AGM Information • May 6, 2013
AGM Information
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| ન | AGM Information |
|---|---|
| 2 | Letter from the Chairman |
| 3 | Notice of Annual General Meeting |
| 6 | General Notes |
| 8 | Explanatory Notes |
| 12 | Shareholder Information |
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Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 02280426
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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 professional adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all of your shares in Direct Line Insurance Group ployou should pass this Notice and 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. $\overline{\phantom{a}}$
$\lambda$
The meeting will start at 10,00am. Please arrive no later than 9,45am for registration.
Tea and coffee will be served from 9.20am.
The meeting will be held on Thursday, 6 June 2013 in the Auditorium, Allen & Overy, One Bishops Square London E1 6AD If you have any queries regarding the venue, please contact Allen & Overy LLP's reception desk by telephone on +44 (0)20 3088 4040.
There is wheel chair access to the venue and we have arranged for induction loop facilities to be available in the Auditorium.
Transport and directions to the venue
Bishops Square is within easy walking distance from Liverpool Street Station. Walk northwards up Bishopsgate and turn right into Brushfield Street. You will see an open square with trees and a while tented structure. Walk past the tented structure and take any of the three entrances to the office of Allen & Overy LLP.
cand the Metropolitan and Circle lines. By underground: The nearest underground station is Liverpool Street Station, which is
situated on the Central line. Other nearby underground stations are Aldgate on the Metropolitan and Circle lines and Aldgate East on the Hammersmith and City line.
By taxi:
Ask your taxi driver to drop you off in Spital Square, just off Bishopsgate.
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27 February 2013 28 Mavih
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Dear Shareholder
Annual General Meeting ("AGM")
I am pleased to enclose the Notice of Meeting for the 2013 AGM of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. The AGM will be held at The Auditorium, Allen & Overy LLP, One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD on Thursday, 6 June 2013 at 10.00am. This will be the first AGM held by Direct Line Insurance Group plc as a listed company. It provides an opportunity for you to communicate with your Directors. You will find with this letter:
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a copy of the Annual Report and Accounts 2012, including the financial statements and the Directors' remuneration report.
These documents are also accessible via our website: www.directlinegroup.com.
The business we shall consider at the AGM
All the resolutions are standard matters that are normally dealt with at expansion company standard matters that are normally dealt with at expansion. If you are unable to attend the meeting, but have any questions on the business to be discussed at the AGM, we would like to hear from you ahead of the meeting. Please send them to me care of the General Counsel and Company Secretary at Direct Line Group,
Churchill Court, Westmoreland Road, Bromley, BR1 1DP. Whilst we cannot answer questions individually, we intend to provide responses to the topics most frequently raised and post these on our website as well as making them available at the AGM.
Your vote counts
Your vote counts
Your vote is important to us. You can vote was exponsiting your vote online, signing and returning your proxy form; or by attending and בל. voting at the AGM. Voting instructions are set out in the notes on pages 6 to 8. All resolutions will be put to a vote on a poll, rather than being decided by a show of hands. Your Directors believe that this will result in a more accurate reflection of the views of shareholders and ensure that their votes are recognised whether or not they are able to attend the meeting. On a poll, each shareholder has one vote for every share held.
The results of the voting on the resolutions will be announced to the London Stock Exchange and published on our website at www.directlinegroup.com shortly after the conclusion of the meeting.
Your Board believes the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM will promote the success of the Company and are in the best interests of the Company and shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommends you vote in favour of them, as your Directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings.
The Directors and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at our AGM and we thank you for your continued support.
Michael N Biggs Chairman
Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under mumber 02280426
is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting ("AGM") of Direct Line Insurance Group plc will be held at the Auditorium, Allen & Overy LLP, One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD on Thursday, 6 June 2013 at 10.00am to transact the business set out in the resolutions below. τğ
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Resolutions 1 to 18 and 20 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 17 to 19 will be proposed as special resolutions. Voting on all resolutions will be by way of a poll.
Resolution 1 - Receipt of the report and accounts
THAT the audited accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2012 together with the reports of the Directors and of the auditors be and are hereby received.
Resolution 2 - Approval of the Directors' remuneration report THAT the Directors' remuneration report for the year ended 31 December 2012 be and is hereby approved.
Resolution 3 - Authorisation to pay the final dividend
THAT a final dividend of 8 pence per ordinary share be and is hereby declared for payment on 11 June 2013 to shareholders whose names appear on the register of members at the close of business on 8 March 2013.
THAT Mr Mike Biggs be and is hereby re-elected as a Director of the Company.
41 Resolution 12 - Re-election of Director THAT Ms Priscilla Vacassin be and is hereby re-elected as a Director of the Company. $12$
Resolution 13 - Re-Election of Director THAT Mr Bruce Van Saun be and is hereby re-elected as a Director of the Company.
$\mathbf{1}^2$ Resolution 14 - Re-appointment of the auditors THAT Deloitte LLP be and are hereby re-appointed as the Company's auditors until the next AGM.
Resolution $35 -$ Authority to agree the auditors' remuneration $\mathsf{x}$ THAT the Audit Committee of the Board be and is hereby authorised to agree the remuneration of the Auditors.
THAT the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 to allot shares in the Company, and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company:
up to an aggregate nominal amount of £50,000,000 (such i) amount to be reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued or rights granted under paragraph below in excess of such sum); and }
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and so that Directors may make such exclusions or other arrangements as the Board considers expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal or practical problems under the laws in any territory or the requirements of any relevant regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter;
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for a period expiring (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting) at the end of the next AGM of the Company after the date on which this resolution is passed (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 30 June 2014); but in each case, before the authority expires. the Company may make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted, or rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares to be granted, after expiry of this authority and the Directors may allot shares and grant rights in pursuance of that offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired.
Special Resolutions: 15 Resolution #7- Authority to disapply pre-emption rights $\times$ THAT subject to the passing of resolution $\sqrt{b}$ ; the Directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally empowered pursuant to section 571(1) of the Companies Act 2006 of the Contraction of the Contract (square for securities (as defined in section 560 of the Contraction 2006)
for cash under the authority given by resolution 16 and/or where Χ the allotment is treated as an allotment of equity securities under section 560(3) of the Companies Act 2006, as if section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited:
and so that Directors may make such exclusions or other arrangements as the Board considers expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal or practical problems under the laws in any territory or the requirements of any relevant regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter;
4
in the case of the authority granted under paragraph i) ii) of resolution 16, to the allotment (otherwise than under X paragraph i) above) of equity securities up to a nominal value of £7,500,000,
such authorities to apply in substitution for all previous authorities
pursuant to Section 551 of the 2006 Act and to expire at the end of next year's AGM or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 June 2014 save that, in each case, the Company may before such expiry make any offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
THAT the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of its ordinary shares of 10 nence each, subject to the following conditions:
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18
Resolution 19- Notice period for general meetings other Y. than AGM
THAT a general meeting other than an annual general meeting may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
14 Ordinary Resolution;
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Resolution $20 -$ Political donations and expenditure χ THAT in accordance with section 366 of the Companies Act 2006 the Company and its Directors are hereby authorised, during the period commencing on the date of this resolution and ending at the conclusion of next year's AGM, or, if earlier, the close of business on 30 June 2014, to:
provided that the aggregate amount of any such donations and expenditure shall not exceed £100,000 during the period from the date of this resolution until the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company. For the purpose of this resolution, the terms 'political donations', 'political parties', 'independent election candidates'. 'political organisations' and 'political expenditure' have the meanings set out in sections 363 to 365 of the Companies Act 2006.
By Order of the Board
Humphrey Tomlinson General Counsel and Company Secretary 27-February 2013 $28 + 1446$
Pon Registered Office: Churchill Court, Westmoreland Road, Bromley BR1 1DP
Port of Plantage
It is possible for you to submit your proxy votes via the internet. You can do so by visiting www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy. You will require the control number and your unique PIN and Shareholder Reference Number (SRN). This information can be found on your Form of Proxy, or if you receive communications from us electronically, voting information will be contained within your email broadcast.
General Notes
28 March
$\circledast$
limitations of the CREST system and timings.
Under section 338 and section 338A of the Companies Aer 2006, mambers meeting the threshold requirements in those sections have the right to require the Company (i) to give, to members of the Company entitled to receive notice of the meeting, notice of a resolution which may properly be moved and is intended to be moved at the meeting and/or (ii) to include in the business to be dealt with at the meeting any matter (other than a proposed resolution) whish may be properly included in the business. A resolution may properly be moved or a matter may properly be included in the business
spless (a) (in the case of a resolution only) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's constitution or otherwise), (b) it is defamatory of any person, or (c) it is frivolous or vexatious. Such a request may be in hard copy form or in electronic form, must identify the resolution of which notice is to be given or the matter to be included in the business, must be authorised by the person or persons making it, must be received by the Company not fater than 24 April 2013, being the date six clear weeks before the meeting, and (in the case of a matter to be included in the business only) must be accompanied by a statement setting out the grounds for the request
K Under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, members $15$ 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 accounts and reports 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.
Notice of Annual General Meeting
$\iota_{\mathbb{G}}^{\mathbb{N}}$ . A copy of this Notice, and other information required by section 311A of the Companies Act 2006, can be found at $\sqrt{ }$ www.directlinegroup.co.uk. Com.
$17.$
R Copies of the following documents will be available for inspection at the registered office of the Company on any weekday (excluding public holidays) during normal office hours from the date of this Notice of AGM until the date of the AGM and at the offices of Allen & Overy LLP, One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD for 15 minutes prior to and during the meeting:
the service contracts for each Executive Director; and $\mathbf{i}$
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the letters of appointment for each Non-Executive Director. ii)
Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 02280426
The Directors must lay before the shareholders the accounts of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2012, the Directors' report and the report of the auditors of the Company on those accounts.
Resolution 2-Approval of the Directors' remuneration report The Directors' remuneration report has been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 (and the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. The Directors' remuneration report meets the requirements of the Listing Rules and describes how the Board has applied the principles of good governance relating to Directors' remuneration. The report is set out in full on pages 78 to 90 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2012. As required by the Companies Act 2006, an ordinary resolution to approve the report is proposed at the AGM. This vote is advisory and the Directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on it.
Resolution 3 - Authorisation to pay the final dividend Shareholders must approve the final dividend payable for each ordinary share held and the proposal recommended by the Directors in this resolution is 8 pence for each ordinary share 12
$\times$ Resolutions 4 to 33 - Directors standing for Re-election The Company's articles of association require Directors to retire and submit themselves for re-election at each AGM. Accordingly,
(x )
8
X Mike Biggs, Mark Catton, Paul Geddes, Jane Hanson, Glyn Jones, Andrew Palmer, John Reizenstein, Clare Thompson, Priscilla Vacassin and Bruce Van Saun are seeking re-election.
Following an evaluation, the Nomination Committee determined Y that, with exception of Mike Biggs, Mark-Gatton, Paul Geddes, John Reizenstein and Bruce Van Saun, for the reasons given XX below, each non-executive director who is standing for re-election at the meeting is independent in character and judgement and free $\times$ from relationships or circumstances likely to affect the Lijrector's X judgement. The Board also considers that all the directors standing for re-election continue to be effective and demonstrate the level of commitment required in connection with their role and the needs of the business.
The non-independent Directors are:
| Mike Biggs | Chairman, independent on appointment. Independence not an appropriate test for a Chairman thereafter |
|---|---|
| Mark-Catton | Nominee of majority shareholder- |
| Bruce Van Saun | Nominee of majority shareholder |
| Paul Geddes | Executive Director |
| John Reizenstein | Executive Director |
Biographical details in support of each Director's election are provided below.
Mr Mike Biggs joined the Board and became Chairman of the Group in April 2012. He is Chairman of the Nomination Committee. $\boldsymbol{\mathsf{x}}$
Mike has almost 40 years' experience of the UK and international financial services sector. He was Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance Director of Resolution plc, the FTSE 100 UK life assurance business and the was previously Group Finance Director of Aviva plc. He is currently Chairman of Resolution Limited, but will shep down He has a Masters degree in History from the University of Oxford Meetup and is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of $\sigma$ (6 Chartered Accountants of $\sigma$ (6 Chartered Accountants of $\sigma$ 13
Mr Mark Catton joined the Board in September 2012. Mark is one $\times$ of the two Non-Executive Directors nominated by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc ("RBS Group") as the majority shareholder.
Mark re-joined the RBS Group in August-2007 as a Managing Director in corporate banking, having previously worked for NatWest. Prior to joining the RBS Group, Mark was a senior executive at Barclays from 2001 to 2007, responsible for a number of its clients and product businesses. He was latterly Managing Director in European investment banking and debt capital markets at Barclays-Capital. Mark sits on the RBS Group's management comprittee and is Chief Executive Officer of UK Corporate and Institutional Banking at RBS, a position he has held since 2008.
He is an associate-of-the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the X Association of Corporate-Treasurers. Mark is 46.
Mr Paul Geddes was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Group in August 2009.
Paul was the chief executive officer of RBS Group's mainland UK retail banking business, having joined in 2004 as Managing Director with responsibility for products and marketing. Before joining RBS Group, Paul held a number of senior roles in multichannel retailing in businesses that were then parts of the GUS and Kingfisher groups. Paul started his career in marketing, with UK and European roles at Procter & Gamble. Paul is a member of the ABI Board, a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service's insurance industry steering group, and a member of the FSA Practitioner Panel.
He read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland. Paul is 43.
Ms Jane Hanson joined the Board in December 2011 and is Chair of the Board Risk and the Corporate Social Responsibility Committees.
Jane spent 12 years with KPMG, where she worked in the financial sector, becoming the director responsible for delivery of corporate governance, internal audit and risk management services in the North of England. Jane has also held executive roles as Director of Audit, and Risk and Governance Director at Aviva's UK life business. Jane is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and Non-Executive Director at Reclaim Fund Ltd. She is an Independent Member of the Faimess Committee at ReAssure Ltd; and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and Senior Independent Director at Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust. Jane has her own financial sector consulting business, delivering audit, enterprise risk management and corporate governance advisory and consulting services to the financial sector. She is also a magistrate.
She is a graduate of the University of York with a degree in Music and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Jane is 45.
Mr Glyn Jones joined the Board in September 2012 and is our Senior Independent Director.
Glyn was Chairman of Towry Holdings Limited between 2006 and 2011. He also served as Chairman of Hermes Fund Managers from 2008 to 2011 and was Chairman of its sister Company, BT Pension Scheme Management, for a part of this period. Glyn was Chief Executive Officer of the independent investment group, Thames River Capital, from 2005 to 2006. From 2000, he served
as Chief Executive Officer of Gartmore Investment Management in the UK for four years. Before this, Glyn was Chief Executive Officer of Coutts NatWest Group and Coutts Group, having joined in 1997. Glyn joined Standard Chartered in Hong Kong in 1990 where he became the General Manager of Global Private Banking. He was a consulting partner with Coopers & Lybrand/ Deloitte Haskins & Sells Management Consultants from 1981 to 1990. He is Chairman of Aspen Insurance Holding Limited, a New York listed specialty lines insurer, and also Chairman of Aspen Insurance UK Limited, a principal operating subsidiary of the Aspen Group.
He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Glyn is 60.
Mr Andrew Palmer joined the Board in March 2011 and is Chair of the Audit Committee and Chair of the Investment Committee.
Andrew retired from Legal & General Group plc, where he was the Group Finance Director, in 2009. He is currently the Senior Independent Director at Segro plc, the British and European Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust Company (he will step down in April 2018), a trustee of the Royal School of Needlework, a Non-Executive Director of RSN Enterprises Limited and Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and a member of the Financial stando Reporting Review Panel of the Financial Reporting Council. Magude
Nederlandse refineriska erformånen frank He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Andrew is 59.
Mr John Reizenstein was appointed to the Board as Chief Financial Officer in December 2010.
John was previously Managing Director, Corporate and Markets at Co-operative Banking Group (CBG, the group that brings together The Co-operative Bank, Co-operative Insurance Society and CIS General Insurance). He was Chief Financial Officer at CBG from 2003 to 2007. Prior to joining CBG, John spent more than 20 years in investment banking with UBS and Goldman Sachs.
He is an Economics graduate from the University of Cambridge. John is 56.
Ms Clare Thompson joined the Board in September 2012.
Clare was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) from 1988 to 2011. During her 23 years as a partner of PwC, she held several senior and high profile roles, particularly within the insurance sector. Clare is currently a Non-Executive member of
He was a Non-executive Director Independent Director From until
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the Partnership Board of Miller Insurance Services LLP and is Treasurer of the Disasters Emergency Committee.
She is a graduate of the University of York with a degree in Mathematics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Clare is 58.
Ms Priscilla Vacassin joined the Board in September 2012 and is Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
Priscilla was most recently Group Human Resources Director at Prudential plc and a Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee at the Ministry of Defence. Priscilla has previously held senior human resources positions across a number of financial services and customer facing industries including roles at Abbey National plc, where she was Executive Director, Human Resources; BAA plc, where she was Group Human Resources Director and Kingfisher plc. Priscilla also has her own search and consultancy business.
She graduated in Law (with Honours) from the University of North East London. Priscilla is 55.
Mr Bruce Van Saun Bruce joined the Board in April 2012. He is one of the two Non-Executive Directors non-boundary of RBS Group Bruce has over 25 years of financial services experience. From 1997 to 2008 he held a number of senior positions with Bank of New York and later Bank of New York Mellon, most recently as Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, before which he was responsible for Asset Management and Market-Related businesses. He has held senior positions with Deutsche Bank, Wasserstein Perella Group and Kidder Peabody and Company. He has served on several corporate boards as a Non-Executive Director and has been active in numerous community organisations. Bruce is currently the Group Finance Director for RBS Group.
He graduated summa cum laude (with highest distinction) from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also gained an MBA at the University of North Carolina. Bruce is 55.
$\times$ Resolution $\overline{A}^1$ ? existing auditors, Deloitte LLP, until the next general meeting at which accounts are presented.
$111$
Resolution 15 is a separate resolution which gives authority to the Audit Committee to determine the auditors' remuneration.
$E$ sc, acc, ucc $15$ Resolution 16- Authority to allot new shares This resolution renews the authority that was given at the general meeting on 21 September 2013. Paragraph i) plof this resolution would give the Directors the authority to allot ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £500,000,000 × (representing 500,000,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 27-February 2013, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice of AGM. ii) 28 March
In line with guidance issued by the Association of British Insurers, paragraphat $\mathfrak{h}$ of this resolution would give the Directors the $\times$ authority to allot ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £100,000,000 (representing 1,000,000,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each), including within such limit the nominal amount of any shares issued under paragraph i) ex of this resolution. This amount represents approximately two-thirds of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 27. February
2013, the latest practicable date prior to publication of his Notice. 128 March The authorities sought under paragraph i) of this resolution will expire on the earlier of 30 June 2014 (the last date by which the
Company must hold an AGM in 2014) and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2014.
The Directors have no present intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under this resolution, except, under paragraph if $A$ to satisfy options under the Company's share option schemes. $\times$ As at the date of this Notice of AGM, no ordinary shares are held by the company in treasury. $\mathsf{x}$ ىكا 1
Resolution 17 - Authority to disapply pre-emption rights $\chi$ This resolution renews the authority that was given at the general meeting on 21 September 2013 and would give the Directors the authority to allot ordinary shares (or sell any ordinary shares which the Company elects to hold in treasury) for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings.
Except as provided in the next paragraph, this authority would be limited to allotments or sales in connection with pre-emptive offers or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £7,500,000 (representing 75,000,000 ordinary shares). This aggregate nominal amount represents approximately 5% of the issued
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ordinary share capital of the Company as at 27-February 2013, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice. In respect of this aggregate nominal amount, the Directors confirm their intention to follow the provisions of the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles regarding cumulative use of authorities within a rolling 3-year period where the Principles provide that issues in excess of 7.5% should not take place without prior consultation with shareholders. W.
15 $\times$ Allotments made under the authorisation in paragraph $\mu$ b) of resolution $40$ would be limited to allotments by way of a rights issue only (subject to the right of the Directors to impose necessary or appropriate limitations to deal with, for example, fractional entitlements and regulatory matters).
This authority will expire at the earlier of 30 June 2014 (the last date by which the Company must hold an AGM in 2014) and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2014. ハチ
This resolution renews the authority that was given at the general meeting on 21 September 2013, permitting the Company to buy its own ordinary shares in the market. The maximum number of shares that can be bought under this authority must not exceed 10% of the issued ordinary shares of the Company. The maximum price payable must not exceed the higher of 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for the ordinary shares of the Company, as derived from The London Stock Exchange Daily Official List, for the five business days immediately prior to the date of purchase and that stipulated by Article 5(1) of the Buy-back and Stabilisation Regulation 2003. The Directors do not intend to exercise the Company's power to purchase its own shares other than in circumstances where they believe this would result in an increase in earnings per share and be in the best interests of shareholders generally.
The Companies Act 2006 enables companies to hold any of their own shares they have purchased as treasury shares with a view to possible resale at a future date, rather than cancelling them. Direct Line Insurance Group plc holds no ordinary shares in treasury at the date of this Notice. Treasury shares would provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base, enabling it either to sell treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively or to use the treasury shares to satisfy awards under the Company's employee share schemes.
The total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares that X were outstanding at 37-February 2013 being the latest practical
28 Manch
2 May
date prior to the publication of this Notice) was 8,892,723. The proportion of issued share capital that they represented at that time was 0.006% and the proportion of issued share capital that they will represent if the full authority to purchase shares (existing and being sought) is used is @006%
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$\times$ Resolution $19$ - Notice period for general meetings other than AGM
Changes made to the Companies Act 2006 by the Shareholder Rights Regulations increase the notice period required for general meetings of the Company to 21 clear 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). Until the Shareholders' Rights Regulations came into force on 3 August 2009, 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 14 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.
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.
χ
The Company does not intend to change its current practice of not making donations to political parties in the European Union ('EU'). However, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 ("PPERA") and the Companies Act 2006 contain restrictions on companies making donations or incurring expenditure in relation to EU political parties, other political organisations or independent election candidates. The PPERA and Part 14 of the Companies Act 2006 define political parties, other political organisations and independent election candidates very widely and, as a result, it is possible that they may include, for example, donations to bodies concerned with policy review and law reform, with the representation of the business community or sections of it, or with the representation of other communities or special interest groups which it is in the shareholders' interest for the Company to support. Amongst other things, the PPERA and the Companies Act 2006 prohibit the Company or its subsidiaries from making donations or incurring expenditure in relation to political parties, other political organisations or independent candidates in a 12month period in excess of an aggregate of £5,000, unless such donations have been authorised by the Company's shareholders. The Company is therefore seeking authority under this resolution up to £100,000 in aggregate in order to prevent an inadvertent breach of the PPERA and the Companies Act 2006.
ನಿಂಗಿರು
The Shareholder Helpline is run by Direct Line Insurance Group pic's Registrar, Computershare Investor Services PLC, and is available on UK business days between Monday and Friday, 8.30am to 5.00pm. The helpline also contains automated selfservice functionality which is available 24 hours a day, I days a week. Using your Shareholder Reference Number on your share certificate or dividend tax voucher, the self-service functionality will allow you to:
The number to call is $+ 44$ (0)870 873 5880.
Investor Centre is a free, secure share management website provided by Direct Line Insurance Group plc's Registrar, Computershare Investor Services PLC. Managing your shares online means you can access information quickly, securely and minimise postal communications. This service will allow you to:
To take advantage of this service, please tog in at www.investorcentre.co.uk and enter your Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and the Company's name. This information can be found on your last dividend tax voucher or share certificate.
| 2013 Results and Financial Diary | |
|---|---|
| First quarter results | 3 May |
| Payment of final dividend | 11 June |
| Half-vear results | 2 August |
| Payment of interim dividend | 26 September |
| Third quarter results | 1 November |
Shareholders can elect for dividends to be paid by mandate directly to a UK bank or building society account, effecting payment on the relevant payment date through the Bankers' Automated Clearing Services (BACS) or the Clearing House Automated Payment System (CHAPS) The Company also offers shareholders a Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
A Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) is available to give shareholders the opportunity to elect for their cash dividend to be used to purchase Direct Line Group ordinary shares in the market, at commission rate of 0.5% (minimum £1.00). (As the shares will be purchased in the market, there will be no increase in the company's issued share capital. through the operation of
www.directlinegroup.com or by calling our registrars on +44 (0)870 873 5880.
The Company actively encourages all shareholders to register for the electronic communications service. By registering to receive electronic communications, you will be able to:
You can register by visiting www.directlinegroup.com and following the online instructions.
Direct Line Insurance Group plc @ 2013
Registered in England & Wales No 02280426, Registered Office: Churchill Court, Westmoreland Road, Bromley, BR1 1DP
$1172\times 6.002$
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