Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Dec 8, 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 immediately seek your own advice from your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your ordinary shares in The Sage Group plc., you should pass this Notice of the Meeting and accompanying documents (except any personalised form of proxy), as soon as possible, to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, so they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares.
2 December 2021 The Sage Group plc. C23 – 5&6 Cobalt Park Way, Cobalt Park Newcastle Upon Tyne NE28 9EJ United Kingdom www.sage.com
Dear shareholder
I am pleased to provide details of the thirty-fourth Annual General Meeting of The Sage Group plc. (the "Company") (the "2022 Annual General Meeting", or the "Meeting") and enclose our Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2021 (the "FY21 Annual Report and Accounts"), the Notice of the Meeting and Form of Proxy. The Meeting will be held at, and broadcast from, our registered office at C23 - 5 & 6, Cobalt Park Way, Cobalt Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE28 9EJ, on Thursday, 3 February 2022 at 12 noon, with facilities to attend electronically.
The Notice of the Meeting is set out on pages 3 and 4, together with explanatory notes on pages 5 to 10. The FY21 Annual Report and Accounts and the Notice of the Meeting are also available on our website at sage.com/investors.
Shareholders' views are important to us, and we consider the Annual General Meeting to be an important event in our calendar and a significant opportunity to engage with our shareholders. We have been mindful when planning for our 2022 Annual General Meeting both of the need to ensure a Covid-19 secure Meeting for any shareholders who may wish (subject to government guidelines) to attend the Meeting at the physical venue, and of the importance of providing shareholders with the opportunity to attend the meeting electronically, should they so prefer.
The 2022 Annual General Meeting will be held as a combined physical and electronic general meeting as permitted by the Company's Articles of Association, and we have made the following arrangements to support this.
At the time of writing the Notice of the Meeting, the UK government is not imposing restrictions on public gatherings or travel. It is therefore anticipated that we will be able to welcome our shareholders to the Meeting in person. If you would like to attend the physical venue, we ask you to please register your intention as soon as possible with Equiniti, our Registrars, by ticking the tick box on either the Form of Proxy (which you should return to Equiniti), or on www.sharevote.co.uk, to help us plan appropriately. Depending on any UK government requirements or recommendations at the time of the Meeting, we may ask everyone attending at the physical venue to adhere to safety measures, which could include wearing a face covering and observing appropriate social distancing. Unfortunately, there will be no circulation of shareholders or Directors before or after the Meeting, and (with the exception of carers) guests of shareholders will not be permitted entrance to the Meeting this year. In view of the unpredictability of the Covid-19 pandemic, we also ask you please to check the latest Government guidelines before you consider travelling to the Meeting venue and to monitor our website, sage.com/investors, where we will inform you of any changes to our arrangements for the Meeting.
This year, we will be enabling all shareholders to attend and participate in the Meeting electronically, and I would encourage you to make full use of the facilities available to you, if you are not planning or are unable to attend the physical venue. Shareholders will be able to view the Board conduct the business of the Meeting via a live webcast and to submit questions in real time via the Lumi platform on any matter pertaining to the business of the Meeting. You will also be able to cast your vote during the Meeting this year. Please refer to pages 14 and 15 for fuller information on how to attend the Meeting electronically, ask questions and vote.
Shareholders who would like to appoint their own named proxy or corporate representative for the Meeting with the intention that the person will attend electronically should follow the processes set out in notes 3 to 9 on pages 11 and 12, noting that the deadline for receipt by our Registrars of all proxy appointments is 12 noon on Tuesday, 1 February 2022. In addition, to ensure your proxy or corporate representative is able to access the Meeting electronically, please contact the Company's Registrars before 12 noon on Wednesday, 2 February 2022 on 0371 384 2859 or +44 121 415 7047, or by emailing [email protected], to arrange a unique username and password.
I strongly encourage you to submit your questions about the business of the Meeting in advance, by emailing [email protected] no later than close of business on 27 January 2022. Please include your full name and SRN in your email. You may also, if you prefer, ask questions during the Meeting, whether you are attending at the physical venue or electronically. The Directors will aim, where possible, to answer all questions on the business of the Meeting, live at the Meeting. A full transcript of the questions asked on the business of the Meeting, and the answers, will be made available on the Company's website in due course following the conclusion of the Meeting.
In addition, and similarly to last year, our external Auditors (Ernst & Young LLP) will be available to answer any questions from shareholders, at the Meeting.
Your vote is important to us. Shareholders attending the Meeting at the physical venue or electronically will be able to vote in real time during the Meeting.
If you are planning to attend the physical venue, we ask you to please register your intention as soon as possible, with Equiniti, our Registrars, by ticking the tick box on either the Form of Proxy (which you should return to Equiniti) or on www.sharevote.co.uk. You will be provided with a poll card at the venue.
If you are planning to attend the Meeting electronically and would like to cast your vote during the Meeting, please refer to pages 14 to 15 for fuller information on the process.
Shareholders who are unable to attend the Meeting or who would prefer to vote in advance are strongly encouraged to appoint the Chair of the Meeting as proxy, with voting instructions. Voting at the Meeting will be on a poll, and will reflect all proxy voting instructions duly received. Information on how to appoint a proxy (whether you choose the Chair of the Meeting or your own named proxy to attend on your behalf) is on pages 11 and 12. Please note that the deadline for receipt by our Registrars of all proxy appointments is 12 noon on Tuesday, 1 February 2022.
The results of the poll will be announced to the London Stock Exchange and will be published on our website www.sage.com/investors as soon as reasonably practicable after the Meeting.
Any changes to our Meeting arrangements will be communicated to shareholders via the Company's website. Our corporate website, www.sage.com/investors is the principal means we use to communicate with our shareholders, and we therefore encourage you to watch for updates about the 2022 Annual General Meeting. In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, please also check the latest government guidelines at the time of the Meeting before you consider travelling to the physical venue.
In addition to our standard Annual General Meeting resolutions, we are also asking shareholders to approve the 2022 Directors' Remuneration Policy (the "2022 Remuneration Policy" or the "Policy"), which sets out the Company's updated policy relating to the Directors' remuneration. We conducted a broad engagement programme on the Policy in 2021, engaging with shareholders controlling around 60% of our issued share capital and three major proxy advisers: IVIS/the Investment Association, ISS and Glass Lewis. Details on the Policy and on consultation can be found in our FY21 Annual Report and Accounts on pages 126 and 130 to 139.
The current policy was approved at the 2019 AGM. The new Policy, if approved by shareholders, is intended to apply for up to three years from the date of the Meeting, and unless the Company wishes to change the Policy, no further shareholder approval will be required during this period.
Subject to approval at the 2022 Annual General Meeting, the final dividend for the financial year ended 30 September 2021 of 11.63 pence per ordinary share will be paid on 10 February 2022 to those members whose names appear on the register at the close of business on 14 January 2022.
The Directors are of the opinion that all resolutions to be proposed at the 2022 Annual General Meeting are in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that you vote in favour of all the proposed resolutions.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Duff Chair
Notice is hereby given that the thirty-fourth Annual General Meeting of The Sage Group plc. (the "Company") (the "2022 Annual General Meeting", the "Meeting") will be held at C23 - 5 & 6, Cobalt Park Way, Cobalt Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE28 9EJ, at 12 noon on Thursday, 3 February 2022 to transact the following business:
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass resolutions 1 to 18 (inclusive), which will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions, and resolutions 19 to 22 (inclusive), which will be proposed as Special Resolutions:
provided that the aggregate amount of any such donations and expenditure shall not exceed £100,000 in total, during the period beginning with the date of the passing of this resolution and ending at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or, if earlier, at the close of business on 31 March 2023.
For the purpose of this resolution the terms "political donations", "political parties", "independent election candidates", "political organisations" and "political expenditure" have the meanings set out in sections 363 to 365 of the Companies Act 2006.
in either case as if section 561 of that Act did not apply to the allotment or sale, but this power shall be:
By Order of the Board
Vicki Bradin Company Secretary
C23 – 5&6, Cobalt Park Way, Cobalt Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE28 9EJ, United Kingdom
Registered in England and Wales, Company number 02231246
2 December 2021
Resolutions 1 to 18 (inclusive) are Ordinary Resolutions which require a simple majority of more than 50% of votes to be cast in favour to be passed. Resolutions 19 to 22 (inclusive) are Special Resolutions which require a 75% majority of the votes to be cast in favour to be passed.
This resolution is to receive and consider the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts. The Directors are required to present the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts, including the independent Auditor's Report.
This resolution is to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report as set out on pages 120 to 157 of the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts (excluding the part setting out the Directors' Remuneration Policy, which is on pages 130 to 139).
Section 439 of the Companies Act 2006 requires that the Directors' Remuneration Report for the financial year be put to a vote of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. This vote is advisory and the Directors' entitlement to receive remuneration is not conditional on it.
The Directors' Remuneration Policy (the "2022 Remuneration Policy") sets out the Company's proposed policy on Directors' remuneration. The 2022 Remuneration Policy is set out on pages 130 to 139 of the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts.
Section 439A of the Companies Act 2006 requires that a directors' remuneration policy be put to vote by shareholders every three years, unless during that time it is to be changed or a new policy proposed. The vote is binding which means that payments cannot be made under the 2022 Remuneration Policy until it has been approved by shareholders. The current remuneration policy for Directors was previously approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held in 2019 and can be found in full on https://www.sage.com/investors/governance/remuneration-policy.
The Remuneration Committee discussed the 2022 Remuneration Policy over a series of meetings which considered the strategic priorities of the business, talent requirements, stakeholder views and evolving market practice in consultation with its external remuneration advisers, Deloitte. The Remuneration Committee also consulted individually with Sage's top 17 shareholders controlling around 60% of our issued share capital and three major proxy advisers: IVIS/the Investment Association, ISS and Glass Lewis.
In drafting the 2022 Remuneration Policy we recognised that, overall, the framework applicable to our current remuneration policy for Directors remains relevant. We are however, proposing some changes from the existing policy, to further align our commitment to a long-term sustainable business for all our stakeholders. The key proposed amendments from the existing policy are set out below:
This resolution seeks shareholder approval for the proposed final dividend of 11.63 pence per ordinary share. The final dividend declared cannot exceed the amount recommended by the Directors. An interim dividend of 6.05 pence per ordinary share was paid on 18 June 2021. The Board is proposing a final dividend of 11.63 pence per ordinary share, making a total dividend for the year of 17.68 pence per ordinary share. If approved, the final dividend will be paid on 10 February 2022 to members whose names appear on the register of members at the close of business on 14 January 2022.
This reflects the Group's strong business performance and cash generation during FY21 in line with the Company's policy of maintaining the dividend in real terms. Further information is set out on page 233 of the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts.
In accordance with the provisions of the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code and the Company's Articles of Association, the Directors are subject to election or annual re-election by shareholders.
Resolution 5 relates to the election by shareholders of Andrew Duff, who was appointed to the Board as an independent Non-executive Director on 1 May 2021 and as Non-executive Chair on 1 October 2021. Resolution 6 relates to the election by shareholders of Derek Harding, who was appointed to the Board as an independent Non-executive Director on 2 March 2021.
Resolutions 7 to 14 relate to the re-election of the other remaining Directors, Sangeeta Anand, Dr John Bates, Jonathan Bewes, Annette Court, Drummond Hall and Irana Wasti as independent Non-executive Directors and Steve Hare and Jonathan Howell as Executive Directors.
The Board has considered the key strengths and experience of each Director and the contribution each Director brings to the Board. In FY21, the Board carried out an internal review of its own effectiveness, and that of its Committees and Directors, details of which can be found on pages 80 to 82 of the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts.
The interests and external time commitments of the Non-executive Directors have been considered and the Board has concluded that they are free from any relationships or circumstances that could affect their judgement and are accordingly considered independent. Andrew Duff was independent on his appointment to the Board, and as Chair.
The Board concluded that each Director continues to be effective and that they demonstrate commitment to their roles. It is the Board's view that the Directors' biographies below illustrate why the contribution of each Director standing for election/re-election is, and continues to be, important to the long-term sustainable success of the Company.
Appointment date: Independent Non-executive Director on 1 May 2021 and as Non-executive Chair on 1 October 2021 Committees: Chair of the Nomination Committee Board contribution:
Key strengths and experience: Strong track record as a nonexecutive chair with focus on culture, purpose, customer centricity, and delivering value for all stakeholders. Andrew has previously served as a non-executive chair or Elementis plc and Severn Trent plc, non-executive director of Wolseley plc and chief executive officer of npower.
Key external commitments: Non-executive director of UK Government Investments Ltd (UKGI)
Role: Independent Non-executive Director Appointment date: 2 March 2021 Committees: Member of the Audit and Risk Committee Board contribution:
Key strengths and experience: Sharp financial acumen gained as chief financial officer at Senior plc, group finance director at Shop Direct and finance director of Wolseley UK.
Key external commitments: Chief financial officer at Spectris plc
Resolution 7 – Re-election of Sangeeta Anand as a Director Role: Independent Non-executive Director Appointed: 1 May 2020 Committees: Member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Board contribution:
Key strengths and experience: Silicon Valley-based senior technology leader with extensive experience in leading P&L and growth across a range of public, PE-owned and startup companies including having served as chief marketing officer of Alkira Inc (disruptive SaaS networking startup), senior vice president of F5 Networks Inc (Listed on NASDAQ), general manager and corporate vice president of SafeNet (part of Thales Group) and vice president of Cisco Systems.
Appointment date: 31 May 2019
Committees: Member of the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee
Key strengths and experience: Valuable technology skills having served as co-founder, president and chief technology officer of Apama (now part of Software AG), head of industry solutions and chief marketing officer at Software AG, chief executive officer of Terracotta, Inc. (a subsidiary of Software AG), executive vice president of corporate strategy and chief technology officer at Progress Software, and chief executive officer at Plat.One (now part of SAP). John has also very recently served as chief executive officer of the Eggplant Group, part of Keysight Technologies Inc.
Key external commitments: Executive chairman of SER Group Holding GmbH
Appointed: 1 April 2019
Committees: Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee Board contribution:
Key strengths and experience: Jonathan is a seasoned investment banker, having worked at Robert Fleming, UBS and Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
Key external commitments: Senior independent director and chair of the audit committee of Next plc and vice chairman corporate and institutional banking at Standard Chartered Bank plc
Appointed: 1 April 2019
Committees: Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit and Risk Committee
Key strengths and experience: Annette's prior roles include senior independent director of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group, chief executive officer of Europe General Insurance for Zurich Financial Services, chief executive officer of the Direct Line Group and director of the board of the Association of British Insurers and Foxtons Group plc
Role: Senior Independent Director Appointed: 1 January 2014
Committees: Member of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Nomination Committee and the Remuneration Committee Board contribution:
Key strengths and experience: Previously Drummond was the senior independent director of WH Smith plc and FirstGroup plc, a non-executive director then chair of Mitchells & Butlers plc and chief executive officer of Dairy Crest Group plc, prior to which the majority of his career was spent with Procter and Gamble, Mars and PepsiCo.
Appointed: Chief Executive Officer on 2 November 2018 3 January 2014 as Chief Financial Officer and as Chief Operating Officer on 31 August 2018
Key strengths and Experience: Steve joined Sage in January 2014, having previously been operating partner and co-head of the Portfolio Support Group at the private equity firm Apax Partners. Prior to this he held leading roles in the finance function for listed companies including chief financial officer for Invensys plc, Spectris plc and Marconi plc.
Role: Chief Financial Officer
Appointed: Chief Financial Officer on 10 December 2018 15 May 2013 as Non-executive Director
Key strengths and experience: Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Jonathan had been group finance director of Close Brothers Group plc and the London Stock Exchange Group plc. He has also been a non-executive director of EMAP plc and chairman of FTSE International.
Key external commitments: Independent non-executive director of Experian plc
Role: Independent Non-executive Director Appointment date: 1 May 2020 Committees: None
Key strengths and experience: Irana recently held the role of president of GoDaddy EMEA and was previously senior vice president and general manager for GoDaddy's Productivity business, where she led teams that provide small businesses with tools and services to help run their ventures. While at Intuit, Irana oversaw the launch of QuickBooks POS with Mobile Payments integration, enabling more than 200,000 merchants to "go mobile" and has also held product and development roles at Google and IBM.
On the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board proposes the re-appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Auditors for the financial year 2022.
Resolution 16 authorises the Audit and Risk Committee, on behalf of the Board, to determine and agree the Auditor's remuneration. Further details of the Auditors are set out on pages 118 and 119 of the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts.
Part 14 of the Companies Act 2006, amongst other things, prohibits the Company and its subsidiaries from making UK political donations or from incurring political expenditure in respect of a political party or other political organisation or an independent election candidate unless authorised by the Company's shareholders. Aggregate donations made by the Group of £5,000 or less in any 12-month period will not be caught.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any intention of making any political donations or incurring any political expenditure. However, the Companies Act 2006 defines "political party", "political organisation", "political donation" and "political expenditure" widely. For example, bodies, such as those concerned with policy review and law reform or with the representation of the business community or sections of it, which the Company and/or its subsidiaries may see benefit in supporting, may be caught.
Accordingly, and in line with common practice, the Company wishes to ensure that neither it nor its subsidiaries inadvertently commits any breaches of the Companies Act 2006 through the undertaking of routine activities, which would not normally be considered to result in the making of political donations or in political expenditure being incurred.
As permitted under the Companies Act 2006, the resolution covers the Company and extends to all companies which are subsidiaries of the Company at any time the authority is in place. The proposed authority will expire at the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or, if earlier, at the close of business on 31 March 2023.
This resolution will be proposed to enable the Directors to renew their existing powers to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company without the prior consent of shareholders for a period expiring at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or, if earlier, at the close of business on 31 March 2023.
Paragraph (a)(i) of resolution 18 will allow the Directors to allot ordinary shares up to an aggregate maximum nominal amount of £3,586,180.90 (representing approximately 33.3% of the nominal value of the Company's issued share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, on 1 December 2021, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document).
In accordance with the institutional guidelines issued by the Investment Association ("IA"), paragraph (a)(ii) of resolution 18 will allow Directors to allot, including the ordinary shares referred to in paragraph (a)(i) of resolution 18, further of the Company's ordinary shares in connection with a pre-emptive offer by way of a rights issue to ordinary shareholders up to a maximum nominal amount of £7,172,361.80 (representing approximately 66.6% of the Company's existing issued share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, on 1 December 2021, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document). The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority. However, if they do exercise the authority, the Directors intend to follow best practice as regards its use as recommended by the IA.
As at 1 December 2021, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document, the Company holds 97,039,881 shares in treasury, which represents approximately 9.48% of the total ordinary share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) in issue.
Under Section 561 of the Companies Act 2006, if the Directors wish to allot any equity securities for cash (other than in connection with any employee share scheme) they must offer them to existing shareholders in the first instance in proportion to their holdings. This is called pre-emption rights. This resolution will give the Directors the authority to allot equity securities for cash without first being required to offer such shares to existing shareholders for a period expiring at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or, if earlier, at the close of business on 31 March 2023. If approved, the resolution will empower the Directors to issue shares in connection with a rights issue or other pre-emptive offer and otherwise to issue shares for cash up to an aggregate maximum nominal amount of £538,465.60 (representing approximately 5% of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company, excluding shares held in treasury, on 1 December 2021, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document), which includes the sale on a non-pre-emptive basis of any shares the Company holds in treasury for cash.
The Directors are aware of best practice and intend to adhere to the provisions in the Pre-Emption Group 2015 Statement of Principles for the dis-application of pre-emption rights (the "Statement of Principles"). The Directors do not intend to issue more than 7.5% of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis in any rolling three-year period (other than in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment as described in the Statement of Principles) without prior consultation with the relevant investor groups.
This resolution will be proposed as a special resolution.
This resolution further requests shareholder approval, by way of a separate special resolution in line with the best practice guidance issued by the Pre-Emption Group, for the Directors to allot equity securities or sell treasury shares for cash without first being required to offer such securities to existing shareholders.
The authority granted by this resolution, if passed:
The authority granted by this resolution would be in addition to the general authority to disapply pre-emption rights under resolution 19.
The maximum nominal value of equity securities which could be allotted if both authorities were used would be £1,076,931.20, which represents approximately 10% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding shares held in treasury) as at 1 December 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document).
The proposed authority will expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or, if earlier, at the close of business on 31 March 2023.
This resolution will be proposed as a special resolution.
This resolution gives the Company authority to purchase its own ordinary shares in the market in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 on such terms and in such manner as the Directors determine, subject to the following:
The Company may agree before the authority terminates to purchase ordinary shares where the purchase(s) will or may be executed after the authority terminates (either in whole or in part). The Company may complete such purchase(s) even though the authority has ended.
The power given by the resolution will only be exercised if the Directors are satisfied that any purchase will increase the earnings per share of the ordinary share capital in issue after the purchase and, accordingly, that the purchase is in the interests of shareholders. The Directors will also consider gearing levels of the Company and its general financial position. The purchase price would be paid out of distributable profits.
A listed company may hold shares in treasury, as an alternative to cancelling them, following a purchase of own shares by the company in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. Shares held in treasury in this manner will be available for resale by the Company or may be transferred for the purpose of or pursuant to an employees' share scheme. Accordingly, if the Directors exercise the authority conferred by this resolution, the Company will have the option of holding those shares in treasury, rather than cancelling them. The Board will have regard to any guidelines published by any of the investor groups in force at the time of any such purchase, holding or resale of treasury shares.
The total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares and awards to be satisfied by newly issued ordinary shares under other long-term incentive plans of the Group that were outstanding at 1 December 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document) was 22,769,607. The proportion of issued share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, that they represented at that time was 2.22% and the proportion of issued share capital that they will represent if the full authority to purchase shares, existing and being sought, is used is 2.56%.
The Company has used its authority to purchase own shares in the market, as granted by shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting held on 4 February 2021, to buy back, under two share buyback programmes, and as at 1 December 2021, a total of 76,133,637 ordinary shares in Sage. Further information on the share buyback programmes is set out on page 161 of the FY21 Annual Report and Accounts. Information on transactions in own shares is also publicly available via the regulatory information service and on Sage's website at www.sage.com/investors.
This resolution will be proposed as a special resolution.
The notice period required by the Companies Act 2006 for general meetings of the Company is 21 clear days unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period, which cannot, however, be less than 14 clear days. Annual General Meetings must always be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
This resolution will be proposed to allow the Company to call general meetings (other than an Annual General Meeting) on 14 clear days' notice. A resolution on the same terms was passed at the Annual General Meeting on 4 February 2021.
It is intended that the flexibility offered by this resolution will only be used for time-sensitive, non-routine business and where merited in the interests of shareholders as a whole. The approval will be effective until the Company's next Annual General Meeting, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed. In order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice, the Company must make a means of electronic voting available to all shareholders for that meeting.
This resolution will be proposed as a special resolution.
By Order of the Board
Vicki Bradin Company Secretary
2 December 2021
Changes to entries in the register of members after 6.30 pm on 1 February 2022 or, in the event that this Meeting is adjourned, in the register of members after 6.30 pm on the day two days (excluding any non-working days) before the time of any adjourned meeting shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the Meeting.
If you have any questions relating to the enclosed documents, please call the Company's Registrars, Equiniti, on 0371 384 2859. Non-UK callers should dial +44(0) 121 415 7047. Lines are open 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales). The helpline cannot give any financial, legal or tax advice.
Dividend payments FY21 Final payable: 10 February 2022
Q1 FY22 Trading update: 26 January 2022 H1 FY22 Interim results: 13 May 2022 Q3 FY22 Trading update: 28 July 2022 FY22 Full Year results: 16 November 2022
Please note that these dates are provisional and subject to change. Please access our financial calendar at sage.com/investors, which is updated regularly.
For the 2022 Annual General Meeting, The Sage Group plc. is enabling shareholders to attend, participate and vote in the Meeting electronically.
Please visit https://web.lumiagm.com using most well-known internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and Safari on a PC, laptop or internet-enabled device such as a tablet or smartphone.
On accessing the Meeting website, you will be asked to enter a 'Meeting ID' which is 158-329-605. You will then be prompted to enter your unique username, which is your Shareholder Reference Number (SRN), and PIN which is the first two and last two digits of your SRN. These can be found printed on your Form of Proxy. Access to the Meeting via the website will be available from 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 3 February 2022. Please note that your ability to vote will not be enabled until the Chair formally opens the poll during the Meeting.
Once logged in, and at the commencement of the Meeting at 12 noon on Thursday, 3 February 2022, you will be able to view the Directors conduct the proceedings of the Meeting on your device.
Once the Chair has formally opened the Meeting, he will explain the voting procedure. Voting will be enabled on all resolutions during the formal Meeting, on the Chair's instructions. This means that shareholders may, at any time while the poll is open, vote electronically on any or all of the resolutions in the Notice of Meeting. Once the resolutions have been proposed, the list of resolutions will appear along with the voting options available. Select the option that corresponds with how you wish to vote: "FOR", "AGAINST" or "WITHHELD". Once you have selected your choice, the option will change colour and a confirmation email will appear to indicate that your vote has been cast and received. There is no submit button. If you make a mistake, or wish to change your vote, simply select the correct choice. If you wish to "cancel" your vote, select the "cancel" button. You will be able to do this any time whilst the poll remains open and before the Chair announces its closure at the end of the Meeting.
If you are unable to attend the Meeting or would prefer to vote in advance, we strongly encourage you to appoint the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy, with voting instructions. The deadline for proxy appointments is 12 noon on Tuesday, 1 February 2022.
Shareholders participating electronically may ask questions via the website (https://web.lumiagm.com) by selecting the messaging icon from within the navigation bar and type your question at the top of the screen. To submit your question, click on the arrow icon to the right of the text box.
An active internet connection is required at all times in order for you to cast your vote when the poll opens, submit questions and view the broadcast. It is the user's responsibility to ensure you remain connected for the duration of the Meeting.
Shareholders who appoint their own named proxy or corporate representative for the Meeting with the intention that the person will attend electronically should please contact the Company's Registrar before 12 noon on 2 February 2022 on 0371 384 2859 or +44 121 415 7047, or by emailing [email protected] to arrange a unique username and password. Please refer to notes 3 to 8 on pages 11 and 12 for information on how to appoint a proxy, noting that the deadline for receipt by our Registrars of all proxy appointments is 12 noon on Tuesday, 1 February 2022.
To login you must have your SRN and PIN (which is the first two and last two digits of your SRN)
Navigate to https://web.lumiagm.com and you will be prompted to voting icon. enter the Meeting ID. If a shareholder attempts to login before the meeting is live*, a pop-up dialogue box will appear.
* After 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 3 February 2022.
After entering the Meeting ID, you will be prompted to enter your unique username (SRN) and PIN (which is the first two and last two digits of your SRN).
When successfully authenticated, you will be taken to the Home Screen. The Meeting presentation will appear automatically if viewing through a web browser to the side of the page. This can be minimised by pressing the button.
When the Chair declares the poll open, a list of resolutions and voting choices will appear.
Scroll through the list to view all resolutions.
For each resolution, press the choice corresponding with the way in which you wish to vote.
When selected, a confirmation message will appear.
To change your vote, simply press the alternate choice to override your previous selection. To cancel your vote, press "cancel".
To return to the voting screen whilst the poll is open, select the
If you would like to ask a question live at the Meeting, please select the messaging icon .
Messages can be submitted at any time during the Q&A session up until the Chair of the Meeting closes the session. Type your message within the chat box at the top of the messaging screen.
Once you are happy with your message, press send. Questions sent via the 'Lumi AGM' online platform will be moderated before being sent to the Chair of the Meeting to avoid repetition.
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