The Board continues to recognise the importance of maintaining regular contact with its shareholders to ensure that its businesses, strategy and remuneration policies are understood and that any concerns are addressed in a constructive way. The Board communicates with its shareholders through a combination of public announcements through the Stock Exchange, analyst briefings, roadshows and press interviews at the time of the announcements of the half-year and full-year results and, when appropriate, at other times in the year. The executive directors, the Chairman, the Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee also meet with investors from time to time. The Annual General Meeting offers a further opportunity for the directors to meet with shareholders and for the shareholders to ask questions about the business.
The Company sends to its shareholders each year an Annual Report and copies of this and of public announcements and financial results are published on the Company’s website, www.vitecgroup.com.
At meetings of shareholders, the level of proxy votes received, together with the numbers of votes in favour, against and withheld, is announced after each resolution has been dealt with on a show of hands. Separate resolutions are proposed for each issue upon which shareholders are asked to vote. The Group’s website contains details of the 2011 Annual General Meeting resolutions and the voting thereon.
The Company has complied with the requirement set out in the Code in respect of shareholders meetings to send the notice of Annual General Meeting and related papers at least 20 working days before the meeting. It will continue to comply with the requirement.