AGM Information • May 6, 2021
AGM Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this document or as to the action you should take, you are recommended to immediately seek your own independent financial advice from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended), if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your holding of ordinary shares of £0.10 each in the capital of Bisichi PLC (Company) (Ordinary Shares), please forward this document 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 onward transmission to the purchaser or transferee. However, such documents should not be distributed, forwarded to or transmitted in or into, any jurisdiction in which such act would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations in such jurisdiction. If you have sold or otherwise transferred only part of your holding of Ordinary Shares, you should retain these documents and consult the stockbroker, bank manager or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected.
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 00112155)
This document should be read as a whole. Your attention is drawn in particular to the letter from the Chairman of the Company which is set out in this document and which contains recommendations that you vote in favour of all of the Resolutions set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting referred to below.
Notice of an Annual General Meeting of the Company, to be held at 24 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6NE at 11:00 a.m. on 22 June 2021, is set out at the end of this document. Due to Covid-19 and the restrictions introduced in the United Kingdom to prevent its spread, the Company may have to make changes to the way the Annual General Meeting is to be held this year. Please read the Chairman's letter enclosed for further details.
This year, instead of voting at the meeting (if Covid restrictions allow an open meeting) or returning a paper form of proxy to vote, we request that you submit your vote online via the shareholders' portal at www.signalshares.com. If you have not done so already, you will need to register your account using your Investor Code, which can be found on your share certificate. Alternatively, you may request a paper form of proxy from our Registrar, Link Group and details of how to contact them are set out in the Notice of AGM. In order to vote online, you will need to visit www.signalshares.com, search 'Bisichi PLC' and use your Investor Code to log in or register. Once you have logged in, simply click the 'Vote Online Now' button and follow the procedure as instructed.
Copies of this document will be available free of charge from the Company's website at https://bisichi.co.uk/.
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 00112155)
Sir Michael Heller (Chairman) Andrew Heller (Managing Director) Garrett Casey (Finance Director) Robert Grobler (Director of Mining) Christopher Joll (Senior Independent Director) John Sibbald (Non-executive Director) John Wong (Non-executive Director)
24 Bruton Place, London, W1J 6NE
22 April 2021
Dear Shareholder
I am writing to you as Chairman of the Company, to report that the Company's one hundred and ninth Annual General Meeting will be held on 22 June 2021 (AGM) and to confirm arrangements for the holding of the AGM in light of Covid-19. Please note that different arrangements exist this year relating to the AGM, and shareholders are encouraged to read this letter and the notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting in full.
The formal notice of the AGM is set out on page 4 of this document and contains the Resolutions to be considered and voted on at the meeting. The annual report and accounts for the Group for the period ended 31 December 2020, which are the subject of the first proposed Resolution, are enclosed with this letter and notice of AGM or have previously been sent to Shareholders. They can also be accessed from the "Investors" page of our website, https://bisichi.co.uk/.
The current circumstances around Covid-19 are uncertain and present novel challenges for us all. Unfortunately, Covid-19 may have an impact on the Company's ability to hold the AGM in the usual manner. The restrictions presently imposed by the UK Government in response to Covid-19 include restrictions on movement and gatherings, and these are subject to ongoing review by the UK Government in line with its monitoring of Covid-19. As such, while it is anticipated that these measures will be relaxed in stages, the exact date on which such relaxations will occur is not known at this time. In particular, the restrictions on inside gatherings are currently scheduled to continue until at least 21 June 2021, the day before the Company's AGM.
As such, the Board has prepared for the AGM on the basis that these restrictions will still be in place. At present, the Company plans to hold a physical AGM this year at 11:00 a.m. on 22 June 2021, but on a closed basis, with the only people who will be permitted entry to the AGM being Sir Michael Heller as the chairman of the meeting and a single shareholder to ensure the meeting is quorate. The shareholder, who is a director of the Company, has already been selected and any members who seek to attend the AGM will not be allowed entry. This is to enable the Company to comply with both its legal obligations under the Companies Act 2006 and the measures introduced relating to Covid-19.
If, however, it is clear that restrictions will be lifted so as to enable shareholder attendance at the AGM, the Company intends to open the meeting to shareholders (subject to limitations on venue capacity, social distancing and relevant guidance at the time). Further details of any such change will be announced by RNS, and shareholders are requested to monitor the Company's website www.bisichi.co.uk for further details.
In order to make sure shareholders votes are counted regardless of whether the meeting is open or closed, shareholders are therefore requested to vote online via the shareholders' portal or through CREST, appointing the chairman of the meeting as their proxy and providing instructions to vote in favour or against the resolutions. Discretionary votes are permissible, but will be cast on resolutions at the Chairman's absolute discretion. While shareholders are entitled to appoint persons other than the chairman of the meeting as their proxy, if the meeting is closed, such persons will not be permitted entry into the meeting and therefore will not be able to vote on your behalf. If you request a form of proxy from our registrar, I encourage you to return your form of proxy as soon as practicable to ensure it is received in time.
As you may not be permitted to attend the AGM in person, you are requested to vote online via www.signalshares.com. Votes should be cast no later than 11:00 a.m. on 18 June 2021. If you are a CREST member, you may submit your proxy electronically through CREST. Details of how to do so are set out in the Notes to the Notice of AGM.
It is the responsibility of any person receiving a copy of this document outside of the United Kingdom to satisfy himself/herself as to the full observance of the laws and regulatory requirements of the relevant territory in connection therewith, including obtaining any governmental or other consents which may be required or observing any other formalities required to be observed in such territory and paying any other issue, transfer or other taxes due in such territory. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) receiving this document should not send it into any jurisdiction when to do so would, or might, contravene local securities laws or regulations.
Each member of the Board who holds Ordinary Shares in the Company intends to vote in favour of each of the Resolutions in respect of their own beneficial holdings. The Directors therefore strongly encourage and unanimously recommend you vote in favour of the Resolutions.
Yours faithfully
Sir Michael Heller Chairman
Bisichi PLC
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 00112155)
NOTICE is hereby given that the hundred and ninth annual general meeting ("Annual General Meeting") of Bisichi PLC (the "Company") will be held at 24 Bruton Place, London W1J 6NE on 22 June 2021 at 11:00 a.m. for the transaction of the following business (which is described under the heading "Explanatory notes to the notice of annual general meeting" below):
To consider and, if thought fit, pass resolutions 1 to 8, in each case as an ordinary resolution:
| 1 | To receive and adopt the Company's annual accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 together with the directors' report and the auditors' report on those accounts. |
(Resolution 1) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | To approve the remuneration report for the year ended 31 December 2020. | (Resolution 2) |
| 3 | To re-elect as a director Mr Andrew Heller. | (Resolution 3) |
| 4 | To re-elect as a director Mr Robert Grobler. | (Resolution 4) |
| 5 | To re-elect as a director Mr John Wong. | (Resolution 5) |
| 6 | To appoint Kreston Reeves LLP as auditors of the Company to hold office from the conclusion of this meeting until the conclusion of the next meeting at which the accounts are laid before the Company. |
(Resolution 6) |
| 7 | (Resolution 7) |
Garrett Casey CA (SA) Secretary
24 Bruton Place London W1J 6NE
22 April 2021
Bisichi PLC
Registered in England and Wales - Number 112155
In light of Covid-19 and the restrictions introduced by the UK Government to combat its spread, and in order to enable the Company to comply with its obligations, the Company has made certain practical changes to these notes to reflect the manner in which this year's Annual General Meeting is or may be held. While your rights under the Company's articles of association and the Companies Act 2006 remain unchanged, the Company has, as permitted under the Company's articles of association, taken steps to enable the Company to hold, and its shareholders to vote, at the Annual General Meeting while also seeking to ensure compliance with both the Companies Act 2006 and the current restrictions introduced to counter Covid-19. As noted in the Chairman's letter, if it is possible to do so, the Company will look to open the meeting to shareholders to attend.
6 You are entitled to request a hard copy form of proxy directly from the Company's Registrar, Link Group. If a paper form of proxy is requested from the Company's Registrar, it must be completed, signed and sent to the Company's Registrar (PXS 1 Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL) so as to have been received by the Company's Registrar by not later than 11:00 am on 18 June 2020 (or 48 hours (excluding weekends and public holidays) before the time appointed for any adjournment of it).
7 In the case of a member which is a company, your proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by a duly authorised officer of the company or an attorney for the company if a hard copy proxy form is submitted.
CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsor or voting service provider should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider takes) 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 sponsor or voting service provider 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.
The conditions are that:
The conditions are that:
Shareholders should note that it is possible that pursuant to Chapter 5 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 (sections 527 to 531), the Company may be required to publish on its website, a statement setting out any matter that such member or members propose to raise at the meeting relating to 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 meeting.
Where the Company is required to publish such a statement on its website:
The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions.
Resolutions 1 to 8 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The Directors will present their report and the audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 together with the auditors' report thereon.
Resolution 2 is to approve the Remuneration Report on pages 32 to 39 of the Company's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 ("Annual Report"). Section 439 of the Companies Act 2006 requires that a remuneration report is put to a vote of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. This vote is advisory and the directors' entitlement to receive remuneration is not conditional on it.
The Articles of Association of the Company require that directors should submit themselves for re-election at least once every three years. This year, each of Mr Andrew Heller and Mr Robert Grobler will retire and offer himself for re-election. Biographical details relating to each of Mr Andrew Heller and Mr Robert Grobler can be found on page 26 of the Annual Report.
The Articles of Association of the Company require that directors should submit themselves for election at the next Annual General Meeting after their initial appointment to Board. Mr John Wong was appointed as a non-executive director of the Board on 15 October 2020. Mr John Wong therefore offers himself for election. Biographical details relating to Mr John Wong can be found on page 25 of the Annual Report.
The Company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before shareholders, to hold office until the next such meeting. In addition, BDO LLP retire as auditors due to the regulatory rules regarding rotation. The directors are satisfied with the terms of appointment of Kreston Reeves LLP and accordingly the resolution proposes that Kreston Reeves LLP be appointed as auditors for the current year following the receipt of professional clearance by BDO LLP to Kreston Reeves LLP.
This resolution proposes that the directors be authorised to set the remuneration of the auditors.
In certain circumstances it is important for the Company to be able to allot shares up to a maximum amount without needing to seek shareholder approval every time an allotment is required. Paragraph 8.1.1 of Resolution 8 would give the directors the authority to allot shares in the Company and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal value of £355,894. This represents approximately 1/3 (one third) of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue (excluding treasury shares) at 22 April 2021 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this document). Paragraph 8.1.2 of Resolution 8 would give the directors the authority to allot shares in the Company and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares in the Company up to a further aggregate nominal value of £355,894, in connection with a pre-emptive rights issue. This amount represents approximately 1/3 (one third) of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue (excluding treasury shares) at 22 April 2021 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this document).
Therefore, the maximum nominal value of shares or rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares which may be allotted or granted under resolution 8 is £711,788 representing approximately 2/3 (two thirds) of the ordinary share capital of the Company in issue (excluding treasury shares) at 22 April 2021 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document).
Resolution 8 complies with guidance issued by the Institutional Voting Information Service (the voting advisory service of the Investment Association) ("IVIS").
The authority granted by Resolution 8 will expire on 31 August 2022 or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company. The directors have no present intention to make use of this authority. However, if they do exercise the authority, the directors intend to follow best practice as regards its use as recommended by the IVIS.
The directors consider that all of the resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. The Board of directors of the Company recommends that shareholders vote in favour of all resolutions.
Bisichi PLC 24 Bruton Place London W1J 6NE
email: [email protected]
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