Regulatory Filings • Dec 17, 2010
Regulatory Filings
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If you are in any doubt about the action to be taken, you should immediately consult your bank manager, stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser authorised pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Foresight 4 VCT plc (''the Company''), please send this document and accompanying documents, as soon as possible, to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, independent financial adviser or other person through whom the sale or transfer was effected for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
Martineau, which is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, is acting as legal adviser to the Company and no-one else and will not be responsible to any other person for providing advice in connection with any matters referred to herein.
BDO LLP (''BDO''), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FSA, is acting for the Company and no one else in relation to the advice described in this document and will not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to customers of BDO in providing advice or in relation to any matters referred to in this document.
(Registered in England and Wales with registered number 03506579)
Your attention is drawn to the letter from the chairman of the Company set out in Part II of this document which contains a recommendation to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the meeting referred to below.
You will find set out at the end of this document notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at 3.00 pm on 11 January 2011 at the offices of Martineau, 35 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6BW to approve resolutions to effect the proposals contained herein.
To be valid, the form of proxy attached to this document should be returned not less than 48 hours before the meeting, either by post or by hand (during normal business hours only) to the Company's registrar, Computershare Investor Services PLC. For further information on the meeting or the completion and return of a form of proxy, please telephone Computershare Investor Services PLC between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm (GMT) Monday to Friday (except UK public holidays) on telephone number 0870 703 6385 or, if telephoning from outside the UK, on +44 870 703 6385. Calls to Computershare Investor Services PLC helpline (0870 703 6385) are charged at national rates. Further details will be available from your service provider. Calls to Computershare Investor Services PLC from outside the UK will be charged at applicable international rates. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones and calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. For legal reasons, Computershare Investor Services PLC will be unable to give advice on the merits of the proposals or provide financial, legal, tax or investment advice.
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| EXPECTED TIMETABLE | 2 | |
| CORPORATE INFORMATION | 3 | |
| PART I | DEFINITIONS | 4 |
| PART II | LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN | 5 |
| PART III | AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES | 9 |
| PART IV | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 13 |
| NOTICE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING | 18 | |
| PROXY FOR THE GENERAL MEETING | 21 |
Latest time for receipt of forms of proxy for the Extraordinary General Meeting 3.00 pm on 9 January 2011 Extraordinary General Meeting 3.00 pm on 11 January 2011 Offer opens January 2011 Allotment of Shares anticipated to be monthly or as required Admission of and dealings in Shares within three Business Days following allotment Certificates for Shares dispatched within ten Business Days following allotment Offer closes 30 June 2011
Philip Henry Peter Stephens (Chairman) Christopher Roger Ettrick Brooke Peter Frederick Dicks
(all of the registered office)
ECA Court 24-26 South Park Sevenoaks TN13 1DU
Telephone: 01732 471 800 Email: [email protected] Website: www.foresightgroup.eu
03506579
Foresight Group LLP ECA Court 24-26 South Park Sevenoaks TN13 1DU
Martineau No.1 Colmore Square Birmingham B4 6AA
Computershare Investor Services PLC The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 6ZZ
Foresight Fund Managers Limited ECA Court 24-26 South Park Sevenoaks TN13 1DU
BDO LLP 125 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 3SD
Ernst & Young LLP 1 More London Place London SE1 2AF
''Articles'' the articles of association of the Company, as amended from time to
time
''BDO'' BDO LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Services Authority, is a UKLA registered sponsor and is a member of
the London Stock Exchange
''Board'' the board of directors of the Company ''CA 1985'' the Companies Act 1985, as amended ''CA 2006'' the Companies Act 2006, as amended
''Company'' Foresight 4 VCT plc
''Directors'' the directors of the Company (and each a ''Director'')
''Extraordinary General
Meeting''
the extraordinary general meeting of the Company to be held on
11 January 2011
''Foresight 3'' Foresight 3 VCT plc
''Foresight Group'' Foresight Group LLP, the investment manager to the Company
''FSA'' the Financial Services Authority
''FSMA'' the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended
''Listing Rules'' the listing rules of the UKLA
''Memorandum'' the memorandum of association of the Company
''NAV'' or ''net asset value'' net asset value
''Offer'' the linked offer for subscription proposed to be launched by the
Company and Foresight 3 to raise up to £20 million
''Proposals'' the proposals to renew and increase the authority to issue and
repurchase Shares, amend and adopt new Articles and approve the revised performance incentive arrangements as set out in this
document and the Resolutions
''Related Party Transaction'' the revised performance incentive arrangements proposed to be
entered into between the Company and Foresight Group, which constitute a related party transaction under the Listing Rules, as
described on pages 6 and 7
''Resolutions'' the resolutions to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting
(and each a ''Resolution'')
''Shareholders'' holders of Shares (and each a ''Shareholder'')
''Shareholders' Rights'
Regulation''
Companies (Shareholders' Rights) Regulations 2009
''Shares'' ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of the Company (and each a
''Share'')
''UKLA'' the United Kingdom Listing Authority, being the Financial Services
Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
''VCT'' or a company satisfying the requirements of Chapter 3 of Part 6 of ITA
''venture capital trust'' 2007 for venture capital trusts
(Registered in England and Wales with registered number 03506579)
Directors:
Philip Stephens (Chairman) Roger Brooke Peter Dicks
Registered Office: ECA Court 24-26 South Park Sevenoaks TN13 1DU
17 December 2010
Dear Shareholder
Recommended Proposals to renew and increase the authority to issue and repurchase Shares, to amend and adopt new Articles and to approve the revised performance incentive arrangements
I am pleased to report that the linked offer for subscription launched by the Company and Foresight 3 in October 2009 was successful and raised £17.0 million in aggregate, £8.5 million for the Company (before expenses) before it closed on 4 May 2010. The unaudited net assets of the Company as at 31 August 2010 were, as a result, £33.4 million. The funds raised under the linked offer were added to the existing funds of the Company and are being invested in accordance with the Company's investment policy.
Both the Board and Foresight Group, the Company's investment manager, believe there is further appetite for investment in the Company. VCTs continue to be an attractive investment product, in particular in light of recent changes to the tax treatment of other tax efficient products such as pensions. We also believe this to be an advantageous time in the economic cycle to be making investments in unquoted companies.
In light of the above, the Board proposes to launch a further linked offer for subscription with Foresight 3 to raise up to, in aggregate, £20 million.
The Board also proposes to take the opportunity to amend and adopt new Articles to reflect the new provisions of CA 2006, as amended by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations, as well as to propose revised performance incentive arrangements for Foresight Group.
In order to implement the Proposals, the approval of Shareholders is required pursuant to CA 2006 and the Listing Rules, and is being sought at the Extraordinary General Meeting, notice of which can be found at the end of this document.
The Board intends to launch a linked offer with Foresight 3 in January 2011 to raise up to £20 million in aggregate through the issue of new Shares in the Company and new shares in Foresight 3. The Offer price for Shares under the Offer will be linked to NAV plus Offer costs so as to avoid any material dilution to existing Shareholders. The Offer will be available to both existing Shareholders and new investors providing an opportunity to invest in the established portfolios of both the Company and Foresight 3, as well as benefiting from the tax reliefs available to qualifying investors in VCTs.
Foresight Group continues to experience general investor interest and strong dealflow and further funds are sought to enable investment in the attractive opportunities arising. The Board believes that this continues to be an advantageous time in the UK economic cycle to be making venture capital investments in smaller companies. Prices of assets are expected to be lower and, historically, some of the best private equity and venture capital returns have been made following a recession.
The Board proposes to increase the size of the Company through the Offer to take advantage of opportunities being seen by Foresight Group. The additional funds will also enable the Company to spread annual costs over a larger asset base as well as enhance the Company's ability to maximise the investment and re-investment of funds raised prior to April 2006, which are subject to less restrictive investment rules.
The proceeds of the Offer will, in accordance with the Company's investment policy, principally be invested in growth capital investments. Management buyouts will also continue to be considered across a broad range of sectors, including environmental infrastructure, manufacturing and business and consumer services.
In order to launch the Offer, Shareholders will need to authorise the Board to issue Shares (having disapplied pre-emption rights) pursuant to the Offer. The launch of the Offer is therefore conditional on the passing of Resolution 1 to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
The Company also proposes to renew and increase its general authorities to issue Shares (having disapplied pre-emption rights) at the Extraordinary General Meeting (in particular, to take into account the expected enlarged share capital of the Company following the Offer).
In addition, the Company proposes to renew its Share buy-back authority by approving the purchase of up to 6,700,000 Shares (representing approximately 14.99 per cent. (i.e. the maximum entitlement under the Listing Rules) of the expected share capital of the Company following the Offer). The extent to which the Board will utilise such authority will be kept under review as part of the Company's buy-back policy.
The Board proposes to take the opportunity to amend and adopt new Articles principally to incorporate changes to the current Articles to reflect the new provisions introduced by CA 2006 that came into force between 2007 and 2009, as amended by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations, and otherwise as detailed in Part III of this document.
A summary of the material changes from the current Articles is set out in Part III of this document. Changes of a minor, clarifying or conforming nature are not detailed. The adoption of new Articles will require the approval of Shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Over the six years since Foresight Group's appointment, the total return (net asset value plus dividends paid) to Shareholders who qualify for VCT reliefs has been a tax free 39.0 per cent. to 31 August 2010. Of this, 22.5p per Share (restated) has been paid in dividends between 2005 and 2009, representing a gross yield (to a 40 per cent. tax payer) of 41.1 per cent. based on an equivalent net asset value of 91.2p per Share (restated) as at 31 August 2004 (this being the first valuation following Foresight Group's appointment). A further dividend of 5.0p per Share has been declared for payment on 4 February 2011.
Foresight Group is entitled to receive an annual management fee of an amount equivalent to 2.5 per cent. of the net assets of the Company as set out in paragraph 5.1.1 of Part IV of this document. This fee arrangement will automatically cover new funds raised pursuant to the Offer.
In addition, Foresight Group is also currently entitled to performance incentive fees as set out in paragraphs 5.1.2 to 5.1.4 of Part IV of this document. These arrangements are either materially as they were when transferred across to Foresight Group at the time they took over the management of the Company from Advent or based on a cumulative dividend hurdle. The Board believes that the existing arrangements do not incentivise Foresight Group or reflect its performance over the last few years. It is, therefore, proposed to replace the existing arrangements with a new performance incentive arrangement to more appropriately incentivise Foresight Group and better align the performance interests of the investment manager with those of the Shareholders.
The revised arrangements would entitle Foresight Group to a payment equal to 15 per cent. of a dividend paid to Shareholders, subject to the net asset value plus cumulative dividends paid per Share following the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting exceeding 100.0p per Share (''High Watermark''), both immediately before and immediately after the performance related incentive fee is paid.
After each distribution is made to Shareholders where a performance incentive is paid to Foresight Group, the High Watermark required to be achieved by the Company to trigger a further performance incentive fee increases by a per Share amount equivalent to the aggregate amount of the dividend paid less the 15 per cent. performance fee paid to Foresight Group.
For illustrative purposes, if a dividend of 5.0p per Share is paid, and net assets plus dividends paid per Share following the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting are greater than 100p per Share, Foresight Group will receive 15 per cent. of the dividend paid. Following this first performance fee payment, the High Watermark is revised and Foresight Group would not qualify for a further performance fee unless and until the revised High Watermark is met. Based on the above example of a dividend of 5.0p per Share being paid, the revised High Watermark would increase to 104.25p, this being the initial High Watermark of 100p plus (5.0p less 15 per cent. of 5.0p (to represent the equivalent per Share performance fee payment)). Therefore, if a further 5p per Share is paid in the following year and net assets plus dividends paid per Share following the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting are greater than 104.25p, then Foresight Group will receive 15 per cent. of the dividend paid and the revised High Watermark for a subsequent payment would become 104.25p plus (5.0p less 15 per cent. of 5.0p) or 108.5p, and so on.
The performance incentive fee may be satisfied by either a cash payment or the issue of Shares (or by a combination of both) ultimately at the Board's discretion. Any new Shares to be issued to Foresight Group would be calculated by dividing the performance fee cash equivalent amount by the latest net asset value per Share after adding the cumulative dividends to be paid.
The Board believes that this performance incentive fee structure will better align the interests of Foresight Group and Shareholders as Foresight Group will only receive a payment following Shareholders having received a dividend payment and if a minimum total return hurdle is maintained. As the proposal does not take into account the 22.5p per Share (restated) dividends already paid during Foresight Group's management, the revised performance incentive fee arrangement will only reward future performance and dividends paid as a consequence. The Board further believes that these proposed arrangements reflect current market practice, are appropriate for the Company at this time and will make the arrangements consistent with the other Foresight VCTs (namely Foresight VCT plc, Foresight 2 VCT plc (C shares) and Foresight 3).
Foresight Group is (in its capacity as investment manager of the Company, being a closed-ended investment fund) regarded as a 'related party' of the Company under the Listing Rules. The revised performance incentive arrangements (Related Party Transaction) constitute, therefore, a related party transaction requiring the approval of Shareholders pursuant to the Listing Rules. The entering into of the revised performance incentive arrangements is, therefore, conditional on the approval of Resolution 3 at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting is set out at the end of this document. The Extraordinary General Meeting will be held at 3.00 pm on 11 January 2011 at the offices of Martineau, 35 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6BW to approve Resolutions to implement the Proposals.
Resolution 1 is a composite resolution to renew and increase allotment and repurchase authorities.
Paragraph 1.1 of Resolution 1 will authorise the Directors pursuant to section 551 CA 2006 to allot Shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal value of £200,000 (representing 62.57 per cent. of the issued Share capital of the Company as at 16 December 2010, this being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document) for the purpose set out in paragraph 1.2 of Resolution 1. The authority conferred by paragraph 1.1 of Resolution 1 will expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of the passing of the resolution unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting and will be in substitution of existing authorities. At the date of this document the Board intends to utilise this authority in the next 12 months for the purposes of the Offer and the issue of Shares pursuant to small top-up offers.
Paragraph 1.2 of Resolution 1 will disapply pre-emption rights in respect of the allotment of equity securities (i) up to an aggregate nominal value of £125,000 in connection with the Offer, (ii) up to 5 per cent. of its enlarged issued share capital of the Company immediately following the last allotment of Shares pursuant to the Offer to Foresight Group in connection with performance incentive arrangements and (iii) up to 10 per cent. of its enlarged issued Share capital immediately following the last allotment of Shares pursuant to the Offer, (in each case, the proceeds of which may be used, in part or whole, to purchase the Company's own Shares). The authority conferred by paragraph 1.2 of Resolution 1 will expire on the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2011 and will be in substitution of existing authorities.
Paragraph 1.3 of Resolution 1 will authorise the Company to make market purchases of up to 6,700,000 Shares. Any Shares bought back under this authority will be at such price as may be determined by the Board, but in accordance with the Listing Rules, and may be cancelled or held in treasury as may be determined by the Board. The authority conferred by paragraph 1.3 of Resolution 1 will expire on the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2011 and will be in substitution of existing authorities. The Board intends to use this authority to implement its continuing Share buy-back policy.
Resolution 2 will approve amendments to the existing Articles and the subsequent adoption of new Articles.
Resolution 3 will approve the Related Party Transaction with Foresight Group.
Resolutions 1 and 2 will be proposed as special resolutions requiring the approval of 75 per cent. of the votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Resolution 3 will be proposed as an ordinary resolution requiring the approval of more than 50 per cent. of the votes cast at the Extraordinary General Meeting.
Before taking any action, you are recommended to read the further information set out in this document.
Shareholders will find attached at the end of this document the form of proxy for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Whether or not you propose to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting, you are requested to complete and return the form of proxy so as to be received not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding of the Extraordinary General Meeting. Completion and return of a form of proxy will not prevent you from attending and voting in person at the Extraordinary General Meeting, should you wish to do so.
The Board, which has been so advised by BDO, considers the Related Party Transaction with Foresight Group to be fair and reasonable so far as the Shareholders of the Company are concerned. In providing its advice, BDO has taken into account the Board's commercial assessment of the Related Party Transaction.
Foresight Group does not hold any Shares in the Company and will not be entitled to vote on Resolution 3 to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting. Foresight Group will also take all reasonable steps to ensure that its associates (including any partners, members and employees) will also not vote on Resolution 3.
The Board believes that the Proposals and the Resolutions to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting are in the best interests of the Shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommends you to vote in favour of the Resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own holdings of 145,994 Shares (representing approximately 0.46 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company).
Yours faithfully
Philip Stephens Chairman
The proposed amendments to the current Articles reflect changes in the law under CA 2006 that came into force between 2007 and 2009, as amended by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations (including certain clarifying and conforming changes), and otherwise as detailed below.
The provisions regulating the operations of the Company are currently set out in the existing Articles and the Memorandum. The Memorandum contains the objects clause which sets out the scope of the activities the Company is authorised to undertake. This clause is drafted to give a wide scope.
Under CA 2006, the objects clause and all other provisions which are currently contained in a company's memorandum are, from 1 October 2009, deemed to be contained in a company's articles and can be removed by special resolution.
CA 2006 further states that unless a company's articles provide otherwise, a company's objects are unrestricted. This abolishes the need for companies to have objects clauses. For this reason the Company is proposing to remove its objects clause, together with all other provisions of its Memorandum which, by virtue of CA 2006, are to be treated as forming part of the Company's Articles as of 1 October 2009. The limited liability of members will be preserved in the new Articles. Paragraph 2.1 of Resolution 2 confirms the removal of these provisions for the Company.
Paragraph 2.2 of Resolution 2 to be proposed at the Extraordinary General Meeting will adopt new Articles. A summary of the material changes from the existing Articles are set out below.
The proposed amendments to the current Articles reflect changes in the law under CA 2006 that came into force between 2007 and 2009 as amended by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations and to make certain clarifying and conforming changes.
The provisions regulating the operations of the Company are currently set out in the current Articles and the Memorandum. The Company's Memorandum contains the objects clause which sets out the scope of the activities the Company is authorised to undertake. This clause is drafted to give a wide scope.
Under CA 2006, the objects clause and all other provisions which are currently contained in a company's Memorandum, are from 1 October 2009, deemed to be contained in a company's articles and can be removed by special resolution.
CA 2006 further states that unless a company's articles provide otherwise, a company's objects are unrestricted. This abolishes the need for companies to have objects clauses. For this reason the Company is proposing to remove its objects clause, together with all other provisions of its Memorandum which, by virtue of CA 2006, are to be treated as forming part of the Company's Articles as of 1 October 2009. The limited liability of members will be preserved in the new Articles. Paragraph 2.1 of Resolution 2 confirms the removal of these provisions for the Company.
CA 2006 abolishes the requirement for a company to have an authorised share capital and the current Articles are being amended to reflect this. The Directors will still be limited as to the number of shares they can at any time allot because allotment authority continues to be required under CA 2006.
The current Articles are being updated to permit and deal with the holding of shares in the Company in uncertificated form, such as through CREST, in line with market practice.
At present if a company wishes to issue redeemable shares, it must include in its articles the terms and manner of redemption. CA 2006 enables directors to determine such matters instead, provided they are so authorised by the articles. The new Articles will contain such an authorisation. The Company has no plans to issue redeemable shares but if it did so the Directors would seek shareholders' authority to issue new shares in the usual way.
Under CA 1985, a company required specific enabling provisions in its articles to purchase its own shares, to consolidate or sub-divide its shares and to reduce its share capital or other undistributable reserves as well as shareholder authority to undertake the relevant action. The current Articles include these enabling provisions. Under CA 2006 a company will only require shareholder authority to do any of these things and it will no longer be necessary for articles to contain enabling provisions. Accordingly the relevant enabling provisions have been removed in the new Articles.
The current Articles permit the Directors to suspend the registration of transfers. Under CA 2006, share transfers must be registered as soon as practicable. The power in the current Articles to suspend the registration of transfers is inconsistent with this requirement and therefore is being removed.
The new Articles remove provisions in the current Articles dealing with notice of general meetings on the basis that this is dealt with in CA 2006. Annual general meetings must be held on 21 clear days' notice. The Shareholders' Rights Regulations amend CA 2006 to require the company to give 21 clear days' notice of general meetings (other than annual general meetings) unless the company offers members an electronic voting facility and a special resolution reducing the period of notice to not less than 14 days has been passed.
The new Articles will also provide the Directors and the chairman of any general meeting with the power to make arrangements for good order at general meetings and to ensure the safety and security of attendees. The new Articles also permit general meetings to be held at several locations and to allow participation in general meetings by electronic means.
Under CA 2006 as amended by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations, general meetings adjourned for lack of quorum must be held at least 10 clear days after the original meeting. The new Articles reflect this requirement.
Under CA 2006 proxies are entitled to vote on a show of hands whereas under the current Articles proxies are only entitled to vote on a poll. The time limits for the appointment or termination of a proxy appointment have been altered by CA 2006 so that the articles cannot provide that they should be received more than 48 hours before the meeting or in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after the meeting, more than 24 hours before the time for the taking of a poll, with weekends and bank holidays being permitted to be excluded for this purpose. Multiple proxies may be appointed by a shareholder provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share held by the shareholder. The new Articles reflect all of these new provisions. The articles also deal with persons who hold more than one proxy.
The new Articles remove the provision giving a chairman of a general meeting a casting vote in the event of an equality of votes as this is no longer permitted under CA 2006.
Under CA 2006 as amended by the Shareholders' Rights Regulations the company must determine the right of members to vote at a general meeting by reference to the register not more than 48 hours before the time for the holding of the meeting, not taking account of days which are not working days. The newt Articles reflect this requirement.
The Shareholders' Rights Regulations have amended CA 2006 in order to enable multiple representatives appointed by the same corporate member to vote in different ways on a show of hands and a poll. The new Articles contain provisions which reflect these amendments.
Currently, a company can only change its name by special resolution. CA 2006 additionally allows directors to resolve to change a company's name, provided they are so authorised by the company's articles. The new Articles will give the Directors this power.
The current Articles contain a provision imposing an age limit on directors. Such provision could now fall foul of the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and so has been removed from the new Articles.
The new Articles will increase the annual cap on the aggregate fees payable to Directors from £70,000 to £90,000 commencing with the current financial year. The Directors consider it appropriate to increase the limit so that the Company has sufficient flexibility to attract an additional non executive director of the necessary calibre, should the Directors consider an additional Director to be in the best interests of Shareholders. The Directors have no current intention to increase the fees currently paid to the existing Directors. Directors' overall remuneration will continue to be disclosed in the Remuneration Report.
Directors who are absent from the United Kingdom will now be entitled to notice of board meetings. The new Articles also expand the ability of the Board to hold meetings electronically.
The new Articles provide an alternative option for execution of documents (other than share certificates). Under the new Articles, when the seal is affixed to a document it may be signed by one authorised person in the presence of a witness, whereas previously the requirement was for signature by either a director and the secretary or two directors or such other person or persons as the directors may approve.
Provisions of CA 2006 which came into force in January 2007 enable companies to communicate with members by electronic and/or website communications. The new Articles will permit communications to members in electronic form and, in addition, they will also permit the Company to take advantage of the new provisions relating to website communications. Before the Company can communicate with a member by means of electronic or website communications, the relevant member must be asked individually by the Company to agree that the Company may send or supply documents or information to him by those means. In the case of website communication, the Company must either have received a positive response or have received no response within the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which the request was sent. The Company will notify the member (either in writing, or by other permitted means) when a relevant document or information is placed on the website and a member can always request a hard copy version of the document or information.
CA 2006 has in some areas widened the scope of the powers of a company to indemnify directors and to fund expenditure incurred in connection with certain actions against directors. The new Articles reflect these new provisions.
Generally the opportunity has been taken to bring clearer language into the new Articles; to update the language used in the current Articles, to take account of other legislative changes which do not have a material impact and in some areas to conform the language of the New Articles with that used in the model articles for public companies produced by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
The Directors, whose names appear in paragraph 3 below, accept responsibility for the information contained in this document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
2.1 As at 16 December 2010 (this being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document), the authorised and issued share capital of the Company was as follows:
| Authorised | Issued and fully paid | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Shares | £ | No. of Shares | £ | |
| Shares (1p each) | 750,000,000 | 7,500,000 | 31,962,265 | 319,622.65 |
2.2 Save as set out in paragraph 5.1, as at 16 December 2010 (this being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document), no share or loan capital of the Company was under option or had been agreed, conditionally or unconditionally, to be put under option, nor did the Company hold any share capital in treasury.
all of ECA Court, 24-26 South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1DU (the registered office of the Company).
3.2 As at 16 December 2010 (this being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document), the interests of the Directors (and their immediate families) in the issued share capital of the Company were as follows:
| Director | Shares | % of Issued Share Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Philip Stephens | 14,893 | 0.05 |
| Roger Brooke | 114,395 | 0.36 |
| Peter Dicks | 16,706 | 0.05 |
3.5 Other than disclosed in this paragraph 3, no Director is or has been interested in any transaction which is or was unusual in its nature or conditions or significant to the business of the Company and which was effected by the Company in the years ended 29 February 2008 and 28 February 2009 and 2010 or in the current financial year or which was effected in an earlier financial year and remains in any respect outstanding or unperformed.
As at 16 December 2010 (this being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document), the Company is not aware of any person who, directly or indirectly, has or will have an interest in the Company's capital or voting rights which is notifiable under UK law (under which, pursuant to CA 2006 and the Listing Rules and the Disclosure & Transparency Rules of the FSA, a holding of 3 per cent. or more must be notified to the Company).
The Company has, under the same agreement with Foresight Group, appointed Foresight Fund Managers Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Foresight Group) to provide company secretarial, accountancy and custodian services. The services provided include all necessary secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting and custodian services required in connection with the business and operation of the Company. Foresight Fund Managers Limited receives an annual fee of 0.3 per. cent of funds raised, subject to a cap of £100,000, payable quarterly in advance (such fee being subject to VAT and increased in each year by not less than the percentage increase in the UK Retail Prices Index).
Annual expenses of the Company are capped at 3.5 per cent. of the Company's net assets. Any excess over 3.5 per cent. is borne by Foresight Group as a reduction against its investment management fees. Annual expenses include the expenses of the Company in the ordinary course of its business (including investment management fees, accountancy and secretarial fees, directors' remuneration and normal fees payable to the registrars, stockbroker, auditor, solicitors and VCT status advisers). It excludes any irrecoverable VAT, any annual trail commission payable to financial advisers and performance incentive fees.
5.1.3 A carried interest agreement between the Company (1) and Foresight Group (2) dated 23 March 2005 pursuant to which the Company granted to Foresight Group an option to subscribe at par for a number of Shares which, after issue, would represent 16.67 per cent. of (i) the Shares issued (and remaining in issue) pursuant to the offer for subscription launched in March 2005 (''2005 Offer'') plus (ii) the Shares to be issued pursuant to option if:
(a) a Return of not less that 60p per Share is achieved by the seventh anniversary of the close of the 2005 Offer; or
provided that the NAV per Share in issue when the Return is achieved is or becomes not less than the Net Average Subscription Price before the End Date.
For those purposes the ''End Date'' is the earlier of any resolution of Shareholders for the winding up or unitisation of the Company or the twelfth anniversary of the 2005 Offer, ''Return'' means the cumulative dividends paid per Share following the close of the 2005 Offer plus the increase in the NAV per Share above the Net Average Subscription Price and ''Net Average Subscription Price'' means the net proceeds of the Shares issued pursuant to the 2005 Offer.
provided that the NAV per Share in issue when the Return is achieved is or becomes not less than the Net Average Subscription Price before the Second End Date.
For those purposes the ''Second End Date'' is the earlier of any resolution of Shareholders for the winding up or unitisation of the Company or the twelfth anniversary of the 2008 Offer, ''Return'' means the cumulative dividends paid per Share following the close of the 2008 Offer plus the increase in the NAV per Share above the Net Average Subscription Price and ''Net Average Subscription Price'' means the net proceeds of the Shares issued pursuant to the 2008 Offer.
The exercise of this performance incentive fee is restricted to the extent payment would breach 5 per cent. of the market capitalisation or the gross assets of the Company at the time of payment.
5.2 The following contract will be entered into, subject to the approval by Shareholders of Resolution 3 and non-material amendment:
A carried interest agreement between the Company (1) and Foresight Group (2) pursuant to which the carried interest agreements at paragraphs 5.1.2 to 5.1.4 above will be terminated and new performance incentive arrangements will be granted. Foresight Group will be entitled to an amount equal in value to 15 per cent. of a dividend paid to Shareholders, subject to the net asset value plus cumulative dividends paid per Share following the date of the Extraordinary General Meeting exceeding 100.0p per Share (''High Watermark''), both immediately before and immediately after the performance related incentive fee is paid. After each distribution is made to Shareholders where a performance incentive is paid to Foresight Group, the High Watermark required to be achieved by the Company to trigger a performance incentive fee increases by a per Share amount equivalent to the aggregate amount of the dividend paid less the 15 per cent. performance fee paid to Foresight Group.
The performance incentive fee may be satisfied by either a cash payment or the issue of Shares (or by a combination of both) ultimately at the Board's discretion. Any new Shares to be issued to Foresight Group would be calculated by dividing the performance fee cash equivalent amount by the latest net asset value per Share after taking into account the dividend paid.
7.6 BDO has given and not withdrawn its written consent to the issue of this document and the inclusion of its name and the references to it in this document in the form and context in which they appear.
Copies of the following documents will be available for inspection during normal business hours on any day (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) from the date of this document until the Extraordinary General Meeting at the offices of Martineau at 35 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6BW and also at the registered office of the Company:
17 December 2010
(Registered in England and Wales with registered number 03506579)
Notice is hereby given that an extraordinary general meeting of Foresight 4 VCT plc (''the Company'') will be held at 3.00 pm on 11 January 2011 at the offices of Martineau, 35 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6BW for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolutions, resolutions 1 and 2 of which will be proposed as special resolutions and resolution 3 of which will be proposed as an ordinary resolution:
1.3.4 the authority conferred by this paragraph 1.3 shall expire on the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2011 unless such authority is renewed prior to such time; and
1.3.5 the Company may make a contract to purchase shares under the authority conferred by this resolution prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of such shares.
Dated 17 December 2010
By order of the Board Foresight Fund Managers Limited Secretary
Registered Office: ECA Court 24-26 South Park Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1DU
appointed for taking the poll. A member may also return a proxy form in their own envelope using the address: Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY.
| I/We (BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| of being a shareholder(s) of the above-named Company, appoint the Chairman of the General Meeting or |
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| for the following number of ordinary shares | ||||
to act as my/our proxy to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company to be held at offices of Martineau, 35 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6BW (see note 1 below) and at every adjournment thereof and to vote for me/us on my/our behalf as directed below. |
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| Please indicate with an 'X' if this is one of multiple proxy instructions being given | ||||
| The proxy is directed to vote as follows: | ||||
| Vote | ||||
| Ordinary Resolutions |
For | Against | Withheld | |
| Resolution 1 | Composite resolution to: authorise the Directors to allot shares; disapply pre-emption rights; and authorise the Company to repurchase shares. |
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| Resolution 2 | To amend and adopt new Articles. | |||
| Resolution 3 | To approve the Related Party Transaction with Foresight Group. |
Signature...................................................................................... Dated..................................................................

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