AGM Information • Jun 1, 2020
AGM Information
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If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice from your stockbroker or other independent adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have recently sold or transferred all of your shares in Gresham House Renewable Energy VCT 2 plc (the "Company") please forward this document, together with the accompanying documents, as soon as possible either 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.
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered number 07378395)
Notice of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on 25 June 2020 at 11:30 a.m. (the "Annual General Meeting" or "AGM") at the offices of Dickson Minto W.S., 16 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DF is set out at the end of this document. Given the risks posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Association and Government guidance, the Company may impose entry restrictions on shareholder attendance at the AGM.
Shareholders are encouraged to vote on the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM in advance. In order to ensure that your votes are registered in the event that attendance at the AGM is not possible or restricted, shareholders are strongly advised to vote through the Registrar's online voting facility or by form of proxy. Shareholders who hold their shares through an investment platform or other nominee service are encouraged to contact their investment platform provider or nominee as soon as possible to arrange for votes to be lodged on their behalf.
You may submit your proxy electronically using the Share Portal service at www.signalshares.com. Shareholders can use this service to vote or appoint a proxy online. Votes lodged through the online facility must be received by the Registrar not later than 11:30 a.m. on 23 June 2020. Shareholders will need to use the unique personal identification Investor Code ("IVC") printed on your share certificate.
Alternatively, the form of proxy accompanying this document may be completed and delivered, in accordance with the instructions printed on it, to the Company's registrars Link Asset Services at PXS 1, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4ZF or by scan and email to [email protected] (please include Gresham House Renewable Energy VCT 2 plc and your name in the subject line of the email) to be received as soon as possible, but in any event not later than 11:30 a.m. on 23 June 2020.
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to invite you to our ninth Annual General Meeting. The AGM will be held at 11:30 am on 25 June 2020 at the offices of Dickson Minto W.S., 16 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DF.
The Company announced on 17 March 2020 that the Annual General Meeting of the Company proposed to be held on 17 March 2020 was to be postponed as a result of the facilities for the Annual General Meeting no longer being available due to JTC (UK) Limited closing the proposed venue following guidance from the UK Government in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Full details of the meeting and the resolutions that will be put to shareholders are set out in the enclosed Notice of Annual General Meeting.
The Company has published its Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2019 ("the Annual Report") and this was posed to shareholders on 10 January 2020. The Annual Report is also available on the Company's website at https://greshamhouse.com/real-assets/new-energy/gresham-house-renewable-energy-vct-2-plc/.
Your vote on our results, remuneration practices, the appointment of our directors and the special business before the meeting is important to us. Further details on how shareholders can vote in advance of the AGM are set out below.
Given the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with the Government's guidance that everyone should avoid non-essential contact with others and unnecessary travel, the Company may impose entry restrictions on shareholder attendance at the AGM. We have not taken this decision easily, but consider this to be in our shareholders' best interests.
Only the formal statutory business of the AGM will be conducted on 25 June 2020. There will be no presentations by either Gresham House (the "Investment Adviser") or the Board at the AGM.
If, due to Government restrictions, it is not possible for any of the Directors to attend the AGM, in order to ensure that a quorum is present, two representatives of Dickson Minto W.S., who will be appointed as proxies, will be present at the AGM.
In order to ensure that your votes are registered in the event that attendance at the AGM is not possible or restricted, shareholders are strongly advised to vote in advance of the AGM. If shares are not held directly shareholders are encouraged to arrange for their nominee to vote on their behalf.
Shareholders are encouraged to use the Share Portal service at www.signalshares.com to vote or appoint a proxy online. Votes lodged through the online facility must be received by the Registrar not later than 11:30 a.m. on 23 June 2020. Shareholders will need to use the unique personal investor code ("IVC"). You can locate your IVC on any share certificates, invitations or statements issued by Link Asset Services. If you need help with voting online, please contact our Registrar, Link Asset Services on 0371 664 0391. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 09:00 – 17:30, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Or via email at [email protected].
Alternatively, the form of proxy accompanying this document may be completed and returned, in accordance with the instructions printed on it, to the Company's registrars at Link Asset Services, PXS1, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU as soon as possible, but in any event not later than 11:30 a.m. on 23 June 2020.
Further, the Company will also be accepting questions from shareholders in advance of the AGM. These questions will be reviewed in advance of the meeting and addressed at the AGM. If you would like to ask a question, please can you email your question through to the Company's Company Secretary at the following email address: [email protected]. Please note all questions should be submitted by close of business on Friday, 19 June 2020. The Company will endeavour to publish responses to all appropriate questions received on the Company's website prior to the date on which proxy votes are due to be delivered.
The Board acknowledges that this is an unprecedented approach for the Company, but we hope that shareholders will appreciate that these are unique circumstances. The Board will continue to monitor Government guidance and will update shareholders on any changes to the above measures by way of an announcement to the London Stock Exchange and through the Company's website.
The authority proposed under resolution 7 will authorise the Directors, until the earlier of the Company's next AGM or 24 September 2021, to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £6,600, representing approximately 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at the date of this letter. The Company currently holds 3,018,966 Ordinary Shares and 3,019,716 'A' Shares in treasury. This authority will only be exercised by the Directors if, in the opinion of the Board, it would be in the best interests of shareholders as a whole.
Resolution 8 renews, subject to the passing of resolution 7, the Directors' authority to allot equity securities for cash without pre-emption rights applying in certain circumstances. This resolution will authorise the Directors, until the date falling 15 months after the date of the passing of the resolution or, if earlier, the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company, to issue equity securities for cash without pre-emption rights applying of up to an aggregate nominal amount representing 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at the time of the passing of the resolution. For illustrative purposes only had Resolution 8 been passed as at the date of this letter this authority would have applied to 2,613,304 Ordinary Shares and 3,946,385 A Shares, being 10 per cent. of the Company's current issued share capital, excluding shares held in treasury.
Whilst the company has no intention at present of raising money in the coming year the Board believes that it would be imprudent not to have the ability to raise funds through the allotment of shares up to 10 per cent. of the issued share capital without pre-emption rights. This facility will only be used in exceptional circumstances, such as the need to invest to meet HMRC rules, or to protect the value of a current investment.
Further, the Board will only issue shares where it believes that it is in the best interests of all existing shareholders to do so. Existing shareholders will be given the opportunity to participate in any future fundraising by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the value of the underlying assets attributable to the existing issued shares will not be diluted as a result of any future fundraising. All funds raised will be invested in accordance with the Company's investment policy.
Resolution 9 seeks to renew the Company's authority to make market purchases of shares up to approximately 14.99 per cent. of its issued share capital until the conclusion of the Company's next AGM or on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of the resolution, if this is earlier. The minimum price paid for shares bought back under this authority will not be less than the nominal value of the share nor more than the maximum amount permitted to be paid in accordance with the rules of the FCA in force as at the date of purchase. This authority will be exercised only if, in the opinion of the Directors, it is in the best interests of shareholders as a whole. Any shares repurchased under this authority will either be cancelled or held in treasury at the discretion of the Board for future re-sale in appropriate market conditions.
Your Directors are of the opinion that all resolutions which are to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders and therefore unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions as they intend to do in respect of any shares which they beneficially own.
Yours faithfully
Christian Yates Chairman 1 June 2020
The majority of shareholders choose to receive Annual Reports and Notices of meetings electronically. This has a number of advantages for the Company and its shareholders. It increases the speed of communication, saves you time and reduces print and distribution costs and our impact on the environment.
Company law requires that the Company asks shareholders to consent to the receipt of communications electronically and via a website*. Please note that if you consent to website publication you will continue to be notified in writing and through the release of an announcement on the London Stock Exchange each time the Company places a statutory communication on the website. Annual Reports and other documents which are required to be sent to shareholders ('shareholder information') are published on our website at https://greshamhouse.com/real-assets/newenergy/gresham-house-renewable-energy-vct-1-plc/. If you consent, the website will be the way in which you access all future shareholder information.
Please note that you still have the right to request hard copies of shareholder information at no charge.
Please note that if you hold your shares corporately or in a CREST account, you are not able to use the Share Portal to inform us of your preferred method of communication and should instead write to FREEPOST SAS, 34 Beckenham Road, BR3 9ZA (no stamp or further address detail is required. Please write in BLOCK CAPITALS).
*The Company reserves the right to send hard copy documents to shareholders where, for example, overseas securities laws do not permit electronic communication or in other circumstances where the Company considers that electronic delivery may not be appropriate.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ninth Annual General Meeting of Gresham House Renewable Energy VCT 2 plc will be held at 11:30 am on 25 June 2020 at the offices of Dickson Minto W.S., 16 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DF for the transaction of the following business:
As Ordinary Business, to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions which will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions:
As Special Business, to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:
and this power, unless previously varied, revoked or renewed, shall come to an end at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company next following the passing of this resolution or on 24 September 2020, whichever is the earlier.
By order of the Board
Susan Fadil for and on behalf of JTC (UK) Limited as Company Secretary Company number: 04301763
Registered office: The Scalpel, 18th Floor 52 Lime Street London EC3M 7AF
1 June 2020
The revocation notice must be received by 11:30 a.m. on 23 June 2020, the Annual General Meeting or the holding of a poll subsequently thereto. If a member attempts to revoke his or her proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified then, subject to Note (d) directly below, the proxy appointment will remain valid.
(d) Completion and return of a Form of Proxy will not preclude a member of the Company from attending and voting in person. However, given the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with Government guidance, the Company may impose entry restrictions on shareholder attendance at the AGM.
You may submit your proxy electronically using the Share Portal service at www.signalshares.com. Shareholders can use this service to vote or appoint a proxy online. The same voting deadline of 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the time of the meeting applies. Shareholders will need to use the unique personal identification Investor Code ("IVC") printed on your share certificate. If you need help with voting online, please contact our Registrar, Link Asset Services on 0371 664 0391. Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 09:00 – 17:30, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. Or via email at [email protected]
(e) CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the Meeting and any adjournment(s) of it by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual (available from https://www.euroclear.com/site/ public/EUI). CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf. In order for a proxy appointment made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a CREST Proxy Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's (EUI) specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer's agent (ID: RA10) by 11:30 a.m. on 23 June 2020. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST.
CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that EUI does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time.
In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5) (a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
Company Secretary at [email protected].
For use at the Annual General Meeting of the above named Company to be held at 11:30 am on 25 June 2020 at the offices of Dickson Minto W.S., 16 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DF (the "AGM").
I/We*(in BLOCK CAPITALS) ……………………………………………………..........................………….……………………….…....................
of .……………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………………………………...............
being the holder(s)* of Ordinary Shares of 0.1p each/ A Shares of 0.1p each in the above-named Company, hereby appoint the Chairman of the meeting (see Note 1)
| or | |
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| ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… | |
| of |
.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….............
as my/our* proxy to attend for me/us* on my/our* behalf at the AGM or at any adjournment thereof.
I/We* desire to vote on the resolutions as indicated in the appropriate column below. Please indicate with an "X" how you wish your vote to be cast.
Details of the resolutions are set out in the Notice of the Annual General Meeting.
| ORDINARY BUSINESS | FOR | AGAINST | WITHELD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. To receive and adopt the Directors' Report and Accounts. | |||
| 2. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Report. | |||
| 3. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy. | |||
| 4. To re-appoint the Auditor. | |||
| 5. To authorise the Directors to set the auditor's remuneration. | |||
| 6. To re-elect Matthew Evans as a director. |
| SPECIAL BUSINESS | FOR | AGAINST | WITHELD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7. To authorise the Company to allot shares. | |||
| 8. To disapply pre-emption rights. | |||
| 9. To authorise the Company to make market purchases of its shares. | |||
| 10. To authorise the Directors to call a general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, on not less than 14 clear days' notice. |
Signature(s)*…………………............................................................... Date …....…………………............
* Delete as appropriate
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