AGM Information • Mar 21, 2013
AGM Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own advice from a stockbroker, solicitor, accountant, or other independent professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares in International Personal Finance plc (the 'Company'), please pass this document, together with the accompanying documents, to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer, so they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares.
and
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 6018973)
Notice of the annual general meeting ('AGM') of the Company to be held at 10.30 am on Thursday, 25 April 2013 at Number Three, Leeds City Office Park, Meadow Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5BD is set out on pages 2 to 7.
Whether or not you propose to attend the AGM, please complete and submit a proxy form in accordance with the instructions printed on the form. The proxy form must be received not less than 48 hours before the time of the commencement of the AGM.
Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of the Company which is set out on page 1 of this document and which recommends that you vote in favour of the Resolutions to be proposed at the AGM.
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 6018973)
Number Three Leeds City Office Park Meadow Lane Leeds West Yorkshire LS11 5BD
21 March 2013
Dear shareholder
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our sixth annual general meeting ('AGM') which will be held at 10.30 am on Thursday, 25 April 2013 at the Company's registered office in Leeds. The formal Notice of AGM is set out on pages 2 to 7 of this document.
If you would like to vote on the resolutions but cannot come to the AGM, please fill in a proxy form and return it to our registrars as soon as possible. They must receive it by 10.30 am on Tuesday, 23 April 2013.
The AGM will cover the following matters:
Resolutions 17 and 18 deal with additional matters. Resolution 17 seeks shareholder approval of proposed amendments to the International Personal Finance plc Performance Share Plan. Resolution 18 seeks shareholder approval of proposed amendments to the International Personal Finance plc Deferred Share Plan. Details of these proposed amendments are set out in Appendix 2 on pages 14 and 15 of this document.
Explanatory notes on all the business to be considered at this year's AGM, together with details of the documents which may be inspected, appear on pages 8 to 10 of this document.
The Board considers that all the resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Your Board will be voting in favour of them and unanimously recommends that you do so as well.
Yours sincerely
Christopher Rodrigues CBE Chairman
The sixth annual general meeting of International Personal Finance plc will be held at 10.30 am on Thursday, 25 April 2013 at Number Three, Leeds City Office Park, Meadow Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5BD. You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the resolutions below. Resolutions 14, 15 and 16 will be proposed as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, regulatory or practical problems in, or laws of, any territory or any other matter,
such authorities to apply until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting or, if earlier, until the close of business on 25 July 2014 (unless previously revoked or varied by the Company in a general meeting) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares to be granted after the authority ends and the directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.
and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, regulatory or practical problems in, or laws of, any territory or any other matter; and
(B) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (A) of Resolution 13 and/or in the case of any sale of treasury shares for cash, to the allotment (otherwise than under paragraph (A) above) of equity securities up to a nominal amount of £1,247,000,
such power to apply until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting or, if earlier, until the close of business on 25 July 2014 (unless previously revoked or varied by the Company in a general meeting) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the directors may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
21 March 2013
By order of the Board Ben Murphy Company Secretary
Registered Office: Number Three Leeds City Office Park Meadow Lane Leeds West Yorkshire LS11 5BD
Registered in England and Wales No. 6018973
13.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.
14.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.
No other method of communication will be accepted.
The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions.
Resolutions 1 to 13, 17 and 18 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 14, 15 and 16 are proposed as special resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The directors' report, the auditor's report and the audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2012 ('the Annual Report') will be presented to shareholders at the AGM. The Annual Report may be accessed on the Company's website at www.ipfin.co.uk/investors/shareholdercentre/agm.aspx.
The Directors' Remuneration Report is contained in the Annual Report. It may also be accessed on the Company's website at www.ipfin.co.uk/investors/shareholder-centre/agm.aspx.
Shareholders must approve the final dividend for each ordinary share. However, the final dividend cannot be more than the amount which the directors recommend (which is 4.51p for each ordinary share). The final dividend proposed in this resolution is in addition to the interim dividend of 3.23p for each ordinary share which was paid on 5 October 2012.
Richard Moat, who was appointed to the Board since the last AGM, is standing for election. To take account of the UK Corporate Governance Code (the "Code") which applies to the Company, all other directors are standing for re-election, apart from John Lorimer who is leaving the Board on 25 April 2013. In accordance with the Code it is confirmed that performance evaluation has been carried out and that each director who is standing for election/re- election continues to be an effective member of the Board and to demonstrate commitment to the role. Biographical details of each of them are set out in Appendix 1 on pages 11 to 13 of this document.
The Company is obliged by law to appoint an external auditor annually. The Audit and Risk Committee considered the reappointment of Deloitte LLP at its meeting in February 2013. It recommended to the Board, and the Board now recommends to shareholders, the reappointment of Deloitte LLP as auditor of the Company.
Paragraph (A) of this resolution would give the directors the authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £8,300,000 (representing 83,000,000 ordinary shares of 10p each). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 20 March 2013, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
In line with the guidance issued by the Association of British Insurers ('ABI'), paragraph (B) of this resolution would give the directors authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount of £16,600,000 (representing 166,000,000 ordinary shares), as reduced by the nominal amount of any shares issued under paragraph (A) of this resolution. This amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two-thirds of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 20 March 2013, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
The authorities sought under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this resolution will expire at the earlier of 25 July 2014 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2014.
As at the date of this Notice, no shares are held by the Company in treasury. Except for the possible issue of shares pursuant to the Company's employee share schemes, the directors do not have any present intention of exercising either of the authorities sought under this resolution. However, if they do exercise the authorities, the directors intend to follow ABI recommendations concerning their use (including as regards the directors standing for re-election in certain cases).
This resolution would give the directors the authority to allot ordinary shares (or sell any ordinary shares which the Company holds in treasury) for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings.
This authority would be similar to that in previous years. It would be limited to allotments or sales in connection with pre-emptive offers and offers to holders of other equity securities if required by the rights of those shares or as the directors otherwise consider necessary, or otherwise up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,247,000 (representing 12,470,000 ordinary shares). This aggregate nominal amount represents approximately 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 20 March 2013, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
In respect of this aggregate nominal amount, the directors confirm their intention to follow the provisions of the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles regarding cumulative usage of authorities within a rolling three-year period where the Principles provide that usage in excess of 7.5% should not take place without prior consultation with shareholders.
The authority will expire at the earlier of 25 July 2014 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2014.
The resolution gives the Company authority to purchase its own shares up to a maximum of approximately 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 20 March 2013, being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice. The resolution renews the authority granted by the shareholders at previous AGMs. It sets out the highest and lowest prices which may be paid.
The authority given in this resolution will expire at the earlier of 25 July 2014 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2014.
Although the directors have no present intention of exercising the authority to make market purchases, they intend to keep under review the potential to do so in the future. The authority provides this flexibility and the directors will exercise this authority only when to do so would be in the best interests of the Company, and of its shareholders generally, and where the decision could be expected to result in an increase in the earnings per share of the Company.
If any shares are purchased the directors intend that they will be either cancelled or held in treasury. If the directors decide to hold such shares as treasury shares, any subsequent resale of shares out of treasury to satisfy the requirements of the Company's employee share schemes would be made within the overall 10% and 5% equity dilution limits for such schemes for so long as this is required by the guidelines of the ABI.
In the period from 25 July 2012 to 20 November 2012, the Company purchased 7,792,801 of its shares in accordance with the authority given by shareholders at the 2012 AGM. These shares were subsequently cancelled.
This resolution renews the authority that was given at the Company's last AGM. The notice period required by the Companies Act 2006 for general meetings of the Company is 21 days, unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period which cannot be less than 14 clear days. AGMs must always be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
At the last AGM, shareholders authorised the calling of general meetings other than an AGM on not less than 14 clear days' notice and it is proposed that this authority be renewed. The authority granted by Resolution 16, if passed, will be effective until the Company's next AGM, when it is intended 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.
The Remuneration Committee has recently amended the rules of the International Personal Finance plc Performance Share Plan ("PSP") and the International Personal Finance plc Deferred Share Plan ("DSP") to introduce tougher clawback provisions, in line with shareholder expectations and following consultation with the Company's major institutional shareholders. These changes did not require shareholder approval.
As also mentioned in the shareholder consultation and subject to shareholder approval, it is now proposed to amend the PSP and the DSP to introduce flexibility to allow for the possibility that awards for selected "good leavers" may vest at the time of termination, rather than having to wait until the normal vesting date. The default position will continue to be that awardholders will have to wait until the normal vesting date. If the Remuneration Committee permits early vesting, awards will still be tested for performance (as applicable) and be time pro-rated.
For awards granted under the PSP and matching awards granted under the DSP, it is proposed to add redundancy as a good leaver reason, subject to an override by the Remuneration Committee.
The Remuneration Committee believes these amendments to the leaver rules are beneficial for the following reasons:-
The following documents will be available for inspection at Number Three, Leeds City Office Park, Meadow Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5BD, being the Company's registered office and the location of the AGM, and at the offices of Slaughter and May, One Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YY, from the date of this Notice until the conclusion of the AGM, and at the AGM from 30 minutes before the start time until it ends:
Gerard joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc in January 2012 as Chief Executive Officer (Designate) and became Chief Executive Officer at the beginning of April 2012.
Qualifications: Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Previous appointments: Chief Financial Officer of Garanti Bank, Turkey and Chief Executive Officer of GE Money Bank, Prague; Chief Executive Officer for Citi's consumer finance businesses in the Western Europe, Middle East and Africa region; director of Citi International plc, Egg plc and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney UK.
Committees: Chairman of the Executive Committee and of the Disclosure Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee.
Gerard's multi-country experience in consumer financial services makes him ideally suited to be Chief Executive Officer.
Christopher joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc in 2007 at the time of the demerger from Provident Financial plc, serving as Executive Chairman until October 2008 when the chairmanship became a non-executive role.
Qualifications: Graduated in Economics and Economic History and has an MBA.
Other appointments: Chairman of VisitBritain, Almeida Theatre Company Limited and The Windsor Leadership Trust, a non-executive director of Ladbrokes plc and an advisor to Monitise plc; he is on the Council and a Trustee of the National Trust and is an executive committee member of the World Tourism and Travel Council.
Previous appointments: Chief Executive of Thomas Cook, Chief Executive of Bradford and Bingley, board member of the Financial Services Authority, President and Chief Executive of Visa International and Joint Deputy Chairman of Provident Financial plc.
Committees: Chairman of the Nomination Committee.
Christopher's extensive experience in financial services makes him well placed to chair the Company which is a leading provider of simple financial products and services to people of modest means.
David joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc as Finance Director in 2007.
Qualifications: Graduated in Classics, has an MBA and is a chartered accountant.
Previous appointments: Senior Manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Financial Controller and later Finance Director of the International Division of Provident Financial plc.
Committees: member of the Disclosure and Executive Committees.
As a chartered accountant with a very detailed knowledge of the business built up from working in it from its early days of establishment, David is well placed to perform the role of Finance Director.
Tony joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc as a non-executive director in 2007.
Qualifications: Graduated in Chemistry.
Other appointments: Chairman of Canal & River Trust, a non-executive director of Capital & Regional plc and a board member of The Services Sound and Vision Corporation. He is also a director of Welsh National Opera Limited.
Previous appointments: Chief Executive of Allied Domecq plc, Chairman of Workspace Group plc and NAAFI; and a non-executive director of Provident Financial plc, Welsh Water plc, Aston Villa plc, HSBC Bank plc and Reliance Security Group plc.
Committees: Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, member of the Audit and Risk, and Nomination Committees.
Tony has extensive business experience gained from a variety of roles in different businesses and organisations which makes him suited to carry out the role, particularly as senior independent director; he has a strong interest in marketing.
Edyta joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc as a non-executive director in February 2010.
Qualifications: Graduated in Nuclear Engineering.
Other appointments: Vice President Nordics East Europe, Middle East and France at Herbalife Polska Sp. z o.o.
Previous appointments: positions in Oriflame Poland Sp. z o.o. and UPC Poland Sp. z o.o.
Committees: member of the Nomination Committee.
Edyta is Polish and works in Poland, where the largest subsidiary in the Group operates; she brings a wealth of relevant experience to the Board having worked at a senior level for other large agent-based organisations.
Richard joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc as a non-executive director in July 2012.
Qualifications: Graduated in Law and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Other appointments: Chief Financial Officer of Eircom Limited, an advisory board member of Tiaxa, Inc Chile, Trustee of the Peter Jones Foundation, and Chair of the ACCA Accountants for Business Global Forum.
Previous appointments: Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer of Everything Everywhere Limited, Managing Director of T-Mobile UK Limited, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Romania SA, Orange Denmark A/S and Orange Thailand Limited.
Committees: member of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Richard brings financial and operational expertise and international experience.
Nicholas joined the Board of International Personal Finance plc as a non-executive director in 2007.
Qualifications: Graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Other appointments: Non-executive director of RSM Tenon Group plc; Chair of C.A.R.E. Europe 1 S.a.r.l. and C.A.R.E. Europe 2 S.a.r.l.
Previous appointments: Chief Operating Officer of Travelex plc, Managing Director of Hambro Insurance Services plc, executive director of Hambros Bank and Joint Deputy Chairman of Hambro Group Investments, and a non-executive director of MoneyGram International Limited and Collins Stewart Hawkpoint plc.
Committees: Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee, member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.
Nicholas's professional qualification and financial experience make him well placed to carry out his role, particularly as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee.
The PSP was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 19 June 2007. Under the PSP, the Company's Remuneration Committee (the "Committee") can grant awards (as nil-cost options or contingent share awards) over shares in the Company to selected employees. Vesting of the awards is subject to one or more performance conditions, which are normally measured over a three year period.
The proposed amendments to the PSP will:-
If an awardholder leaves, his award will normally lapse unless he leaves for a specified "good leaver" reason. The "good leaver" reasons in the PSP currently include death, injury, disability, sale of the awardholder's employing company or business in which he works and any other circumstances where the Committee considers it would be in the best interests of the Company.
It is currently proposed to add redundancy as a "good leaver" reason, with discretion for the Committee to determine otherwise on any occasion.
Normally, a "good leaver" must wait until the normal times for exercising his award (nil-cost option) or receiving his vested shares (contingent share award).
If a "good leaver" leaves during the performance period, the Committee will have discretion to allow him to exercise his award (nil-cost option) or receive his shares (contingent share award) early.
If the award is a nil-cost option, the awardholder would then have six months (or such longer period as the Committee may determine) following leaving to exercise his award. Vested shares would be issued or transferred to holders of contingent share awards as soon as practicable following leaving.
Where the Committee allows an award to be exercised or to vest early in these circumstances, the award will be subject to both performance and time pro-rating.
The DSP was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 12 May 2010. It operates in conjunction with the Company's annual cash bonus plans for executive directors and senior executives. Under the DSP, a proportion of annual bonus outcome is deferred into an award of deferred shares (a "deferred award").
Deferred awards can be matched on up to a 1:1 basis by an award of matching shares (a "matching award").
The matching awards are subject to performance conditions, which are normally measured over a three year period.
Under the DSP, the Committee can grant deferred awards and matching awards as nil-cost options, contingent share awards or cash awards.
The proposed amendments to the DSP will:-
If the holder of a matching award leaves, his award will normally lapse unless he leaves for a specified "good leaver" reason. The "good leaver" reasons in the DSP currently include death, injury, disability, sale of the awardholder's employing company or business in which he works and any other circumstances where the Committee considers it would be in the best interests of the Company.
It is currently proposed to add redundancy as a "good leaver" reason, with discretion for the Committee to determine otherwise on any occasion.
Normally, a leaver must wait until after the normal vesting date to exercise his deferred award (nil-cost option) or receive his vested shares (contingent share award) or receive a cash payment in respect of his award (cash award). Normally, deferred awards are retained on leaving, except in cases of misconduct or where clawback applies.
If an awardholder leaves before the normal vesting date, the Committee will have discretion to allow him to exercise his award (nil-cost option) or receive his shares (contingent share award) or receive a cash payment in respect of his award (cash award) early.
If the award is a nil-cost option, the awardholder would then have six months (or such longer period as the Committee may determine) following leaving to exercise his award. Vested shares would be issued or transferred to holders of contingent share awards as soon as reasonably practicable following leaving. Cash would be paid to holders of cash awards as soon as reasonably practicable following leaving.
Where the Committee allows a deferred award to be exercised or to vest early in these circumstances the award will be time pro-rated.
Normally, a "good leaver" must wait until after the normal vesting date to exercise his matching award (nil-cost option) or receive his vested shares (contingent share award) or receive a cash payment in respect of his award (cash award).
If a "good leaver" leaves before the normal vesting date, the Committee will have discretion to allow him to exercise his award (nil-cost option) or receive his shares (contingent share award) or receive a cash payment in respect of his award (cash award) early.
If the award is a nil-cost option, the awardholder would then have six months (or such longer period as the Committee may determine) following leaving to exercise his award. Vested shares would be issued or transferred to holders of contingent share awards as soon as reasonably practicable following leaving. Cash would be paid to holders of cash awards as soon as reasonably practicable following leaving.
Where the Committee allows a matching award to be exercised or to vest early in these circumstances, the award will be subject to both performance and time pro-rating.
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