AGM Information • Sep 24, 2018
AGM Information
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If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 immediately.
If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Ordinary Shares, 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.
(incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 2877315)
Notice of the 2018 Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of Instinctif Partners, 1st Floor, 65 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7NQ on Wednesday 7 November 2018 at 11.30 a.m. is set out in Part II of this document.
You may request a hard copy of this document and information incorporated into this document by reference to another source by contacting the Company's Registrar, Computershare, either by calling +44 (0)370 707 1257 or writing to Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY. Hard copies will only be sent where valid requests are received from such persons.
A copy of this document, together with all information incorporated into this document by reference to another source, will be made available on the Company's website at http://investors.redrowplc.co.uk from the date of this document. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of this website are not incorporated into and do not form part of this document.
A Form of Proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting is enclosed and, to be valid, should be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions printed on the form so as to be received by the Company's Registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC of The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY as soon as possible but, in any event, so as to arrive no later than 11.30 a.m. on Monday 5 November 2018. Completion and return of a Form of Proxy will not prevent members from attending and voting in person should they wish to do so.
This document is published on 24 September 2018.
| Part I Letter from the Chairman | 02 |
|---|---|
| Part II Notice of Annual General Meeting | 03 |
| Part III Explanatory Notes To The Resolutions | 06 |
| Definitions | 08 |
(Incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 2877315)
Redrow House St. David's Park Flintshire CH5 3RX
24 September 2018 To the holders of Ordinary Shares
I am pleased to be writing to you with details of our Annual General Meeting ("AGM") which we are holding at the offices of Instinctif Partners, 1st Floor, 65 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7NQ on Wednesday 7 November 2018 at 11.30 a.m. The formal notice of AGM is set out in Part II of this document.
This year marks the first year that the AGM will be held outside of St. David's Park. As a result of the increased national presence of Redrow, along with its geographically diverse shareholder base, your Board feels that holding the AGM in London is appropriate and we look forward to seeing many new and familiar faces at this new venue.
If you would like to vote on the resolutions but cannot come to the AGM, please fill in the Form of Proxy sent to you with this notice and return it in accordance with the instructions printed on the form as soon as possible. It must be received by 11.30 a.m. on Monday 5 November 2018.
Shareholders are being asked to approve a final dividend of 19p per Ordinary Share for the year ended 30 June 2018. If the recommended final dividend is approved, this will be paid on 13 November 2018 to all Shareholders who were on the register of members as at the close of business on 21 September 2018.
An explanation of the business to be considered at this year's AGM appears in Part III of this document.
The Directors consider that all resolutions to be put to the meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. Your Board will be voting in favour of them and unanimously recommends that you vote in favour of them.
Yours sincerely,
Chairman
provided that this authority shall (unless previously revoked or renewed) expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or at the close
of business on 31 December 2019 (whichever may be the earlier) but so that the Company may, before such expiry, make offers and enter into agreements which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.
For the purposes of this Resolution, "rights issue" means an offer to:
to subscribe for further securities by means of the issue of a renounceable letter (or other negotiable document) which may be traded for a period before payment for the securities is due, but subject in both cases to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory.
as if Section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment, and such authority shall (unless previously revoked or renewed) expire at the
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Redrow plc will be held at the offices of Instinctif Partners, 1st Floor, 65 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7NQ on Wednesday 7 November 2018 at 11.30 a.m. for the following purposes.
Resolutions 13 to 15 (inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions. All other resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions.
earlier of the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and the close of business on 31 December 2019 save that the said authority shall permit the Company to make offers and enter into agreements before the expiry of such authority which would or might require equity securities to be allotted and treasury shares to be sold after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities and sell treasury shares in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if such authority had not expired. For the purposes of this Resolution 13, the nominal amount of any securities shall be taken to be, in the case of rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares of the Company, the nominal amount of such shares which may be allotted pursuant to such rights.
"pre-emptive offer" means an offer of equity securities open for acceptance for a period fixed by the Directors to (a) holders of Ordinary Shares (other than the Company) on the register of members on a record date fixed by the Directors in proportion to their respective holdings and (b) other persons so entitled by virtue of the rights attaching to any other equity securities held by them, but subject in both cases to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory; and
"rights issue" has the meaning given to such term in Resolution 12.
such authority shall (unless previously revoked or renewed) expire at the earlier of the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and the close of business on 31 December 2019 save that the said authority shall permit the Company to make offers and enter into agreements before the expiry of such authority which would or might require equity securities to be allotted and treasury shares to be sold after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities and sell treasury shares in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if such authority had not expired..
15. That a general meeting of the Company, other than an annual general meeting, may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
24 September 2018
Registered in England and Wales No. 2877315 Registered Office: Redrow House St. David's Park Flintshire CH5 3RX
be moved at the Annual General Meeting; and/or (ii) to include in the business to be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting any matter (other than a proposed resolution) which may be properly included in the business. A resolution may properly be moved or a matter may properly be included in the business unless: (a) (in the case of a resolution only) it would, if passed, be ineffective (whether by reason of inconsistency with any enactment or the Company's constitution or otherwise); (b) it is defamatory of any person; or (c) it is frivolous or vexatious. Such a request may be in hard copy form or in electronic form, must identify the resolution of which notice is to be given or the matter to be included in the business, must be authorised by the person or persons making it, must be received by the Company not later than 26 September 2018, being the date six clear weeks before the Annual General Meeting, and (in the case of a matter to be included in the business only) must be accompanied by a statement setting out the grounds for the request.
The following pages give an explanation of the proposed resolutions.
Resolutions 1 to 12 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 13 to 15 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.
Subject to approval at the meeting, the dividend will be paid on 13 November 2018 to Shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 21 September 2018.
In accordance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code, all Directors retire and offer themselves for re-election other than Debbie Hewitt who will retire from the Board following the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.
Under the Listing Rules, Steve Morgan is classed as a "controlling shareholder" of the Company (since he and his Concert Party exercises and controls 30 per cent. or more of the voting rights in the Company). In accordance with LR 9.2.2 ER, Resolutions 6, 7 and 8 (re-appointment of the Company's Independent Non-Executive Directors) must be approved both by a simple majority of all Shareholders, and by a simple majority of Independent Shareholders. For full biographies of all Directors and further details in relation to their re-election, please see page 62 and page 63 of the Annual Report.
None of the Independent Non-Executive Directors seeking re-election at the Annual General Meeting has any existing or previous relationship with the Company, nor with any controlling shareholder of the Company or any associate of a controlling shareholder of the Company within the meaning of LR 13.8.17 R(1).
The Company's Nomination Committee considers the appointment and replacement of Directors subject to the rules set out in the Company's Articles of Association and in accordance with the Nomination Committee's Terms of Reference. When an appointment is considered appropriate, the Nomination Committee will evaluate the balance of skills, knowledge and experience of the Board and, in light of this evaluation, prepare a description of the role and capabilities required for a particular appointment.
In considering the independence of each Independent Non-Executive Director, the Board has taken into consideration the guidance provided by the UK Corporate Governance Code. The Board considers Nick Hewson, Sir Michael Lyons and Vanda Murray to be independent in accordance with Provision B.1.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
The Board confirms that John Tutte and Barbara Richmond, who stand for re-appointment as Executive Directors, and Steve Morgan, Nick Hewson, Sir Michael Lyons and Vanda Murray who stand for re-appointment as Non-Executive
Directors, continue to be effective and demonstrate the appropriate commitment to their roles.
The Company is required to appoint Auditors at every general meeting at which the accounts are presented to Shareholders. Resolution 9, which is recommended by the Audit Committee, proposes the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP who are willing to seek re-appointment this year.
Resolution 10 authorises the Directors to determine the Auditors' fees. If this resolution is passed, the Audit Committee will approve the fees for recommendation to the Board.
This resolution deals with the remuneration of the Directors and seeks approval for the remuneration paid to the Directors during the year under review. The Company is required to ask Shareholders to approve the Directors' remuneration report (other than the remuneration policy). This is set out on pages 80 to 95 of the Annual Report. Resolution 11 is an advisory vote.
Shareholders are being invited to renew the authority given to Directors in previous years to allot new shares.
If passed, the authority in paragraph (i) of Resolution 12 would renew this authority by authorising the Directors to allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for or convert other securities into shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £12,326,664.60 (which is equivalent to approximately 33 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date).
The authority in paragraph (ii) of Resolution 12 will allow the Directors to allot shares and grant rights to subscribe for or convert other securities into shares up to a further nominal amount of £12,326,664.60 only in connection with a rights issue (which is equivalent to approximately 33 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date). This is in line with guidance issued by the Investment Association.
The Company does not, as of the Latest Practicable Date, hold any shares in treasury.
The authority will expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or, if earlier, at the close of business on 31 December 2019.
The Directors will exercise the authority to allot new shares or undertake a rights issue only when satisfied that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole to do so. There are no present plans to undertake a rights issue or to allot new shares. The Directors consider it desirable to have the maximum flexibility permitted by the Investment Association guidance to respond to market developments and to enable allotments to take place to finance business opportunities as they arise.
The Directors may only allot shares and other equity securities, or sell treasury shares, for cash (other than in connection with an employee share scheme) to persons who are not already Shareholders in the Company if authorised to do so by the Shareholders at a general meeting of the Company.
The purpose of paragraphs (i)(a) and (ii) of Resolution 13 is to authorise the Directors to allot new shares and other equity securities, or sell treasury shares, for cash on a pre-emptive basis. The resolution also enables the Directors to modify the strict requirements for a pre-emptive offer or pre-emptive rights issue in circumstances where they consider it necessary or expedient.
In addition, there may be circumstances when the Directors consider it in the best interests of the Company to allot a limited number of Ordinary Shares or other equity securities, or sell treasury shares, for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis. The Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles, as updated in March 2015, supports the annual disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of allotments of shares and other equity securities and sales of treasury shares for cash representing no more than 5 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company, without restriction as to the use of proceeds of those allotments.
Accordingly, the purpose of paragraph (i)(b) of Resolution 13 is to authorise the Directors to allot new shares and other equity securities pursuant to the authority given in Resolution 12, or sell treasury shares, for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,848,999.60, equivalent to approximately 5 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date, without the shares first being offered to existing Shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. The Company does not, as of the Latest Practicable Date, hold any shares in treasury.
The Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles also supports the annual disapplication of pre-emption rights in respect of allotments of shares and other equity securities and sales of treasury shares for cash representing no more than an additional 5 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company, to be used only in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment. The Pre-Emption Group's Statement of Principles defines "specified capital investment" as meaning one or more specific capital investment related uses for the proceeds of an issue of equity securities, in respect of which sufficient information regarding the effect of the transaction on the Company, the assets the subject of the transaction and (where appropriate) the profits attributable to them is made available to Shareholders to enable them to reach an assessment of the potential return.
Accordingly, and in line with the template resolutions published by the Pre-Emption Group in May 2016, the purpose of Resolution 14 is to authorise the Directors to allot new shares and other equity securities pursuant to the authority given in
Resolution 12, or sell treasury shares, for cash up to a further aggregate nominal amount of £1,848,999.60, equivalent to approximately 5 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date, only 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. If the authority given in Resolution 14 is used, the Company will publish details of the placing in its next annual report.
The Board intends to adhere to the provisions in the Preemption Group's Statement of Principles and does not intend to allot shares or other equity securities or sell treasury shares for cash on a non-pre-emptive basis pursuant to the authority in Resolution 13 in excess of an amount equal to 7.5 per cent. of the Issued Share Capital of the Company within a rolling three-year period, other than:
The Board has no current intention of exercising the authorities in Resolutions 13 and 14 but considers such authorities to be appropriate in order to allow the Company flexibility to finance business opportunities or to conduct a pre-emptive offer or rights issue without the need to comply with the strict requirements of the statutory pre-emption provisions.
The authority will expire on whichever is the earlier of the conclusion of the next annual general meeting or at the close of business on 31 December 2019.
Under the Companies Act 2006 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 of the Company will continue to be held on at least 21 clear days' notice.
Resolution 15 seeks such approval. The approval will be effective until the Company's next annual general meeting, when it is intended that a similar resolution will be proposed. The flexibility offered by the shorter notice period would only be used where it is merited by the business of the meeting and is thought to be to the advantage of shareholders as a whole.
In this document:
"Annual General Meeting" or "AGM" means the annual general meeting of the Company to be held on Wednesday 7 November 2018 at 11.30 a.m. at the offices of Instinctif Partners, 1st Floor, 65 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7NQ;
"Annual Report" has the meaning given to it in Part II of this document;
"Auditors" means the external auditors of the Company;
"Closely Associated Persons of Steve Morgan" means LKT Investments Limited, MSH Investments, GEM Investments Limited and RSM Investments Limited;
"Company" means Redrow plc, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (registered number 2877315), with its registered office at Redrow House, St. David's Park, Flintshire CH5 3RX;
"Computershare" means Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY;
"Concert Party" means that group of Shareholders which the Panel has confirmed is deemed to act in concert, namely Steve Morgan, Bryan Dix, Ashley Lewis, Vincent Fairclough, Victoria Fairclough, The Housing Deposit Trust and the Closely Association Persons of Steve Morgan;
"Directors" or "Board" means the directors of the Company;
"Executive Directors" means John Tutte and Barbara Richmond;
"Form of Proxy" means the enclosed proxy form for completion by those Shareholders who wish to vote in the resolutions set out in this document but are unable to attend the AGM;
"Independent Non-Executive Directors" means Nick Hewson, Sir Michael Lyons and Vanda Murray;
"Independent Shareholders" means those Shareholders who are not members of the Concert Party;
"Issued Share Capital" means the issued share capital of the Company excluding treasury shares;
"Latest Practicable Date" means 21 September 2018 being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document;
"Non-Executive Directors" means Steve Morgan, Nick Hewson, Sir Michael Lyons and Vanda Murray;
"Ordinary Shares" means the ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the capital of the Company; and
"Shareholders" means the holders of Ordinary Shares from time to time.
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