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READCLOUD LIMITED — AGM Information 2025
Jan 9, 2025
65670_rns_2025-01-09_02e80983-9afa-49f7-bbfd-9148a928b33e.pdf
AGM Information
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READCLOUD LIMITED ACN 136 815 891
Notice of Annual General Meeting Explanatory Statement and Proxy Form
Date of Meeting: 12 February 2025
Time of Meeting: 11.00am (AEDT)
Place of Meeting: Online
In accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) which provides for permanent relief for companies to use electronic communications to send meeting materials, no hard copy of the Notice of Meeting and Explanatory Statement ( AGM Materials ) will be circulated unless Shareholders have elected to receive the AGM Materials in paper form. The Notice of Meeting is also available on the Australian Securities Exchange Announcement platform and on the Company’s website https://readcloud.com/.
This Notice of Annual General Meeting and Explanatory Statement should be read in their entirety. If Shareholders are in doubt as to how they should vote, they should seek advice from their accountant, solicitor or other professional advisor without delay
READCLOUD LIMITED
ACN 136 815 891
Registered office: Level 1, 126 Church Street, Brighton VIC 3186
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting ( AGM or Meeting ) of Shareholders of ReadCloud Limited ( Company ) will be held virtually by a video-conferencing facility on Wednesday, 12 February 2025 at 11.00am (AEDT).
Proxies
Shareholders are encouraged to submit their proxies as early as possible, and in any event, prior to the cut-off date for proxy voting as set out in the Notice. To lodge your proxy, please follow the directions below or on your personalised Proxy Form:
Online: https://www.votingonline.com.au/rclagm2025 By Fax : +61 2 9290 9655
By Mail: Boardroom Pty Limited Level 8, 210 George Street Sydney NSW 2000
Questions
Shareholders attending the AGM virtually will be able to ask questions at the Meeting and the Company has made provision for Shareholders who register their attendance before the start of the Meeting to also cast their votes on the proposed Resolutions at the AGM.
Virtual AGM
The Meeting can be attended using the following details:
When : Wednesday, 12 February 2025 at 11.00am (AEDT) Topic: RCL Annual General Meeting
Register in advance for the virtual Meeting:
https://vistra.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fVJMzYYeTFWTRvsFsCo8qQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Meeting. The Company strongly recommends its Shareholders to lodge a directed proxy as soon as possible in advance of the meeting even if they are planning to attend the Meeting online.
If it becomes necessary or appropriate to make alternative arrangements for the holding or conducting of the Meeting, the Company will make further information available through the ASX website at asx.com.au (ASX:RCL) and on its website. Shareholders should monitor the Company’s website and its ASX announcements for any updates.
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AGENDA
The Explanatory Statement and proxy form which accompany and form part of this Notice include defined terms and describe in more detail the matters to be considered. Please consider this Notice, the Explanatory Statement and the proxy form in their entirety.
Defined terms used in this Notice have the meanings given to them in the Glossary at the end of this Notice.
ORDINARY BUSINESS
Receipt and consideration of Accounts & Reports
To receive and consider the financial report of the Company and the related reports of the Directors (including the Remuneration Report) and auditors, for the financial year ended 30 September 2024.
Note: Except for Resolution 1, there is no requirement for Shareholders to approve the Financial Report, Directors’ Report and the Auditors’ Report. Accordingly, no resolution will be put to Shareholders on this item of business.
Resolution 1: Adoption of Remuneration Report
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following Resolution as a non-binding ordinary Resolution :
“That for the purpose of Section 250R(2) of the Corporations Act and for all other purposes, the Remuneration Report (included in the Directors' Report) for the financial year ended 30 September 2024 be adopted.”
A voting exclusion statement as set out below in this Notice applies to Resolution 1.
Resolution 2: Re-Election of Jonathan Isaacs as a Director of the Company
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Resolution as an ordinary Resolution:
“That Mr Jonathan Isaacs, who retires in accordance with the Listing Rules and the Company’s Constitution and, being eligible, offers himself for re-election, be re-elected as a Director of the Company as described in the Explanatory Statement.”
There are no voting exclusions on Resolution 2.
Resolution 3: Re-Election of Lars Lindstrom as a Director of the Company
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Resolution as an ordinary Resolution:
“That Mr Lars Lindstrom, who retires in accordance with the Listing Rules and the Company’s Constitution and, being eligible, offers himself for re-election, be re-elected as a Director of the Company as described in the Explanatory Statement.”
There are no voting exclusions on Resolution 3.
Resolution 4: Renewal of Employee Incentive Plan
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Resolution as an ordinary Resolution:
“That, for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.2, Exception 13(b) and sections 259B(2) and 260C(4) of the Corporations Act, Shareholders approve the issue of securities under the Company’s Employee Incentive Plan (EIP) (copies of the Plan Rules are available for inspection at the Company’s registered office) at the discretion of the Board in accordance with the rules of the EIP, and on the terms and conditions as described in the Explanatory Statement which accompanies and forms part of this Notice.”
A voting exclusion statement as set out below in this Notice applies to Resolution 4.
SPECIAL BUSINESS
Resolution 5: Approval of 10% Placement Facility
T o consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Resolution as a special Resolution :
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“That, pursuant to and in accordance with Listing Rule 7.1A and for all other purposes, Shareholders approve the issue of Equity Securities up to 10% of the fully paid ordinary issued capital of the Company (at the time of the issue) calculated in accordance with the formula prescribed in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 on the terms and conditions in the Explanatory Statement.”
A voting exclusion statement as set out below in this Notice applies to Resolution 5.
By order of the Board
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Luke Murphy Company Secretary Dated: 10 January 2025
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Notes
1. Entire Notice
The details of the resolutions contained in the Explanatory Statement accompanying this Notice of Meeting should be read together with, and form part of, this Notice of Meeting.
2. Record Date
The Company has determined that for the purposes of the Annual General Meeting, shares will be taken to be held by the persons who are registered as holding the shares at 7:00pm on the date 48 hours before the date of the Annual General Meeting, this is no later than 7.00pm (AEDT) on Monday, 10 February 2025. Only those persons will be entitled to vote at the Meeting and transfers registered after that time will be disregarded in determining entitlements to attend and vote at the Meeting. On a poll, Shareholders have one vote for every fully paid ordinary share held.
3. Voting
Each of the Resolutions proposed at the Meeting will be decided on a poll.
4. Proxies
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(a) Votes at the Meeting may be given personally or by proxy, attorney or representative.
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(b) Each Shareholder has a right to appoint one or two proxies.
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(c) A proxy need not be a Shareholder of the Company.
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(d) Where a Shareholder is entitled to cast two or more votes, the Shareholder may appoint two proxies and may specify the proportion or number of votes each proxy is appointed to exercise.
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(e) If a Shareholder appoints two proxies, and the appointment does not specify the proportion or number of the Shareholder’s votes, each proxy may exercise half of the votes. If a Shareholder appoints two proxies, neither proxy may vote on a show of hands.
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(f) A Proxy Form must be signed by the Shareholder or their attorney who has not received any notice of revocation of the authority. Proxies given a corporation must be executed under its common seal or otherwise in accordance with corporation’s constitution and Corporations Act.
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(g) If you sign the Proxy Form and do not appoint a proxy, you will have appointed the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy.
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(h) To be effective, Proxy Forms must be received by the Company’s share registry (Boardroom Pty Limited) no later than 48 hours before the commencement of the Annual General Meeting, this is no later than 11.00am (AEDT) Monday, 10 February 2025 . Any proxy received after that time will not be valid for the scheduled Meeting.
5. Corporate Representative
Any corporate Shareholder who has appointed a person to act as its corporate representative at the Meeting should provide that person with a certificate or letter executed in accordance with the Corporations Act authorising him or her to act as that company’s representative. The authority may be sent to the Company and/or registry in advance of the Meeting or handed in at the Meeting when registering as a corporate representative.
6. How the Chair will vote Undirected Proxies
Subject to the restrictions set out in Note 7 below, the Chair of the Meeting will vote undirected proxies in favour of all of the proposed resolutions. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair may change his voting intention on the Resolution, in which case an ASX announcement will be made. Shareholders may also choose to direct the Chair to vote against the Resolution or to abstain from voting.
7. Voting Exclusion Statement:
Resolution 1
In accordance with sections 250R(4) and 250BD(1) of the Corporations Act, a vote must not be cast (in any capacity, including as a proxy), and the Company will disregard any votes purported to be cast, on this resolution by, or on behalf of, a member of the Key Management Personnel, details of whose remuneration are included in the remuneration report, or a Closely Related Party of such a member ( KMP voter ), unless the KMP voter is casting a vote on this resolution on behalf of a person who is not a KMP voter (including as a proxy) and either:
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(a) the KMP voter is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the way the proxy is to vote on the resolution; or
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(b) the KMP voter is the Chair of the Meeting and the appointment of the Chair as proxy:
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(i) does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on the resolution; and
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(ii) expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even if the resolution is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the key management personnel for the Company or the consolidated entity.
If you appoint the Chair as your proxy and you do not direct the Chair how to vote, you will be expressly authorising the Chair to exercise the proxy even if the relevant resolution is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel for the Company
If the Chair of the Meeting is appointed as a proxy for a person who is permitted to vote on this Resolution, the Chair will vote any proxies which do not indicate on their Proxy Form the way the Chair must vote, in favour of this Resolution. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair may change his or her voting intention on the Resolution, in which case an ASX announcement will be made. Shareholders may also choose to direct the Chair to vote against the Resolution or to abstain from voting.
If you purport to cast a vote other than as permitted above, that vote will be disregarded by the Company (as indicated above) and you may be liable for breaching the voting restrictions that apply to you under the Corporations Act.
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Resolution 2 and 3
There are no voting exclusions on these Resolutions.
Resolution 4
The Company will disregard any votes cast in favour of this Resolution by or on behalf of any person who is eligible to participate in the Employee Incentive Plan or any associate of that person.
However, this does not apply to a vote cast in favour of a resolution by:
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(a) a person as a proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote on the resolution, in accordance with directions given to the proxy or attorney to vote on the resolution in that way; or
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(b) the Chair of the Meeting as proxy or attorney for a person who is entitled to vote on the resolution, in accordance with a direction given to the Chair to vote on the resolution as the Chair decides; or
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(c) a holder acting solely in a nominee, trustee, custodial or other fiduciary capacity on behalf of a beneficiary provided the following conditions are met:
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(i) the beneficiary provides written confirmation to the holder that the beneficiary is not excluded from voting, and is not an associate of a person excluded from voting, on the resolution; and
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(ii) the holder votes on the resolution in accordance with directions given by the beneficiary to the holder to vote in that way.
Furthermore, in accordance with section 250BD(1) of the Corporations Act, a vote must not be cast as proxy on this Resolution by a member of the Key Management Personnel (as defined in the Corporations Act) or a Closely Related Party of Key Management Personnel.
However, a person described above (a “Restricted Voter”) may cast a vote on this Resolution as a proxy on behalf of a person who is not a Restricted Voter if:
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(a) The Restricted Voter is appointed as a proxy by writing that specifies the way the proxy is to vote on the Resolutions; or
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(b) The Restricted Voter is the Chair and the written appointment of the Chair as proxy does not specify the way the proxy is to vote on the Resolution(s) and expressly authorises the Chair to exercise the proxy even though the Resolution(s) is or are connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel.
If you appoint the Chair as your proxy and you do not direct the Chair how to vote, you will be expressly authorising the Chair to exercise the proxy even if the relevant resolution is connected directly or indirectly with the remuneration of a member of the Key Management Personnel for the Company.
If the Chair of the Meeting is appointed as a proxy for a person who is permitted to vote this Resolution, the Chair will vote any proxies which do not indicate on their Proxy Form the way the Chair must vote, in favour of this Resolution. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair may change their voting intention on the Resolution, in which case an ASX announcement will be made. Shareholders may also choose to direct the Chair to vote against the Resolution or to abstain from voting.
If you purport to cast a vote other than as permitted above, that vote will be disregarded by the Company (as indicated above) and you may be liable for breaching the voting restrictions that apply to you under the Corporations Act.
Resolution 5
In accordance with Listing Rule 14.11.1, the Company is required to disregard any votes cast in favour of this Resolution by a person or an associate of a person who is expected to participate in the proposed issue of Shares or who will obtain a material benefit, except a benefit solely in the capacity of a holder of Shares, if the Resolution is passed. However, the Company need not disregard a vote cast in favour if:
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(a) it is cast by a person as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with the directions on the Proxy Form; or
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(b) if it is cast by the Chair of the Meeting as proxy for a person who is entitled to vote, in accordance with a direction on the Proxy Form to vote as the proxy decides; or
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(c) it is cast by a person acting solely in a nominee, trustee, custodial or other fiduciary capacity on behalf of a beneficiary provided the following conditions are met:
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(i) the beneficiary provides written confirmation to the holder that the beneficiary is not excluded from voting and is not an associate of a person excluded from voting on the Resolution; and
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(ii) the holder votes on the Resolution in accordance with the directions given by beneficiary to the holder to vote in that way.
At this stage, the proposed allottees of the Shares are not known and identified.
8. Special Resolutions
Resolution 5 is proposed as a special resolution. For a special resolution to be passed, at least 75% of the votes validly cast on the Resolution by Shareholders (by number of shares) must be in favour of the Resolution.
9. Enquiries
Shareholders are invited to contact the Company Secretary on (03) 9078 4833 if they have any queries in respect of the matters set out in these documents.
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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Introduction
This Explanatory Statement (“ Statement ”) is included in and forms part of the Notice of Meeting. The purpose of this Statement is to provide Shareholders with information they require in order to make an informed decision on each Resolution.
If you are in doubt as to how to vote, you should seek advice from your accountant, solicitor, tax advisor or other professional adviser prior to voting. It is important that you read this Statement in its entirety for a detailed explanation of the Resolution.
Defined terms used in this Notice have the meanings given to them in the Glossary at the end of this Notice.
Receipt and consideration of Accounts & Reports
A copy of the Annual Report for the financial year ending 30 September 2024 which incorporates the Company's Financial report and the Directors’ Report (including the Remuneration Report and the Auditors’ Report) is not enclosed as there is no longer a requirement for the Company to incur the printing and distribution cost associated with doing so for all Shareholders. You may obtain a copy free of charge in hard copy form by contacting the Company by phone at (03) 9078 4833, and you may request that this occurs on a standing basis for future years.
Alternatively, you may access the Annual Report at the Company's website: https://readcloud.com/ or via the Company’s announcement platform on ASX (ASX: RCL). Except for as set out in Resolution 1, no resolution is required on these reports.
Shareholders will have the opportunity to ask questions about or make comments on the Annual Report and the management of the Company. The auditor will be invited to attend, to answer questions about the audit of the Company’s 2024 Annual Financial Statements.
Resolution 1: Adoption of Remuneration Report
Background
Section 250R(2) of the Corporations Act requires that a resolution to adopt the Remuneration Report must be put to the vote at the Meeting. The vote on this Resolution is advisory only and does not bind the Directors or the Company.
The Remuneration Report is set out in the Directors’ Report in the Company’s 30 September 2024 Annual Report. The Remuneration Report sets out the Company’s remuneration arrangements for the Directors and senior management of the Company.
In accordance with Section 250SA of the Corporations Act, Shareholders will be provided with a reasonable opportunity to ask questions concerning, or make comments on, the Remuneration Report at the Meeting.
In accordance with Division 9 of Part 2G.2 of the Corporations Act, if twenty five (25%) per cent or more of votes that are cast are voted against the adoption of the Remuneration Report at two consecutive Annual General Meetings, Shareholders will be required to vote at the second of those Annual General Meetings on a resolution (a “ Spill Resolution ”) that another meeting be held within 90 days at which all of the Company’s Directors (other than the Managing Director) must go up for re-election.
It is noted that at the Company’s last Annual General Meeting, the votes cast against the Remuneration Report represented less than twenty-five (25%) per cent of the total votes cast on that resolution and accordingly, a Spill Resolution will not need to be considered for this Meeting.
The Directors will consider the outcome of the vote and comments made by Shareholders on the Remuneration Report at the Meeting when reviewing the Company’s remuneration policies.
Board Recommendation and Voting Intention
Noting that each Director has a personal interest in their own remuneration from the Company (as such interests are described in the Remuneration Report) that the Board recommends that Shareholders vote in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
The Chair of the Meeting intends to vote all available proxies in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
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Voting Exclusions
Refer to Note 7.
Resolution 2: Re-Election of Mr Jonathan Isaacs as a Director of the Company
Background
Clause 15.4 of the Constitution and Listing Rule 14.4 state that a Director of the Company must not hold office (without re-election) past the third Annual General Meeting following the Director’s appointment. In accordance with the Constitution and Listing Rule 14.4, Mr Jonathan Isaacs retires and being eligible, offers himself for re-election.
Mr Isaacs was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company on 13 February 2023.
Mr Isaacs has over 20 years’ executive management experience as a Manager and Board member in the corporate sector. Throughout his executive career Mr Isaacs has held Directorships at The Mirabel Foundation, The Advertising Council of Australia, The One Box Foundation and as the Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operating Officer of Clemenger Group, Australia’s largest marketing communication company. Currently Mr Isaacs is a consultant for Clemenger Group and the Chair of Tenant CS along with providing advisory services to Taboo Advertising Group and the trip and event planning app Lyfshort. He has led or been a crucial member of a diverse range of senior teams and has extensive experience in delivering positive business results through effective strategy planning and execution, cultural change and leadership initiatives, particularly in the communications industry.
Voting Intention
The Chair of the Meeting intends to vote all available proxies in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
Voting Exclusions
There are no voting exclusions on this Resolution.
Resolution 3: Re-Election of Mr Lars Lindstrom as a Director of the Company
Background
Clause 15.4 of the Constitution and Listing Rule 14.4 state that a Director of the Company must not hold office (without re-election) past the third Annual General Meeting following the Director’s appointment. In accordance with the Constitution and Listing Rule 14.4, Mr Lars Lindstrom retires and being eligible, offers himself for re-election.
Mr Lars Lindstrom was appointed as Managing Director in 2014. Mr Lindstrom’s tenure as Managing Director ended on 16 December 2022, at which time he was appointed as an Executive Director of the Company.
Mr Lindstrom co-founded ReadCloud Limited in 2009 and has extensive tech start-up experience. Mr Lindstrom was previously a Partner in LundXY Global Ventures (the first investor in Skype) and the CFO/Cofounder of Nyhedsavisen which within one year became the most read newspaper in Denmark publishing over 500,000 copies daily. Mr Lindstrom spent the first 10 years of his career in investment banking/M&A working for Deutsche Bank and Rothschild in Melbourne.
Voting Intention
The Chair of the Meeting intends to vote all available proxies in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
Voting Exclusions
There are no voting exclusions on this Resolution.
Resolution 4: Renewal of Employee Incentive Plan
Background
In February 2024 the Company refreshed its Employee Incentive Plan ( EIP ) to assist in attracting, motivating and retaining key employees and to provide them with the opportunity to participate in the future growth of the Company.
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The Board is committed to incentivising and retaining the Company’s Directors, employees and other persons selected by the Board, in a manner which promotes alignment of their interests with Shareholder interests. Additionally, the Board considers equity-based compensation an integral component of the Company’s remuneration platform as it allows it to be fiscally prudent by conserving cash resources while still enabling it to offer market-competitive remuneration arrangements.
Listing Rules
Listing Rule 7.1 provides that, subject to certain exceptions, an ASX-listed company must not issue equity securities (which includes rights, options and shares) that total more than 15% of the company's issued share capital in any consecutive 12-month period without obtaining prior Shareholder approval (“15% limit”).
Listing Rule 7.2, Exception 13(b) is an exception to ASX Listing Rule 7.1 and provides that an issue of securities under an employee incentive scheme (such as the EIP) is exempt from the operation of ASX Listing Rule 7.1 for a period of three years from the date Shareholder approval is obtained.
The EIP is an “employee incentive scheme” for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.2, Exception 13(b). This Resolution seeks the renewal of Shareholder approval of the EIP provided at the 2024 AGM for the purpose of Listing Rule 7.2 (Exception 13) so that issues of securities under the EIP do not impede the issuing capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1 for the next three (3) years from the date of this Meeting.
If Shareholders approve this Resolution, the number of securities issued under the EIP will not be counted towards the Company’s capacity to issue securities under the 15% limit for a period of three years from the date of the Meeting (after which time it must be renewed, or it will expire).
Where required by the Listing Rules, separate approval by Shareholders may be sought for any grant of securities under the Plan to directors or their associates under Listing Rule 10.14.
If this Resolution is not approved by Shareholders, any issue of securities under the EIP will be included in calculating the Company’s 15% limit, effectively decreasing the number of equity securities the Company can issue over any 12- month period without the approval of Shareholders unless another exception in Listing Rule 7.2 applies.
The following information is provided to satisfy the requirements of Listing Rule 7.2, Exception 13(b):
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(a) A summary of the key terms of the EIP is set below.
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(b) The number of securities issued under the EIP since the previous approval at the 2024 Annual General Meeting is nil.
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(c) The maximum number of equity securities proposed to be issued under the Plan following the approval is 7,381,653.
This maximum number of securities which may be issued under the Plan over the next 3 years is not intended to be a prediction of the actual number of securities to be issued under the Plan, rather it is intended to be a ceiling on the number of securities approved to be issued under the Plan and for the purposes of Exception 13(b) of Listing Rule 7.2.
A voting exclusion statement in respect of this Resolution has been included in this Notice of Meeting (Refer Note 7).
| Eligibility | Any director, employee, consultant, or service provider of the Company, associated body corporates, or related parties of the persons set out above, who is decided by the Board to be an eligible participant for the purposes of the EIP. |
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| Plan Securities | Plan Securities issued under the EIP consist of restricted or unrestricted shares (Plan Shares), or rights to acquire shares (Plan Rights). Plan Rights include options, performance rights, restricted share units or such other securities convertible into the capital of the Company and of a similar nature to an option, performance right or restricted share unit, which the Board approves for issue under the EIP. |
| Grant of Plan Securities | The Board may offer any number of Plan Securities to eligible participants on the terms the Board decides, subject to the EIP rules, any applicable laws or the Listing Rules. The offer must be in writing and specify, amongst other things, thenumberand type of PlanSecuritiesfor whichthe eligible participant |
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| may apply, the amount payable (if any) for the grant, issue or exercise (as applicable) of each Plan Security, the period within which the Plan Security may be exercised (if applicable), any conditions of vesting (Vesting Conditions) and any transfer conditions (time-based or other conditions determined by the Board) before shares can be freely transferable. An eligible participant is required to give the Company a signed application form to accept the offer. If the Company accepts the application form, it may grant accepted Plan Securities to that participant. |
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| Dilution Limit | An offer of Plan Securities must not be made to an Australian resident if the total of: (a) the number of underlying Plan Shares which are the subject of the offer; and (b) underlying Shares issued or which may be issued as a result of any outstanding grants of Plan Securities, or similar offer under a predecessor or other employee incentive plan, made at any time during the previous 3-year period, would exceed 5% of the number of shares in the Company on issue at the time of the offer. |
| Lapse | Plan Rights shall lapse in accordance with specific offer terms or events contained in the EIP rules, which include cessation of employment, change in control, breach by the participant and expiry (which will be 5 years from issue in the ordinary course). |
| Converting rights to shares |
A participant issued with Plan Rights has the option to acquire Plan Shares once the Vesting Conditions for those Plan Rights have been satisfied or waived in full. The Board may waive or vary Vesting Conditions, subject to the ASX Listing Rules and Corporations Act. If a Plan Right is required to be exercised, the participant can exercise the Plan Right by either paying the applicable exercise price or using a cashless exercise facility (if permitted). The cashless exercise entitles a participant to set-off the exercise price against the number of shares which the participant is entitled to receive on exercise of the applicable Plan Rights. Once a Plan Right is exercised, the Company will issue or transfer the Plan Shares to that participant. |
| Loans | The Board may, from time to time in its absolute discretion, offer eligible participants a loan solely for the purpose of acquiring Plan Shares, including for the purpose of paying the exercise price for any Plan Rights. The Loan will be secured by the Plan Shares and limited recourse to those Plan Shares. The Company may hold the certificates or impose a holding lock over the secured Plan Shares. |
| Transfer | Transfer of Plan Securities is restricted. Plan Rights are not ordinarily transferable and Plan Shares may only be transferred once any Transfer Conditions are satisfied or the shares are issued as Unrestricted Shares. |
| Clawback | In certain circumstances the Board may clawback any Plans Shares issued to a participant where the Board is of the opinion that participant has breached the EIP rules or otherwise damaged the Company. |
| Rights of Participants | No conferred rights Participation in the EIP does not: (a) confer any right or entitlement if such right is subject to Shareholder approval; (b) confer on an employee the right to receive an invitation to participate in the EIP; (c) confer on a participant the right to continue as an employee; (d) affect any right the Company may have to terminate the employment of a Participant; and (e) may not be used to increase damages in any action brought against the Company in respect of a termination. Other schemes Participation in the EIP does not affect, and is not affected by, participation in |
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| any other employee incentive scheme operated by the Company unless the terms of the other scheme provide otherwise. General meetings A Participant is not entitled to attend or vote at general meetings of holders of shares in their role as a Participant alone. New issues Participants are not entitled to participate in offers of new securities by the Company unless they have been issued shares on the exercise of the Plan Securities. Bonus issues Participants with Plan Rights yet to be exercised will be entitled to the benefit of any bonus issues by the Company as if the right had been issued by the date the Company determines bonuses. Reorganisation If there is a reorganisation of capital of the Company, then the rights of a Participant (including the underlying shares over which an option is exercisable) are to be changed to the extent necessary to comply with the Listing Rules applying to the reorganisation of capital at that time. |
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| Change of Control | In the event of a change of control (as defined in the EIP rules), the Board may give notice to the participants waiving all vesting conditions and transfer conditions and requiring all participants to comply with the exercise and conversion terms for the rights they wish to exercise, and sell their Plan Securities as part of the change on control event. |
| Tax | The Company is not responsible for any tax which may become payable by a participant in connection with rights or securities under the EIP. If the Company is obliged to collect taxes in respect of a participant the Company may collect those taxes from the participant by deducting those taxes from amounts due to the Participant or selling Plan Securities to satisfy the debt. |
| Administration | The EIP will be administered by the Board which has an absolute discretion to determine appropriate procedures for its administration and resolve questions of fact or interpretation and formulate special terms and conditions (subject to the Listing Rules) in addition to those set out in the EIP. |
| Termination and amendment |
The EIP may be terminated or suspended at any time by the Board if the termination or suspension does not adversely affect the rights of participants. The Board may also decide not to issue any new invitations at any time. The EIP rules may be amended at any time by the Board except where the amendment adversely affects the rights of participants and their Plan Securities, in which case, the Board must obtain consent of the holders of at least 75% of the Plan Securities affected. |
A copy of the EIP is available for inspection at the Company’s registered office.
Board Recommendation and Voting Intention
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
The Chair of the Meeting intends to vote undirected proxies in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
Voting Exclusions
Refer to Note 7.
Resolution 5: Approval of 10% Placement Facility
Background
Listing Rule 7.1A enables an eligible entity to issue up to 10% of its issued share capital every 12-months in addition to the 15% permitted under Listing Rule 7.1 if approved by Shareholders at a General Meeting (" 10% Placement Facility "). An eligible entity for the purposes of Listing Rule 7.1A is an entity that is not included in the S&P/ASX
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300 Index and has a market capitalisation of $300 million or less. The Company is, at the date of this Notice, an eligible entity.
The Company is seeking Shareholder approval by way of a special resolution to have the ability, if required, to issue equity securities under the 10% Placement Facility. The effect of this Resolution is to allow the Directors to issue equity securities under Listing Rule 7.1A during the 10% Placement Period (as defined below) without, or in addition to, using the Company’s 15% placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
Placement Period
Shareholder approval of the 10% Placement Facility under Listing Rule 7.1A commences on the date of this Meeting and expires on the first to occur of the following:
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(a) the date that is 12 months after the date of this Meeting;
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(b) the time and date of the Company’s next Annual General Meeting; and
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(c) the time and date of the approval by Shareholders of a transaction under Listing Rules 11.1.2 (a significant change to the nature or scale of activities) or 11.2 (disposal of main undertaking).
(10% Placement Period).
The Company will only issue and allot the equity securities approved under the 10% Placement Facility during the 10% Placement Period.
Outcome of this Resolution
If Shareholders approve this Resolution:
-
the number of equity securities permitted to be issued under the 10% Placement Facility will be determined in accordance with the formula prescribed in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 (see below); and
-
the Company will be able to issue equity securities up to the combined 25% limits in Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A without further Shareholder approval.
If this Resolution is not passed, the Company will not be able to access the additional 10% capacity to issue equity securities without Shareholder approval provided for in Listing Rule 7.1A and will remain subject to the 15% limit on issuing equity securities without Shareholder approval set out in Listing Rule 7.1.
Formula for calculating 10% Placement Facility
The maximum number of equity securities that may be issued by the Company under the 10% Placement Facility pursuant to Listing Rule 7.1A2 is calculated in accordance with the following formula:
(A x D) – E
-
A is the number of shares on issue at the commencement of the “relevant period” (which, for the Company, is the 12-month period immediately preceding the date of the issue or agreement):
-
(A) plus the number of fully paid shares issued in the relevant period under an exception in Listing Rule 7.2, other than exception 9, 16 or 17;
-
(B) plus the number of fully paid shares issued in the relevant period on the conversion of convertible securities within rule 7.2 exception 9 where:
-
(i) the convertible securities were issued or agreed to be issued before the commencement of the relevant period; or
-
(ii) the issue of, or agreement to issue, the convertible securities was approved, or taken under the Listing Rules to have been approved, under rule 7.1 or rule 7.4;
-
-
(C) plus the number of fully paid shares issued in the relevant period under an agreement to issue securities within rule 7.2 exception 16 where:
-
(i) the agreement was entered into before the commencement of the relevant period; or
-
(ii) the agreement or issue was approved, or taken under the Listing Rules to have been approved, under rule 7.1 or rule 7.4;
-
-
(D) plus the number of fully paid shares issued in the relevant period with approval of holders of shares under Listing Rules 7.1 or 7.4.;
-
(E) plus the number of partly paid shares that became fully paid in the relevant period;
-
(F) less the number of fully paid shares cancelled in the relevant period.
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Note that A has the same meaning in Listing Rule 7.1 when calculating an entity's 15% placement capacity.
-
D is 10%
-
E is the number of equity securities issued or agreed to be issued under Listing Rule 7.1A.2 in the 12 months before the date of the issue or agreement to issue that are not issued with the approval of Shareholders under Listing Rule 7.4.
The ability of an entity to issue equity securities under Listing Rule 7.1A is in addition to the entity's 15% placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1. The actual number of equity securities that the Company will have capacity to issue under Listing Rule 7.1A will be calculated at the date of issue of the equity securities in accordance with the formula stated above.
Type and number of equity securities
Any equity securities issued under the 10% Placement Facility must be in the same class as an existing quoted class of equity securities of the Company. The Company, as at the date of the Notice, has one class of quoted equity securities, being 147,633,076 Fully Paid Ordinary Shares.
Minimum issue price and cash consideration
The equity securities will be issued for cash consideration at an issue price of not less than 75% of the VWAP for the Company's equity securities in the same class calculated over the 15 trading days on which trades in that class were recorded immediately before:
-
(i) the date on which the price at which the equity securities are to be issued is agreed by the Company and the recipient of the securities; or
-
(ii) if the equity securities are not issued within 10 trading days of the date in paragraph (i) above, the date on which the equity securities are issued.
Purpose of the funds raised
The purposes for which the funds raised by an issue under the 10% Placement Facility may be used by the Company include:
-
(i) consideration for the acquisition(s) of the new assets and investments, including the expenses associated with such acquisition(s); and
-
(ii) continued expenditure on the Company’s current business and/or general working capital.
Dilution
If this Resolution is approved by Shareholders and the Company issues equity securities under the 10% Placement Facility, the existing Shareholders' voting power in the Company will be diluted as shown in the dilution table below.
Shareholders may be exposed to economic risk and voting dilution, including the following:
-
(i) the market price for the Company's equity securities may be significantly lower on the date of the issue of the equity securities than on the date of the Annual General Meeting; and
-
(ii) the equity securities may be issued at a price that is at a discount to the market price for the Company's equity securities on the issue date,
which may have an effect on the amount of funds raised by the issue of the equity securities.
The dilution table below shows the hypothetical dilution of existing Shareholders on the basis of the market price of Shares as at 19 December 2024 ( Current Share Price ) and the current number of Shares for variable "A" calculated in accordance with the formula in Listing Rule 7.1A(2) as at the date of this Notice.
The dilution table also shows:
-
two examples where variable “A” has increased by 50% and 100%. Variable “A” is based on the number of Shares the Company has on issue. The number of Shares on issue may increase as a result of issues of Shares that do not require Shareholder approval (for example, a pro rata entitlements issue or scrip issued under a takeover offer) or future specific placements under Listing Rule 7.1 that are approved at a future Shareholders’ meeting; and
-
two examples of where the issue price of Shares has decreased by 50% and increased by 100% as against the current market price.
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| Variable 'A' in Listing Rule 7.1A.2 |
Issue Price | Issue Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.040 50% decrease in **Current Share Price ** |
$0.080 Current Share **Price ** |
$0.160 100% increase in **Current Share Price ** |
||
| Current Variable A 147,633,076 Shares |
10% Voting Dilution |
14,763,308 Shares | ||
| Funds raised | $590,532 | $1,181,065 | $2,362,129 | |
| 50% increase in current Variable A 221,449,614Shares |
10% Voting Dilution |
22,144,961 Shares | ||
| Funds raised | $885,798 | $1,771,597 | $3,543,194 | |
| 100% increase in current Variable A 295,266,152Shares |
10% Voting Dilution |
29,526,615 Shares | ||
| Funds raised | $1,181,065 | $2,362,129 | $4,724,258 |
The dilution table has been prepared on the following assumptions:
-
The Company issues the maximum number of Equity Securities available under the 10% Placement Facility.
-
No Options are exercised into Shares before the date of the issue of the Equity Securities;
-
The 10% voting dilution reflects the aggregate percentage dilution against the issued share capital at the time of issue. This is why the voting dilution is shown in each example as 10%.
-
The table does not show an example of dilution that may be caused to a particular Shareholder by reason of placements under the 10% Placement Facility, based on that Shareholder’s holding at the date of the Meeting.
-
The table shows only the effect of issues of Equity Securities under Listing Rule 7.1A, not under the 15% placement capacity under Listing Rule 7.1.
-
The issue of Equity Securities under the 10% Placement Facility consists only of Shares. If the issue of Equity Securities includes Options, it is assumed that those Options are exercised into Shares for the purpose of calculating the voting dilution effect on existing Shareholders.
-
The Current Share Price is $0.080 being the closing price of the Shares on ASX on 19 December 2024.
Allocation Policy
The Company’s allocation policy is dependent on the prevailing market conditions at the time of any proposed issue pursuant to the 10% Placement Facility. The identity of the allottees of Equity Securities will be determined on a case-by-case basis having regard to relevant factors including, but not limited to, the following:
-
(i) the methods of raising funds that are available to the Company, including but not limited to, rights issues or other issues in which existing security holders can participate;
-
(ii) the effect of the issue of the equity securities on the control of the Company;
-
(iii) the financial situation and solvency of the Company; and
-
(iv) advice from corporate, financial and broking advisers (if applicable).
The allottees under the 10% Placement Facility have not been determined as at the date of this Notice but may include existing substantial Shareholders, subject to compliance with Listing Rule 10.11, and/or new Shareholders who are not related parties or associates of a related party of the Company.
Previous issues
The Company:
-
(i) has not issued, nor agreed to issue, any equity securities under Rule 7.1A.2 in the 12-month period preceding the date of the Meeting; and
-
(ii) had not agreed, before the 12-month period referred to in the preceding paragraph, to issue any equity securities under rule 7.1A.2 where such securities remain unissued as at the date of the Meeting.
Special Resolution
The ability to issue equity securities under the 10% Placement Facility is subject to Shareholder approval by way of a special resolution. This means it requires approval of 75% of the votes cast by Shareholders present or represented, and eligible to vote.
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Board Recommendation and Voting Intention
The Board recommends that Shareholders vote in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
The Chair of the Meeting intends to vote undirected proxies in FAVOUR of this Resolution.
Voting Exclusions
Refer to Note 7.
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GLOSSARY
The following terms have the following meanings in this Explanatory Statement:
“ $ ” means Australian Dollars;
“ 10% Placement Facility ” has the meaning as defined in the Explanatory Statement for Resolution 5;
“ 15% Capacity ” has the meaning as defined in the Explanatory Statement for Resolution 5;
“ ASX ” means ASX Limited ABN 98 008 624 691 or the Australian Securities Exchange, as the context requires;
“ Auditor’s Report ” means the auditor’s report on the Financial Report;
“ AEDT ” means Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
“ Board ” means the Directors acting as the board of Directors of the Company;
“ Chair ” means the person appointed to chair the Meeting of the Company convened by the Notice;
“ Closely Related Party ” means:
-
(a) a spouse or child of the member; or
-
(b) has the meaning given in section 9 of the Corporations Act.
“ Company ” means ReadCloud Limited ACN 136 815 891;
“ Constitution ” means the constitution of the Company as at the date of the Meeting;
“ Corporations Act ” means the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth);
“ Director ” means a Director of the Company;
“ Directors Report ” means the annual directors’ report prepared under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act for the Company and its controlled entities;
“ EIP ” means Employee Incentive Plan;
“ Equity Security ” has the same meaning as in the Listing Rules;
“ Explanatory Statement ” means the explanatory statement which forms part of the Notice;
“ Financial Report ” means the annual financial report prepared under Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act for the Company and its controlled entities;
“ Key Management Personnel ” means persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company, directly or indirectly, including any Director (whether executive or otherwise) of the Company;
“ Listing Rules ” means the Listing Rules of the ASX;
“ Meeting ” has the meaning given in the introductory paragraph of the Notice;
“ Notice ” means this Notice of Meeting including the Explanatory Statement;
“ Proxy Form ” means the proxy form attached to the Notice;
“ Remuneration Report ” means the remuneration report which forms part of the Directors’ Report of the Company for the financial year ended 30 September 2024 and which is set out in the 2024 Annual Report;
“ Resolution ” means a resolution referred to in the Notice;
“ Share ” means a fully paid ordinary share in the capital of the Company;
“ Shareholder ” means Shareholder of the Company;
“ Trading Day ” means a day determined by ASX to be a trading day in accordance with the Listing Rules; and
“ VWAP ” means volume weighted average market price as defined in the Listing Rules.
15
All Correspondence to:
By Mail Boardroom Pty Limited GPO Box 3993 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia By Fax: +61 2 9290 9655 Online: www.boardroomlimited.com.au By Phone: (within Australia) 1300 737 760 (outside Australia) +61 2 9290 9600 YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT For your vote to be effective it must be recorded before 11:00am (AEDT) on Monday, 10 February 2025. TO VOTE ONLINE BY SMARTPHONE STEP 1: VISIT https://www.votingonline.com.au/rclagm2025 STEP 2: Enter your Postcode OR Country of Residence (if outside Australia) STEP 3: Enter your Voting Access Code (VAC): Scan QR Code using smartphone QR Reader App TO VOTE BY COMPLETING THE PROXY FORM STEP 1 APPOINTMENT OF PROXY STEP 3 SIGN THE FORM Indicate who you want to appoint as your Proxy. The form must be signed as follows: If you wish to appoint the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy, mark the box. If you wish to Individual: This form is to be signed by the securityholder. appoint someone other than the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy please write the full Joint Holding : where the holding is in more than one name, all the securityholders should name of that individual or body corporate. If you leave this section blank, or your named sign. proxy does not attend the meeting, the Chair of the Meeting will be your proxy. A proxy need Power of Attorney: to sign under a Power of Attorney, you must have already lodged it with not be a securityholder of the company. Do not write the name of the issuer company or the the registry. Alternatively, attach a certified photocopy of the Power of Attorney to this form registered securityholder in the space. when you return it. Companies: this form must be signed by a Director jointly with either another Director or a Appointment of a Second Proxy Company Secretary. Where the company has a Sole Director who is also the Sole Company You are entitled to appoint up to two proxies to attend the meeting and vote. If you wish to Secretary, this form should be signed by that person. Please indicate the office held by appoint a second proxy, an additional Proxy Form may be obtained by contacting the signing in the appropriate place. company’s securities registry or you may copy this form. STEP 4 LODGEMENT To appoint a second proxy you must: Proxy forms (and any Power of Attorney under which it is signed) must be received no later (a) complete two Proxy Forms. On each Proxy Form state the percentage of your voting than 48 hours before the commencement of the meeting, therefore by 11:00am (AEDT) on rights or the number of securities applicable to that form. If the appointments do not specify Monday, 10 February 2024. Any Proxy Form received after that time will not be valid for the the percentage or number of votes that each proxy may exercise, each proxy may exercise scheduled meeting. half your votes. Fractions of votes will be disregarded. (b) return both forms together in the same envelope. Proxy forms may be lodged using the enclosed Reply Paid Envelope or: STEP 2 VOTING DIRECTIONS TO YOUR PROXY Online https://www.votingonline.com.au/rclagm2025 To direct your proxy how to vote, mark one of the boxes opposite each item of business. All your securities will be voted in accordance with such a direction unless you indicate only a By Fax + 61 2 9290 9655 portion of securities are to be voted on any item by inserting the percentage or number that you wish to vote in the appropriate box or boxes. If you do not mark any of the boxes on a By Mail Boardroom Pty Limited given item, your proxy may vote as he or she chooses. If you mark more than one box on GPO Box 3993, an item for all your securities your vote on that item will be invalid. Sydney NSW 2001 Australia Proxy which is a Body Corporate Where a body corporate is appointed as your proxy, the representative of that body corporate attending the meeting must have provided an “Appointment of Corporate In Person Boardroom Pty Limited Level 8, 210 George Street Representative” prior to admission. An Appointment of Corporate Representative form can Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
Indicate who you want to appoint as your Proxy. The form must be signed as follows: If you wish to appoint the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy, mark the box. If you wish to Individual: This form is to be signed by the securityholder. appoint someone other than the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy please write the full Joint Holding : where the holding is in more than one name, all the securityholders should name of that individual or body corporate. If you leave this section blank, or your named sign. proxy does not attend the meeting, the Chair of the Meeting will be your proxy. A proxy need Power of Attorney: to sign under a Power of Attorney, you must have already lodged it with not be a securityholder of the company. Do not write the name of the issuer company or the the registry. Alternatively, attach a certified photocopy of the Power of Attorney to this form registered securityholder in the space. when you return it. Companies: this form must be signed by a Director jointly with either another Director or a Appointment of a Second Proxy Company Secretary. Where the company has a Sole Director who is also the Sole Company You are entitled to appoint up to two proxies to attend the meeting and vote. If you wish to Secretary, this form should be signed by that person. Please indicate the office held by appoint a second proxy, an additional Proxy Form may be obtained by contacting the signing in the appropriate place.
Proxy forms (and any Power of Attorney under which it is signed) must be received no later than 48 hours before the commencement of the meeting, therefore by 11:00am (AEDT) on Monday, 10 February 2024. Any Proxy Form received after that time will not be valid for the scheduled meeting.
Where a body corporate is appointed as your proxy, the representative of that body corporate attending the meeting must have provided an “Appointment of Corporate Representative” prior to admission. An Appointment of Corporate Representative form can be obtained from the company’s securities registry.
ReadCloud Limited ACN 136 815 891 Your Address This is your address as it appears on the company’s share register. If this is incorrect, please mark the box with an “X” and make the correction in the space to the left. Securityholders sponsored by a broker should advise their broker of any changes. Please note, you cannot change ownership of your securities using this form. PROXY FORM STEP 1 APPOINT A PROXY I/We being a member/s of ReadCloud Limited (Company) and entitled to attend and vote hereby appoint: the Chair of the Meeting (mark box) OR if you are NOT appointing the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy, please write the name of the person or body corporate (excluding the registered securityholder) you are appointing as your proxy below or failing the individual or body corporate named, or if no individual or body corporate is named, the Chair of the Meeting as my/our proxy at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held virtually via zoom https://vistra.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fVJMzYYeTFWTRvsFsCo8qQ on Wednesday, 12 February 2025 at 11:00am (AEDT) and at any adjournment of that meeting, to act on my/our behalf and to vote in accordance with the following directions or if no directions have been given, as the proxy sees fit. Chair of the Meeting authorised to exercise undirected proxies on remuneration related matters: If I/we have appointed the Chair of the Meeting as my/our proxy or the Chair of the Meeting becomes my/our proxy by default and I/we have not directed my/our proxy how to vote in respect of Resolutions 1 & 4, I/we expressly authorise the Chair of the Meeting to exercise my/our proxy in respect of this/these Item even though Resolutions 1 & 4 is connected with the remuneration of a member of the key management personnel for the Company. The Chair of the Meeting will vote all undirected proxies in favour of all Items of business (including Resolutions 1 & 4). If you wish to appoint the Chair of the Meeting as your proxy with a direction to vote against, or to abstain from voting on an item, you must provide a direction by marking the 'Against' or 'Abstain' box opposite that resolution. STEP 2 VOTING DIRECTIONS * If you mark the Abstain box for a particular item, you are directing your proxy not to vote on your behalf on a show of hands or on a poll and your vote will not be counted in calculating the required majority if a poll is called. For Against Abstain Resolution 1 Adoption of Remuneration Report Resolution 2 Re-Election of Jonathan Isaacs as a Director of the Company Resolution 3 Re-Election of Lars Lindstrom as a Director of the Company Resolution 4 Renewal of Employee Incentive Plan Resolution 5 Approval of 10% Placement Facility (Special Resolution) STEP 3 SIGNATURE OF SECURITYHOLDERS* This form must be signed to enable your directions to be implemented. Individual or Securityholder 1 Securityholder 2 Securityholder 3 Sole Director and Sole Company Secretary Director Director / Company Secretary Contact Name…………………………………………….... Contact Daytime Telephone………………………................................ Date / / 2025