AGM Information • Feb 8, 2017
AGM Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take, you should immediately consult your independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares in Ocado Group plc, please hand this document and the accompanying form of proxy or form of instruction to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006, registered number 07098618)
Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of the Company which is set out on pages 2 to 3 of this document and which recommends you to vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BB at 11am on 3 May 2017 is set out at the end of this document.
If you cannot attend the Annual General Meeting, shareholders should use a form of proxy and members of the Ocado Share Account should use a form of instruction in order to vote at the Annual General Meeting.
If you received this document in the post, the form of proxy or form of instruction will have accompanied it; if you downloaded this document from www.ocadogroup.com, the form of proxy and form of instruction can be found on that website also.
To be valid, your form of proxy or form of instruction should be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the instructions printed thereon, as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to reach the Company's registrars, Capita Asset Services:
The form of proxy and form of instruction may be submitted electronically at www.ocadoshares.com or can be delivered by post or by hand to Capita Asset Services, PXS 1, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4ZF.
Further instructions relating to how you are able to vote are set out in the notes to the notice of the Annual General Meeting.
Dear Shareholder,
6 February 2017
I am pleased to invite you to this year's Annual General Meeting to be held at Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BB at 11am on 3 May 2017.
The formal notice convening the Annual General Meeting can be found on pages 4 to 6 of this circular.
The Annual General Meeting gives the Board the opportunity to present the Company's performance and strategy to shareholders and to listen and respond to your questions. Your participation is important to us and if you cannot attend I would urge you to vote ahead of the Annual General Meeting.
You may register your proxy vote electronically by accessing our shareholder portal www.ocadoshares.com.
If you are a shareholder, you may also complete, sign and return a form of proxy (which will have accompanied this Notice if you received it in the post or if not can be downloaded at www.ocadogroup.com) to be received by no later than 11am on 28 April 2017 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is 48 hours before the time of the adjourned Annual General Meeting).
If you hold shares through the Ocado Share Account, your shares are held on your behalf by Capita IRG Trustees (Nominees) Limited — a company owned by the administrators of the Ocado Share Account — and that company is the registered shareholder. You can, however, instruct this company how you want your shares voted at the Annual General Meeting by accessing our shareholder portal www.ocadoshares.com or by filling out and returning a form of instruction (which will have been sent to you if you received this Notice in the post or if not can be downloaded at www.ocadogroup.com), in both cases by no later than 11am on 27 April 2017 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is 72 hours before the time of the adjourned Annual General Meeting) in order to allow the registered shareholder, Capita IRG Trustees (Nominees) Limited, time to collate your votes. If you would prefer to attend, speak and/or vote at the Annual General Meeting in person, or appoint someone else to attend the Annual General Meeting and vote on your behalf, you must confirm this to Capita IRG Trustees (Nominees) Limited using the details provided at www.ocadoshares.com or on the form of instruction provided.
If you are intending to come to the Annual General Meeting, please bring your attendance card with you to the Annual General Meeting. I do recommend that you arrive by 10.45am to enable us to carry out all of the registration formalities to ensure a prompt start at 11am.
We recognise that many shareholders are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting in person, so all Resolutions will be decided on a poll to be called by the Chairman at the meeting. The Board believes a poll is more representative of shareholders' voting intentions because shareholders' votes are counted according to the number of shares held and all votes tendered are taken into account. The results will be published on our website (www.ocadogroup.com) and will be released to the London Stock Exchange as soon as practicable following the closing of the Annual General Meeting.
The Articles of Association of the Company require each director to retire from office at every annual general meeting of the Company and each director, with the exception of Robert Gorrie, has agreed to submit himself for re-appointment by shareholders. As announced on 18 November 2016, Robert Gorrie will retire from the Board at the end of the Annual General Meeting. Emma Lloyd was appointed to the Board with effect from 1 December 2016.
Biographical details of each of the directors (as at the date of this Notice) are given on pages 48 and 49 of the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the 52 weeks ended 27 November 2016 (the "2016 Annual Report and Accounts").
Having considered the performance of and contribution made by each of the directors at the relevant time, the Board remains satisfied that the performance of each director continues to be effective and that each director can demonstrate commitment to the role and as such recommends the re-appointment of each director standing for re-appointment. More information on the Board and the director evaluation process is given on page 54 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts.
Explanatory notes on the business to be considered at the Annual General Meeting appear on pages 7 to 9 of this document.
The directors consider that each Resolution to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting is in the best interests of the shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommend shareholders to vote in favour of all Resolutions, as they intend to do in respect of their own shareholdings.
Yours faithfully,
Lord Rose Chairman Ocado Group plc
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Ocado Group plc (the "Company") will be held at Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BB at 11am on 3 May 2017. You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the Resolutions below. Resolutions 20 to 22 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. All other Resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
Resolution 1 — To receive the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the 52 weeks ended 27 November 2016 together with the reports of the directors and auditors.
(as such terms are defined in sections 363 to 365 of the Companies Act 2006) during the period commencing on the date of the passing of this Resolution and finishing at the end of next year's annual general meeting (or if earlier, the close of business on 3 August 2018).
Resolution 18 — The Board be generally and unconditionally authorised to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the Company up to a nominal amount of £4,195,133 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, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter. Such authority shall apply until the end of next year's annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 3 August 2018) 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, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter. Such authority shall apply until the end of next year's annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 3 August 2018) 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.
To consider and if thought fit to pass the following as special resolutions:
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, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter; and
(B) in the case of the authority granted under Resolution 18 (if Resolution 18 is passed) and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares, to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares (otherwise than under paragraph A above) up to a nominal amount of £629,270,
such power to apply until the end of next year's annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 3 August 2018) 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 (or treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board may allot equity securities (or sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
in each case, exclusive of expenses,
such power to apply until the end of next year's annual general meeting (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 3 August 2018) but in each case so that the Company may enter into a contract to purchase ordinary shares which will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after the power ends and the Company may purchase ordinary shares pursuant to any such contract as if the power had not ended.
Resolution 22 — That a general meeting other than an annual general meeting may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
By order of the Board
Neill Abrams Company Secretary and Group General Counsel 6 February 2017
Registered Office: Titan Court, 3 Bishops Square, Hatfield Business Park, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9NE Registered in England and Wales number 07098618
The Board asks that shareholders receive the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the 52 weeks ended 27 November 2016 together with the reports of the directors and auditors (the "2016 Annual Report and Accounts").
Resolutions 2 and 3 — Approval of the Directors' Remuneration Policy and the Directors' Remuneration Report The Directors' Remuneration Report is set out in full on pages 76 to 115 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts.
Resolution 2 is the ordinary resolution to approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy, set out on pages 80 to 96. The Directors' Remuneration Policy sets out the Company's forward looking policy on directors' remuneration, including payments to directors for loss of office.
As noted in the Directors' Remuneration Policy on page 86 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts, the Directors' Remuneration Policy will commence on 3 May 2017 subject to the shareholder vote. Payments will continue to be made to directors and former directors in line with existing arrangements until this date.
Once the Directors' Remuneration Policy commences, all payments by the Company to the directors and any former directors must be made in accordance with the policy (unless a payment has been separately approved by a shareholder resolution).
If the Directors' Remuneration Policy is approved and remains unchanged, it will be valid for three years without further shareholder approval. If the Company wishes to change the Directors' Remuneration Policy, it will need to put the revised policy to a vote again before it can implement the new policy. The directors expect that the Company will next propose a resolution to approve the directors' remuneration policy at the annual general meeting to be held in approximately May 2020.
If the Directors' Remuneration Policy is not approved, the Company will, if and to the extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act"), continue to make payments to directors in accordance with existing arrangements and will seek shareholder approval for a revised policy as soon as is practicable.
Resolution 3 is the ordinary resolution to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report, other than the part containing the Directors' Remuneration Policy. The Resolution is an advisory resolution and accordingly entitlement of a director to remuneration is not made conditional on the Resolution being passed. If the Resolution is not passed the directors will be required to put the Directors' Remuneration Policy to a shareholder resolution at the 2018 annual general meeting.
The Articles of Association of the Company require each director to retire from office at every annual general meeting of the Company and each director, other than Robert Gorrie, has agreed to submit himself for re-appointment by shareholders. Having considered the performance of and contribution made by each of the directors at the relevant time, the Board remains satisfied that the performance of each director continues to be effective and that each director continues to demonstrate commitment to the role and as such recommends their re-appointment.
Biographical details of all the directors (as at the date of this Notice) are set out on pages 48 and 49 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts and appear on the Company's website www.ocadogroup.com. More information on the Board and director evaluation process is given on page 54 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts.
As reported in the 2015 annual report, the Board agreed to tender the external audit contract for the Company during 2016. The Audit Committee oversaw a formal and comprehensive tender process for the external audit appointment. On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board is recommending to shareholders the appointment of Deloitte LLP as the Company's new auditors with effect for the period ending 3 December 2017. Accordingly Resolution 15 proposes that Deloitte LLP be appointed as auditors of the Company. Details of the tender process are provided in the Audit Committee Report on page 63 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the Company's auditors for the 52 weeks ended 27 November 2016) will not seek reappointment and will therefore cease to hold office at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has given a statement of reasons in connection with their ceasing to hold office as auditor, which is set out in Appendix 1 on page 14 of this document.
Resolution 16 proposes that the directors be authorised to determine the level of the auditors' remuneration.
Part 14 of the Act restricts companies from making political donations to: (i) political parties; (ii) other political organisations; and (iii) independent election candidates and on incurring political expenditure without shareholders' consent. The Company does not make and does not intend to make donations to political parties, political organisations or independent election candidates, nor does it incur any political expenditure. However, as the definitions used in the Act are broad, it is possible that normal business activities such as sponsorship, subscriptions, payment of expenses, paid leave for employees fulfilling certain public duties, and support for bodies representing the business community in policy review or reform, which might not be thought to be political expenditure in the usual sense, could be caught. Shareholder approval is being sought in this Resolution on a precautionary basis only to allow the Company and any company, which at any time during the period for which this Resolution has effect, is a subsidiary of the Company, to continue to support the community and put forward its views to wider business and Government interests, without running the risk of being in breach of the Act.
The Board is therefore seeking authority to make political donations to political parties and/or independent election candidates not exceeding £50,000 in total, to make political donations to political organisations other than political parties not exceeding £50,000 in total and to incur political expenditure not exceeding £50,000 in total. In line with the guidance issued originally by the Association of British Insurers ("ABI") and for which the Investment Association ("IA") has assumed responsibility, it is proposed that this Resolution will be put to shareholders annually. Therefore the authority will expire at the earlier of 3 August 2018 and the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company held in 2018.
This Resolution would give the directors the authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £4,195,133 (representing 209,756,650 ordinary shares of 2 pence each). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 18 January 2017, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
The authority sought under this Resolution will expire at the earlier of 3 August 2018 and the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company held in 2018.
The directors have no present intention to exercise the authority sought under this Resolution, except to satisfy options and awards under the Company's option and incentive schemes and one-off incentive arrangements, but the Board wishes to ensure that the Company has maximum flexibility in managing the Company's capital resources.
As at the date of this Notice, no ordinary shares are held by the Company in treasury and so the references to the Company's share capital above do not include any treasury shares.
In line with guidance issued by the Investment Association ("IA Guidance") (formerly, guidance issued by the ABI), this Resolution would give the directors authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £8,390,267 (representing 419,513,349 ordinary shares), as reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued under Resolution 18, if that resolution is passed. This amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two-thirds of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 18 January 2017, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
The authority sought under this Resolution will expire at the earlier of 3 August 2018 and the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company held in 2018.
The directors have no present intention to exercise the authority sought under this Resolution, but the Board wishes to ensure that the Company has maximum flexibility in managing the Company's capital resources. However, if they do exercise the authority, the directors intend to follow the IA Guidance recommendations concerning its use.
As at the date of this Notice, no ordinary shares are held by the Company in treasury and so the references to the Company's share capital above do not include any treasury shares.
Resolution 20 will be proposed as a special resolution, which requires a 75% majority of the votes to be cast in favour. It would give the directors the authority to allot ordinary shares (or sell any ordinary shares which the Company elects to hold in treasury) for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings.
The authority set out in Resolution 20 would be, similar to previous years, limited to allotments or sales in connection with preemptive offers and offers to holders of other equity securities if required by the rights of those shares or as the Board otherwise considers necessary, or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £629,270 (representing 31,463,500 ordinary shares). This aggregate nominal amount represents approximately 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 18 January 2017, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice. In previous years authority had been sought for a higher nominal amount representing 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital.
In respect of the authority under Resolution 20(B), 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 3-year period where the Principles provide that usage in excess of 7.5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) should not take place without prior consultation with shareholders.
The authority will expire at the earlier of 3 August 2018 and the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company held in 2018.
This Resolution will be proposed as a special resolution and authority is sought for the Company to purchase up to 10% of its issued ordinary shares (excluding any treasury shares). The Company purchased no ordinary shares in the period from 4 May 2016 to the date of this Notice under the existing authority.
The directors have no present intention of exercising the authority to make market purchases, however the authority provides the flexibility to allow them to do so in the future. The directors will exercise this authority only when to do so would be in the best interests of the Company and of its shareholders generally, and could be expected to result in an increase in the earnings per share of the Company.
Ordinary shares purchased by the Company pursuant to this authority may be held in treasury or may be cancelled. The directors will consider holding any ordinary shares the Company may purchase as treasury shares. The Company currently has no ordinary shares in treasury. The minimum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an ordinary share, is 2 pence. The maximum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an ordinary share is the highest of: (i) an amount equal to 5% above the average market value for an ordinary share for the five business days immediately preceding the date of the purchase; and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venues where the purchase is carried out.
The Company has options outstanding over 10,852,223 ordinary shares, representing 1.72% of the Company's ordinary issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) as at 18 January 2017. If the existing authority given on 4 May 2016 and the authority now being sought by Resolution 21 were to be fully used, these would represent 2.15% of the Company's ordinary issued share capital (excluding treasury shares) at that date.
The authority will expire at the earlier of 3 August 2018 and the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company held in 2018.
The notice period required by the Act for general meetings (other than an annual general meeting) is 21 clear days unless the Company:
This Resolution seeks such approval to hold a general meeting other than an annual general meeting on not less than 14 clear days' notice and will be proposed as a special resolution. The shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine, but only where the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be in the interests of shareholders as a whole. In order to comply with The UK Corporate Governance Code (September 2014) (the "Code"), the Company would be required to circulate notices of all general meetings and related papers at least 14 working days in advance of the meeting. In the event that the Company relied on the shorter notice period and did not comply with the Code it would intend to explain any non-compliance in the subsequent annual report and accounts. Should this Resolution be approved it will be valid until the end of the next annual general meeting.
in either case by no later than 11am on 27 April 2017 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is 72 hours before the time of the adjourned Annual General Meeting). If you would prefer to attend, speak and vote at the Annual General Meeting in person, or appoint someone else to attend the Annual General Meeting and vote on your behalf, you must confirm this to Capita using the details provided at www.ocadoshares.com or on the form of instruction by no later than 11am on 27 April 2017 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is 72 hours before the time of the adjourned Annual General Meeting). After 11am on 27 April 2017 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is 72 hours before the time of the adjourned Annual General Meeting) you will no longer be able to:
You may not use any electronic address provided either in this Notice or any related documents (including the Chairman's letter and proxy form) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
Peterborough Court, 133 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2BB.
3 May 2017.
Doors open, security clearance and registration begins. Light refreshments available.
Meeting room doors open.
Please make your way to the meeting room where hosts will direct you to your seats.
Meeting commences.
Meeting closes.
Light refreshments available.
Please plan to arrive before 10.45am to allow enough time for registration and security clearance, bringing your attendance card with you.
Standard security measures will be in place to ensure your safety. Please note that bag searches will be in operation, and any items deemed inappropriate will be removed and stored until the end of the event.
Flash photography will not be allowed at the meeting.
In line with our commitment to the environment, we recommend shareholders use public transport to attend the Annual General Meeting. The closest public transport links are shown below.
AL10 9NE 6 February 2017 Dear Sirs The Directors Ocado Group plc Titan Court 3 Bishops Square Hatfield AL10 9NE
Statement of Reasons connected with ceasing to hold office as Auditors 6 February 2017
In accordance with Section 519 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act"), we set out below the reasons connected with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, registered auditor number C001004062, ceasing to hold Dear Sirs
The reason we are ceasing to hold office is that the Company undertook a competitive tender process for the position of statutory auditor and we were unsuccessful in retaining the audit. There are no reasons for and no other matters connected with our ceasing to hold office as auditors of In accordance with Section 519 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act"), we set out below the reasons connected with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, registered auditor number C001004062, ceasing to hold office as auditors of Ocado Group plc, registered number 07098618 (the "Company") effective from 3 May 2017.
the Company that we consider need to be brought to the attention of the Company's members or creditors. The reason we are ceasing to hold office is that the Company undertook a competitive tender process for the position of statutory auditor and we were unsuccessful in retaining the audit.
Yours faithfully There are no reasons for and no other matters connected with our ceasing to hold office as auditors of the Company that we consider need to be brought to the attention of the Company's members or creditors.
Yours faithfully
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 10 Bricket Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3JX T: +44 (0) 1727 844 155, F: +44 (0) 1727 892 333, www.pwc.co.uk
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC303525. The registered office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is 1 Embankment Place, London WC2N 6RH. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for designated investment business. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, 10 Bricket Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3JX T: +44 (0) 1727 844 155, F: +44 (0) 1727 892 333, www.pwc.co.uk
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