AGM Information • Mar 5, 2018
AGM Information
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If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take you are recommended to seek your own personal financial advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional financial adviser (being in the case of shareholders in Ireland an organisation or firm authorised or exempted pursuant to the European Communities (Markets in Financial Instruments) Regulations (Nos. 1 to 3) 2007 or the Investment Intermediaries Act 1995 and in the case of shareholders in the United Kingdom, an adviser authorised or exempted pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000).
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares please forward this document together with the form of proxy to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through or by whom the sale or transfer was effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
Letter from the Chairman and Notice of Annual General Meeting
to be held on Friday 20 April 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at The Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 is set out in this document
I enclose for your attention Notice of the 38th Annual General Meeting of Kingspan Group plc, and invite you to join me on Friday 20 April 2018 at The Herbert Park Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 at 10:00 a.m.
The resolutions to be proposed at the forthcoming AGM are set out on pages 5-9 of this Notice, with further explanatory notes set out on pages 11-13. Kingspan had another record year in 2017, with trading profits of €377.5m, up 11% on prior year. For further details, I would encourage all Shareholders to read the Company's Business & Strategic Review for 2017 and the financial statements and directors' report which are contained in the Annual Report, all of which are available on www.kingspan. com. Accordingly the Board is pleased to recommend a final dividend of 26 cent per share which, if approved at the Annual General Meeting, will give a total dividend for the year of 37 cent.
In accordance with Kingspan's commitment to best practice corporate governance, all of your Board will retire and offer themselves for re-election by the Shareholders. A brief biography of each of the directors is set out in the notes to the resolutions. The performance of the Board is reviewed annually, and each of the directors has made a substantial contribution to the leadership and governance of the Company during the year. Also this year, as part of Kingspan's shareholder engagement, the Board is once again putting the report of the Remuneration Committee to an advisory vote.
The first five items of special business at the AGM (Resolutions 6 to 10) relate to the share capital of the Company and the renewal of authorities previously given for a further 12 month period. These are matters which are now standard for most public companies.
Your participation at the AGM is important for the Company, and I would encourage every Shareholder to take part in the meeting, either by attending the AGM or (if you are not able to attend) by casting your vote by proxy. Details of how you can vote, either in person or by proxy, are set out in the general notes to this circular. You can also submit a question in advance of the AGM, by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Your Board believes that the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders. Accordingly the directors unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions, as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings of shares in the Company.
Yours sincerely,
Eugene Murtagh Chairman
20 April 2018 for the following purposes:
1. Financial statements 31 December 2017.
Following a review of the Company's affairs, to receive and adopt the financial statements and the reports of the directors and the auditors for the year ended
To declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2017 of 26 cent
per share.
3. Report of the Remuneration Committee
To approve the report on directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2017.
4(a) To re-elect Eugene Murtagh as a director.
To authorise the directors to fix the remuneration of the auditors for the year
6. Allotment of shares
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as an Ordinary Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 1021 of the Companies Act 2014 to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities within the meaning of Section 1021 of that Act up to an amount equal to the authorised but as yet unissued share capital of the Company at the close of business on the date of the passing of this resolution. The authority hereby conferred shall expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution and 20 July 2019 unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in General Meeting provided however that the Company may make an offer or agreement before the expiry of this authority which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after this authority has expired and the directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
Company's issued share capital
Subject to the passing of the previous resolution, to consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to Section 1022 and Section 1023 of the Companies Act 2014 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 1023 of that Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 6 above as if subsection (1) of the said Section 1022 did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited:
That the Company and/or any subsidiary (as defined by Section 7 of the Companies Act 2014) of the Company be hereby generally authorised to make market purchases (as defined by Section 1072 of the Companies Act 2014) of shares of any class in the Company ("Shares") on such terms and conditions and in such manner as the directors may determine from time to time but subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2014 and to the following restrictions and provisions:
| 9. | Purchase of own shares | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| shall be the higher of: | ||||
(a) the aggregate nominal value of the Shares authorised to be acquired pursuant to the terms of this resolution shall not exceed 10% of the aggregate nominal value of the issued share capital of the Company as at the close of business on the date of the passing of this resolution; and
(b) the minimum price which may be paid for any Share shall be an amount equal to the nominal value thereof; and
(c) the maximum price which may be paid for any Share (a "Relevant Share")
(i) an amount equal to 105% of the average market value of a Share as determined in accordance with this paragraph (c); and
(ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the Irish Stock Exchange at the time the purchase is carried out,
where the average market value of a Share for the purpose of subparagraph (i) shall be the amount equal to the average of the five amounts resulting from determining whichever of the following ((1), (2) or (3) specified below) in respect of Shares of the same class as the Relevant Share shall be appropriate for each of the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Relevant Share is purchased as determined from the information published in the Irish Stock Exchange Daily Official List reporting the business done on each of those five days:
(1) if there shall be more than one dealing reported for the day, the average of the prices at which such dealings took place; or
(2) if there shall be only one dealing reported for the day, the price at which such dealing took place; or
(3) if there shall not be any dealing reported for the day, the average of the closing bid and offer prices for the day;
and if there shall be only a bid (but not an offer) price or an offer (but not a bid) price reported, or if there shall not be any bid or offer price reported, for any particular day, that day shall not be treated as a business day for the purposes of determining the maximum price; provided that, if the means of providing the foregoing information as to dealings and prices by reference to which the maximum price is to be determined is altered or is replaced by some other means, then a maximum price shall be determined on the basis of the equivalent information published by the relevant authority in relation to dealings on the Irish Stock Exchange or its equivalent;
(d) the authority conferred by this resolution shall include authority to make overseas market purchases (as defined by Section 1072 of the Companies Act 2014) of Shares on the London Stock Exchange, provided that (a) any such purchase shall be subject to any requirements of the laws of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as shall apply thereto and (b) the maximum price which may be paid for any Shares so purchased shall be the higher of:
and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution or 20 July 2019 (whichever shall be earlier) save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
Subject to the passing of Resolution 6, to consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby empowered, in addition to any such power granted under Resolution 7, pursuant to Section 1022 and Section 1023 of the Companies Act 2014 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 1023 of that Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 6 above as if subsection (1) of the said Section 1022 did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be:
and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution or 20 July 2019 (whichever shall be earlier) save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
and if there shall be only a bid (but not an offer) price or an offer (but not a bid) price reported, or if there shall not be any bid or offer price reported, for any particular day, that day shall not be treated as a business day for the purposes of determining the Appropriate Price; provided that, if the means of providing the foregoing information as to dealings and prices by reference to which the Appropriate Price is to be determined is altered or is replaced by some other means, then the Appropriate Price shall be determined on the basis of the equivalent information published by the relevant authority in relation to dealings on the Irish Stock Exchange or its equivalent; and
(d) the authority hereby granted shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or on the date 18 months after the date of passing of this resolution (whichever is earlier) unless previously varied or renewed in accordance with the provisions of Section 109 and/or 1078 of the Companies Act 2014.
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to call a general meeting, other than an annual general meeting or a meeting for the passing of a special resolution, on not less than 14 days' notice. The authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the date of the passing of this resolution unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting.
Kingspan Group plc Registered Office: Dublin Road, Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, Ireland, A82 XY31 Telephone: +353 (0)42 969 8000; Fax: +353 (0)42 966 7501 Email: [email protected]; Internet: www.kingspan.com
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass as a Special Resolution:
That, subject to the passing of Resolution 9, for the purposes of Sections 109 and 1078 of the Companies Act 2014, the re-issue price range at which ordinary shares having a par value of €0.13 in the capital of the Company ("Shares") held as treasury shares ("Treasury Shares") may be re-issued off-market shall be as follows:
For the purposes of this Resolution the expression "Appropriate Price" shall mean an amount equal to the average of the five amounts resulting from determining whichever of the following ((1), (2) or (3) specified below) in relation to Shares shall be appropriate for each of the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Treasury Share is re-issued as determined from the information published in the Irish Stock Exchange Daily Official List reporting the business done on each of those five business days:
The directors will present the report and accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2017. A full copy of the Annual Report is available on www.kingspan.com.
The directors are proposing a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2017 of 26 cent per share. If approved, the final dividend will be paid (subject to Irish withholding tax rules) on 27 April 2018 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 23 March 2018.
The Report of the Remuneration Committee is contained in the Annual Report which is available on www.kingspan. com. It complies with the provisions of Section D of the UK Corporate Governance Code (April 2016) and the Irish Corporate Governance Annex. This is an advisory resolution, and is not binding on the Company.
Each of the executive directors has a combination of general business skills, and experience in the construction materials market. The non-executive directors represent a diverse business background complementing the executive directors' skills. The performance of the Board is reviewed annually, and each of the directors has made a substantial contribution to the leadership and governance of the Company during the year.
4(c) Geoff Doherty (46) is the Group Chief Financial Officer. He joined the Group, and was appointed to the Board, in January 2011. Skills & experience: Prior to joining Kingspan he was the chief financial officer of Greencore Group plc and chief executive of its property and agribusiness activities. He is a qualified chartered accountant, with extensive experience of capital markets and financial leadership in an international manufacturing environment. 4(h) Linda Hickey (56) was appointed to the Board in June 2013. Skills & experience: She is a registered stockbroker and the Head of Corporate Broking at Goodbody Capital Markets, where she has worked since 2004. Previously she worked at NCB Stockbrokers and Merrill Lynch. She brings to the Board her considerable knowledge and experience in capital markets and corporate governance. Committees: Audit (4 years), Remuneration (2½ year). External appointments: Member of the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
4(d) Russell Shiels (56) is President of the Group's Insulated Panels business in the Americas and the Group's global Access Floors business. He joined the Board in December 1996. Skills & experience: He has experience in many of the Group's key businesses, and was previously managing director of the Group's Building Components and Raised Access Floors businesses in the UK. He brings to the Board his particular knowledge of the North American building envelope market, as well as his understanding of the office and datacentre market globally.
Shareholders are being asked to provide, until the Annual General Meeting in 2019, an authority for the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, to purchase up to 10% of the Company's own shares. The directors would only exercise the power to purchase the Company's own shares at price levels which they considered to be in the best interests of shareholders generally, after taking account of the Company's overall financial position. The directors currently have no intention to exercise the Company's authority to purchase its own shares at the present time. The minimum price which may be paid for a purchase of the Company's own shares will be the nominal value of the ordinary shares, and the maximum price which may be paid shall be 105% of the then average market price of the ordinary shares.
Shareholders' approval is also being sought, where the Company's shares have been repurchased (such shares being known as Treasury Shares), for re-issue of these shares off-market at a maximum price of 120% of the then average market price of the ordinary shares, and a minimum price of 95% of that average. The directors have no current intention to re-issue such shares at the present time.
There were outstanding at 23 February 2018 (being the latest practicable date prior to publishing this notice), options to subscribe for 2,492,179 ordinary shares, representing approximately 1.39% of the Company's issued share capital at that date. If the repurchase authority were to be exercised in full, the shares subject to these options would represent approximately 1.54% of the Company's issued share capital.
Shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2019, the Company's authority to call a general meeting on 14 days' notice other than an annual general meeting or a meeting to consider any special resolution (being a resolution requiring a 75% majority vote). The Company confirms that it would only use the shorter notice period where it is merited by the purpose of the meeting, and directors consider that it is in the interests of the Company to retain this flexibility.
The directors are seeking to renew their authority to fix the remuneration of the auditors for the year ending 31 December 2018.
Shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2019, the usual annual authority of the directors to allot the unissued share capital of the Company which is equal to 39.33% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 23 February 2018 (being the latest practicable date prior to publishing this notice). The Company holds1,919,219 ordinary shares in treasury representing 1.07% of the total ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares). The directors will exercise this authority only if they consider this to be in the best interests of shareholders generally at that time. The directors currently have no intention to allot such shares at the present time.
In addition, shareholders are being asked to renew, until the Annual General Meeting in 2019, the power of the directors to dis-apply the statutory pre-emption provisions applying to issues of ordinary shares for cash in the event of a rights issue and for any other issue for cash up to an aggregate of 5% of the nominal value of the Company's issued ordinary share capital. The directors currently have no intention to allot such shares at the present time and will exercise this power only if they consider this to be in the best interests of shareholders generally at that time.
Resolution 8, if passed, would also give the directors the power, in certain limited circumstances, to allot equity securities for cash without first being required to offer such shares to the existing shareholders in accordance with statutory pre-emption provisions.
The disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of a further 5% of the Company's issued share capital in addition to the power proposed to be granted pursuant to Resolution 7 reflects the guidance from the UK Pre-Emption Group's revised Statement of Principles published on 12 March 2015 (the Statement of Principles) and the Guidance issued by the Pre-Emption Group on 5 May 2016. Apart from in connection with rights issues and other pre-emptive offers, the power will be limited to the allotment of equity securities for cash up to an aggregate of 5% of the nominal value of the Company's issued ordinary share capital provided that the power can only be used in connection with the financing or refinancing of an acquisition or specified capital investment (within the meaning of the Statement of Principles). Any such refinancing must be within six months of the original transaction. The directors will have due regard to the Statement of Principles in relation to any exercise of this power and will exercise this power only if they consider this to be in the best interests of shareholders generally at that time. The directors have no current intention to exercise this power.
Resolution 9: Purchase of own shares
CREST members may appoint one or more proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service in accordance with the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members who have appointed a voting service provider(s) should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf. Further information on CREST procedures and requirements is contained in the CREST Manual. The message appointing a proxy(ies) must be transmitted so as to be received by the Company's Registrar (CREST Participant ID 3RA50) by the latest times(s) for receipt of proxy appointments specified in this notice of meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp generated by the CREST system) from which the Registrar is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. The Company may treat as invalid a proxy instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Companies Act 1990 (Uncertificated Securities) Regulations 1996.
CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK and Ireland does not make available 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 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 ordinary resolutions require a simple majority of votes cast by shareholders voting in person or by proxy to be passed. The special resolutions require a majority of not less than 75% of votes cast by those who vote either in person or by proxy to be passed.
In addition to the above, the request must be made in accordance with one of the following ways:
A draft resolution must not be such as would be incapable of being passed or otherwise be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association or otherwise). Any draft resolution must not be defamatory of any person.
The request:
In addition to the above, the request must be made in accordance with one of the following ways:
Any requested item must not be defamatory of any person.
www.kingspan.com
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