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Croda International PLC

Pre-Annual General Meeting Information Mar 13, 2025

4641_agm-r_2025-03-13_e8ed5fee-9054-47b8-8a47-b4bcdc8b9f89.pdf

Pre-Annual General Meeting Information

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Notice of Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 23 April 2025 at 12 noon

to be held at The Milner York, Station Road, York, YO24 1AA

This document is important and requires your immediate attention.

If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own advice from a stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor or accountant or other independent professional adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are in the United Kingdom, or another appropriately authorised independent adviser if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.

If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Croda International Plc, you should pass this Notice and accompanying documents to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.

You will not have received a hard copy proxy form for the 2025 AGM in the post. You can instead submit your proxy vote electronically by accessing the shareholder portal at www.signalshares.com, logging in and selecting the 'Vote Online Now' link. You will require your username and password in order to log in and vote. If you have forgotten your username or password you can request a reminder via the shareholder portal. If you have not previously registered to use the portal you will require your investor code ('IVC') which can be found on your share certificate or dividend notification. Proxy votes should be submitted as early as possible and in any event, no later than 12 noon on Thursday 17 April 2025.

You may request a hard copy proxy form directly from the Registrars, MUFG Corporate Markets by emailing [email protected], by telephone on 0371 664 0300, or by post to MUFG Corporate Markets, PXS1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL. If you hold shares in CREST you can use the CREST electronic proxy appointment service. If you are an institutional investor you may also be able to appoint a proxy electronically via the Proxymity platform. Further details on how to do this are set out in the Notes to this Notice.

Croda International Plc

Cowick Hall Snaith Goole East Yorkshire DN14 9AA England

www.croda.com Tel: +44 (0)1405 860551

13 March 2025

Dear fellow shareholder

Annual General Meeting

I am pleased to enclose the Notice convening the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (the 'AGM' or the 'Meeting') for shareholders of Croda International Plc, which will be held on Wednesday 23 April 2025. The AGM will be at The Milner York, Station Road, York, YO24 1AA and will commence at 12 noon. The business to be considered at the AGM is set out in the Notice, which you can find on pages 3 to 5 of this document. Explanatory notes on each Resolution to be considered at the AGM appear on pages 6 to 7 of this document.

Final dividend

Shareholders are being asked to approve a final dividend of 63.0 pence per ordinary share for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. If shareholders approve the recommended final dividend, this will be paid on 28 May 2025 to all ordinary shareholders who are on the Register of Members at close of business on 11 April 2025.

Paperless dividends

In response to a rise in the number of uncashed dividend cheques, we have decided that in future cash dividend payments will only be made by electronic means. This will start with the interim dividend, which we expect to pay in October 2025. From that point on we will no longer be issuing payments by cheque. Further details on how you can register your bank account details, so you can have dividends paid directly to your account, can be found in the Shareholder information section of the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts on page 173.

The Board of Directors

I would like to take this opportunity to make special mention of Resolutions 4 to 13, which relate to the election and re-election of directors. The Board contains a broad range of skills and experience from different industries and advisory roles and from international markets. These skills support the strategic aims of the Company. A summary of the key strengths and experience of each director and the value they bring to the Board, as well as their biographical details, are included on pages 8 to 9 of this document. With the exception of Stephen Oxley who was not a director at the time of the evaluation, each of the directors being proposed for election or re-election has been subject to a formal performance evaluation and is considered to be effective in their role and to be committed to making available the appropriate time for Board meetings and other duties. Further details of the formal performance evaluation are set out in the Corporate Governance report on page 61 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

Arrangements for the AGM

The Board is looking forward to welcoming shareholders to the AGM, which you will be able to attend in person in the Events Centre at The Milner Hotel York. To help ensure your safety and manage the numbers attending the AGM, we are asking that only shareholders or their duly nominated proxies attend the Meeting in person. Persons who are not shareholders or their duly nominated proxies should not attend the Meeting unless arrangements have been made in advance with the Group Company Secretariat, whose contact details can be found on page 12.

If any changes are made to the arrangements for the AGM, these will be communicated on the Company's website.

Voting procedures

Voting on all of the proposed Resolutions at the AGM will be conducted on a poll rather than on a show of hands. Voting by way of a poll will give as many shareholders as possible the opportunity to have their votes counted. The results of the poll will be announced via a Regulatory News Service and made available at www.croda.com as soon as practicable after the AGM.

If you are unable to attend the AGM in person, we strongly encourage you to vote in advance by appointing the Chair of the AGM as your proxy. This will ensure that your vote will be counted. We would encourage you to submit your proxy vote to our Registrars as soon as possible but, in any event, no later than 12 noon on 17 April 2025 online at www.signalshares.com, if you hold shares in CREST, via the CREST electronic proxy appointment service or, if you are an institutional investor, via the Proxymity platform in accordance with the procedures set out in the Notes to the Notice. Please refer to pages 10 to 11 of the Notice for further details of how to do this.

Recommendation

Your Board considers all of the proposed Resolutions set out in this Notice to be put to the AGM to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions, as the directors intend to do in respect of their own shareholdings.

Yours sincerely

Danuta Gray Chair

Registered in England No 206132 Registered office as above

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to vote on all the Resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

Notice is hereby given that the one hundredth Annual General Meeting (the 'AGM' or the 'Meeting') of Croda International Plc (the 'Company') will be held at The Milner York, Station Road, York YO24 1AA on Wednesday 23 April 2025 at 12 noon to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the Resolutions set out below (the 'Resolutions').

Resolutions numbered 1 to 17 (inclusive) will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolutions numbered 18 to 21 (inclusive) will be proposed as Special Resolutions.

    1. To receive the financial statements of the Company and the Group and the reports of the directors and auditors for the year ended 31 December 2024.
    1. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2024, in accordance with section 439 of the Companies Act 2006 (the 'Act').
    1. To declare a final dividend of 63.0 pence per ordinary share recommended by the Board to be paid on 28 May 2025.
    1. To elect I Bull as a director.
    1. To elect S Oxley as a director.
    1. To re-elect R Cirillo as a director.
    1. To re-elect C Good as a director
    1. To re-elect D Gray as a director.
    1. To re-elect J Ferguson as a director.
    1. To re-elect S Foots as a director.
    1. To re-elect J Kim as a director.
    1. To re-elect K Layden as a director.
    1. To re-elect N Ouzren as a director.
    1. To re-appoint KPMG LLP as the auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting of the Company at which accounts are laid.
    1. To authorise the Company's Audit Committee to determine the remuneration of the auditor on behalf of the directors.

Political donations

    1. The Company, and any company which is or becomes its subsidiary during the period in which this Resolution has effect, be authorised for the purpose of Part 14 of the Act, during the period from the date of the passing of this Resolution until the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting, to:
    2. i. make political donations to political parties and/or independent election candidates, not exceeding £50,000 in total;
    3. ii. make political donations to political organisations other than political parties, not exceeding £50,000 in total; and
    4. iii. incur political expenditure, not exceeding £50,000 in total.

This is provided that any such donations and expenditure made by the Company or by any such subsidiary during the period in which this Resolution has effect shall not exceed £50,000 in aggregate.

For the purposes of this Resolution the terms 'political donations', 'political parties', 'independent election candidates', 'political organisation' and 'political expenditure' have the meanings given by sections 363 to 365 of the Act.

Directors' authority to allot shares

    1. (a) The directors, pursuant to section 551 of the Act, be generally and unconditionally authorised to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company:
    2. i. up to an aggregate nominal amount of £4,888,943; and
    3. ii. comprising equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £9,777,886 (including within such limit any shares or rights issued or granted under paragraph (i) above) in connection with an offer:
      • a. to the ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and
      • b. to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities or, if the Board considers it necessary, as permitted by the rights of those securities,

and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements that they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter, such authorities to apply from the conclusion of this AGM until (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in a general meeting) the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) the close of business on 23 July 2026 provided that, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require shares in the Company to be allotted or rights to subscribe for, or convert securities into, shares to be granted, after the authority ends and the directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert securities into, shares under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.

  • (b) Subject to paragraph (c), all existing authorities given to the directors pursuant to section 551 of the Act to allot shares and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares by way of the special resolution of the Company passed on 24 April 2024 be revoked by this Resolution; and
  • (c) Paragraph (b) above shall be without prejudice to the continuing authority of the directors to allot shares,or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares, pursuant to an offer or agreement made by the Company before the expiry of the authority pursuant to which such offer or agreement was made.

Disapplication of pre-emption rights

    1. That subject to the passing of Resolution 17 in this Notice, the directors be generally empowered from the conclusion of this AGM pursuant to section 570 and 573 of the Act to allot equity securities (as defined in the Act) for cash, pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 17 in this Notice as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to the allotment. This power:
    2. i. expires (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in a general meeting) at the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the date on which this Resolution is passed (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 23 July 2026), but the Company may, during this period, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after expiry of this power and the directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of that offer or agreement as if this power had not expired;
    3. ii. shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities in connection with an offer of equity securities:
      • a. to the ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and
      • b. to people who hold other equity securities, if this is required by the rights of those securities or, if the directors consider it necessary, as permitted by the rights of those securities,

and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter;

  • iii. in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (i) of Resolution 17 or a sale of treasury shares shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities for cash otherwise than pursuant to paragraph (ii) up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,481,498; and
  • iv. when any allotment of equity securities is or has been made pursuant to paragraph (iii) ("a paragraph (iii) allotment"), shall be limited to the allotment of additional equity securities (also pursuant to the authority given under Resolution 17) up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to 20% of the nominal amount of that paragraph (iii) allotment, provided that any allotment pursuant to this paragraph (iv) is for the purposes of a follow-on offer determined by the directors to be of a kind contemplated by paragraph 3 of section 2B of the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this Notice.

This power applies in relation to a sale of shares which is an allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(3) of the Act as if in the first paragraph of this Resolution the words "pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 17 in this Notice" were omitted.

    1. That, subject to the passing of Resolution 17 in this Notice and in addition to any power given pursuant to Resolution 18 in this Notice, the directors be generally empowered from the conclusion of this AGM pursuant to section 570 and section 573 of the Act to allot equity securities (as defined in the Act) for cash, pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 17 in this Notice as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to the allotment. This power:
    2. i. expires (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in a general meeting) at the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the date on which this Resolution is passed (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 23 July 2026), but the Company may, during this period, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after expiry of this power and the directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of that offer or agreement as if this power had not expired;
    3. ii. in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (i) of Resolution 17 or a sale of treasury shares shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities for cash otherwise than pursuant to paragraph (ii) of Resolution 18 up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,481,498 and provided that the allotment is for the purposes of financing (or refinancing if the power is used within twelve months of the original transaction) a transaction which the directors determine to be an acquisition or other capital investment of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-emption Group prior to the date of this Notice; and
    4. iii. when any allotment of equity securities is or has been made pursuant to paragraph (ii) ("a paragraph (ii) allotment"), shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to 20% of the nominal amount of that paragraph (ii) allotment, provided that any allotment pursuant to this paragraph (iii) is for the purposes of a follow-on offer determined by the directors to be of a kind contemplated by paragraph 3 of section 2B of the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this Notice.

This power applies in relation to a sale of shares which is an allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(3) of the Act as if in the first paragraph of this Resolution the words "pursuant to the authority conferred by Resolution 17 in this Notice" were omitted.

Company's authority to purchase its own shares

    1. The Company be authorised generally and unconditionally in accordance with section 701 of the Act to make market purchases (as defined in section 693(4) of the Act) of its own ordinary shares, provided that:
    2. i. the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 13,963,544 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company;
    3. ii. the minimum price (excluding expenses) which the Company may pay for each ordinary share is 10.609756 pence;
    4. iii. the maximum price (excluding expenses) which the Company may pay for each ordinary share is the higher of (i) an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations of an ordinary share taken from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding the date on which the ordinary share is contracted to be purchased, and (ii) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an ordinary share and the highest current independent bid for an ordinary share on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out;
    5. iv. such authority shall, unless previously renewed, revoked or varied, expire at the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) 23 October 2026; and
    6. v. the Company may, pursuant to the authority granted by this Resolution, enter into a contract to purchase such ordinary shares before the expiry of this authority which would or might be concluded wholly or partly after such expiry and may make a purchase of ordinary shares in pursuance of such contract as if the authority had not expired.

Notice period for shareholders' meetings

  1. That a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting) may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice, provided that the authority for this Resolution shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company.

By Order of the Board

Tom Brophy

Group General Counsel, Company Secretary and President Sustainability

13 March 2025

Registered Office: Cowick Hall Snaith Goole East Yorkshire DN14 9AA

Registered in England and Wales No: 206132

Explanatory notes

1. Resolution 1 – Financial statements

The directors are required to present to the AGM the Company's and the Group's audited financial statements and the directors' and auditor's reports for the financial year ended 31 December 2024. These are contained within the Annual Report and Accounts and include the strategic report.

2. Resolution 2 – Directors' Remuneration Report

The Directors' Remuneration Report, which may be found on pages 74 to 102 of the Annual Report and Accounts, gives details of the directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2024. KPMG LLP have audited those parts of the Directors' Remuneration Report capable of being audited and their report may be found on pages 107 to 121 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

The Directors' Remuneration Policy (which is summarised on pages 100 to 102 of the Annual Report and Accounts) was approved at the 2023 AGM and does not form part of the Directors' Remuneration Report being considered in Resolution 2.

The vote on the Directors' Remuneration Report is advisory in nature in that payments made or promised to directors will not have to be repaid, reduced or withheld in the event that this Resolution is not passed.

3. Resolution 3 – Declaration of dividend

The directors are recommending that the ordinary shareholders declare a final dividend of 63.0 pence per ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 December 2024. The final dividend declared may not exceed the amount recommended by the directors and must be approved by the ordinary shareholders. If approved, the final dividend will be paid on 28 May 2025 to ordinary shareholders who are on the Register of Members at close of business on 11 April 2025.

4. Resolutions 4 to 13 – Election and re-election of directors

These Resolutions concern the appointment and re-appointment of directors. All directors, with the exception of John Ramsay, are standing for election or re-election at this AGM in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code. Biographical details of the directors appear on pages 8 to 9 of this document. Ian Bull and Stephen Oxley will be seeking election for the first time. Ian was appointed to the Board in June 2024 and Stephen will join the Board in April 2025. As Stephen's appointment is between the date of this Notice and the AGM he is seeking election. With the exception of Keith Layden, the Board considers that all non-executive directors are independent in character and judgement. Keith Layden is not considered independent, having served as the Company's Chief Technology Officer prior to retirement from the Company and appointment as a non-executive director in May 2017. This follows a formal performance evaluation during the year that confirmed that each of the directors makes an effective and valuable contribution to the Board and demonstrates commitment to the role (including making sufficient time available for Board and committee meetings and other duties as requested). The Board is recommending that shareholders should elect or re-elect the directors.

5. Resolutions 14 and 15 – Appointment and remuneration of the auditor

The Company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting at which accounts are presented to shareholders. Resolution 14 proposes the re-appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's auditor until the conclusion of the next AGM. It is normal practice for a company's directors to be authorised to determine the level of the auditor's remuneration for the ensuing year. Resolution 15 proposes to give such authority to the Company's Audit Committee on behalf of the directors.

6. Resolution 16 – Political donations

This Resolution enables the directors to incur expenditure of up to £50,000 in aggregate in respect of the activities identified in Resolution 16 (including any such expenditure by a subsidiary company) without unintentionally breaching the provisions of the Act. It is not proposed or intended to alter the Company's policy of not making political donations, within the normal meaning of that expression. However, without the authorisation contained in this Resolution, some of the Company's activities may inadvertently fall within the prohibition contained in the Act and the Company's ability to communicate its views effectively to political audiences and to relevant interest groups could therefore be inhibited without such authority. The authority sought will, if granted, last until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company when the directors intend to seek renewal of this authority. The Company will continue its policy of not giving any cash contributions to any political party. Any expenditure which may be incurred under authority of this Resolution will be disclosed in next year's Annual Report. During 2024, no donations were made by the Company or any of its subsidiaries for political purposes.

7. Resolution 17 – Renewal of directors' authority to allot shares

Under section 551 of the Act, the directors of the Company may only allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares if authorised to do so by shareholders.

The Company's articles of association give a general authority to the directors to allot shares.

This Resolution, which complies with guidance issued by the Investment Association (the 'IA'), will, if passed, authorise the directors to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares up to:

  • i. an aggregate nominal amount of £4,888,943 representing approximately 33% of the issued share capital, excluding shares held in treasury, as at 3 March 2025 (the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice); and
  • ii. up to an additional nominal amount not exceeding £4,888,943 in the case of allotments in connection with a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders (with exclusions to deal with fractional entitlements to shares and overseas shareholders to whom the offer cannot be made due to legal and practical problems). As at 3 March 2025, this additional authority represents approximately 33% of the issued ordinary share capital, excluding shares held in treasury.

This brings the aggregate authority for allotments in connection with a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders to approximately 66% of the issued ordinary share capital as at 3 March 2025, excluding shares held in treasury.

As at 3 March 2025, the Company held 2,901,442 ordinary shares in treasury, representing 2.08% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company, excluding shares held in treasury as at that date.

The directors have no present intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under this Resolution, other than where set out in the Notice.

However, the directors may consider doing so if they believe it would be appropriate in respect of business opportunities that may arise consistent with the Company's strategic objectives. The authorities will last until the earlier of (i) the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and (ii) 23 July 2026.

8. Resolutions 18 and 19 – Disapplication of pre-emption rights If the directors wish to allot shares, or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert securities into, shares, or sell treasury shares for cash (other than pursuant to an employee share scheme), they must first offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings. There may be occasions when the directors need the flexibility to finance business opportunities by allotting shares without a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders, and this can be done if the shareholders have first given a limited waiver of their pre-emption rights. Resolution 18 and Resolution 19 ask shareholders to grant this limited waiver. The Resolutions will be proposed as Special Resolutions.

Resolution 18 contains a three-part waiver. The first part is limited to the allotment of shares on a pre-emptive basis to allow the directors to make appropriate exclusions and other arrangements to resolve legal or practical problems which, for example, might arise in relation to overseas shareholders.

The second part is limited to the allotment of shares for cash up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,481,498 (which includes the sale on a non pre-emptive basis of any shares held in treasury), which represents approximately 10% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 3 March 2025 (the latest practicable date before the publication of this Notice).

The third part applies to the allotment of shares for cash for the purposes of a follow-on offer when an allotment of shares has been made under the second waiver. It is limited to the allotment of shares having an aggregate nominal value of 20% of the nominal value of any shares allotted under the second waiver. The follow-on offer must be determined by the directors to be of a kind contemplated by the Pre-Emption Group's 2022 Statement of Principles.

The waiver granted by Resolution 19 is in addition to the waiver granted by Resolution 18 and itself has two parts. The first part is limited to the allotment of shares for cash up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,481,498 (which includes the sale on a non pre-emptive basis of any shares held in treasury), which represents a further 10% (approximately) of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 3 March 2025 (the last practicable date before the publication of this Notice). The first part of the waiver may only be used for an allotment of shares for cash for the purposes of financing or refinancing (if the waiver is used within twelve months of the original transaction) a transaction which the directors determine to be an acquisition or specified capital investment of a kind contemplated by the Pre-Emption Group's 2022 Statement of Principles.

The second part of the waiver applies to the allotment of shares for cash for the purposes of a follow-on offer when an allotment of shares has been made under the first part of the waiver. It is limited to the allotment of shares having an aggregate nominal value of up to 20% of the nominal value of any shares allotted under the first waiver. The follow-on offer must be determined by the directors to be of a kind contemplated by the Pre-Emption Group's 2022 Statement of Principles.

If the Resolutions are passed, the waivers will expire at the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company after the date on which this Resolution is passed (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 23 July 2026).

9. Resolution 20 – Company's authority to purchase its own shares

Resolution 20 is a Special Resolution seeking to renew the authority granted at the 2024 AGM to purchase by way of market purchases up to 10% of the Company's issued ordinary shares (excluding treasury shares). The Company is seeking authority to make market purchases of up to 13,963,544 ordinary shares (being approximately 10% of the number of ordinary shares in issue of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 3 March 2025, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice). The maximum price to be paid on any occasion for each ordinary share will be the higher of (a) an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations of an ordinary share taken from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding the date on which the ordinary share is contracted to be purchased, and (b) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out. The minimum price to be paid on any occasion for each ordinary share will be 10.609756 pence. In exercising this authority the directors will comply with the rules of the London Stock Exchange and the IA guidelines on the purchase of own shares. This authority will expire on the date of the earlier of (i) the next annual general meeting of the Company, and (ii) 23 October 2026.

As at 3 March 2025 (the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice) the full exercise of all options and satisfaction of all awards outstanding under the Company's employee share plans would require the issue of 677,671 ordinary shares. This represents approximately 0.49% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares).

In the event that the proposed new authority to repurchase shares were to be exercised in full, these options and awards would represent 0.54% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (not including treasury shares).

The directors will only purchase the Company's shares from the market if they believe that such purchases will improve earnings per share and will be in the best interests of the shareholders generally. It is the intention of the directors that any such shares purchased will be held as treasury shares. Shares held in treasury may subsequently be sold for cash, transferred for the purposes of employee share schemes or cancelled. This would give the Company the ability to re-issue treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively and provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base.

10. Resolution 21 – Notice period for shareholders' meetings

The Act requires that all general meetings must be held on 21 clear days' notice unless shareholders agree to a shorter notice period which is subject to a minimum of 14 clear days. Annual general meetings will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice. In order to be able to call a general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, on less than 21 clear days' notice the Company must make an electronic means of voting available to all shareholders for the meeting. This condition is met by the Company providing the facility for shareholders to appoint a proxy via an online shareholder portal operated by our Registrars. It is not the Company's intention to use the shorter notice period as a matter of routine but only when the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be in the interests of shareholders as a whole. If given, this approval will be effective until the end of the next AGM.

Directors' biographies

Danuta Gray, 66

Chair

Appointment: February 2024

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Danuta is a highly experienced Non-Executive Director and Chair with a strong understanding of consumers, technology, sales and marketing within both UK and international business markets gained through her executive career. Danuta is currently Chair of Direct Line Insurance Group Plc and a Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair at Burberry Group plc. She was previously Chair of St Modwen Properties plc, Senior Independent Director at Aldemore Bank plc, a Non-Executive member of the Ministry of Defence Board, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Page Group plc and Old Mutual plc.

External appointments: Chair of Direct Line Insurance Group Plc, Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair at Burberry Group plc.

Committee membership: Chair of the Nomination Committee.

Steve Foots, 56

Group Chief Executive

Appointment: July 2010 and Group Chief Executive since January 2012

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Steve joined Croda as a Graduate Trainee in 1990 and brings to the Board a business, strategic and operational background gained from a number of senior leadership roles across the Group. Having spent several years leading many different Croda businesses, he has also gathered extensive insight into the markets served, the importance of customer focus and the power of an innovative culture.

Outside of Croda, Steve's role as Industry co-Chair of the UK Chemistry Council enables him to work alongside Government Ministers and industry peers to bring wider industry knowledge into the Croda business.

External appointments: Industry co-Chair of the UK Chemistry Council.

Jacqui Ferguson, 54

Non-Executive Director (Senior Independent Director)

Appointment: September 2018

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Jacqui is an experienced CEO from the technology industry with general management and M&A experience in international and emerging markets. She has first-hand insight of transformational/disruptive digital, cyber security, technology and business process solutions. Jacqui spent three years in Silicon Valley as Chief of Staff at Hewlett Packard, focused on a new company strategy and turnaround.

External appointments: Non-Executive Director of National Grid plc and Softcat plc; deputy Chair of Engineering UK.

Committee membership: Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit, Board Sustainability Oversight and Nomination Committees.

Ian Bull, 64

Non-Executive Director

Appointment: June 2024

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Ian has extensive experience with listed companies across a wide range of industries, both domestic and international, as an Executive Director as well as Senior Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair. Ian contributes additional expertise in financial and operational leadership to the Board.

External appointments: Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair of Dunelm Group plc and Senior Independent Director of Domino's Pizza Group Plc.

Committee membership: Chair of the Audit Committee, member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Roberto Cirillo, 53

Non-Executive Director

Appointment: April 2018

Nationality: Swiss

Board skills and competencies: With ten years' experience as Country and Group CEO in the Service and Health Care industries, and many years spent as a strategy practitioner in Europe and Asia, Roberto brings knowledge of, and passion for, growth and operations to the Croda boardroom. He can also share lessons learned from large transformations and M&A. Roberto's engineering background enables him to link Croda's R&D and production competences with the evolving demands of its multinational markets. He was previously the Group CEO at Optegra Eye Health Care Ltd, France, CEO and Group COO at Sodexo SA and Associate Partner at McKinsey & Co.

External appointments: CEO of Swiss Post, national postal service of Switzerland.

Committee membership: Member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Chris Good, 65

Non-Executive Director

Appointment: April 2023

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Chris has spent his career in the consumer care industry. He recently retired following more than 20 years at Estee Lauder Companies, a global leader in prestige beauty. Prior to joining Estee Lauder Companies, Chris spent over 10 years at Unilever in senior marketing, executive and general management roles across Europe, North America and Asia.

Chris' deep understanding of the consumer care industry and in particular his insights into beauty care markets and consumers are of great value to Croda and the Board. As well as having significant P&L experience, Chris also brings a truly international perspective to the Board, having lived and worked in the USA, Switzerland, Japan, Singapore, Russia and the UK.

External appointments: None.

Committee membership: Chair of the Sustainability Oversight Committee, member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Julie Kim, 54

Non-Executive Director

Appointment: September 2021

Nationality: US

Board skills and competencies: Julie brings nearly 30 years of experience in the health care industry, with more than 15 years in international leadership positions. She is currently President, US Business Unit and US Country Head at Takeda Pharmaceutical, a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan. Her geographic experience in both global and regional roles means that she brings valuable strategic and operational insight to Board discussions. Previous executive positions include roles as Head of International Market Access and Global Franchise Head of multiple therapeutic areas at Shire, Baxalta and Baxter.

External appointments: President US Business Unit and US Country Head at Takeda Pharmaceutical. Julie also sits on the industry board for the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association.

Committee membership: Member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees.

Keith Layden, 65

Non-Executive Director

Appointment: February 2012 and Non-Executive Director since May 2017

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Keith brings 34 years' experience of working at Croda in a variety of positions, most recently leading the Global Research, Development and Innovation function and as President of the Global Life Sciences business before his retirement from the business in 2017. He also has an interest and background in organisational culture and innovation, which are key considerations in the decision making of the Board. In his external roles he widens his network of emerging technology companies and research institutes to spot new talent that will aid Croda's future success.

External appointments: Honorary Professor of Chemistry and Industry at the University of Nottingham; member of Council at the University of Sheffield, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Committee membership: Member of the Nomination and Board Sustainability Oversight Committees.

Nawal Ouzren, 46

Non-Executive Director

Appointment: February 2022

Nationality: French

Board skills and competencies: Nawal has 20 years of expertise across a wide range of international business roles, including clinical development, operational and strategic management roles within the pharmaceutical industry. Nawal brings with her first-hand experience in biologics and novel gene therapies. Her pharma experience and market insight provides a real advantage in driving the implementation of Croda's Pharma strategy.

External appointments: CEO at Sensorion, a Euronext listed biopharmaceutical company headquartered in France.

Committee membership: Member of the Audit, Remuneration, Nomination and Board Sustainability Oversight Committees.

Stephen Oxley, 53

Chief Financial Officer

Appointment: April 2025

Nationality: British

Board skills and competencies: Stephen brings valuable experience in strategy setting and execution, enhancing business performance, transformation and corporate transactions. He has significant experience working with companies going through major change programmes as well as operational and technical expertise. He was previously the CFO of Johnson Mattey and, prior to that, a partner at KPMG where he spent nearly 30 years advising global companies across consumer, healthcare and industrial sectors.

External appointments: Non-Executive Member of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee for The Sovereign Grant.

Notes

1. Entitlement to vote

To be entitled to vote at the AGM (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company at close of business on 17 April 2025 (or, in the event of any adjournment, 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting). Changes to the Register of Members after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to vote at the Meeting. Shareholders are encouraged to appoint the Chair of the AGM as their proxy to ensure their votes are counted.

2. Appointment of proxies

  • i. Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the Meeting. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the AGM provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder.
  • ii. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.
  • iii. You will not have received a hard copy proxy form for the 2025 AGM in the post. You can instead submit your proxy vote electronically by accessing the shareholder portal at www.signalshares.com, logging in and selecting the 'Vote Online Now' link. You will require your username and password in order to log in and vote. If you have forgotten your username or password you can request a reminder via the shareholder portal. If you have not previously registered to use the portal you will require your investor code ('IVC') which can be found on your share certificate or dividend notification. Proxy votes should be submitted as early as possible and in any event, no later than 12 noon on Thursday 17 April 2025.

You may request a hard copy proxy form directly from the Registrars, MUFG Corporate Markets by emailing [email protected], by telephone 0371 664 0300, or by post to MUFG Corporate Markets, PX1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 09:00 – 17:30, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. To be valid, any hard copy proxy form must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at the Company's registrars, MUFG Corporate Markets, PX1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL no later than 12 noon on Thursday 17 April 2025.

  • iv. If you hold shares in CREST you can vote by using the CREST electronic proxy appointment service. Further details on how to do this are set out in paragraph 3 below.
  • v. If you are an institutional investor you can vote via the Proxymity platform. Further details on how to do this are set out in paragraph 4 on page 11.
  • vi. The submission of a proxy vote (online, through CREST or via Proxymity) or the return of a hard copy proxy form will not prevent you attending the AGM and voting in person should you wish. Unless otherwise indicated on the Form of Proxy, CREST, Proxymity or any other electronic voting instruction, the proxy will vote as they think fit or, at their discretion, withhold from voting. In accordance with section 149 of the Act, the right to appoint proxies does not apply to persons nominated to receive information rights under section 146 of the Act (a 'Nominated Person'). Any Nominated Person to whom this Notice is sent may,

under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the AGM. If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right, or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may, under any such agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.

vii. The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies above does not apply to Nominated Persons. The rights described in these paragraphs can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.

3. Electronic proxy voting through CREST

  • i. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST 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.
  • ii. 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 & International Limited's specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual. 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 (ID RA10) by 12 noon on 17 April 2025 (or no later than two business days before the time appointed for any adjourned meeting).

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.

  • iii. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service provider(s) should note that Euroclear UK & International 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(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.
  • iv. 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.

4. Electronic proxy voting via Proxymity

If you are an institutional investor you may also be able to appoint a proxy electronically via the Proxymity platform, a process which has been agreed by the Company and approved by the Registrar. For further information regarding Proxymity, please go to: www.proxymity.io. Your proxy must be lodged by 12 noon on Thursday 17 April 2025 in order to be considered valid or, if the meeting is adjourned, by the time which is 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting. Before you can appoint a proxy via this process you will need to have agreed to Proxymity's associated terms and conditions. It is important that you read these carefully as you will be bound by them and they will govern the electronic appointment of your proxy. An electronic proxy appointment via the Proxymity platform may be revoked completely by sending an authenticated message via the platform instructing the removal of your proxy vote.

5. Voting rights

As at 3 March 2025 (being the last practicable date before the publication of this Notice) the Company's issued ordinary share capital consisted of 142,536,884 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. Croda International Plc holds 2,901,442 ordinary shares in treasury and so the total number of voting rights in the Company at that date was 139,635,442.

6. Corporate representatives

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, if two or more representatives purport to vote in respect of the same shares, they do not do so in relation to the same shares:

  • i. if they purport to exercise the power in the same way as each other, the power is treated as exercised in that way; and
  • ii. in other cases, the power is treated as not exercised.

Any person appointed as a corporate representative should bring a certified copy of the authority under which they have been appointed to the meeting.

7. Website publication of audit concerns

Under section 527 of the Act, members meeting the threshold requirements set out in that section have the right to require the Company to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: (i) 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 AGM; or (ii) 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 shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 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 AGM includes any statement that the Company has been required under section 527 of the Act to publish on a website.

8. Questions

The Company must cause to be answered any question put by a shareholder attending the Meeting relating to the business being dealt with at the Meeting but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the Meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the Meeting that the question be answered.

9. Website

A copy of this Notice, and other information required by section 311A of the Act, can be found on the Company's website at www.croda.com/agm.

10. Inspection of documents

The following documents are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during normal business hours on any business day, and will also be available for inspection during the AGM and for 15 minutes beforehand:

  • i. Copies of the service contracts of the executive directors; and
  • ii. Copies of the letters of appointment of the non-executive directors.

11. Addresses

You may not use any electronic address provided in either this Notice or any related documents to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

12. Shareholders' statement and AGM business

Under section 338 and section 338A of the Act, shareholders meeting the threshold requirements in those sections have the right to require the Company (i) to give to shareholders of the Company entitled to receive this Notice, notice of a resolution which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at the AGM and/or (ii) to include in the business to be dealt with at the AGM any matter (other than a proposed resolution) which may be properly included in the business. A resolution may properly be moved or a matter may properly be included in the business unless (a) (in the case of a resolution only) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's constitution or otherwise), (b) it is defamatory, or (c) it is frivolous or vexatious.

Such a request may be in hard copy or electronic form and must identify the resolution of which notice is to be given or the matter to be included in the business, must be authorised by the person or persons making it, must be received by the Company not later than 11 March 2025 (being the date six clear weeks before the AGM) or if later, by the time at which the Notice is given, and (in the case of a matter to be included in the business only) must be accompanied by a statement setting out the grounds for the request.

AGM information

Attending the Meeting

You may find it useful to bring this Notice and the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts in order that you may refer to them in the Meeting. All joint shareholders may attend and speak at the AGM. However, it is only the most senior shareholder by reference to the Register of Members and in attendance who is entitled to vote.

Confirmation of name and address should be sufficient to facilitate entry to the meeting. However, ID verification may be required in the form of a driving licence/passport.

To assist with arrangements you may email the Company at [email protected] if you propose to attend the Meeting.

Not attending the Meeting

Whoever you appoint as a proxy (whether you appoint them using the CREST service, via Proxymity, online or via a hard copy proxy form) can attend, speak, vote or abstain from voting, as he or she decides on any other business which may validly come before the AGM.

Details of how to appoint a proxy are given in the Notes to this Notice.

Enquiries

MUFG Corporate Markets maintain the Company's share register. If you have any enquiries about the Meeting or about your Croda International Plc shareholding, you may contact MUFG Corporate Markets.

Email enquiries:

[email protected]

In writing to:

MUFG Corporate Markets Central Square 29 Wellington Street Leeds LS1 4DL

or by telephone to the shareholder helpline: (from the UK) 0371 664 0300

(from outside the UK) + 44 (0) 371 664 0300 Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate; lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales.

You may also contact Croda International Plc at the following corporate address:

Cowick Hall Snaith Goole East Yorkshire DN14 9AA

Email: [email protected]

Form of Proxy

Croda is committed to reducing paper and improving efficiency wherever possible in its communications with shareholders.

Once again this year we are no longer sending paper proxy cards to shareholders unless specifically asked to do so. Advice on how to request a paper proxy is set out in Note 2(iii) in the Notes to this Notice.

Data Protection Statement

Your personal data includes all data provided by you, or on your behalf, which relates to you as a shareholder, including your name and contact details, the votes you cast and your Reference Number (attributed to you by the Company). The Company determines the purposes for which and the manner in which your personal data are to be processed.

The Company and any third party to which it discloses the data (including the Company's Registrars) may process your personal data for the purposes of compiling and updating the Company's records, fulfilling its legal obligations and processing the shareholder rights you exercise.

Venue location

The Milner York

The Milner Hotel York is conveniently located next to York train station. Leeds Bradford International Airport is approximately 30 miles, or a 45 minute taxi ride away.

By rail

The Milner is conveniently located next to York train Station, offering direct connections to numerous destinations across the country. Trains to London King's Cross take less than two hours.

By car

The Milner York is a 20 minute drive from the A1. Satellite navigation postcode is YO24 1AA.

Parking at The Milner York

Parking is available on site which will be complimentary to AGM attendees for up to three hours, subject to availability. To be eligible for free parking, you must provide your car registration details when you register for the meeting on the day. Failure to do so may result in a parking penalty notice.

Park and Ride Buses

There are six Park and Ride sites in York, most of which stop adjacent to York railway station . For further details visit: www.itravelyork.info/park-and-ride.

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