Last checked at 29 Jun 2021 15:20
29 June 2021
Mears Group PLC
("Mears")
Result of AGM
Mears Group PLC held its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") earlier today.
In summary, all resolutions were duly passed on a poll. The results of each resolution are as follows:
Resolution | Votes For | Votes Against | Votes withheld | Total votes cast | Percentage of issued share capital voted (%) |
1 To receive and adopt the Directors' and Auditor's Reports and Audited Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020 | 93,900,388 | 12,473 | 391,433 | 93,912,861 | 84.7% |
2 To approve the Remuneration report | 70,850,552 | 21,665,055 | 1,788,687 | 92,515,607 | 83.4% |
3 To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as auditor of the Company | 93,921,715 | 381,582 | 997 | 94,303,297 | 85.0% |
4 To authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the auditor | 94,294,923 | 7,733 | 1,638 | 94,302,656 | 85.0% |
5 To re-elect Kieran Murphy | 72,187,083 | 22,117,003 | 208 | 94,304,086 | 85.0% |
6 To re-elect David Miles | 70,436,903 | 16,067,184 | 7,800,207 | 86,504,087 | 78.0% |
7 To re-elect Andrew Smith | 71,962,061 | 22,342,233 | - | 94,304,294 | 85.0% |
8 To re-elect Alan Long | 71,477,140 | 22,826,947 | 207 | 94,304,087 | 85.0% |
9 To re-elect Julia Unwin | 72,315,339 | 21,988,633 | 322 | 94,303,972 | 85.0% |
10 To re-elect Jim Clarke | 93,921,877 | 382,210 | 207 | 94,304,087 | 85.0% |
11 To re-elect Chris Loughlin | 78,518,249 | 15,785,837 | 208 | 94,304,086 | 85.0% |
12 To elect Claire Gibbard | 80,138,267 | 14,165,820 | 207 | 94,304,087 | 85.0% |
13 To authorise the Directors to allot relevant securities generally pursuant to Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 | 74,611,480 | 19,692,176 | 638 | 94,303,656 | 85.0% |
14 To adopt the new articles of association of the Company | 94,286,918 | 15,998 | 1,378 | 94,302,916 | 85.0% |
15 To authorise the Directors to allot relevant securities pursuant to Section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 in connection with a rights issue, open offer or other offer of securities | 79,428,297 | 14,875,359 | 638 | 94,303,656 | 85.0% |
16 To authorise the holding of general meetings on 14 clear days' notice | 75,758,538 | 18,545,755 | 1 | 94,304,293 | 85.0% |
Notes:
(i) Votes 'For' include those votes giving the Chairman discretion.
(ii) The number of ordinary shares in issue on 29 June 2021 was 110,896,897. Shareholders are entitled to one vote per share.
(iii) A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes validly cast.
Full details of the resolutions are set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting dated 27 May 2021, which is available on the Company's website at https://www.mearsgroup.co.uk/meetings-voting/2021-notice-of-annual-general-meeting.
Resolutions 1 to 13 were ordinary resolutions, requiring more than 50% of shareholders' votes to be cast in favour of the resolutions. Resolutions 14 to 16 were special resolutions, requiring at least 75% of shareholders' votes to be cast in favour of the resolutions.
The Board is pleased that all resolutions have been approved by shareholders at the 2021 AGM.
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board notes that Resolution 2 (concerning the approval of the remuneration report), Resolutions 5, 7, 8, and 9 (concerning the re-election of Kieran Murphy, Andrew Smith, Alan Long and Julia Unwin) and Resolution 13 (concerning the allotment of shares) received 20% or more votes against the Board's recommendation.
Resolution 2
The Board notes that the Remuneration Report received 23.4% votes against the Board's recommendation. The Remuneration Committee engaged in extensive consultation with shareholders over the application of the Remuneration policy during the year and refined the application of that policy in line with the feedback received. The Committee also engaged with shareholders ahead of the AGM and endeavoured to explain the context around its application of the policy. Given the range of views which were expressed by shareholders, it was not practicable to reflect them all in designing the terms to apply the policy. The Committee recognises the need to continue to engage with shareholders over the coming year and will do so, in addition to continuing to monitor evolving views and market practice.
Resolutions 5, 7, 8 and 9
The Board notes that the re-election of Kieran Murphy, Andrew Smith, Alan Long and Julia Unwin received 23.5%, 23.7%, 24.2% and 23.3% votes respectively against the Board's recommendation. The Board seeks to maintain the highest standards of governance and to ensure an open and transparent dialogue with all of its shareholders. The Board will continue to engage with those shareholders who have voted against these resolutions.
Resolution 13
The Board notes that resolution 13 concerning the allotment of shares also received 20.9% votes against the Board's recommendation. The Board is aware that a small number of shareholders apply a more stringent voting policy on the allotment of shares resolution than is general market practice. This resolution is consistent with the latest investor guidelines. The Board remains committed to continuing an open and transparent dialogue and will accordingly, seek to continue to engage with shareholders on these matters.
A copy of all the resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting has been submitted to the Financial Conduct Authority via the National Storage Mechanism and will shortly be available for inspection.
For further information, contact:
Mears Group PLC
Ben Westran, Company Secretary Tel: +44(0)1452 634600
Andrew Smith, Finance Director Tel: +44(0)7712 866 461
www.mearsgroup.co.uk
Notes for editors
Mears currently employs around 6,000 people and provides services in every region of the UK. In partnership with our Housing clients, we maintain, repair and upgrade the homes of hundreds of thousands of people in communities from remote rural villages to large inner-city estates. Mears has extended its activities to provide broader housing solutions to solve the challenge posed by the lack of affordable housing and to provide accommodation and support for the most vulnerable.
We focus on long-term outcomes for people rather than short-term solutions and invest in innovations that have a positive impact on people's quality of life and on their communities' social, economic and environmental wellbeing. Our innovative approaches and market leading positions are intended to create value for our customers and the people they serve while also driving sustainable financial returns for our providers of capital, especially our shareholders.