AGM Information • Apr 16, 2018
AGM Information
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Notice of Annual General Meeting and Explanatory Circular to Shareholders
Friday 18 May 2018 at 3 p.m. BST
At
DLA Piper UK LLP 3 Noble Street London EC2V 7EE United Kingdom
If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, please take advice immediately from an independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in PureTech Health plc, please send this document, together with the accompanying documents, at once to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee.
This document should be read as a whole. The Notice of the Annual General Meeting is set out on pages 2 to 4 of this document. Shareholders will also find enclosed with this document a form of proxy to use in connection with the Annual General Meeting.
To be valid for use at the Annual General Meeting, the accompanying form of proxy must be completed, signed and returned in accordance with the instructions printed on it, to PureTech Health plc's Registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC, at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY so as to be received as soon as possible but in any event not later than 3 p.m. (BST) on 16 May 2018.
Completion and return of a form of proxy will not preclude shareholders from attending and voting at the Annual General Meeting should they choose to do so.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") of the Company will be held at the offices of DLA Piper UK LLP, 3 Noble Street, London, EC2V 7EE, United Kingdom on Friday 18 May 2017 at 3 p.m. (BST) to consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which resolutions numbered 1 to 14 (inclusive) will be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and the resolutions numbered 15 to 18 (inclusive) will be proposed as Special Resolutions:
b. comprising equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Companies Act 2006) up to a further aggregate nominal amount of £941,432.32 in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:
i. to holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and
and so that the Board of Directors 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 the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange,
such authority to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 18 August 2019) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements which would, or might, require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares to be granted after the authority ends and the Board of Directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not ended.
These authorities are in substitution for all existing authorities under section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect).
and so that the Board of Directors 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 the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and
b. otherwise than pursuant to paragraph a. above, to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares (otherwise than under paragraph a. above) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £141,214.84,
such power to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 18 August 2019) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board of Directors may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
This power is in substitution of all existing powers under section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 (which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect).
such power to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 18 August 2019) but, in each case, during this period the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board of Directors may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the power had not ended.
Official List of the London Stock Exchange plc for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which that Ordinary Share is contracted to be purchased; and
ii. an amount equal to 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 at the relevant time,
such authority to apply until the end of next year's AGM (or, if earlier, until the close of business on 18 August 2019) but during this period the Company may enter into a contract to purchase Ordinary Shares, which would, or might, be completed or executed wholly or partly after the authority ends and the Company may purchase Ordinary Shares pursuant to any such contract as if the authority had not ended.
The Directors consider that all resolutions to be considered at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and are more likely to promote the success of the Company for their benefit. The Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of the proposed resolutions as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings.
The business of the AGM will be conducted on a poll.
Stephen Muniz Director and Company Secretary 16 April 2018
5th Floor, 6 St Andrew Street London EC4A 3AE
The explanatory note gives further information in relation to the resolutions listed in the enclosed notice of the 2018 Annual General Meeting.
Resolutions 1 to 14 (inclusive) are proposed as ordinary resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 15 to 18 (inclusive) are proposed as special resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.
The Directors must lay the Company's accounts, the Directors' Report, the Strategic Report and the Auditor's Report before the shareholders at the AGM for approval as this is a legal requirement.
The Directors' Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 December 2017 can be found at pages 67 to 79 of the Annual Report. The Company's auditors, KPMG LLP, have audited those parts of the Directors' Remuneration Report that are required to be audited and their report may be found on pages 80 to 87 of the Annual Report. Under section 439 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company must give shareholders notice of an ordinary resolution approving the Directors' Remuneration Report. This vote is an advisory one and does not affect the actual historical remuneration paid to any individual Director.
Resolutions 3 to 11 deal with the election of Directors. In accordance with the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code, all Directors are offering themselves for election. The biographies of each of the Directors are on pages 46 to 48 of the Annual Report. The Board believes that each Director standing for election brings considerable and wide-ranging skills and experience to the Board as a whole. The Chairman considers that each Director continues to make an effective and valuable contribution to the deliberations of the Board and demonstrates commitment to the role.
Under the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, at the date of this circular, Invesco Asset Management Limited (acting as agent for and on behalf of its discretionary managed clients) ("Invesco") is considered to be a "controlling shareholder" of the Company. Therefore, the election of non-executive Directors considered to be independent in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code (being Dr Kucherlapati, Dr LaMattina, Dame Scardino and Mr Viehbacher pursuant to resolutions 4 to 7 (inclusive)) must be approved by both a majority of the shareholders of the Company, and also the independent shareholders of the Company. Therefore, the votes cast will be calculated separately.
Upon their appointment to the Board in June 2015, the Board evaluated the independence of the four above mentioned Directors, in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code. At the time of writing, the Board considers that there have been no changes in circumstances or otherwise which might affect, or could appear to affect, the independent judgment or character of these Directors. In reaching this determination, the Board had regard to (i) their directorships and links with other Directors through their involvement in the Company's subsidiaries; and (ii) their equity interests in the Company and its subsidiaries. Further details of these directorships and interests are set out on pages 46 to 63 of the Annual Report. The Board is satisfied that the judgment, experience and challenging approach adopted by each of Dr LaMattina, Dr Kucherlapati, Dame Scardino and Mr Viehbacher should ensure that they each make a significant contribution to the work of the Board and its committees. Therefore, the Board has determined that Dr LaMattina, Dr Kucherlapati, Dame Scardino and Mr Viehbacher are of independent character and judgment, notwithstanding the circumstances described at (i) and (ii) above.
Save as disclosed above, none of the independent nonexecutive Directors seeking election has any existing or previous relationship, transaction or arrangement with the Company, its Directors, any controlling shareholder of the Company or any associate of a controlling shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Listing Rule 13.8.17R (1).
All the independent non-executive Directors were appointed to the Board prior to the Company's listing and before the formation of the Nomination Committee. The Nomination Committee will lead the process for appointing new Directors in the future, by evaluating the particular skills, knowledge, independence, experience and diversity, including gender, that would benefit and balance the Board most appropriately for each appointment. Having established appropriate selection criteria, the Nomination Committee is responsible for identifying and recommending suitable candidates to the Board for its approval, and may consult with external consultants, advisers and Board members on prospective appointments.
Resolutions 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11 deal with the election of non-independent Directors (being Mr Ito, Dr Langer and Dr Shapiro, and the executive Directors, Ms Zohar and Mr Muniz).
Under section 489 of the Companies Act 2006, auditors of a public company have to be appointed before the end of each AGM at which the Company's annual accounts are presented. The Board recommends the reappointment of KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company, to hold office from the conclusion of the AGM until the conclusion of the next AGM at which accounts are presented. Resolution 13 authorises the Directors to determine KPMG LLP's remuneration.
Paragraph a. of this resolution would give the Directors the authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to £941,432.32 (representing 94,143,232 Ordinary Shares). This amount represents approximately one-third of the issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) of the Company as at 10 April 2018, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.
In line with guidelines issued by the Investment Association, paragraph b. of this resolution would give the Directors the authority to allot ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any securities into shares up to a further aggregate nominal amount equal to onethird of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) as at 10 April 2018, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice, representing 94,143,232 Ordinary Shares, which will be applied (if at all) to fully pre-emptive rights issues only.
The authority sought under this resolution will expire at the earlier of 18 August 2019 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2019.
The Directors have no present intention to exercise the authority sought under this resolution. However, if they do exercise the authority, the Directors intend to follow Investment Association guidelines concerning its use (including as regards the Directors standing for re-election in certain cases). As at the date of this Notice, no shares are held by the Company in treasury.
Generally, if the Directors wish to allot new shares or other equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash, then under the Companies Act 2006 they must first offer such shares or securities to shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. These statutory preemption rights may be disapplied by shareholders.
Paragraph (a) of Resolution 15, which will be proposed as a special resolution, seeks to authorise the Directors to issue equity securities of the Company for cash free from statutory pre-emption rights in connection with a rights issue as defined in Resolution 14.
Paragraph (b) of Resolution 15 seeks authority to issue equity securities free from statutory pre-emption rights up to an aggregate nominal value of £141,214.84, which represents approximately 5 per cent of the Company's existing ordinary share capital as at 10 April 2018, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Notice.
Resolution 16 seeks authority to issue equity securities free from statutory pre-emption rights up to an aggregate nominal value of an additional £141,214.84, which represents approximately 5 per cent of the Company's existing ordinary share capital as at 10 April 2018, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Notice, to be 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 Directors determine 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.
Resolutions 15 and 16 will enable the Directors to allot equity securities for cash or sell treasury shares for cash up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £282,429.68 without having to comply with statutory pre-emption rights.
The Directors intend to adhere to the provisions in the Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles, as updated on 12 March 2015, and not to allot shares for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis pursuant to the authorities in Resolution 15 and Resolution 16:
in each case other than in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment which is announced contemporaneously with the allotment or which has taken place in the preceding six-month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the allotment.
The power will expire at the earlier of 18 August 2019 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2019. The Directors have no present intention to exercise the authority sought under this resolution.
This resolution would give the Company the authority to purchase up to 10 per cent of its issued Ordinary Shares (excluding any treasury shares).
The Directors have no present intention of exercising the authority to make market purchases, however the authority provides the flexibility to allow them to do so in the future. The Directors will exercise this authority only when to do so would be in the best interests of the Company, and of its shareholders generally, and could be expected to result in an increase in the earnings per share of the Company. Any purchases of Ordinary Shares would be by means of market purchases through the London Stock Exchange.
Ordinary Shares purchased by the Company pursuant to this authority may be held in treasury or may be cancelled. The Directors will consider holding any Ordinary Shares the Company may purchase as treasury shares. The Company currently has no Ordinary Shares in treasury. The minimum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is its nominal value. The maximum price, exclusive of expenses, which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is the highest of: (i) an amount equal to five per cent above the average market value for an Ordinary Share for the five business days immediately preceding the date of the purchase; and (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the trading venues where the purchase is carried out at the relevant time.
As at 10 April 2018, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice, the Company had options outstanding over 2,955,924 Ordinary Shares. These options represent 1.05 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital and would represent 1.16 per cent of the Company's issued ordinary share capital if the full buy-back authority being sought is used and all Ordinary Shares bought back are cancelled and not held in treasury and re-issued. There are no warrants outstanding over any Ordinary Shares.
The Company is subject to the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"). Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code ("Rule 9") when:
in aggregate carry not less than 30 per cent of the voting rights of a company, but does not hold shares carrying more than 50 per cent of such voting rights and such person, or any person acting in concert with them, acquires an interest in any other shares which increases the percentage of the shares carrying voting rights in which they are interested,
then, in either case, that person is normally required to make a general offer in cash at not less than the highest price paid by them for any interest in shares of that company during the last 12 months, for all the remaining equity share capital of that company (whether voting or non-voting), and also to the holders of any class of transferable securities carrying voting rights issued by that company to acquire their shares or other securities (a "Rule 9 offer").
Under Rule 37.1 of the Takeover Code ("Rule 37.1"), when a company purchases its own voting shares, any resulting increase in the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which a person or group of persons acting in concert is interested will be treated as an acquisition for the purpose of Rule 9. However, a shareholder who exceeds the percentage limits set out in Rule 9 as a result of a company purchasing its own voting shares and who is neither a director nor acting (or presumed to be acting) in concert with a director will not normally incur an obligation to make a Rule 9 offer, provided that person has not acquired or increased their interest in the company's shares at a time when they had reason to believe that such a purchase of its own shares by the company would take place. However, the Takeover Panel should be consulted in all such cases.
Invesco currently controls voting rights over 90,161,997 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 31.9 per cent of the Company's issued share capital. Invesco does not have a nominee director on the Board of Directors.
If the Company were to repurchase from persons other than Invesco all the Ordinary Shares for which it is seeking authority to make on-market purchases, Invesco's interest in shares would (assuming that the Company does not make any other allotments of Ordinary Shares and Invesco does not acquire any more Ordinary Shares) increase to approximately 35.5 per cent of the issued share capital of the Company by virtue of such a repurchase.
An increase in the percentage of the shares carrying voting rights in which Invesco is interested beyond the relevant percentage limits in Rule 9 as a result of any exercise by the Company of its authority to make market purchases would ordinarily have the effect of triggering the requirement for a Rule 9 offer, and therefore result
in Invesco being under an obligation to make a general offer in cash to all shareholders to acquire their shares in the Company.
In accordance with Note 4 of Rule 37.1, the Company will consult the Takeover Panel in advance of any implementation of a purchase of its own shares pursuant to the authority granted by this resolution. The Company will not proceed with purchases of its own shares pursuant to the authority granted by this resolution in circumstances which would require Invesco to make a Rule 9 offer. This authority will expire at the earlier of 18 August 2019 and the conclusion of the AGM of the Company held in 2019.
Under the Companies Act 2006 the notice period required for all general meetings of the Company is 21 clear days, though shareholders can approve a shorter notice period for general meetings that are not AGMs, which cannot however be less than 14 clear days. AGMs will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice. The shorter notice period would not be used as a matter of routine for such meetings, but only where the flexibility is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be to the advantage of shareholders as a whole. If granted, this authority will be effective until the Company's next AGM.
4) In the case of joint holders of a share the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders, and for this purpose seniority shall be determined by the order in which the names appear in the register of members in respect of the share.
5) The right to appoint a proxy does not apply to persons whose shares are held on their behalf by another person and who have been nominated to receive communications from the Company in accordance with Section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 ("Nominated Persons"). Nominated Persons may have a right under an agreement with the member who holds the shares on their behalf to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy. Alternatively, if Nominated Persons do not have such a right or do not wish to exercise it, they may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions to the person holding the shares as to the exercise of voting rights.
6) Holders of ordinary shares are entitled to attend and vote at general meetings of the Company. The total number of issued ordinary shares in the Company on 10 April 2018, which is the latest practicable date before the publication of this document is 282,429,696 carrying one vote each on a poll. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company is at 10 April 2018 were 282,429,696.
7) Entitlement to attend and vote at the meeting, and the number of votes which may be cast at the meeting, will be determined by reference to the Company's register of members at 3 p.m. on 16 May 2018 or, if the meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a working day) before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting (as the case may be). In each case, changes to the register of members after such time will be disregarded.
10) CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the meeting (and any adjournment of the meeting) by following the procedures described in the CREST Manual available on the website of Euroclear UK and Ireland Limited ("Euroclear") at www.euroclear.com. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members (and those CREST members who have appointed a voting service provider) should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider, who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.
In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a "CREST Proxy Instruction") must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's 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 Computershare Investor Services PLC Participant ID 3RA50 by the latest time(s) for receipt of proxy appointments specified in Note 3 above. 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 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 a proxy appointed through CREST should be communicated to him by other means.
CREST members (and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers) should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. 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 takes) 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 service providers) are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
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.
11) Any corporation which is a member can 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.
12) Shareholders should note that, under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, 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 AGM for the financial year ended 31 December 2017; or (ii) any circumstance connected with an auditor of the Company appointed for the financial year ended 31 December 2017 ceasing to hold office since the previous meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid. The Company may not require the shareholders requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 527 or 528 (requirements as to website availability) of the Companies Act 2006. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006, 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 AGM for the relevant financial year includes any statement that the Company has been required under section 527 of the Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.
13) Any member attending the AGM has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.
14) A copy of this notice and other information required by section 311A of the Companies Act 2006 can be found at www.puretechhealth.com
15) Each of the resolutions to be put to the meeting will be voted on by way of a poll and not a show of hands. A poll reflects the number of voting rights exercisable by each member and so the Board considers it a more democratic method of voting. Members and proxies will be asked to complete a poll card to indicate how they wish to cast their votes. These cards will be collected at the end of the meeting. The results of the poll will be published on the Company's website and notified to the UK Listing Authority once the votes have been counted and verified.
16) Members may not use any electronic address provided in either this notice of meeting or any related documents (including the enclosed form of proxy) to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.
PureTech Health 501 Boylston Street Suite 6102 Boston MA 02116
T: +1 617 482 2333 E: [email protected]
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