Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Jun 25, 2015
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other appropriate independent professional adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, if you are in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent professional adviser if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your ordinary shares in Helical Bar plc, please forward this document together with the accompanying form of proxy to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee. If you have sold or transferred only part of your holding of ordinary shares in Helical Bar plc, you should retain these documents.
Notice of the ninety fi fth Annual General Meeting of Helical Bar plc to be held at The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL at 11.30 a.m. on 24 July 2015 is set out on pages 5 to 6 of this document.
A form of proxy for the Annual General Meeting is enclosed. Whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting, please complete the accompanying form of proxy and return it in accordance with the instructions set out thereon, to Helical Bar plc's registrars, Capita Asset Services, PXS 1, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU as soon as possible and in any event so as to be received by not later than 11.30 a.m. on 22 July 2015.
Completion and return of the form of proxy will not prevent you from attending and voting at the meeting in person, should you wish.
| Section | Page |
|---|---|
| Expected timetable of principal events | 2 |
| Definitions | 2 |
| Letter from the Chairman in respect of the Annual General Meeting 2015 | 3-4 |
| Notice of Annual General Meeting | 5-6 |
| Notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting | 7-8 |
| Appendix | 8 |
| Event | Time and date 2015 |
|---|---|
| Last time for receipt of forms of proxy for the Annual General Meeting | 11.30 a.m. on 22 July |
| Annual General Meeting | 11.30 a.m. on 24 July |
| "2015 Annual Report" | the Company's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2015 |
|---|---|
| "Annual General Meeting" | the ninety fifth annual general meeting of the Company to be held at The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL at 11.30 a.m. on 24 July 2015 |
| "Board" or "Directors" | the directors of the Company, whose names appear on page 3 |
| "Company" or "Helical Bar" | Helical Bar plc |
| "Companies Act" | the Companies Act 2006 |
| "Directors' Remuneration Report" | the Directors' remuneration report contained on pages 58 to 71 of the 2015 Annual Report |
| "Group" | Helical Bar plc and its subsidiary undertakings |
| "Independent Auditor" | Grant Thornton UK LLP as auditor for the Company |
| "Report of the Independent Auditor" | the auditor's report prepared by the Independent Auditor |
| "Notice" | the notice to Shareholders of the Annual General Meeting |
| "Ordinary Shares" | the ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company |
| "Shareholders" | the holders of Ordinary Shares |
| "UK Corporate Governance Code" | the Financial Reporting Council's UK Corporate Governance Code |
(Incorporated in England & Wales, Number 156663)
Directors: Registered Office: N.G. McNair Scott (Chairman) 5 Hanover Square M.E. Slade (Chief Executive) London W1S 1HQ T.J. Murphy (Finance Director) G.A. Kaye M.C. Bonning-Snook D.C.E. Walker R.D. Gillingwater R.J. Grant A.E.G. Gulliford M.K. O'Donnell 25 June 2015
To holders of Ordinary Shares and, for information only, to holders of options under the Company's share schemes
Dear Shareholder
This year's Annual General Meeting is to be held on 24 July 2015 at 11.30 a.m. at the following address: The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL. Notice of the Annual General Meeting is set out on pages 5 to 6 of this document.
It is intended to propose resolutions 17-19 (inclusive) as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
The Shareholders will be asked to receive the 2015 Annual Report.
A final dividend of 5.15 pence per ordinary share has been recommended by the Board for the year ended 31 March 2015 and, if approved by Shareholders, will be paid on 31 July 2015 to all Shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 3 July 2015.
The Company has adopted the requirement of the UK Corporate Governance Code that all Directors should be subject to annual re-election by Shareholders. Accordingly, each of the Directors shall retire and seek re-election by Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.
Resolutions 3 to 12 (inclusive) will be proposed as ordinary resolutions for the re-appointment of each Director.
Biographical details of all the Directors are given on pages 52 to 53 of the 2015 Annual Report. The Board is satisfied that, following the annual performance evaluation and taking into account their qualifications and experience, the Directors standing for re-election continue to be effective and demonstrate commitment to their roles. The Board considers all of its Directors to be independent in character and judgment. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that each of the Directors standing for re-election be re-elected.
Resolution 13 proposes the re-appointment of Grant Thornton UK LLP as Independent Auditor.
Resolution 14 authorises the Directors to agree the remuneration of the Independent Auditor.
Resolution 15 is to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report (other than the part containing the Remuneration Policy) for the financial year ended 31 March 2015. You can find this part of the report on pages 58 to 71 of the 2015 Annual Report. As this vote is an advisory vote, no entitlement of a Director to remuneration is conditional on this resolution being passed.
The remuneration policy sets out the Company's forward-looking policy on Directors' remuneration and describes the components of the executive and non-executive Directors' remuneration. The remuneration policy was approved by shareholders at the 2014 Annual General Meeting and took effect from 26 July 2014 and is expected to continue to apply until the 2017 Annual General Meeting. A summary of the remuneration policy is included in the 2015 Annual Report on pages 59 to 63.
The Directors are required to seek shareholder approval for the Company's remuneration policy at least every three years, except in certain circumstances where an earlier vote would be required. The Directors are not seeking approval for the Company's remuneration policy this year.
The Directors may allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares only if authorised to do so by Shareholders. The authority granted at the last annual general meeting is due to expire at the conclusion of this year's Annual General Meeting. Accordingly, resolution 16 will be proposed as an ordinary resolution to grant new authorities to allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert any security into, shares (a) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £393,946.02 and (b) in connection with a rights issue up to an aggregate nominal amount (reduced by allotments under part (a) of the resolution) of £787,892.04.
These amounts represent approximately one third (33.33 per cent.) and approximately two thirds (66.67 per cent.) respectively of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 24 June 2015, the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice. If given, these authorities will expire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting in 2016 or on 30 September 2016, whichever is the earlier.
Other than in respect of the Company's obligations under its employee share schemes, if approved, the Directors have no present intention of issuing shares pursuant to this authority.
As at the date of this Notice, the Company holds no treasury shares.
The Directors also require the authority from Shareholders to allot equity securities or sell treasury shares for cash and otherwise than to existing Shareholders pro rata to their holdings. The authority granted at the last annual general meeting is due to expire at the conclusion of this year's Annual General Meeting. Accordingly, resolution 17 will be proposed as a special resolution to grant such authority. Apart from offers or invitations in proportion to the respective number of shares held, the power will be limited to the allotment of equity securities and sales of treasury shares for cash up to an aggregate nominal value of £59,091.90 (being five per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital at 24 June 2015, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice). If given, this authority will expire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting in 2016 or on 30 September 2016, whichever is the earlier.
Resolution 18 is a special resolution authorising the Company to make market purchases of up to 11,806,562 Ordinary Shares representing 9.99 per cent. of its issued ordinary share capital. The maximum and minimum prices are stated in the resolution. The authority sought by this resolution will expire at the conclusion of the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2016 or, if earlier, on 30 September 2016. In the period from 1 April 2014 to 24 June 2015, being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice, the Company did not purchase any shares for cancellation. This proposal should not be taken as an indication that the Company will purchase its own Ordinary Shares at any particular price, or indeed at all, or to imply any opinion on the part of the Directors as to the market value of the Ordinary Shares. The Directors believe that it is advantageous for the Company to have this flexibility to make market purchases of its own shares. The Directors will exercise this authority only if they are satisfied that a purchase would result in an increase in the net asset value per share of the Company and would be in the interests of Shareholders generally.
In the event that Ordinary Shares are purchased, they would either be cancelled (and the number of shares in issue would be reduced accordingly) or, in accordance with the Companies Act, be retained as treasury shares. The Company will consider holding repurchased shares pursuant to the authority conferred by this resolution as treasury shares. This would give the Company the ability to reissue treasury shares quickly and cost effectively and would provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base.
Any issues of treasury shares for the purposes of the Company's employee share schemes will be made within the ten per cent. anti-dilution limit set by the Investment Association.
Changes made to the Companies Act by the Companies (Shareholders' Rights) Regulations 2009 increase the notice period required for general meetings of the Company to at least 21 clear days unless Shareholders approve a shorter notice period, which cannot however be less than 14 clear days. Annual general meetings will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
At the annual general meeting of the Company held on 25 July 2014, Shareholders authorised the calling of general meetings, other than an annual general meeting, on not less than 14 clear days' notice. Resolution 19 seeks the necessary Shareholder approval to renew this authority. The approval will be effective until the Company's next annual general meeting, when it is expected that a similar resolution will be proposed.
The shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine for such meetings, but only where the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be to the advantage of Shareholders as a whole.
It should also be noted that the changes to the Companies Act 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.
Shareholders will find enclosed a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting. Whether or not they intend to be present at the meeting, Shareholders are requested to return the form of proxy, completed in accordance with the instructions set out thereon, to Capita Asset Services, The Registry, PXS 1, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU as soon as possible and in any event so as to be received by not later than 11.30 a.m. on 22 July 2015. The completion and return of a form of proxy will not preclude Shareholders from attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting in person should they so wish.
The Directors consider that the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own holdings of 16,924,158 Ordinary Shares (in aggregate) representing approximately 14.3 per cent. of the Company's current issued ordinary share capital.
Yours sincerely
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Helical Bar plc (the "Company") will be held at The Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL on 24 July 2015 at 11.30 a.m. to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions. It is intended to propose resolutions 17 to 19 (inclusive) as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
and this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting (or if earlier, on 30 September 2016), save that the Company may before the expiry of such power make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted, or treasury shares to be sold, after such expiry and the directors may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired;
Dated: 25 June 2015
By Order of the Board
J.R. Moss ACA Company Secretary
Registered Office 5 Hanover Square London W1S 1HQ
Completed proxy forms should not be sent to the Company's registered office.
Copies of executive Directors' service agreements, copies of the terms and conditions of appointment of non-executive Directors (including the terms of the qualifying third party indemnity provisions made by the Company for the benefit of its Directors are available for inspection at the Company's registered office during normal business hours from the date of this Notice until the date of the Annual General Meeting and will be available for inspection at the place of the Annual General Meeting for at least 15 minutes prior to and during the meeting.
If you are a person who has been nominated under section 146 of the Act to enjoy information rights (a "Nominated Person"):
As at 6.00 p.m. on 24 June 2015, being the last practicable day prior to the publication of this Notice, the Company's issued share capital comprised 118,183,806 ordinary shares of 1 pence each. Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of the Company and, therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company as at 6.00 p.m. on 24 June 2015 was 118,183,806.
Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
Shareholders should note that it is possible, pursuant to requests made by members of the Company under section 527 of the Companies Act, that the Company may be required to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: (i) the audit of the Company's accounts (including the Report of the Independent Auditor and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the Annual General Meeting; 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, (in each case) that the members propose to raise at the Annual General Meeting. The Company may not require the members requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 527 or 528 of the Companies Act. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under section 527 of the Companies Act, it must forward the statement to the Independent Auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting includes any statement that the Company has been required under section 527 of the Companies Act to publish on a website. A copy of this Notice, and other information required by section 311A of the Companies Act can be found at www.helical.co.uk.
You may not use any electronic address (within the meaning of section 333(4) the Act) provided in this Notice (or in any related documents) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
Any member attending the Annual General Meeting has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.
The Annual General Meeting of Helical Bar plc to be held at 11.30 a.m. on Friday 24 July 2015 at:
The Connaught Hotel Carlos Place Mayfair London W1K 2AL
Registered Office: 5 Hanover Square London W1S 1HQ
Tel: 020 7629 0113 email: [email protected]
www.helical.co.uk
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