AGM Information • Aug 21, 2017
AGM Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
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('Company')
(Registered in England with company registration number 4627044)
Registered Office: XYZ Building 2 Hardman Boulevard Spinningfields Manchester M3 3AQ
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to invite you to attend the 2017 Annual General Meeting ('AGM') of the Company to be held at the offices of DLA Piper UK LLP, 1 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5EA at 9.00 am on Thursday 21 September 2017.
The formal notice of AGM ('Notice') is set out on pages 6 to 9 and the explanatory notes on each resolution to be considered at this year's AGM appear on pages 2 to 5.
Whether or not you intend to come to the AGM, please complete and return the proxy form we have sent to you. The Company's Registrar, Equiniti, must receive the completed proxy form, at the address on the form, by no later than 9.00 am on 19 September 2017. Alternatively you can vote using our CREST proxy voting service following the procedures set out in the CREST manual. You will still be able to vote on the day of the AGM but if you have already submitted a proxy form, this will only be necessary if you intend to change the voting instructions given on your proxy form.
The directors believe that the resolutions set out in the Notice are in the best interests of the Company and of the shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, they recommend you vote in favour of each resolution as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings in the Company.
The directors and I look forward to seeing you at the AGM.
Yours faithfully
Chris Stone Executive Chairman
Resolutions 1 to 13 (inclusive) and resolution 18 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that, for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than 50 per cent of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 14 to 17 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, not less than 75 per cent of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The directors will present to the shareholders at the AGM the accounts for the previous financial year, on this occasion for the year ended 31 May 2017, together with the strategic report and the reports of the directors and the auditor.
The directors' remuneration report is included in full on pages 86 to 107 of the Company's 2017 annual report and accounts ('2017 Annual Report') and provides details of the remuneration paid to the directors of the Company in respect of the year ended 31 May 2017. In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 ('Companies Act'), this resolution to approve the directors' remuneration report (other than the directors' remuneration policy) is advisory only and therefore no entitlement to remuneration is conditional on it.
The Companies Act requires there to be a binding shareholder vote (by way of ordinary resolution) on the directors' remuneration policy at least once every three years. The directors' remuneration policy was last approved at the Company's AGM in 2014 and a revised directors' remuneration policy is set out on pages 88 to 96 of the 2017 Annual Report, which explains the Company's proposed policy on remuneration and potential payments to directors.
Once the policy is effective, the Company will not be able to make a remuneration payment to a current or prospective director or a payment for loss of office to a current or former director, unless that payment is consistent with the approved policy or has been otherwise approved by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Companies Act.
If the directors' remuneration policy is approved and remains unchanged, it will be valid for up to three years without a new shareholder approval. If the Company wishes to change the directors' remuneration policy, it must first seek the approval of the proposed revised directors' remuneration policy from the shareholders before it can implement the proposed new directors' remuneration policy.
Final dividends are to be approved by shareholders. However, they cannot be more than the amount the Board recommends. The Board is recommending a final dividend of 3.15 pence per ordinary share for the year ended 31 May 2017. If shareholders approve the recommended dividend, it will be paid on 29 September 2017 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 1 September 2017.
The auditor of the Company is required to be appointed or reappointed at each AGM at which accounts are presented. Accordingly, shareholder approval is being sought pursuant to resolution 5 to reappoint KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company.
Resolution 6 proposes that the Audit Committee be authorised to determine the level of the auditor's remuneration.
Under the Company's articles of association ('Articles'), directors appointed by the Board are required to submit themselves for election at the first AGM following their appointment. The directors appointed by the Board since the last AGM are Chris Stone, Brian Tenner and Jonathan Brooks, each of whom puts themself forward for election by the shareholders at this year's AGM.
Brian Tenner was appointed as Chief Financial Officer in February 2017, bringing substantial listed company experience. He became interim Chief Executive Officer when Rob Cotton left the business and it is intended he will retain this position until a new Chief Executive Office is appointed at which point he will revert to the position of Chief Financial Officer. Chris Stone became Chairman of the Board in April 2017, initially taking on the role of Executive Chairman until a new Chief Executive Officer is appointed at which point he will become Non-Executive Chairman. Chris brings significant experience of listed and private equity owned technology businesses. Jonathan Brooks was appointed as Non-Executive Director in March 2017. He has added extensive non-executive experience in a listed environment, as well as tech industry experience.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code ('Code') and the Articles, every director (other than Chris Stone, Brian Tenner and Jonathan Brooks who will stand for election as indicated above) will stand for re-election at the AGM. Biographical details of each director can be found on pages 62 to 63 of the 2017 Annual Report.
The Board supports the election and/or re-election (as applicable) of each director, as it believes that the particular knowledge and experience of each director, as described in their biographies as set out in the 2017 Annual Report, assists in ensuring that the Board has an appropriate balance of skills and experience for the requirements of the business.
The Board has confirmed, following a performance review, that each of the directors standing for re-election continues to perform effectively and demonstrates commitment to their role. The Board has considered whether each of the Non-Executive Directors is free of any relationship that could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement and has determined that each Non-Executive continues to be considered independent. The Board, however, is mindful that Debbie Hewitt will have completed nine years of service in September 2017 and, in line with best practice, she will step down from the Board when a replacement has been recruited and a handover completed. Until such time, the Board considers that the presence of Debbie adds valuable continuity and detailed knowledge of the Company's history and the Board remains satisfied of her independent judgement.
Generally, the directors may only allot shares in the Company (or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company) if they have been authorised to do so by shareholders.
Resolution 13 renews a similar authority given at last year's AGM and is in two parts.
In line with guidance issued by the Investment Association, if passed, paragraph 13(a) of resolution 13 will authorise the directors to allot shares in the Company (and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares in the Company) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £921,700.46 (representing 92,170,046 ordinary shares). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company as at 16 August 2017 (being the latest practicable date before the publication of this document).
In addition, if passed, paragraph 13(b) of resolution 13 will authorise the directors to allot ordinary shares in the Company (and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, ordinary shares in the Company) in connection with a rights issue only up to a further aggregate nominal amount of £921,700.46 (representing 92,170,046 ordinary shares). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company as at 16 August 2017 (being the latest practicable date before the publication of this document).
If given, these authorities will expire at the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or on the date falling not more than 15 calendar months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is earlier. It is the directors' intention to renew the allotment authority each year.
As at the date of this document, no ordinary shares are held by the Company in treasury.
The directors have no current intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under resolution 13. However, the directors consider that it is in the best interests of the Company to have the authorities available so that they have the maximum flexibility permitted by institutional shareholder guidelines to allot shares or grant rights without the need for a general meeting should they determine that it is appropriate to do so to respond to market developments or to take advantage of business opportunities as they arise. The Board recommends that this authority be renewed.
Generally, if the directors wish to allot new shares or other equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Companies Act) for cash, then under the Companies Act they must first offer such shares or securities to shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. These statutory preemption rights may be disapplied by shareholders.
Resolutions 14 and 15, which will be proposed as special resolutions, will enable the directors to allot equity securities for cash or sell treasury shares for cash without first offering them to shareholders pro rata to their existing holdings. The resolutions take a similar form to the resolutions passed at last year's AGM.
The powers proposed under resolution 14 will be limited to allotments or sales of ordinary shares:
This resolution renews the authority obtained at last year's AGM. If given, the authority granted under Resolution 14 will expire on the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2018 or on the date falling not more than 15 calendar months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is earlier.
The powers proposed under resolution 15 will be limited to allotments or sales of ordinary shares:
This resolution renews the authority obtained at last year's AGM. If given, the authority granted under Resolution 15 will expire on the conclusion of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2018 or on the date falling not more than 15 calendar months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is earlier.
In accordance with The Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, the directors confirm that they do not intend to issue more than 7.5 per cent of the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company on a non-pre-emptive basis (except in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment as referred to above) in any rolling three year period without prior consultation with shareholders.
The directors believe it is in the interests of the Company and its shareholders to have the flexibility to purchase its own shares and this resolution seeks authority from shareholders to do so.
Resolution 16, which will be proposed as a special resolution, renews a similar authority given at last year's AGM. The directors presently have no intention of exercising the authority sought under resolution 16, but consider the authority desirable to provide maximum flexibility in the management of the Company's capital base. If passed, the directors would only use this authority if they believed that to do so would result in an increase in earnings per share and promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole. If any purchases of ordinary shares are made pursuant to this authority, it is intended that such ordinary shares will either be cancelled, held in treasury or used to satisfy options exercised under the Company's share schemes, in each case in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act. While held in treasury, the shares are not entitled to receive any dividend or dividend equivalent (apart from any issue of bonus shares) and have no voting rights. The directors will have regard to institutional shareholder guidelines which may be in force at the time of any such purchase, holding or resale of shares held in treasury. Any purchases of ordinary shares would be by means of market purchases on the London Stock Exchange.
This resolution would be limited to 27,651,013 ordinary shares, representing approximately 10 per cent of the issued equity share capital of the Company as at 16 August 2017 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document). The authority also sets minimum and maximum prices at which shares may be bought. The renewed authority will remain in force until the conclusion of the Company's 2018 AGM or on the date falling not more than 15 calendar months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is earlier. The directors intend to seek renewal of this power at each AGM.
The total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares for all share schemes of the Company which were outstanding as at 16 August 2017 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document) was 6,770,954, which represents approximately 2.45 per cent of the Company's issued share capital and would represent 2.72 per cent of the Company's issued share capital if the full authority to repurchase ordinary shares as proposed by resolution 16 was exercised.
As at 16 August 2017 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document), the Company holds no shares in treasury.
Resolution 17 enables the Company to hold general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on 14 clear days' notice. The Articles currently permit such notice period but this resolution is required in order to comply with the Shareholders' Rights Regulations.
The Company intends only to use the shorter notice period where the flexibility would be helpful given the business of the meeting and where the Company considers it is to the advantage of shareholders as a whole. In accordance with the Companies Act, the Company must make a means of electronic voting available to all shareholders for that meeting in order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice.
If passed, the resolution will be effective until the Company's next annual general meeting, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed.
The rules of the Company's US Employee Stock Purchase Plan ('ESPP') were approved by shareholders at a general meeting of the Company held on 18 December 2012. The ESPP is similar in structure to the Company's UK Sharesave Scheme and is open to the NCC Group's employees based in the US. The NCC Group now has a subsidiary in Canada, called NCC Group Security Services Corporation ('NCC Group Canada'), and under the current ESPP rules employees of NCC Group Canada would not be eligible to participate in the ESPP due to a requirement that only employees of any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with the majority of its employees having their tax residence in the United States of America may participate. The directors therefore propose to amend the rules of the ESPP to enable employees of NCC Group Canada to be able to participate in the ESPP. A summary of the ESPP Rules (including the proposed amendment) is set out in the Appendix to this Notice.
Notice is hereby given that NCC Group plc ('Company') will hold its Annual General Meeting at DLA Piper UK LLP, 1 London Wall, London, EC2Y 5EA at 9.00 am on 21 September 2017 to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions. Resolutions 1 to 13 (inclusive) and resolution 18 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 14 to 17 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. The directors have determined that all of the resolutions to be put to a vote at the AGM will be decided on a poll:
provided that this authority shall expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on 21 December 2018 (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares or grant such rights in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
and such power shall expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on 21 December 2018 (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold after such expiry, and the Board may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.
and such power shall expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on 21 December 2018 (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold after such expiry, and the Board may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.
and (unless revoked, varied or renewed) this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or on 21 December 2018 (whichever is the earlier), provided that the Company may, before such expiry, make a contract to purchase its own shares which would or might be executed wholly or partly after such expiry, and the Company may make a purchase of its own shares in pursuance of such contract as if the authority hereby conferred had not expired.
By Order of the Board
Jenna Hincks Acting Company Secretary
Dated: 21 August 2017 Registered office: XYZ Building 2 Hardman Boulevard Spinningfields Manchester M3 3AQ
In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a 'CREST Proxy Instruction') must be properly authenticated in accordance with CREST's specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual which can be viewed at www.euroclear.com. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID RA19) by 9.00 am on 19 September 2017. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.
CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that there are no special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that 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 service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
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.
(a) the service contracts of each of the executive directors;
will be available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during usual business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excluded) from the date of this Notice until the date of the AGM and at the place of the AGM from at least 15 minutes prior to and until the conclusion of the AGM.
(c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.
The ESPP is designed to enable eligible employees, including executive directors, of the Group, to purchase Ordinary Shares in a tax efficient way. The ESPP is designed to meet the conditions of section 423 of the US Tax Code.
Under the ESPP, eligible employees are granted options to purchase Ordinary Shares ("Options") at a price fixed at the time the Option is granted. Options are capable of being exercised on designated dates after a specified period has elapsed following the grant of the Options ("Option Period"). Each Option Period is 12 months in duration, so that the designated exercise date will be the first anniversary of the grant date. Options are granted on a rolling basis every 12 months until the Board determines otherwise.
The ESPP is administered by the Board.
Participation in the ESPP is limited to employees of any of the Company's subsidiaries which are companies organised under the laws of the United States.
Resolution 18 to be proposed at the AGM is seeking to approve an amendment to this provision of the current Rules to remove the requirement for a majority of the employees of any such subsidiary to have their tax residence in the United States. This would enable employees of NCC Group Canada to be eligible to participate in the ESPP.
The issue of Ordinary Shares under the ESPP takes place on the last dealing day of each Option Period or at such other times as may be determined by the Board ("Purchase Date"). At the Board's discretion, Ordinary Shares may also be purchased in the market.
The amount payable by employees for Ordinary Shares under an Option may not be less than 85% of their fair market value on the lower of (i) the first dealing day of the Option Period, and (ii) the Purchase Date. The fair market value of an Ordinary Share is the average middle market price of an Ordinary Share as quoted on the London Stock Exchange on the relevant date. In practice, the exercise price is fixed at 85% of the fair market value of an Ordinary Share on the first dealing day of the Option Period.
The purchase of Ordinary Shares on behalf of participants is made utilising amounts credited to each participant's savings account by way of posttax payroll deductions made by that participant's employer. In practice, it is intended that participants will be able to contribute, through payroll deduction, up to 10% of their eligible compensation to their savings accounts for this purpose. Deductions from payroll will be made during each month or such other periods as may be determined by the Board. As required by the US Tax Code, no employee will be able to acquire shares exceeding \$25,000 in value in any calendar year, with such value determined based on the fair market value per Ordinary Share on the date the Options are granted. In practice, as a further limit, the maximum number of shares that any participant will be permitted to acquire during any Option Period is the number of whole shares determined by dividing £6,000 by the fair market value per Ordinary Share on the first dealing day of the Option Period.
In the event of an employee's termination of employment within the Group for any reason prior to a Purchase Date, any outstanding Option lapses in full.
In the event of a takeover, amalgamation or reconstruction of the Company, the Option Period terminates and Options may be exercised using the amounts credited up to that time in the participant's savings account. Alternatively, participants may choose to have such monies repaid to them.
Options may generally only be granted within 42 days following the announcement by the Company of its interim or final results for any period.
The total number of Ordinary Shares over which Options which involve a subscription for new Ordinary Shares may be granted, when aggregated with the total number of Ordinary Shares over which options to subscribe for Ordinary Shares have been granted under all share option schemes of the Company, and with Ordinary Shares issued or issuable under all other share schemes of the Company, may not, in any consecutive ten year period, exceed 10 per cent of the Ordinary Shares in issue from time to time. Lapsed and surrendered options shall be ignored for this purpose.
Without further shareholder approval, the total number of Ordinary Shares over which Options to subscribe may be granted under the ESPP is 6,000,000 Ordinary Shares, subject to adjustment to reflect variations of share capital.
In the event of a variation of share capital by way of capitalisation, rights issue, sub-division, consolidation or reduction of share capital, the number of Ordinary Shares over which an Option has been granted and the price at which Ordinary Shares may be acquired under such Option is adjusted as determined by the Board to be appropriate.
The Board may alter the ESPP but certain amendments cannot take effect without shareholder approval, unless they are amendments to comply with or to take account of applicable legislation or statutory regulations or any change in them or to maintain favourable taxation treatment for the Company or participants or potential participants. The amendments which will generally require shareholder approval are amendments to the limits on the overall number of Ordinary Shares which can be offered, the individual participation limits, the eligibility criteria for participants, the rights attaching to Ordinary Shares subject to an Option, the provisions for altering share capital and for altering the terms of the ESPP and the provisions which apply on a winding up of the Company.
No amendment may be made to the ESPP which will either adversely affect employees' accrued rights to have Ordinary Shares purchased on their behalf or reduce the balance of employees' savings accounts. The Board, however, may terminate the ESPP at any time, thereby terminating all outstanding Options and refunding amounts then held in the employees' savings accounts.
All costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the ESPP, other than any brokerage and administrative fees for the sale of Ordinary Shares by employees and taxes arising from employees' participation in the ESPP, are paid by the Company.
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