AGM Information • Mar 22, 2024
AGM Information
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If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take, you should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares of 6.5p each in the capital of Hiscox Ltd ('Ordinary Shares'), please forward this document (together with the accompanying Form of Direction or Form of Proxy) to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for delivery to the purchaser as soon as possible.
This document contains an explanatory letter from the General Counsel and Company Secretary on behalf of the Board of Hiscox Ltd and the Notice of Annual General Meeting. Accompanying this document is a Form of Direction or Form of Proxy which should be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions thereon. To be valid, the appropriate form should be sent to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, United Kingdom to be received no later than 12.30 pm (local time) 4.30 pm (BST) on 3 May 2024 for a Form of Direction or 12.30 pm (local time) 4.30 pm (BST) on 7 May 2024 for a Form of Proxy.
Latest time for receipt 12.30 pm (local time) of a Form of Proxy 4.30 pm (BST)
Annual General Meeting 12.30 pm (local time)
Latest time for receipt 12.30 pm (local time) of a Form of Direction 3 May 2024
7 May 2024
4.30 pm (BST) 9 May 2024
The Hiscox 2023 Report and Accounts is now available online at hiscoxgroup.com/investors/report-andaccounts-2023.
If you are a Shareholder of Hiscox Ltd and wish to receive paper copies of Shareholder documents by post, please write to:
Equiniti Limited Aspect House Spencer Road Lancing West Sussex BN99 6DA
A copy of this Notice can be found at: hiscoxgroup.com

22 March 2024
Dear Shareholder
I am writing on behalf of the Board to provide an explanation of the business to be considered at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hiscox Ltd (the 'Company'). The formal notice convening this meeting is set out at the end of this letter.
The AGM will be held at Chesney House, 96 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda on 9 May 2024 at 12.30 pm (local time). For convenience, Shareholders may view a webcast of the AGM and ask questions via a video link at the Group's London office, 22 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4BQ on 9 May 2024 at 4.30 pm (BST). If you wish to watch the webcast in London, please email [email protected] on or before 2 May 2024 to enable us to arrange access to our offices. Note that the webcast is for informational purposes and Shareholders will not be able to vote at the AGM via the video link so should cast their votes in advance – see pages 5 to 6 for further details.
To the extent that we need to make changes to the arrangements described above, we will announce by regulatory informational announcement any changes as early as is possible before the date of the meeting. Shareholders should monitor the Company's website for any updates in relation to the AGM.
The Board recognises the opportunity that the AGM provides for shareholders to ask questions that they have relating to the Company. Therefore, the Board encourages shareholders to send their questions by email to [email protected] in advance of the AGM and we will endeavour to respond to your questions before the proxy voting deadline. Responses to questions received will be posted on the Company's website.
The following business will be proposed at the AGM. The Board believes that all of the resolutions set out in this Notice are in the best interests of both Hiscox and its shareholders. Resolutions 1 to 18 inclusive will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and Resolutions 19 to 21 inclusive as special resolutions.
The Directors of the Company (the 'Directors') present the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The Directors seek approval of the annual report on remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2023 which can be found on pages 112 to 122 of the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts. This vote is advisory and non-binding.
The Directors seek approval for a final dividend of 25.0 cents per share as approved by the Board to be paid on 12 June 2024 to Shareholders on the register on 3 May 2024. The dividend is to be paid in cash in respect of each Ordinary Share and Depositary Interest, other than those Ordinary Shares and Depositary Interests in respect of which a valid election has been made in relation to the Scrip Dividend alternative approved at the AGM held on 12 May 2022. Further details regarding the dividend alternative, including the procedure to be followed in order to make an election, are set out in the circular which was sent to shareholders in April 2022, a copy of which is available on the Company's website at www.hiscoxgroup.com. The deadline for making an election for the Scrip Dividend alternative so that it will apply is 20 May 2024. Shareholder and Depositary Interest Holders who have already elected for the scrip dividend alternate do not need to take further action.
The Bye-laws require that a Director shall retire from office if he/she has been appointed by the Board since the previous AGM or it is the third AGM following that at which he/she was last re-appointed. However, in accordance with the 2018 Corporate Governance Code (Governance Code) all the Directors will, being eligible, offer themselves for appointment or re-appointment at the AGM, as applicable.
As announced on 30 May 2023, Jonathan Bloomer joined the Board as Chair designate on 1 June 2023, succeeding Robert Childs as Chair with effect from 1 July 2023. Additionally, as announced on 12 May 2023, Beth Boucher joined the Board as an independent Non Executive Director. As such, both Jonathan and Beth are standing for election for the first time.
Each of Anne MacDonald and Lynn Pike, two of our Non Executive Directors, were appointed in May 2015 and will therefore have served nine years on the Board this spring. The Board continues to value both Anne and Lynn's skills and experience, and considers that each of them continues to demonstrate independence, constructive challenge and engagement in Board and Committee meetings. The Board is therefore satisfied that Anne and Lynn continue to show the independence of character and judgement necessary to fulfil their roles effectively. The Nominations and Governance Committee continues to consider Board succession planning and refreshment on a regular basis.
Biographical details of each Director and the reasons why their contribution is, and continues to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success can be found on pages 7 to 8 of this Notice. The Chair and the Board have considered the individual skills, experience and attributes of each Director. The Board considers that the composition of the Board is well balanced and therefore recommends the appointment or re-appointment of each Director at the AGM. Following a formal performance evaluation, the Chair has confirmed in respect of all Directors offering themselves for appointment or re-appointment at the AGM that their
performance continues to be effective and to demonstrate commitment and independence to the role. The Nominations and Governance Committee also assessed the Board performance and were satisfied that all Directors had sufficient time to dedicate to their role. The Senior Independent Director also assessed the Chair's performance in fulfilling his role.
Having assessed their independence, performance and effectiveness and evaluating their work throughout the year, the Board proposes that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be re-appointed as auditors of the Company for the 2024 financial year and that the Audit Committee be authorised to negotiate and agree the audit fee for the 2024 financial year.
Authority was granted to the Directors at the AGM held on 11 May 2023 in accordance with Bye-law 5(b) of the Company's Bye-laws to allot relevant securities without the prior consent of Shareholders up to a maximum nominal amount of £7,508,599 and an additional nominal amount of £7,508,599 in connection with a Rights Issue for a period expiring at the conclusion of the next AGM. As at 15 March 2024, the Company's issued ordinary share capital amounted to £23,063,050 comprising 354,816,160 Ordinary Shares, of which the Company held 7,523,190 Ordinary Shares in treasury, representing 2.12% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital.
The Directors consider it appropriate to renew this authority at the forthcoming AGM to maintain the flexibility this authority provides. The proposed new authority will allow the Directors to allot relevant securities equal to an amount of up to one third of the Company's existing ordinary issued share capital plus, in the case of a fully pre-emptive Rights Issue only, a further amount of up to an additional one third of the Company's existing issued ordinary share capital (in each case excluding any shares held in treasury).
This authority is within the guidelines of the Share Capital Management Guidelines issued by the Investment Association in February 2023.
The proposed new authority will expire at the conclusion of the 2025 AGM of the Company or, if earlier, on 1 July 2025. It is the current intention to renew this authority annually to maintain the flexibility this authority provides. The Directors have no present intention to allot shares other than in connection with employee share schemes and the scrip dividend alternative. If the Directors exercise the authority, they intend to follow best practice as regards its use, as recommended by the Investment Association.
The nominal amount of securities to which the new authority will relate represents approximately one-third (£7,524,681), or up to two-thirds (£ 15,049,362) in the case of a fully pre-emptive Rights Issue only, of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) as at 15 March 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this circular).
Resolution 19 is proposed as a special resolution in accordance with Bye-law 7(a) of the Company's Bye-laws to authorise the Directors to allot equity securities for cash or to sell treasury shares without first being required to offer such shares to existing Shareholders. This authority will expire at the conclusion of the next AGM or, if earlier, on 1 July 2025, although it is the Directors' current intention to seek renewal of this authority annually to maintain the flexibility this authority provides.
The authorities set out in Resolutions 19 and 20 are within institutional shareholder guidance and in particular the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles (the 'Pre-Emption Principles'). The Pre-Emption Principles were revised in November 2022 to allow the authority for an issue of shares for cash otherwise than in connection with a pre-emptive offer to include: (1) an authority up to 10% of a company's issued share capital for use on an unrestricted basis; and (2) an additional authority up to a further 10% of a company's issued share capital for use in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment announced contemporaneously with the issue, or that has taken place in the twelve month period preceding the announcement of the issue. In both cases, an additional authority of up to 2% may be sought for the purposes of making a follow-on offer as described in the Pre-Emption Principles.
Having considered the Pre-Emption Principles, the Directors consider it appropriate to seek a disapplication authority over 10% of the Company's issued share capital for use on an unrestricted basis as well as a further 10% for use in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment.
Resolution 19 therefore authorises the Directors, pursuant to the authority given by Resolution 18 (the authority to allot resolution) to allot:
In addition, Resolution 20 authorises the Directors to allot new shares for cash and to sell treasury shares up to a nominal amount representing not more than 10% of the nominal value of the issued share capital of the Company as at 15 March 2024 without those shares first being offered to existing Shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings, for the purposes of financing or refinancing a transaction as contemplated by the Pre-Emption Principles described above.
The Directors confirm that they intend to follow the shareholder protections contained in Part 2B of the Pre-Emption Principles in connection with any non-pre-emptive offering.
The Directors have no present intention of using the authorities set out in Resolutions 18, 19 or 20, however, they consider that it is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders generally that the Company have the authorities available so that the Board has the flexibility to issue securities at short notice, and without the need for a general meeting, should the Board determine that it is appropriate to do so, for example to finance business opportunities quickly and efficiently when they arise. The equivalent authorities granted in 2023 were not used.
Resolution 21 is proposed as a special resolution in accordance with Bye-law 9(a) of the Company's Bye-laws to give the Company a general authority to make market purchases of its own shares. The maximum number of shares that the Company may purchase under this authority will be 34,729,297 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 10% of the nominal amount of the issued ordinary capital of the Company (excluding shares held in treasury) on 15 March 2024. The resolution also sets out the maximum and minimum price which the Company may pay for those shares. Any shares purchased under this authority may be cancelled or held in treasury. It is the Directors' current intention to cancel any shares purchased.
The total number of shares over which an option under an employee share scheme exists as at 15 March 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this circular) is 8,771,124 representing 2.53% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding shares held in treasury). Although the authority being sought at the AGM is in place of that granted at the previous AGM if, for the purposes of Listing Rule 13.7.1(1) (f), the authority given by this resolution and that granted at the previous AGM were aggregated and fully utilised, these shares would represent 19.55% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) at that date.
This authority will expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, on 1 July 2025 although it is the Directors' current intention to seek renewal of this authority annually. The power given by the resolution will only be exercised if the Directors are satisfied that any purchase will increase the earnings per share of the ordinary share capital in issue after the purchase and, accordingly, that the purchase is in the interests of Shareholders. The Directors will also give careful consideration to gearing levels of the Company and its general financial position. The Company commenced a buyback of its issued ordinary shares on 5th March 2024 for a maximum consideration of \$150 million. The purpose is to return additional capital to shareholders. Hiscox will cancel all purchased shares.
The Board believes that the proposed resolutions as set out in the Notice of AGM are in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole and the Board recommends that the Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions. Each
Director who holds shares in the Company intends to vote in favour of the resolutions.
A Form of Proxy for use by Shareholders at the AGM or at any adjournment thereof is enclosed. Shareholders are strongly advised to complete, sign and return the Form of Proxy to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, United Kingdom, as soon as possible and in any event so as to be received no later than 12.30 pm (local time) 4.30 pm (BST) on 7 May 2024.
Any Depositary Interests Holder wishing to instruct Equiniti Limited to vote in respect of the holder's interest should use the enclosed Form of Direction. The completed Form of Direction must be returned to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, United Kingdom so as to be received no later than 12.30 pm (local time) 4.30 pm (BST) on 3 May 2024. Depositary Interests Holders wishing to attend the meeting should contact Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA, United Kingdom, or email: [email protected], in order to request a letter of representation by no later than 12.30 pm (local time) 4.30 pm (BST) on 7 May 2024.
Yours faithfully
Marc Wetherhill Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Hiscox Ltd will be held at the Chesney House, 96 Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke HM 08, Bermuda on 9 May 2024 at 12.30 pm (local time, 4.30 pm (BST)).
The business to be considered at the meeting is as follows.
For the purposes of this Resolution 18:
Equity Securities (as defined in Bye-law 6(g)(i) of the Company's Bye-laws) pursuant to the general authority conferred on them by the resolution passed under Bye-law 5 (Resolution 18 above) as if Bye-law 6 of those Bye-laws did not apply to the allotment but this power shall be:
e) all existing authorities for the Company to make market purchases of shares are revoked, except in relation to the purchase of shares under a contract or contracts concluded before the date of this resolution and which has or have not yet been executed.
Group General Counsel and Company Secretary 22 March 2024
time) (4.30 pm (BST)) on 6 May 2024 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, 72 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting). For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the CREST Application Host) from which the issuer's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his/her 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 system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
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Directors' biographies Member of the Audit Committee
Non Executive Chair (Aged 71) Appointed to the Board: June 2023
Jonathan was appointed Chair of Hiscox in July 2023. Prior to Hiscox he was a partner at Arthur Andersen before going on to become Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of FTSE 100 Prudential plc. His final executive role, from 2006 to 2012, was as operating partner at Cerberus, the US-based private equity investor. Since 2012, Jonathan has had a successful portfolio career with a range of largely financial services companies. Previous board roles include Chair of DWF PLC and Arrow Global Group Plc, and senior independent director at Hargreaves Lansdown Plc.
Morgan Stanley International Group; SDL Group Limited.
Group Chief Financial Officer (Aged 51) Appointed to the Board: May 2022
Relevant skills, experience and contribution
Paul joined Hiscox in 2022 as Group Chief Financial Officer. With over 25 years of financial services experience, Paul has held a number of senior roles, including Interim Group Chief Financial Officer at M&G Plc and Chief Financial Officer for The Prudential Assurance Company. Paul is a qualified Chartered Accountant, having trained with PwC, and sits on the board of a number of Hiscox subsidiary companies.
Senior Independent Director (Aged 70) Appointed to the Board: November 2015
sValuable financial services experience.
sSignificant knowledge of how to run an international financial business.
Colin has spent his career in financial services, principally at Close Brothers Group plc where he worked for 24 years and served as Chief Executive Officer for seven years until 2009. Colin is Chair of the Hiscox Insurance Company Limited board and also of the Remuneration Committee.
Committees
Group Chief Executive Officer (Aged 51) Appointed to the Board: September 2016
Aki joined Hiscox in 2016 as Group Chief Financial Officer and became Group Chief Executive Officer in 2022. Aki also sits on the board of a number of Hiscox subsidiary companies. Prior to Hiscox, Aki held a number of senior roles across a range of sectors, including Chief Financial Officer of Prudential's UK and Europe business, and Finance Director for Lloyds Banking Group's consumer bank division. Aki is a Chartered Accountant, having trained with KPMG.
Visa Europe Limited.
Committees
Group Chief Underwriting Officer (Aged 53) Appointed to the Board: March 2020
Joanne joined Hiscox in 2002 and has held a number of roles across the Group, including Head of UK Claims, Chief Underwriting Officer for Hiscox UK & Ireland, and Chief Underwriting Officer for Hiscox Retail. Joanne also sits on the board of a number of Hiscox subsidiary companies. Prior to Hiscox, Joanne spent almost ten years working in a variety of actuarial, pricing and reserving roles at AXA and Aviva in both the UK and Asian markets.
Realty Insurances Ltd.
Committees
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 58) Appointed to the Board: May 2023
Beth is currently a partner at Fortium Partners and a Research Fellow at Nemertes Research. Beth has more than 25 years of professional experience across multiple industries, as well as strategic consulting and managed services. Most recently, Beth was the Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Sirius Point from 2019 until 2021 and prior to that held various executive roles at The Travelers Company. Beth is a certified organisational change management and international board director with experience leading technology strategy, application development, infrastructure and operations.
Committees
Chair of Committee is highlighted in solid.
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 65) Appointed to the Board: November 2021
Donna has over 35 years' financial services experience, gained across banking and insurance. She was AIG's General Insurance Global Chief Operating Officer and also served as their Global Chief Auditor. Donna was Chief Executive and Chair of the board at United Guaranty, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the board at MetLife Bank and was a PwC Financial Services Partner. Donna serves on the board of Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. as a Non Executive Director and is Chair of the Audit Committee.
Azure; State Street Corporation.
Committees
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 60) Appointed to the Board: November 2017
sConsiderable experience of leading a global business.
sExtensive knowledge of the European insurance market. Thomas has over 30 years' experience in banking, reinsurance and insurance. He was Chief Executive Officer Global Corporate at Zurich Insurance Group, a \$9 billion business working in over 200 countries. Prior to that, he held senior positions at Swiss Re Group and National Westminster Bank. Thomas serves on the Hiscox Syndicate Ltd board as Chair and on the Hiscox SA board as a Non Executive Director.
Leadway Assurance Ltd, Nigeria.
Committees
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 60) Appointed to the Board: November 2017
Costas served as President and Chief Executive Officer of PartnerRe Ltd, one of the world's leading reinsurers, until 2015 and prior to that was a Principal of Tillinghast-Towers Perrin in London, where he led its European non-life practice. He is a Fellow of the UK Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and a resident of Bermuda. Costas serves on the Hiscox Insurance Company (Bermuda) Limited board as a Non Executive Director.
Argus Group Holdings Limited; Pacific Life Re; Riverstone International Limited.
Committees
Chair of Committee is highlighted in solid.
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 65) Appointed to the Board: November 2017
Michael has over 25 years' experience in the insurance industry, having worked in Australia and the Asia Pacific region for QBE Insurance Group for over 20 years. Michael started his career as an actuary, is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia and served as Vice President of the General Insurance Association of Singapore between 2006 and 2012. During the year, Michael served on the DirectAsia board as a Non Executive Director.
Partner Reinsurance Asia Pte Ltd; Steadfast Distribution Services Pte Ltd; NCI Brokers (Asia) Pte Ltd; Galaxy Insurance Consultants Pte Ltd; Enya-Lea Pte Ltd; Werombi Pte Ltd.
Committees
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 68) Appointed to the Board: May 2015
Anne has served as Chief Marketing Officer at four Fortune 100 companies, and been in charge of some of the most recognised brands in the world, including Citigroup, Travelers, Macys and Pizza Hut. Anne serves as the Employee Liaison for Hiscox.
Boot Barn Holdings, Inc.; Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Litchfield County.
Committees
Independent Non Executive Director (Aged 67) Appointed to the Board: May 2015
Lynn worked in the US banking industry for nearly four decades, most recently as President of Capital One Bank. Before that, she was President of Bank of America's business banking division. Lynn is Chair of the Risk Committee and also serves on the Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. board as a Non Executive Director.
American Express Company (NYSE: AXP); American Express National Bank; CareerWork\$ Advisory; California State University Channel Islands Foundation.
Committees
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