AGM Information • Jun 9, 2021
AGM Information
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Thursday, 8 July 2021 Notice of Annual General Meeting
THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO THE ACTION YOU SHOULD TAKE, YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR STOCKBROKER, BANK, SOLICITOR, ACCOUNTANT, FUND MANAGER OR OTHER APPROPRIATE INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Pets at Home Group Plc ("Company"), you should send this document together with the accompanying documents as soon as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.
The 2021 Annual General Meeting (AGM) is to be held on Thursday 8 July at 11:00am at Pets at Home, Chester House, Stanley Green Trading Estate, Handforth, Cheshire SK9 3RN.
In order to ensure the safety of our shareholders and our colleagues and in light of the uncertainty concerning the exact timescales for the easing of lockdown restrictions, the Board has decided to hold this year's AGM in a similar format to last year.
The AGM will still go ahead, in order to satisfy legal requirements, at Pets at Home's Support Office, with the minimum two shareholders physically present (facilitated by Pets at Home) in order to satisfy quorum requirements under the Articles of Association.
The Board recommends that shareholders do not attend the AGM this year due to the ongoing need to protect public safety. If however, despite this recommendation, you do intend to attend the AGM in person, please register your intention to attend as soon as possible in advance of the AGM by emailing [email protected] to allow for appropriate arrangements to be made.
The Board will continue to monitor developments on COVID-19 and the easing of lockdown restrictions. Should changes to the AGM arrangements be required, shareholders will be informed as soon as possible, via our website and by RNS – please monitor both carefully.
Your vote is important to us and as shareholders are recommended not to attend in person, you will still be able to ensure your votes are counted by submitting proxies in advance, either online or by post.
All resolutions for consideration at the AGM will be voted on a poll, reflecting the proxy instructions received and all valid proxy votes cast will count towards the poll votes.
The Board is again inviting shareholders to submit questions in advance of the AGM, and answers to questions on key themes will be made available on our website – https://investors.petsathome.com as soon as practically possible.
Further details of how to vote and submit questions in advance of the AGM can be found on page 7.
The Board considers that the proposed resolutions are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. The Directors therefore unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions proposed at the AGM, as the Directors intend to do so in respect of their own beneficial holdings.
If you have any questions about the AGM or your shareholding, please contact [email protected].
The results of the voting will be posted on our website and will be notified to the London Stock Exchange after the meeting.
Yours faithfully
Chairman 1 June 2021
Registered Office: Pets at Home, Chester House, Stanley Green Trading Estate, Handforth, Cheshire SK9 3RN
Notice is given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at Pets at Home, Chester House, Stanley Green Trading Estate, Handforth, Cheshire, SK9 3RN on Thursday, 8 July 2021 at 11.00 am for the following purposes and to consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions, of which resolutions 1 to 9 (inclusive) will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 10 to 13 (inclusive) will be proposed as special 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, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of any territory or any other matter,
such authorities to expire at the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting after this resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 October 2022, but, in each case, so that the Company may make offers or agreements before the authority expires which would or might require shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted after the authority expires, and so that the Directors may allot shares or grant Rights in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this resolution has expired.
For the purposes of this authority "political parties", "independent election candidates", "political organisation" and "political expenditure" have the meanings given by sections 363 to 365 of the Act. The authority conferred under this resolution shall expire at the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting after this resolution is passed.
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, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of any territory or any other matter; and
ii. to the allotment (otherwise than in the circumstances set out in paragraph (i) of this resolution) of equity securities or sale of treasury shares pursuant to the authority granted by paragraph (i) of resolution 8 up to an aggregate nominal amount of £250,000,
such power to expire at the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting after this resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 October 2022, but so that the Company may make offers or agreements before the power expires which would or might require equity securities to be allotted (and/or treasury shares to be sold) after the power expires and so that the Directors may allot equity securities (and/or sell treasury shares) in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred by this authority has expired.
such power to expire at the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting after this resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 October 2022, but so that the Company may make offers or agreements before the power expires which would or might require equity securities (and/or treasury shares to be sold) to be allotted after the power expires and so that the Directors may allot equity securities (and/or sell treasury shares) in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred by this authority has expired.
iii. the maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is not more than the higher of:
iv. unless previously varied, revoked or renewed this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the Company's next Annual General Meeting after this resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 October 2022;
Your board of Directors ("Board") believe that each of the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors unanimously recommend that shareholders vote in favour of all of the resolutions proposed, as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
1 June 2021
Group Company Secretary Pets at Home Group Plc
Registered Office: Epsom Avenue Stanley Green Trading Estate Handforth Cheshire SK9 3RN
Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 8885072
Resolutions 1 to 9 (inclusive) will be proposed as ordinary resolutions, which means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than half the votes cast must be cast in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 10 to 13 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions, which means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be cast in favour of the resolution.
The Directors are required to lay the Company's audited financial statements and the Directors' and auditor's reports before shareholders each year at the Annual General Meeting ("AGM"). The audited financial statements and the Directors' and auditor's reports for the year ended 25 March 2021 are included in the 2021 Annual Report.
The Directors' remuneration report ("Directors' Remuneration Report") is subject to an annual advisory shareholder vote by way of an ordinary resolution. Resolution 2 is to approve the Directors' Remuneration Report.
The annual statement from the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, set out on pages 119 to 122 of the 2021 Annual Report, summarises, for the year ended 25 March 2021, the major decisions taken on Directors' remuneration, any substantial changes relating to Directors' remuneration made during the year, and the context in which those changes occurred and decisions have been taken.
The annual report on remuneration, set out on pages 119 to 138 of the 2021 Annual Report, provides details of the remuneration paid to Directors in respect of the year ended 25 March 2021, including base salary, taxable benefits, short-term incentives (including percentage deferred), long-term incentives vested in the year, pension-related benefits, any other items in the nature of remuneration and any sum(s) recovered or withheld during the year in respect of amounts paid in earlier years, all in accordance with the remuneration policy that was approved by shareholders at the 2020 Annual General Meeting.
The Board is recommending, and the shareholders are being asked to approve, the declaration of a final dividend of 5.5 pence per ordinary share for the year ended 25 March 2021. The final dividend will, subject to shareholder approval, be paid on 13 July 2021 to the holders of ordinary shares whose names are recorded on the register of members of the Company at the close of business on 18 June 2021.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code ("Code") and the Articles, every Director will stand for re-election/election at the AGM.
Following the outcome of the Board Evaluation process, the Nominations Committee concluded that each Director is effective in, and continues to show commitment to, their roles. The Board therefore recommends the proposed re-elections be approved. Biographical details for each Director, together with the reasons why their contributions are, and continue to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success, are set out in the Appendix and on pages 100 to 101 of the Annual Report.
Over half of the Directors standing for re-election/election are nonexecutive directors whom are considered independent under the Code.
Zarin Patel was appointed as independent non-executive Director with effect from 14 April 2021 and is therefore standing for election at the AGM. Zarin is a chartered accountant who spent 16 years at KPMG, followed by a nine year period as CFO of the BBC and was also the Chief Operating Officer of The Grass Roots Group plc, a customer and employee engagement specialist. Zarin was also previously an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee of John Lewis Partnership plc. Zarin is currently appointed as non-executive director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Anglian Water Services Limited, non-executive director of Post Office Limited and member of the Audit and Risk Committee, independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee of HM Treasury and is a trustee of National Trust and Chair of its Audit Committee.
The Company is required to appoint an auditor at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before shareholders, to hold office until the next such meeting.
The Audit and Risk Committee has reviewed the effectiveness, performance, independence and objectivity of the existing external auditor, KPMG LLP, on behalf of the Board, and concluded that the external auditor was in all respects effective.
This resolution authorises the Directors, in accordance with standard practice, to negotiate and agree the fees to be paid to the auditor. In practice, the Audit and Risk Committee will consider and approve the remuneration of the auditor on behalf of the Board.
This resolution seeks shareholder approval to grant the Directors the authority to allot shares in the Company, or to grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares in the Company ("Rights") pursuant to section 551 of the Act ("Section 551 authority"). The authority contained in paragraph (i) of the resolution will be limited to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,666,666, being approximately one-third of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 1 June 2020.
In line with guidance issued by the Investment Association, paragraph (ii) of this resolution would give the Directors authority to allot shares in the Company or grant Rights in connection with a rights issue up to aggregate nominal amount of £3,333,333, representing approximately two-thirds of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 1 June 2021, as reduced by the aggregate nominal amount of any allotments or grants under paragraph (i) of this resolution. The Company does not hold any shares in treasury.
If approved, the Section 551 authority shall, unless renewed, revoked or varied by the Company, expire at the end of the Company's next AGM after the resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 October 2022. The exception to this is that the Directors may allot shares or grant Rights after the authority has expired in connection with an offer or agreement made or entered into before the authority expired. The Directors have no present intention to exercise the Section 551 authority other than in relation to employee share schemes.
The Company does not make, and does not intend to make, any political donations (to political parties or other political organisations) or incur political expenditure. However, the Company may from time to time make donations to animal welfare organisations, societies and charities. As the law in this area is widely drafted, it could prohibit these activities unless the Company has first obtained shareholder approval.
Resolutions 10 and 11 – Partial disapplication of pre-emption rights These resolutions seek shareholder approval to grant the Directors the power to allot equity securities of the Company pursuant to section 570 and 573 of the Act ("Section 570 and 573 power") without first offering them to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings.
The power in resolution 10 will be limited to allotments (i) for cash in connection with pre-emptive offers, subject to any arrangements that the Directors consider appropriate to deal with fractions and overseas requirements and (ii) otherwise for cash up to a maximum nominal value of £250,000, representing 5 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 1 June 2021, which is in accordance with the relevant shareholder guidelines applicable to the Company.
Resolution 11 would give the Directors authority to allot a further 5 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as at 1 June 2021 for the purposes of financing a transaction which the Directors determine to be an acquisition or other capital investment contemplated by the Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles (as updated in May 2016) ("Statement of Principles").
The disapplication authorities under resolutions 10 and 11 are in line with the authorities sought at the AGM last year and the guidance set out in the Statement of Principles.
The Statement of Principles allow a board to seek authority from its shareholders to allot shares for cash otherwise than in connection with a preemptive offer representing (i) up to 5 per cent of a company's issued share capital for use on an unrestricted basis and (ii) up to a further 5 per cent. of a company's issued share capital for use in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment announced either contemporaneously with the issue, or which has taken place in the preceding six month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the issue.
When the additional 5 per cent. disapplication authority is used, the Company intends to disclose, in the announcement regarding the issue, the circumstances that have led to its use and the consultation process undertaken. In addition, where the Company undertakes a placing using the disapplication of pre-emption rights, the Company intends to publish in the next annual report:
If both resolutions 10 and 11 are passed, the Directors will have authority to allot shares for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis up to a maximum amount equal to 10 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital as at 1 June 2021, but with 5 per cent of that figure only being permitted to be used for the specific circumstances set out in resolution 10.
The Directors confirm that, in accordance with the Statement of Principles, it does not intend to issue shares for cash representing more than 7.5 per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital in any rolling three-year period, save in accordance with resolution 10, without prior consultation with shareholders.
If approved, the Section 570 and 573 power shall apply until the end of the Company's next AGM after the resolution is passed or, if earlier, until the close of business on 7 October 2022. The exception to this is that the Directors may allot equity securities after the power has expired in connection with an offer or agreement made or entered into before the power expired. The Directors have no present intention to exercise the Section 570 and 573 power.
This resolution seeks shareholder approval to grant the Company the authority to purchase its own shares pursuant to sections 693 and 701 of the Act.
This authority will be limited to an aggregate maximum number of 50,000,000 ordinary shares, representing 10 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital as at 1 June 2021.
The maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share will be an amount which is not more than the higher of (i) 5 per cent. above the average of the middle market quotation for an ordinary share as derived from the London Stock Exchange Plc's Daily Official List for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the ordinary share is contracted to be purchased; and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out (in each case, exclusive of expenses).
If approved, the authority shall, unless varied, revoked or renewed, expire at the end of the Company's next AGM after the resolution is passed or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 October 2022. The Directors have no present intention of exercising all or any of the powers conferred by this resolution and will only exercise their authority if it is in the best interests of shareholders generally and could be expected to result in an increase in the earnings per ordinary share of the Company.
As at 1 June 2021, the Company had granted options and awards under its colleague share plans over in aggregate 12,516,552 ordinary shares (assuming full vesting and exercise). This represents 2.50% per cent. of the Company's issued share capital as at 1 June 2021.
If the Company were to buy back the maximum number of ordinary shares allowed under the authority under this resolution, and then cancel those shares, the total number of options and awards would represent approximately 2.78% per cent. of the Company's issued share capital as at 1 June 2021.
Resolution 13 – Notice period for general meetings other than AGMs This resolution seeks shareholder approval to allow the Company to continue to call general meetings (other than AGMs) on 14 clear days' notice. In accordance with the Companies (Shareholders' Rights) Regulations 2009, the notice period required for general meetings of the Company is 21 days unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period
AGMs will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
(subject to a minimum period of 14 clear days).
If approved, the approval will be effective until the Company's next AGM, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed.
The Company intends to only use the shorter notice period where the flexibility would be helpful given the business of the meeting and where the Company considers it is to the advantage of shareholders as a whole.
In accordance with the Act, the Company must make a means of electronic voting available to all shareholders for that meeting in order to be able to call a general meeting on less than 21 clear days' notice.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Directors will retire and submit themselves for re-election by the shareholders each year. The Board confirms, following the outcome of the Board evaluation, that all Directors continue to provide effective and valuable contribution to the Board and demonstrate commitment to their roles. In reaching its recommendations the Board considered the individual skills and experience brought by each Director and the overall skill set of the Board. The Board also carefully considers other commitments held by each Director. Where a Director holds other roles, and prior to accepting any additional roles, attention is paid to ensuring they are able to commit sufficient time to the Group. The Board has determined that each Director has the ability to continue to provide the level of focus and time required to fulfil their individual obligations at Pets at Home Group notwithstanding their external appointments.
Ian was appointed as Chairman Designate in March 2020 and as Chairman in May 2020.
Ian has been chair of Studio Retail Group plc since 2017 Ian has extensive board experience with past board positions including: Non-Executive Senior Independent Director of intu properties plc, CEO of Thistle Hotels, Chair of the privately owned veterinary group Vet Partners, and a long tenure on the board at Rank Group plc. as non executive chair, executive chair and CEO.
Ian brings to the Board a wealth of experience from the leisure and retail sectors and has significant prior experience of participation in audit and remuneration committees.
Peter joined Pets at Home in 2011 as Commercial Director and moved to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Retail in 2015. Peter was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer in April 2018. Peter has worked in retail for 30 years in various senior operational and commercial roles at Asda, Sainsbury's, Iceland, Marks and Spencer and Wilkinson Hardware Stores. Peter has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Stirling University.
Mike joined Pets at Home in September 2016 as Group Chief Financial Officer. Mike was the Chief Financial Officer of New Look from 2014 until 2016. Prior to this, Mike held a number of finance roles at Tesco plc over a period of thirteen years, with his final position as Group Planning, Treasury and Tax Director. Before this he held finance roles with Kingfisher plc and Whitbread plc. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen. Mike was recently appointed as a non-executive director at Wickes Group Plc.
Dennis Millard was appointed Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director of Pets at Home Group Plc in February 2014. He has over 25 years' of experience in finance and strategy roles and as CFO of UK PLCs.
He has over 13 years' of experience as Non-Executive Director, Senior Independent Director and Chairman of publicly listed and privately owned retail and service businesses (including The Watches of Switzerland Group, Halfords Group PLC, Superdry PLC and Debenhams PLC). He is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town.
Sharon was appointed to the Board of Pets at Home Group in 2017. She has impeccable retail credentials having worked with Kingfisher, John Lewis and more recently as Chair of French luxury goods company ST Dupont. Sharon was also previously appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer at Sun European, Chair of Audit at Shelter and as Chair of the Audit Committee at Network Rail.
Sharon is also currently appointed as Audit Chair at Crest Nicholson plc, Chair of Finance at Science Museum Group, Chair of Seraphine Limited, Chair of Audit at Cityfibre and to the board of Getlink SE.
Both Sharon's plc experience and understanding of the retail market contribute significantly to her input with the business.
Stan was appointed to the Board of Pets at Home Group in 2017. His entrepreneurial background and understanding of the digital online space in consumer facing businesses add significant value as omnichannel capabilities are expanded at Pets at Home.
Stan was formerly President and CEO of Photobox and COO of AOL Europe. He is currently Partner with Highland Europe (Growth equity).
Professor Susan Dawson was appointed to the Board of Pets at Home in July 2018. Professor Dawson is Dean of the Institute of Veterinary Science at the University of Liverpool. She qualified as a veterinary surgeon from Glasgow in 1983 and spent several years in veterinary practice before joining the University of Liverpool in 1988. Professor Dawson is currently a council member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and chairs the mind matters initiative. Susan was a member of the Veterinary Products Committee (2002-2011), a scientific advisory committee to Defra, and was also the veterinary adviser to the Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Committee for the Department of Health. Professor Dawson was previously President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association.
Zarin was appointed to the Board of Pets at Home in 2021 and has wide ranging financial and commercial expertise. Zarin is also a Chartered Accountant.
Zarin is currently appointed as non-executive director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Anglian Water Services Limited, nonexecutive director of Post Office Limited and member of the Audit and Risk Committee, independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee of HM Treasury and is a trustee of National Trust and Chair of its Audit Committee. Previously, Zarin was an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee of John Lewis Partnership plc, Chief Financial Officer of the BBC and Chief Operating Officer of The Grass Roots Group plc.
Epsom Avenue Stanley Green Trading Estate Handforth Cheshire SK9 3RN
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