Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Aug 15, 2024
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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Notice of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of Kainos Group plc, to be held at Kainos House, 4-6 Upper Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NT on Tuesday 24 September 2024 at 10:30 a.m., is set out in this document.
Whether or not you propose to attend the meeting, please complete and submit a proxy appointment in accordance with the notes to this Notice of Annual General Meeting. To be valid, the proxy appointment must be received no later than 10:30 a.m. on Friday 20 September 2024.
Appointment of a proxy will not prevent shareholders from attending and voting in person at the 2024 Annual General Meeting should they wish to do so.
A proxy may be appointed and votes cast electronically via www.signalshares.com or through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service (details of which are set out in notes 3 and 4 in the notes to this Notice of Annual General Meeting). If you are an institutional investor you may also be able to appoint a proxy electronically via the Proxymity platform, a process which has been agreed by the Company and approved by the Registrar. For further information regarding Proxymity, please go to www.proxymity.io (refer to note 5 in the notes to this Notice of Annual General Meeting).
The Board considers the proposed resolutions as set out in this Notice of Annual General Meeting are likely to promote the success of the Company and are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. The Directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings (save in respect of matters in which they are themselves interested) which amount in aggregate to 5,027,062 shares representing approximately 3.99% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of the Company as of 1 August 2024.
If you require assistance, please contact Link Group, whose contact details are set out in this document.
If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own personal financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if you are not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all of your shares, please pass this document and any other documents that accompany it as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer so that they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares. If you have sold or otherwise transferred only part of your holding, you should retain this document and its enclosures.
Notice is hereby given that the ninth Annual General Meeting of Kainos Group plc (the Company) will be held at Kainos House, 4-6 Upper Crescent, Belfast, on Tuesday 24 September 2024 at 10:30 a.m. for the following purposes:
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions as Ordinary Resolutions:
under, such rights issue up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £419,472.38 (such amount to be reduced by any shares allotted or rights granted under sub-paragraph (a) above),
provided that these authorities replace any existing authorities vested in the Directors on the date of this Notice of Annual General Meeting to allot shares and/ or grant rights that remain unexercised at the commencement of the 2024 Annual General Meeting and unless renewed or revoked, shall expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company and the close of business on 30 September 2025 but so as to enable the Company before such date to make offers or agreements which would or might require shares to be allotted and/or rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares and/or grant rights in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the authorities conferred under this resolution had not expired.
To consider, and if thought fit, pass the following resolutions as Special Resolutions:
(b) otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £62,920.86,
save that the Company may, before expiry of those powers, 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 (and sell treasury shares) pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if the powers had not expired.
save that the Company may, before expiry of those powers, make an offer or agreement which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) pursuant to any such offer or agreement as if such powers had not expired.
Registered office: By order of the Board:
Kainos Group plc Gráinne Burns 2nd Floor Company Secretary 21 Farringdon Road 15 August 2024 London EC1M 3HA
other means. The time of the message's receipt will be taken to be when (as determined by the timestamp applied by the CREST Applications Host) the issuer's agent is first able to retrieve it by enquiry through the CREST system in the prescribed manner. Euroclear does not make available special procedures in the CREST system for transmitting any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations apply in relation to the input of CREST proxy appointment instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or a CREST sponsored member or has appointed any voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as is necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should take into account the provisions of the CREST Manual concerning timings as well as its section on "Practical limitations of the system". In certain circumstances the Company may, in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 or the CREST Manual, treat a CREST proxy appointment instruction as invalid.
FREEPOST SAS, Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL.
Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, United Kingdom LS1 4DL.
The Companies Act 2006 (the Act) requires the directors of a public company to lay before the company in general meeting copies of the directors' report, the independent auditor's report and the audited financial statements of the company in respect of each financial year. The Company proposes, as an ordinary resolution, a resolution to receive its audited accounts and reports for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 (the 2024 Annual Report).
In accordance with the Act, shareholders are invited to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The Directors' Remuneration Report is set out in the 2024 Annual Report on pages 76 to 92. The vote on this resolution is advisory only and the Directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on its being passed. For the purposes of this resolution, the Directors' Remuneration Report does not include the Directors' Remuneration Policy (which is set out on pages 79 to 83 of the 2024 Annual Report).
The Directors are recommending payment of a final dividend for the financial year ended 31 March 2024 of 19.1 pence per ordinary share. If approved by ordinary resolution of the shareholders, the dividend will be payable on 25 October 2024 to shareholders on the register of members as at the close of business on 4 October 2024.
Resolutions 4 to 8 relate to the retirement and subsequent re-election of the Company's Directors. Under Article 95 of the Company's Articles of Association, one-third of the Directors shall retire at the Annual General Meeting held in the third calendar year following the year in which they were elected or last re-elected but, unless otherwise agreed, shall be eligible for re-election. Notwithstanding the requirements prescribed by the Company's Articles of Association, the Board has agreed that in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code (the Code), the entire Board will offer themselves for re-election at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and separate resolutions will be proposed for each.
Following completion of the Company's annual board evaluation exercise, it is the view of the Board that the Executive and Non-Executive Directors offering themselves for re-election continue to perform effectively, make a positive contribution and demonstrate commitment to their roles and that it is appropriate for them to continue to serve as Directors of the Company. The Board accordingly supports the re-election of those Directors. Taking into account the independence criteria set out in the Code, the Board considers Katie Davis, Rosaleen Blair and James Kidd to be independent in character and judgement.
Further information relating to the experience, skills and background of each of the Directors standing for election or re-election is set out in Appendix 2.
As announced on 20 May 2024, Tom Burnet and Andy Malpass will both complete their term on the Board at the conclusion of this year's AGM and will not be standing for re-election. Following the AGM, Rosaleen Blair will be appointed as the new Board Chair.
Copies of the contracts of service between the Directors and the Company are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during usual business hours on each business day and at the place of the AGM on Tuesday 24 September 2024 from 10:00 a.m. until the end of the meeting.
The Company is required to appoint or re-appoint an auditor at each Annual General Meeting at which its audited accounts and reports are presented to shareholders. The Audit Committee has recommended to the Board, and resolution 9 therefore proposes, the re-appointment of KPMG as auditor (to hold office until the next such meeting). The Audit Committee has confirmed to the Board that its recommendation is free from third party influence, and that no restrictive contractual provisions have been imposed on the Company limiting the choice of auditor. Resolution 10 authorises the Audit Committee to determine KPMG's remuneration.
The Directors currently have a general authority to allot new shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any securities into, shares. This authority is, however, due to expire at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and the Board would like to renew it to provide the Directors with flexibility to allot new shares and grant rights up until the Company's next Annual General Meeting within the limits prescribed by the Investment Association.
The Investment Association's guidelines on directors' allotment authority state that the Association's members will regard as routine any proposal at a general meeting to seek a general authority to allot an amount up to two-thirds of the existing share capital, provided that any amount in excess of one-third of the existing share capital is applied to fully pre-emptive rights issues only.
Accordingly, if passed, this resolution will authorise the Directors to allot (or grant rights over) new shares in the Company (i) in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount of £419,472.38 (representing approximately 66% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as of 1 August 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document)) (such amount being reduced by any shares allotted or rights granted under sub-paragraph (a) of the resolution); and (ii) in other situations up to an aggregate nominal amount of £209,736.19 (representing approximately 33% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as of 1 August 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document)) (such amount being reduced by the amount of any shares allotted or rights granted under sub-paragraph (b) of the resolution in excess of 33% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital).
In each case, the authority lasts until the close of business on 30 September 2025 or, if earlier, until the end of the next Annual General Meeting. These authorities succeed those granted in 2023.
The Directors have no current intention to exercise these authorities; however it is considered prudent to maintain the flexibility that these authorities provide (especially in case appropriate opportunities arise). If they do exercise these authorities, the Directors intend to follow best practice regarding their use, as recommended by the Investment Association.
As of 1 August 2024, the Company did not hold any treasury shares.
Resolutions 12 and 13 are special resolutions which, if passed, will disapply statutory pre-emption rights and enable the Directors to allot shares in the Company, or to sell any shares out of treasury, for cash, without first offering those shares to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings.
The proposed resolutions renew and increase the powers which were granted at last year's Annual General Meeting (and which will expire at the 2024 Annual General Meeting) to reflect the modified Statement of Principles published by the Pre-Emption Group in November 2022. These provide that a company may seek power to allot on a non-pre-emptive basis for cash shares in any one year representing: (i) no more than 10% of the company's issued ordinary share capital in any one year; and (ii) no more than an additional 10% of the company's issued ordinary share capital provided that such additional power is only used in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment.
In line with best practice the Company has structured its pre-emption disapplication request as two separate resolutions.
If resolution 12 is passed, it will permit the Directors to allot ordinary shares on a non-pre-emptive basis and for cash both in connection with a rights issue or similar pre-emptive issue and, otherwise than in connection with any such issue, up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £62,920.86. This amount represents not more than 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) as of 1 August 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document). This resolution will permit the Directors to allot any such shares for cash in any circumstances (whether or not in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment).
If resolution 13 is passed, it will allow the Directors an additional power to allot ordinary shares on a non-preemptive basis and for cash up to a further maximum aggregate nominal amount of £62,920.86. This amount represents not more than 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) as of 1 August 2024 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document). The Directors shall use any power conferred by resolution 13 only in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment (of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights published by the Pre-Emption Group) which is announced contemporaneously with the issue, or which has taken place in the preceding six-month period and is disclosed in the announcement at the time.
As of 1 August 2024, the Company does not currently hold any shares in treasury.
The Directors do not have any intention at the present time of exercising the power proposed to be granted under Resolutions 12 and 13. This power would be used only if considered to be in the best interest of the shareholders.
This special resolution, if passed, will authorise the Company to make market purchases of its own ordinary shares up until the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 September 2025, subject to specific conditions relating to price and volume. The maximum number of ordinary shares which may be purchased under this authority is 12,584,171, representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as of 1 August 2024 (being the latest date prior to publication of this document).
The Company's exercise of this authority is subject to the upper and lower limits on the price payable set out in the resolution.
The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority but wish to have the flexibility to do so in the future. Shares would only be purchased if the Directors believed that to do so would result in an improvement in earnings per share and would be in the best interests of shareholders generally. Any purchases would be made through the London Stock Exchange and purchased shares would be cancelled (in which case the number of shares in issue would thereby be reduced) or, alternatively, held in treasury, depending on which course of action is considered by the Directors to be in the best interests of the shareholders at that time.
As of 1 August 2024, the total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares amounted to 2,454,652, which represents 1.95% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital at that date. The Company does not hold any treasury shares. If the authority being sought by resolution 18 were to be fully exercised, these options would represent 2.17% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) at that date.
This is a special resolution to allow the Company to call general meetings (other than Annual General Meetings) on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
The Company currently has the power to call a general meeting (other than an Annual General Meeting) on at least 14 days' notice to the shareholders and would like to preserve this ability. In order to do so, shareholders must first approve the calling of meetings on at least 14 days' notice. This resolution seeks such an approval. The approval will be effective until the Company's next Annual General Meeting. A minimum 14-day notice period would not be used as a matter of routine for such meetings, but only exceptionally where it is merited by the business of the meeting and is considered to be in the interests of shareholders as a whole.
Richard McCann (aged 58) Chief Financial Officer (CFO)/ Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Richard is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland and trained with Coopers & Lybrand, before moving into industry with Galen Holdings plc. Richard joined Galen as financial controller of a start-up subsidiary in the US and subsequently became Senior Vice President in charge of Corporate Finance, with responsibility for acquisitions and investor relations. He was Managing Director of two subsidiaries in the Almac Group, including a US subsidiary that provides software development services for pharmaceutical companies. Richard joined Kainos in 2011 and was appointed to the Board on the Company's admission to the market on 10 July 2015.
Russell joined Kainos on 21 June 1999, as a trainee software engineer, before embarking on a series of leadership roles. Russell led the Kainos Services division from 2013, growing the division from 35 people to the global team of over 1,500 people it is today, delivering digital transformation for government, healthcare, and commercial sector organizations.
Russell was appointed CEO of Kainos on 21 September 2023.
Russell studied Electrical Engineering at Queen's University Belfast and is a Chartered Engineer. He is an alumnus of Stanford Graduate School of Business and Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.
Katie holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana. She is an experienced leader, with a strong track record for delivery in both the public and private sectors. She joined Accenture's Chicago office in 1987, moving to London in 1988 and becoming a partner in Accenture's Customer Relationship Management practice in 2000.
In 2005, Katie joined the Cabinet Office, with responsibility for increasing the capacity and capability of UK central government and the wider public sector, to deliver large-scale IT-enabled business change. She subsequently held several senior positions in the Cabinet Office, Home Office, Department of Health and NHS. In 2012, Katie was named one of the 25 most influential women in IT by Computer Weekly.
Katie was appointed to the Board on 28 November 2019. She is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee and Nominations Committee.
Independent Non-Executive Director
Rosaleen is the founder and Chair of AMS, an outsourcing and consulting business, specialising in the global workforce solutions industry. She created the company in 1996 with the ambition of transforming the way blue-chip multinationals attract, engage, and retain top talent. Rosaleen was CEO of AMS for 23 years, leading the business from a start-up to a global business working in partnership with clients such as Deloitte, HSBC, Novo Nordisk, Rolls-Royce, and Santander. AMS has 11,000 employees and operates in 100 countries.
Rosaleen is a serial entrepreneur and adviser to numerous companies. She is also the Chair of Everywoman, an organisation dedicated to the advancement of women in business. Rosaleen is involved in several not-for-profit initiatives, notably serving as Chair of the London Irish Centre and as an Enterprise Fellow of The Prince's Trust. She was the returning Chair of EY's World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards in 2022. Rosaleen is recognised as an industry leader and entrepreneur, winning numerous awards including Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year (2007) and EY London Entrepreneur of the Year (2006). She was awarded a CBE in the 2017 New Year's Honours list for services to business and recruitment.
Rosaleen was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2021. She acts as Deputy Chair, and is a member of the Nominations Committee, Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee.
James is a Chartered Accountant and joined AVEVA in 2004. Prior to his appointment to the Board, James held several senior finance roles within the AVEVA Group and was appointed CFO in 2011.
James was Chief Executive Officer from January 2017 to February 2018, leading the merger with the Schneider Electric industrial software business before being appointed Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer of the enlarged AVEVA Group. During his time on the board, AVEVA grew to over 6,500 people globally, with revenues of £1.2 billion. James stepped down from AVEVA in March 2023 following the acquisition of the company by Schneider Electric at an enterprise valuation of £10.6 billion. Prior to joining AVEVA, James worked for Arthur Andersen and Deloitte, serving technology clients in both transactional and audit engagements.
James was appointed to the Board on 1 October 2023. He is the chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.
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