AGM Information • Dec 17, 2021
AGM Information
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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
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If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own independent financial advice from a stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or other financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Ordinary shares in Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust plc please send this Notice of Annual General Meeting, 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.
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 07251471 and registered as an investment company under Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
to be held at 2.00pm on Friday, 11 February 2022 at the offices of Polar Capital, 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD

Please allow time to pass through registration and security.
A form of proxy for ordinary Shareholders is provided for use at the AGM. To be valid, the form of proxy should be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions thereon to Equiniti Limited at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA as soon as possible but in any event so as to arrive not later than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the Meeting (excluding non-working days).
You are encouraged to complete and submit your form of proxy as soon as possible. Appointment of a proxy will not prevent you from attending and voting at the meeting if you subsequently find that you are able to do so.
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 07251471 and registered as an investment company under Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
Lisa Arnold (Chair) 16 Palace Street Andrew Fleming London Neal Ransome SW1E 5JD Jeremy Whitley
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Directors: Registered Office
16 December 2021
I have pleasure in inviting Ordinary Shareholders to the Company's forthcoming Annual General Meeting ('AGM') which is being held at 2pm on Friday, 11 February 2022 at the offices of Polar Capital, 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD. Enclosed with this letter is your formal notice of AGM ('Notice of AGM') set out on pages 6 and 7 of this document and a form of proxy.
We have been considering how best to deal with the continued uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and possible future outbreaks which may impact the holding of the AGM. The health and wellbeing of our advisers, Shareholders and the wider community in which we operate is of importance to the Board. The Board also recognises that the AGM is an important event for Shareholders and the Company and is keen to ensure that Shareholders are able to exercise their right to vote and participate. Unless circumstances change, and they may do so at any time between now and the AGM, the meeting will be held at the offices of Polar Capital, 16 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JD. Any changes to these arrangements will be communicated through the Company's website and via a Regulatory Information Service announcement.
The Board believes that shareholder engagement remains important, especially in the current market conditions and is keen that the AGM be a participative event for all Shareholders who attend. Shareholders are encouraged to send any questions ahead of the AGM to the Board via the Company Secretary at [email protected] stating the subject matter as PCGH-AGM. The Investment Managers give a presentation and the Chairs of the Board and of the Committees attend the AGM and are available to respond to questions and concerns from Shareholders.
If you would like to vote on the resolutions but cannot attend the AGM, you can appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, vote and speak at the AGM by using one of the methods set out in the notes to the Notice of AGM and noted on the reverse of the Proxy Card.
The purpose of this letter is to explain the business to be considered at the AGM.
The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2021 will be presented to the AGM. The Annual Report accompanies this Notice of AGM or is available from the Company's website. Shareholders will be given an opportunity at the meeting to ask questions or can submit questions on the Annual Report and Financial Statements by email as detailed above.
At the AGM in 2020 shareholders approved the Remuneration Policy which, unless renewed, amended and approved by shareholders, remains in force until 30 September 2023.
Resolution 2 seeks approval, on an advisory basis, of the Remuneration Implementation Report, which looks back at the remuneration paid to the Directors for the year ended 30 September 2021.
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In accordance with the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, it is recommended that all Directors retire annually and, with the support of the Board, stand for re-election annually. Biographies of each of the Directors can be found on pages 6 and 7 of the Annual Report. The Board has confirmed, following a performance review that the Directors standing for re-election continue to perform effectively and demonstrate commitment to their roles. The Board also considered the specific reasons why each Director's contribution is, and continues to be, important to the Company's long-term sustainable success, in accordance with the AIC Code, these are set out below:
Lisa Arnold – Lisa has had a long career as a global pharmaceuticals and healthcare analyst ahead of her taking on non-executive Director positions. Since joining the Board and taking on the Chair Lisa has brought investment and strategic experience along with her detailed and effective leadership skills. Through Lisa's pension fund roles, particularly with the early adoption of TCFD, and more recently through her appointment at Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust, she has a comprehensive understanding of the importance and challenges of ESG and climate related issues. In her role as Chair, over the course of a difficult 2020, Lisa worked closely with the corporate brokers and the Managers to improve communication both internally and externally for the benefit of all and, in particular, when considering a shareholder perspective. Lisa continues to lead the Board with an inclusive and engaging manner and her nomination for re-election as Chair and non-executive Director is supported by both the Board and the Managers.
Neal Ransome – Neal has recent and relevant financial expertise with a strong accounting background which enables him to perform in-depth analyses of the Company's performance and financial statements. In addition to his financial expertise, Neal has a wealth of experience in evaluating pharmaceutical and healthcare companies having previously led PwC's Pharmaceutical and Healthcare M & A practice. Neal is Chair of the Company's Audit Committee, a role in which he has had extensive experience on other boards. Neal's re-election as a non-executive Director and Audit Committee Chair is supported by the Board and the Managers.
Andrew Fleming – Andrew joined the Board shortly before the pandemic struck and has worked with the Board and the Managers to ensure the continuation and continued improvement of service. Andrew continues to share his investment and management experience and is a key participant in Board meetings. In addition to his extensive investment and commercial management expertise he also has deep ESG experience having launched one of Europe's first ESG funds some 20 years ago and was a very early advocate and signatory of the UNPRi principles. Andrew's re-election as a non-executive Director is supported by the Board and Managers.
Jeremy Whitley – Jeremy also joined the Board shortly before the pandemic and previously held positions as Head of Equities for UK and Europe and was Senior Investment Manager for Global and Asian Equities based in Singapore. Jeremy's experience has brought a global perspective to the review of the portfolio and he has been a strong advocate for clear performance attribution analysis. Jeremy also brings to the Board experience of other investment trust management. Jeremy's re-election as a non-executive Director is supported by the Board and the Managers.
There is a requirement to appoint an auditor at each general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company, with the expectation that the auditor will then hold office until the next such meeting. Shareholders are required to approve the appointment of the Company's auditor each year and to determine or authorise the Directors to determine the auditor's remuneration. Resolution 7 relates to the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent auditors to hold office until the next AGM of the Company and Resolution 8 authorises the Directors to determine their remuneration.
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Following the Company's reconstruction in 2017, which included a change to the Company's strategy from income and growth to growth, the adopted dividend policy has been and remains that dividends will be paid bi-annually in February and August. The policy may result in lower dividends being paid than historically to recognise the focus on capital growth.
The interim dividends will not necessarily be of equal amounts because the dividends from the Company's underlying investments are expected to arrive irregularly throughout the financial year. Shareholders should recognise that circumstances may arise when it is necessary to reduce the level of dividend payment or equally there may be instances when the level of dividend must be increased in order to comply with Sections 1158 and 1159 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010. Where this would result in paying a dividend beyond the Board's intended policy a 'special dividend' will be declared and paid.
Resolution 10 deals with the Directors' authority to allot Ordinary Shares. At last year's AGM, the Directors were given authority to allot Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company up to a maximum nominal amount of £3,031,750 representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued Ordinary share capital.
Resolution 10 will, if passed, renew the authority to allot given to the Directors at last year's AGM on similar terms in respect of 12,127,000 Ordinary shares with a nominal amount of £3,031,750 representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued Ordinary share capital on 16 December 2021. The authority will continue until the end of the next AGM of the Company.
Resolution 11 will give the Directors power to allot Ordinary shares pursuant to the authority granted under Resolution 10 for cash without, in certain circumstances, being required to comply with the pre-emption rights in the Companies Act 2006. In particular, this power will permit the Directors to allot Ordinary shares up to a maximum nominal value of £3,031,750 representing approximately 10% of the issued Ordinary share capital of the Company as at 16 December 2021 for cash otherwise than in connection with an offer to existing Shareholders. This authority also permits the Directors to re-sell the shares held in treasury. The authority conferred by Resolution 11 will expire upon the expiry of the general authority conferred in Resolution 10.
The Directors' policy on the issue of new Ordinary shares is for the net issue price (after an allocation of costs) to be above the Net Asset Value ('NAV') per share. Any re-issue of shares from treasury will follow institutional guidelines but it is not anticipated that such shares would be re-issued at prices below NAV.
The Directors consider that renewing the Company's share allotment authority and disapplying pre-emption rights in respect of allotment of new shares is advantageous for Shareholders on the basis that (a) any new Ordinary shares issued for cash will be at a price that will be in excess of NAV and should therefore enhance NAV for existing Shareholders (over the longer term); (b) a larger capital base should result in a lower ongoing charges ratio for the Company because of the fixed element of cost; and (c) the increased number of Ordinary shares should improve their liquidity. The Directors further believe that having the ability to ensure a ready supply of Ordinary shares to the market should assist in avoiding the creation of an excessive and unsustainable premium over NAV, which could increase the risks for new investors.
Resolution 12 renews the authority granted to the Company to buy back its own Ordinary shares in the market as permitted by the Companies Act 2006.
The Company was given authority to make market purchases of up to 14.99% of the Company's Ordinary share capital at last year's AGM. Your Board wishes to renew this authority so that the Company will retain the flexibility to make market purchases of its own shares where your Board considers it desirable to do so.
If Resolution 12 is passed, it is the Company's current intention to cancel or hold in treasury all of the Ordinary shares it may purchase pursuant to the authorities contained therein.
During the year ended 30 September 2021, no new shares were bought back. The current total number of shares held in treasury is 2,879,256.
The Directors believe that to make such purchases of Ordinary shares in the market at appropriate times and prices is a suitable method of enhancing Shareholder value. Where the purchases of Ordinary shares are made at prices below the prevailing NAV per share, this will enhance the net asset value for the remaining Shareholders. The Board therefore intends that purchases of Ordinary shares would only be made at prices below the NAV.
The Company would, within guidelines set from time to time by the Board, make either a single purchase or a series of purchases, when market conditions are suitable, with the aim of maximising the benefits to Shareholders. The Board considers that it will be most advantageous to Shareholders for the Company to be able to make such purchases as and when it considers market conditions to be favourable and therefore does not propose to set a timetable for making any such purchases.
Resolution 12 provides that the number of Ordinary shares that could be purchased does not exceed a maximum of 18,178,373 (representing approximately 14.99% of the Company's issued Ordinary share capital as at 16 December 2021). The resolution also sets the maximum price that may be paid by the Company at the higher of 105% of the average middle-market quotation for an Ordinary share on the 5 business days immediately preceding the date of the relevant purchase or the higher of the last independent trade and the highest independent bid. The minimum price to be paid will be 25p per Ordinary share (being the nominal value per share).
The authority granted under Resolution 12 will last until the end of the next AGM of the Company or until the whole of the 14.99% has been utilised, whichever is the earlier.
Under the Companies Act 2006, the Company is allowed to hold its own Ordinary shares in treasury following a buy back, instead of cancelling them. This gives the Company the ability to re-sell treasury shares quickly and cost effectively and provides the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base. Shares held in treasury have their voting and dividend rights suspended. If the Directors exercise the authority conferred by Resolution 12 the Company will have the option of either cancelling or holding in treasury any of its own Ordinary shares purchased in the market. The Directors will decide at the time of purchase which option to pursue. The Directors will have regard to any guidelines issued by investor groups at the time of any such purchase with respect to the holding for resale of treasury shares.
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The Notice of AGM is set out at the end of this document.
Your Board believes that the passing of the Resolutions should help to promote the success of the Company and are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. The Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings which amount to 60,073 shares representing approximately 0.05% of the total voting rights of the issued Ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding shares held in treasury).
If you are an ordinary shareholder and would like to vote on the resolutions but cannot come to the AGM, you can appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, vote and speak at the AGM by using one of the methods set out in the notes to the notice of AGM. You are therefore urged to return the provided form of proxy without delay.
Yours sincerely
Lisa Arnold Chair
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 07251471 and registered as an investment company under Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the eleventh Annual General Meeting ('AGM') of the Company will be held at 2.00pm on Friday, 11 February 2022 at the offices of Polar Capital, 16 Palace Street, London, SW1E 5JD, to consider and, if thought fit, to pass Resolutions 1 to 10 as Ordinary Resolutions (which require a majority in excess of 50% to be passed) and to consider and, if thought fit, pass resolutions 11 and 12 as Special Resolutions (which require a majority of at least 75% to be passed).
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(ii) to the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) above) of equity securities up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £3,031,750 (being 10% of the Company's issued Ordinary share capital on 16 December 2021 or, if changed, the number representing 10% of the issued share capital of the Company at the date the resolution is passed);
and this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company after the passing of this resolution, save that the Directors may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.
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16 December 2021
16 Palace Street London SW1E 5JD
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If the Company is unable to determine the one which was last sent, the one which is last received shall be so treated. If the Company is unable to determine either which is last sent or which is last received, none of them shall be treated as valid in respect of that share. Every ordinary shareholder who is present in person at a general meeting of the Company, and every person (not being himself or herself a member entitled to vote) who is present as proxy for a member entitled to vote, shall have one vote on a show of hands. On a poll, every ordinary shareholder who is present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for every share held by him or her.
The return of the form of proxy duly completed will not preclude a member from attending and voting in person at the Meeting. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by utilising the procedures described in the CREST Manual which can be viewed at www.euroclear.co.uk. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf. In order for a proxy appointment made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a 'CREST Proxy Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited's (EUI) specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the Company's agent (ID number RA19) by not later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of the meeting (excluding non-working days i.e. by 9 February 2022).
For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) from which the Company's agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. 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.
Pursuant to section 319A of the Companies Act 2006, the Company must cause to be answered at the Meeting any question relating to the business being dealt with at the Meeting which is put by a member attending the meeting, except in certain circumstances, including if it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered or if to do so would involve the disclosure of confidential information.
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The conditions are that:
The conditions are that:
The relevant request must be made by:
For information on voting rights, including the total number of voting rights in the Company see above note 7.
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Such request must be made in accordance with one of the following:
c) a request signed by you stating your full name and address and providing evidence of the number of shares held sent by fax to 020 7227 2799, marked for the attention of the Company Secretary, Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust Plc and stating PCGH AGM in the subject field.
Under section 360BA of the Companies Act 2006, a member may, subject to conditions, request confirmation that their vote on a resolution at a general meeting where a poll has been taken has been validly recorded and counted.
The conditions at that:
Upon receipt of the request, the Company must provide the information to the member as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event by the end of the period of 15 days beginning with whichever is the later of the first working day after the day on which:
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales, registered number 07251471, as an investment company within the meaning of Section 833 of the Companies Act 2006)
Registered office: 16 Palace Street, London SW1E 5JD
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