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Prudential plc — AGM Information 2021
Apr 12, 2021
50562_rns_2021-04-12_38f7b0bb-f4df-4b41-b1e0-8a838855c9ba.pdf
AGM Information
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Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.
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Prudential plc 英國保誠有限公司[*]
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under the number 01397169)
(Stock code: 2378)
Notice of Annual General Meeting 2021
Notice is hereby given that the 2021 Annual General Meeting (the Meeting) of Prudential plc (the Company), incorporated and registered in England and Wales (registered number 1397169), will be broadcast from Prudential’s offices at 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7AG on Thursday 13 May 2021 at 11.00am London time (6.00pm Hong Kong/ Singapore time). Shareholders will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, pass the resolutions set out below.
Please note that no physical attendance is permitted.
Resolutions 1 to 22 (inclusive) will be proposed as ordinary resolutions; resolutions 23 to 26 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. For each ordinary resolution to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. For each special resolution to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
Resolution 1:
Annual report and accounts
TO receive and consider the Accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 together with the Strategic Report, Directors’ Remuneration Report, Directors’ Report and the Auditor’s Report on those Accounts (the 2020 Annual Report).
The formal business of the Meeting will begin with a resolution to lay before shareholders the 2020 Annual Report. Shareholders will have the opportunity to put questions about the 2020 Annual Report and other business to be conducted at the Meeting to the Directors before this resolution is voted on.
The 2020 Annual Report is available to view on the Company’s website www.prudentialplc.com
Shareholders may obtain a copy from the Company’s registrar, Equiniti, by calling 0371 384 2035 in the UK, or Computershare Hong Kong on +852 2862 8555 in Hong Kong and quoting their shareholder reference number which can be found on each shareholder’s Form of Proxy. For shareholders in Singapore, copies of the 2020 Annual Report are also available for collection from CDP.
Resolution 2:
Directors’ Remuneration Report
TO approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2020.
As in previous years, shareholders will have the opportunity to cast an advisory vote on the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2020.
The Directors’ Remuneration Report is set out in full on pages 170 to 205 of the 2020 Annual Report. The 2020 Annual Report is available to view on the Company’s website www.prudentialplc.com
The full version of the current Directors’ Remuneration Policy, approved by shareholders in May 2020, is available on the website.
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Resolutions 3 to 17:
Election and re-election of Directors
In accordance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code, all Directors will offer themselves for election, except Kai Nargolwala who will retire at the conclusion of the Meeting and not stand for re-election.
The Board, supported by the work carried out by the Nomination & Governance Committee, is actively engaged in an ongoing cycle of succession planning to support the Company’s strategic objectives. All Directors standing for election or re-election are recommended by the Nomination & Governance Committee. All Directors in office during 2020 were subject to a formal and rigorous performance evaluation. The Board considers that each of the Directors continues to discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively, demonstrates commitment to their role, and continues to make a strong contribution to the work of the Board and to the long-term sustainable success of the Company. Each Director brings valuable skills and experience to the Board and its Committees, and their individual contribution to Prudential is detailed in their biographies, which can be found in the section titled ‘Biographies of Directors standing for election’ of this Notice.
Information about the activities of the Nomination & Governance Committee in recommending Directors for election, taking into account diversity of skills and experience and its assessment of independence for Non-executive Directors, can be found in the Company’s 2020 Annual Report on pages 141 to 149.
The Board recommends the election and re-election of all the Directors standing.
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3 TO elect Chua Sock Koong as a Director;
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4 TO elect Ming Lu as a Director;
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5 TO elect Jeanette Wong as a Director;
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6 TO re-elect Shriti Vadera as a Director;
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7 TO re-elect Jeremy Anderson as a Director;
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8 TO re-elect Mark FitzPatrick as a Director;
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9 TO re-elect David Law as a Director;
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10 TO re-elect Anthony Nightingale as a Director;
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11 TO re-elect Philip Remnant as a Director;
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12 TO re-elect Alice Schroeder as a Director;
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13 TO re-elect James Turner as a Director;
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14 TO re-elect Thomas Watjen as a Director;
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15 TO re-elect Michael Wells as a Director;
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16 TO re-elect Fields Wicker-Miurin as a Director; and
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17 TO re-elect Amy Yip as a Director.
Resolution 18:
Re-appointment of Auditor
TO re-appoint KPMG LLP as the Company’s auditor until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which the Company’s accounts are laid.
Following the recommendation of the Company’s Audit Committee, shareholders will be asked to approve the re-appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company’s auditor, to hold office until the conclusion of the Company’s 2022 Annual General Meeting. The audit tender has been completed and the Board approved the recommendation by the Audit Committee that Ernst & Young LLP (EY) be engaged as the Group’s audit firm for the year 2023 onwards, subject to shareholder approval at the Company’s annual general meeting to be held in 2023. Full details of the audit tender can be found on page 160 of the Company’s annual report and accounts.
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Resolution 19:
Remuneration of Auditor
TO authorise the Company’s Audit Committee on behalf of the Board to determine the amount of the auditor’s remuneration.
Shareholders will be asked to grant authority to the Company’s Audit Committee to determine the remuneration of KPMG LLP.
Resolution 20:
Political donations
THAT the Company, and all companies that are its subsidiaries at any time during the period for which this resolution is effective, be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of Sections 366 and 367 of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), in aggregate, to:
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(i) make political donations to political parties and/or independent election candidates not exceeding £50,000 in total;
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(ii) make political donations to political organisations other than political parties not exceeding £50,000 in total; and
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(iii) incur political expenditure not exceeding £50,000 in total,
(as such terms are defined in sections 363 to 365 of the 2006 Act) provided that the aggregate of such donations and expenditure shall not exceed £50,000 during the period beginning with the date of passing this resolution and expiring at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2022, unless such authority has been previously renewed, revoked or varied by the Company at a general meeting. The Company may enter into a contract or undertaking under this authority prior to its expiry, which contract or undertaking may be performed wholly or partly after such expiry, and may make donations to political organisations other than political parties and incur political expenditure in pursuance of such contracts or undertakings as if the said authority had not expired.
The 2006 Act restricts companies from making donations to political parties, other political organisations or independent election candidates and from incurring political expenditure without shareholders’ consent.
The Company intends to adhere to its policy of not making donations to political parties or to independent election candidates and will not do so without the specific endorsement of its shareholders. However, the broad definitions used in the 2006 Act make it possible for the normal business activities of the Company, which might not be thought of as political expenditure or donations to political organisations in the usual sense, to be caught. The Company does not believe there is a material risk of it inadvertently making such donations.
In accordance with established best practice, it is the Company’s intention to seek renewal of this resolution on an annual basis.
Resolution 21:
Renewal of authority to allot ordinary shares
THAT, the Directors be and are hereby authorised, generally and unconditionally, pursuant to section 551 of the 2006 Act, to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company for a period expiring at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2022 (save that the Company may make offers and enter into agreements under this authority prior to its expiry which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or to convert securities into shares to be granted after such expiry, and the Board may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert securities into shares under any such offer or agreement as if the said authority had not expired) and for a maximum aggregate nominal amount of:
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(A) £26,156,075 (such amount to be reduced by any allotments or grants made under paragraph (B) in an aggregate nominal amount exceeding £17,393,791 so that in total no more than:
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(i) £26,156,075 can be allotted under this paragraph (A); and
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(ii) £43,549,866 can be allotted under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this resolution 21 and;
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(B) £43,549,866 (such amount to be reduced by any allotments or grants made under paragraph (A) of this resolution 21 so that in total no more than £43,549,866 can be allotted under paragraphs (A) and (B) of this resolution 21 in connection with an offer or invitation:
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(i) to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and
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(ii) to holders of other equity securities (as defined in section 560(1) of the 2006 Act) as required by the rights of those securities or as the Board otherwise considers necessary,
and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers 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 amount allotted pursuant to the terms of any share scheme of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings adopted prior to or on the date of this Meeting.
At last year’s Annual General Meeting, shareholders renewed a resolution giving the Directors authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the Company (referred to collectively as Allotments). That authority will expire at the conclusion of this year’s Meeting. Accordingly, the Notice includes a resolution to renew this authority.
This authority will give the Directors flexibility to issue shares where they believe it is for the benefit of shareholders to do so. As announced on 3 March 2021, Prudential is considering raising new equity following the completion of the Jackson demerger.
This renewed authority complies with UK institutional investment guidelines and will expire at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
This resolution needs to comply with the requirements of the HKLR as a result of the Company’s listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. As a consequence, paragraphs (A) and (B) of resolution 21 relate to different tranches of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital which, when taken together, cover an aggregate nominal amount equal to £43,549,866 representing approximately 870,997,323 ordinary shares. This amount is approximately 33.3 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 1 April 2021, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice, which is also in line with guidance issued by the Investment Association.
To protect shareholders’ interests and minimise any dilutive effects arising from the non-pre-emptive issue of shares, the total amount of Allotments which may be made under paragraphs (A) and (B) of resolution 21, will cover an aggregate nominal amount equal to £43,549,866 representing approximately 870,997,323 ordinary shares (the Allotment Limit). The Allotment Limit is equal to approximately 33.3 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 1 April 2021, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
Paragraph (A) of resolution 21 authorises the Directors to make Allotments of an aggregate nominal amount equal to £26,156,075 (representing approximately 523,121,515 ordinary shares in the Company). This amount, which is the maximum proportion of share capital Directors may allot without pre-emption under the HKLR, represents approximately 20 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital as at 1 April 2021. This authority will be reduced by the amount of any allotments or grants made under paragraph (B) of resolution 21 in an aggregate nominal amount exceeding £17,393,791, to ensure that the total amount of Allotments which may be made under paragraph (A) does not exceed 20 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company and that the total amount of Allotments which may be made under paragraphs (A) and (B) of resolution 21, does not exceed the Allotment Limit.
Paragraph (B) of resolution 21 authorises the Directors to make Allotments of an aggregate nominal amount equal to £43,549,866 (representing approximately 870,997,323 ordinary shares in the Company) in connection with offers to ordinary shareholders or holders of other equity securities. This amount exceeds the 20 per cent authority in paragraph (A) of resolution 21 by approximately 13 percentage points, which is in line with guidance issued by the Investment Association. This authority will be reduced by the amount of any allotments or grants made under paragraph (A) of resolution 21 to ensure that the total amount of Allotments which may be made under paragraphs (A) and (B) of resolution 21 does not exceed the Allotment Limit. The restrictions detailed in paragraph (B) (i) and (ii) of resolution 21 are proposed in order to comply with the HKLR which do not permit the Directors to make Allotments on a non-pre-emptive basis in excess of the respective 20 per cent thresholds in paragraph (A) of resolution 21.
Paragraph (C) of resolution 21 seeks authority from shareholders under the HKLR for the Directors to make Allotments pursuant to the Company’s share schemes or those of its subsidiary undertakings. The Directors intend to use the authorities sought under paragraph (C) of resolution 21 following the exercise of options and awards under the Company’s share schemes adopted prior to or on the date of the Meeting.
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Resolution 22:
Extension of authority to allot ordinary shares to include repurchased shares
THAT the authority granted to the Directors to allot shares and to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares up to a total nominal value of £26,156,075 pursuant to paragraph (A) of resolution 21 set out above be extended by the addition of such number of ordinary shares of five pence each representing the nominal amount of the Company’s share capital repurchased by the Company under the authority granted pursuant to resolution 25 set out below, to the extent that such extension would not result in the authority to allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares pursuant to resolution 21 exceeding £43,549,866.
As permitted by the HKLR, resolution 22 seeks to extend the Directors’ authority to allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares pursuant to paragraph (A) of resolution 21 to include any shares repurchased by the Company under the authority to be sought by resolution 25.
Resolution 23:
Renewal of authority for disapplication of pre-emption rights
THAT if resolutions 21 and/or 22 are passed the Directors be and are hereby authorised to allot equity securities (as defined in Section 560(1) of the 2006 Act) for cash pursuant to the power conferred on the Directors by resolutions 21 and/ or 22 and/or to sell any ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if Section 561 of that Act did not apply to such allotment or sale for a period expiring at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2022 (save that the Company may make offers and enter into agreements under this authority prior to its expiry which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (or treasury shares to be sold) after such expiry, and the Board may allot equity securities (or sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the said authority had not expired), such authority to be limited:
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(A) to the allotment of equity securities and sale of treasury shares in connection with an offer of, or an invitation to apply for, equity securities in accordance with paragraph (B) of resolution 21 above; and
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(B) otherwise than under paragraph (A) above, in the case of any allotment of equity securities and sale of treasury shares the maximum aggregate nominal amount of equity securities that may be allotted or sold pursuant to this authority under the authority conferred on the Directors by paragraph (A) of resolution 21 and/or 22 and/or a sale of ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash is £6,539,018.
At last year’s Annual General Meeting, shareholders passed a special resolution giving the Directors authority to allot equity securities for cash without first being required to offer such securities to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings, by the limited disapplication of Section 561 of the 2006 Act. That power will expire at the conclusion of this year’s Meeting. Accordingly, the Notice includes a resolution to renew this authority.
This authority only extends (apart from pre-emptive issues) to the issue of equity securities, including the sale of any ordinary shares held in treasury in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6 of Part 18 of the 2006 Act. As at 1 April 2021 the Company held no treasury shares.
The authority is sought for a maximum nominal value of £6,539,018 representing approximately 130,780,378 ordinary shares in the Company, which is approximately 5 per cent of the total issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 1 April 2021. As regards rights issues and other pre-emptive issues, the Directors believe the mechanics and delay of the procedure under Section 561 are unduly restrictive and are therefore also seeking continuation of its disapplication in these circumstances. This renewed authority complies with UK institutional investment guidelines and will expire at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
The Directors confirm their current intention to adhere to the Principles of the Pre-Emption Group’s Statement of Principles regarding cumulative usage of authorities to allot equity securities for cash without offering them first to existing shareholders. These principles provide that usage in excess of 7.5 per cent of the Company’s ordinary share capital within a rolling three-year period should not take place, other than to existing shareholders, without prior consultation with shareholders. The Company confirms that its use of such authorities has not exceeded this 7.5 per cent limit over the last three years. As announced on 3 March 2021, Prudential is considering raising new equity, which may be issued under this authority.
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Resolution 24:
Additional authority for disapplication of pre-emption rights for purposes of acquisitions or specified capital investments
THAT if resolutions 21 and 22 are passed the Directors be and are hereby authorised in addition to any authority granted under resolution 22 to allot equity securities (as defined in Section 560(1) of the 2006 Act) for cash pursuant to the power conferred on the Directors by resolutions 21 and/or 22 and/or to sell any ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if Section 561 of that Act did not apply to such allotment or sale for a period expiring at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2022 (save that the Company may make offers and enter into agreements under this authority prior to its expiry which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (or treasury shares to be sold) after such expiry, and the Board may allot equity securities (or sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the said authority had not expired), such authority to be:
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(A) limited to the allotment of equity securities and sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of £6,539,018; and
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(B) used only for the purposes of financing (or refinancing, if the authority is to be used within six months after the original transaction) a transaction which the board determines to be an acquisition or other capital investment of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this Notice (the Statement of Principles).
In line with the best practice guidance issued by the Pre-Emption Group in its Statement of Principles, resolution 24 requests shareholder approval, by way of a separate special resolution, for the Directors to allot equity securities or sell treasury shares for cash in connection with acquisitions or capital investments without first being required to offer such securities to existing shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings, in addition to the general authority to disapply pre-emption rights sought under resolution 23. This authority only extends to the issue of equity securities, including the sale of any ordinary shares held in treasury in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6 of Part 18 of the 2006 Act. As at 1 April 2021 the Company held no treasury shares.
The authority is sought for a maximum nominal value of £6,539,018 representing approximately 130,780,378 ordinary shares in the Company, which is approximately 5 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 1 April 2021, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice. The authority sought under this resolution will only be used in connection with a transaction which the board determines to be an acquisition or other capital investment of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles, and 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. For these purposes, certain of the Company’s recent and planned investments may be determined to constitute capital investments of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles, including, but not limited to investing in distribution through bancassurance arrangements, other partnerships and developing its digital platforms.
The Directors consider that the authority sought at this year’s Meeting will benefit the Company and its shareholders generally since there may be occasions in the future when the Directors need the flexibility to finance acquisitions or capital investments by issuing shares for cash without a pre-emptive offer to existing shareholders. As announced on 3 March 2021, Prudential is considering raising new equity, which may be issued under this authority.
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Resolution 25:
Renewal of authority for purchase of own shares
THAT the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with Section 701 of the 2006 Act, to make one or more market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the 2006 Act) of its ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, provided that:
(A) Such authority be limited:
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(i) to a maximum aggregate number of 261,560,757 ordinary shares;
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(ii) by the condition that the minimum price which may be paid for each ordinary share is five pence and the maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is the highest of:
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(a) an amount equal to 105 per cent of the average of the middle market quotations for an ordinary share as derived from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the share is contracted to be purchased; and
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(b) 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,
in each case exclusive of expenses;
- (B) Such authority shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked prior to such time, expire at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2022, save that the Company may before such expiry make a contract or contracts to purchase ordinary shares under the authority hereby conferred which would or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and may make a purchase of ordinary shares in pursuance of any such contract or contracts as if the power conferred hereby had not expired; and
(C) All ordinary shares purchased pursuant to said authority shall be either:
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(i) cancelled immediately upon completion of the purchase; or
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(ii) held, sold, transferred or otherwise dealt with as treasury shares in accordance with the provisions of the 2006 Act.
The Directors consider that there may be circumstances in which it would be desirable for the Company to purchase its own shares in the market. Although the Directors have no immediate plans to make such purchases, they would like to be able to act if circumstances arose in which they considered such purchases to be desirable. Purchases would only be made if their effect would be to increase earnings per share and they would be for the benefit of shareholders generally. No purchases of shares would be conducted on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Accordingly, this resolution is proposed to authorise the Company to make market purchases of its ordinary shares up to a maximum nominal value of £13,078,037, representing 261,560,757 ordinary shares which is approximately 10 per cent of the Company’s issued share capital as at 1 April 2021, at prices not lower than five pence per ordinary share and not exceeding the highest of (i) 105 per cent of the average middle-market value of an ordinary share for the five business days preceding the date of 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 may retain any shares it purchases as treasury shares with a view to possible reissue at a future date or may cancel the shares. If the Company were to purchase any of its own ordinary shares it would consider holding them as treasury shares pursuant to the authority conferred by this resolution. This would enable the Company to reissue such shares quickly and costeffectively and would provide the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base. This authority will expire at the earlier of 30 June 2022 and the conclusion of the 2022 Annual General Meeting.
A waiver from strict compliance with Rule 10.06(5) of the HKLR was granted by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 4 May 2010 (and updated on 24 February 2016). Under Rule 10.06(5) of the HKLR, the listing of all shares which are purchased by the Company shall automatically be cancelled upon purchase and the Company must apply for listing of any further issues in the normal way. As a consequence of this waiver, Rule 10.06(5) of the HKLR has been amended such that shares purchased by the Company to hold as treasury shares will remain listed and the listing will not be suspended or cancelled and any subsequent sale of such treasury shares or transfer of such treasury shares pursuant to an employees’ share scheme, for example, shall not, for the purposes of the HKLR, constitute a new issue of shares and shall not require a new listing application to be made. In accordance with the terms of this waiver, the Company confirms that it complies with the applicable law and regulation in the UK in relation to the holding of shares in treasury and with the conditions of the waiver in connection with the purchase of own shares and any treasury shares it may hold.
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The Company has options and awards outstanding over 23,881,142 ordinary shares, representing 0.91 per cent of the Company’s ordinary issued share capital as at 1 April 2021 (the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice). If the existing authority given at the 2020 Annual General Meeting and the authority sought by this resolution 25 were to be fully used these outstanding options and awards would represent 1.14 per cent of the Company’s ordinary issued share capital at that date.
Resolution 26:
Notice for general meetings
THAT a general meeting other than an Annual General Meeting may be called on not less than 14 clear days’ notice.
Under the 2006 Act, the notice period required for general meetings of the Company is 21 clear days unless shareholders approve a shorter notice period (which cannot however be less than 14 clear days). Annual General Meetings are still required to be held on at least 21 clear days’ notice. Approval for a shorter notice period was sought and received from shareholders at the last Annual General Meeting and to preserve this ability, this resolution 26 seeks renewal of the approval for a notice period of 14 days to apply to general meetings. The shorter notice period will not be used as a matter of routine but only where flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be to the advantage of shareholders as a whole. If used, an electronic voting facility will be provided.
Annual General Meetings will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days’ notice.
The approval will be effective until the earlier of 30 June 2022 or the conclusion of the Company’s 2022 Annual General Meeting when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed.
By order of the Board of Directors Tom Clarkson Company Secretary
12 April 2021
As at the date of this announcement, the Board of Directors of Prudential plc comprises:
Chair
Baroness Shriti Vinodkant Vadera
Executive Directors
Michael Andrew Wells (Group Chief Executive) , Mark Thomas FitzPatrick CA and Stuart James Turner FCA FCSI FRM
Independent Non-executive Directors
Jeremy David Bruce Anderson CBE, David John Alexander Law ACA, Kaikhushru Shiavax Nargolwala FCA, Anthony John Liddell Nightingale CMG SBS JP, The Hon. Philip John Remnant CBE FCA, Alice Davey Schroeder, Thomas Ros Watjen, Jane Fields Wicker-Miurin OBE and Yok Tak Amy Yip
- For identification purposes
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Notes to Notice of Meeting
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1 Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend, speak and vote on their behalf at the Meeting. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the Meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. Where more than one proxy is appointed, members must specify the number of shares each proxy is entitled to exercise. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.
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2 Members’ attention is drawn to the Form of Proxy accompanying this Notice. A proxy may be appointed by any of the following methods:
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(i) Completing and returning the enclosed Form of Proxy;
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(ii) For members on the UK register, electronic proxy appointment by logging in to the website of Equiniti, the Company’s registrar, at www.sharevote.co.uk. Shareholders will need their Voting ID, Task ID and Shareholder Reference Number, which are printed on the accompanying Form of Proxy. Full details of the procedures are given on the website. If you have already registered with Equiniti’s online portfolio service Shareview, you may submit your proxy vote by logging in to your portfolio at www.shareview.co.uk using your user ID and password. Once logged in simply click ‘View’ on the ‘My Investments’ page, click on the link to vote then follow the on screen instructions; or
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(iii) If you are a member of CREST, by using the CREST electronic appointment service. IMPORTANT: Whichever method you choose, your instructions or Form of Proxy must be received by the registrar no later than 11.00am London time (6.00pm Hong Kong/ Singapore time) on Tuesday 11 May 2021. Any person holding an interest in shares through CDP must submit the completed Form of Proxy to CDP, and should note that CDP must receive voting instructions by 5.00pm Singapore time on Monday 3 May 2021 to allow it to collate voting instructions for onward transmission to Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited (Computershare Hong Kong), the Hong Kong branch share registrar, by the deadline above.
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3 If you are a registered shareholder and do not have a Form of Proxy and believe that you should have one, or if you require additional forms, or would like to request a hard copy of the 2020 Annual Report please contact Equiniti on 0371 384 2035 or Computershare Hong Kong on + 852 2862 8555. Please contact +44 121 415 7026 for the Equiniti overseas helpline if you are calling from outside the UK. Lines at Equiniti are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm London time Monday to Friday.
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4 To be valid a Form of Proxy, or other instrument appointing a proxy, must be received by post or by hand (during normal business hours only) at Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA no later than 11.00am London time on Tuesday 11 May 2021 or at Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited, 17M Floor, Hopewell Centre, 183 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong no later than 6.00pm Hong Kong/Singapore time on Tuesday 11 May 2021. Any person holding an interest in shares through CDP must submit the completed Form of Proxy to CDP, and should note that CDP must receive voting instructions by 5.00pm Singapore time on Monday 3 May 2021 to allow it to collate voting instructions for onward transmission to Computershare Hong Kong, the Hong Kong branch registrar, by the deadline above.
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5 The return of a completed Form of Proxy, other such instrument or any CREST Proxy Instruction (as described in paragraph 11 below) will not prevent a shareholder attending the Meeting and voting in person, via the Lumi website, if he/she wishes to do so.
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6 Any person to whom this Notice is sent who is a person nominated under Section 146 of the 2006 Act to enjoy information rights (a nominated person) may, under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder by whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the Meeting. If a nominated person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may, under any such agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.
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7 The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in paragraphs 1 to 4 above does not apply to nominated persons. The rights described in these paragraphs can only be exercised by registered shareholders of the Company.
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8 To be entitled to attend and vote at the Meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered on the Company’s main UK share register or Hong Kong branch register as at 6.30pm London time on Tuesday 11 May 2021 (1.30am Hong Kong time on Wednesday 12 May 2021) (or, in the event of any adjournment, 6.30pm London time two days prior to the adjourned meeting). Any person holding an interest in shares through CDP must be registered on CDP’s register as at 5.00pm Singapore time on Monday 3 May 2021 (or in the event of an adjournment 5.00pm Singapore time nine days prior to the adjourned meeting). The earlier CDP deadline is to allow sufficient time for a person holding an interest in shares through CDP to obtain authorisation to act as a proxy or representative of HKSCC Nominees Limited, in whose name the shares are registered, at the Meeting. Changes to the Company’s share registers after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the Meeting.
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9 As at 1 April 2021 (being the latest practicable day prior to the publication of this Notice) the Company’s issued share capital consists of 2,615,607,578 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 1 April 2021 were 2,615,607,578. The Company does not hold any shares in treasury.
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10 CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a 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.
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11 In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a CREST Proxy Instruction) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com). The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is 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 issuer’s agent (ID RA19) by 11.00am London time on Tuesday 11 May 2021. 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 Application Host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.
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12 CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
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13 The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5) (a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.
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14 In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the Company’s register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first-named being the most senior).
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15 Any corporation which is a member may appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.
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16 Under Section 527 of the 2006 Act members meeting the threshold requirements set out in that section have the right to require the Company to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: (i) the audit of the Company’s accounts (including the auditor’s report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the Meeting; or (ii) any circumstance connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with Section 437 of the 2006 Act. The Company may not require the shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with Sections 527 or 528 of the 2006 Act. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under Section 527 of the 2006 Act, it must forward the statement to the Company’s auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the Meeting includes any statement that the Company has been required under Section 527 of the 2006 Act to publish on a website.
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17 Any member or their proxy attending the Meeting has the right to ask questions. The Company must provide an answer to any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the Meeting save that no such answer need be given if (i) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the Meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (ii) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (iii) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the Meeting that the question be answered.
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18 A copy of this Notice and other information required by Section 311A of the 2006 Act, may be found at www.prudentialplc.com/ investors/shareholder-information/agm/2021.
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19 The Company will continue its practice of calling a poll on all resolutions at the Meeting. The provisional voting results, which will include all votes cast for and against each resolution at the Meeting, and all proxies lodged prior to the Meeting, which will include votes cast for and against each resolution, will be announced at the Meeting and published on the Company’s website as soon as practicable after the Meeting. The Company will also disclose the number of votes withheld at the Meeting and on its website. This practice provides shareholders present with sufficient information regarding the level of support and opposition to each resolution and ensures all votes cast either at the Meeting or through proxies are included in the result.
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20 For meetings held on or after 3 September 2020 where the company is a traded company, members have the right to request information to enable them to determine that their vote was validly recorded and counted. If you wish to receive this information please contact our Registrars, Equiniti, on 0371 384 2035 if calling from the UK or +44 121 415 7026 if calling from overseas. Lines are open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays in England and Wales. Alternatively you can write to Equiniti, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA.
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21 You may not use any electronic address provided either in this Notice of Meeting or any related documents (including the Chair’s letter and Form of Proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
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22 The Company may process personal data of attendees at the Meeting. This may include webcasts, photos, recording and audio and video links, as well as other forms of personal data. The Company shall process such personal data in accordance with its privacy policy, which can found at www.prudentialplc.com/~/media/Files/P/Prudential-V3/content-pdf/ prudential-plc-privacy-policy-oct2019.pdf
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Documents available for inspection
Copies of documents listed below are available for inspection during normal business hours at 1 Angel Court, London, EC2R 7AG, the registered office of the Company, Monday to Friday (public holidays excepted) and will be available at the place of the Meeting from 10.45am on Thursday 13 May 2021 until the conclusion of the Meeting.
The documents available for inspection are:
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the service contracts between the Prudential Group and the Executive Directors; and
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the letters of appointment and terms and conditions of appointment between the Company and the Non-executive Directors (including the Chair).
If you would like to make arrangements to inspect any of the above documents please contact [email protected]
The above documents will also be displayed at the offices of Slaughter and May, 47th Floor. Jardine House. One Connaught Place. Central, Hong Kong.
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