![LOGO](https://capedge.com/proxy/6-K/0001193125-22-157446/g344667g43b53.jpg)
NOTICE OF 2022 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
BACKGROUND TO RESOLUTION 8 AND SPECIAL RESOLUTION 10
Similar to Resolutions 7 and 9, as a company incorporated in England, directors must have authority from shareholders to allot or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, the company’s shares. Resolutions 8 and 10 ask our shareholders for authority for the directors to allot shares or grant rights over shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £200,000 and the power for the directors to allot shares or grant rights over shares for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of £200,000 on a non pre-emptive basis all in connection with the Company’s share option schemes. This authority and power would expire on the fifth anniversary of the date of the passing of this resolution.
The purpose of this Resolution 8 (together with Resolution 10 - Disapplication of pre-emption rights) is to maintain share option schemes with sufficient share reserves to appropriately compensate, motivate and retain our employees, directors and consultants, thereby aligning their interests with those of our shareholders.
Many of the companies with which we compete for talent are listed and incorporated in the United States and are not subject to similar restrictions on the authorisation of shares and disapplication of pre-emption rights for their share option schemes and long-term incentive plans. We believe the approval of Resolutions 8 and 10 is critical to enable us to continue to execute on our business strategy by attracting and retaining qualified employees, directors and consultants in a highly competitive market for talent.
RESOLUTION 8
The directors may only allot shares or grant rights over shares if authorised to do so by shareholders.
This resolution, if passed, will give the Directors authority to allot shares or rights to subscribe for shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £200,000 under or in connection with any existing, amended or new share option schemes, incentive plans or joint share ownership plans (whether tax-advantaged or otherwise) as the directors may, from time to time, approve. This authority is in addition to the authority set out in resolution 7 above and in addition, and without prejudice, to the authority given by resolution 10 passed at the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company. This authority will expire on the fifth anniversary of the date on which this resolution is passed.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION SO AUTHORISING THE DIRECTORS.
Special Resolutions
Resolutions 9 and 10 are proposed as special resolutions. Special resolutions require the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the votes cast by shareholders present (in person or by proxy) at the meeting and entitled to vote. On a poll, a special resolution is passed if it is approved by holders representing at least 75% of the votes cast (in person or by proxy) at the meeting who (being entitled to vote) vote on the resolution.
Resolution 9 – Disapplication of pre-emption rights
Please consider our section above entitled Background to Resolution 7 and Special Resolution 9.
As a U.K. company, the Company’s shareholders are entitled, under Section 561 of the Act to pre-emption rights, whereby, in the event that the Company wishes to allot new equity securities for cash, those securities must first be offered to existing shareholders in proportion to the number of ordinary shares they each hold before they can be offered to new shareholders.
As set out above, in certain circumstances, it may be in the best interests of the Company to allot shares (or to grant rights over shares) for cash without first offering them proportionately to existing shareholders. This cannot be done under the Act unless the shareholders have first waived their pre-emption rights.
Therefore this resolution, which will be proposed as a special resolution subject to the passing of resolution 7, seeks the empowerment of the directors to allot, or grant rights over, equity securities under the authority given to them by resolution 7 above without offering them first to existing shareholders in proportion to their current holdings up to an aggregate nominal amount of £1,200,000.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION SO EMPOWERING THE DIRECTORS.
Resolution 10 – Disapplication of pre-emption rights
As stated above, the Act requires that if the Company issues new shares or grants rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares for cash, or sells any treasury shares, it must first offer them to existing shareholders in proportion to their current holdings. In certain circumstances, it may be in the best interests of the Company to allot shares (or to grant rights over shares) for cash without first offering them proportionately to existing shareholders. This cannot be done under the Act unless the shareholders have first waived their pre-emption rights.
Therefore this resolution, which will be proposed as a special resolution subject to the passing of resolution 8, seeks the empowerment of the directors to allot, or grant rights over, equity securities under the authority given to them by resolution 8 above under or in connection with any existing, amended or new share option schemes, incentive plans or joint share ownership plans as the Directors may approve without offering them first to existing shareholders in proportion to their current holdings up to an aggregate nominal amount of £200,000.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE FOR THE RESOLUTION SO EMPOWERING THE DIRECTORS.
| | | | |
| | ![LOGO](https://capedge.com/proxy/6-K/0001193125-22-157446/g344667snap4.jpg) | | 9 |