Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • May 10, 2013
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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If you are in any doubt about this document or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your ordinary shares in Afren plc, please forward this document, together with the accompanying documents as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank manager or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
Your attention is drawn to Afren plc's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2012, a copy of which accompanies this document.
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(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under company number 5304498)
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of White & Case LLP, 5 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1DW on 11 June 2013 at 11.00 a.m. is set out at the end of this document.
Shareholders are requested to complete and return the Form of Proxy enclosed with this document as soon as possible but in any event, to be valid, so as to be received by the Company's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY no later than 11.00 a.m. on 7 June 2013.
The return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude a member from attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting in person should he or she subsequently decide to do so.
| Directors, Secretaries and Registered Office of Afren plc | 3 |
|---|---|
| Letter from the Chairman of Afren plc | 4 |
| Notice of Annual General Meeting | 6 |
| Explanatory Notes on the Resolutions | 11 |
| Explanatory Notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting | 15 |
| Egbert Imomoh | Chairman |
|---|---|
| Osman Shahenshah | Chief Executive Officer |
| Shahid Ullah | Chief Operating Officer |
| Darra Comyn | Group Finance Director |
| Ennio Sganzerla | Non-Executive Director |
| Peter Bingham | Non-Executive Director |
| John St. John | Non-Executive Director |
| Patrick Obath | Non-Executive Director |
| Toby Hayward | Non-Executive Director |
| Secretaries and Registered | Shirin Johri |
|---|---|
| Office | Elekwachi Ukwu |
| Kinnaird House | |
| 1 Pall Mall East | |
| London SW1Y 5AU |
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under company number 5304498)
Registered office: Kinnaird House 1 Pall Mall East London SW1Y 5AU
30 April 2013
Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our Annual General Meeting ("AGM") which we are holding at the offices of White & Case LLP, 5 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1DW at 11.00 a.m. on 11 June 2013. The notice convening the AGM is set out on page 6 of this document.
If you would like to vote on the resolutions but cannot attend the AGM, please complete the Form of Proxy enclosed with this document and return it to our registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY, as soon as possible. They must receive it by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 7 June 2013.
Explanatory notes on all the business to be considered at this year's AGM appear on pages 10 to 17 of this document. Resolutions 1 to 13 (inclusive) seek the necessary shareholder approvals by way of ordinary resolution and resolutions 14 to 17 (inclusive) seek the necessary shareholder approvals by way of special resolution.
In summary, the shareholder authority sought includes:
renewal of the Directors' authority to allot unissued ordinary shares;
renewal of the Directors' authority to issue ordinary shares, or transfer ordinary shares from treasury, on a pre-emptive basis;
The Directors consider that all the proposals to be considered at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its members as a whole and are most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole. The Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of all of the proposed resolutions, as they intend to do so in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings.
Shareholders will find enclosed with this document a Form of Proxy for use in connection with the AGM. Shareholders, whether or not they propose to attend the AGM in person, are requested to complete, sign and return the enclosed Form of Proxy, in accordance with the instructions printed thereon, so as to be received by the Company's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY as soon as possible and, in any event, by not later than 11.00 a.m. on 7 June 2013. Completion and return of the Form of Proxy will not preclude Shareholders from attending and voting at the AGM in person if they wish to do so.
Yours faithfully Mr Egbert Imomoh Chairman
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under company number 5304498)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of Afren plc (the "Company") will be held at the offices of White & Case LLP, 5 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1DW at 11.00 a.m. on 11 June 2013 to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, which, in the case of resolutions 1 to 13 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and, in the case of resolutions 14 to 17, will be proposed as special resolutions.
(a) up to a maximum nominal amount of £3,630,218.99; and
(b) comprising equity securities (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) up to a nominal amount of £7,260,437.98 including within such limit any shares and rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares allotted under paragraph (a) above) in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:
such authority to apply until the earlier of the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting and the close of business on 30 June 2014 but, in each case, so that the Company may make offers and enter into agreements during the relevant period which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into share to be granted after the authority ends and the Directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into share under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.
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 other matter; and
(b) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (a) of resolution 13 and/or in the case of a transfer of treasury shares which is treated as an allotment of equity securities under section 560(2)(b) of the Companies Act 2006, to the allotment (otherwise than under paragraph (a) of this resolution 14) of equity securities up to a nominal amount of £544,532.84.
such authority to expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 June 2014, unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, save that the Company may make offers and enter into agreements during the relevant period which would, or might, require shares 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.
All previous unutilised authorities for the Company to make market purchases of ordinary shares are revoked, except in relation to the purchase of shares under a contract or contracts concluded before the date of this resolution and where such purchase has not yet been executed.
"by rotation"
"Any person so appointed shall be treated for the purpose of determining the time at which he or any other Director is to retire by rotation as if he had become a Director on the day on which the Director in whose place he is appointed was last elected a Director."
(d) Article 132 be amended by deleting the following words:
"but shall not be taken into account in determining the number of Directors who are to retire by rotation at such meeting";
17. THAT a general meeting of the Company, other than an annual general meeting of the Company, may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
By Order of the Board
Elekwachi Ukwu Company Secretary Afren plc
30 April 2013
Registered Office: Afren plc Kinnaird House 1 Pall Mall East London SW1Y 5AU
The Directors must present the Directors' report, the audited annual accounts of the Company and the independent auditor's report to the shareholders at the AGM.
In line with legislation, this vote will be advisory and in respect of the overall remuneration package, and not specific to individual levels of remuneration. You can find the Remuneration Report on pages 86 to 96 of the 2012 Annual Report and Accounts which is available on the Company's website at www.afren.com.
Resolutions 3 to 11 deal with the re-election of the Directors of the Company.
The UK Corporate Governance Code 2012 (the "Code") recommends that all other directors stand for annual re-election. In compliance with the Code, all Executive and Non-Executive Directors will retire at this year's AGM and submit themselves for re-election. Resolutions 4 to 11 propose their reelection.
Toby Hayward, Peter Bingham, John St. John, Patrick Obath, Egbert Imomoh and Ennio Sganzerla are Non-Executive Directors who the Board consider to be independent. The Board believes that, following formal performance evaluation, each of the Directors continues to perform effectively and with commitment to their roles. Brief biographical details of each of the Directors standing for election or re-election appear on page 70 and 71 of the 2012 Annual Report and Accounts, which is available on the Company's website at www.afren.com.
Resolution 12 proposes the reappointment of Deloitte LLP as Auditors of the Company and authorise the Directors to set their remuneration.
The Company's Directors may only allot ordinary shares or grants rights over ordinary shares if authorised to do so by shareholders. The authority granted at the last AGM under section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to allot relevant securities is due to expire at the conclusion of this year's AGM. Accordingly, this resolution seeks to renew such director's general authority to allot shares (including treasury shares) in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company and will expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company held in 2014 or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 June 2014.
If passed, paragraph (a) of Resolution 13 would give the Directors authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal value of £3,630,218.99 representing approximately one third (33.33 per cent) of the Company's existing issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) and calculated as at 25 April 2013 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice). In accordance with the latest institutional guidelines issued by the Association of British Insurers ("ABI"), paragraph (b) of Resolution 13, if passed, would give the Directors authority to allot, including the shares referred to in paragraph (a) of Resolution 13, further of the Company's shares in connection with a pre-emptive offer by way of a rights issue to shareholders up to a maximum nominal amount of £7,260,437.98, representing approximately two thirds (66.67 per cent) of the Company's existing issued share capital (excluding shares held in treasury) and calculated as at 25 April 2013 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice).
There is no present intention of exercising this authority. However, it is considered prudent to maintain the flexibility that this authority provides. If they do exercise the authority, the Directors intend to follow emerging best practice as regards its use (including as regards the Directors standing for re-election in certain cases), as recommended by the ABI. As at 30 April 2013, the Company held no shares in treasury. The Company's Directors intend to renew this authority annually.
Under section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006, if the Directors wish to allot any of the unissued shares or grant rights over shares or sell treasury shares for cash (other than pursuant to an employee share scheme) they must in the first instance offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings. There may be occasions, however, when the Directors will need the flexibility to finance business opportunities by the issue of shares without a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders. This cannot be done under the Companies Act 2006 unless the shareholders have first waived their pre-emption rights. Resolution 14 seeks shareholders authority for this and, apart from rights issues or any other pre-emptive offer concerning equity securities, the authority will be limited to the issue of shares for cash up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £544,532.84 (which includes the sale on a non-pre-emptive basis of any shares held in treasury), which is equivalent to approximately 5 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 25 April 2013 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice). The Company undertakes to restrict its use of this authority to a maximum of 7.5 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital in any three year period. Shareholders will note that this resolution also relates to treasury shares and will be proposed as a special resolution.
This resolution seeks a disapplication of the pre-emption rights on a rights issue so as to allow the Directors to make exclusions or such other arrangements as may be appropriate to resolve legal or practical problems which, for example, might arise with overseas shareholders. If given, the authority will expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2014 or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 June 2014. The Company's Directors intend to renew this authority annually.
In certain circumstances it may be advantageous for the Company to purchase its own shares and Resolution 15 seeks authority from shareholders to continue to do so. Authority was given to the Company to make market purchases up to an aggregate of 97,832,886 of its ordinary shares at the AGM held on 6 June 2012 (being equal to approximately 10 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 25 April 2012, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the notice for the AGM held on 6 June 2012). This authority is due to expire at the end of the AGM and
it is proposed that the Company be authorised to continue to make market purchases up to an aggregate of approximately 10 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as further described below. The Directors will continue to exercise this power only when, in the light of market conditions prevailing at the time, they believe that the effect of such purchases will be to increase earnings per share and will be likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole. Other investment opportunities, appropriate gearing levels and the overall position of the Company will be taken into account when exercising this authority. Save to the extent purchased pursuant to the Companies Act 2006, any shares purchased in this way will be cancelled and the number of shares in issue will be reduced accordingly. The Company may hold in treasury any of its own shares that it purchases pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 and the authority conferred by this resolution. This gives the Company the ability to reissue treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively and provides the Company with greater flexibility in the management of its capital base. It also gives the Company the opportunity to satisfy employee share scheme awards with treasury shares.
The proposed authority would be limited to purchase of up to 108,906,569 ordinary shares which is equal to approximately 10 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 25 April 2013 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice). The resolution specifies the maximum and minimum prices at which the Company's shares may be bought.
For information, as at 25 April 2013 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice) there were outstanding 80,737,839 awards and options to subscribe for ordinary shares, representing 7.41 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares). If the new authority and the existing authority were exercised in full, the awards and options would represent 9.15 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares).
Resolution 15 will be proposed as a special resolution to provide the Company with the necessary authority. If given, this authority will expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company held in 2014 or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 June 2014.
The Directors intend to seek renewal of this power at subsequent AGMs.
Previously, the Combined Code on Corporate Governance had provided that directors should seek reelection at least every three years; a requirement which the Company's current Articles of Association comply with. However, the Code now states that all directors of FTSE 350 companies should be reelected annually. The move from three years to annual re-election is designed to promote better engagement with shareholders and was supported by institutional investors. The Directors are committed to measures that promote good governance and accordingly, in compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code and current best practice, Resolution 16 amends Articles 86, 127, 128, 131 and 132 to provide for the annual re-election of all Directors; the effect will be that all Directors will be required to retire at each AGM and it will be for the Company's shareholders to determine whether any Director offering himself or herself for re-appointment should continue in office. Given that all Directors will be retiring at each AGM, the requirement in Article 127 that at least one third of the Directors retire and the corresponding provisions in Articles 86, 128, 131 and 132 will be removed as they will no longer be relevant.
The Mental Health (Discrimination) Act 2013 makes further provision about discrimination against people on the grounds of their mental health. This Act provides that the model articles of association contained in the Companies (Model Articles) Regulations 2008 are amended to omit the provisions relating to the termination of a director's appointment on the grounds of mental health. Accordingly, the Directors proposed that the Company's existing Articles of Association be amended to remove the
equivalent provision set out in Article 135(e) in line with this legislation. The Directors also propose to amend Article 135(c) to delete a typographical error.
In line with guidance from the ABI, the Company's existing Articles of Association contain a monetary cap on the aggregate amount of fees which may be paid to non-executive directors. The Company's current cap is £350,000 per annum and it is proposed that Article 157 be amended such that this cap is increased to £1,250,000 per annum. This increase will provide the Company with sufficient headroom and flexibility to maintain its non-executive directors' fee levels in line with the market.
The changes made to the Companies Act 2006 by the Companies (Shareholders' Rights) Regulations 2009 (the "Shareholders' Rights Regulations") increase the notice period for general meetings of the Company to 21 days unless shareholders approve a shorter period (which they can do for all meetings apart from annual general meetings), which cannot however be less than 14 clear days. Prior to the coming into force of the Shareholders' Rights Regulations, the Company was able to call general meetings (other than annual general meeting) on 14 days' notice. In order to be able to preserve this ability, resolution 17, which will be proposed as a special resolution, seeks the necessary Shareholder authority to approve the calling of such meetings on 14 clear days' notice. This approval will be effective until the next annual general meeting, when it is intended that this authority will be further reviewed. In order to be able to convene a general meeting with such shorter 14 day notice period, the Company must also offer an electronic voting facility which is accessible to all its shareholders. The Company already provides the ability for shareholders to vote electronically.
It is intended that the shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine for such meetings, but only where the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be in the interests of the shareholders as a whole.
2. A copy of this notice of annual general meeting and other information regarding the AGM, including information which the Company is required by section 311A of the Companies Act 2006 to publish in advance of the AGM, can be accessed at www.afren.com.
case no later than 11.00 a.m. on 7 June 2013 (or not less than 48 hours before the time fixed for any adjourned meeting, excluding any part of a day that is not a working day).
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.
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