Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Jun 4, 2019
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (''FSMA"), if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your Ordinary Shares in Domino's Pizza Group plc (the "Company"), please send this document, together with the accompanying Form of Proxy, as soon as possible, to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for delivery to the purchaser or transferee. If you have sold or otherwise transferred only part of your holding, you should retain these documents.
THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO ANY PERSON TO SUBSCRIBE FOR OR PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES IN DOMINO'S PIZZA GROUP PLC.
(Incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with company number 03853545)
AND
This document should be read in conjunction with the enclosed Form of Proxy. You should read this document in its entirety and consider whether or not to vote in favour of the Resolution in light of the information contained in this document. Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of the Company which is set out on pages 4 and 5 of this document and contains the recommendation of the Board to Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting referred to below.
Notice of a General Meeting of Domino's Pizza Group plc to be held at 11.00 a.m. on 1 July 2019 at the Company's registered offices at 1 Thornbury, West Ashland, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 4BB, United Kingdom is set out on pages 6 to 8 of this document. Details of the actions you are recommended to take are set out on page 5 of this document. Whether or not you plan to attend the General Meeting, please complete the enclosed Form of Proxy and return it in accordance with the instructions printed thereon as soon as possible, but in any event so as to be received by the Company's registrars, Equiniti Limited at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA, United Kingdom by no later than 11:00 a.m. on 28 June 2019 (or, in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). Alternatively, if you hold Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form, you may also appoint a proxy by completing and transmitting a CREST proxy instruction in accordance with the procedures set out in the CREST Manual ensuring that it is received by Equiniti Limited (ID: RA19) by no later than 11:00 a.m. on 28 June 2019 (or in the case of any adjournment, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting). The completion and return of a Form of Proxy or using the CREST electronic proxy appointment service will not prevent you from attending, speaking and voting at the General Meeting, or any adjournment thereof, in person should you wish to do so.
Any person (including, without limitation, custodians, nominees and trustees) who may have a contractual or legal obligation or may otherwise intend to forward this document to any jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom should seek appropriate advice before taking any action. The distribution of this document and any accompanying documents into jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law. Any person not in the United Kingdom into whose possession this document and any accompany documents come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.
| Page | |
|---|---|
| DIRECTORS, COMPANY SECRETARY AND ADVISERS | 3 |
| EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS | 3 |
| PART I – LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF DOMINO'S PIZZA GROUP PLC | 4 |
| PART II – NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING | 6 |
| PART III – DEFINITIONS | 9 |
Stephen Hemsley (Non-Executive Chairman) Colin Halpern (Non-Executive Vice Chairman) David Wild (Chief Executive Officer) David Bauernfeind (Chief Financial Officer) Helen Keays (Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director) Ian Bull (Non-Executive Director) Kevin Higgins (Non-Executive Director) Ebbe Jacobsen (Non-Executive Director)
Adrian Bushnell
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (London) 41 Lothbury London EC2R 7HF United Kingdom
Equiniti Limited Aspect House Spencer Road Lancing West Sussex BN99 6DA United Kingdom
| Event | Time and Date |
|---|---|
| Publication of this document | 4 June 2019 |
| Latest time for receipt of Forms of Proxy or CREST Proxy Instructions for the General Meeting |
11:00 a.m. 28 June 2019 |
| Record date for voting | 6:30 p.m. 27 June 2019 |
| General meeting | 11:00 a.m. 1 July 2019 |
| Announcement of results of the General Meeting | 1 July 2019 |
Notes:
1 All time references in this document are to London time unless otherwise stated.
2 The dates and times given in this document are based on the Company's current expectation and may be subject to change.
3 Any changes to the timetable set out above will be announced via a Regulatory Information Service.
(Incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985 with company number 03853545)
Stephen Hemsley (Non-Executive Chairman) Colin Halpern (Non-Executive Vice Chairman) David Wild (Chief Executive Officer) David Bauernfeind (Chief Financial Officer) Helen Keays (Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director) Ian Bull (Non-Executive Director) Kevin Higgins (Non-Executive Director) Ebbe Jacobsen (Non-Executive Director)
Directors: Registered Office: 1 Thornbury West Ashland Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK6 4BB United Kingdom
4 June 2019
Dear Shareholder,
The Board is seeking shareholder approval to amend the limit on the Company's borrowing powers as currently set out in its Articles of Association (the "Articles"). Under Article 104.2 of the Articles, the Company sets a limit on the level of borrowings based on a multiple of the adjusted capital and reserves of the Group as set out in its audited balance sheet. On adopting the Articles in April 2018, the Company elected to retain a borrowing power threshold equivalent to five times the amount of the Group's adjusted capital and reserves (as defined in the Articles). The full text of Article 104.2 is set out below:
"Article 104.2 -– The Board shall restrict the borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiaries (if any) so as to secure (but as regards the subsidiaries only in so far as by the exercise of such rights and powers of control the Board can secure) that the aggregate principal amount from time to time outstanding of all borrowings by the Group (exclusive of borrowings owing by one member of the Group to another member of the Group, other than amounts to be taken into account under Article 104.3(b)(iii)) shall not, without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company, at any time exceed an amount equal to five times the Adjusted Capital and Reserves."
Following a further review of the 2018 ARA, the Board has become aware that as a result of certain one-off asset impairments and the recognition of such charges on the Group's consolidated balance sheet, the amount of the Group's adjusted capital and reserves (as calculated in accordance with the Articles) has been significantly reduced. Given that the Group's reserves had previously been reduced by, amongst other things, the 2018 Share Buy Back, to ensure that the Company continues to operate in accordance with its Articles, the Board wishes to seek the approval of the Shareholders to amend the restriction on the borrowing powers of the Group such that the limit will be the greater of: (i) a fixed limit of £500 million; and (ii) an amount equal to five times the adjusted capital and reserves. The Board considers a fixed limit of £500 million to be appropriate given the Group's current business and its prospective business.
The Dominos' business model continues to generate strong cash flows and the Group monitors its overall level of financial gearing on a regular basis to ensure that it remains well within its borrowing targets and banking covenants. In particular, the Group continues to maintain comfortable headroom within its £350.0 million revolving credit facility (which matures in December 2023 with the option of a further one-year extension) and complies with each of the lending covenants (as set out therein). At the end of FY18, net debt was £203.3 million giving the Company a leverage ratio of 1.85x which was within the Company's target leverage ratio of 1.75 – 2.5 times net debt/EBITDA. Amending the borrowing limits in the Articles will not change the Group's borrowing policy or impact on its target leverage ratio.
The Group's external borrowings are already limited by existing internal controls, the need to maintain a favourable credit rating and the principles of sound corporate governance. There has been no significant change in the Group's debt levels since the publication of the 2018 ARA and the adoption of the amended limit will not change the Group's borrowing policy. The Board therefore believes that the amendment is in the best commercial interests of the Group and will avoid a breach of the calculation metrics in the Articles. The purpose of this document is therefore to convene a general meeting to propose a resolution, which will, if passed, amend the Articles such that the Group's borrowing powers will be limited to the greater of: (i) £500 million; and (ii) an amount equal to five times the adjusted capital and reserves (as defined in the Articles).
A copy of the Articles and the proposed articles of association as to be amended will be available in hard copy for inspection during normal business hours on any weekday (except for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) at the registered office of the Company and at the offices of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (London) at 41 Lothbury, London, EC2R 7HF, United Kingdom up to the time of the General Meeting. Copies will also be available at the place of the General Meeting until the conclusion of the General Meeting.
Notice of a General Meeting of the Company, which will be held at the Company's registered office at 1 Thornbury, West Ashland, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 4BB, United Kingdom at 11:00 a.m. on 1 July 2019, is set out in Part II of this document.
Whether or not you will be attending the General Meeting, I would urge you to complete, sign and return the accompanying Form of Proxy to the Company's registrars, Equiniti Limited at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA, United Kingdom as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to arrive by no later than 11:00 a.m. on 28 June 2019. Alternatively, you can register your proxy electronically in accordance with the instructions on the Form of Proxy. Further details are given in the notes to the Notice set out on pages 6 to 8 of this document. Completion and return of a Form of Proxy will not preclude Shareholders from attending and voting in person at the General Meeting, should they so wish. The attention of corporate Shareholders wishing to appoint more than one corporate representative is drawn to note 9 to the Notice set out on page 7 of this document.
This document is also being sent to those who have been nominated to receive information rights under section 146 of the Act who do not themselves have a right to appoint a proxy or proxies. The attention of such nominated persons is drawn to note 2 to the Notice set out on page 7 of this document.
The Board is of the opinion that approving the Resolution is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and, therefore, recommends that the Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting.
Yours faithfully,
Stephen Hemsley Chairman
Notice is hereby given that a general meeting of Domino's Pizza Group plc (the Company) will be held at the Company's registered office at 1 Thornbury, West Ashland, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 4BB, United Kingdom on 1 July 2019 at 11:00 a.m. to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following special resolution. Voting on this resolution will be by way of poll.
THAT the Articles be amended by deleting the current Article 104.2 in its entirety and replacing it with the following Article 104.2:
"The Board shall restrict the borrowings of the Company and exercise all voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the Company in relation to its subsidiaries (if any) so as to secure (but as regards the subsidiaries only in so far as by the exercise of such rights and powers of control the Board can secure) that the aggregate principal amount from time to time outstanding of all borrowings by the Group (exclusive of borrowings owing by one member of the Group to another member of the Group, other than amounts to be taken into account under Article 104.3(b)(iii)) shall not, without the previous sanction of an ordinary resolution of the Company, at any time exceed the greater of £500,000,000 and an amount equal to five times the Adjusted Capital and Reserves."
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
ADRIAN BUSHNELL COMPANY SECRETARY 4 June 2019
1 Thornbury West Ashland Milton Keynes Buckinghamshire MK6 4BB United Kingdom
Registered in England and Wales with company number 03853545
open 8:30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday) or on +44 (0)121 415 0926 (from overseas). If more than one valid proxy appointment is submitted, the appointment received last before the deadline for the receipt of proxies will take precedence.
The following definitions apply throughout this document unless the context otherwise requires:
| "2018 ARA" | Company's means the annual report and accounts for the 52 weeks ended 30 December 2018; |
|---|---|
| "2018 Share Buy Back" | means the Company's share purchase programme announced on 18 October 2018 as further described in the 2018 ARA; |
| "Act" | means the Companies Act 2006; |
| "Board" or "Directors" | means the board of directors of the Company; |
| "Company" | means Domino's Pizza Group plc (company number 03853545) whose registered office is at, 1 Thornbury, West Ashland, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 4BB, United Kingdom; |
| "EBITDA" | means earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation; |
| "FCA Handbook" | means the FCA's Handbook of Rules and Guidance; |
| "Financial Conduct Authority" or "FCA" |
means the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom; |
| "Form of Proxy" | means the form of proxy enclosed with this document for use by shareholders of the Company in connection with the General Meeting; |
| "FSMA" | means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended; |
| "FY18" | means the Company's financial year for the 52 weeks ended 30 December 2018; |
| "General Meeting" | means the general meeting of the Company to be held at 11:00 a.m. on 1 July 2019 (or any adjournment thereof) at the Company's registered office at 1 Thornbury, West Ashland, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK6 4BB, United Kingdom, notice of which is set out in Part II of this document; |
| "Group" | means the Company and each of its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and Group Company means any one of them; |
| "Listing Rules" | means the listing rules made by the FCA under Part VI of the FSMA (as set out in the FCA Handbook), as amended; |
| "Notice" | means the Notice of General Meeting, details of which are set out in Part II of this document; |
| "Ordinary Shares" | means the ordinary shares of 25/48 of a penny each in the share capital of the Company; |
| "Resolution" | means the special resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting, the full text of which is set out in the Notice set out in Part II of this document; |
| "Shareholders" | means holders of Ordinary Shares. |
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