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Derwent London PLC

AGM Information Apr 15, 2019

4680_agm-r_2019-04-15_7af2df69-0541-445d-a802-dc1eac4bb5c9.pdf

AGM Information

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Derwent London plc

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Westbury hotel, 37 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2YF on Friday 17 May 2019 at 10.30 a.m.

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, 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

Form of Proxy

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.

Inspection of documents

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:

  • Copies of the Executive Directors' service contracts.
  • Copies of the letters of appointment of the Non-Executive Directors.

PART I

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF DERWENT LONDON PLC

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)

Directors: Derwent London plc

15 April 2019

Dear Shareholder,

Notice of Annual General Meeting

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.

Re-election of Directors

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.

Dividends

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.

Scrip Dividend Scheme

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

PART II

Derwent London plc NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

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.

Ordinary resolutions

    1. To receive the report of the Directors and the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018 and the independent auditor's report thereon.
    1. To approve the Annual Statement by the Chair of the Remuneration Committee and the Annual Report on Directors' Remuneration for the financial year ended 31 December 2018, as set out on pages 116 to 128 of the Company's 2018 Annual Report.
    1. To declare a final dividend of 46.75 pence per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2018, which shall be paid on 7 June 2019 to shareholders who are members at the close of business on 3 May 2019.
    1. To re-elect John Burns as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Claudia Arney as a Director.
    1. To elect Lucinda Bell as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Richard Dakin as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Simon Fraser as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Nigel George as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Helen Gordon as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Simon Silver as a Director.
    1. To re-elect David Silverman as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Cilla Snowball as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Paul Williams as a Director.
    1. To re-elect Damian Wisniewski as a Director.
    1. That PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be re-appointed as independent auditor to the Company to hold office from the conclusion of the AGM until the conclusion of next year's AGM.
    1. To authorise the Directors to determine the independent auditor's remuneration.
    1. That the Board be generally and unconditionally authorised under section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the Company:
  • (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

  • (B) comprising equity securities (as defined in section 560(1) of the Companies Act 2006) up to a nominal amount of £3,721,759 (such amount to be reduced by any allotments or grants made under paragraph (A) above) in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:
  • (i) to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and
  • (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 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.

    1. That:
  • (A) the Directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised to offer holders of its ordinary shares (excluding members holding any shares as treasury shares) the right to elect to receive ordinary shares, credited as fully paid, instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part to be determined by the Directors) of any dividends declared from time to time or for such period as the Directors may determine, all pursuant to the provisions of article 118 of the Company's Articles of Association, as in force from time to time, and on such other terms and conditions as the Directors may from time to time determine, provided that the authority conferred by this resolution shall expire at the end of the third AGM of the Company after the date on which the resolution is passed; and
  • (B) for the purpose of any offer made pursuant to paragraph (A) of this resolution, the Directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with the Company's Articles of Association, as in force from time to time, to capitalise such amount standing to the credit of any reserve or account of the Company as may be necessary and apply the same in paying up and allotting and issuing new ordinary shares in the Company to the ordinary shareholders who have, or are deemed to have, validly accepted such an offer in accordance with their respective entitlements.
    1. That the maximum fees payable to directors under article 86of the Company's Articles of Association be increased from £600,000 to £700,000.

Special resolutions

    1. That if resolution 18 is passed, the Board be given power to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560(1) of the Companies Act 2006) for cash under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if section 561 of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such power to be limited:
  • (A) to the allotment of equity securities and sale of treasury shares for cash in connection with an offer of, or invitation to apply for, equity securities (but in the case of the authority granted under paragraph
  • (B) of resolution 18, by way of a rights issue only):
    • (i) to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and

(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;

  • (B) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (A) of resolution 18 and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares for cash, to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares in connection with a scrip dividend scheme or similar arrangement implemented in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company; and
  • (C) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (A) of resolution 18 and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares for cash, to the allotment (otherwise than under paragraphs (A) and (B) above) of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of £279,118,

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.

    1. That if resolution 18 is passed, the Board be given power in addition to any power granted under resolution 21 to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560(1) of the Companies Act 2006) for cash under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if section 561 of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such authority to be:
  • (A) limited to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of £279,118; and
  • (B) used only for the purposes of financing (or refinancing, if the authority is to be used within six months after the original transaction) a transaction which the Directors of the Company 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, such power to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, at 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.
    1. That the Company be authorised for the purposes of section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 to make one or more market purchases (as defined in section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of its ordinary shares of 5 pence each, provided that:
  • (A) the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 11,164,720;
  • (B) the minimum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is 5 pence and the maximum price 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 of an ordinary share for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which that ordinary share is contracted to be purchased; 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, 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.

  1. That a general meeting other than an AGM may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.

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

Notes

    1. 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. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. A Form of Proxy which may be used to make such appointment and give proxy instructions accompanies this notice. If you do not have a Form of Proxy and believe that you should have one, or if you require additional forms, please contact Equiniti on 0371 384 2192 (UK). Calls to 03 numbers cost no more than a national rate call to a 01 or 02 number. The Equiniti overseas helpline number is +44 (0)121 415 7047. Lines are open 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (UK time), Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays in England and Wales).
    1. To be valid any Form of Proxy or other instrument appointing a proxy must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA or at www.sharevote.co.uk in each case no later than 10.30 a.m. on 15 May 2019.
    1. The return of a completed Form of Proxy, other such instrument or any CREST Proxy Instruction (as described in paragraph 8 below) will not prevent a shareholder attending the AGM and voting in person if he/she wishes to do so.
    1. Any person to whom this notice is sent who is a person nominated under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 to enjoy information rights (a "Nominated Person") 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.
    1. The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in paragraphs 1 and 2 above does not apply to Nominated Persons. The rights described in these paragraphs can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.
    1. To be entitled to attend and 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 6.30 p.m. on 15 May 2019 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is two days 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 attend and vote at the meeting. In the case of a joint shareholder, only the vote of the most senior shareholder present (in person or by proxy) at the AGM (as determined by the order in which the names are listed on the register of members) shall be accepted.
    1. As at 8 April 2019 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice) the Company's issued share capital consists of 111,647,196 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. The Company holds no treasury shares, and, therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 8 April 2019 are 111,647,196.
    1. The Directors' interests in the Company, disclosable under article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation, that had been notified to the Company by 31 December 2018 are set out on page 129 of the 2018 Annual Report. Between 1 January 2019 and 15 March 2019, the following changes in the directors' interests occurred:
  • On 11 March 2019, Simon Silver sold 25,000 shares at an average price of £32.57 per share; and
  • On 12 March 2019, the Company granted 144,416 share-based Awards (in aggregate) to certain Directors under the Derwent London Performance Share Plan 2014. Full details of the grant are available in the investors section of the Company's website at www.derwentlondon.com
    1. The voting interests in the share capital of the Company, disclosable under the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule DTR 5, that had been notified to the Company by 26 February 2019 are set out on page 133 of the 2018 Annual Report. Between 27 February 2019 and 15 March 2019, the following voting interests were notified to the Company.
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.

    1. 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 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.
    1. 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 & Ireland Limited's specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com). The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to an 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 RA19) by 10.30 a.m. on 15 May 2019. 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.
    1. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland 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, 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 system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
    1. 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.
    1. 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 they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
    1. Under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 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 report and accounts were laid in accordance with section 437 of the Companies Act 2006. 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 Companies Act 2006. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, 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 Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.
    1. Any member attending the meeting has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question 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.
    1. A copy of this notice, and other information required by section 311A of the Companies Act 2006, can be found in the investors section of the Company's website at www.derwentlondon.com
    1. You may not use any electronic address provided either in this notice of meeting or any related documents (including the Form of Proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than those expressly stated.
    1. Except as provided above, members who have general queries about the AGM should either email [email protected] or call the Company Secretary on 020 7659 3000.

EXPLANATORY NOTES TO THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

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

Resolution 1: Directors' report and accounts

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.

Resolution 2: Annual Report on Directors' Remuneration

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.

Resolution 3: Final Dividend

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.

Resolutions 4 to 15: Re-election of Directors

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.

Resolutions 16 and 17: Auditor

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.

Resolution 18: Authority to allot relevant securities

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.

Resolution 19: Authority to offer Scrip Dividend Scheme

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.

Resolution 20: Directors' fees

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.

Resolutions 21 and 22: Disapplication of pre-emption rights

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: Authority to undertake market purchase of own shares

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.

Resolution 24: Notice of general meetings

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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