AGM Information • Apr 19, 2017
AGM Information
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If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals in this document or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own advice from a stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent professional adviser authorised pursuant to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in JRP Group plc, please forward this document and the accompanying form of proxy as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was arranged for onward transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
JRP Group plc
Switchboard: 01737 233296 www.jrpgroup.com Registered Office: Vale House, Roebuck Close, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 7RU Registered in England and Wales number 8568957.
18 April 2017
Dear Shareholder
The purpose of this letter is to provide you with details of the Annual General Meeting of the Company (the 'AGM') which is to be held in etc. venues, 8 Fenchurch Place, Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4PB on Thursday 18 May 2017 at 09.30am. The formal Notice of AGM (the 'Notice of Annual General Meeting') is set out on pages 7 to 11 and explanatory notes on the resolutions to be proposed are given on the following pages.
Whether or not you propose to attend the AGM, please complete and submit the enclosed form of proxy (the 'Form of Proxy') or, alternatively, submit an electronic proxy appointment instruction in accordance with the notes to the Notice of Annual General Meeting. To be valid, the Form of Proxy or electronic proxy appointment instruction must be received at the address for delivery specified in the notes by no later than 09.30am on Tuesday 16 May 2017. Appointment of a proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the AGM in person if you wish to do so.
In line with best practice, voting on each of the 26 resolutions to be proposed at the AGM will be conducted by way of a poll rather than a show of hands. This is a more transparent method of voting as shareholders' votes are counted according to the number of shares held.
Resolutions 1 to 4 and 18 to 21 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. Resolutions 5 to 17 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions but will be conditional on separate approval by Independent Shareholders or by further ordinary resolution as specified in the explanatory notes to this notice of general meeting. Resolutions 22 to 26 will be proposed as special resolutions.
Resolution 1 to receive the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts:
To receive the Company's Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2016 (the '2016 Annual Report and Accounts'). The results for the 18 months ended 31 December 2016 reflect 18 months of JRP Group performance (1 July 2015 to 31 December 2016) and 9 months of Partnership Assurance Group performance (1 April 2016 to 31 December 2016). Shareholders will be able to raise any questions on the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts prior to this resolution being voted on. The 2016 Annual Report and Accounts have been sent to shareholders together with this AGM circular and are also available to view online at www.jrpgroup.com.
Resolutions 2 and 3 to receive and approve (a) the Directors' Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2016 in the form set out in the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts, and (b) the Directors' Remuneration Policy contained in the Directors' Remuneration Report:
In compliance with legislation, shareholders will be invited under Resolution 2 to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2016 and, separately under Resolution 3, to approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy contained in the Directors' Remuneration Report.
The Directors' Remuneration Report on pages 74 to 85 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts gives details of the Directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2016. For the purposes of Resolution 2, the Directors' Remuneration Report does not include that part of the report that contains the Directors' Remuneration Policy. Resolution 2 gives shareholders the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the Directors' Remuneration Report. No Director's remuneration is conditional upon passing the resolution.
The Directors' Remuneration Policy on pages 67 to 74 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts sets out the Company's proposed policy on Directors' remuneration. The vote on the Directors' Remuneration Policy is binding in that the Company may not make a remuneration payment or payment for loss of office to a person who is, is to be, or has been a Director unless that payment is consistent with the approved Directors' Remuneration Policy, or has otherwise been approved by a resolution of shareholders. Shareholders approved a Directors' Remuneration Policy at the last AGM which was held on 23 November 2015. The Directors' Remuneration Policy to be put to shareholders at the forthcoming AGM has been reviewed following completion of the merger. The review has resulted in a number of changes to the policy being proposed at the forthcoming AGM. These are relatively minor in nature and reflect developments in market and best practice, the details of which can be found on page 68 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts. Changes include:
The Directors' Remuneration Policy, if approved under Resolution 3, will take effect from 19 May 2017 and will apply until replaced by a new or amended Directors' Remuneration Policy. Shareholder approval must be renewed at least every three years, so a remuneration policy will be put to shareholders again no later than the AGM in 2020 (or, if earlier, when a change to remuneration policy is proposed).
The Board proposes a final dividend of 2.4 pence per ordinary share in respect of the year ended 31 December 2016. If approved by shareholders, the recommended final dividend will be paid on 26 May 2017 to all shareholders on the register at the close of business on 5 May 2017.
Resolutions 5 to 17 to re-elect the Directors of the Company:
The following Directors were elected to the Board at the last AGM: Tom Cross Brown, Keith Nicholson, Michael Deakin, Steve Melcher, James Fraser, Rodney Cook, and Simon Thomas. Chris Gibson-Smith, Paul Bishop, Peter Catterall, Ian Cormack, Clare Spottiswoode, and David Richardson, were appointed as Directors on 4 April 2016.
In accordance with best practice and the Company's Articles of Association, each of the Directors will retire from office at the AGM and each will seek re-election as a Director. Each of resolutions 5 to 17 will be proposed as an ordinary resolution. Biographies and Committee memberships of all the Directors can be found on pages 50 and 53 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts and on the Company's website (www.jrpgroup.com).
The Chairman confirms that, following an annual Board evaluation review, each Director continues to perform effectively and demonstrate commitment to his or her role. The Board believes that the considerable and wide-ranging experience of all the Directors will continue to be invaluable to the Company and recommends their re-election.
Under the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) Listing Rules a company which has a 'controlling shareholder' (defined by the FCA as 'any person who exercises or controls, on their own or together with any person with whom they are acting in concert, 30% or more of the votes able to be cast on all or substantially all matters at general meetings of the company') must, for the purposes of the election or re-election of an independent director, pass both an ordinary resolution of all shareholders and a separate ordinary resolution of those shareholders who are not controlling shareholders (the 'Independent Shareholders'). If the ordinary resolution to approve the election or re-election of an existing independent director is passed, but separate approval by the Independent Shareholders is not given, the Listing Rules permit an existing independent director to remain in office pending a further ordinary resolution of all the shareholders to approve the election or re-election of that director. Such a resolution may only be voted on within the period of between 90 days and 120 days following the date of the original vote.
Each of Tom Cross Brown, Keith Nicholson, Michael Deakin, Steve Melcher, Chris Gibson-Smith, Paul Bishop, Ian Cormack, and Clare Spottiswoode are considered by the Board to be Independent Non-Executive Directors. Accordingly, for each of Resolutions 5 to 12, the Company intends to seek separate approval of its Independent Shareholders. Such approval will be sought following the vote on each of those resolutions by all the Company's shareholders and will be calculated by discounting from the result of the vote on each such resolution the votes of those shareholders who are identified as controlling shareholders of the Company as at 18.00pm on Tuesday 16 May 2017.
The Company will, on announcing the result of the AGM, announce, in respect of Resolutions 5 to 12, the result of both the vote of all the Company's shareholders and the vote of the Independent Shareholders.
If separate Independent Shareholder approval is not given for any relevant resolution, the Company intends that the relevant appointment will continue for 120 days from the date of the original vote, unless a further ordinary resolution for re-election is passed. If a further ordinary resolution to approve the re-election of the relevant Director is defeated, his or her appointment will cease on that resolution being defeated.
Resolutions 18 and 19 to appoint KPMG LLP as the Company's Auditor and authorise the Audit Committee to determine its remuneration for the current financial year:
The Company is required to appoint the Auditor at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company, to hold office until the conclusion of the next such meeting. KPMG LLP has advised the Company of its willingness to stand for re-appointment. The Board, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, recommends the re-appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's Auditor to hold office until the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company.
Resolution 19 authorises the Audit Committee to determine the remuneration of the Company's Auditor.
Resolution 20 to renew the authority to make political donations and expenditure:
Part 14 of the Companies Act 2006 (the 'Act') restricts companies from making donations to political parties, other political organisations or independent election candidates and from incurring political expenditure, in each case without shareholders' consent. It is not proposed or intended to alter the Company's policy of not making such donations or incurring such expenditure. However, it may be that some of the activities of the Company and its subsidiaries may fall within the potentially broad definitions used in the Act and, without the necessary authorisation, this could inhibit the Company's ability to communicate its views effectively to political audiences and to relevant interest groups. Accordingly, the Company believes that the authority contained in Resolution 20 is necessary to allow it and its subsidiaries to fund activities which are in the interests of shareholders that the Group should support. Such authority will enable the Company and its subsidiaries to be sure that they do not unintentionally commit a technical breach of the Act. Resolution 20 does not purport to authorise any particular donation or expenditure but is expressed in general terms as required by the Act and is intended to authorise normal donations and expenditure. Any political donation or expenditure which may be incurred under authority of this resolution will be disclosed in the next year's Annual Report and Accounts. It is the Company's intention to seek renewal of this authority on an annual basis. If passed, the authority will expire at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM or 30 June 2018, whichever is the earlier.
Resolution 21 to renew the authority to allot shares:
The Directors currently have authority to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares in the capital of the Company. This authority is due to expire at the end of the forthcoming AGM. The guidelines of the Investment Association ('IA') (formerly the Investment Management Association) on directors' authority to allot shares state that IA members will regard as routine an authority to allot up to two thirds of the Company's existing issued share capital, provided that any amount in excess
of one third of Company's existing issued share capital is applied to fully pre-emptive rights issues only. The Board considers it appropriate that the Directors should continue to have this authority to allot shares in the capital of the Company. In light of the IA's guidelines, this would mean authorising the Directors to allot ordinary shares in the capital of the Company up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £62,194,736 (representing approximately two thirds of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document). Of this amount, £31,097,368 (representing approximately one third of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document) can be allotted pursuant to a rights issue.
If passed, the authority will expire at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM or on 30 June 2018, whichever is the earlier. The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority. However, the Directors consider it appropriate to maintain the flexibility that this authority provides. The Company did not hold any shares in treasury as at 9 March 2017 (the latest practicable date before the publication of this document).
If the Directors wish to allot new ordinary shares and other equity securities (within the meaning of the Act), or sell treasury shares, for cash (other than in connection with an employees' share scheme), company law requires that these shares are offered first to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. There may be circumstances, however, when it is in the interests of the Company to be able to allot new equity securities, or sell treasury shares, for cash other than on a pre-emptive basis. The Directors have no present intention of exercising the authority in Resolution 22, but consider it appropriate to allow the Company flexibility to finance business opportunities by the issue of shares or sale of treasury shares, or to conduct a pre-emptive offer or rights issue, without the need to comply with the strict requirements of the statutory pre-emption provisions contained in the Act.
The purpose of Resolution 22 is to authorise the Directors to allot new ordinary shares or other equity securities pursuant to the authority given in resolution 21, or sell treasury shares, for cash (a) in connection with a pre-emptive offer or rights issue or (b) otherwise up to an aggregate nominal value of £4,664,605 (representing 5% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document), in each case without the shares first being offered to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings.
Such authority, if given, will expire at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM or on 30 June 2018, whichever is the earlier.
The purpose of Resolution 23 is to authorise the Directors to allot new ordinary shares or other equity securities pursuant to the authority given in Resolution 21, or sell treasury shares, for cash, up to an aggregate nominal value of £4,664,605 (representing 5% of the total issued share capital of the Company as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document), without the shares first being offered to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. Such authority shall be granted in addition to the authority in Resolution 22. However, this additional authority is to be used only in connection with financing, or refinancing (if the authority is used within six months after the original transaction) an acquisition or specified capital investment (of a kind contemplated by the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, as updated in March 2015) which is announced contemporaneously with the allotment or which has taken place in the preceding six month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the allotment.
Such authority, if given, will expire at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM or on 30 June 2018, whichever is the earlier.
The Board intends to adhere to the provisions in the Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles, and not allot equity securities for cash on a non pre-emptive basis pursuant to the authority in Resolutions 22 and 23, in excess of an amount equal to 7.5% of the total issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) within a rolling three-year period, without prior consultation with the Company's shareholders, other than in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment (of a kind contemplated by the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles) which is announced contemporaneously with the allotment or which has taken place in the preceding six-month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the allotment. The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority, but consider it desirable to have the flexibility to use it should opportunities arise.
Resolution 24 (special resolution) to renew the authority to purchase Company shares:
Shareholders' approval is sought for the renewal of the Company's authority to buy back its own ordinary shares in the market as permitted by the Act. The authority limits the maximum number of shares that could be purchased to 93,292,104 (representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued share capital as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document) and sets minimum and maximum prices at which shares may be purchased by the Company under this authority. If approved, the authority will expire at the conclusion of the 2018 AGM or on 30 June 2018, whichever is the earlier. The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority. The authority would be exercised only if the Directors believed that to do so would have a positive effect on earnings per share and would be in the interests of the Company and of its shareholders generally. Any purchases of ordinary shares would be by means of market purchases on a recognised investment exchange.
A listed company purchasing its own shares may hold those shares in treasury and make them available for re-sale as an alternative to cancelling them. Accordingly, if this resolution is passed, the Company will have the option of holding, as treasury shares, any of its own shares that it purchases pursuant to the authority conferred. This would give the Company the ability to sell treasury shares quickly and cost-effectively and provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base. No dividends are paid on, and no voting rights are attached to, shares held in treasury. The Company did not hold any shares in treasury as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document but it is intended that any shares which are purchased under this authority will be held in treasury, rather than being cancelled.
The Company had options and awards outstanding over 23,742,929 ordinary shares, representing 2.55% of the Company's issued share capital, as at 9 March 2017, being the last practicable date before publication of this document. If the authority conferred by Resolution 23 were to be exercised in full, these outstanding options and awards would represent 2.83% of the issued share capital of the Company.
Resolution 25 (special resolution) to renew the approval of a shorter notice period for general meetings:
The Companies (Shareholders' Rights) Regulations 2009 (the 'Regulations') amended the 2006 Act to increase the notice period for general meetings of the Company to 21 days, unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period, which cannot however be less than 14 clear days. Approval of a shorter notice period of not less than 14 clear days was granted by resolution of the Company at the AGM on 23 November 2015. To preserve this ability, Resolution 25 seeks renewal of a notice period of not less than 14 clear days to apply to general meetings. It is intended that the shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine, but only where the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be in the interests of shareholders as a whole. The Company undertakes to meet the requirements for electronic voting under the Regulations before calling a general meeting on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
If given, the approval will be effective until the Company's 2018 AGM or on 30 June 2018, whichever is the earlier.
AGMs will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
Resolution 26 (special resolution) to change the name of the Company:
The Directors propose to change the name of the Company to "Just Group plc". Section 78 of the Act applies and requires that a special resolution be passed to approve the proposed name change.
The Directors consider that all the resolutions to be put to the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. The Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of all proposed resolutions as they intend to do in respect of any shares they hold in the Company.
Yours faithfully
Chris Gibson-Smith Chairman
18 April 2017
Notice is hereby given that the 2016 Annual General Meeting of JRP Group plc will be held at etc. venues, 8 Fenchurch Place, Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4PB London on Thursday 18 May 2017 at 09:30am to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:
Resolutions 1 to 4 and 18 to 21 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. Resolutions 5 to 17 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions but will be conditional on separate approval by Independent Shareholders or by further ordinary resolution as specified in the explanatory notes to this notice of general meeting. Resolutions 22 to 26 will be proposed as special resolutions.
For the purposes of this authority the terms "political donation", "political parties", "independent election candidates", "political organisation" and "political expenditure" have the meanings given by sections 363 to 365 of the Act.
(b) comprising equity securities (as defined in section 560(1) of the Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £62,194,736 (such amount to be reduced by the aggregate nominal amount allotted or granted under Resolution 21(a)) in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:
(i) to holders of ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and
and so that the Directors of the Company 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, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter,
such authorities to expire at the end of the 2018 AGM (or, if earlier, on 30 June 2018), but, in each case, so that the Company may make offers and enter into agreements before the authorities expire which would, or might, require shares to be allotted, or rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares to be granted, after expiry of these authorities and the Directors of the Company may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares under any such offer or agreement as if such authorities had not expired.
and so that the Directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter; and
(c) the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for each ordinary share is the higher of: (i) an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations of an ordinary share of the Company as derived from The London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the ordinary share is contracted to be purchased; and (ii) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an ordinary share and the highest current independent bid for an ordinary share on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out;
(d) this authority shall expire at the end of the 2018 AGM (or, if earlier, on 30 June 2018); and
By Order of the Board:
Simon O'Hara Group Company Secretary 18 April 2017
Registered Office: Vale House Roebuck Close Bancroft Road Reigate Surrey RH2 7RU
Registered in England & Wales number 8568957
The appointment of a proxy in each case must formally be received by the Company's registrar by no later than 09.30am on Tuesday 16 May 2017 (or, in the case of an adjournment, not later than 48 hours (excluding non-working days) before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting).
| Date of notification | Shareholder | No. of shares | % of voting rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2017 | Permira Holdings Limited | 216,057,001 | 23.16% |
| 2 April 2017 | Cinven | 144,479,320 | 15.49% |
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