AGM Information • Apr 15, 2019
AGM Information
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The Westbury hotel, 37 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2YF on Friday 17 May 2019 at 10.30 a.m.
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, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Derwent London plc (the "Company"), please pass this document together with the accompanying documents to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer, so they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares.
| PART I | |
|---|---|
| Letter from the Chairman of Derwent London plc | 3 |
| PART II | |
| Notice of Annual General Meeting | 5 |
| Explanatory notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting | 11 |
Whether or not you propose to attend the Annual General Meeting, please complete and submit a Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed on the enclosed form. To be valid, the Form of Proxy should be returned as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 10:30 a.m. on 15 May 2019. Completion and return of a Form of Proxy will not prevent a shareholder from attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting should they choose to do so. Further instructions relating to the Form of Proxy are set out in the notes to the Notice of the Annual General Meeting.
The following documents are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company until the time of the AGM and at The Westbury hotel, 37 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2YF from 15 minutes before the AGM until it ends:
Robert Rayne (Chairman) (Incorporated and registered in John Burns (Chief Executive Officer) England and Wales under Damian Wisniewski (Finance Director) number 1819699) Simon Silver (Executive Director) Paul Williams (Executive Director) Registered and Head Office: Nigel George (Executive Director) 25 Savile Row David Silverman (Executive Director) London Claudia Arney (Non-Executive Director) W1S 2ER Lucinda Bell (Non-Executive Director) 020 7659 3000 Richard Dakin (Non-Executive Director) Simon Fraser (Non-Executive Director) Helen Gordon (Non-Executive Director) Cilla Snowball (Non-Executive Director) Stephen Young (Non-Executive Director)
15 April 2019
Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our Annual General Meeting (AGM) which we are holding at The Westbury hotel, 37 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2YF on 17 May 2019 at 10.30 a.m. The formal Notice of AGM is set out on pages 5 to 8 of this document. If you would like to vote on the resolutions but are unable to attend the AGM, please fill in the Form of Proxy sent to you with this notice and return it to our Registrars as soon as possible. They must receive it by 10.30 a.m. on 15 May 2019.
Following the announcement on 23 November 2018, you will be aware that I intend to step down as Chairman at this year's AGM after 12 years in the role. Prior to introducing the formal matters contained within this Notice of Meeting, I wish to personally thank you for your continued support throughout my tenure.
I am delighted that I will be handing over the chairmanship to John Burns for a transitionary period of two years. John is an outstanding and renowned leader within the industry. The culture and heritage of the Derwent London group has always been central to our success. I am confident that John will provide excellent leadership during the transition period, to safeguard our culture and ensure an orderly succession, whilst we seek to recruit an independent Non-Executive Chairman. In addition, I would like to wish Paul Williams every success in his new role as Chief Executive.
After nine years as a Non-Executive Director, Stephen Young will also be retiring at the AGM and I would like to thank him for his considerable contribution to the business. We already have an excellent replacement in Lucinda Bell, previously Chief Financial Officer of British Land, who was appointed in January 2019. She will follow Stephen as chair of the Audit Committee.
In accordance with the 2016 UK Corporate Governance Code, all Directors, except for myself and Stephen Young, will be putting themselves forward for re-election. Lucinda Bell, who joined the Board with effect from 1 January 2019, will be seeking election by shareholders. Following a formal performance evaluation, I can confirm that each Director's performance continues to be highly effective and demonstrates a high level of commitment to the role.
Shareholders are being asked to approve a final dividend of 46.75p per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2018. Of this amount, 30.0p will be paid as a Property Income Distribution (PID) with the balance of 16.75p paid as a conventional dividend. If you approve the recommended final dividend, it will be paid on 7 June 2019 to all ordinary shareholders who were on the register of members on 3 May 2019.
A Scrip Dividend Scheme was introduced by the Company in 2011. Scrip dividends provide shareholders with an opportunity to increase their holding in the Company in a simple manner, without incurring any dealing costs and/or stamp duty. The Scrip Dividend Alternative also provides the Company with the ability to reinvest the cash in the business.
The Board is seeking shareholder approval to renew its authority to offer a Scrip Dividend Scheme. A Scrip Dividend Scheme has not been offered since the Final 2015 dividend because the Directors have been of the view that it is not in the best interests of shareholders to exchange dividends for Company shares whilst the shares are trading below Net Asset Value. Nonetheless, the Board would like the flexibility to be able to offer a Scrip Dividend Scheme to shareholders in case circumstances change.
Explanatory notes on all the business to be considered at this year's AGM appear on pages 11 to 14 of this document.
The Directors consider that all the resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of all resolutions, as they intend to do in respect of their own shareholdings.
Yours sincerely,
Robert A. Rayne Chairman
Notice is hereby given that the thirty fifth Annual General Meeting of Derwent London plc will be held at The Westbury hotel, 37 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2YF at 10.30 a.m. on 17 May 2019. You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolutions below. Resolutions 21 to 24 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
(A) up to a nominal amount of £1,860,601 (such amount to be reduced by any allotments or grants made under paragraph (B) below in excess of such sum); and
and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers 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 until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 17 August 2020) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements 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 Board 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.
(ii) to holders of other equity securities, as required by the rights of those securities or, as the Board otherwise considers necessary,
and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers 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 power to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 17 August 2020) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
(ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venues where the purchase is carried out at the relevant time, in each case, exclusive of expenses;
such authority to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, 17 August 2020) but in each case so that during this period the Company may enter into a contract to purchase ordinary shares which would, or might be, completed or executed wholly or partly after the authority ends and the Company may purchase ordinary shares pursuant to any such contract as if the authority had not ended.
By order of the Board
David A. Lawler Company Secretary
15 April 2019
Registered Office:
Derwent London plc 25 Savile Row London W1S 2ER Registered in England and Wales No. 1819699
| Shareholder | Direct/ indirect |
Number of shares (i) |
% of ordinary share capital as at (i) date of disclosure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stichting PGGM Depositary | Direct | 8.1m | 7.23% |
| Invesco Limited | Indirect | 13.3m | 11.92% |
(i) Since the disclosure date, the shareholders' interests in the Company may have changed.
The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions. Resolutions 1 to 20 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. Resolutions 21 to 24 (inclusive) are proposed as special resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution
For each financial year, the Directors must present the Directors' report, the audited accounts and the independent auditor's report to shareholders at a general meeting. Those to be presented at the AGM are in respect of the year ended 31 December 2018.
Under section 439 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company is required to seek the approval of shareholders of its annual report on remuneration practice, which details the remuneration of the Directors for the year under review.
Resolution 2 seeks shareholder approval for the Annual Report on Directors' Remuneration (including the Annual Statement by the Chair of the Remuneration Committee) as set out on pages 116 to 128 of the 2018 Annual Report. The vote on the Annual Report on Directors' Remuneration will be advisory.
Shareholders are being asked to approve a final dividend of 46.75p per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2018 of which 30.0p will be paid as a Property Income Distribution ('PID') and 16.75p will be paid as a conventional dividend.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, all the Directors (excluding Robert Rayne and Stephen Young) will be putting themselves forward for re-election and Lucinda Bell, who joined the Board with effect from 1 January 2019, will be seeking election by shareholders.
The Chairman has confirmed that, following formal performance evaluations, the Directors continue to perform effectively and demonstrate commitment to their roles. Biographies of the Directors are given on pages 88 and 89 of the 2018 Annual Report.
The Company is required to appoint auditors at each general meeting at which its report and accounts are presented to shareholders. On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, resolution 16 proposes the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditor (to hold office until the conclusion of next year's AGM). In accordance with normal practice, resolution 17 authorises the Board to determine the auditor's remuneration. You are asked to approve the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and, following normal practice, to authorise the Board to determine the remuneration of the auditor.
Paragraph (A) of this resolution would give the Directors the authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £1,860,601 (representing 37,212,010 ordinary shares of 5 pence each). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) of the Company as at 8 April 2019, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice.
In line with guidance issued by the Investment Association, paragraph (B) of this resolution would give the Directors authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £3,721,759 (representing 74,435,186 ordinary shares of 5 pence each), as reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued under paragraph (A) of this resolution. This amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two-thirds of the issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) of the Company as at 8 April 2019, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this notice.
The authorities sought under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this resolution will expire at the earlier of 17 August 2020 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2020.
The Directors have no present intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under this resolution, other than to allot ordinary shares as share dividends instead of cash dividends and following the exercise of options and awards under the Company's share schemes. However, if they do exercise the authorities, the Directors intend to follow Investment Association recommendations concerning their use (including as regards the Directors standing for re-election in certain cases).
As at 8 April 2019, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice, no ordinary shares are held by the Company in treasury.
The Directors are proposing to renew the authority that allows them to offer an optional Scrip Dividend Scheme. Pursuant to the provisions of article 118 of the Company's Articles of Association, the Scrip Dividend Scheme is subject to shareholder approval which must be obtained every five years. However, the Investment Association's recommendation is that approval is obtained every three years and resolution 19 is being proposed at the AGM to obtain that approval. This authority will give the Directors the flexibility to be able to offer a Scrip Dividend Scheme when they deem it in the best interests of the Company and shareholders to do so. The scheme will give shareholders the right to elect to receive new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (credited as fully paid) instead of future cash dividends.
Further details on the Scrip Dividend Scheme can be found in the Investors section of the Company's website: www.derwentlondon.com. Details of the scheme will also be provided if and when the Board believes it is appropriate to offer a scheme to shareholders. In line with relevant investor protection guidelines, the authority contained in resolution 19 is sought for three years.
In accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, the maximum aggregate fees payable to Non-Executive Directors are £600,000. Due to the addition of a new Non-Executive Director and the establishment of the Responsible Business Committee, the amount of headroom available under this fee limit is presently low. Accordingly, although there are currently no plans to make any material changes to Directors' fees other than the changes disclosed on page 122 of the 2018 Annual Report, the Board believes it is desirable to increase the fee limit to provide flexibility for any future increase in Directors' fees or any further increase in the number of Directors, and therefore seeks shareholder approval to raise the aggregate maximum fees payable to its Non-Executive Directors by £100,000 to £700,000.
These resolutions will be proposed as special resolutions, which require a 75 per cent. majority of the votes cast to be in favour.
Under resolution 21, it is proposed that the Directors be authorised to issue shares for cash and/or sell any treasury shares without offering them first to existing shareholders in proportion to their current holdings. Such authority would be limited to allotments or sales in connection with preemptive offers and offers to holders of other equity securities if required by the rights of those shares or as the Board otherwise considers necessary, in connection with a scrip dividend scheme or similar arrangement where the scrip election is made after the declaration (but before payment) of a final dividend, or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £279,118 representing 5,582,360 ordinary shares of 5 pence each. This aggregate nominal amount represents 5 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 8 April 2019, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice.
Under resolution 22, it is proposed that the Directors (in addition to the authority referred to in resolution 21) be authorised to disapply statutory pre-emption rights in respect of an issuance of shares for cash/sale of treasury shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £279,118 representing 5,582,360 ordinary shares of 5 pence each. This aggregate nominal amount represents 5 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 8 April 2019, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice. In accordance with the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, the Directors confirm that this authority will only be used in connection with one or more acquisitions or specified capital investments that are announced contemporaneously with the issue, or that shall have taken place in the preceding six-month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the issue.
In line with the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, the Directors confirm their intention that (except in relation to an issue pursuant to the additional 5 per cent. referred to in resolution 22) no more than 7.5 per cent of the issued share capital will be issued for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis during any rolling three-year period without prior consultation with shareholders.
The authorities conferred by resolutions 21 and 22 will expire at the earlier of 17 August 2020 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2020.
Resolution 23 is another special resolution and renews the Directors' authority granted by the shareholders at previous AGMs to make market purchases of up to 10 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary shares (excluding any treasury shares).
The Company may make purchases of its own shares if, having taken account of all major factors such as the effect on earnings and net asset value per share, gearing levels and alternative investment opportunities, such purchases are considered to be in the Company's and shareholders' best interests while maintaining an efficient capital structure.
If the Company purchases any of its ordinary shares pursuant to resolution 23, the Company may cancel these shares or hold them in treasury. Such decision will be made by the Directors at the time of purchase. The minimum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an ordinary share is 5 pence. The maximum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an ordinary share is the highest of: (i) an amount equal to 5 per cent. above the average market value for an ordinary share for the five business days immediately preceding the date of the purchase; and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venues where the purchase is carried out at the relevant time.
At last year's AGM, the Company was given authority to make market purchases of up to 11,147,482 shares. No shares have been purchased by the Company in the market since then.
Options to subscribe for a total of 1,333,511 shares, being 1.19 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares), were outstanding at 8 April 2019 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice). If the existing authority given at the 2018 AGM and the authority being sought under resolution 21 were to be fully used, these would represent 1.49 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) at that date.
The Directors do not have any current plans to exercise the authority to be granted pursuant to resolution 23. The Directors will exercise this authority only when to do so would be in the best interest of the Company, and of its shareholders generally.
The authority will expire at the earlier of 17 August 2020 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2020.
Changes made to the Companies Act 2006 by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations increase the notice period required for general meetings of the Company to 21 days unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period, which cannot however be less than 14 clear days. AGMs will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
Before the Shareholders' Rights Regulations came into force, the Company was able to call general meetings other than an AGM on 14 clear days' notice without obtaining such shareholder approval. In order to preserve this ability, resolution 24, which is a special resolution, seeks such approval. The approval will be effective until the Company's next AGM, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed.
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 to the advantage of shareholders as a whole.
Note that the changes to the Companies Act 2006 mean that, in order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice, the Company must make a means of electronic voting available to all shareholders for that meeting.
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