AGM Information • Mar 4, 2015
AGM Information
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This document is important and requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt about its contents you should consult your independent financial adviser. If you have sold or transferred all of your Chemring Group PLC ordinary shares you should send this document and all accompanying documents to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
Notice is hereby given that the 109th Annual General Meeting of the shareholders will be held at 11.00 am on 19 March 2015 at Investec, 2 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7QP for the purpose of considering and, if approved, passing the following resolutions:
in each case, as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited:
but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or any legal or practical problems under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and
(y)to the allotment of equity securities (otherwise than pursuant to paragraph (x) of this resolution) up to an aggregate nominal value of £96,648;
and (unless previously revoked, varied or reviewed) this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on 19 June 2016 (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Board may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
and (unless previously renewed, revoked or varied), this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on 19 June 2016 (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may make a contract to purchase Shares which would or might be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of this authority, and may make purchases of Shares pursuant to it as if this authority had not expired.
All previous unutilised authorities to make market purchases of 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.
16.That the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, from the date of the passing of this resolution and expiring at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, to hold general meetings (other than annual general meetings) on not less than fourteen clear days' notice.
By order of the Board
Group Legal Director & Company Secretary
12 February 2015
Chemring Group PLC Roke Manor Old Salisbury Lane Romsey Hampshire SO51 0ZN
The directors are required to present to the meeting the audited accounts and the reports of the directors and the auditor for the financial year ended 31 October 2014.
The annual report can be accessed on the Company's website (www.chemring.co.uk) or shareholders may obtain a copy by contacting the Company Secretary at the Company's registered office during usual business hours.
In accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act"), the directors' remuneration report in the 2014 annual report contains:
The directors' remuneration policy, which is set out on pages 59 to 66 of the directors' remuneration report in the 2014 annual report, is subject to a binding vote by shareholders at least every three years. The policy was approved by shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting on 20 March 2014, and therefore remains valid until the 2017 Annual General Meeting (subject to any changes being proposed prior to that date, or to the advisory vote on the annual implementation report on directors' remuneration not being passed). No changes are proposed to be made to the policy this year, and it has only been included in the 2014 annual report for ease of reference.
Resolution 2 is the ordinary resolution to approve the annual report on directors' remuneration, other than the part containing the directors' remuneration policy. This resolution is subject to an advisory vote and does not affect the future remuneration paid to any director.
Shareholders must approve the final dividend payable for each ordinary share held. The final dividend declared cannot exceed the amount recommended by the directors.
In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, Michael Flowers will be standing for election by shareholders as a director, following his appointment by the Board during the year.
In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, all directors are required to submit themselves for re-election every three years. However, in order to ensure compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, all of the remaining directors, with the exception of Vanda Murray will voluntarily submit themselves for re-election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Vanda Murray will stand down as a director at the Annual General Meeting.
Biographical information on all of the directors standing for election or re-election is given below.
Michael Flowers was appointed to the Board as Group Chief Executive on 24 June 2014, having previously been Group Director - Munitions, with responsibility for running and subsequently disposing of the Group's European munitions businesses. Michael joined Chemring in 2006, and ran the Group's Australian operations for seven years. Prior to joining Chemring, Michael worked for BAE Systems in program management roles, principally in the weapons systems and electronic warfare domains. Prior to his time with BAE Systems, Michael served as an officer in the Australian Army for twenty two years, and was a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College and the British Royal Military College of Science.
Steve Bowers was appointed Group Finance Director on 7 January 2013. He was formerly Finance Director of Umeco plc until its acquisition by Cytec UK Holdings Limited in July 2012. During Steve's time with Umeco he was involved in both acquisitions and disposals, as well as in the management of financial reporting, treasury functions and banking relationships. Prior to his appointment as Finance Director, he held a number of financial roles at Umeco, alongside the role of Company Secretary. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG LLP and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Sarah Ellard was appointed as Group Legal Director on 7 October 2011, having been Group Company Secretary since 1998. Prior to joining the Group, Sarah trained and worked at Ernst & Young LLP. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
Andy Hamment was appointed as a non-executive director on 1 July 2013. He is also the Senior Independent Director of Senior plc, and was previously Group Marketing Director and a main Board director of Ultra Electronics plc. Andy has worked in defence and manufacturing industries for most of his career, primarily in business development and management roles. He joined Dowty in 1988 as Managing Director of its Controls business, and participated in the management buy-out that created Ultra Electronics.
Peter Hickson joined the Group as a non–executive director on 1 July 2010, and was appointed Chairman of the Board on 1 October 2010. Currently Chairman of Communisis plc, and a non-executive director of Coalfield Resources plc. Peter has had senior management experience with a number of large international companies, and previous appointments include Chairman of Anglian Water Group, Senior Independent Director of London & Continental Railways Ltd, Finance Director of Powergen plc and non–executive directorships of Scottish Power plc, Marconi Corporation plc, RAC plc and Kazakhmys plc. He is also a trustee and Board member of Orbis Charitable Trust, the international sight saving charity, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Ian Much joined the Group as a non-executive director in December 2004. He is Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. Previous appointments include Chief Executive of De La Rue plc and T&N plc, and non-executive director of Admiral plc, Camelot plc, Manchester United plc, Simplyhealth Group Ltd and Senior plc. He is currently a non-executive director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of BTG plc.
Nigel Young became a non-executive director on 1 May 2013, following his appointment as Interim Chief Financial Officer in August 2012. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Previous appointments include Finance Director of ALVIS PLC, First Technology PLC, Babcock International PLC and Morgan Advanced Materials PLC. He has also undertaken a number of interim and consultancy roles, including roles with the UK Atomic Energy Authority and McBride PLC. Nigel is a trustee and board member of certain development charities, and a non-executive director of P2i Limited, a provider of liquid repellent nano-coating protection.
These resolutions propose the re-appointment of the auditor, and authorise the directors, in accordance with standard practice, to agree the remuneration to be paid to the auditor.
The directors of the Company may only allot shares if authorised to do so by the shareholders in general meeting. This resolution, if passed, will grant new authority under section 551 of the Act and will give the directors flexibility to act in the best interests of shareholders, when opportunities arise, by issuing new ordinary shares. The authority will enable the directors to allot ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £644,323, which represents approximately one third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (exclusive of treasury shares) as at 12 February 2015. This limit is in line with the guidelines issued by the Investment Association (the "IA") which, following the merger of ABI Investment Affairs with the Investment Management Association, has assumed responsibility for the guidance previously issued by the Association of British Insurers.
The directors have no present intention of exercising this authority except for the purpose of allotting shares under the terms of the Company's employee share schemes. The authority will expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting or on 19 June 2016 (whichever is the earlier).
The Company holds 2,198,814 ordinary shares in treasury as at 12 February 2015. This amount represents 1.14% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (exclusive of treasury shares) as at that date.
If passed, this resolution will allow the directors, pursuant to section 571(1) of the Act, to allot shares for cash without first offering them to shareholders in accordance with the Act and renews the authority given at the Annual General Meeting in 2014. This authority is limited to the allotment of shares for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of £96,648, which represents approximately 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (exclusive of treasury shares)
as at 12 February 2015, without having to first offer them to shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. This limit is in line with the guidelines issued by the Pre-emption Group. In addition, in accordance with normal practice, the resolution will enable the Board to allot shares pursuant to a rights issue or open offer, and to deal with overseas shareholders and fractional entitlements as it thinks fit in the context of any rights issue or open offer. The authority will expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting or on 19 June 2016 (whichever is the earlier). It is the directors' intention to review this authority every year. There are no present plans to exercise this authority.
If passed, this resolution will give the Company authority to purchase its own shares in the market up to a limit of 10% of its issued ordinary share capital. The maximum and minimum prices are stated in the resolution. The directors believe that it is advantageous for the Company to have this flexibility to make market purchases of its own shares. In the event that shares are purchased, they will either be cancelled (and the number of shares in issue will be reduced accordingly) or retained as treasury shares, as an alternative to cancelling them.
Shares repurchased as treasury shares will be held with a view to possible resale at a future date, rather than having to cancel them. This gives the Company the ability to reissue treasury shares quickly and cost effectively, and provides the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base. Any issues of treasury shares for the purposes of the Company's employee share schemes will be made within the 10% anti-dilution limit set by the IA.
The directors will only exercise this authority if they are satisfied that a purchase can be expected to result in an increase in earnings per share and will be in the interests of shareholders generally.
As at 12 February 2015, there were options and awards over 6,015,138 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, which represents 3.11% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (exclusive of treasury shares) at that date. If the authority to purchase the Company's ordinary shares was exercised in full, these options and awards would represent 3.46% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (exclusive of treasury shares). For the purpose of these calculations, it has been assumed that (i) all options and conditional share awards vest in full and (ii) none of the options or awards under any of the plans lapse prior to their applicable vesting dates. The actual number of ordinary shares that will vest in respect of awards under the share plans will only be determined at their applicable vesting dates, subject to the satisfaction of performance conditions and other requirements at those times.
The Act provides that general meetings of a company may be held on not less than fourteen clear days' notice in writing. However, the Shareholder Rights Directive (Directive 2007/36/EC), which come into force on 1 August 2009, made it a requirement for companies whose shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (among other markets), to seek approval each year from its shareholders if any general meeting is to be held on less than twenty one clear days' notice in writing. Resolution 16 seeks such approval.
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