Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Apr 2, 2020
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you are recommended to obtain your own personal financial advice immediately from an independent professional adviser or such other person authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Morgan Sindall Group plc, please pass this document together with the accompanying documents to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer so they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares.
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 00521970)
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of Morgan Sindall Group plc, to be held at the offices of Morgan Sindall Group plc, Kent House, 14-17 Market Place, London W1W 8AJ on Thursday 7 May 2020 at 10.00am, is set out on pages 6 to 8 of this circular.
Please complete and submit a proxy form in accordance with the instructions printed on the form and the notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting set out on pages 8 to 10. To be valid, the proxy form must be received at the address specified in the notes by 10.00am on Tuesday 5 May 2020.
(the 'Company') (incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 00521970)
Kent House 14–17 Market Place London W1W 8AJ
25 March 2020
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our Annual General Meeting ('AGM'), which will be taking place at 10.00am on Thursday 7 May 2020 at our registered office. As explained in our announcement of 25 March 2020, in light of the uncertainty caused by the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Board no longer considers it prudent to propose a final dividend. Accordingly, a resolution to declare a final dividend will not be proposed at the AGM.
The purpose of this letter is to explain certain elements of the business to be considered at the AGM. Resolutions 1 to 14 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of these resolutions to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 15 to 18 will be proposed as special resolutions. For each of these resolutions to be passed, at least three quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The notice convening the AGM (the 'Notice') is set out on pages 6 to 8 of this document and contains the resolutions dealing with the business of the meeting.
The directors of the Company are required to lay the report and accounts of the Company before the shareholders each year at the AGM. The Company's 2019 annual report and accounts (the 'Annual Report') comprises the audited financial statements, the auditor's report, the directors' and corporate governance report, the strategic report and the remuneration report.
The Company's articles of association require each director to submit themselves for election by shareholders at the first AGM after his or her appointment, and for re-election every three years thereafter. In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, all of the remaining directors will offer themselves for re-election at the AGM irrespective of their date of appointment and length of service on the Board. Jen Tippin was appointed to the Board on 15 January 2020, such appointment to take effect from 1 March 2020, and will stand for election by shareholders as this is the first AGM following her appointment. Separate resolutions will be proposed for each of the re-elections and for Jen Tippin's election.
In relation to the appointment of Jen Tippin, the Company considers that her extensive strategic and commercial experience will further broaden the expertise on the Board and will add valuable knowledge and insight to Board discussions. In relation to the re-appointment of the other non-executive directors, as described in the directors' and corporate governance report in the Annual Report, following the annual evaluation process the Board believes that the performance of each of the directors continues to be effective and that they demonstrate commitment to their roles, and recommends their re-election. The directors' biographies are set out on pages 40 and 41 of the Annual Report and include details of the skills, competencies and experience of each director. The directors' balance of knowledge and skills, combined with their breadth of business experience, makes a significant contribution to the effective functioning of the Board and is, and continues to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success.
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 (the 'Act'), the Company is required to offer a binding vote on the Company's forward-looking directors' remuneration policy (the 'Policy') at least once every three years; and a separate advisory vote on the implementation of the Company's existing remuneration policy (the directors' remuneration report) each year.
The Policy which is currently in force was approved by shareholders at the AGM held in May 2017. The Policy has been reviewed in the light of current best practice and with the aim of ensuring that our remuneration arrangements continue to support the Company's strategy and motivate and retain talent. Reflecting that many of the recommendations of the latest UK Corporate Governance Code are already incorporated in the existing Policy, and having consulted with the Company's major shareholders and prominent proxy agencies, the Company is proposing only minor amendments, as highlighted below:
That new executive appointees to the Board receive pension contributions in line with the wider employee population. No changes have been made at this stage to pension contributions for existing executive directors which, at 10% of salary, are the same as those available to the senior management population.
That directors be required to maintain a shareholding for up to two years after employment ceases. In year one, they will be required to hold shares up to the value of two times their basic salary and in year two to hold shares up to the value of their basic salary.
The Company proposes resolution 9 as an ordinary resolution to approve the revised Policy contained in the directors' remuneration report as set out on pages 72 to 80 of the Annual Report. If and when approved by shareholders, the new Policy will be binding on the Company from the 2020 AGM, and the directors will only be able to make remuneration payments in accordance with it.
In addition, resolution 10 is an ordinary resolution to approve the remuneration report which is set out on pages 66 to 88 of the Annual Report, other than the part containing the Policy which is set out on pages 72 to 80. The remuneration report discloses how the Company's existing remuneration policy was implemented during 2019. The vote on this resolution is advisory only and the directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on the resolution being passed.
The Company is required to appoint an auditor at each general meeting at which accounts are laid to serve until the next such meeting. Deloitte LLP has indicated its willingness to continue in office and the Board proposes by resolution 11 that Deloitte LLP be re-appointed as auditor of the Company. Resolution 12 authorises the directors to negotiate and agree the remuneration of the auditor.
This resolution will renew the authority given at last year's AGM, which is due to expire at the 2020 AGM. Under sections 366 and 367 of the Act, the Company is required to seek shareholders' authority to make any political donations and/or incur political expenditure in the UK or any member state of the European Union.
Although the Company does not make, and does not intend to make, donations to political parties and/or to independent election candidates within the normal meaning of that expression, the legislation is very broadly drafted and may catch activities such as: funding seminars and other functions to which politicians are invited; supporting certain bodies involved in policy review and law reform; and matching employees' donations to certain charities.
Therefore, in accordance with current best practice, the directors have decided to propose an ordinary resolution to authorise the Company and its subsidiaries to make certain types of political donations and/or expenditure, as more particularly described in the resolution, up to an aggregate amount of £25,000. This authority shall expire at the conclusion of next year's AGM, or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier.
The directors currently have authority to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares in the Company. This authority is due to lapse at our 2020 AGM. The Board is seeking by this ordinary resolution to renew the directors' authority to allot shares in the capital of the Company in accordance with section 551 of the Act. Paragraph (a) of this resolution would give directors the authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £758,213.70 (representing 15,164,274 shares). This amount represents approximately one third of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice.
In line with guidance issued by The Investment Association (the 'IA'), paragraph (b) of this resolution would give the directors the authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares in connection with a rights issue, up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £1,516,427.45 (representing 30,328,549 shares), as reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued under paragraph (a) of this resolution. This amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two thirds of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice.
The authorities sought under this resolution, if passed, will expire at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier. The directors currently have no intention of issuing further shares or granting rights over shares other than in connection with the Company's employee share option and share incentive schemes. However, if the directors do exercise the authority granted by the resolution, the directors intend to follow the IA's recommendations concerning its use.
As at 9 March 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice, the Company held no shares in treasury.
This is a special resolution which, if approved, will give the directors the authority to allot equity securities (and/or sell any shares which the Company elects to hold in treasury) for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings. Equity securities include ordinary shares in the Company.
This authority would be limited to allotments or sales in connection with pre-emptive offers or otherwise up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £113,732.05 (representing 2,274,641 shares). This maximum aggregate nominal amount represents approximately 5% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice.
The directors also confirm their intention to follow the provisions of the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles issued in March 2015 (the 'Statement of Principles') regarding cumulative usage of authorities within a rolling three-year period, where the Statement of Principles provides that (except in relation to an issue pursuant to the additional 5% referred to in the explanatory note to resolution 16 below) no more than 7.5% of the issued ordinary share capital should be issued for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis during any rolling three-year period without prior consultation with shareholders.
The authority sought under this resolution will expire at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier.
The Statement of Principles states that, in addition to the general disapplication of pre-emption rights up to a maximum equal to 5% of the total issued ordinary share capital, as proposed in resolution 15, the Pre-Emption Group is supportive of extending the general disapplication authority for certain purposes. In line with the Statement of Principles, the Company is therefore proposing a separate special resolution seeking approval for the disapplication of pre-emption rights up to an additional maximum aggregate nominal amount of £113,732.05 (representing 2,274,641 shares), which represents approximately 5% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice. The maximum nominal value of equity securities which could be allotted, if both the general disapplication authority and the additional disapplication authority were used, would be £227,464.10 (representing 4,549,282 shares) which represents approximately 10% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2020, being the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice.
The directors confirm their intention that the additional authority (which represents approximately 5% of the total issued share capital of the Company) will only be used to fund one or more acquisitions or specified capital investments which are announced contemporaneously with the relevant issue, as referred to in the Statement of Principles. While the directors have no present intention of exercising this disapplication authority, the Board considers that the additional authority sought at this year's AGM will benefit the Company and its shareholders generally since there may be occasions in the future when the directors need the flexibility to finance acquisitions or capital investments by issuing shares for cash without a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders.
The authority sought under this resolution will expire at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier.
A special resolution will be proposed to authorise the Company to buy back its shares in the market, either for cancellation or to be held in treasury. There are a number of reasons why the directors may, in the future, consider a buy-back of shares to be in the best interests of the Company and of its shareholders generally. These may include where the directors: (i) expect that such a buy-back would result in an increase in earnings per share; (ii) consider that the Company has excess cash; and/or (iii) determine that it is appropriate to increase the Company's gearing or its share liquidity. The directors therefore consider it prudent for the Company to have the flexibility to effect market purchases of its own shares in the future. The directors will exercise this authority only if, having due regard to the interests of longterm shareholders, they consider that to do so would be in the best interests of the Company, and of its shareholders, and (among other things) expect such purchase to result in an increase in earnings per share. In addition, the directors confirm that the decision to propose this authority for approval at the AGM has been taken by the full Board, a majority of whom are non-executive directors who do not participate in the Company's share plans and whose interest in the Company's shares is therefore unaffected by the earnings per share metric. The Company may either retain any of its own shares which it has purchased as treasury shares with a view to possible re-issue at a future date, use them to satisfy awards under employee share plans or cancel them. Holding the shares as treasury shares gives management the ability to re-issue them quickly and cost-effectively and would provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base.
Under the terms of this resolution, the Company will be generally authorised to make market purchases of up to 4,549,282 shares with an aggregate nominal value of £227,464.10, representing approximately 10% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2020, the latest practicable date prior to the date of this Notice. The maximum price payable per share will be based on the market price of a share as set out in more detail in the resolution itself. The minimum price payable per share, exclusive of expenses, is its nominal value.
As at 9 March 2020, the number of outstanding options to subscribe for shares granted by the Company was 2,072,740. This figure represents 4.56% of the total issued share capital of the Company at that date and would, assuming no further shares are issued, represent 5.69% of the total issued share capital if full authority to purchase shares (under the existing authority and that sought at the AGM) were used.
The Company has not undertaken any purchases of its own shares since the date of the last AGM, but the renewal of the authority is sought to preserve flexibility. The directors have no present intention of exercising this authority, which will expire at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier.
As at 9 March 2020, being the last practicable date prior to the date of this Notice, no shares had been purchased and held as treasury shares or cancelled under the existing authority.
Under the Act, the notice period required for general meetings of the Company is 21 days unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period (which cannot, however, be less than 14 clear days). AGMs are still required to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice. Approval for a shorter notice period was sought and received from shareholders at the last AGM and, to preserve this ability, Resolution 18 seeks renewal of the approval for a notice period of 14 days to apply to general meetings. The shorter notice period will not be used as a matter of routine but only where clear flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be to the advantage of shareholders as a whole. If used, an electronic voting facility will be provided.
The approval will be effective until the conclusion of the Company's next AGM, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed, or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier.
As a result of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and in line with latest Government advice, the Board is adopting a number of changes to the traditional running of the Company's AGM. The Company's attendance in person will be limited to satisfy the requirements of a quorum and only the formal business set out in the Notice will be considered at the AGM. In order to reduce the risk of infection we are asking shareholders to not attend the meeting which will end immediately following the formal business. Any shareholders who do attend will not be admitted.
We encourage shareholders to appoint the Chair as their proxy (either electronically or by post) with their voting instructions rather than attend the AGM in person. All resolutions at the AGM will be put to shareholders by way of a poll rather than a show of hands. Please vote online at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy or by filling in the proxy form sent with this Notice and returning it by post to the Company's registrars as soon as possible. The registrars must receive your proxy form by 10.00am on Tuesday 5 May 2020. For instructions on proxy voting, please see the notes to the Notice for information on pages 8 to 10.
We strongly encourage shareholders to participate in the AGM by submitting any questions on the business of the AGM and resolutions in advance by e-mail to [email protected] (marked for the attention of the Company Secretary). We will publish these questions and answers on our website after the meeting.
The Board will keep the situation under review and will advise any further necessary changes required to the AGM via regulatory announcement and on our website.
The directors consider that all the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are likely to promote the success of the Company and are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole, and accordingly, unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions, as the directors themselves intend to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings.
Yours faithfully
Michael Findlay Chair
The 2020 AGM of Morgan Sindall Group plc (the 'Company') will be held at 10.00am on Thursday 7 May 2020 at the Company's registered office at Kent House, 14-17 Market Place, London W1W 8AJ to transact the business set out below. You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolutions below. Resolutions 15 to 18 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
(as such terms are defined in sections 363 to 365 of the Act) provided that the aggregate amount of political donations made or political expenditure incurred by the Company and its subsidiaries shall not exceed £25,000 during the period beginning with the date of the passing of this resolution and ending at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier.
and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, any legal, regulatory or practical problems, in, or under the laws of, any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or exchange or any other matter,
provided that (unless revoked, varied or renewed) such authority shall apply until the end of the Company's next AGM, or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier, but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares to be granted after the authority ends and the Board may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.
and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, any legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or exchange or any other matter; and
(b) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (a) of resolution 14 and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares, to the allotment of equity securities and/or sale of treasury shares (otherwise than under paragraph (a) above) up to a nominal amount of £113,732.05,
such power to apply until the end of the Company's next AGM, or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier, but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and/or treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board may allot equity securities (and/or sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.
such power to apply until the end of the Company's next AGM, or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier, but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and/or treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the directors may allot equity securities (and/or sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
such authority to apply until the end of the Company's next AGM, or close of business on 7 August 2021, whichever is earlier, but during this period the Company may enter into a contract to purchase Ordinary Shares, which would, or might, be completed or executed wholly or partly after the authority ends and the Company may purchase Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract as if the authority had not ended.
By order of the Board
Company Secretary 25 March 2020
In the light of recent government advice, if you wish to inspect these documents, please contact the Company Secretary at [email protected] and we will make suitable arrangements.
Kent House 14–17 Market Place London W1W 8AJ 020 7307 9200 www.morgansindall.com
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