Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Aug 2, 2024
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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ProCook Group plc (incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 13679248)
Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at 12:00 p.m.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ProCook Group plc (Company) will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at the Company's registered office, ProCook, 10 Indurent Park, Gloucester, GL10 3EZ, to transact the following business. Resolutions 1 to 12 are proposed as ordinary resolutions and 13 to 16 as special resolutions.
To facilitate shareholder engagement, the proceedings of the AGM will be broadcast via the Investor Meet Company platform. Shareholders will be able to follow the proceedings of the AGM online on the Investor Meet Company platform by registering in advance via the following link: www.investormeetcompany.com/procook-group-plc/register-investor. Investors who already follow the Company on Investor Meet Company will be automatically invited.
Shareholders are invited to submit any questions in respect of the business of the AGM for the Board to consider. Questions may be submitted in advance via the Investor Meet Company dashboard, or at any time during the AGM over the Investor Meet Company platform following registration, and the Board will aim to respond to any such questions relevant to the business of the AGM.
Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the resolutions to be put to the AGM by proxy whether or not they intend to attend. Voting by proxy prior to the AGM does not affect shareholders' right to attend the AGM and vote in person should they so wish.
To receive the reports of the Directors and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 together with the report of the auditor thereon.
To receive the Directors' Remuneration Report (excluding the Directors' Remuneration Policy, set out on pages 90 to 100 of the Directors' Remuneration Report) as set out on pages 88 to 107 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024.
To re-elect Greg Hodder as a Director of the Company.
To re-elect Daniel O'Neill as a Director of the Company.
To re-elect David Stead as a Director of the Company.
To re-elect Dan Walden as a Director of the Company.
To elect Meg Lustman as a Director of the Company.
To elect Lee Tappenden as a Director of the Company.
To re-appoint Forvis Mazars LLP as Auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company.
To authorise the Audit and Risk Committee to determine the remuneration of the Company's Auditor.
That the amendment to the rules of the ProCook Group plc IPO Employee Share Plan, as described in the explanatory note to Resolution 11, be and is hereby approved and the Directors be authorised to do all things necessary or expedient to carry the amendment into effect.
That, in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (Act), the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to allot equity securities (as defined in Section 560(1) of the Act) (Equity Securities):
but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal or practical problems in or under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and
(b) in any other case, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £363,188 (such amount to be reduced by the nominal amount of any Equity Securities allotted pursuant to the authority in paragraph (a) above in excess of £363,188),
provided that this authority shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company (or if earlier, the date which is 15 months from the date of the passing of the resolution) save that the Company may, before such expiry, make offers or agreements which would or might require Equity Securities to be allotted and the Directors may allot Equity Securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this resolution has expired.
This resolution revokes and replaces all unexercised authorities previously granted to the Directors under section 551 of the Act, but without prejudice to any allotment of shares or grant of rights already made, offered or agreed to be made pursuant to such authorities.
That, subject to the passing of resolution 12, the Directors be authorised to allot Equity Securities for cash under the authority conferred by that resolution and/or to sell Ordinary Shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, provided that such authority shall be limited to:
but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal or practical problems in or under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and
such authority to expire at the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting after the passing of this resolution or, if earlier, at the close of business on the date which is 15 months from the date of passing the resolution, save that the Company may, before such expiry make offers or agreements which would or might require Equity Securities to be allotted (or treasury shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Directors may allot Equity Securities (or sell treasury shares) in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.
That, subject to the passing of resolution 12, the Directors be authorised, in addition to any authority granted under resolution 13, to allot Equity Securities for cash under the authority conferred by resolution 12 and/or to sell Ordinary Shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, provided that such authority shall be limited to:
such authority to expire at the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting (or, if earlier, at the close of business on the date which is 15 months from the date of passing the resolution but, in each case, prior to its expiry the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require Equity Securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Directors may allot Equity Securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.
That the Company be and it is hereby generally authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company on such terms and in such manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, provided that:
That the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to hold general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on not less than 14 clear days' notice, such authority to expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months from the passing of this resolution.
For and on behalf of the Board.
Dan Walden Chief Financial Officer
1 August 2024
ProCook 10 Indurent Park Gloucester GL10 3EZ
Registered in England and Wales No. 13679248
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The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions.
Resolutions 1 to 12 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 13 to 16 are proposed as special resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The Directors must present to the shareholders at the AGM the audited accounts of the Company and the reports of the Directors and Auditor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The Directors must put the Directors' Remuneration Report to a vote of the shareholders. The vote is only advisory and the Directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on the resolution being passed.
Greg Hodder, Daniel O'Neill, David Stead and Dan Walden are standing for re-election. Meg Lustman and Lee Tappenden were appointed as Directors of the Company by the Board in accordance with the Articles of Association since the last Annual General Meeting of the Company and therefore are standing for election by shareholders. It is considered that each Director continues to be effective and their contribution supports the long-term sustainable success of the Company. The skills and experience of each Director, which can be found below demonstrate why their contribution is, and continues to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success.
Greg Hodder – Greg was appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Chair on 29 October 2021. Greg brings a wealth of experience with previous Non-Executive Director and CEO appointments and a history of driving fast growth from entrepreneurial companies with particular experience in e-commerce and multi-channel. Greg has spent much of his career working in the retail sector including roles as President of New York-based company Smallbone PLC, CEO of Charles Tyrwhitt LLP and Chairman of Majestic Wines plc. Greg is currently Senior Independent Director at Jarrold & Sons Limited and Non-Executive Chair at Purdy and Figg Ltd.
Daniel O'Neill – Daniel was appointed to the Board as Chief Executive Officer on 14 October 2021 and transitioned to a Non-Executive Director in October 2023 upon the appointment of Lee Tappenden as CEO. Daniel founded ProCook over 25 years ago. Prior to founding ProCook (originally trading as the Professional Cookware Company until 2008) in the 1990s, Daniel had an early career in direct marketing businesses and consultancy services and also in software development, developing skillsets and experiences that have provided guiding principles to support the development of the ProCook business.
David Stead – David was appointed to the Board as Senior Independent Non-Executive Director on 29 October 2021. An experienced director of companies in the UK retail sector, David was Chief Financial Officer of FTSE-listed Dunelm Group plc from 2003 to 2015 and Interim Chief Financial Officer in 2018. Prior to his role at Dunelm, David served as Finance Director for Boots The Chemists and Boots Healthcare International between 1991 and 2003. David is a chartered accountant, having spent the early part of his career with KPMG.
Dan Walden – Dan was appointed to the Board as Chief Financial Officer on 14 October 2021. Prior to joining ProCook in May 2021, Dan was Chief Financial Officer of Booking.com Transport. Before that, he held several roles at Dunelm Group plc including Group Finance Director and Commercial Finance Director. Before Dunelm, Dan held various senior finance and commercial roles at Halfords and Sainsbury's. Dan is a chartered accountant, having begun his career with KPMG.
Meg Lustman – Meg was appointed to the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director in June 2024. Meg has over 35 years of retail experience, and was previously CEO of British affordable luxury brand, Hobbs. Prior to this, she held senior positions at many of the UK's leading fashion retailers including John Lewis, Warehouse, and Aurora/ Mosaic Fashions. Meg is a non-executive director of N Brown Group plc and Chair of its Remuneration Committee and interim Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee. She also serves as Vice Chair of Court and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Glasgow Caledonian University and is Chair of St Luke's Hospice (Harrow and Brent).
Lee Tappenden – Lee was appointed CEO of ProCook in September 2023, bringing extensive leadership, retail and consumer experience to the Group having spent over 25 years with Walmart and Asda, where he held a range of senior management roles, and also at Amyris Inc and Boston Consulting Group. His tenure at Walmart included roles in merchandising and operations, before becoming Chief Operations Officer, and then President and CEO of Walmart Canada. Lee spent the early part of his career with Mobil Oil.
In compliance with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Listing Rules relating to controlling shareholders, the election and re-election of the Independent Non-Executive Directors must be approved by a majority of both:
For the purposes of the FCA Listing Rules, the Concert Party (being Michael O'Neill, Daniel O'Neill, Sarah O'Neill, and Daniel O'Neill and Sarah O'Neill as trustees of the O'Neill 2021 Discretionary Settlement) is a controlling shareholder as a result of it holding 75,435,918 shares (36,589,016 shares, 17,048,725 shares, 14,798,785 shares and 6,999,392 shares respectively).
Resolutions 5 and 7 relate to the re-election and election of David Stead and Meg Lustman respectively, who are the Directors seeking re-election and election that the Board has determined are Independent Non-Executive Directors (iNEDs) for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code. These resolutions are proposed as ordinary resolutions and can be voted on by all shareholders of the Company. However, in addition to this, the votes cast by independent shareholders will be counted separately in order to assess whether the second tier of the test is satisfied.
In accordance with the FCA Listing Rules, if a resolution seeking to elect or re-elect an iNED is not approved by a majority of both the shareholders of the Company as a whole and the independent shareholders of the Company, the failed resolution may be put to shareholders of the Company, at a general meeting, which must be held between 90 and 120 days from the date of the original vote (being the date of the AGM or any adjournment of it).
In such circumstances, any iNED whose appointment has not been approved by both the shareholders of the Company as a whole and the independent shareholders of the Company will be treated as having been elected from the date of the original vote until either the date when they are elected, being the date of the subsequent general meeting, or the date of any announcement by the Board that the individual does not intend to stand for election.
If a subsequent general meeting does not take place, the appointment will be treated as ceasing 120 days from the date of the original vote. If a subsequent general meeting does take place and the further resolution is approved, the iNED will be treated as having been elected until the following annual general meeting of the Company. However, if at the subsequent general meeting the further resolution fails, the appointment of the iNED will cease on that date.
The Board, on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee, recommends the re-appointment of Forvis Mazars LLP (formally known as Mazars LLP) as Auditor of the Company until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which the accounts are laid before the Company. Resolution 9 proposes the reappointment of Forvis Mazars LLP and Resolution 10 is a separate resolution which authorises the Audit and Risk Committee to determine the Auditor's remuneration.
The purpose of Resolution 11 is to approve an amendment to the ProCook Group plc IPO Employee Share Plan ("IPO Employee Share Plan") which was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on 29 October 2021, prior to the Company's shares being admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange ("Admission").
The proposed amendment gives the Company (acting by its Board of Directors or a committee thereof) power to reduce the exercise price that applies to certain awards granted pursuant to the IPO Employee Share Plan on Admission. These awards ("All-Employee Share Purchase ESP Awards") were granted to (broadly) all employees of the Group as at 31 March 2021, other than the then Executive Directors and certain other senior employees, and were intended to reward the wider employee group for their contribution to the Company leading up to Admission and motivate them going forwards. The All-Employee Share Purchase ESP Awards were intended to vest and be automatically exercised in three equal tranches on the first three anniversaries of Admission, provided that the Company's share price exceeded the exercise price of the awards, being significantly lower than the price of a share as at Admission (£0.435, £0.29 and £0.145 in respect of each tranche). The first two tranches did not vest because the share price at the time was less than the exercise price, and the All-Employee Share Purchase ESP Awards will therefore vest in full in November 2024, subject to the share price being greater than the exercise price. To the extent that the All-Employee Share Purchase ESP Awards do not vest in November 2024, they will lapse and the employees will not receive any value in respect of these awards.
In recognition of the hard work and contribution of the Company's employees over the three years since Admission, the Company proposes to reduce the exercise price of the All-Employee Share Purchase ESP Awards, so that the employees can exercise their awards and realise value for their contribution. The Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof) will determine the reduced exercise price, which may be nil. To the extent exercised, the All-Employee Share Purchase ESP Awards will be satisfied by the transfer of shares subscribed for by the trustee of the ProCook Employee Benefit Trust prior to Admission; no new shares will be issued.
A copy of the rules of the IPO Employee Share Plan, marked up to show the proposed changes, will be available for inspection on the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism from the date of sending this document. The amended rules of the IPO Employee Share Plan will also be on display at the place of the AGM for at least 15 minutes before the AGM and during the AGM.
This resolution deals with the Directors' authority to allot securities in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (Act) and complies with the Investment Association Share Capital Management Guidelines issued in February 2023.
If passed, the resolution will authorise the Directors to allot:
The maximum nominal amount of securities which may be allotted under this resolution is therefore £726,377.
The authority granted by this resolution will expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting and the date which is 15 months after the resolution is passed.
The Directors have no present intention to exercise the authority conferred by this resolution, but the Directors believe it is in the interests of the Company for the Directors to be granted this authority to enable them to take advantage of appropriate opportunities that may arise in the future.
Under the Act, the Directors require shareholder authority to issue Equity Securities for cash without first offering them to the whole shareholder base pro rata to their existing holdings in accordance with the statutory requirements of section 561 of the Act. Resolutions 13 and 14 will, if passed, give the Directors this authority within specified limitations. Resolution 13 provides a general authority and resolution 14 is in respect of allotments to finance acquisitions and capital investments. These resolutions are in line with the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles 2022, the template resolutions published by the Pre-Emption Group in 2022 and the Share Capital Management Guidelines published by the Investment Association (as updated in February 2023) (Investor Guidelines). The Company notes the increase in the acceptable levels of authority set out in the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles 2022 and the Directors consider it appropriate for the Company to seek those enhanced approvals to maximise its ability to act swiftly in the interests of shareholders should a need or opportunity arise.
Put simply, the Directors will, if the resolutions are passed, have authority to freely allot the equivalent of up to 10% of ISC for cash, with additional allotments for cash permitted only for:
The authorities set out in these resolutions will expire on the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting or, if earlier, on the date which is 15 months after the resolution is passed. The Directors have no present intention to exercise the authority conferred by these resolutions.
The Directors confirm that they intend to follow the shareholder protections in Part 2B of the Pre-Emption Group Statement of Principles 2022 as well as the expected features of a follow-on offer as set out in paragraph 3 of Part 2B of the Pre-Emption Group Statement of Principles 2022 in relation to any follow-on offer.
The Directors intend to exercise this right only when, in light of market conditions prevailing at the time, they 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 purchase price would be paid out of distributable profits. This authority would not be used in the event that it would result in the Company's free float being lower than 10% of its ISC.
The Act permits certain listed companies to hold shares in treasury, as an alternative to cancelling them, following a purchase of own shares by the Company. Shares held in treasury may subsequently be cancelled, sold for cash or used to satisfy share options and share awards under the Company's employee share schemes.
Once held in treasury, the Company is not entitled to exercise any rights, including the right to attend and vote at meetings in respect of the shares. Further, no dividend or other distribution of the Company's assets may be made to the Company in respect of the treasury shares.
If the Directors exercise the authority conferred by Resolution 15, they may consider holding those shares in treasury, rather than cancelling them. The Directors believe that the ability to hold shares in treasury provides the Company with greater flexibility in the management of its share capital. The Directors would also consider using any such treasury shares to satisfy share options/awards under the Company's employees' share schemes.
The maximum number of shares which may be purchased under the proposed authority is 10,895,662 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company at 1 August 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice). The price paid for Ordinary Shares will not be less than the nominal value. The price paid will not be more than the higher of 5% above the average of the middle-market quotation of the Company's Ordinary Shares as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days preceding the day on which the shares are purchased and an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an ordinary share and the highest current independent bid for an ordinary share on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out.
As at 1 August 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice), the Company did not hold any Ordinary Shares in treasury and there were no warrants over the Company's Ordinary Shares outstanding. As at 21 July 2024, there were 14,045,786 options to subscribe over the Company's Ordinary Shares outstanding. The proportion of ISC that they represented at that time was 12.9% and the proportion of ISC that they will represent if the full authority to purchase shares (existing and being sought) is used is 7.7%.
Resolution 15 will be proposed as a special resolution to provide the Company with the necessary authority to purchase its Ordinary Shares. If the resolution is passed, the authority will expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or, if earlier, 15 months from the passing of this resolution, unless renewed before that time.
Under the Act, the notice period required for all general meetings of the Company is 21 clear days. The Company's annual general meetings will always be held on at least 21 clear days' notice, but shareholders can approve a shorter notice period for other general meetings. Resolution 16, if passed, authorises the calling of general meetings other than an annual general meeting on not less than 14 clear days' notice, and will be effective until the Company's next annual general meeting, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed. In order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice, the Company must make a means of electronic voting available to all shareholders for that meeting. The flexibility offered by this resolution will be used where, taking into account the circumstances and noting the recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Directors consider this appropriate in relation to the business to be considered at the meeting and in the interests of the Company and shareholders as a whole.
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