AGM Information • Jun 5, 2014
AGM Information
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If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you should immediately consult your 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 reside elsewhere, another appropriately authorised financial adviser.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Marks and Spencer Group plc ('M&S' or the 'Company'), please pass this document together with the accompanying proxy form as soon as possible 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.
The AGM is an important day in our calendar and is the Board's opportunity to present the Company's performance and strategy to shareholders and to listen and respond to your questions.
This year we will be hosting the AGM at Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London HA9 0WS. This yenue offers superb facilities, is accessible by Bus, Rail and Tube and is our venue of choice for both internal and external business conferences in 2014. More details about the day, how to get there. including a map, can be found on pages 11 and 12 of this Notice.
The formal Notice of Meeting is attached to this letter. The meeting will start at 11am, with light refreshments available before the meeting and following its conclusion. A lunch bag will be provided for you to enjoy either at the venue or during your onward journey.
If you cannot attend the meeting, we would still like to understand the themes and issues of concern to you, as shareholders. You may send your comments by e-mail to [email protected]. with the heading AGM 2014 or, if you prefer, on the comments card included with this booklet.
Your vote is important to us - you can:
The accompanying proxy form invites you to vote in one of three ways for each of the resolutions: 'for'. 'against' or 'vote withheld'.
At the meeting itself, the votes will be taken by poll rather than on a show of hands. The final result is more democratic as the proxy results are added to the votes of shareholders present, who vote all their shares (rather than one vote per person) using the 'Votenow' system. The results will be published on our website, marksandspencer.com/thecompany, together with a résumé of the meeting, and will be released to the London Stock Exchange.
In 2013 all resolutions were passed at the meeting with votes ranging from 81.88% to 99.99% in favour.
Our corporate website, marksandspencer.com/thecompany, is the principal means we use to communicate with our shareholders. There is a wealth of information online including:
An explanation of each of the resolutions is set out below.
The Board asks that shareholders receive the reports of the directors and the financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 29 March 2014, together with the report of the auditors.
The Directors' Remuneration Report (the 'Remuneration Report') is set out on pages 52 to 77 of the Annual Report. It sets out the pay and benefits received by each of the directors for the year ended 29 March 2014. In line with legislation, this vote will be advisory, and in respect of the overall remuneration package.
The Directors' Remuneration Policy is set out on pages 54 to 61 of the Annual report, it sets out the Company's policy on remuneration and potential payments to directors going forward. Once approved, the Company will not be able to make a remuneration payment to a current or prospective director or a payment for loss of office to a current or past director, unless that payment is consistent with the policy or has been approved by a resolution of the members of the Company. This vote will be binding.
The Board proposes a final dividend of 10.8p per share for the year ended 29 March 2014. If approved. the recommended final dividend will be paid on 11 July 2014 to all shareholders who are on the register of members on 30 May 2014.
The directors believe that the Board continues to maintain an appropriate balance of knowledge and skills and that all the non-executive directors are independent in character and judgement. This follows a process of formal evaluation which confirms that each director makes an effective and valuable contribution to the Board and demonstrates commitment to the role (including making sufficient time available for Board and committee meetings and other duties as required).
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code (the 'Code') and in line with previous years, all directors will again stand for election or re-election, as relevant, at the AGM this year, with the exception of Steven Holliday who will retire from the Board following the AGM. Biographical details of our directors can be found on pages 36 to 37 of the Annual Report.
During the year a full and thorough tender process for the audit contract was conducted, details can be found on page 47 of the Annual Report. On the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board proposes that Deloitte LLP be appointed as auditors of the Company in place of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Resolution 19 proposes that the Audit Committee be authorised to determine the level of the auditors' remuneration.
Paragraph (A) of this resolution would give the directors the authority to allot ordinary shares of the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £136,089,559 (representing 544,358,238) ordinary shares of 25p each). This amount represents approximately one third of the Company's issued share capital as at 19 May 2014, the latest practicable date before the publication of this Notice.
In line with quidance issued by the Association of British Insurers ('ABI'), paragraph (B) of resolution 20 would give the directors authority to allot ordinary shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £272,179,119 (representing 1.088.716.477 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 19 May 2014, the latest practicable date before the publication of this Notice.
The authorities sought under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this resolution will expire on the date of the AGM in 2015 or on 28 September 2015, whichever is sooner.
The directors have no present intention to exercise either of the authorities sought under this resolution, except, under paragraph (A), to satisfy options under the Company's share option schemes, but the Board wishes to ensure that the Company has maximum flexibility in managing the Group's capital resources. Where the Board does use the additional authority described in (B), the directors intend to follow ABI recommendations that all of the directors will stand for re-election at the next following AGM. As at the date of this Notice, no shares are held by the Company in treasury.
The directors are also seeking authority to allot ordinary shares for cash without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings. This authority would be, similar to previous years, limited to allotments in connection with pre-emptive offers, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £20,413,434 (representing 81,653,736 ordinary shares). This aggregate nominal amount represents approximately 5% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 19 May 2014. being the latest practicable date before the publication of this Notice, and corresponds with the quidance produced by the ABI and the National Association of Pension Funds.
The directors have no current intention to allot shares except in connection with employee share schemes. The Company has issued 47.110.957 ordinary shares in the past three years, on a nonpre-emptive basis, which represents 2.88% of issued share capital. This is in line with the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, which state that companies should not issue more than 7.5% of their issued share capital on a non pre-emptive basis over a rolling three year period without prior consultation with shareholders. The authority sought under this resolution will expire on the date of the AGM in 2015 or on 28 September 2015, whichever is sooner.
Authority is sought for the Company to purchase up to 10% of its issued ordinary shares, renewing the authority granted by the shareholders at previous AGMs. No shares were bought back under the current authority. The directors have no present intention of exercising the authority to make market purchases. but the authority provides the flexibility to allow them to do so in the future. 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 could be expected to result in an increase in the earnings per share of the Company.
Ordinary shares purchased by the Company pursuant to this authority may be held in treasury or may be cancelled. It is the Company's present intention to cancel any shares it buys back rather than hold them in treasury. The Company currently has no ordinary shares in treasury. The minimum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an ordinary share is 25p. The maximum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an ordinary share is the highest of (i) an amount equal to 105% of the average market value for an ordinary share for the five business days immediately preceding the date of the purchase and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venues where the purchase is carried out.
The Company has options outstanding over 34.1 million ordinary shares, representing 2.09% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 19 May 2014, the latest practicable date before the publication of this Notice. If the existing authority given at the 2013 AGM and the authority now being sought by Resolution 22 were to be fully used, these options would represent 2.32% of the Company's ordinary share capital in issue at that date.
In terms of the Companies Act 2006 (the '2006 Act'), the notice period for general meetings (other than an AGM) is 21 clear days' notice unless the Company:
The Company would like to preserve its ability to call general meetings (other than an AGM) on less than 21 clear days' notice. 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. Resolution 23 seeks such approval. Should this resolution be approved it will be valid until the end of the next AGM. This is the same authority that was sought and granted at last vear's AGM.
The 2006 Act prohibits companies from making any political donations to EU political organisations, independent candidates or incurring EU political expenditure unless authorised by shareholders in advance. The Company does not make and does not intend to make donations to EU political organisations or independent election candidates, nor does it incur any EU political expenditure. However, the definitions of political donations, political organisations and political expenditure used in the 2006 Act are very wide. As a result this can cover activities such as sponsorship, subscriptions, payment of expenses, paid leave for employees fulfilling certain public duties, and support for bodies representing the business community in policy review or reform. Shareholder approval is being sought on a precautionary basis only, to allow the Company and any company, which at any time during the period for which this resolution has effect, is a subsidiary of the Company, to continue to support the community and put forward its views to wider business and Government interests, without running the risk of being in breach of the legislation.
The Board is therefore seeking authority to make political donations to EU political organisations and independent election candidates not exceeding £50,000 in total and to incur EU political expenditure not exceeding £50,000 in total. In line with best practice quidelines published by the ABI, this resolution is put to shareholders annually rather than every four years as required by the 2006 Act. For the purposes of this resolution, the terms 'political donations', 'political organisations', 'independent election candidate' and 'political expenditure' shall have the meanings given to them in sections 363 to 365 of the 2006 Act.
Your directors believe that the proposals described in this booklet are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and recommend you to give them your support by voting in favour of all the resolutions, as they intend to in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings.
Yours sincerely
Amanda Mellor, Group Secretary
5 June 2014
Notice is hereby given that the twelfth Annual General Meeting of Marks and Spencer Group plc will be held at Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London, HA9 0WS on Tuesday 8 July 2014 at 11am (the 'AGM') for the purposes set out below:
Resolutions 1 to 20 and 24 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 21 to 23 will be proposed as special resolutions.
To elect the following directors who are seeking annual re-election in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code:
To view our Board biographies go to the governance section of marksandspencer.com/ annualreport2014 and follow the link. Those with a QR Reader app can use the link to the right.
and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with any treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or laws of, any territory or any matter.
The authorities conferred on the directors to allot securities under paragraph (A) and (B) will expire on the date of the AGM of the Company to be held in 2015 or on 28 September 2015 whichever is sooner, unless previously revoked or varied by the Company, and such authority shall extend to the making before such expiry of an offer or an agreement that would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of that offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.
and so that the directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with any treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or laws of, any territory or any matter; and
(B) in the case of the authority granted under paragraph (A) of resolution 20 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 £20,413,434.
and shall expire at the conclusion of the AGM to be held in 2015 or on 28 September 2015. whichever is sooner (unless previously revoked or varied by the Company in general meeting), provided that the Company may before that date 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.
in each case, exclusive of expenses, such power to apply until the end of the AGM to be held in 2015 or until 28 September 2015, whichever is sooner, but in each case so that the Company may enter into a contract to purchase Ordinary Shares which will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after the power ends and the Company may purchase Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract as if the power had not ended.
By order of the Board
5 June 2014, London
Registered office Waterside House, 35 North Wharf Road, London W2 1NW Registered in England and Wales No. 4256886
1.00pm (approximately) AGM closes - the results of the poll will be released to the London Stock Exchange once collated.
Admission will be through the Club Wembley Main Entrance on Level B2 (see map overleaf). Please plan to arrive before 10.30am to allow enough time for registration and security clearance, bringing your attendance card with you. This is either attached to your proxy form or, for those registered for electronic communications, is attached to the email you will have received. This will help us to register you more swiftly.
Wembley Stadium is easily accessible by wheelchair users and has lift access inside. The Great Hall is also covered with an assisted hearing system and handsets will be available from the Customer Services Desk in the Bobby Moore Room on level 1.
For further information on the special needs facilities at the venue, please call Wembley Stadium direct on: 020 8795 9748 or 020 8795 9660.
Security measures will be in place to ensure your safety. Please note that bag searches will be in operation and any items deemed inappropriate will be removed and stored until the end of the event. Flash photography is not allowed at the AGM.
Wembley Stadium is well served by numerous public transport links. In line with our Plan A commitments, we recommend that shareholders use these to travel to the meeting if possible.
Wembley Stadium is served by three stations:
Wembley Park (600m walk) – Jubilee and Metropolitan lines. There is only one lift to street level at this station, so please allow sufficient time to make your way to the venue.
Wembley Stadium (750m walk) – on the Chiltern Main Line, linking London Marylebone and the Midlands, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Wembley Central (2km walk) - Bakerloo line and London Overground. Bus routes 83, 92 and 182 run towards Wembley Stadium from stop CM.
For further information regarding your journey, including details of step free access from platform to street level and wheelchair accessibility at the above stations, please contact Transport for London travel information in advance of travelling on 0343 222 1234.
Available in the Green Car Park, shown on the attendance map. The car park is operated by CSP Ltd, is barrier controlled and you pay prior to leaving. Parking charges are £3 for 0-2 hours; £5.50 for 2-4 hours; and £8 for 4-6 hours. For further information please visit gotocsp.com.
Marks and Spencer Group plc
For shareholders unable to attend the AGM, the meeting will be webcast live from 11.00am via our website, marksandspencer.com/thecompany. This will be publicly available to all internet users and will also be available to view and download online after the event. To register to view the webcast, please visit the website and follow the relevant links.
Shareholders attending the AGM should be aware that the proceedings of the meeting will be filmed for the purposes of this. M&S reserves the right to retain and use footage or stills for any purposes. including Annual Reports, marketing materials and other publications.
If you have any queries about the AGM or the contents of this document, please call Marks & Spencer Group Secretariat on +44 (0) 20 8718 9888.
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