AGM Information • Mar 12, 2020
AGM 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 (Nos. 1 to 3) 2007 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.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Kingspan Group plc to be held on Friday 1 May 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at The InterContinental Hotel Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 is set out in this document.
12 March 2020
I enclose for your attention Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Kingspan Group plc, and invite you to join me on Friday 1 May 2020 at The InterContinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 at 10:00 a.m.
The resolutions to be proposed at the forthcoming AGM are set out on pages 3-7 of this Notice, with further explanatory notes set out on pages 8-11.
Kingspan had another record year in 2019, with revenue of €4.7bn and trading profits of €497m, up 7% and 12% on prior year respectively. For further details, I would encourage all Shareholders to read the Company's Business & Strategic Review for 2019 and the financial statements and directors' report which are contained in the Annual Report, all of which are available on www.kingspan.com. Accordingly the Board is pleased to recommend a final dividend of 33.5 cent per share which, if approved at the Annual General Meeting, will give a total dividend for the year of 46.5 cent.
At this year's AGM, all of your Board will retire and offer themselves for re-election by the Shareholders. A brief biography of each of the directors is set out in the notes to the resolutions. 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.
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 other items of special business at the AGM (Resolutions 6 to 11) relate to the share capital of the Company and the renewal of authorities previously given for a further 12 month period, and renewal of authority to convene certain general meetings on 14 clear days' notice. These are matters which are now 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 in the general notes to this circular. 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,
Eugene Murtagh Chairman
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Kingspan Group plc will be held at The InterContinental Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 at 10:00 a.m. on Friday 1 May 2020 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 2019.
To declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 of 33.5 cent per share.
To authorise the directors to fix the remuneration of the auditors for the year ending 31 December 2020.
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 2019.
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 €7,847,692. 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 1 August 2021 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 6, 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 6 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 1 August 2021 (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 6, 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 7, 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 6 above as if subsection (1) of the said Section 1022 did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be:
most recently published by the UK Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this notice,
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 1 August 2021 (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:
independent bid on the Irish Stock Exchange (trading as Euronext Dublin) at
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:
(3) if there shall not be any dealing reported for the day, the average of the closing bid and offer prices for the day;
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 9, 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:
(a) the maximum price at which a Treasury Share may be re-allotted off-market shall be an amount equal to 120% of the Appropriate Price; and
(b) the minimum price at which a Treasury Share may be re-allotted off-market shall be the nominal value of the share where such share is re-allotted under an employees' share scheme (as defined by Section 64 of the Companies Act 2014) operated by the Company and, in all other cases, shall be an amount equal to 95% of the Appropriate Price.
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 ((1), (2) or (3) 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.
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 2019. 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 2019 of 33.5 cent per share. If approved, the final dividend will be paid (subject to Irish withholding tax rules) on 7 May 2020 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 27 March 2020.
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.
| Geoff Doherty | Geoff Doherty is the Group Chief Financial Officer. He joined the Group, and was appointed to the Board, in January 2011. |
|---|---|
| (Age 48) Ireland |
Key skills & experience: Prior to joining Kingspan Geoff was the Chief Financial Officer of Greencore Group plc and Chief Executive of its property and agribusiness activities. He is a qualified chartered accountant, with extensive experience of capital markets and financial management in an international manufacturing environment. |
| Russell Shiels | Russell Shiels is President of Kingspan's Insulated Panels business in the Americas as well as Kingspan's global Data & Flooring business. He joined the Board in |
| (Age 58) | December 1996. |
| United States | Key skills & experience: Russell has experience in many of the Group's key businesses, |
of America
and was previously Managing Director of the Group's Building Components and Raised Access Floors businesses in the UK. He brings to the Board his particular knowledge of the building envelope market in the Americas, as well as his understanding of the office and datacentre market globally.
(Age 63) United Kingdom Peter Wilson is Managing Director of the Group's global Insulation Boards business. He was appointed to the Board in February 2003. Key skills & experience: Peter has been with the Group since 1981, and has led the Insulation Boards division since 2001. He has unrivalled knowledge and experience of the global insulation industry, gained over almost 40 years' in the business.
Gilbert McCarthy
(Age 48) Ireland
Gilbert McCarthy is Managing Director of the Group's Insulated Panels businesses in the UK, Ireland, Western Europe, Middle East and Australasia. He was appointed to
Key skills & experience: Gilbert joined the Group in 1998, and has held a number of senior management positions including managing director of the Off-site division and general manager of the Insulation Boards business. He brings to the Board his extensive knowledge of the building envelope industry, in particular in
| Linda Hickey | |
|---|---|
| Senior Independent Director. | |
| (Age 58) | |
| Ireland | |
| Independent | |
Key skills & experience: Linda is a registered stockbroker and was formerly the Head of Corporate Broking at Goodbody Capital Markets where she worked closely with multi-national corporates and the investor community. Previous experience includes working at NCB Stockbrokers and Merrill Lynch. Her considerable knowledge and experience of capital markets and corporate governance provide important insights to the Board. Qualifications: B.B.S. External appointments: Chair of the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, and non-executive director of Cairn Homes plc.
Michael Cawley
(Age 65) Ireland Independent
Key skills & experience: Michael is a chartered accountant, and was formerly Chief Operating Officer & Deputy Chief Executive of Ryanair. His extensive international financial and business experience as well as his role on other audit committees are an asset to the Board and to the Audit Committee. Qualifications: B. Comm., F.C.A. External appointments: Chairman of Hostelworld Group plc, and non-executive director of Flutter Entertainment plc and Ryanair Holdings plc.
John Cronin
(Age 60) Ireland Independent John Cronin was appointed to the Board in May 2014. Key skills & experience: John is a qualified solicitor, and partner and former chairman of McCann FitzGerald. He has more than 30 years' experience in corporate, banking, structured finance and capital markets matters. He is a member of the International Bar Association, and is a past President of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. His valuable legal, corporate governance and capital markets experience brings a unique perspective to the Board. Qualifications: B.A. (Mod) Legal Science, Solicitor in Ireland and England & Wales. External appointments: Non -executive director of
The Dublin Theatre Festival.
(Age 55) Australia Independent Bruce McLennan was appointed to the Board in June 2015. Key skills & experience: Bruce is Managing Director and Co-Head of Advisory at Gresham Advisory Partners Limited. He is also a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, and a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. He brings to the Board over 30 years' experience in investment banking, and a broad knowledge of international capital markets and strategic and corporate planning. Qualifications: B.Bus, M. Comm. External appointments: Member of the Australian Government Takeovers Panel.
Ireland
| Eugene Murtagh (Age 77) Ireland |
Eugene Murtagh is the non-executive Chairman of the Group. Key skills & experience: Eugene founded the Kingspan business in 1965 and, as CEO until 2005, he led its growth and development to become an international market leader. As Chairman, he sets the tone at the top, developing and embedding values. He has an unrivalled understanding of the Group, its business and its ethos, and demonstates outstanding leadership and governance skills. |
|
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
| Gene M. Murtagh | Gene M. Murtagh is the Group Chief Executive Officer. He was appointed to the |
(Age 48) Board in November 1999. Key skills & experience: Gene joined the Group in 1993 and was appointed CEO in 2005. He was previously the Chief Operating Officer from 2003 to 2005, and prior to that he was managing director of the Group's Insulated Panel business and of the Water & Energy business. He leads the development of the Group's strategy and has a deep knowledge of all of the Group's businesses and the wider construction materials industry.
| Dr Jost Massenberg (Age 63) Germany Independent |
Jost Massenberg was appointed to the Board in February 2018. Key skills & experience: Jost was Chief Executive Officer of Benteler Distribution International GmbH, and was formerly the Chief Sales Officer and a member of the executive board of ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG. His more than 30 years' industry experience in European steel and major manufacturing businesses are an enormous benefit to the Board. Qualifications: PhD Business Admin. External appointments: Chairman of VTG Aktiengesellschaft, and a Non-executive director in a number of large private companies. |
|---|---|
| Anne Heraty | Anne Heraty was appointed to the Board in August 2019. Key skills & experience: Anne is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cpl |
| (Age 59) Ireland Independent |
Resources plc. She has over 20 years' experience running an international recruitment and outsourcing business and is currently on the Board of IBEC, having previously held a number of other non-executive directorships, and brings this broad business and entrepreneurial experience to the Board. Qualifications: B.A. in Mathematics & Economics. External appointments: Cpl Resources plc. |
The directors are seeking to renew their authority to fix the remuneration of the auditors for the year ending 31 December 2020.
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 the Company's commitment to best corporate governance practice.
Shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2021, the usual annual authority of the directors to allot shares in the Company up to an aggregate amount equal to approximately 33 ⅓% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 24 February 2020 (being the latest practicable date prior to publishing this notice). The Company holds 1,784,219 ordinary shares in treasury representing 0.99% 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 2021, the power of the directors to dis-apply the statutory pre-emption provisions applying to issues of ordinary shares 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 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, shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2021, the directors' authority, in certain limited circumstances, to allot equity securities for cash without first being required to offer such shares to the existing shareholders in accordance with statutory preemption provisions.
The disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of a further 5% of the Company's issued share capital in addition to the power proposed to be granted pursuant to Resolution 7 reflects the guidance from the UK Pre-Emption Group's revised Statement of Principles published on 12 March 2015 (the Statement of Principles) and the Guidance issued by the Pre-Emption Group on 5 May 2016. Apart from in connection with rights issues and other pre-emptive offers, the power will be limited to the allotment of equity securities for cash up to an aggregate of 5% of the nominal value of the Company's issued ordinary share capital provided that the power can only be used in connection with the financing or refinancing of an acquisition or specified capital investment (within the meaning of the 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.
Shareholders are being asked to provide, until the Annual General Meeting in 2021, 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 24 February 2020 (being the latest practicable date prior to publishing this notice), options to subscribe for 1,949,701 ordinary shares, representing approximately 1.08% 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 1.20% 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 ordinawry 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 2021, 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.
The ordinary resolutions require a simple majority of votes cast by shareholders voting in person or by proxy to be passed. The special resolutions require a majority of not less than 75% of votes cast by those who vote either in person or by proxy to be passed.
In addition to the above, the request must be made in accordance with one of the followingways:
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.
In addition to the above, the request must be made in accordance with one of the following ways:
Any requested item must not be defamatory of any person.

www.kingspan.com
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