AGM Information • Jun 26, 2020
AGM Information
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| PO Box 1075 |
|---|
| 28 Esplanade |
| St. Helier |
| Jersey JE4 2Q |
| Channel Island |

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to any matter referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own personal financial advice from a stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if you are not resident in the United Kingdom, from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Foresight Solar Fund Limited (the "Company"), please pass this document as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other person who arranged the sale or transfer so they can pass this document to the person who now holds the shares.
(a company incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands under the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 (as amended) with registered number 113721)
Date of AGM: 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 16 July 2020
The Board is encouraging all of the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") to vote on the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM in advance by form of proxy. This will ensure that your votes are registered in the event that attendance at the AGM is not possible or restricted given the risks posed by the spread of COVID 19 and the current Government guidance. To be valid any proxy form accompanying this document or other instrument appointing a proxy ("Form of Proxy"), together with any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed or a certified copy thereof, must be completed and received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY no later than 9.00 a.m. on Tuesday, 14 July 2020.


Directors
Alexander Ohlsson (Chairman) Christopher Ambler Peter Dicks Monique O'Keefe
23 June 2020
Dear Shareholder
Following the publication of the Company's annual report and financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2019 (the "2019 Annual Report"), please now find enclosed the notice of the annual general meeting on pages 10 to 20 of this document (the "Notice of AGM") of Foresight Solar Fund Limited which will be held at 28 Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 3QA at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 16 July 2020 to transact the business set out in the Notice of AGM.
The purpose of this letter is to outline the special arrangements that will be in place at this year's AGM in the light of the Covid 19 pandemic and to provide you with further details in relation to the business of the AGM.
As you may know, we are required by the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 (the "Companies Law") to lay our accounts before a general meeting of the Company within 7 months of the end of the Company's financial year. Given the unprecedented circumstances, the Board will comply with the Companies Law by holding the AGM but has decided to put in place contingency arrangements that mean the AGM will not follow its usual format. Only the statutory, formal business (consisting of voting on the resolutions proposed in the Notice of AGM only) to meet the minimum legal requirements will be conducted and the AGM will proceed, in accordance with the Company's articles of association (the "Articles"), as set out below:
it is not anticipated that the directors or representatives of the Company's Investment Manager, will be present in person, other than those persons required to form a quorum under the Company's Articles;
there will be no presentation at the AGM, nor will there be any opportunity at the AGM to ask questions of the Board or the Investment Manager. Shareholders may (and are encouraged to) ask questions in advance of the AGM (please see below for further details);
Although this is not the way the Company usually holds its AGM, the Board considers that given the social distancing measures currently in force and in light of the latest published guidance from the Government, proceeding with an AGM in the format described above is in the best interests not only of the Company, but also of each of its individual Shareholders.
Of course, if circumstances change and if social distancing measures are relaxed before the AGM, the Company will notify Shareholders of any changes to the proposed format for the AGM as soon as possible via RNS and its website (https://fsfl.foresightgroup.eu/).
The only action that you need to take is to vote on the Resolutions by completing the accompanying Form of Proxy.
Shareholders are asked to complete and return the Form of Proxy in accordance with the instructions printed thereon. Shareholders may cast proxy votes online by registering at www.investorcentre.co.uk/eproxy. Shareholders will be asked to enter the Control Number, Shareholder Reference Number (SRN) and PIN and agree to certain terms and conditions as detailed on the Form of Proxy. Further, Shareholders may also submit their Form of Proxy and submit them to Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY. All proxy votes must be submitted by no later than 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 14 July 2020.
We will announce the proxy voting results to the London Stock Exchange and publish them on our website following the conclusion of the AGM.
If you have a question relating to the business of the AGM or a question for the Board or the Investment Manager that you had been planning to ask at the AGM, please send it by email to [email protected]. To the extent that it is appropriate to do so, we will respond to any questions received in a Q&A which will be posted on our website, in advance of the AGM. Please note all questions should be submitted by close of business on Friday, 10 July 2020.
The Board will continue to monitor advice in relation to social distancing and urges all shareholders to comply with any restrictions in place at the time of the AGM.
The Board regrets not being able to hold the AGM in its usual format this year, but we hope you appreciate the reasons behind these changes. We believe they are necessary in order to comply with the Companies Law and, at the same time given the current circumstances surrounding the COVID 19 pandemic, ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of the Company's shareholders and officers as well as compliance with the venue's security requirements. That said, we recognise that receiving an email, letter, announcement or website update is no substitute for being able to meet with your Board and your Investment Manager. Accordingly, the Board, in consultation with the Investment Manager, will endeavour to provide Shareholders with a further opportunity to engage with the Board and the Investment Manager later in the year and will be providing Shareholders with trading updates as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
The Companies Law requires the directors of the Company to lay before the Company in a general meeting copies of the annual report, directors' report and its auditor's report in respect of each financial year. These are contained in the Company's 2019 Annual Report. Accordingly, a resolution to receive the 2019 Annual Report is included as an ordinary resolution. As described above, Shareholders are invited to send any questions they may have on the 2019 Annual Report to the Board in advance of the AGM. To the extent that it is appropriate to do so, we will respond to them in a Q&A which will be posted on our website, in advance of the AGM.
The directors' remuneration report can be found on pages 47 to 48 of the 2019 Annual Report and is subject to an advisory vote by Shareholders, which is proposed as an ordinary resolution. It details the payments that have been made to Directors during the year, in accordance with the current remuneration policy.
The remuneration report will be presented to Shareholders within the Company's annual reports and accounts on an annual basis.
The directors' remuneration policy, can be found on page 47 of the 2019 Annual Report, and is subject to a binding vote by Shareholders every year. If approved the policy will take effect immediately after the end of the AGM.
Resolution 4 proposes to approve the Company's existing dividend policy to pay four interim dividends per year.
Under the Articles, the Board is authorised to approve the payment of interim dividends without the need for the prior approval of Shareholders.
Having regard to best practice relating to the payment of interim dividends without the approval of a final dividend by the Shareholders, the Board has decided to seek express approval from Shareholders of its dividend policy to pay four interim dividends per year.
It should be noted that the dividend policy (and the Company's target dividend) is not a profit forecast and dividends will only be paid to the extent permitted in accordance with the Companies Law and the Company's Articles.
In line with the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, each of the existing Directors, Alex Ohlsson, Chris Ambler, Peter Dicks and Monique O'Keefe, will retire from office and will stand for re-election by the Shareholders.
Brief biographies of each member of the Board standing for re-election can be found on page 10 of the 2019 Annual Report.
Resolution 9 relates to the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's auditors to hold office until the conclusion of the Company's next annual general meeting. This resolution is recommended by the Company's audit committee and endorsed by the Board. Accordingly, it is proposed, as an ordinary resolution, to appoint KPMG LLP as the Company's auditors. Similarly, resolution 10 authorises the Directors, upon recommendation from the Company's Audit Committee, to fix the auditors' remuneration.
The Directors, having regard to the audit committee's recommendation, consider that the level of consultancy related non-audit fees to audit fees undertaken by KPMG LLP is appropriate for the
advisory work required to be undertaken for the period ended 31 December 2019 and that these do not create a conflict of interest on the part of the independent auditor.
Resolution 11 is intended to renew the Company's authority to allot ordinary shares of no par value in the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares") on a non-pre-emptive basis. Accordingly, resolution 11 authorises the Board to allot, on a non pre-emptive basis, up to 60,631,190 Ordinary Shares, representing approximately 10 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company; and
The Board believes that the passing of resolution 11 is in Shareholders' interests given that:
The authority granted pursuant to resolution 11 will expire on the earlier of the next annual general meeting of the Company or 15 October 2021. The Board has no present intention of exercising this authority. However, it considers it important to have the flexibility to raise finance to enable the Company to respond to market developments and conditions.
Resolution 12 seeks authority for the Company to make market purchases of its own Ordinary Shares and is proposed as a special resolution. If passed, the resolution gives authority for the Company to purchase up to 90,886,153 of its Ordinary Shares, or, if less, 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital immediately prior to the passing of the resolution (excluding treasury shares).
The resolution specifies the minimum and maximum prices which may be paid for any Ordinary Shares purchased under this authority. The authority will expire on the earlier of 15 October 2021 and the Company's next annual general meeting.
Further, Resolution 13 would, if passed, authorise the Company to cancel or to hold any such Ordinary Shares it repurchases pursuant to Resolution 13 as treasury shares to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law as the Board sees fit.
The Board does not currently have any intention of exercising any authorities granted by Resolutions 12 and 13. The Board will only exercise the authority to purchase ordinary shares where it considers that such purchases will be in the best interests of Shareholders generally and will result in an increase in earnings per Ordinary Share.
The Board currently intends to cancel any Ordinary Shares purchased under this authority.
The Company does not have any options or outstanding share warrants.
Resolution 14, which will be proposed as a special resolution, seeks approval from Shareholders to adopt updated articles of association (the "New Articles"). The changes introduced in the New Articles are primarily to reflect changes in law and regulation, and developments in market practice and include enabling the Company to hold virtual only, hybrid and physical only general meetings in the future where the Company is permitted to do so under the Companies Law, changes in relation to enabling the Company to use electronic signature, changes in response to the requirements of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (2011/61/EU) ("AIFMD") and an increase in the cap on the aggregate amount of fees that may be paid to the Directors' per annum to £350,000 per annum.
We have summarised in the appendix to the Notice of AGM (pages 19 to 20 of this document), those changes introduced in the New Articles which we consider will be of most interest to Shareholders. Other changes, which are of a minor, technical or clarifying nature, have not been noted in the appendix.
As described the Company's annual report, the Board initiated a formal recruitment process with a view to appointing a fifth Non-Executive Director to the Board. The Board is pleased to confirm that an appropriate candidate has been identified and the candidate's appointment will be finalised following the required regulatory approvals. Further, this appointment is expected to support the Board's commitment to diversity on the Board under the Company's Diversity Policy.
In order to provide for an appropriate level of remuneration for this anticipated new Non-Executive Director, which has been determined in line with the Company's existing remuneration policy, the Company will need to update the fee cap set in the Articles. The Board is of the view that raising the fee cap to £350,000 is appropriate in the circumstances and will allow for any changes to the composition and structure of the Board and it's succession in the future.
It is worth noting that Directors remuneration will continue to be set in line with the remuneration policy that will be presented to Shareholders for approval at each of the Company's AGMs and that no increases to the current fees paid to the existing Directors are anticipated during 2020.
It should be noted that the Board has no present intention of holding a virtual only meeting. These provisions will only be used in accordance with the Companies Law and where the Board considers it is in the best of interests of Shareholders for a virtual only or hybrid meeting to be held. Nothing in the New Articles will prevent the Company from holding physical general meetings.
The New Articles, showing all the changes to the Existing Articles, are available for inspection on the Company's website,https://fsfl.foresightgroup.eu/ and at the registered offices 28 Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 3QA, between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm from the date of the AGM Notice until the close of the AGM and will also be available on request by emailing the Company Secretary at [email protected].
All Shareholders, whose names appear on the register of members at the record date shown below, are encouraged to vote via proxy in advance of the AGM.
In light of the latest social distancing measures and latest Government guidance, Shareholders should not attend the AGM in person and, in accordance with the Articles, the Board may impose entry restrictions on attendance at the AGM in order to ensure the health, wellbeing and safety of the Company's Shareholders and officers as well as compliance with the venue's security requirements. It should be noted that, in the light of these current circumstances, arrangements are being made for only sufficient directors or their proxies to attend the AGM such that the meeting will be quorate
In each case, your completed proxy appointment must be received by the Registrar by no later than 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 14 July 2020.
Date on which all proxies must be received 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 14 July 2020.
Record date to vote at the meeting close of business on Tuesday, 14 July 2020.
Shareholders' attention is drawn to the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM as set out in the Notice of AGM, and the corresponding notes, set out below. Resolutions 1 to 10 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 11 to 14 will be proposed as special resolutions.
The Board considers that all of the Resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its members as a whole.
Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the AGM as each of the Directors intend to do in relation to the Ordinary Shares in respect of which they have voting control.
If you have any questions that you would like to put to the Board or the Investment Manager please contact the Company Secretary, by email: [email protected], by no later than close of business on Friday, 10 July 2020.
Yours sincerely
Alex Ohlsson - Chairman
Foresight Solar Fund Limited
23 June 2020
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Foresight Solar Fund Limited (the "Company") will be held at 28 Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 3QA at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, 16 July 2020 to transact the business set out in the resolutions below.
Ordinary resolutions 1 to 10 (inclusive) require at least 50 per cent. of the votes cast to be in favour in order for the resolutions to be passed. Special resolutions 11 to 14 (inclusive) require at least 75 per cent. of the votes cast to be in favour in order for the resolutions to be passed.
date on which such Ordinary Share is contracted to be purchased; and (ii) the higher of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venue on which the purchase is carried out.
By order of the Board
Alexander Ohlsson - Chairman Foresight Solar Fund Limited 23 June 2020
Registered Office: 28 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3 QA Registered Number: 113721
shall be entitled to vote at the meeting. Changes to the register of members after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend, subject to the below restrictions on attendance at the AGM, speak and vote at the meeting.
2.1. Information regarding the meeting can be found on the Investors section of the Company's website at https://fsfl.foresightgroup.eu/.
3.1. A member entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting convened by the above Notice is entitled to appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any of the rights of the member to attend and speak and vote in his/her place, subject to the above restrictions on attendance at the AGM (Note 1). If a shareholder wishes to appoint more than one proxy and so requires additional proxy forms, the shareholder should contact the Company's Registrar Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY. A proxy need not be a member of the Company.
Shareholders registered in the register of members of the Company by close of business on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, being two days (excluding non-working days) prior to the time fixed for the Meeting shall be entitled to attend, subject to the above restrictions on attendance at the AGM (Note 1), and vote at the Meeting in respect of the number of Ordinary Shares registered in their name at such time. If the Meeting is adjourned, the time by which a person must be entered on the register of members of the Company in order to have the right to attend, subject to the above restrictions on attendance at the AGM (Note 1), and vote at the adjourned Meeting is close of business two days prior to the time of the adjournment. Changes to the register of members after the relevant times shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the Meeting.
5.1. Although a corporation which is a Shareholder is entitled under the Companies Law and the Company's Articles of Association to appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise, on its behalf, all its powers as a Shareholder provided that no more than one corporate representative exercises powers over the same share, Shareholders should
note that any corporate representative that attends the AGM in person may be refused entry.
7.1. This year, the Company will not be taking any questions at the AGM. Instead, Shareholders are invited to submit their questions, in advance of the AGM, to [email protected]. To the extent that it is appropriate to do so, we will respond to any questions received in a Q&A which will be posted on our website, in advance of the AGM. Please note all questions should be submitted by close of business on Friday, 10 July 2020.
8.1. the votes on the resolutions being proposed at the AGM will be conducted by way of a poll. As soon as practicable following the meeting, the results of the voting will be announced via a regulatory information service and also placed on the Company's website.
The New Articles provide further flexibility to the Company to hold general meetings where Shareholders are not required to attend in person but may attend and participate virtually provided it is in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Law. A meeting can be wholly virtual if attendees participate only by way of electronic means or a meeting may be "hybrid", where some attendees are based in a single physical location and others attend electronically. This will make it easier for the Company's Shareholders to take part in future general meetings. Certain consequential changes to facilitate this amendment have been made throughout the New Articles.
It should be noted that, the Board has no present intention of holding a virtual only meeting. These provisions will only be used in accordance with the Companies Law and where the Directors consider it is in the best of interests of Shareholders for a virtual only or hybrid meeting to be held. Nothing in the New Articles will prevent the Company from holding physical general meetings.
The New Articles will provide the Company with the ability to have documents signed on its behalf by electronic means which is expected to make the execution of documents easier in the future.
The Board is proposing to make amendments to the Existing Articles in light of certain requirements under the AIFMD and the AIFM Regulations and related rules and regulations. The proposed new provisions provide for (i) the net asset value per share of the Company to be calculated at least annually and disclosed to shareholders, (ii) certain investment information to be made available to investors in the Company; (iii) the valuation of the Company's assets to be performed in accordance with prevailing accounting standards, and (iv) the Company's reports and accounts to
be prepared in accordance with either generally accepted accounting principles of the United Kingdom or such other international accounting standards as may be permitted under the laws of England and Wales. These amendments will have no bearing on the Company's current practices and simply articulate minimum requirements of the AIFMD and the AIFM Regulations.
The Board is also seeking to raise the Director's fee cap, currently set at £250,000 per annum, to £350,000 per annum. The main reason for this change is to allow the Directors the flexibility to appoint a fifth non-executive director to the Board of the Company and to facilitate any changes to the composition and structure of the Board and it's succession in the future.
The Board is also taking the opportunity to make some additional minor or technical amendments to the Existing Articles, including: (i) providing the Directors with the ability to require additional security or safety measures to be put in place at general meetings of the Company, (ii) dispensing with the need for the Company to use newspaper adverts to trace members or in the event the Board wished to postpone a general meeting; (iii) the inclusion of a procedure in the event an insufficient number of Directors are re-elected at an annual general meeting of the Company; (iv) reflecting the developments in mental health legislation by updating the provisions whereby a person's appointment as a director can be terminated; and (v) allowing the Company to pay dividends exclusively through bank transfers or other electronic payment methods instead of by way of cheques with the further ability to retain cash payments where bank details are not provided by a Shareholder. These changes reflect modern best practice and are intended to relieve certain administrative burdens on the Company.
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