Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement • Dec 31, 2018
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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If you are in any doubt about the action to be taken, you should immediately consult your bank manager, stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Albion Development VCT PLC (the "Company"), please send this document and accompanying documents, as soon as possible, to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, independent financial adviser or other person through whom the sale and transfer was effected for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting for the Company in respect of the subject matter of this Circular and no one else and, subject to the responsibilities and liabilities imposed by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Howard Kennedy or for providing advice to any other person in relation to the contents of this document or on any other matter referred to in this Circular.
(Incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 03654040)
Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of the Company set out on pages 3 to 6 which contains a unanimous recommendation from the Board to vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting to be held on 30 May 2019 at City of London Club, 19 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1DS immediately following the Annual General Meeting.
Notice of the General Meeting is set out at the end of this Circular.
To be valid, the form of proxy relating to the General Meeting should be completed and returned not later than 12 noon on 28 May 2019, either by post or by hand to Computershare Investor Services Plc, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZZ or completed electronically at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy.
Part I: Letter from the Chairman
Part II: Additional Information
Part III: Definitions
Notice of General Meeting
(Incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 03654040)
Directors Geoffrey Vero Lyn Goleby Ben Larkin Patrick Reeve
Registered Office: 1 King's Arms Yard London EC2R 7AF
25 March 2019
Dear Shareholders
I am writing to you to propose two changes to the Management Agreement with Albion Capital, the Company's investment manager.
The first is to amend the Current Performance Incentive arrangements, in order to recognise the changes that have taken place in the financial and regulatory environment in recent years. The second is to reduce the Company's operating expenses by lowering the total expenses cap, above which any additional expenses are borne by the Manager. As these are related party transactions, both of these proposals are to be put to Shareholder vote in a single Resolution at the General Meeting to be held on 30 May 2019 immediately following the AGM.
In addition to providing you with further details of the Proposals, this document also explains the reasons why the Board recommends unanimously that you vote in favour of the Resolution. Your attention is directed to the section entitled "Action to be taken" on page 6 of this document which sets out the details of the action you should take.
Before reviewing the current incentive arrangements, it is worth reviewing the Company's performance since launch. Overall, this has been pleasing, as is shown below:
| Class of Share | Year of Launch | NAV and Dividends | Annualised Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Share | 1999 | 180.5p | 4.5% |
| C Share | 2002 | 175.9p | 5.3% |
| D Share | 2010 | 170.8p | 7.9% |
In addition, the chart below shows that the Ordinary Shares, since launch, have performed fairly closely overall with the FTSE All-Share Index.
The Board believes that an effective management performance incentive is in the interests of Shareholders. This is for two reasons: First, because it aligns the interests of the Manager with those of Shareholders. Second, because, in a competitive environment for venture capital professionals, it enables the Manager to hire and retain quality investment staff.
The Current Performance Incentive dates from 2007. It has a hurdle rate of 6.5 pence p.a., and a starting point as the then NAV of 98.7 pence per share. Because the Ordinary and the C Shares had by then merged, they were treated as Ordinary Shares for the purpose of the incentive. Following the merger of the D Shares with the Ordinary Shares at the start of 2015, the relative performance of the Ordinary Shares and D Shares were calculated separately, with the D Shares being deemed to account for 20 per cent. of the total. By way of note, the D Share portfolio was sufficiently different from the Ordinary Share portfolio that it was decided to treat them separately.
The only performance incentive fees paid to date have been £42,227 (plus VAT which was subsequently recovered) in respect of the year to 31 December 2007 and £52,680 in 2009 following the recovery of historic VAT on management fees. In addition, due to its exceptionally strong performance, £420,000 is expected to be paid in respect of the D Share performance incentive to 31 December 2018 (which accounts for 20 per cent. of the performance of the Company as a whole).
Notwithstanding this, the current 6.5p hurdle is nevertheless high for a VCT, for three main reasons. First, the incentive was designed when interest rates and the risk free returns on cash were considerably higher than they are now. Second, it was designed for an investment policy which gave investors a predictable return with half of the portfolio being invested in asset-based businesses, which in turn would provide stability and income generation. Under the new VCT rules introduced following the 2017 Budget, this is no longer possible, and new qualifying investments need to be in higher risk, growth and technology companies, which will inevitably produce a more volatile, less predictable and possibly lower return. Third, the hurdle does not fully take into account the 'cash drag' of a closed ended fund which needs to have significant liquidity (the Board targets holding around 15 per cent. of the Company's assets in cash), nor the fact that a VCT's quoted status means that its overheads are higher than for a traditional private equity fund. This is notwithstanding the fact that the expenses cap is being lowered.
The New Performance Incentive will no longer differentiate between the Ordinary Shares and the former D Shares. In addition, the New Performance Incentive will adjust the hurdle to a more realistic level, whilst still retaining the principle that the Manager should only be rewarded if Shareholders have achieved inflation-beating returns.
Under the Proposals, the existing annual hurdle rate will be replaced by a new hurdle linked to RPI +2 per cent. This is because a return based on RPI is a useful measure for a long term savings product in a potentially inflation-prone environment, and this level of hurdle is both broadly in line with other private equity VCTs and is a realistically achievable objective to incentivise the Manager appropriately for the benefit of the Company. The hurdle would be calculated every year, based on the previous year's closing NAV per Share. The Manager will continue to receive an amount equal to 20 per cent of the returns achieved in excess of the hurdle. If the hurdle is missed in any year, then it will continue to compound until the next year that the hurdle is exceeded. At the current rate of RPI, the hurdle would be equivalent to 4.5 per cent per annum. By way of note, this is similar to the performance of the Ordinary Shares since launch. The starting point for the New Performance Incentive will be 1 January 2019 with a starting NAV of 84.7 pence per Share, being the audited net asset value per Ordinary Share at 31 December 2018.
The operating expense ratios of VCTs, whilst higher than other forms of closed ended funds, have been reducing over the years, partly because the VCTs themselves have been becoming bigger, resulting in economies of scale. This is clearly a welcome trend.
The cap for the Company's Total Expense Ratio ("TER") is currently 3 per cent., which is similar to most of the VCT industry. However, the actual TER is currently rather lower than this, at 2.64 per cent. for the year to 31 December 2018. As part of the overall Proposals, the Board has agreed with the Manager that the TER cap be reduced to 2.5 per cent per annum commencing from 1 January 2019. This would compare favourably with most VCTs. This provision would be included in the proposed revised Management Agreement, and result in a reduction in management fees, at current NAV levels, of approximately £83,000 p.a.
Further details of the Proposals are set out in paragraph 6 of Part II of this Circular.
Under the Listing Rules, the Manager is a related party of the Company and the Proposals constitute a related party transaction, requiring the approval of the Independent Shareholders. The Resolution approving the Proposals, which are set out in the Deed of Variation, will, therefore, be proposed at the General Meeting.
If the Resolution is not passed by the Independent Shareholders, the Deed of Variation will not become effective and the terms of the existing Management Agreement will remain in force.
If the proposals set out in this Circular are not approved by Shareholders, the Manager may find it more difficult to recruit and retain staff and this may affect the performance of the Manager and thereby returns to Shareholders.
Shareholders will find included with the Circular a form of proxy for use at the General Meeting. Whether or not you propose to attend the General Meeting, you are requested to complete and return the form of proxy so as to be received not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the General Meeting. Completion and return of the form of proxy will not prevent a Shareholder from attending and voting in person at the General Meeting should a Shareholder wish to do so.
The Board considers that the Proposals are in the best interests of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole and recommends you to vote in favour of the Resolution. Patrick Reeve is the managing partner of the Manager which is a related party of the Company under the Listing Rules. Accordingly Patrick Reeve has not taken part in the Board's consideration of the Proposals.
The Board, which has been so advised by Howard Kennedy as sponsor to the Company, considers that the arrangements set out in this Circular are fair and reasonable as far as the Shareholders are concerned. In providing its advice, the Sponsor has taken into account the Board's commercial assessment of the Proposals.
All the Directors, other than Patrick Reeve, intend voting in favour of the Resolution in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings in the Company which, at the date of this Circular, total 191,961 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 0.26 per cent. of the issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares)).
Patrick Reeve, a director of the Company and the managing partner of Albion Capital, will not vote on the Resolution in respect of his holding of Ordinary Shares in the Company as he is not an Independent Shareholder and the Manager has undertaken to take all reasonable steps to ensure that its Associates will not vote on the Resolution.
Yours sincerely
Geoffrey Vero Chairman
The Company and the Directors, whose names appear on page 3, accept responsibility for the information contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Company and the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
As at 22 March 2019 (being the latest practicable date before publication of this Circular), there were 74,788,313 issued Ordinary Shares, excluding 9,072,156 Ordinary Shares held in treasury, each ranking pari passu. The Ordinary Shares are listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority.
3.1 The interests of the Directors, or persons connected with such Directors, (all of which are beneficial unless otherwise stated) in the issued Ordinary Shares as at 22 March 2019 (being the latest practicable date before publication of this Circular) were:
| Director | Ordinary Shares |
|---|---|
| Geoffrey Vero | 41,394 |
| Lyn Goleby | - |
| Ben Larkin | 150,567 |
| Patrick Reeve | 166,363 |
In addition, Geoffrey Vero has submitted an application to subscribe £120,000 for Ordinary Shares, Lyn Goleby has submitted an application to subscribe £20,000 for Ordinary Shares and Ben Larkin has submitted an application to subscribe £50,000 for Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Albion VCTs Prospectus Top Up Offers 2018/2019.
3.2 Save as disclosed above, no Director, nor (so far as is known to the relevant Director) any person connected with a Director, has any interest in the issued Ordinary Shares.
As at 22 March 2019 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Circular), the Directors were not aware of any direct or indirect holdings of 3 per cent. or more of the Company's issued Ordinary Shares or of any person who, directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, exercises control over the Company.
Other than the contracts listed in (a) to (j) below, the Company has not entered into (i) any contract (not being a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business) within the two years immediately preceding the date of this Circular which is or may be material; or (ii) any ther contract (not being a contract entered into in the ordinary course of business) which contains any provision under which the Company has any obligation or entitlement which is material to the Company as at the date of this Circular.
(a) A Management Agreement dated 10 December 1998 (as novated, amended and supplemented) pursuant to which the Manager provides discretionary investment management and administration services to Albion Development VCT. Under the Management Agreement, the Manager is paid an annual management fee equal to 2.25 per cent. of Albion Development VCT's net assets which is paid quarterly in arrears.
The total annual running costs of the Company, including fees payable to the Manager, Directors' fees, professional fees and the costs incurred by the Company in the ordinary course of business (but excluding any exceptional items and performance fees payable by the Manager) are capped at an amount equal to 3.0 per cent. of the Company's net assets, with any excess being met by the Manager by way of a reduction in management fees.
The Manager is, in addition, entitled to a performance fee. No performance fee is payable to the Manager until the total return exceeds 6.5 pence per Albion Development VCT Share per annum from a base on 1 January 2007 of 98.7 pence for the Albion Development VCT Ordinary Shares and 100 pence for the Albion Development VCT D Shares from the date of first admission of those shares. If the target return is not achieved in a period, the cumulative shortfall is carried forward to the next accounting period and has to be made up before an incentive fee becomes payable. To the extent that the total return exceeds the threshold over the relevant period, a performance fee will be paid to the Manager of an amount equal to 20 per cent. of the excess.
The Management Agreement is terminable by either party by one year's prior written notice, subject to earlier termination by either party in the event of, inter alia, either party committing a material breach of the Management Agreement and failing to rectify the same within 45 days of being requested to do so or if Albion Development VCT fails to become or ceases to be a venture capital trust for tax purposes or if the Manager shall cease to be lawfully able to carry out its obligations under the Management Agreement.
If terminated by Albion Development VCT without due cause or on less than requisite notice, the Manager shall be entitled to receive an amount representing the fees which would have been payable during the period for which notice shall not have been given, calculated by reference to the previous quarterly payments.
The Management Agreement will terminate automatically without compensation, if either party enters into liquidation or has a receiver or administrator appointed over it or its assets, if the Manager ceases to be permitted to act as manager, if the Manager commits an act of fraud or upon the passing of a resolution for the voluntary liquidation, reconstruction or reorganisation of the Company as provided under its articles of association.
The Management Agreement contains provisions indemnifying the Manager against any liability not due to its default, negligence, fraud, breach of FSMA or the rules of the FCA.
In line with common practice in the VCT sector, the Manager is entitled to an arrangement fee, payable by each Investee Company, of approximately 2 per cent. on each investment made and is entitled to any non-executive director fees in respect of the Manager's representation on the boards of investee companies.
For the purposes of calculating the fees paid to the Manager, the values of the investments are calculated in accordance with Albion Development VCT normal accounting policies, with any disputes being referred to Albion Development VCT's auditors.
The annual management fees will be charged as to 75 per cent. against capital reserves for accounting purposes, with the balance and all other expenses being charged against revenue. Any performance fees payable to the Manager will be allocated between capital and revenue reserves on a basis to be determined by the Board.
(d) An allocation of investments agreement dated 8 December 2010 (as supplemented by a side letter dated 6 June 2013) (the "Allocation Agreement") between the Manager and the Albion VCTs, pursuant to which the parties have agreed how the allocation of investment opportunities will be regulated. This agreement provides that where more than one of the Albion VCTs wishes to invest in an investee company, the allocation shall be made in accordance with the ratio of funds available for investment, save that (i) where an Albion VCT has less than 75 per cent. of its holdings being qualifying, such weighting shall be increased to 1.5 times or (ii) where an Albion VCT is in the process of disposing an investment, such expected funds shall have a weighting reduced to 0.5 times.
(e) A letter of engagement dated 13 June 2017 between the Albion VCTs and the Sponsor (the "June 2017 Engagement Letter") pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to act as sponsor to the Albion VCTs for the purposes of the 2017/18 offers. The engagement could be terminated at any time by either party on giving reasonable written notice to the other.
On 25 March 2019 the Company and the Manager entered into the Deed of Variation which, subject to the passing of the Resolution, will vary the Management Agreement as follows:
(a) By deleting the existing definition of Target Return and substituting therefor the following new definition;
"Target Return" RPI plus 2 per cent;
(b) By inserting the following new definition of RPI as follows:
"RPI" the general index of retail prices published by the Office of National Statistics each month;
(c) By deleting reference to the former D Shares; and
(d) By inserting the following new clause 5:
The total recurring annual running expenses of the Company, including fees payable to the Manager, Directors' fees, professional fees and the costs incurred by the Company in the ordinary course of business (but excluding any exceptional items and performance fees payable by the Manager) are capped at an amount equal to 2.5 per cent of the average net assets attributable to the shareholders of the Company for a Financial Period, with any excess being met by the Manager by way of a reduction in management fees.
None of the Directors has a service contract with the Company and the services of the Directors are provided to the Company pursuant to letters of appointment, under which they are required to devote such time to the affairs of the Company as the Board reasonably requires consistent with their role as a non-executive director.
The Directors are each currently entitled to receive the following annual fees:
| Director | £ |
|---|---|
| Geoffrey Vero | 24,000 |
| Lyn Goleby | 22,000 |
| Ben Larkin | 22,000 |
| Patrick Reeve | Nil |
Since 31 December 2018 (being the end of the last financial period for the Company for which audited financial information has been published), there has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of the Company.
9.2 Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP is acting for the Company and no one else in connection with the advice given to the Board referred to in this Circular. Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference number 523524).
9.3 Howard Kennedy has given and has not withdrawn its written consent to (i) the issue of this Circular with the references to it in the form and context in which they appear and (ii) the inclusion of the statement on page 6 of this Circular that it has advised the Board that it considers the Resolution to be fair and reasonable as far as the Shareholders are concerned.
Copies of the following documents are available for inspection from the date of this Circular at the registered office of the Company at 1 King's Arms Yard, London EC2R 7AF during normal business hours on any day (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) until the conclusion of the General Meeting and will also be available for inspection at the place of the General Meeting during, and for at least 15 minutes before, the General Meeting:
25 March 2019
| 'Albion VCTs' | Albion Development VCT PLC, Albion Enterprise VCT PLC, Albion Technology & General VCT PLC, Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC, Crown Place VCT PLC and Kings Arms Yard VCT PLC |
|---|---|
| "Albion VCTs Prospectus Top Up Offers 2018/2019" |
the Albion VCTs' offers for subscription, as set out in a prospectus dated 7 January 2019 |
| 'Annual General Meeting' | the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on 30 May 2019 (or any adjournment thereof) |
| 'Associate' | has the meaning given in the Listing Rules |
| 'Board' or 'Directors' | the board of directors of the Company |
| 'the Circular' | this document dated 25 March 2019 |
| 'the Company' | Albion Development VCT PLC |
| 'Current Performance Incentive' |
the performance incentive agreement between the Company and Albion Capital as set out in the Management Agreement |
| 'D Shares' | former D Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company which were converted into Ordinary Shares on 31 March 2015 |
| 'Deed of Variation' | the deed of variation dated 25 March 2019 between the Company and the Manager, varying certain terms of the Management Agreement and the principal terms of which are summarised in paragraph 6 of Part II of this Circular |
| 'Howard Kennedy' or 'Sponsor' |
Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP, registered number OC354088 |
| 'FCA' | The Financial Conduct Authority, or its successor regulator |
| 'FSMA' | The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
| 'General Meeting' | the general meeting of the Company to be held on 30 May 2019 (or any adjournment thereof) |
| 'Independent Shareholders' | Shareholders other than the Manager and its Associates |
| 'Listing Rules' | the listing rules issued by the FCA in accordance with section 73A of FSMA |
| 'Management Agreement' | the Management agreement between the Company and the Manager dated 10 December 1998 (as novated, amended and supplemented), summarised in paragraph 5(a) of Part II of this Circular |
|---|---|
| 'Manager' or 'Albion Capital' | Albion Capital Group LLP, registered number OC341254, whose registered office is 1 King's Arms Yard, London, EC2R 7AF |
| 'NAV' | net asset value |
| 'New Performance Incentive' | the new performance incentive to be included in the Deed of Variation, forming part of the Proposals |
| 'Proposals' | the proposals to amend the Management Agreement by introducing a New Performance Incentive and reducing the expenses cap on the Company's operating expenses as summarised in paragraph 6 of Part II of this Circular |
| 'Resolution' | the resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting |
| 'RPI' | the general index of retail prices published by the Office of National Statistics each month |
| 'Shareholders' | holders of Shares |
| 'Shares' or 'Ordinary Shares' | ordinary shares of 1 penny each in the capital of the Company; |
| 'Total Expense Ratio' or 'TER' | the total recurring annual running expenses of the Company as a percentage of the average net assets attributable to Shareholders for a year |
| 'Total Return' | the aggregate of the net asset value of the Company and dividends paid by the Company |
| 'Total Return Hurdle' | the Total Return hurdle that must be achieved in order for an Incentive Payment to be made, as detailed in Part I |
| 'VCT' | a venture capital trust, as defined in Section 259 Income Taxes Act 2007 |
(Incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 03654040)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Meeting of Albion Development VCT PLC (the "Company") will be held at the City of London Club, 19 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1DS on 30 May 2019 immediately following the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company convened for 12:00 noon for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolution which will be proposed as an ordinary resolution:
That the Deed of Variation, as defined in, and details of which are set out in, the circular issued to the Company's shareholders dated 25 March 2019, be and is hereby approved.
By Order of the Board
Albion Capital Group LLP Company Secretary Registered office: 1 King's Arms Yard London EC2R 7AF
25 March 2019
Notes
Return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude a member from attending the meeting and voting in person. A member may not use any electronic address provided in the Notice of this meeting to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
To be effective the Form of Proxy must be completed in accordance with the instructions and received by the Registrars of the Company by 12:00 noon on 28 May 2019.
In accordance with good governance practice, the Company is offering shareholders use of an online service, offered by the Company's registrar, Computershare Investor Services, at www.eproxyappointment.com. Shareholders can use this service to vote or appoint a proxy online. The same voting deadline of 12:00 noon on 28 May 2019 applies as if you were using your Personalised Voting Form to vote or appoint a proxy by post to vote for you. Shareholders who hold their shares electronically may submit their votes through CREST, by submitting the appropriate and authenticated CREST message so as to be received by the Company's registrar not later than 48 hours before the start of the meeting. Instructions on how to vote through CREST can be found by accessing the following website: www.euroclear.com/CREST. Shareholders should not show this information to anyone unless they wish to give proxy instructions on their behalf.
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 Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited's specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com/CREST). The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent by 12:00 noon on 28 May 2019. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the CREST Application 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 Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. 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, to procure that his or her 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.
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.
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