Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Jun 3, 2024
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO WHAT ACTION TO TAKE YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER WHO, IF YOU ARE TAKING ADVICE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, IS AUTHORISED UNDER THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 OR, IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, ANOTHER APPROPRIATELY AUTHORISED INDEPENDENT ADVISER.
IF YOU HAVE RECENTLY SOLD OR TRANSFERRED ALL OF YOUR SHARES IN ASSURA PLC THEN THIS DOCUMENT AND ANY ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE PASSED TO THE PERSON THROUGH WHOM THE SALE OR TRANSFER WAS EFFECTED FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE PURCHASER OR TRANSFEREE.
(incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006 with registered number 9349441)
Ed Smith (Non-executive Chair) 3 Barrington Road Jonathan Murphy (CEO) Altrincham Jayne Cottam (CFO) Cheshire Jonathan Davies (Non-executive Director) WA14 1GY Louise Fowler (Non-executive Director) Sam Barrell (Non-executive Director) Emma Cariaga (Non-executive Director) Noel Gordon (Non-executive Director)
Directors: Registered office:
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our 2024 Annual General Meeting ("AGM"). The notice convening the AGM is set out on pages 4 to 6 and contains the resolutions dealing with the business of the AGM. The Explanatory Notes for all business of the AGM are set out on pages 11 to 14.
Shareholders will be able to watch the AGM over the online Investor Meet Company platform by registering in advance via the following link:
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 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.
A live broadcast of the AGM will be opened over the platform at 11am on Thursday 4 July 2024. Shareholders joining over the platform will be able to see and hear the AGM but will not be seen or heard by the Board. Shareholders wishing to vote at the AGM are strongly encouraged to do so by completing a Form of Proxy.
SHAREHOLDERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO VOTE AT THE MEETING OVER THE ONLINE PLATFORM.
The principal meeting location will be at Travers Smith, 10 Snow Hill, London EC1A 2AL. However, if it is not possible or advisable for the Board to attend the AGM together in person, the AGM will be held at the Chairman's private residence in Kent where two members will be in attendance to form the quorum with the Board of Directors attending via Microsoft Teams and professional advisers will not be in attendance.
The AGM will only address the formal matters contained in the Notice of Annual General Meeting.
The Board encourages shareholders to watch the Company's website and regulatory news services for any updates in relation to the Meeting that may need to be provided.
Social and environmental responsibility is an integral part of how we operate at Assura. This is reflected in our purpose: to BUILD for Health. This purpose and our refreshed ESG strategy 'The Bigger Picture' are showcased in this year's Annual Report. They encapsulate our commitment to supporting a Healthy Environment and Healthy Communities along with our continued approach to being a Healthy Business. We believe that placing sustainability at the heart of everything we do makes us a better business. Not only for our shareholders, but for our people, our customers and suppliers, the communities that our buildings serve and, ultimately, our largest stakeholder, our planet. Placing sustainability at the heart of our business helps us better identify the risks facing Assura and the growth opportunities that come from addressing them. It is simply good business and good for our business.
B Corp certification is an independent and internationally recognised responsible business framework which we have used to guide and validate our approach to ESG. Companies that receive B Corp certification are independently assessed and can evidence that they have met the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and accountability in balancing profit and purpose. They also demonstrate excellence in corporate governance. As part of our approach to ESG, we have completed the B Corp assessment and have exceeded the threshold score by an impressive margin. Subject to shareholder approval of the proposed amendments to the Articles, further explained below, we anticipate we will achieve B Corp certification by the end of July 2024.
Becoming a B Corp would formally codify our approach to stakeholder aligned governance in our business. We believe that this change will increase the resilience of the business as we move forward. By listening to, engaging with and factoring in diverse views from those within our business, and those from a broader set of external stakeholders, we will be able to grow with less friction and more support. This type of resilience is critical for the success of any business. Statistics from B Lab US & Canada state that during the 2008 financial crisis, B Corps were 64% more likely than other businesses of a similar size to make it through the economic downturn. A recent B Lab Global study found that a greater number of B Corps remained in operation during the COVID-19 pandemic than their non-B Corps counterparts.
B Corp certification also positions us well for those who look to partner with sustainably run businesses. From the UK government and the NHS, to investors and our employees, the demands on business to be better, provide Assura with unique opportunities to differentiate ourselves. Not only will B Corp status help us attract the best talent, but it will also help attract new investors looking for future fit businesses. It will additionally position us well for government procurement now and in the future.
In order to become a certified B Corp and meet the "legal requirement" required as part of the certification process, shareholders are being asked to approve a prescribed amendment to the Company's Articles as set out in Appendix 1.
The effect of this amendment is to change the legal framework that currently applies to the directors' duties and decision making by elevating consideration of the impact on society and the environment such that those matters, and stakeholder interests, are considered alongside shareholders' interests. Put simply, the proposed amendment permits our directors to respond comprehensively to all of the risks and the opportunities that our business faces, now, and in the future.
This amendment to the Articles is being proposed as a special resolution and in order to be passed, must be approved by a majority of not less than three-quarters of members or their proxies voting on the resolution. If passed, the amendment to the Articles would take effect immediately.
There are over 2000 B Corps in the UK and over 8200 B Corps globally. They form part of a fast-growing community reimagining business as a force for good. Being a B Corp is not, however, just a badge. It shows all of our stakeholders that we understand how to run our business for long term success in a fast-changing consumer, investment, and government landscape. Research from B Lab UK in 2021 shows B Corps are strong performers. Compared to traditional businesses, the 2021 data shows that B Corps have a faster growth in turnover (27% vs 5%) and employee headcount (14% vs 1%), greater levels of employee retention, engagement and diversity, higher levels of innovation and are more successful in securing equity finance (70% vs 56%). In an increasingly competitive landscape, the potential benefits of becoming a B Corp are clear.
We hope that you will support us on our continued approach to excellence in ESG and purposeful business. Supporting and formalising the mechanisms that will enable our directors to make better decisions ultimately will increase our purpose dividend and add value to our business.
Once again, voting on all resolutions to be proposed at the AGM will be by way of a poll as permitted by the Company's articles of association. All resolutions apart from resolutions 14 to 18 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. An ordinary resolution will be passed on a poll if it is passed by Shareholders representing a simple majority of the total voting rights of Shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote at the AGM. Resolutions 14 to 18 are proposed as special resolutions. A special resolution will be passed on a poll if it is passed by a majority of Shareholders representing not less than 75% of the total voting rights of Shareholders who (being entitled to do so) vote at the AGM.
Shareholders will find enclosed with this document a Form of Proxy for use in connection with the AGM. Shareholders, are requested to complete, sign and return the enclosed Form of Proxy, in accordance with the instructions printed thereon, so as to be received by the Company's registrars, Link Group PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 11.00 am on 2 July 2024. If you do not complete and return a valid Form of Proxy, no-one else may vote on your behalf. Alternatively, you can vote electronically at www.signalshares.com, via CREST or Proxymity (refer to the notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting).
The Directors recommend all Shareholders to vote in favour of all the resolutions – as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own shares (other than in respect of those resolutions in which they are interested) and consider that they are in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.
Yours faithfully,
Ed Smith, CBE Non-executive Chair
Notice is given that the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Shareholders of Assura plc (the "Company") will be held at Travers Smith, 10 Snow Hill, London EC1A 2AL on 4 July 2024 at 11.00 am to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolutions set out below. Resolutions 1 to 13 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 14 to 18 will be proposed as special resolutions.
and shall expire on the revocation or expiry (unless renewed) of the authority conferred on the Directors by resolution 13 in the notice of this meeting, save that, before the expiry of this power, the Company may make any offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not expired.
and shall expire on the revocation or expiry (unless renewed) of the authority conferred on the Directors by resolution 13 in the notice of this meeting, save that, before the expiry of this power, the Company may make any offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not expired.
any number of the Company's ordinary shares on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out;
3 Barrington Road WA14 1GY
Registered office: By order of the board
Altrincham Orla Ball Cheshire Company Secretary
1 June 2024
To be a valid proxy appointment, the member's electronic message confirming the details of the appointment completed in accordance with those instructions must be transmitted so as to be received by the same time. Members who hold their shares in uncertificated form may also use "the CREST voting service" to appoint a proxy electronically, as explained below. If you are an institutional investor you may also be able to appoint a proxy electronically via the Proxymity platform, as explained below. Appointing a proxy will not prevent a member from attending and voting in person at the meeting should he so wish. In the case of a Shareholder which is a company, the proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney for the company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the proxy form is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the proxy form.
In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders completes a proxy appointment, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company's register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first-named being the most senior).
A member may not use any electronic address provided by the Company in this document or with any proxy appointment form or in any website for communicating with the Company for any purpose in relation to the meeting other than as expressly stated in it.
taken as a whole.
The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions:
The Companies Act 2006 requires the directors of a public company to lay before the company in general meeting copies of the Directors' Reports, the independent auditor's report and the audited accounts of the company in respect of each financial year. In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Company proposes, as an ordinary resolution, a resolution on its Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. A copy of each of the documents can be found at www.assuraplc.com.
The Company will propose at the AGM an ordinary resolution to seek shareholder approval of the Directors' Remuneration Report for the financial year ended 31 March 2024. The Directors' Remuneration Report is set out in full on pages 90 to 106 of the Company's Annual Report and Accounts.
The vote on resolution 2 is advisory in nature and the Directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on it being passed. Your Directors are satisfied that the Company's practice in relation to Directors' remuneration is reasonable and that they deserve the support of the Shareholders.
At each meeting at which the Annual Report and Accounts are laid, the Company is required to appoint an auditor to serve until the next such meeting. Ernst & Young LLP have indicated that they are willing to act as the Company's auditor. The Directors recommend their appointment. Resolution 3 is a resolution to appoint them. Resolution 4 is a resolution giving the Audit Committee the discretion to determine the auditor's remuneration. The Audit Committee keeps under review the independence and objectivity of the external Auditor. After considering relevant information, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that Ernst & Young LLP be appointed. The amount of the remuneration paid to the Auditor for the next financial year will be disclosed in the next audited accounts of the Company.
In accordance with the recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance Code and as permitted by the Company's Articles of Association, each of the Company's Directors will retire from office at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and will seek re-election.
The Chairman confirms that, following a performance evaluation, each Director continues to be effective, demonstrating significant commitment to their role and, accordingly, the board unanimously recommends that each Director be appointed.
Brief biographical details of each of the Directors can be found on pages 76 to 77 of the Annual Report and Accounts and on the Company's website www.assuraplc.com.
The Directors are currently authorised to allot ordinary shares and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares in the Company, but their authorisation ends at the conclusion of the 2024 AGM.
This resolution seeks to renew the Directors' authority to allot ordinary shares and grant rights in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006. In accordance with The Investment Association's "Share Capital Management Guidelines", the authority sought will allow the Directors to allot new shares and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares up to an aggregate nominal amount that is equal to two-thirds of the Company's total issued ordinary share capital, provided that any amount in excess of onethird of the Company's issued ordinary share capital is applied to fully pre-emptive rights issues only.
Accordingly, if this resolution is passed by Shareholders, the Directors will be authorised until the earlier of 30 September 2025 and the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in a general meeting) to allot shares and grant rights up to an aggregate nominal value of £99,648,480 in any circumstances, and up to a further amount of £99,648,480 in the case of a rights issue only. In each case, £99,648,480 represented approximately one third of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 30 May 2024. As at the same date, the Company did not hold any shares in treasury.
The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority. The purpose of giving the Directors this authority is to maintain the Company's flexibility to take advantage of any appropriate opportunities that may arise.
Resolutions 14 and 15 are special resolutions which, if passed by Shareholders, will enable the board to allot ordinary shares, or to sell any shares out of treasury, for cash, without first offering those shares to existing Shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings.
In November 2022, the Pre-Emption Group published a revision of its Statement of Principles.
The 2022 Statement of Principles provides that a company may seek power to issue on a non-pre-emptive basis for cash shares representing:
As in 2023, the board is seeking two separate powers to disapply pre-emption rights at the AGM.
Resolution 14 is proposed as a special resolution. As in previous years, if this resolution is passed by Shareholders, it will permit the board to allot ordinary shares on a non-pre-emptive basis and for cash (otherwise than in connection with a rights issue or similar pre-emptive issue) up to a maximum nominal value of £29,894,543. This amount represents approximately 10% of the issued share capital as at 30 May 2024, being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document. This resolution will permit the board to allot any such shares for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis in any circumstances (whether or not in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment). The power granted by this resolution will expire on the conclusion of next year's annual general meeting or, if earlier, on 30 September 2025.
Resolution 15 is proposed as a separate special resolution. If this resolution is passed by Shareholders, it will afford the board an additional power to allot ordinary shares on a non-pre-emptive basis and for cash up to a further maximum nominal value of £29,894,543. This amount also represents approximately 10% of the issued share capital as at 30 May 2024.
The board confirms that it intends to use any power conferred by resolution 15 only in connection with an acquisition or a specified capital investment which is announced contemporaneously with the issue, or which has taken place in the preceding twelve-month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the issue.
The power granted by this resolution will expire on the conclusion of next year's annual general meeting or, if earlier, on 30 September 2025.
This resolution seeks authority for the Company to make market purchases of its own ordinary shares and is proposed as a special resolution.
In certain circumstances, it may be advantageous for the Company to purchase its own shares. The Directors will only exercise this authority after considering relevant factors, including if whether to do so would result in an increase in earnings per share and would benefit Shareholders generally. Other investment opportunities, appropriate gearing levels and the overall position of the Company will be considered before deciding upon this course of action.
The Company may either cancel any shares it purchases under this authority or transfer them into treasury (and subsequently sell or transfer them out of treasury or cancel them). UK listed companies purchasing their own shares are allowed to hold them in treasury as an alternative to cancelling them. If Resolution 16 is passed at the AGM, and the Company buys back its own shares, it is the Company's current intention to cancel all of the shares it may purchase pursuant to the authority granted to it. However, to respond properly to the Company's capital requirements and prevailing market conditions, the Directors will reassess at the time of any and each actual purchase whether to hold the shares in treasury or cancel them, provided it is permitted to do so.
It is the Company's current intention to satisfy the requirements of its share schemes in a method best suited to the interests of the Company, either by acquiring ordinary shares in the market or, subject to institutional guidelines, issuing new ordinary shares.
This resolution specifies the maximum number of ordinary shares that may be acquired (representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 30 May 2024 and the maximum and minimum prices at which they may be bought. The power granted by this resolution will expire on the conclusion of next year's annual general meeting or, if earlier, on 30 September 2025.
The Company currently has power under its articles of association to call general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on at least 14 clear days' notice and would like to preserve this ability. Resolution 17, which will be proposed as a special resolution, seeks approval for this. This approval will be effective until the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed.
The shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine for general meetings, but only where the board considers that the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought by the board to be to the advantage of Shareholders as a whole.
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.
The Company has completed the B Impact Assessment and achieved a verified score of 111.1 which allows it to register as a B Corp. B Corps are required to make a legal change to their constitutional documents to commit to consider the impact of their decisions on all stakeholders, now and in the future – the "B Corp Legal Requirement".
Under UK company law, the overarching duty placed on directors is to "act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole" (Section 172 Companies Act 2006).
Directors may "have regard" to other matters when making decisions, such as the interests of the company's employees and the impact on the community and environment, but these other stakeholder interests are secondary considerations. Where the interests of the shareholders and of other stakeholders conflict, directors will ultimately prioritise the interests of the shareholders.
However, companies are permitted to amend their Articles of Association to include specific objects for the company, and require that directors act in a way most likely to promote the success of the company in achieving those objects. B Corps use this mechanism to elevate the consideration of different stakeholder interests by directors.
The B Corp Legal Requirement is the wording that must be incorporated by all B Corps into their Articles of Association. All B Corps must amend their constitutional documents to include this commitment to people, planet and profit.
By incorporating the B Corp Legal Requirement into a company's Articles of Association, the directors will have a duty to manage the company in a way they believe will benefit people and the planet, as well as shareholders.
The B Corp Legal Requirement helps to hold the business accountable to shareholders by requiring directors to produce an annual impact report, demonstrating how the board has worked towards achieving this approach.
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