Corporate Governance
The Company maintains regular contact with major shareholders to communicate clearly the Group's objectives and monitors movements in significant shareholdings. The Company recognises the importance of communicating with its shareholders and does this through its Annual and Interim Reports, at the Annual General Meeting and through the processes described below.
Most shareholder contact is with the Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance Director and presentations are made on the operating and financial performance of the Group and its longer term strategy. The slide presentations made to representatives of the investment community following the announcement of the full year and interim results are available on this website.
The non-Executive Directors are given regular updates as to the views of institutional shareholders and an independent insight into the views of major shareholders is sought through informed research carried out twice a year by the Company's advisors.
Through these processes, the Board is kept abreast of key issues. There is also a direct line of communication to the Chairman available to shareholders, particularly if there are issues of concern, whether about performance, strategy or governance. Lord Stewartby, the senior independent director, has also been available to meet shareholders.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting is sent to shareholders at least twenty working days prior to the meeting and includes a separate resolution on each substantially separate issue. In the absence of a poll being called, proxy votes cast are declared after each resolution has been dealt with on a show of hands.
The Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary generally deal with questions from individual shareholders. All shareholders have the opportunity to put questions at the Company's Annual General Meeting when the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer give a statement on the Group's performance during the year, together with a statement on current trading conditions. The Chairman of the Board and of the Remuneration and Audit Committees will normally be available to answer questions at the meeting.