Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Sep 29, 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 about the action you should take, you should seek your own personal financial advice from your stockbroker, bank, solicitor, fund manager or other independent financial adviser, which, if you are taking advice in the United Kingdom, is duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, or an appropriately authorised independent financial adviser if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred your shares in NCC Group plc, please forward this document to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through which the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee
Following the government's announcement in July 2021, the Board notes that as of 19 July 2021, the remaining restrictions on social contact arising from the Covid-19 pandemic have been lifted. However, the public is being urged to exercise caution and the Board notes the increase in infections since the remaining restrictions were lifted. Although the Company is not expecting to be legally restricted in terms of attendance at the AGM, the Board remains committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of its shareholders and of the general public. Therefore, it is regrettably the opinion of the Board that due to the increase in the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the UK, shareholders should not physically attend the AGM. Accordingly, the Board strongly urges shareholders to consider whether travelling to and attending the AGM would be necessary under the current circumstances. In any event, attendees may be required to wear face coverings and will be required to keep a distance between themselves and other attendees.
The Company will arrange for the AGM to be convened with the minimum necessary quorum, to conduct the necessary business of the AGM. The Company therefore strongly encourages all shareholders to appoint the Chair of the meeting as their proxy and to submit their voting instructions electronically in advance of the meeting, in accordance with the instructions contained in the Notice of AGM.
The Board recognises that the AGM provides an important opportunity to engage with shareholders. Therefore, the Company will ensure that shareholders can submit any questions in writing prior to the AGM. Shareholders may submit a question, by writing to [email protected] with details of their name, shareholding and question by 2.00 pm on 2 November 2021. Only questions from registered shareholders of the Company will be accepted.
The result of the poll vote will be made available as soon as possible after the meeting on our website.
We hope all our shareholders will understand the need for this restriction in the interests of the health and wellbeing of our employees and our shareholders themselves.
(Registered in England with company registration number 4627044)
(the 'Company')
Registered office:
XYZ Building 2 Hardman Boulevard Spinningfields Manchester M3 3AQ
Dear shareholder
I am pleased to invite you to attend the 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company to be held at the offices of NCC Group plc, XYZ Building, 2 Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3AQ, at 2.00 pm on Thursday 4 November 2021.
The formal notice of AGM (the 'Notice') is set out on pages 5 and 6 and the explanatory notes on each resolution to be considered at this year's AGM appear on pages 2 to 4.
Whether or not you intend to come to the AGM, please complete and return the proxy form we have sent to you. The Company's Registrar, Equiniti, must receive the completed proxy form, at the address on the form, by no later than 2.00 pm on Tuesday 2 November 2021. Alternatively you can vote using our CREST proxy voting service following the procedures set out in the CREST Manual. You will still be able to vote on the day of the AGM but if you have already submitted a proxy form, this will only be necessary if you intend to change the voting instructions given on your proxy form.
Although we are respectfully asking shareholders not to attend the AGM in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, please complete and return the proxy form we have sent to you. The Company's Registrar, Equiniti, must receive the completed proxy form, at the address on the form, by no later than 2.00 pm on Tuesday 2 November 2021. Alternatively, you can vote using our CREST proxy voting service following the procedures set out in the CREST Manual.
The directors of the Company (the 'Directors') believe that the resolutions set out in the Notice are likely to promote the success of the Company and are in the best interests of the Company and of the shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, they recommend you vote in favour of each resolution as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings in the Company, which amount in aggregate to 480,424 shares representing approximately 0.16% of the existing ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares).
Yours faithfully
Chris Stone Chair
Resolutions 1 to 14 (inclusive) and resolution 19 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that, for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than 50% of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 15 to 18 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. This means that, for each of those resolutions to be passed, not less than 75% of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The Directors will present to the shareholders at the AGM the accounts for the year ended 31 May 2021, together with the Strategic Report and the reports of the Directors and the auditor.
The Directors' Remuneration Report is included in full on pages 100 to 118 of the Company's 2021 Annual Report and Accounts (the '2021 Annual Report') and provides details of the remuneration paid to the Directors in respect of the year ended 31 May 2021. For the purposes of this resolution, this does not include the parts of the Directors' Remuneration Report containing the Directors' remuneration policy, which is set out on pages 103 to 108.
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 (the 'Companies Act'), this resolution to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report (other than the Directors' remuneration policy) is advisory only and therefore no entitlement to remuneration is conditional on it.
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Company proposes an ordinary resolution to approve the Directors' remuneration policy contained in the Directors' Remuneration Report. The proposed policy is set out on pages 103 to 108 of the 2021 Annual Report. The vote on this resolution is binding and, if passed, will mean that remuneration payments and payments for loss of office can only be made to Directors or former Directors in accordance with the approved Directors' remuneration policy. The Company is required to ensure that a vote on its remuneration policy takes place at least every three years, unless it is proposed that the policy is to be changed before the expiry of the three year period, in which case the Company will propose a new resolution to approve the amended policy. The previous vote on the Company's existing Directors' remuneration policy was held in October 2020 and the policy is due to expire at the 2023 AGM.
Subject to approval at the AGM, the proposed Directors' remuneration policy will take effect from the end of the AGM and will replace the existing policy as approved by shareholders in 2020.
Final dividends are to be approved by shareholders. However, they cannot be more than the amount the Board recommends. The Board is recommending a final dividend of 3.15p per ordinary share for the year ended 31 May 2021. If shareholders approve the recommended dividend, it will be paid on 12 November 2021 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 15 October 2021.
The auditor of the Company is required to be appointed or reappointed at each AGM at which accounts are presented. An assessment of the effectiveness, independence and objectivity of the auditor has been undertaken by the Audit Committee, which has recommended to the Board that KPMG LLP be reappointed as auditor. The Board confirms that: (1) the recommendation is free from influence by a third party; and (2) no contractual term of the kind mentioned in Article 16(6) of the EU Regulation 537/2014 has been imposed on the Company. Accordingly, shareholder approval is being sought pursuant to resolution 5 to reappoint KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company.
Resolution 6 proposes that the Audit Committee be authorised to determine the level of the auditor's remuneration.
Under the Company's Articles of Association (the 'Articles'), Directors appointed by the Board are required to submit themselves for election at the first AGM following their appointment. There have been no Directors appointed to the Board since the 2018 AGM; therefore, in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code every Director will stand for re-election at the AGM.
Biographical details of each Director standing for re-election can be found on pages 74 and 75 of the 2021 Annual Report together with their skills and experience which support the reasons why their contributions are, and continue to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success.
The Board supports the re-election of each Director, as it believes that the particular knowledge and experience of each Director, as described in their biographies as set out in the 2021 Annual Report, assist in ensuring that the Board has an appropriate balance of skills and experience for the requirements of the business. The Board has confirmed, following a performance review, that each of the Directors standing for re-election continues to perform effectively and demonstrates commitment to their role. The Board has considered whether each of the Non-Executive Directors is free of any relationship that could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement and has determined that each Non-Executive continues to be considered independent.
Generally, the Directors may only allot shares in the Company (or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company) if they have been authorised to do so by shareholders.
Resolution 14 renews a similar authority given at last year's AGM and is in two parts.
In line with guidance issued by the Investment Association, if passed, paragraph 14(a) of resolution 14 will authorise the Directors 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 of £1,029,910 (representing 102,991,000 ordinary shares). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 10 September 2021 (being the latest practicable date before the publication of this document).
In addition, if passed, paragraph 14(b) of resolution 14 will authorise the Directors to allot ordinary shares in the Company (and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, ordinary shares in the Company) in connection with a rights issue only up to a further aggregate nominal amount of £1,029,910 (representing 102,991,000 ordinary shares). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 10 September 2021 (being the latest practicable date before the publication of this document).
If given, these authorities will expire at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM. It is the Directors' intention to renew the allotment authority each year.
As at the date of this document, no ordinary shares are held by the Company in treasury.
The Directors have no current intention of allotting new ordinary shares other than in relation to the Company's share schemes. However, the Directors consider that it is in the best interests of the Company to have the authorities available so that they have the maximum flexibility permitted by institutional shareholder guidelines to allot shares without the need for a general meeting should they determine that it is appropriate to do so to respond to market developments or to take advantage of business opportunities as they arise. The Board recommends that this authority be renewed.
Generally, if the Directors wish to allot new shares or other equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Companies Act 2006) for cash, then under the Companies Act 2006 they must first offer such shares or securities to shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. These statutory pre-emption rights may be disapplied by shareholders.
Resolutions 15 and 16, which will be proposed as special resolutions, will enable the Directors to allot equity securities for cash or sell treasury shares for cash without first offering them to shareholders pro rata to their existing holdings. The resolutions take a similar form to the resolutions passed at last year's AGM.
The powers proposed under resolution 15 will be limited to allotments or sales of ordinary shares:
This resolution renews the authority obtained at last year's AGM. If given, the authority granted under resolution 15 will expire on the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2022.
The powers proposed under resolution 16 will be limited to allotments or sales of ordinary shares:
This resolution renews the authority obtained at last year's AGM. If given, the authority granted under resolution 16 will expire on the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2022.
In accordance with the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, the Directors confirm that they do not intend to issue more than 7.5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on a non-pre-emptive basis (except in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment as referred to above) in any rolling three year period without prior consultation with shareholders. As noted in relation to resolution 14 above, the Directors have no current intention of issuing ordinary shares other than in relation to the Company's employee share schemes.
The Directors believe it is in the interests of the Company and its shareholders to have the flexibility to purchase its own shares and this resolution seeks authority from shareholders to do so.
Resolution 17, which will be proposed as a special resolution, renews a similar authority given at last year's AGM. The Directors presently have no intention of exercising the authority sought under resolution 17, but consider the authority desirable to provide maximum flexibility in the management of the Company's capital base. If passed, and in considering whether to use this authority, the Directors will take into account factors including the financial resources of the Company, the Company's share price and future funding opportunities. The Directors would only use this authority if they believed that to do so would result in an increase in earnings per share and promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole. If any purchases of ordinary shares are made pursuant to this authority, it is intended that such ordinary shares will either be cancelled, held in treasury or used to satisfy options exercised under the Company's share schemes, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. While held in treasury, the shares are not entitled to receive any dividend or dividend equivalent (apart from any issue of bonus shares) and have no voting rights. The Directors will have regard to institutional shareholder guidelines which may be in force at the time of any such purchase, holding or resale of shares held in treasury. Any purchases of ordinary shares would be by means of market purchases on the London Stock Exchange.
continued
This resolution would be limited to 30,897,300 ordinary shares, representing approximately 10% of the issued equity share capital of the Company as at 10 September 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document). The authority also sets minimum and maximum prices at which shares may be bought. The renewed authority will remain in force until the conclusion of the Company's 2022 AGM. The Directors intend to seek renewal of this power at each AGM.
The total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares for all share schemes of the Company which were outstanding as at 10 September 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document) was 8,855,175, which represents approximately 2.87% of the Company's issued share capital and would represent 3.18% of the Company's issued share capital if the full authority to repurchase ordinary shares as proposed by resolution 17 was exercised.
As at 10 September 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document), the Company holds no shares in treasury.
Resolution 18 enables the Company to hold general meetings (other than AGMs) on 14 clear days' notice. The Articles currently permit such notice period, but this resolution is required in order to comply with the Shareholders' Rights Regulations.
The Company intends only to use the shorter notice period where the flexibility would be helpful given the business of the meeting and where the Company considers it is to the advantage of the shareholders as a whole. In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Company must make a means of electronic voting available to all shareholders for that meeting in order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice.
If passed, the resolution will be effective until the Company's next AGM, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed.
Resolution 19 deals with political donations. Under the Companies Act 2006, political donations to any political parties, independent election candidates or political organisations or the incurring of political expenditure are prohibited unless authorised by shareholders in advance. What constitutes a political donation, a political party, a political organisation or political expenditure is not easy to decide, as the legislation is capable of wide interpretation. Sponsorship, subscriptions, payment of expenses, paid leave for employees fulfilling public duties and support for bodies representing the business community in policy review or reform may fall within this.
Therefore, notwithstanding that the Company has not made a political donation in the past, and has no intention either now or in the future of making any political donation or incurring any political expenditure in respect of any political party, political organisation or independent election candidate, the Board has decided to put forward resolution 19. This will allow the Company to support the community and put forward its views to wider business and government entities without running the risk of being in inadvertent breach of the law. As permitted under the Companies Act 2006, resolution 19 also covers any political donations made, or political expenditure incurred, by any subsidiaries of the Company. This authority will expire at the end of the next AGM of the Company.
Notice is hereby given that NCC Group plc (the 'Company') will hold its Annual General Meeting at the offices of NCC Group plc, XYZ Building, 2 Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3AQ, at 2.00 pm on Thursday 4 November 2021 to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions.
Resolutions 1 to 14 (inclusive) and resolution 19 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 15 to 18 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. The Directors have determined that all the resolutions to be put to a vote at the AGM will be decided on a poll:
provided that this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, save that the Company shall be entitled to make offers or agreements before the expiry of such authority which would or might require shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors shall be entitled to allot shares and grant Rights pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired and all unexercised authorities previously granted to the Directors to allot shares and grant Rights be and are hereby revoked.
and such power shall expire on the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold after such expiry, and the Board may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.
and such power shall expire on the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold after such expiry, and the Directors may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.
and (unless revoked, varied or renewed) this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, provided that the Company may, before such expiry, make a contract to purchase its own shares which would or might be executed wholly or partly after such expiry, and the Company may make a purchase of its own shares in pursuance of such contract as if the authority hereby conferred had not expired.
(as such terms are defined in the Companies Act 2006) during the period beginning with the date of the passing of this resolution and ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company provided that the authorised sum referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above may be comprised of one or more amounts in different currencies which, for the purposes of calculating the said sum, shall be converted into Pounds Sterling at the exchange rate published in the London edition of the Financial Times on the date on which the relevant donation is
made or expenditure incurred (or the first business day thereafter) or, if earlier, on the day in which the Company enters into any contract or undertaking in relation to the same provided that, in any event, the aggregate amount of political donations and political expenditure made or incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to this resolution shall not exceed £75,000.
By Order of the Board
Company Secretary 14 September 2021
Registered office: XYZ Building 2 Hardman Boulevard Spinningfields Manchester M3 3AQ
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 CREST's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual, which can be viewed at www.euroclear.com. 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, to be valid, be transmitted
so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID RA19) by 2.00 pm on Tuesday 2 November 2021. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications 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 there are no 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.
If the AGM were to be adjourned for any reason, then only those shareholders registered in the Register at 6.30 pm on the day which is two working days prior to the day fixed for the adjourned meeting will be eligible to attend.
will be available for inspection at the registered office of the Company and at the offices of DLA Piper UK LLP, 160 Aldersgate Street, London EC1A 4HT, during usual business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excluded) from the date of this Notice until the date of the AGM and at the place of the AGM from at least 15 minutes prior to and until the conclusion of the AGM.
(a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or would involve the disclosure of confidential information; or
(b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question; or
The Company may not require the shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 527 or 528 of the 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 auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the AGM includes any statement that the Company has been required under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.
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