Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Jul 11, 2022
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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THIS CIRCULAR IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you should consult an appropriate independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 immediately. If you have sold or transferred all your Ordinary Shares in the Company, please forward this Circular together with the Form of Proxy to the purchaser, transferee, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
Notice of the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of NVM Private Equity LLP at Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4SN at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022 is set out on pages 6 to 8 of the Circular. A Form of Proxy for use at the meeting is attached, as is a form for the submission of questions. To be valid, Forms of Proxy should be completed and returned in accordance with the notes to the Notice of Meeting and the Form of Proxy itself.
Registered office: Forward House, 17 High Street, Henley-In-Arden B95 5AA
T 0330 223 1430 E [email protected]
Registered in England no 04280530
James Ferguson, Chairman Chris Fleetwood Tim Levett John Waddell Anna Brown
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our Annual General Meeting ("AGM") which will take place at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022 at the offices of NVM Private Equity LLP at Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4SN. The formal Notice of AGM is set out on pages 6 to 8 of this document.
After two years of virtual meetings, we are looking forward to seeing as many Shareholders as possible in person at this year's AGM. However, we appreciate that some Shareholders have valued the convenience of virtual attendance and intend to retain the option for Shareholders to take part in the meeting remotely via a Zoom webinar facility, which can be accessed from any computer with internet access or through a telephone (mobile or landline). Shareholders taking part via the Zoom webinar facility will not be able to speak at the meeting or vote on the AGM resolutions, but will be able to observe the formal business of the meeting and listen to the Manager's update.
Shareholders are required to register their attendance via the Zoom facility in advance of the meeting, through the Manager's website. After verification of their identity, details of how to join the Zoom webinar will be provided to each Shareholder. Further information is available on the Manager's website at https://www.mercia.co.uk/vcts/n3vct/.
The purpose of this document is to set out the background to and reasons for the Resolutions which are to be proposed at the AGM and to explain why the Directors consider them to be in the best interests of the Company and Shareholders and recommend that you vote in favour of the Resolutions.
Explanatory notes on all the business to be considered at this year's AGM appear on pages 3 to 5 of this document.
Directors: 11 July 2022
If you would like to vote on the Resolutions but will not be in physical attendance at the meeting, you should complete the Form of Proxy attached to this notice and return it to the Company's registrars, Equiniti Limited, at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing BN99 6DA as soon as possible. They must receive it no later than 11.30 a.m. on 5 August 2022. Completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude you from attending the AGM and voting in person should you so wish.
Your Board considers that all the Resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and are most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its Shareholders, and unanimously recommends that you vote in favour of the Resolutions. Those Directors who hold shares in the Company will be voting in favour of the Resolutions.
Yours sincerely
James Ferguson Chairman
In this letter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions bear the following meanings:
| Act | the Companies Act 2006 |
|---|---|
| AIC Code | the AIC Code of Corporate Governance published from time to time by the Association of Investment Companies |
| Annual General Meeting or AGM | the annual general meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of NVM Private Equity LLP at Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4SN at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022 |
| Articles | the articles of association of the Company as amended from time to time |
| Circular | this document dated 11 July 2022, addressed to the Shareholders |
| Company | Northern 3 VCT PLC |
| Directors or Board | the directors of the Company, whose names are set out on page 1 of this document |
| Form of Proxy | the form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting |
| Listing Rules | the listing rules of the Financial Conduct Authority made under Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended from time to time) |
| Manager | Mercia Fund Management Limited |
| Ordinary Shares | ordinary shares of 5p each in the capital of the Company |
| Resolutions | resolutions 1 to 13 to be proposed at the AGM and each such resolution shall be a "Resolution" |
| Shareholders | holders of Ordinary Shares |
All Resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions, unless otherwise mentioned. For an ordinary resolution to be passed, more than half of the votes cast (in person or by proxy) must be in favour of the Resolution. For a special resolution to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast (in person or by proxy) must be in favour of the Resolution.
The Company is required by law to put the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 before the meeting. Shareholders are invited to vote to receive and approve the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 together with the Directors' report and independent auditor's report thereon.
Shareholders are being asked to approve a final dividend of 3.0p per Ordinary Share in respect of the year ended 31 March 2022. If you approve the recommended final dividend, this will be paid on 17 August 2022 to all Shareholders who were on the register of members on 22 July 2022.
The Company is required by law to seek Shareholders' approval of the Directors' remuneration report in respect of the year ended 31 March 2022, which is set out on pages 28 and 29 of the Company's annual report for the year ended 31 March 2022. Whilst the payment of remuneration to the Directors is not dependent on the passing of the Resolution, your Board will take the vote into account when considering the future development and operation of the Company's remuneration policy and practice.
The Company is also required by the Act to seek Shareholders' approval of the Directors' remuneration policy as set out in the Directors' remuneration report at least every three years, or in the event of a change in the policy if sooner. The Directors' remuneration policy has remained unchanged since it was approved by Shareholders at the annual general meeting held in August 2020 and, unless there is a change in the policy, it is the current intention of the Directors that a resolution for the approval of the Directors' remuneration policy will next be considered at the annual general meeting to be held in August 2023.
The Board has determined that, in accordance with the AIC Code, all Directors should retire on an annual basis. Consequently, Mr J G D Ferguson, Mr C J Fleetwood, Mr T R Levett, Mr J M O Waddell and Mrs A B Brown retire from the Board and seek re-election. It is noted that Mr J G D Ferguson, Mr T R Levett, Mr C J Fleetwood and Mr J M O Waddell have served as Directors for more than nine years.
Your Board believes that each of the Directors seeking re-election makes a relevant and significant contribution to the operation of your Board and displays an appropriate level of knowledge and experience.
Mr James Ferguson (aged 74) was appointed to the Board in 2001 and became chairman in 2009. He is chairman of the nomination committee and the management engagement committee and a member of the audit committee.
Mr Ferguson was chair and managing director of Stewart Ivory Limited from 1989 until 2000. He is chair of The Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust PLC and a non-executive director of The Independent Investment Trust PLC. He is the former deputy chair of the Association of Investment Companies and former chair of Value & Income Trust PLC, and North American Income Trust PLC.
Mr Chris Fleetwood (aged 70) was appointed to the Board in 2001. He is chairman of the audit committee and a member of the management engagement committee and the nomination committee. He is managing partner of IO solutions (e-business strategy advisers). He was formerly chairman of Darlington Building Society, group chief executive of Whessoe plc, a non-executive director of NCFE Limited and a governor of Teesside University.
Mr Tim Levett (aged 73) was appointed to the Board in 2001. He is a member of the nomination committee.
Mr Levett is chairman of NVM Private Equity LLP, which he co-founded in 1988. He is a non-executive director of Northern Venture Trust PLC and of several unquoted companies.
Mr John Waddell (aged 66) was appointed to the Board in 2007. He is a member of the audit committee, the nomination committee and the management engagement committee.
Mr Waddell was until 2015 chief executive of Archangel Investors Limited, a Scottish-based syndicate of individual private equity investors and sits on the boards of numerous unquoted companies. He also advises two early stage funds.
Mrs Anna Brown (aged 55) was appointed to the Board as a non-executive director and as a member of the Company's audit, nomination and management engagement committees with effect from 14 September 2020.
Mrs Brown is a partner with Addleshaw Goddard LLP and has over 25 years' experience in a wide range of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, takeovers, reorganisations and reconstructions, equity investments in companies and joint ventures. She has particular expertise in listed company work and has acted on a number of AIM and Stock Exchange IPO's, secondary fundraisings on market and public to private transactions.
The Company is required by law to appoint an auditor at its Annual General Meeting. Shareholders are invited to vote to re-appoint Mazars LLP as independent auditor of the Company until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company.
Shareholders are invited to vote to give the audit committee authority to fix the independent auditor's remuneration.
Shareholders are being asked, under the Act, to grant the Directors a general authority to allot shares in the Company. This Resolution, if passed, gives the Directors authority to allot Ordinary Shares up to a maximum nominal value of £1,253,438 (representing 20% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company at the date of the notice convening the Annual General Meeting). No shares are currently held in treasury.
This authority will be effective until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company (expected to be held in August 2023) or, if earlier, 31 October 2023, except insofar as commitments to allot shares have been entered into before that date. The Directors' have no present intention of exercising the authority granted by Resolution 11 except in connection with the issue of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Company's dividend investment scheme.
This Resolution supplements the Directors' general authority to allot shares in the Company given to them by Resolution 11 and authorises the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares, or sell treasury shares, for cash (otherwise than pro rata to existing Shareholders) up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,253,438 (representing 20% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company at the date of the notice convening the Annual General Meeting).
This authority will be effective until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company (expected to be held in August 2023) or, if earlier, 31 October 2023, save that the Directors may so allot Ordinary Shares or sell treasury shares in pursuance of an offer or agreement entered into before the authority expires.
Resolution 12 will be proposed as a special resolution.
Under company law, this Resolution authorises the Company to purchase in the market up to 12,534,389 Ordinary Shares (representing 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company at the date of the notice convening the Annual General Meeting) at a minimum price per share of 5p (excluding expenses) and a maximum price per share of not more than 105% (excluding expenses) of the average market value of the relevant shares for the five business days prior to the date on which the purchase is made.
Unless previously renewed, varied or revoked, the authority will be effective until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company (expected to be held in August 2023) or, if earlier, 31 October 2023.
Purchases of Ordinary Shares will be made only within the guidelines established and to be reviewed from time to time by the Directors and where it is considered that such purchases would be to the advantage of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. It is the Directors' intention that purchases will be made in the market for cash only at prices below the prevailing net asset value per share, thereby enhancing the net asset value per share for the Company's remaining Shareholders. Purchases will be financed from the Company's own cash resources or, if appropriate, from short term borrowings.
The cap on the price payable contained in the proposed Resolution reflects a restriction on the Company contained in the Listing Rules. In addition, under the Listing Rules the Company must not purchase shares at a price greater than the higher of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the market where the purchase is carried out.
There are no existing Ordinary Shares covered by options or warrants at the date of publication of this document.
Shares purchased under this authority will become treasury shares which the Company can cancel or hold for sale for cash.
Resolution 13 will be proposed as a special resolution.
Notice is hereby given that the twentieth annual general meeting of the Company will be held at the offices of NVM Private Equity LLP at Time Central, 32 Gallowgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 4SN at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022 for the following purposes:
"That, in substitution for and to the exclusion of any power previously conferred upon the Directors in this regard (save to the extent relied upon prior to the passing of this resolution), the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 551 of the Act 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 a maximum nominal amount of £1,253,438 for a period expiring (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting) on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or, if earlier, 31 October 2023, save that the Company may before expiry of this authority make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted, or rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares to be granted, after expiry of this authority and the Directors may allot shares, or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares, in pursuance of that offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired."
12 To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution:
"That, subject to the passing of Resolution 11 above, the Directors may:
in each case as if Section 561(1) of the Act (existing shareholders' right of pre-emption) did not apply to the allotment or sale, provided that the power conferred by this resolution shall be limited to the allotment or sale of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,253,438 and shall expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or, if earlier, 31 October 2023, save that the Company may before this power expires make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold after the power expires."
13 To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as a special resolution:
"That, the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with Section 701 of the Act to make one or more market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the Act) of its ordinary shares of 5p each provided that:
By order of the Board
Secretary Forward House 17 High Street Henley-In-Arden B95 5AA 11 July 2022
In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a "CREST Proxy Instruction") must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's (EUI) specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. 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, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID RA19) by the latest time(s) for receipt of proxy appointments specified in this notice. 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 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 EUI 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(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 provider(s) 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.
10 You may not use any electronic address provided either in this Notice or any related documents (including the Form of Proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
11 Members should note that it is possible that, pursuant to requests made by members of the Company under Section 527 of the Act, the Company may be required to publish on its website https://www.mercia.co.uk/vcts/n3vct/ a statement setting out any matter such members propose to raise at the Annual General Meeting relating to: (a) the audit of the Company's accounts (including the auditor's report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the Annual General Meeting; or (b) any circumstance connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with Section 437 of the Act. The Company may not require the members requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with Section 527 or 528 of the Act. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under Section 527 of the Act, it must forward the statement to the Company's auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting includes any statement that the Company has been required under Section 527 of the Act to publish on its website.
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Northern 3 VCT PLC Notice of Annual General Meeting and Proxy Form 2022
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I/We
(block capitals please)
of
being a member of Northern 3 VCT PLC, hereby appoint (see notes 1 and 2)
or failing him/her the chairman of the meeting to be my/our proxy and exercise all or any of my/our rights to attend, speak and vote for me/us in respect of my/our voting entitlement on my/our behalf at the twentieth annual general meeting of the Company to be held at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022, notice of which was sent to shareholders on 11 July 2022 with the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022, and at any adjournment thereof. The proxy will vote as indicated below in respect of the resolutions set out in the notice of meeting:
| Resolution number |
For | Against | Vote withheld |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | To receive and approve the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022 together with the Directors' report and independent auditor's report thereon |
|||
| 2 | To approve and declare a final dividend of 3.0p per share in respect of the year ended 31 March 2022 | |||
| 3 | To approve the Directors' remuneration report in respect of the year ended 31 March 2022 other than the part of such report containing the Directors' remuneration policy |
|||
| 4 | To re-elect Mr J G D Ferguson as a director | |||
| 5 | To re-elect Mr C J Fleetwood as a director | |||
| 6 | To re-elect Mr T R Levett as a director | |||
| 7 | To re-elect Mr J M O Waddell as a director | |||
| 8 | To re-elect Mrs A B Brown as a director | |||
| 9 | To re-appoint Mazars LLP as independent auditor | |||
| 10 | To authorise the audit committee to fix the remuneration of the independent auditor | |||
| 11 | To authorise the Directors to allot shares pursuant to Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 | |||
| 12 | To disapply Section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 in relation to certain allotments of equity securities | |||
| 13 | To authorise the Company to make market purchases of ordinary shares in accordance with Section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 |
Please indicate by placing an X in this box if this proxy appointment is one of multiple appointments being made (see note 2).
Signed .................................................................................................................................................................. Date ............................................................................. 2022
I/we intend to attend the Annual General Meeting in person at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022
I/we intend to attend the Annual General Meeting remotely via the Zoom webinar facility at 11.30 a.m. on 9 August 2022
Shareholders who intend to attend the annual general meeting are requested to register for the Zoom facility in accordance with the instructions in the notice of the meeting. If you wish to submit a comment or a question to the board (whether or not you intend to attend the annual general meeting via the Zoom facility) then please use the box provided at the end of this proxy form.
| Comments to or questions for the Board |
|---|
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