Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Mar 16, 2023
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take you are recommended to seek your own personal financial advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional financial adviser (being in the case of shareholders in Ireland an organisation or firm authorised or exempted pursuant to the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations 2017 or the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 and in the case of shareholders in the United Kingdom, an adviser authorised or exempted pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000).
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares please forward this document together with the form of proxy to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through or by whom the sale or transfer was effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
to be held on Friday 28 April 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at IKON, Dublin Road, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, A82 XY31, Ireland is set out in this document.
A Form of Proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting is enclosed. If you wish to validly appoint a proxy, the Form of Proxy must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the instructions printed thereon to Computershare Investor Services (Ireland) Limited, 3100 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24, D24 AK82, Ireland, as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to be received no later than 9.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 26 April 2023.
Alternatively, electronic proxy appointment is also available for the Annual General Meeting. This facility enables shareholders to appoint a proxy by electronic means by logging on to www.eproxyappointment.com. To appoint a proxy on this website, shareholders need to enter a Control Number, a Shareholder Reference Number (SRN), a PIN and agree to the terms and conditions specified by the Company's Registrar. The Control Number, the Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and PIN can be found on the top of the Form of Proxy.
Persons who hold interests in Kingspan shares through the Euroclear Bank system or as CDIs through the CREST system should consult with their stockbroker or other intermediary at the earliest opportunity for further information on the processes and timelines for submitting proxy votes or voting instructions for the AGM through the respective systems.
16 March 2023
Dear Shareholder,
I enclose for your attention Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Kingspan Group plc, and invite you to join me on Friday 28 April 2023 at IKON, Dublin Road, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, A82 XY31, Ireland at 9:00 a.m.
The resolutions to be proposed at the forthcoming AGM are set out on pages 6-12 of this Notice, with further explanatory notes set out on pages 13-15.
2022 was a record year for Kingspan overall. With trading profits of €833m, up 10% on prior year against a backdrop of global uncertainty in many of our markets, Kingspan has continued to deliver on the four key pillars of its core strategy: Innovation, Planet Passionate, Global, and Completing the Envelope. For further details, I would encourage all shareholders to read the Company's Business & Strategic Review and the financial statements and directors' report which are contained in the 2022 Annual Report, all of which are available on www.kingspan.com. Accordingly, the Board is pleased to recommend a final dividend of 23.8 cent per share which, if approved at the Annual General Meeting, will give a total dividend for the year of 49.4 cent.
Details of each of the Directors who are offering themselves for election or re-election by the Shareholders are set out in Resolution 3 of the Notice, and a biography of each of the directors is set out in the 2022 Annual Report and on our website, www.kingspan.com. The performance of the Board is reviewed annually, and each of the directors has made a substantial contribution to the leadership and governance of the Company during the year. As previously announced, Senan Murphy was appointed as an independent non-executive director with effect from 1 October 2022 and we will welcome Louise Phelan to the Board as an independent non-executive director on conclusion of the Annual General Meeting. Following the conclusion of this year's Annual General Meeting, both Michael Cawley and John Cronin will be retiring from the Board on the expiration of their terms of office. Both Michael and John have been valued Board and committee members of the past nine years. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank them both for their significant contributions to Kingspan during those years.
During the year the Remuneration Committee had extensive engagement with shareholders regarding the Company's remuneration policy, details of which are set out in the Report of the Remuneration Committee. In line with Kingspan's commitment to best corporate governance practices, the Report of the Remuneration Committee will be put to an advisory vote at the Annual General Meeting. The Company is also seeking to increase the aggregate ceiling on its non-executive directors' fees to provide flexibility to adjust nonexecutive directors' fees to reflect their increasing responsibilities and time commitments and to make additional non-executive appointments, should this be desirable.
The other items of special business at the AGM (Resolutions 7 to 12) relate to the share capital of the Company and the renewal of authorities previously given for a further 12 months period, and renewal of authority to convene certain general meetings on 14 clear days' notice. These are matters which are standard for most public companies.
Your participation at the AGM is important for the Company, and I would encourage every Shareholder to take part in the meeting, either by attending the AGM or (if you are not able to attend) by casting your vote by proxy. Details of how you can vote, either in person or by proxy, are set out on pages 16-19 of this document. You can also submit a question in advance of the AGM, by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Your Board believes that the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Accordingly, the directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions, as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of shares in the Company.
Yours sincerely,
Jost Massenberg Chairman
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Kingspan Group plc will be held at IKON, Dublin Road, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, A82 XY31, Ireland at 9:00 a.m. on Friday 28 April 2023 for the following purposes:
Following a review of the Company's affairs, to receive and adopt the financial statements and the reports of the directors and the auditors for the year ended 31 December 2022.
To declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2022 of 23.8 cent per share.
(each of which shall be proposed as a separate resolution).
To authorise the directors to fix the remuneration of the auditors for the year ending 31 December 2023.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as an Ordinary Resolution:
To receive and consider the Remuneration Committee's report on directors' remuneration that is set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as an Ordinary Resolution:
That the aggregate ordinary remuneration permitted to be paid to the non-executive directors be and is hereby fixed in accordance with Article 90 of the Company's Articles of Association at an amount not exceeding €1,250,000 per annum.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as an Ordinary Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 1021 of the Companies Act 2014 to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities within the meaning of Section 1021 of that Act up to an aggregate nominal amount of €7,879,451. The authority hereby conferred shall expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution and 28 July 2024 unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in General Meeting provided however that the Company may make an offer or agreement before the expiry of this authority which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after this authority has expired and the directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
Subject to the passing of Resolution 7, to consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to Section 1022 and Section 1023 of the Companies Act 2014 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 1023 of that Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 7 above as if subsection (1) of the said Section 1022 did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited:
and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution or 28 July 2024 (whichever shall be earlier) save 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 may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
Subject to the passing of Resolution 7, to consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby empowered, in addition to any such power granted under Resolution 8, pursuant to Section 1022 and Section 1023 of the Companies Act 2014 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 1023 of that Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 7 above as if subsection (1) of the said Section 1022 did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be:
and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution or 28 July 2024 (whichever shall be earlier) save 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 may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the Company and/or any subsidiary (as defined by Section 7 of the Companies Act 2014) of the Company be hereby generally authorised to make market purchases (as defined by Section 1072 of the Companies Act 2014) of shares of any class in the Company ("Shares") on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the directors may determine from time to time but subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2014 and to the following restrictions and provisions:
where the average market value of a Share for the purpose of sub-paragraph (i) shall be the amount equal to the average of the five amounts resulting from determining whichever of the following ((1), (2) or (3) specified below) in respect of Shares of the same class as the Relevant Share shall be appropriate for each of the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Relevant Share is purchased as determined from the information published in the Euronext Dublin Daily Official List reporting the business done on each of those five days:
and if there shall be only a bid (but not an offer) price or an offer (but not a bid) price reported, or if there shall not be any bid or offer price reported, for any particular day, that day shall not be treated as a business day for the purposes of determining the maximum price; provided that, if the means of providing the foregoing information as to dealings and prices by reference to which the maximum price is to be determined is altered or is replaced by some other means, then a maximum price shall be determined on the basis of the equivalent information published by the relevant authority in relation to dealings on the Irish Stock Exchange (trading as Euronext Dublin) or its equivalent;
provided that, if the means of providing the foregoing information as to dealings and prices by reference to which the maximum price is to be determined is altered or is replaced by some other means, then a maximum price shall be determined on the basis of the equivalent information published by the relevant authority in relation to dealings on the London Stock Exchange or its equivalent;
(e) the authority hereby granted shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or on the date 18 months after the date of passing of this resolution (whichever is earlier) unless previously varied, revoked or renewed by special resolution, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1074 of the Companies Act 2014. The Company or any such subsidiary may enter before such expiry into a contract for the purchase of Shares which would or might be executed wholly or partly after such expiry and may complete any such contract as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That, subject to the passing of Resolution 10, for the purposes of Sections 109 and 1078 of the Companies Act 2014, the re-allotment price range at which ordinary shares having a par value of €0.13 in the capital of the Company ("Shares") held as treasury shares ("Treasury Shares") may be re-allotted off-market shall be as follows:
For the purposes of this Resolution the expression "Appropriate Price" shall mean an amount equal to the average of the five amounts resulting from determining whichever of the following ((i), (ii) or (iii) specified below) in relation to Shares shall be appropriate for each of the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Treasury Share is re-allotted as determined from the information published in the Euronext Dublin Daily Official List reporting the business done on each of those five business days:
and if there shall be only a bid (but not an offer) price or an offer (but not a bid) price reported, or if there shall not be any bid or offer price reported, for any particular day, that day shall not be treated as a business day for the purposes of determining the Appropriate Price; provided that, if the means of providing the foregoing information as to dealings and prices by reference to which the Appropriate Price is to be determined is altered or is replaced by some other means, then the Appropriate Price shall be determined on the basis of the equivalent information published by the relevant authority in relation to dealings on the Irish Stock Exchange (trading as Euronext Dublin) or its equivalent; and
(c) the authority hereby granted shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or on the date 18 months after the date of passing of this resolution (whichever is earlier) unless previously varied or renewed in accordance with the provisions of Section 109 and/or 1078 of the Companies Act 2014.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to call a general meeting, other than an annual general meeting or a meeting for the passing of a special resolution, on not less than 14 days' notice. The authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting.
Kingspan Group plc Registered Office: Dublin Road, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, Ireland, A82 XY31 Telephone: +353 (0)42 969 8000 Email: [email protected]; Internet: www.kingspan.com
The directors will present the report and accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2022. A full copy of the Annual Report is available on www.kingspan.com.
The directors are proposing a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2022 of 23.8 cent per share. If approved, the final dividend will be paid (subject to Irish withholding tax rules) on 9 May 2023 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 14 April 2023.
Each of the executive directors has a combination of general business skills, and experience in the construction materials market. The non-executive directors represent a diverse business background complementing the executive directors' skills. The performance of the Board is reviewed annually, and each of the directors has made a substantial contribution to the leadership and governance of the Company during the year. The biographies of each of the directors and their key strengths and relevant experience are set out the Annual Report which is available on www.kingspan.com.
The directors are seeking to renew their authority to fix the remuneration of the auditors for the year ending 31 December 2023.
The Report of the Remuneration Committee is contained in the Annual Report which is available on www.kingspan.com. This is an advisory resolution, and is not binding on the Company and is being put to shareholders in accordance with section 1110N of the Irish Companies Act 2014.
The Articles of Association require the Company to establish, with shareholder approval, a maximum annual limit on the ordinary remuneration (i.e., directors' fees, not including executive remuneration) payable to the non-executive directors. The Company attaches particular importance to the knowledge and breadth of experience that non-executive directors bring to the Board, and so the directors propose to seek, at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting, shareholder approval to set the ceiling on the directors' ordinary remuneration at €1,250,000 (from the current limit of €975,000). The limit will provide the Company with the flexibility necessary to maintain fees at a level which reflects the increasing responsibilities and time commitments of the non-executive directors and to make additional non-executive appointments, should this be desirable.
Shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2024, the usual annual authority of the directors to allot shares in the Company up to an aggregate amount equal to approximately 33⅓% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 28 February 2023 (being the latest practicable date prior to publishing this notice). The Company holds 1,758,188 ordinary shares in treasury representing 0.97% of the total ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares). The directors will exercise this authority only if they consider this to be in the best interests of shareholders generally at that time. The directors currently have no intention to allot such shares at the present time.
Shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2024, the power of the directors to dis-apply the statutory pre-emption provisions applying to allotments of ordinary shares and other equity securities for cash in the event of a rights issue and for any other issue for cash up to an aggregate of 5% of the nominal value of the Company's issued ordinary share capital.
The Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles, as updated in November 2022, supports the annual disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of issues of shares and other equity securities for cash up to an aggregate of 10% of the issued ordinary capital.
The directors currently have no intention to allot such shares at the present time and will exercise this power only if they consider this to be in the best interests of shareholders generally at that time.
In addition to the power proposed to be granted pursuant to Resolution 8, shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2024, the directors' additional authority, in certain limited circumstances, to allot ordinary shares and other equity securities for cash up to a further aggregate amount of 5% of the nominal value of the Company's issued ordinary share capital without first being required to offer such shares to existing shareholders in accordance with statutory pre-emption provisions.
The power will be limited to the allotment of equity securities for cash in connection with the financing or refinancing of an acquisition or specified capital investment (within the meaning of the Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles). Any such refinancing must be within six months of the original transaction. The directors will have due regard to the Statement of Principles in relation to any exercise of this power and will exercise this power only if they consider this to be in the best interests of shareholders generally at that time. The directors have no current intention to exercise this power.
This disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of a further 5% of the Company's issued share capital reflects the Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles which, as updated in November 2022, supports the annual disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of allotments of shares and other equity securities for cash up to a further aggregate amount of up to 10% of the nominal value of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (exclusive of treasury shares) to be used in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment.
Shareholders are being asked to provide, until the Annual General Meeting in 2024, an authority for the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, to purchase up to 10% of the Company's own shares. The directors would only exercise the power to purchase the Company's own shares at price levels which they considered to be in the best interests of shareholders generally, after taking account of the Company's overall financial position. The directors currently have no intention to exercise the Company's authority to purchase its own shares at the present time. The minimum price which may be paid for a purchase of the Company's own shares will be the nominal value of the ordinary shares, and the maximum price which may be paid shall be 105% of the then average market price of the ordinary shares.
There were outstanding at 28 February 2023 (being the latest practicable date prior to publishing this notice), options to subscribe for 2,116,346 ordinary shares, representing approximately 1.16% of the Company's issued share capital at that date. If the repurchase authority were to be exercised in full, the shares subject to these options would represent approximately 1.29% of the Company's issued share capital.
Shareholders' approval is also being sought, where the Company's shares have been repurchased (such shares being known as Treasury Shares), for re-allotment of these shares off-market at a maximum price of 120% of the then average market price of the ordinary shares, and a minimum price (other than when re-allotted under an employees' share scheme) of 95% of that average. The directors have no current intention to re-allot such shares at the present time.
Shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2024, the Company's authority to call a general meeting on 14 days' notice other than an annual general meeting or a meeting to consider any special resolution (being a resolution requiring a 75% majority vote). The Company confirms that it would only use the shorter notice period where it is merited by the purpose of the meeting, and directors consider that it is in the interests of the Company to retain this flexibility.
www.eproxyappointment.com
To log in you will require your unique PIN (which will expire at the end of the voting period), your Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and the Control Number, all of which are printed on the face of the accompanying Form of Proxy.
Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited ("EUI"), the operator of the CREST system has arranged for holders of CDIs to issue voting instructions relating to the Company's ordinary shares via a third party service provider, Broadridge Financial Solutions Limited ("Broadridge"). CREST members can complete and submit electronic voting instructions or proxy appointment instructions electronically through Broadridge.
Pursuant to Section 1107 of the Companies Act, the Company must answer any question which a shareholder may ask relating to the business being dealt with at the AGM unless:
answering the question would interfere unduly with the preparation for the AGM or the confidentiality and business interests of the Company;
The request:
In addition to the above, the request must be made in accordance with one of the following ways:
A draft resolution must not be such as would be incapable of being passed or otherwise be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association or otherwise). Any draft resolution must not be defamatory of any person.
www.kingspan.com
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