Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Aug 25, 2022
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your AO World Plc ordinary shares, and have received a hard copy of this document, please send it, together with any accompanying documents, 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, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
This document is available at ao-world.com.

Notice of the Annual General Meeting of AO World PLC to be held at 8am on 28 September 2022 at the Company's registered office at 5A The Parklands, Lostock, Bolton Lancashire, BL6 4SD.
You will not receive a hard copy form of proxy for the 2022 AGM in the post. Instead, you will be able to vote electronically using the link www.signalshares.com. You will need to log into your Signal Shares account, or register if you have not previously done so. To register you will need your Investor Code. This is detailed on your share certificate or available from our Registrar, Link Group.
In the case of CREST members, you can vote by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service in accordance with the procedures described in the CREST Manual. In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a 'CREST Proxy Instruction') must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID RA10) by 8am on 26 September 2022.
Voting by proxy prior to the AGM does not affect your right to attend the AGM and vote in person should you so wish. Proxy votes must be received no later than 48 hours before the time of the AGM (excluding non-working days).
You may request a hard copy form of proxy directly from our Registrar, Link Group, on Tel: 0371 664 0300. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales.
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Alternatively, you can request a hard copy proxy card by emailing [email protected]
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 05525751)
Registered Office:
5A The Parklands Lostock Bolton BL6 4SD
Geoff Cooper John Roberts Mark Higgins Marisa Cassoni Chris Hopkinson Shaun McCabe
25 August 2022
To the holders of AO World Plc ordinary shares
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our Annual General Meeting ("AGM") which we are holding at 8am on 28 September 2022 at the Company's registered office at 5A The Parklands, Lostock, Bolton Lancashire, BL6 4SD.
If you wish to attend the AGM in your capacity as a shareholder, please bring proof of identification and/or proof of your shareholding, and on arrival hand it to our Registrar, Link Group, and this will facilitate entry to the meeting. Those shareholders who do not wish to attend the meeting in person are strongly encouraged to vote by taking advantage of our registrar's secure online voting service at www.signalshares.com. Further details are set out on the cover of this document.
Shareholders also can also submit questions on the AGM resolutions electronically before the meeting and such questions, limited to matters relating to the business of the AGM itself, should be sent to [email protected] and these will be responded to on an individual basis. Our normal channels of shareholder engagement are open and shareholders can contact the investor relations team at [email protected] or any member of the Board through our company secretary at [email protected].
The formal notice of meeting and the resolutions to be proposed are set out on pages 3 to 5 of this document. Resolutions 1 to 12 (inclusive) and 16 and 18 are proposed as ordinary resolutions, while Resolutions 13 to 15 (inclusive) and 17 will be proposed as special resolutions. The ordinary resolutions will be passed if more than 50% of the votes cast are in favour and the special resolutions will be passed if at least 75% of the votes cast are in favour. Explanatory notes on all the proposed resolutions can be found on pages 6 to 8 of this document. This Notice of AGM is also available on our website, www.ao-world.com, in the Investor Relations section of the website under Reports and Presentations.
The Board considers the Resolutions are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and are therefore likely to promote the success of the Company. The Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the Resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings (excluding connected persons) which amount in aggregate to shares representing approximately 22.51% of the existing issued share capital of the Company (as at 17 August 2022, being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document).
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Thank you for your continuing support of AO World Plc.
Yours sincerely
Geoff Cooper Chairman
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at the Company's registered office at 5A The Parklands, Lostock, Bolton Lancashire, BL6 4SD on Wednesday 28 September 2022 at 8am to consider and, if thought fit, to pass Resolutions 1 to 12 (inclusive), and 16 and 18 as ordinary resolutions and Resolutions 13 to 15 (inclusive) and 17 as special resolutions.
treasury shares, fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems arising under the laws of any overseas territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange or by virtue of shares being represented by depositary receipts or any other matter, provided that this authority shall expire at the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of the Resolution, save that the Company shall be entitled to make offers or agreements before the expiry of such authority which would or might require shares to be allotted or such rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors shall be entitled to allot shares and grant rights pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired; and all unexercised authorities previously granted to the Directors to allot shares and grant rights be and are hereby revoked.
and shall expire upon the expiry of the general authority conferred by Resolution 12 above, save that the Company shall be entitled to make offers or agreements before the expiry of such power which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors shall be entitled to allot equity securities pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired
and shall expire upon the expiry of the general authority conferred by Resolution 12 above, save that the Company shall still be entitled to make offers or agreements before the expiry of such power which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors shall be entitled to allot equity securities pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
(as such terms are defined in the Companies Act 2006) during the period beginning with the date of the passing of this resolution and ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of the Resolution provided that the authorised sum referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, may be comprised of one or more amounts in different currencies which, for the purposes of calculating the said sum, shall be converted into pounds sterling at the exchange rate published in the London edition of the Financial Times on the date on which the relevant donation is made or expenditure incurred (or the first business day thereafter) or, if earlier, on the day in which the Company enters into any contract or undertaking in relation to the same provided that, in any event, the aggregate amount of political donations and political expenditure made or incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries pursuant to this Resolution shall not exceed £150,000.
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THAT:
a. the rules of the AO World plc Value Creation Plan 2022 (the "VCP") in the form produced to the Meeting and initialled by the Chairman of the Meeting for the purposes of identification, the principal terms of which are summarised in Appendix 2, be and are hereby approved and the Directors be and are generally authorised to adopt the VCP and to do all acts and things that they consider necessary or expedient to give effect to the VCP; and
Julie Finnemore, Company Secretary 25 August 2022
Registered office
AO World Plc 5A The Parklands, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 4SD
Ordinary resolutions require more than half of the votes cast to be in favour of the resolution in order for the resolution to be passed. To pass special resolutions, three quarters or more of the votes cast must be in favour.
The Chairman will present the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 (the "Annual Report") to the AGM. The Annual Report accompanies this document.
The Directors' Remuneration Report is set out in the Annual Report on pages 116 to 141.
Resolution 2 is the ordinary resolution to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report other than the part containing the Directors' remuneration policy. Resolution 2 is an advisory resolution and does not affect the future remuneration paid to any Director.
The report gives details of the Directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2022. The report also includes details of the Remuneration Committee's representations and activities. The Company's Auditors KPMG LLP have audited those parts of the Remuneration Report which are required to be audited and their report is issued in the Annual Report.
Resolution 3 is the ordinary resolution to approve the Directors' remuneration policy which is set out in the Directors' Remuneration Report in the Annual Report on pages 120 to 129.
This remuneration policy reflects the executive remuneration framework developed by the Company's Remuneration Committee to ensure the policy continues to support the delivery of our strategy, sustainable growth and shareholder returns whilst properly rewarding and incentivising our executives but at the same time conforming to investor expectations and best practice. Details of the changes to the policy are set out in the Annual Report on page 120.
Once the Directors' remuneration policy has been approved, all payments by the Company to the Directors and any former Directors must be made in accordance with the policy (unless a payment has been separately approved by a shareholder resolution).
If the Directors' remuneration policy is approved and remains unchanged, it will be valid for up to three financial years without a new shareholder approval. If the Company wishes to change the Directors' remuneration policy, it will need to put the revised policy to a vote again before it can implement the new policy.
If the Directors' remuneration policy is not approved for any reason, the Company will, if and to the extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006, continue to make payments to Directors in accordance with the previously approved policy.
Resolutions 4 to 9 inclusive are to approve the election and re-election of the Directors. In accordance with the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code (the "Code") all of the Directors are subject to annual reelection by the shareholders at this year's AGM.
The Board has confirmed following a performance review that all Directors standing for re-election continue to perform effectively and demonstrate commitment to their roles. The Board has considered whether each of the independent Non-Executive Directors is free from any relationship that could materially interfere with the exercise of his or her independent judgment and has determined that each continues to be considered independent. Chris Hopkinson, whilst not independent for the purposes of the Code, is considered to provide a significant contribution to the Board.
Biographical details of each of the Directors standing for election and re-election are set out on pages 12 and 13 of this document.
Resolution 10 is to reappoint KPMG LLP as the Company's Auditors, to hold office until the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company.
Resolution 11 authorises the Audit Committee of the Board to set their remuneration.
Resolution 12 deals with the Directors' authority 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 AGM of the Company.
At the last AGM of the Company held on 29 September 2021, the Directors were given authority to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company up to a maximum nominal amount of £399,481.25 equal to one-third of the Company's then issued ordinary issued share capital and up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £798,962.51 equal to two-thirds of the issued share capital of the Company where an offer is made in connection with a fully pre-emptive rights issue. This authority expires at the end of this year's AGM. Resolution 12 will, if passed, renew this authority to allot, on the same terms save that it reflects the increase in the Company's issued share capital during the year.
The Investment Association ("IA") guidelines on directors' authority to allot shares state that IA members will regard as routine, resolutions seeking authority to allot shares representing up to two-thirds of the Company's issued share capital, provided that any amount in excess of onethird of the Company's issued share capital is only used to allot shares pursuant to a fully pre-emptive rights issue.
In light of these guidelines, the Board considers it appropriate that Directors be granted authority to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company up to a maximum nominal amount of £955,539.63 representing two-thirds of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 17 August 2022 (the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document). Of this amount a nominal amount of £477,769.81 (representing approximately onethird of the Company's issued ordinary share capital) can only be allotted pursuant to a rights issue. The power will last until the end of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of the Resolution.
The Directors have no present intention of allotting new ordinary shares other than in relation to (i) the Company's employee share schemes and (ii) certain Directors' pursuant to their intention to subscribe s for shares to maintain their shareholding percentages following the Company's placing, as noted in the Company's announcements on 6 July 2022 in relation to the placing of shares by the Company. However, the Directors consider it appropriate to maintain the flexibility that this authority provides. As at 17 August 2022 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document) the Company does not hold any shares in the capital of the Company in treasury.
Resolutions 13 and 14 will give the Directors authority to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to the authority granted under Resolution 12 above for cash without complying with the preemption rights in the Companies Act 2006 in certain circumstances. Resolution 13 will permit the Directors to allot:
Resolution 14 will permit the Directors to allot additional equity securities up to a maximum nominal value of £71,665.47representing approximately a further 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 17 August 2022 (the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document), otherwise than in connection with a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders for the purposes of financing or refinancing a transaction as contemplated by the Pre-emption Principles described below.
The Directors believe that it is appropriate to seek this additional 5% authority in Resolution 14 to give the Company the flexibility that this resolution affords.
This disapplication authority is in line with institutional shareholder guidance, and in particular with the Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles (the "Pre-emption Principles"). The Pre-emption Principles were revised in 2015 to allow the authority for an issue of shares for cash otherwise than in connection with a pre-emptive offer to include: (i) an authority over 5% of a company's issued ordinary share capital; and (ii) an additional authority over a further 5% of a company's issued share capital for use in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment announced contemporaneously with the issue, or which has taken place in the preceding six-month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the issue.
The Directors confirm, in accordance with the Pre-emption Principles, that they do not intend to issue shares for cash representing more than 7.5% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital in any rolling three-year period, other than to existing shareholders, save in accordance with Resolution 14, without prior consultation with shareholders.
As noted in relation to Resolution 12 above, the Directors have no current intention of issuing ordinary shares other than in relation to (i) the Company's employee share schemes and (ii)certain Directors' pursuant to their intention to subscribe for shares to maintain their shareholding percentages following the Company's placing, as noted in the Company's announcements on 6 July 2022 in relation to the placing of shares by the Company.
The authority contained in Resolutions 13 and 14 will expire upon the expiry of the authority to allot shares conferred in Resolution 12 (that is at the end of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of the Resolution.
Resolution 15 gives the Company authority to buy back its own ordinary shares in the market as permitted by the Companies Act 2006. The authority limits the number of shares that could be purchased to a maximum of 57,332,377 shares (representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 17 August 2022 (the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document)) and sets minimum and maximum prices. This authority will expire at the end of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of the Resolution.
The Directors have no present intention of exercising the authority to purchase the Company's ordinary shares but will keep the matter under review, taking into account the financial resources of the Company, the Company's share price and future funding opportunities. The authority will be exercised only if the Directors believe that to do so would result in an increase in earnings per share and would be in the interests of shareholders generally. Any purchases of ordinary shares would be by means of market purchases through the London Stock Exchange.
Listed companies purchasing their own shares are allowed to hold them in treasury as an alternative to cancelling them. No dividends are paid on shares while they are held in treasury and no voting rights attach to treasury shares.
If Resolution 15 is passed at the AGM, it is the Company's current intention to cancel the shares it may purchase pursuant to the authority granted to it except that sufficient shares may be held in treasury to meet the requirements of the Company's employee share schemes. However, in order to respond properly to the Company's capital requirements and prevailing market conditions, the Directors will need to reassess at the time of any and each actual purchase whether to hold the shares in treasury or cancel them, provided it is permitted to do so. As at 17 August 2022 there were options outstanding to subscribe for ordinary shares in the capital of the Company together with deferred ordinary shares representing 1.65% of the Company's current issued share capital (excluding treasury shares). If the authority to purchase the Company's ordinary shares being sought in Resolution 15 were to be exercised in full, these options would represent 1.84% of the Company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares).
Resolution 16 deals with political donations. Under the Companies Act 2006, political donations to any political parties, independent election candidates or political organisations or the incurring of political expenditure are prohibited unless authorised by shareholders in advance. What constitutes a political donation, a political party, a political organisation or political expenditure is not easy to decide, as the legislation is capable of wide interpretation. Sponsorship, subscriptions, payment of expenses, and support for bodies representing the business community in policy review or reform, may fall within this.
Therefore, notwithstanding that the Company has not made a political donation in the past, and has no intention either now or in the future of making any political donation or incurring any political expenditure in respect of any political party, political organisation or independent election candidate, the Board has decided to put forward Resolution 16 to renew the authority granted by shareholders at the last AGM. This will allow the Company to continue to support the community and put forward its views to wider business and Government entities without running the risk of being in inadvertent breach of the Companies Act 2006.
The authority is subject to a maximum amount of £50,000 for each type of payment and will cover the period from the date Resolution 16 is passed until the end of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months after the passing of the Resolution.
As permitted under the 2006 Act, Resolution 16 also covers any political donations made, or political expenditure incurred, by any subsidiaries of the Company.
Resolution 17 is a resolution to allow the Company to hold general meetings (other than AGMs) on 14 days' notice.
The minimum notice period for general meetings of listed companies is 21 days, but companies may reduce this period to 14 days (other than for AGMs) provided that two conditions are met. The first condition is that the Company offers a facility for shareholders to vote by electronic means. This condition is met if the Company offers a facility, accessible to all shareholders, to appoint a proxy by means of a website. The second condition is that there is an annual resolution of shareholders approving the reduction of the minimum notice period from 21 days to 14 days.
The Board is therefore proposing Resolution 17 as a special resolution to approve 14 days as the minimum period of notice for all general meetings of the Company other than AGMs.
The approval will be effective until the end of the next AGM of the Company, when it is intended that the approval be renewed. The Board will consider on a case by case basis whether the use of the flexibility offered by the shorter notice period is merited, taking into account the circumstances, including whether the business of the meeting is time-sensitive and whether it is thought to be to the advantage of shareholders as a whole.
Resolution 18 seeks approval for the restructured AO World plc Value Creation Plan (the "VCP") and the amendment of the AO 2018 Incentive Plan ("AOIP").
As described in the statement from the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in the Directors' Remuneration Report, we are seeking your approval for a restructured VCP.
This follows a review by the Remuneration Committee of the Value Creation Plan 2020 and other remuneration structures in place at AO over recent months in light of significant changes to our strategy following our decision to exit Germany and to focus on generating profitable growth in our UK markets together with cash generation.
The restructured VCP is aimed not only at incentivising exceptional performance but also to assist with the retention of our talented team and, as with the original VCP scheme, all current employees will receive an award. A summary of the principal terms of the restructured VCP is set out in Appendix 2.
In addition we are also seeking your approval to amend the terms of the AOIP so that awards made under the restructured VCP will not count towards one of the limits in the AOIP. This will enable us to continue to use this existing plan in FY23 and potentially further. A summary of the proposed amendment to the AOIP is set out in Appendix 2.
and in each case the appointment of proxy must be received by the Company not less than 48 hours before the time of the AGM (excluding non-working days).
The deadline for receipt of proxy appointments (see note 4) also applies in relation to amended instructions. Where two or more valid separate appointments of proxy are received in respect of the same share in respect of the same meeting, the one which is last sent shall be treated as replacing and revoking the other or others.
It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
Shareholders have the opportunity to submit questions on the AGM resolutions electronically before the meeting and such questions, limited to matters relating to the business of the AGM itself, should be sent to 2022AGM@ ao.com and these will be responded to on an individual basis.
Members satisfying the thresholds in section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 can require the Company to publish a statement on its website setting out any matter relating to (a) the audit of the Company's accounts (including the Auditor's Report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the AGM; or (b) any circumstances connected with an Auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the last Annual General Meeting, that the members propose to raise at the AGM. The Company cannot require the members requesting the publication to pay its expenses. Any statement placed on the website must also be sent to the Company's Auditors no later than the time it makes its statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the AGM includes any such statement that the Company has been required to publish on its website.
As at 17 August 2022 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document), the Company's issued share capital consists of 573,323,777 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. The Company holds no ordinary shares in treasury. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company are 573,323,777.
You may not use any electronic address provided in this document to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
This document is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Specific advice should be sought on your specific circumstances before taking any action (or deciding not to take any action) in reliance on the contents of this document.
1 July 2016
Geoff chairs the Nomination Committee and is also a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Yes.
2 August 2005 (AO Retail Limited 19 April 2000)
John attends the Remuneration, Audit and Nomination Committees by invitation.
1 August 2015
Mark attends the Remuneration, Audit and Nomination Committees by invitation.
Non-Executive Director of Galliford Try plc.
Marisa is the Chair of the Audit Committee and is also a member of both the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee.
Yes.
12 December 2005
Executive Director at Clifton Trade Bathrooms Ltd.
Chris is a member of the Nomination Committee and the designated NED People Champion.
No, due to length of tenure only.
24 July 2018
Currently the Chief Financial Officer of Trainline PLC and non-executive director and Audit and Risk Committee chair at boohoo group PLC. Shaun has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of boohoo group PLC and will take up the position later this year, stepping down as Chief Financial Officer of Trainline PLC on 15 September 2022.
Shaun is interim chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.
Yes.
The Plan will be administered by the Board. Decisions in relation to the participation in the Plan by the executive directors will always be taken by the Remuneration Committee.
Any employee of the Group (including an executive director) is eligible to participate at the Board's discretion and it is intended that subject to the approval of the Plan by shareholders, all current employees including executive directors will be granted an award.
Awards under the Plan will be in the form of a conditional right to receive ordinary shares in the capital of the Company ("Shares") at no cost to the participant ("Award"), calculated by reference to the value of units. The Board will designate the Awards at grant as either Executive Awards or Employee Awards. It is currently intended that Executive Awards will be granted to the COO and the executive directors. Units will have a value depending on the Plan value at the relevant measurement date (see below).
Further Awards may be granted in addition to the initial grants referred to above, but Employee Awards may only be granted to eligible employees who will have completed two year's continuous service on a specified Plan value measurement date, and such Awards will relate to a reduced number of units to reflect the proportion of the period from shareholder approval of the Plan to 31 March 2027, that the participant will have been employed.
Awards may only be granted within the six week period following the approval of the Plan by the Company's shareholders, the announcement of the Company's results for any period, the day on which the Policy is approved by shareholders, any day on which a restriction on the grant of Awards is lifted, or on any day on which the Board determines that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the grant of Awards. No Awards may be granted more than ten years after the approval of the Plan by shareholders, although it is currently intended that most of the Awards will be granted shortly after the Plan is approved by shareholders and no further Awards will be granted after 31 March 2029.
Executive Awards may vest in three equal tranches on 31 March 2027, 31 March 2028 and 31 March 2029 (the "Measurement Dates") if on those dates the Board determines that the Plan value is greater than nil. If the Plan value is nil on any of those dates the relevant tranche will lapse immediately.
Employee Awards may vest on 31 March 2027, if the Board determines that the Plan value is greater than nil. On 31 March 2028 (if Executive Awards vest and to the extent that the Plan value is greater than the value on 31 March 2027), the Board may determine that Employee Awards also vest. Similarly on 31 March 2029 (if Executive Awards vest and to the extent that the Plan value is greater than the value on 31 March 2028), the Board may determine that Employee Awards also vest. If Employee Awards vest on either of these dates the Board may increase the number of units in an Award to reflect length of service at that time
The Plan will have a value on a Measurement Date equal to 5.5% of the market capitalisation of the Company on that date. For these purposes the market capitalisation will be calculated using the average closing price of a Share (capped at £10.43) over the three months ending on that date less £1, times the number of Shares in issue. The maximum amount of the Plan value that can be allocated to units comprised in an Executive Award is 10% of the Plan value on any relevant date.
The Board may amend or substitute the Plan value calculation if one or more events occur which cause the Board to consider that an amended or substituted Plan value calculation would be more appropriate and would not be materially less difficult to satisfy.
The Board may adjust the vesting level calculated as a result of the Plan value on any Measurement Date, if it considers that it does not reflect the underlying financial or non-financial performance of the Group over the vesting period, or that it is not appropriate in the context of unexpected or unforeseen circumstances, or there is any other reason the Board considers relevant, in each case taking into account factors the Board considers relevant (which will include but not be limited to revenue growth profitability, cash, customer satisfaction and employee engagement).
The aggregate value of Shares (calculated using the average closing price over the three months ending on the relevant date) delivered under the Plan to any one participant cannot exceed £20 million.
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The Plan may operate only over new issue Shares. The rules of the Plan provide that the total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan may not exceed five per cent of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company on any date the Plan value is measured.
The Board may, in its discretion, decide to satisfy an Award with a cash payment equal to the market value of some or all of the Shares that the participant would have received had the Award been satisfied with Shares.
The Board may decide that participants will receive an amount (in cash and/or additional Shares) equal to the value of any dividends which would have been paid on Shares subject to an Award over such period (ending no later than the date on which the Award vests) as the Board may determine. This amount may assume the reinvestment of dividends and exclude or include special dividends.
It is intended that recovery provisions will apply to Executive Awards and Employee Awards granted to some senior executives. In certain circumstances the Board may: reduce an Award (to zero if appropriate) or impose additional conditions on those Awards to the extent that cash and/or Shares have not yet been delivered in satisfaction of the Award; or if cash and/ or Shares have been delivered in satisfaction of those Awards, require that the participant either return some or all of the Shares acquired pursuant to the Award or make a cash payment to the Company in respect of the cash or Shares delivered.
The Board will retain the discretion to calculate the amount of cash or Shares, including whether or not to claw back such amount gross or net of any tax or social security contributions applicable to the Award.
The Board may operate these recovery provisions where, during the period ending on the third anniversary of the Measurement Date, there has been: a material misstatement of the audited accounts of the Company or of any Group Member; an error in assessing the Plan value applicable to the Award or in the information or assumptions on which the Award was granted or vests; a material failure of risk management, fraud or material financial irregularity in any Group Member or a relevant business unit; serious reputational damage to any Group Member or a relevant business unit; serious misconduct or material error on the part of the participant; a material corporate failure or a material safety failure in any Group Member or a relevant business unit; and (until the vesting date of Awards only) a material downturn in the financial performance of any member of the Group or relevant business unit; or any other circumstances which the Board in its discretion considers to be similar in their nature or effect.
Ordinarily unvested Awards will lapse upon a participant ceasing to be employed by or to hold office with the Group ("Group Employment") prior to the vesting date of an Award.
However, the Board will have the discretion (except where a participant is dismissed for reasons of gross misconduct or leaves to join a competitor, in which case the Award lapses immediately), to allow any unvested Award to continue until the date when it would have normally have vested if they had not ceased Group Employment. The Board retains discretion, however, to allow the Award to vest and be released earlier when the participant ceases Group Employment by reason of death.
The extent to which an Award vests in these circumstances will be determined by the Board, taking into account the relevant Plan value, and unless the Board decides otherwise, the proportion of the period between grant and vesting which has elapsed, and any adjustment they consider appropriate as referred to above.
If a participant ceases Group Employment after an Award has vested, but before it has been satisfied, their Award will (other than cessation for reasons of gross misconduct, in which case that Award will lapse immediately), continue and be satisfied.
In the event of a change of Control of the Company, Awards will vest early. The extent to which any unvested Awards vest will be determined by the Board, taking into account the relevant Plan value and any adjustment they consider appropriate as referred to above.
Alternatively, the Board may permit Awards to be exchanged for equivalent awards of shares in a different company (including the acquiring company). If the change of control is an internal reorganisation of the Group (or if the Board so decides), participants may be required to exchange their Awards.
If other corporate events occur such as a winding-up of the Company, demerger, delisting, special dividend or other event which, in the Board's opinion, may materially affect the current or future value of Shares, the Board may determine that Awards will vest on the same basis as for a change of control.
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If there is a variation of the share capital of the Company or in the event of a demerger, delisting, special dividend or other event which in the Board's opinion may materially affect the current or future value of Shares, the Board may make such adjustments to the Plan Value or the number of units or Shares subject to Awards, as it considers appropriate.
Shares issued and/or transferred under the Plan will not confer rights on any participant until that participant has received the underlying Shares. Any Shares allotted will rank equally with Shares then in issue (except for rights arising by reference to a record date prior to their issue).
The Board may, at any time, amend the provisions of the Plan in any respect except that no amendment to the material disadvantage of existing rights of participants will be made without the amendment having been approved by the majority of affected participants.
The prior approval of shareholders at a general meeting of the Company must be obtained in the case of any amendment which is made to the advantage of eligible employees and/or participants and relates to the provisions relating to eligibility, individual or overall limits, the basis for determining the entitlement to, and the terms of, awards, the adjustments that may be made in the event of any variation to the share capital of the Company and/or the rule relating to such prior approval. There are, however, exceptions to this requirement to obtain Shareholder approval for any minor amendments to benefit the administration of the Plan, to take account of the provisions of any legislation, or to obtain or maintain favourable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for any participant or member of the Group.
Awards are not transferable other than to the participant's personal representatives in the event of his or her death.
Benefits received under the Plan are not pensionable.
The Board may, at any time, establish further plans based on the Plan for overseas territories. Any such plan will be similar to the Plan but may be modified to take account of local tax, exchange control or securities laws. Any Shares made available under such further overseas plans must be treated as counting against the limits on individual and overall participation under the Plan.
No Awards may be granted more than ten years after approval of the Plan by shareholders.
The AOIP contains provisions under which the Board must not grant an award that would cause the number of Shares which may be allocated under the AOIP and any other discretionary employee share plan adopted by the Company to exceed 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company from time to time. As it is intended that the AOIP as part of existing arrangements will continue to be used in FY23 and potentially further, your approval is sought to amend the AOIP to exclude any Shares subject to awards granted under the restructured VCP, from counting towards that limit (as we sought when the original VCP was put in place).
The rules of the restructured VCP and the AOIP (as amended) will be on display in accordance with the Listing Rules (at the offices of Deloitte at Hill House, 1 Little New Street, London EC4A 3TR) and on the Company's website from the date of this notice until the close of the general meeting and at the AGM for 15 minutes before the meeting and throughout its duration.
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