AGM Information • Mar 19, 2015
AGM Information
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to be held at The Royal York Hotel, Station Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO24 1AA
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 advice from a stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or accountant or other independent professional adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are in the United Kingdom, or another appropriately authorised independent adviser if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Croda International Plc, you should pass this Notice and accompanying documents to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee. A personalised proxy form for use by holders of ordinary shares in the Company has been despatched with this Notice.
Cowick Hall Snaith Goole East Yorkshire DN14 9AA England Tel +44 (0)1405 860551 Fax +44 (0)1405 861767
19 March 2015
Dear Fellow Shareholder
I am pleased to enclose the Notice convening the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (the 'AGM' or the 'Meeting') for shareholders of Croda International Plc, which will be held on Wednesday 22 April 2015. The AGM will be at The Royal York Hotel, Station Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO24 1AA and will commence at 12 noon. The business to be considered at the AGM is set out in the Notice, which you can find on pages 3 and 4 of this document. Explanatory notes on each Resolution to be considered at the AGM appear on pages 5 and 6 of this document.
Shareholders are being asked to approve a final dividend of 36 pence per ordinary share for the financial year ended 31 December 2014. If shareholders approve the recommended final dividend, this will be paid on 28 May 2015 to all ordinary shareholders who are on the register of members on 1 May 2015.
I would like to take this opportunity to make special mention of Resolutions 4 to 12 which relate to the election and re-election of directors. As announced on 5 March 2015, I am pleased to welcome Anita Frew to the Board. Anita brings with her a depth of public company experience and a strong understanding of the speciality chemicals sector that will be of enormous benefit to Croda. Anita will succeed me as Chairman of the Board following my retirement in September 2015. Anita will be standing for election, having been appointed to the Board on 5 March 2015. Jez Maiden will also be standing for election, having been appointed to the Board on 1 January 2015. In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, all other directors will be standing for re-election this year. The Board contains a broad range of skills and experience from different industries and advisory roles, and from international markets. These skills support the strategic aims of the Company. A summary of the key strengths and experience of each director and the value they bring to the Board, as well as their biographical details, are set out on pages 40 and 41 of the Company's Annual Report and Accounts or at www.croda.com. Each of the directors being proposed for re-election has been subject to a formal performance evaluation. Anita Frew and Jez Maiden were subject to a detailed evaluation as part of their recruitment process. Each director is considered to be effective in their role and to be committed to making available the appropriate time for Board Meetings and other duties. Further details of the performance evaluation are set out in the Corporate Governance report on page 47 of the Annual Report and Accounts.
Voting on all Resolutions at the AGM will be conducted by way of a poll rather than a show of hands. Your Board believes that this is more transparent and equitable as the voting intentions of all members are taken into account; not just those who are able to attend the meeting. Voting by way of a poll will give as many shareholders as possible the opportunity to have their votes counted, whether tendered by proxy in advance of, or in person at, the AGM. The results of the poll will be announced via a Regulatory News Service and made available at www.croda.com as soon as practicable after the AGM.
Although we like as many shareholders as possible to attend our AGM, I do appreciate that this is not always possible. However, even if you are not able to come to the AGM in person your vote is still important. I would therefore encourage you, regardless of the number of shares you own, to complete, sign and return the accompanying Form of Proxy to our Registrars as soon as possible but, in any event, by no later than 12 noon on 20 April 2015. Alternatively, you may also register your proxy appointment(s) and voting instructions electronically. Please refer to page 7 of the Notice for further details of how to appoint a proxy or proxies, the deadlines for submission and also how to vote electronically. Registration of a proxy appointment will not prevent you from attending and voting at the Meeting if you so wish. CREST members may also choose to use the CREST electronic proxy appointment service in accordance with the procedures set out in the notes to the Notice.
Your Board considers all of the proposed Resolutions set out in this Notice to be put to the AGM to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, as the directors intend to do in respect of their own share holdings.
The AGM provides an opportunity for you to ask questions about the business set out in this Notice and to raise other matters about the business of the Company. I will endeavour to ensure that discussions are kept relevant and that as many shareholders as possible have the opportunity to speak. I do hope that you will be able to attend the Meeting and I look forward to seeing you.
Yours sincerely
Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to attend the meeting and vote on all the Resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.
Notice is hereby given that the ninetieth Annual General Meeting (the 'AGM' or the 'Meeting') of Croda International Plc (the 'Company') will be held at The Royal York Hotel, Station Road, York, North Yorkshire, YO24 1AA on Wednesday 22 April 2015 at 12 noon.
You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the Resolutions set out below (the 'Resolutions'), of which Resolutions numbered 1 to 16 (inclusive) will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolutions numbered 17 to 19 (inclusive) will be proposed as Special Resolutions.
As a member of the Company, you are entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, speak and vote at the Meeting.
provided that in each case any such donations and expenditure made by the Company or by any such subsidiary shall not exceed £50,000 in aggregate.
For the purposes of this Resolution the terms "political donations", "political parties", "independent election candidates", "political organisation" and "political expenditure" have the meanings given by sections 363 – 365 of the Act.
and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter,
such authorities to apply until (unless previously reviewed, varied or revoked by the Company in a general meeting) the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) the close of business on 22 July 2016 provided that in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require shares in the Company to be allotted or rights to subscribe for, or convert securities into, shares to be granted, after the authority ends and the directors 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.
such authorities to apply until (unless previously reviewed, varied or revoked by the Company in a general meeting) the earlier of (i) the date of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) close of business on 22 July 2016, and so that this power shall enable the Company to make offers or agreements before such expiry 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 in pursuance of such offers or agreements as if the power had not expired.
This power shall supersede the previous power to allot equity securities conferred at the annual general meeting of the Company held on 24 April 2014 which shall be terminated upon the passing of this Resolution, but without prejudice to any action taken under such power prior to such termination.
This power applies in relation to a sale of treasury shares which is included as an allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(2) of the Act as if all references in this Resolution to any such allotment included any such sale and as if in the first paragraph of this Resolution the words "pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 16" were omitted in relation to such sale.
19 That a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting) may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice, provided that the authority for this Resolution shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company.
Group General Counsel and Company Secretary
19 March 2015
Registered Office: Cowick Hall Snaith Goole East Yorkshire, DN14 9AA Registered in England and Wales No: 206132
The directors are required to present to the AGM the audited financial statements and the directors' and auditors' reports for the financial year ended 31 December 2014.
Pages 61 to 79 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2014 form the annual Directors' Remuneration Report which shareholders are asked to approve. The vote is advisory and the directors' entitlement to receive remuneration is not conditional on it meaning that payments already made to directors will not have to be repaid in the event that Resolution 2 is not passed.
The directors are recommending that the ordinary shareholders declare a final dividend of 36 pence per ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 December 2014. The final dividend declared may not exceed the amount recommended by the directors and must be approved by the ordinary shareholders. If approved, the final dividend will be paid on 28 May 2015 to ordinary shareholders who were on the Register of Members at close of business on 1 May 2015.
4 Resolutions 4 to 12 – Election and re-election of directors These Resolutions concern the appointment and re-appointment of directors. Anita Frew and Jez Maiden will be standing for election, having been appointed to the Board on 5 March 2015 and 1 January 2015 respectively. All of the other directors are standing for re-election at this AGM in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code. Biographical details of the directors appear on pages 40 and 41 of the Annual Report. The Board considers that each non-executive director is independent in character and judgement. This follows an evaluation during the year that confirmed that each of the directors makes an effective and valuable contribution to the Board and demonstrates commitment to the role (including making sufficient time available for Board and committee meetings and other duties as requested). The Board is recommending that shareholders should re-elect them.
This Resolution enables the directors to incur expenditure of up to £50,000 in aggregate in respect of the activities identified in Resolution 15 (including any such expenditure by a subsidiary company) without unintentionally breaching the provisions of the Act. It is not proposed or intended to alter the Company's policy of not making political donations, within the normal meaning of that expression. However, without the authorisation contained in this Resolution, some of the Company's activities may inadvertently fall within the prohibition contained in the Act and the Company's ability to communicate its views effectively to political audiences and to relevant interest groups could be inhibited without such authority. The authority sought will, if granted, last until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company when the directors intend to seek renewal of this authority. The Company will continue its policy of not giving any cash contributions to any political party. Any expenditure which may be incurred under authority of this Resolution will be disclosed in next year's Annual Report. During 2014, no donations were made by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for political purposes.
Under section 551 of the Act, the directors of the Company may only allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares if authorised to do so. The Company's Articles of Association give a general authority to the directors to allot shares.
This Resolution, which complies with guidance issued by the Investment Association (the 'IA'), will, if passed, authorise the directors to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £4,480,799 (representing 44,807,990 ordinary shares of 10p each and being approximately 33% of the current issued share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, as at 5 March 2015, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice) and up to an additional amount not exceeding £4,480,799 in the case of allotments in connection with a rights issue. As at 5 March 2015, this additional authority represents approximately 33% of the issued ordinary share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, which brings the aggregate authority for allotments in connection with a rights issue to approximately 66% of the issued ordinary share capital, excluding shares held in treasury. As at 5 March 2015, the Company held 4,168,181 ordinary shares in treasury, representing 3.07% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company, excluding shares held in treasury. The directors have no present intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under this Resolution. However, the directors may consider doing so if they believe it would be appropriate in respect of business opportunities that may arise consistent with the Company's strategic objectives. If the directors do exercise the authorities, they intend to follow the IA's recommendations concerning their use (including as regards the directors standing for re-election in certain cases). The authorities will last until the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) 22 July 2016.
This is a Special Resolution to renew the directors' authority to allot shares for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. In addition, subject to a waiver by way of Special Resolution, or in the Articles of Association, treasury shares must in the first instance be offered for sale to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings. As with the allotment of shares for cash, the directors consider that it is in the interests of the Company, in certain circumstances, for the directors to be able to sell treasury shares for cash without having to offer them to existing shareholders first. Therefore, the directors' authority to allot equity securities for cash on a non pre-emptive basis pursuant to this Special Resolution will also cover the sale for cash of any share held by the Company as treasury shares.
Although there is currently no intention to make use of this authority, its renewal would provide the directors with continued flexibility to act in the best interests of shareholders when opportunities arise and, in respect of treasury shares, also give the Company to ability to sell treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively. The authority sought is limited to allotments or sales in connection with pre-emptive offers and offers to holders of other equity securities if required by the rights of those shares or as the directors otherwise consider necessary, or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £678,909, which represents approximately 5% of the issued ordinary share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, as at 5 March 2015, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice. In relation to the exercise of this authority, the directors would have regard to the guidelines published by the investment committees of the IA and the National Association of Pension Funds. In respect of the aggregate nominal amount, the directors confirm their intention to follow the provisions of the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles regarding cumulative usage of authorities within a rolling three year period where the Principles provide that usage in excess of 7.5% should not take place without prior consultation with shareholders. This authority will last until the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) 22 July 2016.
9 Resolution 18 – Company's authority to purchase its own shares Resolution 18 is a Special Resolution seeking to renew the authority to purchase up to 10% of the Company's issued ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares). The maximum price to be paid on any occasion for each ordinary share will be the higher of (a) an amount equal to 105% of the average of the closing middle market price taken from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for each of the five business days preceding the date on which the ordinary share is contracted to be purchased, and (b) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the London Stock Exchange Trading Systems. The minimum price to be paid on any occasion for each ordinary share will be 10 pence. In exercising this authority the directors will comply with the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the IA guidelines on the purchase of own shares. This authority will expire on the date of the earlier of (i) the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) 22 October 2016.
As at 5 March 2015, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice the full exercise of all options and satisfaction of all awards outstanding under the Company's employee share plans would require the issue of 818,162 ordinary shares. This represents approximately 0.6% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) on that date and would represent 0.65% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) in the event that the proposed new authority to repurchase shares were to be exercised in full.
Under the Companies (Acquisition of Own Shares) (Treasury Shares) Regulations 2003 (the 'Regulations') the Company is allowed to hold its own shares purchased in the market in treasury as an alternative to cancelling them. Shares held in treasury may subsequently be sold for cash, transferred for the purposes of employee share schemes or cancelled.
The directors will only purchase the Company's shares from the market if they believe that such purchases will improve earnings per share and will be in the best interests of the shareholders generally. It is the intention of the directors that any such shares purchased will be held as treasury shares, provided that the number of treasury shares does not at any one time exceed 10% of the Company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares). This would give the Company the ability to re-issue treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively and provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base.
The Companies (Shareholder Rights) Regulations 2009 require that all general meetings must be held on 21 days' notice unless shareholders agree to a shorter notice period which is subject to a minimum of 14 days. Prior to August 2009 we were able to call general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on 14 days' notice and this Special Resolution is being proposed so that we can continue to be able to do so. In order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice the Company must make an electronic means of voting available to all shareholders for the meeting. This condition is met by the Company providing the facility for shareholders to appoint a proxy via an online shareholder portal operated by our Registrars. It is not the Company's intention to use the shorter notice period as a matter of routine but only when the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be in the interests of shareholders as a whole.
To be entitled to speak, attend and vote at the AGM (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company at 6 p.m. on 20 April 2015 (or, in the event of any adjournment, 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting). Changes to the Register of Members after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend, speak and vote at the Meeting.
a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
(iv) The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
As at 5 March 2015 (being the last practicable date before the publication of this Notice) the Company's issued share capital consisted of 139,949,969 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. Croda International Plc holds 4,168,181 ordinary shares in treasury and so the total number of voting rights in the Company at that date was 135,781,788.
Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
Under section 527 of the Act, members meeting the threshold requirements set out in that section have the right to require the Company to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: (i) the audit of the Company's accounts (including the auditors' report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the AGM; or (ii) any circumstance connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with section 437 of the Act. The Company may not require the shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 527 or 528 of the Act. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under section 527 of the Act, it must forward the statement to the Company's auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the AGM includes any statement that the Company has been required under section 527 of the Act to publish on a website.
Any member attending the meeting or any proxy or corporate representative attending the meeting on behalf of a member has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the Meeting but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the Meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the Meeting that the question be answered. The Chairman may also nominate a Company representative to answer a specific question after the AGM.
A copy of this Notice, and other information required by s311A of the Act, can be found on the Company's website at www.croda.com/AGM.
The following documents are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during normal business hours on any business day, and will also be available for inspection during the AGM and for 15 minutes beforehand:
You may not use any electronic address provided in either this Notice or any related documents (including the Proxy Form) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
Under section 338 and section 338A of the Act, shareholders meeting the threshold requirements in those sections have the right to require the Company i) to give to shareholders of the Company entitled to receive this Notice, notice of a resolution which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at the AGM and/or ii) to include in the business to be dealt with at the AGM any matter (other than a proposed resolution) which may be properly included in the business. A resolution may properly be moved or a matter may properly be included in the business unless (a) (in the case of a resolution only) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's constitution or otherwise), (b) it is defamatory, or (c) it is frivolous or vexatious. Such a request may be in hard copy or electronic form and must identify the resolution of which notice is to be given or the matter to be included in the business, must be authorised by the person or persons making it, must be received by the Company not later than 9 March 2015, being the date six clear weeks before the AGM, and (in the case of a matter to be included in the business only) must be accompanied by a statement setting out the grounds for the request.
If you are attending the AGM please bring your attendance card and poll card with you. This will authenticate your right to attend, speak and vote at the AGM and also speed your admission. You may find it useful to bring this Notice and the 2014 Annual Report and Accounts in order that you may refer to them in the Meeting. All joint shareholders may attend and speak at the AGM. However, it is only the most senior shareholder by reference to the Register of Members and in attendance who is entitled to vote.
Whoever you appoint as a proxy can attend, speak, vote or abstain from voting, as he or she decides on any other business which may validly come before the AGM. This includes proxies appointed using the CREST service. Details of how to complete the appointment of a proxy either electronically or on paper are given in the notes to this Notice and in the accompanying Form of Proxy.
Capita Asset Services maintain the Company's share register. If you have any enquiries about the Meeting or about your Croda International Plc shareholding, you may contact Capita:
(from the UK) – 0871 664 0300* (from outside the UK) – + 44 (0) 203 728 5000
* Calls to this number cost 10p per minute plus network extras; lines are open 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Capita Asset Services The Registry 34 Beckenham Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU
at the following corporate address: Cowick Hall Snaith Goole East Yorkshire DN14 9AA
Your personal data includes all data provided by you, or on your behalf, which relates to you as a shareholder, including your name and contact details, the votes you cast and your Reference Number (attributed to you by the Company). The Company determines the purposes for which and the manner in which your personal data are to be processed. The Company and any third party to which it discloses the data (including the Company's Registrars) may process your personal data for the purposes of compiling and updating the Company's records, fulfilling its legal obligations and processing the shareholder rights you exercise.
The Royal York Hotel is accessible by rail, bus or car and is next door to York train station.
Satellite navigation post code YO24 1AA. The Royal York Hotel is a 20 minute drive from the A1.
There is ample on-site car parking at £8.00 per 24 hours and £2.00 per hour. Should the hotel car park be full, there are three public car parks close by. (1) York Commuter Car Park – Leeman Road, (2) York Esplanade – Leeman Road and (3) York Nunnery Lane.
There are five Park and Ride sites in York, most of which stop adjacent to York train station. For further details visit: www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/york/journey_planning/park_ride/routes.php
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