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North Atlantic Smaller Companies Invesment Trust PLC

Pre-Annual General Meeting Information May 20, 2022

5189_agm-r_2022-05-20_bc7f22f2-d250-49c9-9ebb-06b7e7fc76b0.pdf

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 contents of this document or as to the action you should take, you are recommended immediately to seek your own independent financial advice from your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant, bank manager or other appropriately qualified independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) if you are in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser if you are outside the United Kingdom.

If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Ordinary Shares in the Company please send this document together with the accompanying documents, as soon as possible, to the purchaser or transferee, or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.

The distribution of this document and any accompanying documents into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore persons into whose possession this document and any accompanying documents come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Winterflood Securities Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting as financial adviser for the Company in connection with the Waiver Resolution and no-one else and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Winterflood Securities Limited nor for providing advice to any other person in relation to the contents of this document or on any other matter referred to in this document. Persons other than the Company are recommended to seek their own financial and other professional advice.

North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC

_________________________________________________________________________________

(an authorised closed-ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 01091347)

Notice of Annual General Meeting and proposed approval of waiver of Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

This document should be read as a whole. Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of the Company which is set out in Part I of this document in which the Directors (or the Independent Directors in the case of the Waiver Resolution) recommend you to vote in favour of each of the Resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting referred to below.

_______________________________________________________________________________

A Form of Proxy for use by all Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting is enclosed with this document. To be valid, the accompanying Form of Proxy must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the instructions printed thereon to the Company's registrars, PXS 1, Link Group, by hand (during normal business hours only) or by post to PXS 1, Link Group, 10th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than midday on 19 June 2022. If you hold Ordinary Shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST proxy instruction to the Company's registrars, Link Group (under CREST participant ID RA10) so that it is received by no later than midday on 19 June 2022.

DEFINITIONS 3
PART I
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN 5
PART II
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 11
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 22

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply throughout this document and the accompanying Form of Proxy unless the context requires otherwise.

2006 Act the Companies Act 2006
Annual General
Meeting or AGM
the annual general meeting of the Company which is due to be held on 21
June 2022 at midday and notice of which is given at the end of this
document, and any adjournment thereof
Annual Report the annual report and financial statements of the Company for the
financial year ended 31 January 2022
Articles the articles of association of the Company
Board of Directors the directors of the Company, whose names appear on page 5 of this
document
Business Day a day on which the London Stock Exchange plc is open for transaction of
business
Company North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC
Concert Party means Christopher Mills and persons presumed to be acting in concert
with him, details of which are set out in paragraph 3 of Part II of this
document
CREST the system for the paperless settlement of trades in securities operated
by Euroclear in accordance with the CREST Regulations
CREST Regulations the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001/3755)
Form of Proxy the form of proxy accompanying this document to be used by
Shareholders in connection with the Annual General Meeting
FSMA the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended
Independent Directors the Directors excluding Christopher Mills
Independent
Shareholders
the Shareholders other than the Concert Party
Latest Practicable
Date
18 May 2022, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of
this document
Notice of Annual
General Meeting or
Notice
the notice of Annual General Meeting set out at the end of this document
Ordinary Shares or
Shares
the ordinary shares of 5 pence each in the share capital of the Company
Panel the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
Resolutions the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, the full text of which is set out
in the Notice of Annual General Meeting
RNS regulatory news service
Share Buyback
Resolution
Resolution 12 in the form set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting
Shareholders holders of Ordinary Shares
Takeover Code the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers
UK Corporate
Governance Code
the UK Corporate Governance Code published by the Financial Reporting
Council in July 2018
United Kingdom the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Waiver Resolution Resolution 14 in the form set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting
Winterflood Securities Winterflood Securities Limited

PART I

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN

North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC

(an authorised closed-ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 01091347)

Directors Registered Office
Sir Charles Wake (Non-Executive Chairman) 6 Stratton Street
Christopher Mills (Chief Executive and Investment Manager)* London
George Loewenbaum (Non-Executive Director) W1J 8LD
The Lord Howard of Rising (Non-Executive Director)
Peregrine Moncreiffe (Non-Executive Director)

20 May 2022

To all Shareholders

*A member of the Concert Party

Dear Shareholder,

Notice of Annual General Meeting and proposed approval of waiver of Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers

1 Introduction

The purpose of this document is to provide you with details of the Resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting of North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC (the Company) to be held on 21 June 2022 at midday and convened by the formal Notice of Annual General Meeting set out at the end of this document.

On 11 May 2022, the Company announced its final results for the year ended 31 January 2022 and a copy of the Annual Report for that period is being sent to Shareholders along with this document and is also available on https://www.nascit.co.uk/results-reports.

2 Information on the Company

The Company is an authorised closed-ended investment trust incorporated in England and Wales, as a company limited by shares, whose shares are admitted to the Official List and to trading on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange plc.

The investment objective of the Company is to provide capital appreciation to its Shareholders through investing in a portfolio of smaller companies which are based primarily in countries bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. The Company invests in both listed and unlisted companies. It is an alternative investment fund under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. The Company was authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority on 1 October 2021 as an Internally Managed Alternative Investment Fund.

In the Company's Annual Report, the Company reported net assets of £789.5 million, which comprised total assets of £790 million and total liabilities of £0.5 million. As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Company had a market capitalisation of approximately £528.68 million.

3 Annual General Meeting – Explanation of Resolutions

3.1 Resolution 1 – Receipt of report and accounts

The Directors are required to lay before the AGM the Company's Annual Report, including the annual financial statements and the respective reports of the Directors and the Company's auditors for the year ended 31 January 2022.

3.2 Resolution 2 – Approval of Directors' remuneration report

This resolution seeks shareholder approval of the Directors' remuneration report, excluding the Directors' remuneration policy, for the year ended 31 January 2022 as set out on pages 34 to 39 of the Annual Report. The Company's auditors, RSM UK Audit LLP, have audited those parts of the Directors' remuneration report that are required to be audited and their report may be found on pages 40 to 46 of the Annual Report.

The Directors' remuneration policy was approved by the Shareholders at the Company's annual general meeting on 21 June 2021 and is therefore not required to be put to the Shareholders for approval at this Annual General Meeting.

This resolution is subject to an 'advisory vote' by Shareholders: in the event that this resolution is not passed, the Directors' remuneration policy would normally need to be reconsidered by Shareholders at the Company's next annual general meeting.

3.3 Resolutions 3 to 7 – Re-election of Directors

In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, all Directors of the Company are required to be subject to annual re-election by the Shareholders. At this Annual General Meeting, Christopher Mills, Peregrine Moncreiffe, George Loewenbaum, The Lord Howard of Rising and Sir Charles Wake will all stand for re-election by the Shareholders.

The Board is satisfied that each of the Directors proposed for re-election has the appropriate balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the Company to enable him to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the Board effectively.

Biographical details for each of the Directors are given on page 3 of the Annual Report.

3.4 Resolutions 8 and 9 – Appointment of the Company's auditors

The Company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company. The appointed auditors are to hold office until the next such meeting. Following the recommendation of the Company's audit committee, the Directors propose that RSM UK Audit LLP be reappointed as auditors of the Company and that the Directors be authorised to determine the remuneration of the auditors.

3.5 Resolution 10 – Renewal of Directors' authority to allot Shares

The authority given to the Directors at the last annual general meeting of the Company to allot Shares expires at the conclusion of this Annual General Meeting. This resolution will renew the authority to allot Shares of the Company on similar terms. If this resolution is passed the Directors will have authority to allot Shares up to the aggregate nominal amount of £227,683.33 representing one third of the Company's current issued share capital. This authority will expire at the next annual general meeting of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of this resolution.

3.6 Resolution 11 (Special resolution) – Disapplication of pre-emption rights

The authority given to the Directors at the last annual general meeting of the Company to disapply pre-emption rights expires at the Annual General Meeting. This resolution will renew the authority to disapply pre-emption rights thereby authorising the Directors to allot equity securities for cash up to a maximum aggregate renewal amount of £34,152.50 representing 683,050 Ordinary Shares, being equivalent to 5% of the current issued share capital, without first offering such securities to existing Shareholders.

3.7 Resolution 12 (Special resolution) – Share buyback authority

The authority given to the Directors at the last annual general meeting of the Company to purchase the Company's Ordinary Shares in the market expires at the Annual General Meeting. This resolution therefore seeks the authority of Shareholders to purchase a maximum of 1,366,100 Ordinary Shares representing 10% of the current issued share capital of the Company. The Directors intend to exercise this authority in the year following the Annual General Meeting but they will only do so when, in light of market conditions prevailing at the time and taking into account investment opportunities, appropriate gearing levels and the overall financial position of the Company, they believe the effect of such purchases will be to increase the underlying value per Ordinary Share having regard to the interest of the Shareholders generally. Shares will not be bought at a price of less than 5 pence each being the nominal value of each Share nor more than 5% above the average middle market quotation of the Shares over the preceding five Business Days nor will they be purchased during periods when the Company would be prohibited from making such purchases. Purchases will be made within the guidelines set by the Board and using available reserves. Ordinary Shares purchased will be cancelled and the number of Ordinary Shares in issue reduced accordingly.

3.8 Resolution 13 (Special resolution) – Notice of general meetings

The authority given to the Directors at the last annual general meeting to call a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting) on 14 days' notice will expire at the Annual General Meeting. This resolution therefore seeks to renew such authority. This authority will be effective until the Company's next annual general meeting, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed. The Company will also need to meet the requirements for electronic voting before it can call a general meeting on 14 days' notice.

3.9 Resolution 14 – Waiver of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code

Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, when:

  • (a) any person acquires, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, an interest in shares which (taken together with shares in which persons acting in concert with him are interested) carry 30% or more of the voting rights of a company; or
  • (b) any person, together with persons acting in concert with him, is interested in shares which in the aggregate carry not less than 30% of the voting rights of a company but does not hold shares carrying more than 50% of such voting rights and such person, or any person acting in concert with him, acquires an interest in any other shares which increases the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which he is interested,

such a person is normally required to make a general offer in cash for all the remaining equity share capital of the company at the highest price paid by him, or any persons acting in concert with him, for shares in the company within the twelve months prior to announcement of the offer.

Under Rule 37 of the Takeover Code, when a company redeems or purchases its own voting shares, any resulting increase in the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which a person or group of persons acting in concert is interested will be treated as an acquisition for the purpose of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code (although a shareholder who is neither a director nor acting in concert with a director will not normally incur an obligation to make an offer under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code).

At the last annual general meeting of the Company, the Independent Shareholders approved a waiver by the Panel of any requirement under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code for the Concert Party to make a general offer to the Shareholders as a result of market purchases by the Company of up to 1,400,000 Ordinary Shares pursuant to the share buyback authority approved by the Shareholders at the last annual general meeting of the Company. Between the last annual general meeting of the Company and the date of this document, the Company made market purchases of 339,000 Ordinary Shares. As this authority will expire at the Annual General Meeting, the Company has again applied to the Panel for a waiver of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code in order to permit the Company to make market purchases as proposed under the Share Buyback Resolution to be exercised by the Directors (if such authority is approved by Shareholders) without triggering an obligation under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code for the Concert Party to make a general offer to Shareholders. The Panel has agreed, subject to the Independent Shareholders' approval on a poll, to waive the requirement for the Concert Party to make a general offer to all Shareholders where such an obligation would arise as a result of purchases by the Company of up to 1,366,100 Ordinary Shares, representing 10% of the current issued share capital of the Company.

Christopher Mills is the Chief Executive and Investment Manager of the Company. The Concert Party (which includes Christopher Mills) is currently interested in an aggregate of 4,121,740 Ordinary Shares, representing 30.17% of the current issued share capital of the Company. If the Company were to repurchase from persons other than the Concert Party all the Ordinary Shares for which it is seeking authority under the Share Buyback Resolution, the Concert Party's interest in Shares would (assuming no other allotments of Ordinary Shares) increase to 33.52% of the issued share capital of the Company by virtue of such actions.

An increase in the percentage of the Ordinary Shares carrying voting rights in which the Concert Party is interested, as a result of any exercise by the Company of the authority to make market purchases under the Share Buyback Resolution, would ordinarily result in the Concert Party being under an obligation to make a general offer to all Shareholders under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code.

The Company intends to seek the separate approval of the Independent Shareholders for this Waiver Resolution (Resolution 14), which will be proposed as an ordinary resolution taken on a poll. The Concert Party will not be entitled to vote on this Waiver Resolution at the Annual General Meeting.

If this Waiver Resolution is approved, no member of the Concert Party will be restricted from making an offer for the Company following such approval.

If this Waiver Resolution is approved, such approval shall expire at the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting.

Note that each separate member of the Concert Party will not be able to increase their percentage interest of Ordinary Shares over 30% of the issued share capital of the Company without consulting the Panel.

4 Annual General Meeting

You will find set out at the end of this document a notice convening the Annual General Meeting to be held at 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD on 21 June 2022 at midday.

Please also refer to the additional information set out in Part II of this document.

Resolutions numbered 1 to 10 (inclusive), and 14 require the approval of Shareholders by the passing of an ordinary resolution (which requires that 50% of the votes cast be cast in favour). Resolutions 11 to 13 (inclusive) require the approval of Shareholders by the passing of a special resolution (which require that 75% of the votes cast be cast in favour). Resolution 14 will be taken on a poll of the Independent Shareholders.

5 Action to be taken

Shareholders will find enclosed with this document a Form of Proxy for use in connection with the Annual General Meeting. Whether or not you intend to be present at the Annual General Meeting in the event that attendance is permissible, you are requested to complete and return the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon.

If you wish to appoint a proxy, you are requested to complete and return the Form of Proxy by hand (during normal business hours only) or by post, to PXS 1, Link Group, 10th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received not later than 48 hours before the Annual General Meeting (that is, by midday on 19 June 2022) or any adjournment thereof. Unless the Form of Proxy is received by this date and time it will be invalid.

You can also cast your proxy vote online via the registrar's shareholder portal at www.signalshares.com. If you have not already registered for the share portal you will need your Investor Code (IVC) which can be found on your share certificate.

If you hold shares in CREST, you may appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST proxy instruction to Link Group (CREST participant ID RA10) so that it is received no later than 48 hours before the Annual General Meeting (that is, by midday on 19 June 2022). Unless the CREST proxy instruction is received by this date and time it will be invalid.

Further information is set out in the notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting.

The return of the completed Form of Proxy or CREST proxy instruction will not affect your right as a Shareholder to attend the Annual General Meeting and vote in person in the event that attendance is permissible and you wish to do so.

6 Recommendation

The Directors consider Resolutions 1 to 14 (inclusive) to be in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole, save that Christopher Mills makes no recommendation with regard to the Waiver Resolution as, in accordance with the provisions of the Takeover Code, Christopher Mills is considered to be interested in the outcome of the Waiver Resolution.

Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that the Shareholders vote in favour of Resolutions 1 to 14 (inclusive) to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting, as they intend to do in respect of their own personal beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares, amounting to in aggregate 4,590,499 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 33.60% of the current issued share capital of the Company) including the beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares of their close relatives and the Concert Party.

The Independent Directors, who have been so advised by Winterflood Securities, consider the waiver of the obligation that may arise for the Concert Party to make an offer under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code in relation to the authority to make market purchases (under Resolution 14) to be fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the Company and the Independent Shareholders as a whole. In providing its advice to the Independent Directors, Winterflood Securities has taken into account the Independent Directors' commercial assessments. Accordingly, the Independent Directors unanimously recommend that the Independent Shareholders vote in favour of the Waiver Resolution (Resolution 14) to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting, as they intend to do in respect of their own personal beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares, amounting to in aggregate 468,759 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 3.43% of the current issued share capital of the Company) including the beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares of their close relatives (but excluding the beneficial holdings of Ordinary Shares of the Concert Party).

Yours sincerely

Sir Charles Wake Chairman

PART II

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1 Responsibility

  • 1.1 The Directors, whose names are set out on page 5 of this document, accept responsibility for the information contained in this document other than (i) the recommendation and associated opinion attributed to the Independent Directors set out in the Chairman's letter in Part I of this document, and (ii) any information relating to the Concert Party contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information (including any expressions of opinion).
  • 1.2 The Independent Directors take responsibility for the recommendation and associated opinion attributed to them in the Chairman's letter in Part I of this document. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
  • 1.3 Christopher Mills takes responsibility for the information contained in this document (including any expressions of opinion) relating to him and the Concert Party. To the best of Christopher Mills' knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

2 The Company

  • 2.1 The Company was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 18 January 1973 with registered number 01091347. The registered office of the Company is 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD.
  • 2.2 As at the Latest Practicable Date, the issued share capital of the Company was 13,661,000 Ordinary Shares of 5 pence each, carrying one vote each, and the Company held no shares in treasury. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company on the Latest Practicable Date was 13,661,000.
  • 2.3 Financial information on the Company for the years ended 31 January 2021 and 31 January 2022, including financial and trading prospects, are set out in the annual reports for these financial years and are incorporated by reference.

3 The Concert Party

3.1 Christopher Mills is the Chief Executive and Investment Manager of the Company and is currently interested in 2,532,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 18.53% of the issued share capital of the Company.

  • 3.2 Christopher Mills is a director and the major shareholder of Harwood Capital Management Limited which is a designated corporate member and the controller of Harwood Capital LLP. The Harwood Capital Management group was formed in 2011 by Christopher Mills on his acquisition of Harwood Capital from the JO Hambro Capital Management Group Limited. Harwood Capital's principal activity is the provision of discretionary investment management and advisory services. Christopher Mills is also a director and investment manager of Oryx International Growth Fund Limited. He has a long and successful investing track record and is a non-executive director of a number of both public and private companies. Prior to joining JO Hambro Capital Management Group Limited which he co-founded in 1993, he worked from 1975 to 1993 for Samuel Montagu Limited, Montagu Investment Management Limited and its successor company, Invesco MIM, latterly as Head of North American Investments and Head of North American Venture Capital.
  • 3.3 The following close relatives (as defined under the Takeover Code) of Christopher Mills are currently interested in 469,740 Ordinary Shares in the Company, representing 3.44% of the issued share capital of the Company: Lynne Mills (Christopher Mills' wife), Sandra Menzies (Christopher Mills' sister), Charles Mills (Christopher Mills' son), Harry Mills (Christopher Mills' son) and Nicholas Mills (Christopher Mills' son). Sandra Menzies (Christopher Mills' sister) also has a joint holding with Christopher Mills of 20,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company, representing 0.15% of the issued share capital of the Company. They are presumed to be acting in concert with Christopher Mills under paragraph 5 of the definition of "acting in concert" and for the purposes of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code.
  • 3.4 Eveswise Limited Retirement Benefit Scheme is a family pension scheme under which Christopher Mills is the initial beneficiary and its registered address is 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD. It is currently interested in 500,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company, representing 3.66% of the issued share capital of the Company. Harwood Holdco Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harwood Capital Management Limited and a company registered in England and Wales and its registered address is 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD. It is currently interested in 600,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company, representing 4.39% of the issued share capital of the Company. Both entities are presumed to be acting in concert with Christopher Mills under paragraph 5 of the definition of "acting in concert" and for the purposes of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code. The close relatives of Christopher Mills listed in paragraph 3.3 above and the entities listed in this paragraph, together with Christopher Mills, constitute the Concert Party.
  • 3.5 On the basis that the issued share capital of the Company is 13,661,000 Ordinary Shares (being the issued share capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date) and assuming that (i) the Share Buyback Resolution and the Waiver Resolution are passed at the AGM, (ii) full use is made by the Company of the share buyback authority under the Share Buyback Resolution thereby reducing the issued share capital of the Company to 12,294,900 Ordinary Shares, and (iii) the Concert Party does not dispose of any of its Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Company's exercise of the share buyback authority under the Share Buyback Resolution, the Concert Party's maximum interest in Ordinary Shares would increase to 33.52% of the voting share capital of the Company. A table is set out below comparing (i) the current interests of the Concert Party in the issued share capital of the Company, and (ii) the potential increase in the interests of the Concert Party in the issued share capital of the Company following full implementation of the share buyback authority under the Share Buyback Resolution:
Current position Position
following
full
implementation
of
the
share
buyback authority
No.
of
Ordinary
Shares
% of issued
share capital
No. of Ordinary
Shares
% of issued
share
capital
Christopher Mills 2,532,000 18.53% 2,532,000 20.59%
Lynne Mills 114,000 0.83% 114,000 0.93%
Sandra Menzies 12,240 0.09% 12,240 0.10%
Harry Mills 114,500 0.84% 114,500 0.93%
Nicholas Mills 114,500 0.84% 114,500 0.93%
Charles Mills 114,500 0.84% 114,500 0.93%
Joint
holding
of
Christopher Mills
and
Sandra
Menzies
20,000 0.15% 20,000 0.16%
Eveswise Limited
Retirement
Benefit Scheme
500,000 3.66% 500,000 4.07%
Harwood
Holdco
Limited
600,000 4.39% 600,000 4.88%
Total 4,121,740 30.17% 4,121,740 33.52%

Note: All figures rounded to two decimal places

  • 3.6 Christopher Mills and the other members of the Concert Party have no intentions other than to see the continuation of the Company's business and will continue their support of the Board. In particular, Christopher Mills and the other members of the Concert Party have no intentions to make any changes in relation to:
    • (a) the future of the business of the Company (including research and development functions), other than to see the continuation of its business;
    • (b) the continued employment of the employees and management of the Company and of its subsidiaries (including the conditions of employment or the balance of the skills and functions of the employees and management);
    • (c) employer contributions into the Company's pension scheme, the accrual of benefits for existing members or the admission of new members;
  • (d) any redeployment of the fixed assets of the Company; or
  • (e) the maintenance of the existing trading facilities for the relevant securities of the Company.
  • 3.7 Christopher Mills and the other members of the Concert Party do not have any strategic plans for the Company which are likely to have repercussions on employment or the locations of the Company's headquarters or headquarter functions, or the location of the Company's place of business.

Christopher Mills and the other members of the Concert Party have no intention to purchase any additional Ordinary Shares during the period covered by the share buyback authority under the Share Buyback Resolution.

Christopher Mills and the other members of the Concert Party have no intention of making an offer for the Company but, if any of them choose to, they will not be restricted from making an offer.

No new management incentive arrangements in the Company have been entered into, nor are there any proposals for such.

4 Interests and dealings in Ordinary Shares

4.1 Directors' interests

The names of the Directors are set out on page 5 of this document.

As at close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, the interests in Ordinary Shares of the Directors and persons connected with them were as follows:

No.
of
Ordinary
Shares
% of issued share
capital
Christopher Mills* 2,532,000 18.53%
Lynne Mills* 114,000 0.83%
Sandra Menzies* 12,240 0.09%
Harry Mills* 114,500 0.84%
Nicholas Mills* 114,500 0.84%
Charles Mills* 114,500 0.84%
Joint holding of Christopher Mills and Sandra
Menzies*
20,000 0.15%
Eveswise Limited Retirement Benefit Scheme* 500,000 3.66%
Harwood Holdco Limited* 600,000 4.39%
Peregrine Moncreiffe 394,130 2.89%
Miranda Moncreiffe 22,901 0.17%
Ossian Moncreiffe 3,918 0.03%
Idina Moncreiffe 4,335 0.03%
Eliza Moncreiffe 3,918 0.03%
Alexandra Moncreiffe 3,956 0.03%
Lily Moncreiffe 3,925 0.03%
Euan Moncreiffe 3,506 0.03%
George Loewenbaum 15,000 0.11%
The Lord Howard of Rising 5,000 0.04%
Sir Charles Wake 8,170 0.06%
Total 4,590,499 33.62%

Note:

* A member of the Concert Party

All figures rounded to two decimal places

During the period beginning twelve months prior to the Latest Practicable Date and ending with the Latest Practicable Date, the only dealing in Ordinary Shares by Directors and persons connected with them was the following: on 24 June 2021, Sir Charles Wake purchased 1,100 Ordinary Shares, bringing his total holding of Ordinary Shares to 8,170.

4.2 The Concert Party's interests

As at close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, the interests in Ordinary Shares of the Concert Party were as follows:

No.
of
Ordinary
Shares
% of issued share
capital
Christopher Mills 2,532,000 18.53%
Lynne Mills 114,000 0.83%
Sandra Menzies 12,240 0.09%
Harry Mills 114,500 0.84%
Nicholas Mills 114,500 0.84%
Charles Mills 114,500 0.84%
Joint holding of Christopher Mills and Sandra
Menzies
20,000 0.15%
Eveswise Limited Retirement Benefit Scheme 500,000 3.66%
Harwood Holdco Limited 600,000 4.39%
Total 4,121,740 30.17%

Note: All figures rounded to two decimal places

There have been no dealings in the Concert Party's interests during the period beginning twelve months prior to the Latest Practicable Date and ending with the Latest Practicable Date.

4.3 Substantial shareholders' interests

As at close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, the total number of voting rights attributable to the issued share capital of the Company was 13,661,000 and (other than the Directors and the persons connected with them, detailed above) the following persons have notified the Company in accordance with Rule 5 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules that they hold, directly or indirectly, 3% or more of the voting rights attributable to the issued share capital of the Company:

Shareholder No.
of
Ordinary
Shares
% of issued share
capital
CG Asset Management Limited 941,738 6.89%
Butterfield Bank (Guernsey) 757,827 5.55%
Rathbone Plc 592,750 4.34%
Interactive Investor Trading 485,609 3.55%
Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 453,677 3.32%
Total 3,231,601 23.66%

4.4 Share options

As at the close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, there were no warrants or share options outstanding over the Company's Ordinary Shares.

5 Middle market quotations

The following table shows the closing middle market quotations of Ordinary Shares, as derived from the London Stock Exchange plc at close of business on the first Business Day of each of the six months immediately before the date of this document and the Latest Practicable Date:

Date Share price (£)
18
May
2022
(Latest
Practicable Date)
38.70
3 May 2022 39.50
1 April 2022 39.50
1 March 2022 39.60
1 February 2022 42.70
4 January 2022 47.70
1 December 2021 48.40

6 General

  • 6.1 Winterflood Securities has given and not withdrawn its written consent to the issue of this document with the inclusion of references to its name and references to it in the form and context in which they appear.
  • 6.2 Save as set out in this document, no agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any compensation arrangement) exists between any member of the Concert Party on the one hand, and the Directors, recent directors, Shareholders or recent shareholders on the other hand, having any connection with or dependence upon the proposals set out in this document.
  • 6.3 Save as disclosed in Part II of this document:
    • (a) no member of the Concert Party has any interest in, right to subscribe in respect of or short position in relation to any relevant securities;
    • (b) no member of the Concert Party has dealt in relevant securities during the period beginning twelve months prior to the Latest Practicable Date and ending with the Latest Practicable Date;
    • (c) there are no relevant securities which any member of the Concert Party has borrowed or lent (excluding any borrowed relevant securities which have either been on lent or sold);
    • (d) no person who is acting in concert with the Company has as at the Latest Practicable Date any interest in, right to subscribe in respect of or short position in relation to any relevant securities;
  • (e) there are no relevant securities which the Company or any person acting in concert with them has borrowed or lent (excluding any borrowed relevant securities which have either been on lent or sold); and
  • (f) as at the close of business on the Latest Practicable Date, Winterflood Securities (including any person controlling, controlled by or under the same control as Winterflood Securities) is not (other than as an exempt principal trader or an exempt fund manager) interested in nor has any rights to subscribe for and has no short positions in any relevant securities of the Company.

In this paragraph 6.3 reference to:

"control" means an interest, or aggregate interests, in shares carrying in aggregate 30% or more of the voting rights of a company, irrespective of whether such interest or interests give de facto control;

"dealing" or "dealt" includes the following:

  • (i) the acquisition or disposal of securities, or the right (whether conditional or absolute) to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting rights attaching to securities, or of general control of securities;
  • (ii) the taking, granting, acquisition, disposal, entering into, closing out, termination, exercise (by either party) or variation of an option (including a traded option contract) in respect of any securities;
  • (iii) subscribing or agreeing to subscribe for securities;
  • (iv) the exercise or conversion, whether in respect of new or existing securities, of any securities carrying conversion or subscription rights;
  • (v) the acquisition of, disposal of, entering into, closing out, exercise (by either party) of any rights under, or variation of, a derivative referenced, directly or indirectly, to securities;
  • (vi) the entering into, terminating or varying the terms of any agreement to purchase or sell securities; and
  • (vii) any other action resulting, or which may result, in an increase or decrease in the number of securities in which a person is interested or in respect of which he has a short position;

"derivatives" include any financial product, whose value in whole or in part is determined directly or indirectly by reference to the price of an underlying security;

"relevant securities" means Ordinary Shares and securities carrying conversion or subscription rights into Ordinary Shares; and

"short position" means a short position, whether conditional or absolute and whether in the money or otherwise, and includes any short position under a derivative, any agreement to sell or any delivery obligation or right to require another person to purchase or take delivery.

For the purposes of this paragraph 6.3, a person is treated as "interested" in securities if he has long economic exposure, whether absolute or conditional, to changes in the price of those securities (and a person who only has a short position in securities is not treated as interested in those securities). In particular, a person is treated as "interested" in securities if:

  • (i) he owns them;
  • (ii) he has the right (whether conditional or absolute) to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting rights attaching to them or has general control of them;
  • (iii) by virtue of any agreement to purchase, option or derivative, he: (a) has the right or option to acquire them or call for their delivery; or (b) is under an obligation to take delivery of them, whether the right, option or obligation is conditional or absolute and whether it is in the money or otherwise; or
  • (iv) he is party to any derivative: (a) whose value is determined by reference to their price; and (b) which results, or may result, in his having a long position in them.
  • 6.4 The Directors are not aware of any agreement or arrangement or understanding by which the beneficial ownership of any Ordinary Shares acquired by the Company pursuant to the Share Buyback Resolution will be transferred to any other person. Such Ordinary Shares will, in accordance with the 2006 Act, either be held in treasury up to the amounts permitted to be held in treasury by the 2006 Act or be cancelled and the issued share capital of the Company reduced by the nominal amount of those Ordinary Shares so purchased.
  • 6.5 There has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of the Company since 31 January 2022, being the end of the last financial period for which audited financial information has been published for the Company.
  • 6.6 There are no arrangements or understandings that are connected to, or dependent on, the acquisition of Ordinary Shares by the Company pursuant to the share buyback authority under the Share Buyback Resolution and/or the passing of the Waiver Resolution.

7 Material contracts

The Company has not entered into a material contract (not being a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business) within the two year period immediately preceding the date of this document.

8 Directors' service contracts

No Director has a service contract with the Company nor are any such service contracts proposed.

The contract for the services of Christopher Mills, as the Chief Executive, and the carrying out of day-to-day investment decisions is with Growth Financial Services Limited and contained in a secondment services agreement between Growth Financial Services Limited and the Company. Christopher Mills is a director of Growth Financial Services Limited which is entitled to receive part of the investment management and related fees payable to Growth Financial Services Limited and Harwood Capital LLP as may be agreed between them from time to time.

This secondment services agreement continues until terminated by the Company or Growth Financial Services Limited on not less than 12 months' notice.

No new contracts or arrangements with respect to the Directors have been entered into or amended within six months of the date of this document.

9 Current rating

The Company has not been rated by the rating agencies.

10 Documents available for inspection

Copies of the documents listed below are available for inspection on www.nascit.co.uk or from the company secretary at [email protected] or Kin Company Secretarial Limited, Hyde Park House, 5 Manfred Road, London SW15 2RS:

  • (i) the annual reports for the financial years ended 31 January 2021 and 31 January 2022;
  • (ii) the Articles;
  • (iii) the consent letter from Winterflood Securities referred to in paragraph 6.1 of this Part II; and
  • (iv) this document.

11 Documents incorporated by reference

The annual reports for the financial years ended 31 January 2021 and 31 January 2022 are incorporated into this document by reference.

Hard copies of the annual report for the financial year ended 31 January 2021 have already been sent to Shareholders and will not be sent to Shareholders again unless requested by contacting Jane Muir at [email protected] or Kin Company Secretarial Limited, Hyde Park House, 5 Manfred Road, London SW15 2RS or by telephoning +44 (0)20 8819 6486.

Hard copies of the annual report for the financial year ended 31 January 2022 are being sent to Shareholders with this document and are also available on request by contacting Jane Muir at [email protected] or Kin Company Secretarial Limited, Hyde Park House, 5 Manfred Road, London SW15 2RS or by telephoning +44 (0)20 8819 6486.

The table below is intended to enable Shareholders to identify easily specific items of historical financial information in relation to the Company for the financial years ended 31 January 2021 and 31 January 2022 that are incorporated by reference into this document. These documents will be published on the Company's website, and are also available in hard copy, as set out above.

Section Page number
Income statement 49
Balance sheet 51
Cash flow statement 52
Statement of changes in equity 50
Accounting policies 53ff
Notes to the financial statements 53ff
Independent auditor's report 42ff
Balance sheet 47
49
Cash flow statement 50
Statement of changes in equity 48
Accounting policies 51ff
Notes to the financial statements 51ff
Independent auditor's report 40ff
Income statement

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC

(an authorised closed-ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 01091347)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the annual general meeting of North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC (the Company) will be held at 6 Stratton Street, London W1J 8LD at midday on 21 June 2022 for the purpose of considering the following resolutions (the Annual General Meeting). Resolutions 1 to 10 and 14 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. Resolutions 11 to 13 will be proposed as special resolutions. Resolution 14 will be taken on a poll of the Independent Shareholders (as defined in the circular sent by the Company to its shareholders on 20 May 2022):

ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS

Reports and accounts

1 To receive the Company's annual financial statements and the reports of the directors and of the auditors for the financial year ended 31 January 2022 (the Annual Report).

Directors' remuneration report

2 To approve the directors' remuneration report (excluding the directors' remuneration policy) set out on pages 34 to 39 of the Annual Report for the financial year ended 31 January 2022.

Directors

  • 3 To re-elect Christopher Mills, who retires in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as a director of the Company.
  • 4 To re-elect Peregrine Moncreiffe, who retires in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as a non-executive director of the Company.
  • 5 To re-elect George Loewenbaum, who retires in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as a non-executive director of the Company.
  • 6 To re-elect The Lord Howard of Rising, who retires in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as a non-executive director of the Company.
  • 7 To re-elect Sir Charles Wake, who retires in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, as a non-executive director of the Company.

Auditors

  • 8 To reappoint RSM UK Audit LLP as auditors of the Company from the conclusion of this Annual General Meeting until the conclusion of the next general meeting of the Company at which accounts are laid.
  • 9 To authorise the directors of the Company to determine the remuneration of the auditors.

Directors' authority to allot shares

10 THAT the directors of the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities for the purposes of section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £227,683.33 provided that this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution, except that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors of the Company may allot relevant securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred by this resolution had not expired and that this authority shall be in substitution for all previous authorities conferred upon the directors of the Company pursuant to section 551 of the 2006 Act but without prejudice to the allotment of any relevant securities already made or to be made pursuant to such authorities.

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

Disapplication of pre-emption rights

  • 11 THAT, subject to and conditional upon the passing of Resolution 10 above and in substitution for all existing authorities, the directors of the Company be generally empowered, pursuant to sections 570 and 573 of the 2006 Act, to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560(1) of the 2006 Act) for cash as if section 561 of the 2006 Act did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited to:
    • (a) the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue or other pro rata offer in favour of holders of ordinary shares of the Company where the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of all the holders of ordinary shares of the Company are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective number of equity securities held by them subject in each case to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors of the Company may consider necessary or expedient to deal with fractional entitlements or legal, regulatory or practical difficulties under the laws of any territory or the requirements of a regulatory body; and
    • (b) the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above) of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of £34,152.50,

and such authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution except that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors of the Company may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.

Authority to make market purchases of ordinary shares

  • 12 THAT the Company be and is generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with the Company's articles of association and section 701 of the 2006 Act, to make one or more market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the 2006 Act) of ordinary shares of the Company on such terms and in such manner as the directors of the Company may from time to time determine provided that:
    • (a) the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares of the Company authorised to be purchased is 1,366,000 (representing 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital);
    • (b) the minimum price which may be paid for an ordinary share of the Company is 5 pence (the nominal value) (exclusive of expenses (if any) payable by the Company);
    • (c) the maximum price (exclusive of expenses (if any) payable by the Company) which may be paid for an ordinary share of the Company purchased under this authority is an amount equal to the higher of (i) 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for an ordinary share of the Company derived from the Official List for the five Business Days immediately preceding the day on which the ordinary share of the Company is purchased, and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid for an ordinary share of the Company on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out; and
    • (d) the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution except that the Company may before such expiry make a contract or contracts to purchase ordinary shares of the Company under this authority which will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after such expiry.

Notice of general meetings

13 THAT a general meeting other than an annual general meeting may be called on no less than 14 clear days' notice.

ORDINARY RESOLUTION

Waiver of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code

14 To approve the waiver by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers of any requirement under Rule 9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the Takeover Code) for Christopher Mills and persons presumed to be acting in concert with him under the Takeover Code (the Concert Party) to make a general offer to shareholders of the Company as a result of market purchases by the Company of up to 1,366,100 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to the authority to be sought under Resolution 12 above which would have the effect of increasing the Concert Party's aggregate interest to 33.52% of the Company's voting rights.

By order of the Board

Kin Company Secretarial Limited Secretary

Registered Office: 6 Stratton Street London W1J 8LD Registered No. 01091347

Dated: 20 May 2022

Notes:

  • 1 Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the Annual General Meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different ordinary share or ordinary shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. A proxy form which may be used to make such appointment and give proxy instructions accompanies this notice. To appoint more than one proxy you may photocopy this form. Please indicate the proxy holder's name and the number of ordinary shares in relation to which they are authorised to act as your proxy (which in aggregate should not exceed the number of ordinary shares held by you). Please indicate if the proxy instruction is one of multiple instructions being given. All forms must be signed and should be returned together in the same envelope. It is strongly recommended that you appoint the Chairman of the Company as your proxy.
  • 2 To be valid any proxy form or other instrument appointing a proxy must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the Company's registrars, PXS 1, Link Group, 10th Floor, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL no later than forty eight hours before the time fixed for the meeting. Alternatively you can lodge your proxy vote via the registrar's website at www.signalshares.com.
  • 3 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 between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the Annual General Meeting. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may, under any such agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.
  • 4 The statement of the rights of the shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in paragraphs 1 and 2 above does not apply to Nominated Persons. The rights described in these paragraphs can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.
  • 5 To be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered in the register of members of the Company at close of business on 19 June 2022 (or, in the event of any adjournment, close of business on the date which is two days before the time of the adjourned meeting). Changes to the register of members after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting.
  • 6 As at 19 May 2022 (being the last business day prior to the publication of this notice) the Company's issued share capital consists of 13,661,000 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 19 May 2022 are 13,661,000.
  • 7 Shareholders should note that it is possible that, pursuant to requests made by shareholders of the Company under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company may be required 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 Annual General Meeting; or (ii) any circumstance connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with section 437 of the Companies Act 2006. The Company may not require the shareholders who have requested 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 auditors not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting includes any statement that the Company has been required under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.
  • 8 Any member attending the Annual General Meeting has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the Annual General Meeting but no such answer need be given if to do so would interfere unduly with the formal business of the Annual General Meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, or it is not desirable in the interest of the Company or the good order of the Annual General Meeting that the question be answered.
  • 9 Copies of the letters of appointment of the non-executive directors are available for inspection at the Company's registered office during normal business hours from the date of this document to the date of the Annual General Meeting, and at the place of the Annual General Meeting from at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting and until its conclusion.

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