p.m. You will be asked to consider and if thought fit to pass the resolutions below. Resolution 11 to 12 will be proposed as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
To consider and if thought fit to pass the following as a special resolution:
Resolution 11 - That if Resolution 10 is passed, the Directors be given power, in addition to all subsisting powers, to allot Ordinary Shares under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell Ordinary Shares held by the Company as treasury shares as if section 561 of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment or sale, provided that in the case of any Ordinary Shares allotted the issue price is no lower than the latest published net asset value per Ordinary Share (as calculated in accordance with the Company's policies existing from time to time), such power to apply until the end of next year's annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 30 September 2018), but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require Ordinary Shares to be allotted (or treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Directors may allot Ordinary Shares (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
By order of the Board Apex Fund Services (Ireland) Limited Company Secretary 4 September 2018 23rd Floor 20 Fenchurch Street London EC3M 3BY Registered in England and Wales No. 10829500
The Directors are required to present the financial statements, Directors' Report and Auditor's Report to the meeting. These are contained in the Company's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended to 31 March 2019 (the "Annual Report"). A resolution to receive and adopt the financial statements, together with the Directors' Report and the Auditor's Report on those accounts is included as an ordinary resolution.
An advisory resolution to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report is included together with a binding resolution to approve the Director's Remuneration Policy. The Directors' Remuneration Report and Remuneration Policy are each set out in the Annual Report.
A resolution to approve the Company's existing dividend policy under the Company's Articles of Association as detailed in page 4 of the Annual Report. This dividend policy remains unchanged to that disclosed in the Company's initial public offering prospectus published on 17 November 2017.
The Company's Articles of Association require that all Directors seek election following their appointment by the Board.
Full biographies of all the Directors are set out on page 17 and are also available for viewing on the Company's website at www.sureventuresplc.com/directors.
At each meeting at which the Company's financial statements are presented to its members, the Company is required to appoint an auditor to serve until the next such meeting. The Board recommends the election of PKF Littlejohn LLP and this will be proposed to the AGM as Resolution 8. Resolution 9 authorises the Audit Committee to determine the remuneration of PKF Littlejohn LLP as auditors.
The Directors may only allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares if authorised to do so by shareholders. Resolution 10 will, if passed, authorise the Directors to allot the Company's ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, ordinary shares in the Company up to a maximum nominal amount of £50,000.00 representing 50,000,000 ordinary shares and is equivalent to approximately 1,424.50 per cent. of the Company's existing issued ordinary share capital as at 31 August 2018 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of the Notice). The Company currently holds no shares in treasury.
The Directors wish to use such authority to ensure that the Company is able to take advantage of investment opportunities identified by its investment manager (in accordance with the Company's investment objective) as and when they arise. The Directors remain focussed on delivering the Company's investment objective and are also mindful of the likely benefit to all members of increasing the market liquidity in the Company's shares and of reducing the Company's administrative expenses on a per share basis by increasing the number of ordinary shares in issue.
The Directors expect to exercise their authority to allot shares during the forthcoming period of twelve months, in whole or in part, to raise additional capital primarily for the purpose of acquiring investments sourced by the Company's investment manager in line with the Company's investment policy. Under the Companies Act 2006, the Company is restricted from issuing shares on a non-pre-emptive basis unless permitted pursuant to a special resolution of the Company of the sort proposed in Resolution 11. Under Resolution 11, the Directors may only issue shares on a nonpre-emptive basis at a gross price which is at least equal to the latest published net asset value per existing ordinary share at the time of their issue. Taken together, these factors mean that the Directors must issue shares in a manner which enables investors to avoid dilution to the then prevailing net asset value attributable to their shares.
The Directors are mindful that the size of the authority sought exceeds the levels recommended by corporate governance best practice. However, the Directors are of the view that such best practice is not directly relevant to the Company due to its status as an investment fund, and have instead sought to ensure that investors are appropriately protected against dilution through the arrangements described above. The Directors therefore believe that it will promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole to have flexibility to issue new ordinary shares up to a maximum nominal amount of £500,000.00 (equal to approximately 1,424.50 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 31st August 2018 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of the Notice).
This authority will expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked) on the conclusion of the 2019 annual general meeting of the Company (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 30 September 2019).
Resolution 11 is a special resolution which is being proposed to authorise the Directors to disapply the pre-emption rights of existing Shareholders in relation to issues of ordinary shares under Resolution 10 (being in respect of ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal value of £500,000.00, representing up to approximately 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at the date of the Notice), provided that in the case of any ordinary shares allotted the issue price is no lower than the latest published net asset value per ordinary share (as calculated in accordance with the Company's policies existing from time to time).
The Directors are seeking such authority to ensure that the Company is able to take advantage of investment opportunities identified by the Company's investment manager (in line with the Company's investment policy) as and when such opportunities arise. The Directors believe that it would not be practical to obtain specific authority to disapply pre-emption rights in relation to issues of ordinary shares only when the need arises, primarily due to the time it would take to prepare the relevant circular to shareholders, obtain pre-clearance for the circular from the authorities, and then print and despatch the relevant circular to shareholders convening the general meeting to seek shareholders' approval.
The Directors are not able to issue shares on a non-pre-emptive basis pursuant to the authority granted by Resolution 11 at a gross price which is less than the latest published net asset value per existing ordinary share at the time of their issue. As such, there should be no dilution to the then prevailing net asset value attributable to shareholders arising from such issue. The Directors therefore believe that granting the authority to disapply pre-emption rights provided pursuant to Resolution 11 will enable the Company to act on a timely basis to issue shares while protecting investors against dilution and that granting such authority will promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole.
This authority will expire (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked) on the conclusion of the 2019 annual general meeting of the Company (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 30 September 2019).
Resolution 12 is a special resolution that will give the Directors the ability to convene general meetings, other than annual general meetings, on a minimum of 14 clear days' notice. The minimum notice period for annual general meetings will remain at 21 clear days. This authority would provide the Company with flexibility where action needs to be taken quickly but will only be used where the Directors consider it in the best interests of Shareholders to do so and the matter is required to be dealt with expediently. The approval will be effective until the 2019 annual general meeting of the Company, at which it is intended that renewal will be sought.
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's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or 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 3RA50) by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 24 September 2018. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp generated by the CREST system) 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 personal members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. 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 concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his 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 service 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 is a member may appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers, provided that they do not exercise their powers differently in relation to the same shares. Any such representative should bring to the meeting written evidence of their appointment, such as a certified copy of a board resolution of, or a letter from the corporation concerned confirming the appointment.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Chairman of the board and the management engagement committee and a member of the audit committee
Appointed to the Board in December 2018
Perry Wilson is a financial services professional with over 25 years' experience in investment banking and fund management, responsible for running portfolio risk positions in global markets. He started his career in accountancy before joining the asset trading group at Lazard in 1987, focusing on illiquid credit and structured products and going on to become a director of the bank.
In 2003 Mr Wilson joined Argo Capital as executive director, an AIM listed alternative investment fund management firm and was part of a small team of portfolio managers that oversaw the group's fiftyfold AUM growth to US\$1.3bn at it's height. After leaving Argo in 2010 Mr Wilson joined Integra Capital to implement a liquid credit strategy before setting up a fixed income sales and trading operation for a Central Asian investment bank, Visor Capital in 2013.
Since 2015 Mr Wilson has been on the board of a number of UK and offshore financial services firms and investment funds, as independent non-executive director, and also acts as chair of trustees for a UK pension plan, providing corporate governance and oversight utilising his extensive financial markets background and experience.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Chairman of the audit committee and member of the management engagement committee
Appointed to the Board in June 2019
St.John trained as a solicitor and was an in-house Commercial and Banking Counsel for TSB Bank. His responsibilities included drafting and negotiating legal documentation in relation to all Bank lending and commercial arrangements. This included many types of commercial contracts and involved a close working relationship with the technology team who required advise on a steady flow of technology contracts.
He became a Investment Manager in 2000 and set up a fund in the Cayman Islands in 2004 based on Technical Analysis which he successfully operated and closed in late 2007. He continues to advise on investment and is currently an Investment Manager registered with Credo Capital with his own private clients.
St.John has also served as Trustee on a Pension fund for a Charity and, using his legal and investment knowledge, he helped to restructure the Board to allow it to recognise and meet its extensive ongoing Pension obligations. He is also currently a Non-Executive Director of a food company, The Big Prawn Company, where uses his knowledge and experience to help guide this company.
Non-Executive Director
Appointed to the Board in September 2017
Gareth Burchell began his career in the insurance industry and spent three years at RBS Insurance prior to beginning his career in investment advice and management. Mr. Burchell is currently Head of Shard Capital Stockbrokers and chairs an investment committee that specialises in providing funding for both listed and unlisted small companies. Mr Burchell has had a focus on the small cap arena for 15 years and he and his team have provided £90 million of funding across 221 companies. He has an in-depth knowledge of the UK listing process of various small cap exchanges.
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