o | Preliminary proxy statement | |
o | Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) | |
þ | Definitive Proxy Statement | |
o | Definitive Additional Materials | |
o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12 |
þ | No fee required. | |
o | Fee computed below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) | Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
(2) | Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
(3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11. (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) | Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction: |
(5) | Total fee paid: |
o | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. | |
o | Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
(1) | Amount Previously Paid: |
(2) | Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
(3) | Filing Party: |
(4) | Date Filed: |
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7 | ||||||
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF INVESCO PLC | 14 | |||||
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT | 16 | |||||
CHANGES IN THE RIGHTS OF INVESCO PLC SHAREHOLDERS AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES | 31 | |||||
CONDITIONS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME | 48 | |||||
SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT | 49 | |||||
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS | 54 | |||||
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 56 | |||||
DEFINITIONS | 60 | |||||
64 | ||||||
66 |
4
ADS Record Date
|
Close of business in New York on 11 October 2007 | |
Latest time for lodging of ADS Voting Instruction Cards
|
5:00 p.m. (New York time)(1) on 6 November 2007 | |
Latest time for lodging forms of proxy for the:
|
||
Court Meeting
|
11:30 a.m. on 12 November 2007(2) | |
Extraordinary General Meeting
|
11:45 a.m. on 12 November 2007(3) | |
Court Meeting
|
11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 | |
Extraordinary General Meeting
|
11:45 a.m. on 14 November 2007(4) | |
First Court Hearing to sanction the Scheme
|
3 December 2007 | |
Second Court Hearing to confirm Capital Reduction
|
3 December 2007(5) | |
Redemption of any outstanding INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shares
|
3 December 2007(5) | |
Scheme Record Time
|
5:00 p.m. on 3 December 2007(5) | |
Suspension of dealings in INVESCO PLC Shares
|
8:00 a.m. on 4 December 2007(5) | |
Effective Date of the Scheme
|
4 December 2007(5) | |
Cancellation of listing of INVESCO PLC Shares
|
8:30 a.m. on 4 December 2007(5) | |
Effective time for the Share Capital Consolidation
|
2:00 p.m. on 4 December 2007(5) | |
Cancellation of listing of INVESCO PLC ADSs and commencement of
trading on the NYSE in Invesco Ltd. Shares
|
9:30 a.m. (New York time) and 2:30 p.m. (London time) on 4 December 2007(5) |
(1) | References to time in this document are to London time, unless otherwise stated. |
(2) | It is requested that forms of proxy for the Court Meeting be lodged at least 48 hours prior to the appointed time for the Court Meeting, although forms of proxy not so lodged may be handed to the chairman of the Court Meeting before the start of the Court Meeting. |
(3) | Forms of proxy for the Extraordinary General Meeting must be lodged at least 48 hours prior to the Extraordinary General Meeting. Proxies for the Extraordinary General Meeting not submitted by this time will be invalid. |
(4) | Or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting shall have concluded or been adjourned. |
(5) | These dates are indicative only and will depend, inter alia, on the date upon which the Court sanctions the Scheme. |
| a BLUE form of proxy for use at the Court Meeting; and |
| a WHITE form of proxy for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting; |
| a PINK form of proxy for use at the Extraordinary General Meeting. |
| an ADS Voting Instruction Card; and |
| a postage paid return envelope. |
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6
1 | What is the Proposal? |
2 | What will be the effect of the Proposal on Invesco PLC Shares? |
3 | What are INVESCO PLC ADSs? |
4 | What will be the effect of the Proposal on Invesco PLC ADSs? |
5 | What are INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shares and the INVESCO PLC SV Share? |
7
6 | What is the Share Capital Consolidation? |
7 | Will I receive fractional interests in Invesco Ltd. Shares in connection with the Share Capital Consolidation? |
8 | Why are you doing this? |
8
9 | Why is Court approval needed? |
10 | What will actually happen to my INVESCO PLC Shares? |
| all INVESCO PLC Shares will be cancelled; |
| INVESCO PLC will issue new shares to the new holding company, Invesco Ltd.; |
| Invesco Ltd. will issue to the previous holders of INVESCO PLC Shares one Invesco Ltd. Share for every INVESCO PLC Share held by them before the Scheme becomes effective; and |
| every two Invesco Ltd. Shares issued under the Scheme will be replaced with one Invesco Ltd. Share as a result of the Share Capital Consolidation. |
11 | When will the Proposal occur? |
12 | When and how will I receive my new shares? |
(i) | Holders of Certificated INVESCO PLC Shares |
(ii) | Holders of Uncertificated INVESCO PLC Shares |
9
(iii) | Holders of INVESCO PLC ADSs |
13 | Who is entitled to vote? |
14 | Why are there two shareholder meetings? |
15 | How do I vote if my INVESCO PLC Shares are registered in my name? |
10
16 | If my broker is the registered holder of my INVESCO PLC Shares, will my broker vote my shares for me? |
17 | How do I vote if my INVESCO PLC ADSs are registered in my name? |
18 | If my broker is the record holder of my INVESCO PLC ADSs, will my broker vote the underlying shares for me? |
19 | Do I need to vote? |
20 | What should I do with my INVESCO PLC Share or INVESCO PLC ADS certificate? |
21 | What if I am resident outside of the United Kingdom or the United States? |
11
22 | Are there any taxation consequences of this Proposal? |
23 | What if I participate in the INVESCO PLC Share Plans? |
24 | Will I be paid a dividend by Invesco Ltd. in pounds sterling or US dollars? |
25 | Will I be able to trade my INVESCO PLC Shares or INVESCO PLC ADSs during the time between the date of this document and the Effective Date of the Scheme? |
26 | What if I still have questions? |
12
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EC2A 1AG | 22 October 2007 |
| to move our primary listing from the London Stock Exchange to the NYSE; |
| to reorganise pursuant to a court approved scheme of arrangement so that INVESCO PLC becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., a new company incorporated in Bermuda, and the former holders of INVESCO PLC Shares become shareholders of Invesco Ltd.; |
| to implement a Share Capital Consolidation, also known as a reverse stock split, after the Scheme of Arrangement becomes effective; and |
| to take certain steps after the Scheme of Arrangement has become effective to allow INVESCO PLC to transfer Invescos regulated business in the EU to Invesco Ltd. |
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| A US primary listing is the most practical way to once again place Invesco under the supervision of a single primary regulatory scheme and minimise the possible disruption and cost associated with differing regulatory and accounting standards due to the loss of our US foreign private issuer status. |
| A US primary listing will facilitate greater direct investment opportunity for the rapidly growing US segment of investors. Consistent with Invescos Anglo-American heritage and culture, Invesco Ltd. intends to continue to encourage UK share ownership and investment with a secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange, which it intends to establish early in 2008. |
| INVESCO PLCs size, scale and global focus results in few natural public company peers on the London Stock Exchange. A US listing will improve visibility and direct comparability of Invesco Ltd. with a more appropriate public company peer group of large, global asset managers. |
| We could not change our domicile to the US without causing adverse tax consequences. The proposal to redomicile is designed to minimise the impact on shareholders by allowing Invesco to maintain legal, regulatory capital and financial positions consistent with that of Invesco today. Bermuda is a well-established jurisdiction for companies traded on US stock exchanges. |
| The Share Capital Consolidation should cause the shares of Invesco Ltd. to trade initially on the NYSE at a price comparable to the price at which INVESCO PLC ADSs traded at on the NYSE. While the Share Capital Consolidation will reduce the number of issued shares of Invesco Ltd., shareholders will still own the same proportion of Invesco Ltd. as they did of INVESCO PLC before the Scheme of Arrangement became effective, subject to fractional interests. |
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UBS Limited (Registered in England No. 02035362) Registered Office: 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP |
JPMorgan Cazenove Limited (Registered in England No.4153386) Registered Office: 20 Moorgate London EC2R 6DA |
1 | Introduction |
2 | Summary of the Terms of the Proposal |
2.1 | The Scheme |
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2.2 | Change in Listing |
2.3 | Share Capital Consolidation |
2.4 | Group Reorganisation |
3 | Structure of the Scheme |
3.1 | The Scheme |
17
3.2 | Conditions |
3.3 | Amendment to INVESCOs Articles of Association |
3.4 | Securities Act considerations |
4 | INVESCO PLC Meetings |
18
4.1 | Court Meeting |
4.2 | Extraordinary General Meeting |
(a) (i) | to approve the cancellation of the INVESCO PLC Shares; |
(ii) | to approve (A) the increase of INVESCO PLCs share capital by the number of shares that are cancelled pursuant to the Scheme; (B) the application of the reserve arising out of the cancellation of the INVESCO PLC Shares to pay up in full the number of new shares in INVESCO PLC created pursuant to the increase of INVESCO PLCs share capital described at (A) above; and (C) the issue, pursuant to section 80 of the Companies Act (in relation to the authority of directors to allot shares), of such new shares in INVESCO PLC to Invesco Ltd. (and/or its nominees); and | |
(iii) | to amend the Articles of Association in the manner described in paragraph 3.3 of this Part II; and |
(b) | subject to the Scheme becoming effective, to approve an increase in capital, a bonus issue of new INVESCO PLC Shares to Invesco Ltd. and the cancellation of such new shares, all of which are necessary to enable the proposed Invesco group reorganisation referred to in paragraph 2.4 of this Part II to take place after the Scheme becomes effective. |
4.3 | Voting at each INVESCO PLC Meeting |
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5 | Share Capital Consolidation |
6 | The INVESCO PLC Directors and the Effect of the Scheme on their Interests |
7 | The Panel and The Takeover Code |
7.1 | Introduction |
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7.2 | The Takeover Code |
7.3 | The General Principles and Rules of the Takeover Code |
7.4 | Giving up the Protection of the Takeover Code |
8 | Listings, dealings and settlement |
8.1 | Listings |
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8.2 | Dealings |
8.3 | Settlement |
(a) | INVESCO PLC Shares in certificated form |
(b) | INVESCO PLC Shares in uncertificated form (that is, in CREST) |
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(c) | General |
9 | Treatment of INVESCO PLC ADSs |
23
24
10 | Exchangeable Shares and the INVESCO PLC SV Share |
11 | UK/US Shareholder Taxation |
25
11.1 | Taxation of the Company |
11.2 | UK Taxation |
(a) | Capital Gains |
(i) | Implementation of the Scheme |
(ii) | Share Capital Consolidation |
(iii) | Future Disposal of Invesco Ltd. Shares |
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(b) | Taxation of dividends on Invesco Ltd. Shares |
(c) | Stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax (SDRT) |
(i) | The Scheme and the Share Capital Consolidation |
11.3 | United States Taxation |
(a) | Certain US Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Proposal Generally |
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(b) | Cash Received Instead of a Fractional Interest in Invesco Ltd. Shares |
(c) | Certain US Federal Income Tax Consequences of Holding Invesco Ltd. Shares |
(d) | Information Reporting and Backup Withholding |
(e) | Passive Foreign Investment Company Status |
12 | Non UK/US INVESCO PLC Shareholders |
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13 | Share Plans |
14 | Action to be Taken |
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15 | Further information |
Philip Shelley
|
Christopher Smith | |||
Managing Director
|
Managing Director | |||
UBS Limited
|
JPMorgan Cazenove Limited |
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Provisions currently applicable to INVESCO PLC Shareholders |
Provisions that will be applicable to Invesco Ltd. Shareholders |
|
Voting Rights | ||
Under English law, a shareholder who is present in person and entitled to vote at a shareholders meeting is entitled to one vote on a show of hands regardless of the number of shares he or she holds. On a poll, each shareholder having the right to vote, including proxies for shareholders, is entitled to one vote for each four ordinary shares held. | In general, and except as provided below, a shareholder who is present in person and entitled to vote at a shareholders meeting is entitled to one vote on a show of hands regardless of the number of shares he or she holds. On a poll, each shareholder having the right to vote, including proxies for shareholders, is entitled to one vote for each common share held. Under the Bye-laws, subject to certain exceptions, including mergers and amalgamations, and the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the company, which, in certain circumstances, requires the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the votes cast, any questions proposed for the consideration of the shareholders at any general meeting generally shall be decided by the affirmative votes of a majority of the votes cast in accordance with the Bye-laws. | |
Under the Articles, three shareholders present in person constitute a quorum for purposes of a general meeting. The shareholders will not need to be present in person, and may instead be present by proxy, to constitute a quorum. Cumulative voting is not recognised under English law. | At the commencement of any general meeting, two or more persons present in person and representing, in person or by proxy, more than 50 percent of the issued and outstanding shares entitled to vote at the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. | |
The Articles provide that resolutions put to a vote at a shareholders meeting will be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is demanded by: | The Bye-laws provide that resolutions put to a vote at a shareholders meeting will be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is demanded by: | |
(1) the chairman of the meeting;
|
(1) the chairman of the meeting or a majority of the
Board;
|
|
(2) at least three shareholders present that have the
right to vote on the resolution; or
|
(2) at least three shareholders present that have the
right to vote on the resolution;
|
|
31
(3) any shareholder or shareholders holding shares that
have voting rights on the resolution on which the aggregate sum
paid on its or their shares is equal to at least 10 percent of
the total sum paid on all the shares having those voting rights
on the resolution.
|
(3) any shareholder or shareholders holding not less than
10 percent of the total voting rights of all shareholders having
the right to vote at such meeting; or
|
|
(4) any shareholder or shareholders holding shares
confirming the right to vote, being shares on which the
aggregate sum paid on its or their shares is equal to at least
10 percent of the total sum paid on all the shares having those
voting rights on the resolution.
|
||
Under English law, ordinary resolutions are, in the first instance, decided on a show of hands and must be approved by at least a majority of the votes cast by shareholders present in person. If a poll is demanded, the resolution conducted on a poll must be approved by at least a majority of the votes cast at the meeting. Special resolutions, if decided on a show of hands, require the affirmative vote of at least 75 percent of the votes cast by shareholders present in person. If a poll is demanded, the resolution conducted on a poll must be approved by at least 75 percent of the votes cast at the meeting. | ||
Under INVESCO PLCs Articles, proxies of shareholders are entitled to attend, demand or to join demanding poll, and, on a poll, vote at shareholders meetings but not on a show of hands. Proxies of shareholders are also entitled to speak at shareholders meetings. | Under Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws, proxies of shareholders are entitled to attend, demand or to join demanding a poll, and, on a poll, vote at shareholders meetings, but not on a show of hands. Proxies of shareholders are also entitled to speak at shareholders meetings. | |
A holder of INVESCO PLC ADSs is currently not entitled to attend, speak or vote at INVESCO PLC shareholders meetings. Under the current terms of the INVESCO PLC ADSs, The Bank of New York Mellon, as the Depositary, will, to the extent practical, subject to applicable law and the memorandum of association and Articles, vote the INVESCO PLC Shares underlying the INVESCO PLC ADSs in accordance with the written instructions of the registered holder of the INVESCO PLC ADSs. If, however, a holder of INVESCO PLC ADSs holds INVESCO PLC ADSs through a brokerage account or otherwise in street name, in order to vote, the holder must instruct the registered holder of the INVESCO PLC ADSs to instruct the Depositary with regard to voting the INVESCO PLC Shares underlying the holders INVESCO PLC ADSs. | ||
Action by Written Consent | ||
Under English law, shareholders of a public company such as INVESCO PLC are not permitted to pass resolutions by written consent. | Under Bermuda law and subject to Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws, the Bermuda Companies Act provides that shareholders may take action by written consent; the Bye-laws, however, require the consent of 100 percent of shareholders to take action by written consent. | |
Shareholder Proposals and Shareholder Nominations of Directors | ||
Under English law, shareholders may demand that a resolution be voted on at an annual general meeting if | The Bermuda Companies Act provides that shareholders may, as set forth below and at their own expense (unless | |
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the demand is made (1) by shareholders holding at least 5 percent of the total voting power of shares having a right to vote on the resolution, or (2) by at least 100 shareholders holding shares on which there has been paid up an average sum per shareholder of at least £100. The only shareholders who count towards these thresholds are those having at the date of the requisition a right to vote at the annual general meeting to which the resolution relates. The shareholders must deposit the demand at the companys registered office at least six weeks before the annual general meeting to which it relates. In general, resolutions to appoint directors must be put to shareholders on the basis of one resolution for each nominated director. A resolution including more than one director may be presented to be voted upon at a general meeting only if the shareholders have first unanimously approved so doing. |
a company otherwise resolves), require a company to give notice of any resolution that the shareholders can properly propose at the next annual general meeting and/or to circulate a statement prepared by the requesting shareholders in respect of any matter referred to in a proposed resolution or any business to be conducted at a general meeting. The number of shareholders necessary for such a requisition
is either that number of shareholders representing at least 5 percent of the total voting rights of all shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting to which the requisition relates or not less than 100 shareholders.
Under Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual general meeting by a shareholder pursuant to the Bye-laws, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the corporate secretary of Invesco Ltd. and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for shareholder action. Notice is considered timely only if given to the corporate secretary of Invesco Ltd. not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding years annual general meeting of shareholders. However, if the date of the annual general meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, any notice by the shareholder of business or the nomination of directors for election or re-election to be brought before the annual general meeting to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual general meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual general meeting and the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Any such notice must include the information specified in the Bye-laws of Invesco Ltd. concerning the business or nominee. Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws set forth the information that must be furnished to Invesco Ltd.s corporate secretary in order for any such notice to be proper. |
|
Sources and Payment of Dividends | ||
Subject to the prior rights of holders of any preferred shares, an English company may pay dividends on its ordinary shares only out of its distributable profits, defined as accumulated, realised profits less accumulated, realised losses, and not out of share capital, which includes share premiums (being the excess of the consideration for the issue of shares over the aggregate nominal amount of such shares). Amounts credited to the share premium account, however, may be used to pay up unissued shares that may then be distributed to shareholders in proportion to their holdings. In addition, under English law, INVESCO PLC will not be permitted to make a distribution if, at the time, the amount of its net assets is less than the aggregate of its issued and paid-up share capital and undistributable reserves. If recommended by the Board, INVESCO PLC shareholders may, by |
Bermuda law does not permit the declaration or payment of
dividends or distributions of contributed surplus by a company
if there are reasonable grounds for believing that a company is,
or after the payment is made would be, unable to pay its
liabilities as they become due, or the realisable value of such
companys assets would be less, as a result of the payment,
than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share
capital and share premium accounts. The excess of the
consideration paid on an issue of shares over the aggregate par
value of such shares must (except in certain limited
circumstances) be credited to a share premium account. Share
premium may be applied in certain limited circumstances, for
example, to pay up unissued shares which may be distributed to
shareholders in proportion to their holdings as fully paid bonus
shares, but is otherwise subject to limitation. |
|
33
ordinary resolution, declare final dividends, but no dividend may be declared in excess of the amount recommended by the Board. The Board has the power under the Articles to pay interim dividends without the approval of shareholders to the extent the financial position of INVESCO PLC justifies a dividend. |
Holders of the common shares are entitled to receive such dividends as lawfully may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors.
|
|
Rights of Purchase and Redemption | ||
Under English law, a company may issue redeemable shares, subject to any conditions stated in its articles of association. The Articles permit the issuance of redeemable shares. A company may purchase its own shares, if (a) in the case of an open-market purchase, authority to make the market purchase has been given by an ordinary resolution of its shareholders, or (b) in all other cases, has first been approved by a special resolution of its shareholders. The Articles authorise INVESCO PLC to purchase its own shares and INVESCO PLC was authorised to make certain market purchases by its shareholders at the annual general meeting held on 23 May 2007. |
Invesco Ltd., upon a resolution of the board of directors, may generally make open-market purchases of its shares without shareholder approval.
Any repurchased shares by Invesco Ltd. would either be cancelled or held as treasury shares in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act. In addition, Invesco Ltd. may only repurchase shares if there are reasonable grounds for believing that it can pay its liabilities as they become due at the time of repurchase and thereafter. |
|
A company may redeem or repurchase shares only if the shares are fully paid and, in the case of public companies, only out of (1) distributable profits, or (2) the proceeds of a new issue of shares made for the purpose of the repurchase or redemption. | ||
The UK Listing Authority requires that where a company has issued shares that are admitted to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and are convertible into a class of shares to be repurchased, the holders of the convertible shares must first pass a special resolution approving any repurchase at a separate class meeting. | ||
The UK Listing Authority requires that purchases within a 12-month period of 15 percent or more of a companys share capital must be made through either a tender or partial offer to all shareholders. A tender offer must be made at a stated maximum or at a fixed price. | ||
Purchases within a 12-month period below the 15 percent threshold may be made through (1) the open market, provided that the price is not more than 5 percent above the average of the middle market quotations taken from the Daily Official List of the London Stock Exchange for the five trading days before the purchase date, or (2) an off-market transaction negotiated with one or more shareholders. | ||
Meetings of Shareholders |
||
Under the Articles, all general meetings of shareholders will be held at the time and place determined by the directors, unless the directors fail to comply with a request of the shareholders (see below), in which case it will be held at a time and place determined by the shareholders. | Under the Bermuda Companies Act, and subject to the right of shareholders to call special general meetings, special general meetings of shareholders will be held at the time and place determined by the directors. Under the Bye-laws, the annual general meeting of shareholders will be held at such time as the chairman or the chief executive officer may determine. | |
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Special Meetings of Shareholders | ||
Under English law, an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders may be called (1) by the board of directors, or (2) on the requisition of shareholders holding at least one-tenth of the paid-up capital of the company carrying voting rights at the general meetings. | Under the Bye-laws, a special general meeting may be called by Invesco Ltd.s chief executive officer, chairman or a majority of the directors in office. Under Bermuda law, a special meeting shall also be convened by the company upon the requisition by the holders of at least 10 percent of the paid-up voting share capital of a company as provided by the Bermuda Companies Act. | |
The notice requirement for ordinary and special resolutions are as follows:
(1) ordinary resolution 14 clear days notice; and
(2) special resolution 21 clear days notice.
|
Under the Bye-laws, notices of all general meetings must specify the place, the date and time of the meeting and, in case of a special general meeting, the general nature of the business to be considered.
Notice must be provided at least 20 days prior to a general meeting. |
|
An annual general meeting requires 21 clear days notice. |
||
In addition, general meetings may be called upon shorter notice if (1) in the case of an annual general meeting, all the shareholders who are permitted to attend and vote agree to the shorter notice, or (2) in the case of an extraordinary general meeting, a majority of the shareholders holding at least 95 percent by nominal value of the shares which can be voted at the meeting so agree. | However, general meetings may be called upon shorter notice if (1) in the case of an annual general meeting, all the shareholders who are permitted to attend and vote agree to the shorter notice, or (2) in the case of an special general meeting, a majority of the shareholders holding at least 95 percent by nominal value of the shares which can be voted at the meeting so agree. | |
Clear days notice means calendar days and excludes (1) the date of mailing, (2) the date of receipt or deemed receipt of the notice, and (3) the date of the meeting itself. The Articles provide that documents sent by first class mail are deemed received 24 hours after mailing, and, if sent by second class mail, 72 hours after mailing. | ||
Special resolutions generally involve proposals to (1) change the name of the company, (2) alter its capital structure, (3) change or amend the rights of shareholders, (4) permit the company to issue new shares for cash without applying the shareholders pre-emptive rights, (5) amend the companys objects clause in its memorandum of association, (6) amend the companys articles of association, or (7) carry out other matters for which the companys articles of association or the Companies Act prescribe that a special resolution is required. | ||
Appraisal Rights |
||
While English law does not generally provide for appraisal rights, a shareholder may apply to a court and the court may specify terms for the acquisition that it considers appropriate as described under Shareholders Votes on Certain Transactions below. | In the case of an amalgamation, a shareholder may apply to the Bermuda Supreme Court for an appraisal of such shareholders shares if such shareholder is not satisfied that fair value has been paid for such shares. The company would have the right to pay such shareholder the court appraised value of such shares or to terminate the amalgamation. |
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Pre-emptive Rights | ||
Under English law, the issuance for cash of (1) equity securities, being those which, with respect to dividends or capital, carry a right to participate beyond a specified amount, or (2) rights to subscribe for or convert into equity securities, must be offered first to the existing equity shareholders in proportion to the respective nominal values of their holdings, unless a special resolution to the contrary has been passed by shareholders in a general meeting. | Under Bermuda law, unless otherwise provided in a companys Bye-laws, shareholders of a company are not entitled to pre-emptive rights. Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws do not provide for pre-emptive rights. | |
At its annual general meeting each year, INVESCO PLC has passed, as it is the custom of many English companies whose shares are listed on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange, a resolution to authorise the directors of INVESCO PLC to allot up to a specified amount of equity securities, generally 5 percent of issued share capital, without these pre-emption rights. | ||
Amendment of Governing Instruments | ||
Under English law, shareholders have the power to amend (1) the objects, or purpose, clause in a companys memorandum of association, and (2) any provisions of the companys articles of association by special resolution, subject to, in the case of amendments to the objects clause of the memorandum of association, the right of dissenting shareholders to apply to the courts to cancel the amendments. | Under the Bermuda Companies Act, the Bye-laws may be amended only by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors and by a resolution of the shareholders. Under Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws, an affirmative vote of the holders of 75 percent of the total combined voting power of all issued and outstanding shares of the company is required to amend certain of the Bye-laws. | |
Bermuda law provides that the memorandum of association of a company may be amended by a resolution passed at a general meeting of shareholders of which due notice has been given. Under Bermuda law, the holders of an aggregate of not less than 20 percent in par value of a companys issued share capital have the right to apply to the Bermuda courts for an annulment of any amendment of the memorandum of association adopted by shareholders at any general meeting, other than an amendment that alters or reduces a companys share capital as provided in the Bermuda Companies Act. Where such an application is made, the amendment becomes effective only to the extent that it is confirmed by the Bermuda court. An application for an annulment of an amendment of the memorandum of association must be made within 21 days after the date on which the resolution altering a companys memorandum of association is passed and may be made on behalf of persons entitled to make the application by one or more of their designees as such holders may appoint in writing for such purpose. No application may be made by the shareholders voting in favour of the amendment. | ||
Under English law, the Board of Directors is not authorised to change the memorandum of association or the articles of association. See Share Class Rights below. | ||
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Amendments affecting the rights of the holders of any class of shares may, depending on the rights attached to the class and the nature of the amendments, also require approval by special resolution of the classes affected in separate class meetings. See Share Class Rights below. | ||
Preference Shares | ||
Subject to the rights of any existing shareholders, the Articles permit INVESCO PLC to issue new shares with any rights granted to holders of such shares, including rights of priority over the INVESCO PLC Shares. INVESCO PLC currently has issued ordinary shares, 50,000 deferred sterling shares of £1 each and one special voting share of 25 pence. |
Subject to the Bye-laws and Bermuda law, the Board of Directors has the power to issue any of Invesco Ltd.s unissued shares as it determines, including the issuance of any shares or class of shares with preferred, deferred or other special rights.
Subject to certain limitations contained in the Bye-laws and any limitations prescribed by applicable law, the Board of Directors is authorised to issue preference shares in one or more series and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such shares, including but not limited to dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption/repurchase (including sinking fund provisions), redemption/repurchase prices and liquidation preferences, and the number of shares constituting, and the designation of, any such series, without further vote or action by shareholders. Under Invesco Ltd.s memorandum of association and Bye-laws, following the consolidation there will be 20,000,000 undesignated shares that may be issued either as common shares or as preference shares. |
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The INVESCO PLC SV Share has one vote in addition to any votes that may be cast by holders of Exchangeable Shares (other than INVESCO PLC). On a poll, the holder of the INVESCO PLC SV Share has one vote for every four Exchangeable Shares that have been voted by holders of such Exchangeable Shares (other than INVESCO PLC). A holder of Exchangeable Shares (other than INVESCO PLC) can instruct the holder of the INVESCO PLC SV Share to appoint the relevant holder of the Exchangeable Shares as proxy to attend meetings on behalf of his own interests in the Exchangeable Shares. No special voting shares may be issued in addition to the INVESCO PLC SV Share without the approval of the holder of such share. When no Exchangeable Shares are outstanding (other than those held by INVESCO PLC), the INVESCO PLC SV Share will automatically be redeemed and cancelled. Otherwise, the INVESCO PLC SV Share is not subject to redemption by INVESCO PLC or by the holder of such share. | ||
The holder(s) of the deferred sterling shares (i) are not entitled to receive any dividends or distributions, (ii) do not have any entitlement to participate in the assets of the company (including on a winding-up), (iii) are not entitled to receive any notice of general meetings or to attend or vote at general meetings, and (iv) the company is deemed to have an irrevocable authority at any | ||
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time: (x) to appoint any person to transfer the Deferred Sterling Shares for no consideration to any persons the company may determine; and/or (y) to redeem the Deferred Sterling Shares for no consideration by giving seven days notice to the holders of the Deferred Sterling Shares. | ||
Share Class Rights |
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The Articles provide that: | ||
(1) the rights of any class of shares may only be changed
with the consent in writing of 75 percent of the total
nominal value of shares of that class or by a special resolution
passed at a separate class meeting of the holders of the
relevant class of shares;
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The rights attached to any class or series may be amended with the written consent of the holders of 75 percent of the issued shares of the class or series being affected or with the sanction of a resolution passed by 75 percent of the votes cast at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of the class or series. | |
(2) the quorum required for the separate class meetings
is at least two people who hold, or act as proxies for, at least
one third of the total nominal value of the existing shares of
the class, except that at any adjournment of a class meeting one
shareholder constitutes a quorum, regardless of the number of
shares that person holds; and
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(3) every holder of shares of a class having a separate
class meeting is entitled, on a poll, to one vote in respect of
each share held.
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Shareholders Votes on Certain Transactions | ||
The Companies Act provides for schemes of arrangement, which are arrangements or compromises between a company and any class of shareholders or creditors and used in certain types of reconstructions, amalgamations, capital reorganisations or takeovers. These arrangements require the approval of (1) at special meetings convened by order of the court, a majority in number of each class of shareholders or creditors representing 75 percent in value of the capital held by or debt owed to that class present and voting in person or by proxy, and (2) the court. | Invesco Ltd. may acquire the business of another Bermuda company or a company incorporated outside Bermuda. Pursuant to the Bye-laws, the company may, with the approval of the Board of Directors and, except in the case of certain amalgamations with and between wholly-owned Bermudian subsidiaries, the affirmative vote of at least the required majority of all of the shareholders of the amalgamating company (whether or not, in respect of any given class of shares, such class ordinarily carries the right to vote) at a general meeting at which a quorum is present, amalgamate with another Bermuda company or with a body incorporated outside Bermuda. | |
Once approved, sanctioned and becoming effective, all shareholders and creditors of the relevant class and the company are bound by the terms of the scheme, and a dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights provided under the corporate laws of most US states. |
As a Bermuda company, Invesco Ltd. may enter into certain
business transactions with significant shareholders, including
asset sales, in which a significant shareholder receives, or
could receive, a financial benefit that is greater than that
received, or to be received, by other shareholders with prior
approval from the Board of Directors but without obtaining prior
approval from the companys shareholders. |
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Additional limitations are described below under Takeover of Public Companies. |
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Under the rules of the UK Listing Authority, shareholder approval: | ||
(1) is usually required for an acquisition or
disposal by a listed company if, generally, the size of the
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company or business to be acquired or disposed of represents 25 percent or more of the assets, profits, turnover or gross capital of the listed company or if the consideration to be paid represents 25 percent or more of the aggregate market value of the listed companys equity shares; and | ||
(2) may also be required for an acquisition or
disposal of assets between a listed company and parties,
including:
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(a) directors or shadow directors of
the company or its subsidiaries;
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(b) any person who is, or was in the
last 12 months preceding the date of the transaction, a
holder of 10 percent or more of the nominal value of any
class of the companys or any holding companys or its
subsidiarys shares having the right to vote; or
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(c) any of their affiliates.
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Rights of Inspection | ||
Except when closed pursuant to the Companies Act, the register and index of names of shareholders of an English company may be inspected during business hours (1) for free, by its shareholders, and (2) for a fee by any member of the public. | Members of the general public have the right to inspect Invesco Ltd.s public documents available at the office of the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda and the companys registered office in Bermuda, which will include the companys memorandum of association (including its objects and powers) and any alteration to the memorandum of association and documents relating to any increase or reduction of authorised capital. Shareholders have the additional right to inspect the Bye-laws, minutes of general meetings and audited annual financial statements, which must be presented to the annual general meeting of shareholders. The register of shareholders is also open to inspection by shareholders or members of the public without charge, and copies are to be provided on request with the payment of the appropriate fee. Invesco Ltd. is also required to maintain a share register in Bermuda but, after the shares are listed on the NYSE and giving the required notice to the Bermuda Registrar of Companies, the company may establish a branch register outside of Bermuda. Invesco Ltd. is required to keep at the registered office a register of the companys directors and officers (containing that information required under Bermuda law), which is open for inspection by members of the public without charge. Bermuda law does not, however, provide a general right for shareholders to inspect or obtain copies of any other corporate records. | |
In both cases, the documents may be copied for a fee. | ||
The shareholders of an English public company may also inspect,
without charge, (1) minutes of meetings of the shareholders
and obtain copies of the minutes for a |
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fee and (2) service contracts of the companys directors and obtain copies of the contracts for a fee. | ||
In addition, the published annual accounts of a public company are required to be available for shareholders at a general meeting and a shareholder is entitled to a copy of these accounts. | ||
The shareholders of INVESCO PLC do not have rights to inspect the accounting records of INVESCO PLC or minutes of meetings of its Directors. | ||
Standard of Conduct for Directors | ||
Under English law, a director has fiduciary and certain
statutory duties. The general statutory duties of directors
are: (1) to act in accordance with their powers; (2) to promote the success of the company; (3) to exercise independent judgement; (4) to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence; (5) to avoid conflicts of interest; (6) not to accept benefits from third parties; and (7) to declare interests in proposed transactions with the company. In promoting the success of the company, the Directors must have regard to the following factors: (1) the likely long term consequences of decisions; (2) the interests of employees; (3) the need to foster business relationships with suppliers, customers and others; (4) the impact of operations on the environment; (5) maintaining high standards of business conduct; and (6) the need to act fairly between members of the company. INVESCO PLCs Board currently consists of eight members, two of whom are executive officers of INVESCO PLC. |
Under Bermuda common law, members of a board of directors owe a
fiduciary duty to a company to act in good faith in their
dealings with or on behalf of such company and to exercise their
powers and fulfil the duties of their office honestly. This duty
has the following essential elements: a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of such company; a duty not to make a personal profit from opportunities that arise from the office of director; a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. The Bermuda Companies Act imposes a duty on directors and officers of a Bermuda company: to act honestly and in good faith, with a view to the best interests of such company; and to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In addition, the Bermuda Companies Act imposes various duties on officers of a company with respect to certain matters of management and administration of such company. The Bermuda Companies Act provides that in any proceedings for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against any officer, if it appears to a court that such officer is or may be liable in respect of the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, but that he has acted honestly and reasonably, and that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, including those connected with his appointment, he ought fairly to be excused for the negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, such court may relieve him, either wholly or partly, from any liability on such terms as such court may think fit. This provision has been interpreted to apply only to actions brought by or on behalf of a company against such officers. The Bye-laws, however, provide that each of the companys present and future shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that such shareholder might have, individually or in the right of the company, against any of the directors, officers or employees for any act or failure to act in the performance of the duties of such |
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director, officer or employee, provided that this waiver does
not extend to any matter in which such director, officer or
employee is found, by a court of competent jurisdiction in a
final judgment or decree not subject to appeal, guilty of any
fraud or dishonesty in relation to the company. |
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Under Bermuda law and the Bye-laws, a transaction entered into by Invesco Ltd., in which a director has an interest, will not be avoidable by the company, and such director will not be liable to the company for any profit realised pursuant to such transaction, provided |
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the nature of the interest is duly disclosed to the Board of Directors or an appropriate Board committee. In addition, the Bye-laws allow a director to be taken into account in determining whether a quorum is present and to vote on a transaction in which the director has an interest following a declaration of the interest to the Board of Directors or an appropriate Board committee, provided that the director is not disqualified from doing so by the chairman of the meeting. | ||
Classification of the Board of Directors | ||
While English law permits a company to provide for terms of different length for its directors, the Articles do not provide for any such differentiation. The Articles provide that, at each annual general meeting, all directors who were elected since the immediately preceding annual general meeting or last re-elected at or before the annual general meeting held in the third calendar year before will retire from office. These retired directors will be eligible for re-election at that annual general meeting. | The Bye-laws provide that the number of directors will be determined by the Board of Directors. After the Scheme becomes effective, the Board of Directors will consist of the same nine persons currently serving as directors and will be divided into three classes. Each Director generally will serve a three year term, with termination staggered according to class. | |
Majority Voting for Directors | ||
Under English law, at any general meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at which a quorum is present, director nominees receiving a majority of votes cast at the meeting will be elected as directors, provided that every such appointment must be voted on individually by a single resolution unless otherwise agreed by a previous resolution. The shareholders may also by a majority of votes remove a director and appoint another person as a director in his place, provided that special notice of the resolution to remove the director should be given to the company at least 28 days before the meeting at which it is moved. | Under the Bye-laws, at any general meeting held for the purpose of electing directors at which a quorum is present, each director nominee receiving a majority of the votes cast at the meeting will be elected as a director. If a nominee for director who is an incumbent director is not elected and no successor has been elected at the meeting, the director is required under the Bye-laws to submit his or her resignation as a director. Invesco Ltd.s Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will then recommend to the full Board whether to accept or reject the resignation. The Board is required to act on the resignation and to publicly disclose its decision within 90 days of the certification of the election results. If the resignation is not accepted by the Board, the director will continue to serve until the next annual general meeting and until his or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal. If the directors resignation is accepted by the Board, or if a nominee for director is not elected and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board may fill the vacancy. | |
However, if the number of nominees exceeds the number of positions available for the election of | ||
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directors, the directors so elected shall be those nominees who have received the greatest number of votes and at least a majority of the votes cast in person or by proxy. | ||
Removal of Directors | ||
Under the Companies Act, shareholders may remove a director without cause by ordinary resolution, irrespective of any provisions of the companys articles of association or of the service contract the director has with the company, provided that 28 clear days notice of the resolution is given to the company. See Classification of the Board of Directors above. | Shareholders may remove a director only for cause (defined in Invesco Ltd.s Bye-laws to mean wilful misconduct or gross negligence which is materially injurious to Invesco Ltd., (2) fraud or embezzlement or (3) a conviction of, or a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony) by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast at a general meeting, provided that the notice of any such meeting convened for the purpose of removing a director shall contain a statement of the intention to do so and shall be provided to that director at least 14 days before the meeting. | |
Vacancies on the Board of Directors | ||
Under English law, shareholders may by ordinary resolution, at a
meeting at which any director retires, appoint a person to be a
director: (1) to fill a vacancy; or (2) to become an additional director, subject to any maximum provided in the companys articles of association. |
Vacancies on the Board of Directors can be filled by the Board
of Directors if the vacancy occurs as a result of, among other
things, death, disability, disqualification or resignation of a
director, or an increase in the size of the Board of Directors.
Shareholders have the right to fill a vacancy created by the
removal of a director for cause at the meeting at which the
director is removed. |
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The Board of Directors has the power to appoint a director to serve until the next annual general meeting of the company, whereupon the director concerned is required to retire but will be eligible for election. |
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Liability of Directors and Officers | ||
English law does not permit a company to exempt any director or
officer of the company or any person employed by the company as
an auditor from any liability arising from negligence, default,
breach of duty or breach of trust against the company. However, a company may by ordinary resolution ratify a directors conduct amounting to negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust. |
The Bye-laws provide that none of Invesco Ltd.s officers, directors or employees will be personally liable to Invesco Ltd. or its shareholders for any action or failure to act to the fullest extent permitted by law. | |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers | ||
English law does not permit a company to indemnify: (1) a director or officer of the company or of an associated company; or (2) any person employed by the company as an auditor against any liability arising from negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the company of which he is a director, officer or auditor, except that indemnification is allowed for liabilities: |
Pursuant to the Bye-laws, Invesco Ltd. will indemnify its officers, directors and employees to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law. Such indemnity will extend, without limitation, to any matter in which an officer, director or employee of Invesco Ltd. may be guilty of negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to Invesco Ltd. or any of its subsidiaries, but will not extend to any matter in which such officer, director or employee is found, by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or decree not subject to appeal, guilty of any fraud or dishonesty in relation to Invesco Ltd. | |
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(1) defending any proceeding in which judgment is entered in favour of the director or officer or the director or officer is acquitted; or
(2) proceedings in which the director or officer is held liable, but the court finds that he acted honestly and reasonably and that relief should be granted.
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The Bermuda Companies Act enables companies to purchase and maintain, and the Bye-laws permit Invesco Ltd. to purchase and maintain, insurance for directors and officers against any liability arising from negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against the company.
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The Articles provide that, to the extent permitted by the
Companies Act, every director or other officer is to be
indemnified against liabilities he incurs in the actual or
purported discharge of his duties or exercise of his power. |
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The Companies Act enables companies to purchase and maintain insurance for directors, officers and auditors against any liability arising from negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust against the company. INVESCO PLC maintains directors and officers insurance. |
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Shareholders Suits | ||
The Companies Act permits a shareholder whose name is on the
register of shareholders of the company to apply for a court
order (1) when the companys affairs are being or
have been conducted in a manner unfairly prejudicial to the
interests of all or some shareholders, including the shareholder
making the claim, or (2) when any actual or proposed
act or omission of the company is or would be so prejudicial. A
court has wide discretion in granting relief, and may authorise
civil proceedings to be brought in the name of the company by a
shareholder on terms that the court directs. English law also permits lawsuits by shareholders on behalf of the company or on behalf of other shareholders in circumstances where there is an actual or proposed act or omission involving negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust by a director of the company. Before such proceedings can be brought, the applicant is required to show a prima facie case against the defendant and the claim can only proceed with the Courts permission. In order to become a shareholder and enforce these rights under English law, holders of INVESCO PLC ADSs will be required to withdraw from the Depositary at least one of their INVESCO PLC Shares underlying the INVESCO PLC ADSs. |
Class actions and derivative actions are generally not available to shareholders under the laws of Bermuda. However, the Bermuda courts ordinarily would be expected to follow English case law precedent, which would permit a shareholder to commence an action in Invesco Ltd.s name to remedy a wrong done to the company where the act complained of is alleged to be beyond Invesco Ltd.s corporate power or is illegal or would result in the violation of the memorandum of association or Bye-laws. Furthermore, consideration would be given by the court to acts that are alleged to constitute a fraud against the minority shareholders or where an act requires the approval of a greater percentage of shareholders than actually approved it. The winning party in such an action generally would be able to recover a portion of attorneys fees incurred in connection with such action. The Bye-laws provide that all present and future shareholders waive all claims or rights of action that they might have, individually or in the right of the company, against any of the companys directors, officers or employees for any action or failure to act in the performance of the duties of such director, officer or employee, except that such waiver does not extend to any matter in which such director, officer or employee is found, by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or decree not subject to appeal, guilty of any fraud or dishonesty in relation to the company. | |
Takeovers of Public Companies | ||
A takeover of INVESCO PLC would be regulated by the UK Takeover Code administered by the Takeover Panel, a body consisting of representatives of the City of London financial and professional institutions, which oversees the conduct of takeovers.
The Takeover Code provides that the person making an offer is obliged to comply with a strict takeover timetable and that he is also restricted in his ability to |
There is no equivalent to the Takeover Code in Bermuda. However, directors have fiduciary duties similar to UK law to act in the best interests of the company as a whole.
The Bye-laws also contain certain provisions that may impede or delay an unsolicited takeover of the company under certain circumstances. For example, under the Bye-laws: |
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make announcements and, having made a relevant announcement, is
obliged to adhere to the terms thereof. All shareholders of the target company must be treated equally and, as such, special or favourable deals between the person making the offer and the shareholders of a target company are prohibited. The Takeover Code imposes a high degree of transparency by requiring, amongst others, the person making the offer, the target company and their respective associates to disclose publicly their dealings in relevant securities. If the person making the offer fails to complete an offer, he is prohibited from making another offer within twelve months. The Takeover Code provides that when (1) any person acquires, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, shares which, together with shares held or acquired by persons acting in concert with him, represent 30 percent or more of the voting rights of a public company, or (2) any person, together with persons acting in concert with him, holds at least 30 percent but not more than 50 percent of the voting rights and that person, or any person acting in concert with him, acquires any additional shares, the person must generally make an offer for all of the equity shares of the company, whether voting or non-voting, and any class of voting non-equity shares of the company held by that person or any person acting in concert with him, for cash, or accompanied by a cash alternative, at not less than the highest price paid by the persons or these persons for the relevant shares during the 12 months preceding the date of the offer. Under English law, directors of a company have a fiduciary duty to take only those actions that are in the interests of the company as a whole. Generally, anti-takeover measures are not actions that fall within this category. Under the Takeover Code, a company is prohibited from taking any action without the approval of its shareholders at a general meeting after: (1) a bona fide offer has been communicated to its board of directors; or (2) its board of directors believes that a bona fide offer is imminent, if such action could effectively result in the offer being frustrated or the shareholders being denied an opportunity to decide on its merits. |
Invesco Ltd. is prohibited from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination (as defined in the Bye- laws) with any interested shareholder (as defined in the Bye- laws) for three years following the date that the shareholder became an interested shareholder. A business combination is defined to include, among other things, a merger or consolidation involving
the company and the interested shareholder and a sale of more than 10 percent of the companys assets. In general, an interested shareholder is defined as any entity or person beneficially owning 15 percent or more of the companys outstanding voting stock and any entity or person affiliated with or associated with that entity or person;
the board of directors, without further shareholder action, is permitted by the Bye-laws to issue preference shares, in one or more series, and determine by resolution any designations, preferences, qualifications, privileges, limitations, restrictions, or special or relative rights of additional series. The rights of preferred shareholders may supersede the rights of common shareholders;
the board of directors is classified into three classes with the election years of the members of each class staggered such that the members of only one of the three classes are elected each year. In addition, shareholders may only remove directors for cause (as defined in the Bye-laws);
the board of directors is authorised to expand its size and fill vacancies; and
shareholders cannot act by written consent unless the consent is unanimous.
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The Companies Act 2006 provides (1) that, where a takeover offer is made for the shares of a company incorporated under the Companies Act, and (2) at any time before the end of the period within which the offer can be accepted, the offeror has acquired or contracted to acquire at least 90 percent in value of the shares of any class to which the offer relates, the offeror may require shareholders who do not accept the offer to transfer their shares on the terms of the offer. A dissenting shareholder | Bermuda law provides that, where an offer is made for shares of a company and, within four months of the offer, the holders of not less than 90 percent of the shares which are the subject of the offer accept, the offeror may by notice require the non-tendering shareholders to transfer their shares on the terms of the offer. Dissenting shareholders may apply to the court within one month of the notice, objecting to the transfer. The burden is on the dissenting shareholders to show that the | |
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may object to the transfer or its proposed terms by applying to the court within six weeks of the date on which notice of the transfer was given. In the absence of fraud or oppression, the court is unlikely to order that the acquisition shall not take effect, but it may specify terms of the transfer that it finds appropriate. A minority shareholder is also entitled in these circumstances, in the alternative, to require the offeror to acquire his shares on the terms of the offer. | court should exercise its discretion to enjoin the required transfer, which the court will be unlikely to do unless there is evidence of fraud or bad faith or collusion between the offeror and the holders of the shares who have accepted the offer as a means of unfairly forcing out minority shareholders. | |
Disclosure of Interests |
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The Disclosure and Transparency Directive 2004/109/EC provides that anyone who acquires a material interest or becomes aware that he has acquired a material interest in 3 percent or more of any class of shares of a public companys issued share capital carrying rights to vote at general shareholder meetings must notify that company in writing of his interest within two days. Thereafter, any increase or decrease of a whole percentage or decrease that reduces the interest to below 3 percent must be notified in writing to the company. |
There is no similar legislation in Bermuda that would require disclosure of material interests in a Bermuda company.
However, since Invesco Ltd. Shares will be registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act, beneficial owners of more than 5 percent of any class of the companys shares that are registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act must be reported along with specified information to the SEC by filing a Schedule 13G or 13D. The companys common shares will be registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act. |
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This requirement applies to holders of INVESCO PLC Shares. |
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In addition, the Companies Act provides that a public company may, by notice in writing, require a person whom the company knows or reasonably believes to be, or to have been within the three preceding years, interested in the companys issued voting share capital to (1) confirm whether this is or is not the case, and (2) if this is the case, to give further information that the company requires relating to his interest or any other interest in the companys shares of which he is aware. |
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The disclosure must be made within a reasonable period as specified in the relevant notice which may be as short as one or two days. |
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Holding INVESCO PLC ADSs will generally constitute holding an interest in the underlying INVESCO PLC Shares and subject such holders to the requirements described above. |
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When the notice is served by a company on a person who is or was interested in shares of the company and that person fails to give the company any information required by the notice within the time specified in the notice, the company may apply to the court for an order directing that the shares in question be subject to restrictions prohibiting, among other things: |
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(1) any transfer of the shares; |
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(2) the exercise of voting rights;
(3) the issue of further shares; and
(4) other than in a liquidation, dividends and other payments
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Subject to exceptions in limited circumstances, any agreement
to transfer shares which are subject to
restriction (1) above is void. In respect of an
interest in shares that is less than 0.25 percent of the
relevant class of shares in a company whose shares are traded on
the London Stock Exchange, the restrictions extend only to
prohibition on attending and voting at shareholders
meetings. |
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The Articles provide that the INVESCO PLC Board may impose the restrictions on shareholders set forth in the above paragraph, which restrictions are normally imposed by the court in the event a notice is served. In addition, holders of INVESCO PLC ADSs are required to comply with specified US securities law requirements, including filing Schedules 13D with respect to their beneficial ownership of the underlying INVESCO PLC Shares if they beneficially hold more than 5 percent of the issued INVESCO PLC Shares outstanding. |
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INVESCO PLC is required by the listing rules of the UK Listing Authority to disclose in its annual report the identity and share interests of its Directors and any persons connected with them, as defined in the Companies Act, and of any person with an interest of 3 percent or more of its ordinary shares, including ordinary shares underlying INVESCO PLC ADSs. |
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Short Swing Profits |
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Directors of INVESCO PLC are subject to applicable UK legislation prohibiting insider dealing and market abuse.
In addition, as a result of losing foreign private issuer status in the United States, INVESCO PLCs directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of any class of its securities that are registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act are subject to the short- swing profit and reporting obligations under the US securities laws and, as such, may be required to disgorge any profits such persons realised as a result of buying and selling such securities within any six month period. |
Directors, executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10 percent of any class of Invesco Ltd.s securities that are registered under section 12 of the Exchange Act will continue to be subject to the short- swing profit and reporting obligations under the US securities laws. They will also be subject to the UK legislation prohibiting insider dealing and market
abuse.
However, following the Scheme becoming effective, directors of Invesco Ltd. will not be required to comply with the Model Code of the UK Listing Authority that has been adopted by INVESCO PLC. |
|
In addition, the Directors have to comply with the Model Code of the UK Listing Authority that has been adopted by INVESCO PLC, which provides that the considerations taken into account by directors when deciding whether or not to deal in shares of the company of which they are a director must not be of a short-term nature. The Model Code also places additional restrictions on trading during periods prior to announcement of a companys results or when in the possession of inside information. |
||
Proxy Statements, Notices and Reports to Shareholders |
||
INVESCO PLC is governed by the Companies Act and the listing rules of the UK Listing Authority regulating notices of shareholder meetings, which generally | Invesco Ltd. will not be subject to the requirements of the Companies Act or the requirements of the UK Listing Authority relating to the content of notices to |
46
provide that notice of a shareholder meeting must be accompanied by (1) a shareholder circular containing an explanation of the purpose of the meeting, and (2) the recommendations of the board of directors with respect to actions to be taken. |
shareholders. However, it will continue to be subject to the US
securities rules and will be subject to the Bermuda Companies
Act. |
|
Invesco Ltd. will not be subject to the requirements of the Companies Act or the requirements of the UK Listing Authority relating to the content of notices to shareholders. However, it will continue to be subject to the US securities rules. | ||
As a result of losing foreign private issuer status in the United States, INVESCO PLC is now also required to comply with US securities rules relating to disclosures required in connection with and certain other matters relating to the delivery of materials for both annual general meetings and special general meetings and the solicitation of proxies in connection therewith | ||
In addition, INVESCO PLC sends INVESCO PLC Shareholders a copy of its annual report and accounts or a summary thereof. | ||
In addition, under the Listing Rules, INVESCO PLC currently, depending on their size and importance, is required to send to shareholders details relating to certain acquisitions, dispositions, takeovers, mergers and offers either made by or in respect of the Company. | ||
Reporting Requirements |
||
As a result of losing foreign private issuer status in the United States, INVESCO PLC is now required to comply with US securities rules relating to the periodic reporting of information regarding INVESCO PLC. These disclosures include annual reports on Form 10-K that must be filed with the SEC after the end of each fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that must be filed with the SEC after the end of each fiscal quarter and current reports on Form 8-K that must be filed with the SEC promptly following the occurrence of certain specified events. | Invesco Ltd. will continue to be required to comply with the US securities rules. | |
INVESCO PLC is required to notify the UK Listing Authority of: | ||
(1) any major new developments relating to its business
which are not public knowledge and may lead to a substantial
movement in its share price;
|
||
(2) notifications received by it from persons holding an
interest in 3 percent or more of any class of the
Companys share capital;
|
||
(3) any changes in its Board of Directors;
|
||
(4) any purchase or redemption by it of its own equity
securities;
|
||
(5) interests of Directors in its shares or debentures;
and
|
||
(6) changes in its capital structure.
|
47
1. | The Scheme will be conditional upon: |
(a) | approval of the Scheme by a majority in number of those holders of INVESCO PLC Shares who are present and vote either in person or by proxy at the Court Meeting and who represent 75 percent or more in value of all INVESCO PLC Shares held by such shareholders and which are voted at the Court Meeting; | |
(b) | the first special resolution set out in the notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting, being duly passed by the requisite majority at the Extraordinary General Meeting. This resolution includes the following: |
(i) | the share capital of the Company be reduced by cancelling and extinguishing all of the Scheme Shares; | |
(ii) | upon such reduction of capital taking effect, the authorised capital of the Company be increased to its former amount by the creation of such number of INVESCO PLC Shares as shall be equal to the number of Scheme Shares cancelled and the reserve arising in the books of account of the Company as a result of such reduction of capital be capitalised and applied in paying up at par the INVESCO PLC Shares. These shares are to be issued to Invesco Ltd.; | |
(iii) | the directors be authorised to make the allotments referred to above; | |
(iv) | further, the Articles of Association be amended to ensure that any INVESCO PLC Shares issued after the INVESCO PLC Meetings are compulsorily brought within the provisions of the Scheme or, if issued after the Scheme becomes effective, are compulsorily transferred to Invesco Ltd. on the same terms; |
(c) | the sanction (with or without modification agreed by INVESCO PLC and Invesco Ltd.) of the Scheme and the confirmation of the reduction of capital involved therein by the Court and office copies of the Court Orders and the minute of such reduction attached thereto being delivered for registration to the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales and, in relation to the Capital Reduction, being registered; and | |
(d) | all necessary approvals or consents for the implementation of the Scheme from all relevant authorities having been obtained by Invesco Ltd., INVESCO PLC and other group companies (as relevant). |
2. | The Company and Invesco Ltd. have agreed that the Scheme will not be implemented unless immediately prior to the First Court Hearing the following conditions are satisfied or waived as referred to below: |
(a) | the listing of the Invesco Ltd. Shares shall have been approved, subject to notices of issuance, by the NYSE; and |
(b) | INVESCO PLC shall have been satisfied that it has such consents as it may determine to be appropriate in order to effect the group reorganisation referred to in paragraph 2.4 of Part II of this document. |
48
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE | No. 7542 of 2007 |
(A) | In this Scheme, unless inconsistent with the subject or context, the following expressions bear the following meanings: |
business day | a day on which London Stock Exchange plc is open for the transaction of business; | |
certificated
or in certificated form |
not in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST); | |
Companies Act | the Companies Act 1985 (as amended); | |
Company | INVESCO PLC, incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 308372; | |
Court | the High Court of Justice in England and Wales; | |
Court Meeting | the meeting of the holders of the Scheme Shares convened by order of the Court pursuant to section 425 of the Companies Act to consider and, if thought fit, approve this Scheme, including any adjournment thereof; | |
CREST | the system for the paperless settlement of trades in securities and the holding of uncertificated securities operated by Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited in accordance with the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001; | |
Effective Date | the date on which this Scheme becomes effective in accordance with Clause 8; | |
holder | includes a person entitled by transmission; | |
Invesco Ltd. | Invesco Ltd., a company incorporated in Bermuda with registration number 40671; | |
Invesco Ltd. Shares | common shares of par value US$0.10 each in the capital of Invesco Ltd. or, following the Share Capital Consolidation, common shares of par value US$0.20 each in the capital of Invesco Ltd. (as the context requires); |
49
INVESCO PLC Shares | ordinary shares of US$0.10 each in the capital of the Company; | |
Reduction Record Time | the time one hour before the commencement of the Second Court Hearing; | |
Scheme | this scheme of arrangement in its present form or with or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed to by the Company and Invesco Ltd.; | |
Scheme Record Time | 5:00 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the Effective Date; | |
Scheme Shares | (i) the INVESCO PLC Shares in issue at the date of this Scheme; | |
(ii) any INVESCO PLC Shares issued after the date of this Scheme and before the Voting Record Time; | ||
(iii) any INVESCO PLC Shares issued at or after the Voting Record Time and before the Reduction Record Time in respect of which the original or any subsequent holders thereof are, or shall have agreed in writing to be, bound by this Scheme; | ||
Second Court Hearing | the hearing of the Court for the confirmation of the reduction of capital provided for in Clause 1; | |
Share Capital Consolidation | the consolidation of every two common shares of par value US$0.10 each in the capital of Invesco Ltd. into one common share of par value US$0.20 in the capital of Invesco Ltd., which is expected to take place after this Scheme becomes effective; | |
uncertificated
or in uncertificated form |
recorded on the relevant register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which may be transferred by virtue of CREST; | |
United States | the United States of America including each state therein, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and each of the other territories and possessions of the United States of America; and | |
Voting Record Time | 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of the Court Meeting or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of such adjourned meeting, |
(B) | The authorised share capital of the Company at the date of this Scheme is US$105,000,000 and £50,000.25 divided into 1,050,000,000 ordinary shares of US$0.10 each, 50,000 deferred sterling shares, and one special voting share of 25 pence. As at the close of business on 19 October 2007, 835,651,718 ordinary shares, 50,000 deferred sterling shares and one special voting share had been issued and were credited as fully paid, 10,560,948 ordinary shares were held in treasury and the remainder of the ordinary shares were unissued. |
(C) | Invesco Ltd. was incorporated on 12 September 2007 with its present name under the laws of Bermuda as an exempted company. The authorised share capital of Invesco Ltd. at the date of this Scheme is US$10 divided into 100 shares of par value US$0.10 each, all of which have been issued and are credited as fully paid. |
(D) | Invesco Ltd. has agreed to appear by Counsel on the hearing to sanction this Scheme and to submit to be bound by and to undertake to the Court to execute and do or procure to be executed and done all such documents, acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to be executed or done by it for the purpose of giving effect to this Scheme. |
50
1 | Cancellation of the Scheme Shares |
1.1 | The capital of the Company shall be reduced by cancelling and extinguishing the Scheme Shares. |
1.2 | Subject to and forthwith upon the said reduction of capital taking effect: |
1.2.1 | the authorised share capital of the Company shall be increased to its former amount by the creation of such number of new INVESCO PLC Shares as shall be equal to the number of Scheme Shares cancelled pursuant to Clause 1.1; and | |
1.2.2 | the reserve arising in the books of account of the Company as a result of the said reduction of capital shall be capitalised and applied in paying up in full at par the new INVESCO PLC Shares created pursuant to Clause 1.2.1 which shall be allotted and issued credited as fully paid to Invesco Ltd. and/or its nominee(s). |
2 | Consideration for cancellation of the Scheme Shares |
2.1 | In consideration for the cancellation of the Scheme Shares and the allotment and issue of the new INVESCO PLC Shares as provided in Clause 1, Invesco Ltd. shall (subject to the remaining provisions of this Scheme) allot and issue to the holders of the Scheme Shares (as appearing in the register of members of the Company at the Scheme Record Time) (other than the Company) one Invesco Ltd. Share, credited as fully paid at par, for every Scheme Share then held by them. |
2.2 | The Invesco Ltd. Shares to be issued pursuant to this Clause 2 shall rank pari passu in all respects with all other fully paid Invesco Ltd. Shares in issue on the Effective Date. |
3 | Overseas Shareholders |
3.1 | The provisions of Clause 2 shall be subject to any prohibition or condition imposed by law. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if, in respect of any holder of Scheme Shares with a registered address in a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or the United States or whom Invesco Ltd. reasonably believes to be a citizen, resident or national of a jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom or the United States, Invesco Ltd. is advised that the allotment and/or issue of Invesco Ltd. Shares pursuant to Clause 2 would or might infringe the laws of such jurisdiction or would or might require Invesco Ltd. to comply with any governmental or other consent or any registration, filing or other formality with which Invesco Ltd. is unable to comply or compliance with which Invesco Ltd. regards as unduly onerous, Invesco Ltd. may in its sole discretion determine that such Invesco Ltd. Shares (or any shares in the capital of Invesco Ltd. resulting from the consolidation of such shares) shall be sold, in which event the Invesco Ltd. Shares shall be issued to such holder and Invesco Ltd. shall appoint a person to act pursuant to this Clause 3.1 and such person shall be authorised on behalf of such holder to procure that any shares in respect of which Invesco Ltd. has made such determination shall, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, be sold. |
3.2 | Any sale under Clause 3.1 shall be carried out at the best price which can reasonably be obtained at the time of sale and the net proceeds of such sale (after the deduction of all expenses and commissions incurred in connection with such sale, including value added tax) shall be paid to the persons entitled thereto in accordance with their entitlements. To give effect to any sale under Clause 3.1, the person appointed by Invesco Ltd. in accordance with Clause 3.1 shall be authorised as attorney on behalf of the holder concerned to execute and deliver as transferor an instrument or instruction of transfer and to give such instructions and to do all other things which he may consider necessary or expedient in connection with such sale. In the absence of bad faith or wilful default, none of the Company, Invesco Ltd. or the person so appointed shall have any liability for any loss or damage arising as a result of the timing or terms of such sale. |
4 | Issue of Invesco Ltd. Shares |
51
5 | Settlement |
5.1 | Contingently upon the allotment and issue of Invesco Ltd. Shares pursuant to Clause 4 and the requisite entries having been made in the register of members of Invesco Ltd., settlement of the Invesco Ltd. Shares shall be effected as follows: |
5.1.1 | if the Share Capital Consolidation has not been effected by 6:00 p.m. on the date three business days after the Effective Date, all of the Invesco Ltd. Shares will be settled in certificated form in the manner set out in Clause 5.3; and | |
5.1.2 | if the Share Capital Consolidation has been effected by 6:00 p.m. on the date three business days after the Effective Date, the Invesco Ltd. Shares will be settled as set out in Clause 5.2. |
5.2 | Where Invesco Ltd. Shares are to be settled pursuant to Clause 5.1.2 it shall be on the basis of one Invesco Ltd. Share for every two Invesco Ltd. Shares issued under Clause 4 and, therefore, for every two Scheme Shares and; |
5.2.1 | in the case of Scheme Shares which at the Scheme Record Time are in certificated form, Invesco Ltd. will settle the relevant Invesco Ltd. Shares in book entry (uncertificated) form under the direct registration system in the United States and deliver written notification of the relevant holding in book entry form to the persons entitled thereto on or as soon as reasonably practicable after, and in any event within 14 days of, the Effective Date; | |
5.2.2 | in the case of Scheme Shares which at the Scheme Record Time are in uncertificated form, Invesco Ltd. will settle the relevant Invesco Ltd. Shares to CREST International Nominees account at the Depositary Trust and Clearing Corporation , CREST Depositary Limited will then issue Invesco Ltd. CREST depositary interests to the appropriate accounts in CREST of the holders of the Scheme Shares and a statement of entitlement detailing the holding of CREST depositary interests will be sent to such holders of Scheme Shares on or as soon as reasonably practicable after, and in any event within 14 days of, the Effective Date; | |
5.2.3 | any fractional entitlements arising as a result of the Share Capital Consolidation will be aggregated and sold in the market and the net proceeds of sale will be paid to the relevant holders in due proportions by cheque in accordance with Clause 5.5 on or as soon as reasonably practicable after, and in any event within 14 days of, the Effective Date; |
5.3 | Where Invesco Ltd. Shares are to be settled in certificated form, Invesco Ltd. shall deliver the certificates for such shares to the persons entitled thereto as soon as reasonably practicable after, and in any event within 14 days of, the Effective Date. |
5.4 | All deliveries of notifications, statements, certificates or cheques shall be effected by sending the same by first class post in prepaid envelopes addressed to the persons respectively entitled thereto at their respective addresses as appearing in the register of members of the Company at the Scheme Record Time or, in the case of joint holders, at the address of that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in such register at the Scheme Record Time (except, in either case, as otherwise directed in writing) or in accordance with any special instructions regarding communications, and none of Invesco Ltd., the Company or the person appointed by Invesco Ltd. in accordance with Clause 3.1 shall be responsible for any loss or delay in the transmission of any notifications, statements, certificates or cheques sent in accordance with this Clause 5.4, which shall be sent at the risk of the persons entitled thereto. |
5.5 | All cheques shall be made payable to the persons respectively entitled to the moneys represented thereby (or, in the case of joint holders, to that one of the joint holders whose name stands first in the register of members of the Company in respect of such joint holding at the Scheme Record Time) or to such other persons (if any) as such persons may direct in writing and the encashment of any such cheque shall be a complete discharge to the Company for the moneys represented thereby. |
5.6 | The provisions of this Clause 5 shall be subject to any prohibition or condition imposed by law. |
52
6 | Certificates and Cancellations |
6.1 | all certificates representing Scheme Shares shall cease to have effect as documents of title to the Scheme Shares comprised therein and every holder of Scheme Shares shall be bound at the request of the Company to deliver up the same to the Company or as it may direct or to destroy the same; and |
6.2 | Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited shall be instructed to cancel the entitlements to Scheme Shares of holders of Scheme Shares in uncertificated form. |
7 | Mandates and other instructions |
8 | Effective Date |
8.1 | This Scheme shall become effective as soon as office copies of the orders of the Court sanctioning this Scheme under section 425 of the Companies Act and confirming under section 137 of the Companies Act the reduction of the capital of the Company provided for by this Scheme shall have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies in England and Wales for registration and, in the case of the confirmation of the reduction of capital, registered. |
8.2 | Unless this Scheme shall become effective on or before 30 June 2008, or such later date, if any, as the Company and Invesco Ltd. may agree and the Court may allow, this Scheme shall never become effective. |
9 | Modification |
53
1 | General Principles and Application of the Takeover Code |
1.1 | The General Principles of the Takeover Code |
(1) | All holders of the securities of an offeree company of the same class must be afforded equivalent treatment; moreover, if a person acquires control of a company, the other holders of securities must be protected. |
(2) | The holders of the securities of an offeree company must have sufficient time and information to enable them to reach a properly informed decision on the bid; where it advises the holders of securities, the board of the offeree company must give its views on the effects of implementation of the bid on employment, conditions of employment and the locations of the companys places of business. |
(3) | The board of an offeree company must act in the interests of the company as a whole and must not deny the holders of securities the opportunity to decide on the merits of the bid. |
(4) | False markets must not be created in the securities of the offeree company, of the offeror company or of any other company concerned by the bid in such a way that the rise or fall of the prices of the securities becomes artificial and the normal functioning of the markets is distorted. |
(5) | An offeror must announce a bid only after ensuring that it can fulfil in full any cash consideration, if such is offered, and after taking all reasonable measures to secure the implementation of any other type of consideration. |
(6) | An offeree company must not be hindered in the conduct of its affairs for longer than is reasonable by a bid for its securities. |
1.2 | Detailed Application of the Takeover Code |
(a) | Equality of treatment |
(b) | Information to shareholders |
(c) | The opinion of the offeree board and independent advice |
54
(d) | Optionholders and holders of convertible securities or subscription rights |
2 | Dividends |
3 | Indices |
4 | CREST Depositary Interests |
55
1 | Responsibility |
2 | Names of Directors |
Rex D. Adams | Chairman and Non-executive Director | |
Sir John Banham | Non-executive Director | |
Joseph R. Canion | Non-executive Director | |
Martin L. Flanagan | President and Chief Executive Officer and Director | |
Denis Kessler | Non-executive Director | |
Edward Lawrence | Non-executive Director | |
J. Thomas Presby | Non-executive Director | |
James I. Robertson | Senior Managing Director and Director |
3 | Incorporation of INVESCO PLC |
4 | Incorporation of Invesco Ltd. |
5 | Directors and Other Interests |
5.1 | Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. The information in this Part VII also complies with applicable UK rules. The percentage of beneficial ownership for each of the following INVESCO PLC Shareholders is based on 835,651,718 INVESCO PLC Shares outstanding as of 19 October 2007 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this document). It is anticipated that each INVESCO PLC Shareholder shall maintain the same percentage ownership in Invesco Ltd. as it had in INVESCO PLC at the |
56
Scheme Record Time subject to the issue of any new INVESCO PLC Shares pursuant to the exercise of options or the repurchase of Shares by INVESCO. |
Under FSA Rules2 | ||||||||||||
UK Non |
||||||||||||
Under SEC |
UK Beneficial |
Beneficial |
||||||||||
Rules1 | Disclosure | Disclosure | ||||||||||
Directors:
|
||||||||||||
Rex D. Adams
|
75,292 | 75,292 | ||||||||||
Sir John Banham
|
18,271 | 18,271 | ||||||||||
Joseph R. Canion
|
24,621 | 24,621 | ||||||||||
Martin L. Flanagan
|
1,756,850 | 5,718,749 | ||||||||||
Denis Kessler
|
13,064 | 13,064 | ||||||||||
Edward Lawrence
|
15,771 | 15,771 | ||||||||||
J. Thomas Presby
|
5,016 | 5,016 | ||||||||||
James I. Robertson
|
1,565,964 | 1,788,159 | ||||||||||
Chief Accounting Officer
|
| |||||||||||
David Hartley
|
358,858 | 338,241 | ||||||||||
Senior Managing Directors
|
| |||||||||||
G. Mark Armour
|
75,690 | 111,236 | | |||||||||
Kevin M. Carome
|
176,892 | 221,218 | | |||||||||
Andrew Lo
|
312,975 | 1,001,941 | | |||||||||
John Jack S. Markwalter
|
333,978 | 1,176,951 | | |||||||||
Colin D. Meadows
|
| 268,081 | | |||||||||
Loren M. Starr
|
62,078 | 572,549 | | |||||||||
Philip Taylor
|
376,286 | 23,386 | | |||||||||
Robert J. Yerbury
|
828,829 | 1,533,217 | | |||||||||
Aggregate ownership of Directors and Executive Officers (as a
group)
|
6,000,435 | 12,905,763 | |
1 | For the purposes of Item 403 of Regulation S-K, beneficial ownership includes rights to acquire shares within sixty days. Therefore, the percentage calculation includes shares beneficially owned for UK purposes plus shares under options and awards within sixty days of vesting. | |
2 | Includes INVESCO PLC shares held directly and via a nominee arrangement (or equivalent) including INVESCO PLC Shares allocated under the 2002 Share Incentive Plan and restricted stock under the Global Stock Plans. | |
3 | Includes options and deferred share awards under the Global Stock Plans. |
Percentage of |
||||||||
Number of |
total voting rights in |
|||||||
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
INVESCO PLC Shares | INVESCO PLC | ||||||
Wellington Management Co LLP
|
104,447,503 | 12.23 | ||||||
Franklin Resources Inc and its affiliates
|
60,110,981 | 7.04 | ||||||
Legal & General Investment Management
|
27,905,563 | 3.27 |
5.2 | Save as disclosed above, none of the Directors or their immediate families or any person connected with a Director within the meaning of sections 252, 254 and 255 of the Companies Act 2006 which would, if the connected person were a Director, be required to be notified in compliance with the Companies Act, and the existence of which is known to or could with reasonable diligence be ascertained by the Director had, at 19 October 2007 (the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document) or will have, so far as the Directors are aware, immediately following the Scheme becoming unconditional, any interest (beneficial or non-beneficial) in the INVESCO PLC Shares, which interest will then be required to be notified to INVESCO PLC pursuant to DTR 3.1.2 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules or entered in the register maintained by INVESCO PLC under the provisions of section 809 of the Companies Act. |
57
5.3 | Save as disclosed above, so far as is known to INVESCO PLC, no person is, directly or indirectly, interested in 3 percent or more of its issued share capital. |
5.4 | There are no arrangements under which any of the Directors has waived or agreed to waive future emoluments or under which the total emoluments of any Directors will be varied in consequence of the Proposal. |
6 | Accounting Treatment |
7 | Costs and Expenses of Transaction |
8 | Consent |
9 | Time |
10 | Future Shareholder Proposals |
10.1 | Proposals to be Submitted for the Proxy Statement for 2008 Annual General Meeting |
58
11 | Solicitation of Proxies |
12 | Documents Available for Inspection |
12.1 | the memorandum of association of INVESCO PLC and the Articles; |
12.2 | the memorandum of association and bye-laws of Invesco Ltd.; |
12.3 | the audited consolidated accounts of INVESCO PLC for the periods ended 31 December 2006, 31 December 2005 and 31 December 2004 and the unaudited half-yearly results for the six months ended 30 June 2007; |
12.4 | the written consents referred to in paragraph 8 of this Part VII; and |
12.5 | this document. |
59
£ or pounds sterling | the lawful currency of the UK being pounds sterling and p or pence shall mean one one-hundredth of one pound sterling | |
ADS Record Date | close of business in New York on 11 October 2007 | |
ADS Voting Instruction Card | the voting instruction card to be sent to INVESCO PLC ADS holders in connection with the Court Meeting and the EGM | |
Articles or Articles of Association | the articles of association of INVESCO PLC | |
Bermuda Companies Act | Companies Act of Bermuda 1981, as amended | |
Board | the board of directors of INVESCO PLC | |
business day | a day on which the London Stock Exchange is open for the transaction of business | |
Capita Registrars | Capita Registrars (a trading name of Capita Registrars Limited), The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU | |
Capita IRG Trustees Ltd | Capita IRG Trustees Limited, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU | |
Capital Reduction | the proposed reduction of share capital of INVESCO PLC provided for by the Scheme | |
certificated or in certificated form | not in uncertificated form (that is, not in CREST) | |
Certificated Holders or Holders of INVESCO PLC Shares in Certificated Form | INVESCO PLC Shareholders who hold INVESCO PLC Shares in certificated form | |
Code | the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended | |
Companies Act | the Companies Act 1985 (as amended) and the Companies Act 2006 (to the extent it is in force at the date of publication of this document) | |
Company or INVESCO PLC | INVESCO PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 308372 | |
Court | the High Court of Justice in England and Wales | |
Court Meeting | the meeting of the holders of the Scheme Shares convened by order of the Court pursuant to section 425 of the Companies Act to consider and, if thought fit, approve the Scheme, including any adjournment of such meeting | |
Court Orders | the orders of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under section 425 of the Companies Act and confirming the Capital Reduction under section 137 of the Companies Act | |
CREST | the system for the paperless settlement of trades in securities and the holding of uncertificated securities operated by Euroclear UK in accordance with the CREST Regulations | |
CREST Deed Poll | the deed poll executed by CREST Depository Limited governing CDIs | |
CREST International Manual | the CREST international manual which forms part of the CREST Manual (as amended from time to time) | |
CREST Manual | the CREST Manual issued by Euroclear UK as amended from time to time | |
CREST Regulations | the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001 No. 3755) (as amended from time to time) |
60
CREST Requirements | the requirements of Euroclear UK applicable to the relevant issuer, user or participant in CREST, as described in the CREST glossary of terms issued by Euroclear UK | |
Deposit Agreement | the amended and restated deposit agreement dated 8 November 2000 between INVESCO PLC, the Depositary and INVESCO PLC ADS holders, containing the terms applicable to the ADSs |
Depositary | The Bank of New York Mellon |
Director or Directors | a director or the directors of INVESCO PLC | |
Dollars, cents, US$ and $ | the lawful currency of the USA | |
DTCC | The Depository Trust and Clearing Company | |
Effective Date | the date on which the Scheme becomes effective | |
Euroclear UK | Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, the central securities depositary for the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey | |
Exchange Act | the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |
Extraordinary General Meeting or EGM | the extraordinary general meeting of INVESCO PLC, notice of which is set out at the end of this document, and any adjournment thereof | |
First Court Hearing | the hearing of the Court for the sanction of the Scheme | |
FSA | the Financial Services Authority (United Kingdom) | |
FSMA | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 of the United Kingdom, as amended | |
holder | includes a person entitled by transmission | |
IFRS | International Financial Reporting Standards as endorsed by the European Union | |
Invesco | INVESCO PLC and, as the context requires, its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings | |
Invesco Ltd. | Invesco Ltd., incorporated in Bermuda | |
Invesco Ltd. CDIs | CREST depositary interests each representing an entitlement to an Invesco Ltd. Share | |
Invesco Ltd. Shareholders | holders of Invesco Ltd. Shares | |
Invesco Ltd. Shares | common shares par value US$0.10 each in the capital of Invesco Ltd., or following the Share Capital Consolidation, common shares par value US$0.20 each in the capital of Invesco Ltd. | |
INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shareholders | the holders of INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shares | |
INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shares | shares in Invesco Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the province of Nova Scotia in Canada and an indirect subsidiary of INVESCO PLC. INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shares are exchangeable on a one-for-one basis into INVESCO PLC Shares | |
INVESCO PLC ADSs | American Depositary Shares, each representing one INVESCO PLC Share and evidenced by INVESCO PLC American Depositary Receipts quoted on NASDAQ | |
INVESCO PLC ADS holders | holders (including beneficial holders) of INVESCO PLC ADSs | |
INVESCO PLC Meetings | the Court Meeting and the Extraordinary General Meeting |
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INVESCO PLC Share Plans | the INVESCO PLC Global Stock Plans, the INVESCO PLC 2000 Share Option Plan, the INVESCO PLC No 3 Executive Share Option Scheme, the INVESCO PLC 1997 Sharesave Scheme, the INVESCO PLC International Sharesave Plan, the Irish Sharesave Scheme, the INVESCO PLC 2002 Share Incentive Plan, the Trimark Executive Stock Option Plan, the Perpetual Unapproved Share Option Scheme, the 2003 Share Option Plan (Canada) and the INVESCO PLC Wholesale Representative Deferred Plan, in each case as amended | |
INVESCO PLC Shareholders | persons registered in INVESCO PLCs register of members as holders of INVESCO PLC Shares | |
INVESCO PLC Shares | ordinary shares of US$0.10 each in the capital of INVESCO PLC | |
INVESCO PLC SV Share | the share of 25 pence in the capital of INVESCO PLC issued in connection with the issuance of INVESCO Inc. Exchangeable Shares | |
INVESCO PLC SV Shareholder | the person registered in INVESCO PLCs register of members as the holder of the INVESCO PLC SV Share | |
IRS | the US Internal Revenue Service | |
Listing Rules | the listing rules made by the UK Listing Authority under FSMA | |
London Stock Exchange or LSE | London Stock Exchange plc | |
NYSE | New York Stock Exchange LLC | |
Official List | the official list of UK listed securities maintained by the UK Listing Authority pursuant to FSMA | |
Panel | the Panel on Takeover and Mergers | |
£ | the lawful currency of the United Kingdom | |
Proposal | the proposed Scheme of Arrangement of INVESCO PLC, the delisting of the ordinary shares of INVESCO PLC from the LSE, the Share Capital Consolidation, the listing of the Invesco Ltd. Shares on the NYSE and the LSE and the subsequent intra group reorganisation | |
Reduction Record Time | the time one hour before the commencement of the Second Court Hearing | |
S&P 500 | an index of the five hundred leading companies of the US economy | |
S&P Index Committee | the committee responsible for monitoring the S&P 500 | |
Scheme or Scheme of Arrangement | the scheme of arrangement proposed to be made under section 425 of the Companies Act between INVESCO PLC and the holders of Scheme Shares as set out in Part V of this document, with or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed to by INVESCO PLC and Invesco Ltd. | |
Scheme Record Time | 5:00 p.m. on the business day immediately preceding the Effective Date | |
Scheme Shares | (i) the INVESCO PLC Shares in issue at the date of the Scheme; | |
(ii) any INVESCO PLC Shares issued after the date of the Scheme and before the Voting Record Time; | ||
(iii) any INVESCO PLC Shares, issued at or after the Voting Record Time and before the Reduction Record Time in respect of which the original or any subsequent holders thereof are, or shall have agreed in writing to be, bound by the Scheme | ||
SDRT | stamp duty reserve tax | |
SEC | the US Securities and Exchange Commission |
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Second Court Hearing | the hearing of the Court for the confirmation of the reduction of capital provided for by the Scheme | |
Securities Act | the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended | |
Share Capital Consolidation | the consolidation of Invesco Ltd. Shares as described in this document, being the consolidation after the Scheme becomes effective, conditional on the consolidated shares being listed on the NYSE, of every two Invesco Ltd. Shares issued pursuant to the Scheme into one Invesco Ltd. Share | |
subsidiary undertaking | a subsidiary undertaking as that term is defined in section 258 of the Companies Act | |
Takeover Code | the UK Takeover Code | |
US Code | the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) | |
US$ or US dollars | United States dollars and US cent shall mean one one-hundredth of one US dollar | |
UK Listing Authority | the Financial Services Authority acting in its capacity as the competent authority for listing in the United Kingdom under Part VI of FSMA | |
uncertificated or in uncertificated form | recorded on the relevant register as being held in uncertificated form in CREST and title to which may be transferred by virtue of CREST | |
Uncertificated Holders or Holders of INVESCO PLC Shares in Uncertificated Form | INVESCO PLC Shareholders who hold INVESCO PLC Shares in uncertificated form | |
United Kingdom or UK | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | |
United States or US | the United States of America including each state therein, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and each of the other territories and possessions of the United States of America | |
US GAAP | the generally accepted accounting principles in the US | |
Voting Record Time | 6:00 p.m. on the day that is two days before the Court Meeting or, if the Court Meeting is adjourned, 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of such adjourned meeting |
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE | No. 7542 of 2007 |
64
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1 | That: |
1.1 | for the purpose of giving effect to the Scheme of Arrangement dated 22 October 2007 between the Company and the holders of its Scheme Shares (as defined in the said Scheme), a print of which has been produced to this meeting and for the purpose of identification signed by the chairman thereof, in its original form or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court (the Scheme): |
1.1.1 | the share capital of the Company be reduced by cancelling and extinguishing all the Scheme Shares (as defined in the Scheme); and | |
1.1.2 | subject to and forthwith upon the said reduction of capital taking effect and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the articles of association of the Company: |
(a) | the authorised capital of the Company be increased to its former amount by the creation of such number of new Ordinary Shares of 10 US cents each as shall be equal to the number of the Scheme Shares cancelled pursuant to paragraph 1.1.1 above; | |
(b) | the reserve arising in the books of account of the Company as a result of the reduction of capital referred to in paragraph 1.1.1 above be capitalised and applied in paying up in full at par the new Ordinary Shares created pursuant to paragraph (a) above, such Ordinary Shares to be allotted and issued credited as fully paid to Invesco Ltd. and/or its nominee(s); and | |
(c) | the directors of the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of section 80 of the Companies Act 1985 (the Act) to allot the new Ordinary Shares referred to in paragraph (a) above, provided that: (1) the maximum aggregate nominal amount of shares which may be allotted under this authority shall be the aggregate nominal amount of the said new Ordinary Shares created pursuant to paragraph (a) above; (2) this authority shall expire (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) on 30 June 2008; and (3) this authority shall be in addition and without prejudice to any other authority under the said section 80 previously granted and in force on the date on which this resolution is passed; |
1.2 | with effect from the passing of this Resolution, the articles of association of the Company be amended by the inclusion of the following new Article 165: |
(a) | In this Article 165, the Scheme means the scheme of arrangement dated 22 October 2007 between the Company and the holders of its Scheme Shares (as defined in the Scheme) under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 in its original form or with or subject to any modification, addition or condition approved or imposed by the Court and agreed by the Company and Invesco Ltd. and (save as defined in this Article) expressions defined in the Scheme shall have the same meanings in this Article. | |
(b) | Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, if the Company issues any INVESCO PLC Shares or new INVESCO PLC Shares (other than to Invesco Ltd. or its nominee(s)) after the adoption of this Article and before the Reduction Record Time, such shares shall be issued subject to the terms of the Scheme and the holders of such shares shall be bound by the Scheme accordingly. | |
(c) | Subject to the Scheme becoming effective, if any new INVESCO PLC Shares are issued to any person (a New Member) (other than under the Scheme or to Invesco Ltd. or its nominee(s)) on or after the Effective Date (the Post-Scheme Shares), they will be immediately transferred to Invesco Ltd. (or as it may direct) in consideration of and conditional on (subject as hereinafter provided) Invesco Ltd. allotting and issuing to such New Member such number of Invesco Ltd. Shares as that New Member |
66
would have been entitled to had each Post-Scheme Share been a Scheme Share and also taking into account the Share Capital Consolidation. |
(d) | The Invesco Ltd. Shares allotted and issued to a New Member pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Article shall be credited as fully paid and shall rank pari passu in all respects with all other Invesco Ltd. Shares in issue at that time (other than as regards any dividend or other distribution payable by reference to a record date preceding the date of allotment or the Effective Date, whichever is later) and shall be subject to the Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws of Invesco Ltd. | |
(e) | The amount of Invesco Ltd. Shares to be allotted and issued to a New Member pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Article may be adjusted by the Directors of the Company, in such manner as the auditors of the Company may determine to take account of any reorganisation of or material alteration to the share capital of either the Company or Invesco Ltd. effected after the close of business on the Effective Date (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, the Share Capital Consolidation). | |
(f) | To give effect to any transfer required by paragraph (c) of this Article, the Company may appoint any person as attorney for the New Member to transfer the Post-Scheme Shares to Invesco Ltd. and/or its nominee(s) and do all such other things and execute and deliver all such documents as may in the opinion of the attorney be necessary or desirable to vest the Post-Scheme Shares in Invesco Ltd. or its nominee(s) and pending such vesting to exercise all such rights attaching to the Post-Scheme Shares as Invesco Ltd. may direct. If an attorney is so appointed, the New Member shall not thereafter (except to the extent that the attorney fails to act in accordance with the directions of Invesco Ltd.) be entitled to exercise any rights attaching to the Post-Scheme Shares unless so agreed by Invesco Ltd. The attorney shall be empowered to exercise and deliver as transferor a form of transfer or instructions of transfer on behalf of the New Member (or any subsequent holder) in favour of Invesco Ltd. and the Company may give a good receipt for the consideration for the Post-Scheme Shares and may register Invesco Ltd. as holder thereof and issue to it certificates for the same. The Company shall not be obliged to issue a certificate to the New Member for the Post-Scheme Shares. |
2 | That, subject to the Scheme having become effective and to the new Ordinary Shares having been allotted and issued pursuant to the Scheme and paragraph 1.1.2(b) above: |
2.1 | the authorised share capital of the Company be increased from US$105,000,000 and £50,000.25 to US$2,605,000,000 and £50,000.25 by the creation of 25,000,000,000 new Ordinary Shares of 10 US cents each; |
2.2 | the sum of US$1,502,100,000, being the whole of the amount standing to the credit of the special reserve of the Company, and the sum of US$997,900,000, being part of the sum standing to the credit of the merger reserve of the Company, be capitalised and applied in paying up in full at par 25,000,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 10 cents each (the New Shares), such New Shares to be allotted and issued credited as fully paid to Invesco Ltd.; and | |
2.3 | the directors of the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of the Act to allot the New Shares provided that: (1) the maximum aggregate nominal amount of shares which may be allotted under this authority shall be the aggregate nominal amount of the said New Shares created pursuant to paragraph 2.1 above; (2) this authority shall expire on 3 July 2008; and (3) this authority shall be in addition and without prejudice to any other authority under the said section 80 previously granted and in force on the date on which this resolution is passed. |
3 | That, subject to the New Shares having been allotted and issued as set out in paragraph 2.2 above, the share capital of the Company be reduced by cancelling and extinguishing the New Shares. |
22 October 2007 | 30 Finsbury Square |
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(1) | Only those shareholders entered on the register of members of the Company as at 6:00 p.m. on 12 November 2007, or in the event that the meeting is adjourned on the register of members at 6:00 p.m. on the date that is two days immediately preceding such adjourned meeting, shall be entitled to attend and vote in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at the relevant time. Changes to entries on the register of members after 6:00 p.m. on 12 November 2007, or in the event that the meeting is adjourned on the register of members at 6:00 p.m. on the date that is two days immediately preceding such adjourned meeting, shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting. |
(2) | A WHITE reply-paid form of proxy is enclosed with this document for use by INVESCO PLC Shareholders in connection with the meeting to which this notice relates and any adjournment thereof. A shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may appoint one or more proxies to attend and, on a poll, to vote instead of him. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. The appointment of a proxy will not prevent a shareholder from subsequently attending and voting at the meeting in person. |
(3) | A PINK reply-paid form of proxy is enclosed with this document for use by the INVESCO PLC SV Shareholder in connection with the meeting to which this notice relates and any adjournment thereof. The INVESCO PLC SV Shareholder is entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may appoint one or more proxies to attend and, on a poll, to vote instead of him. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. The appointment of a proxy will not prevent a shareholder from subsequently attending and voting at the meeting in person. |
(4) | To be effective the instrument appointing a proxy, and any power of attorney or other authority under which it is executed (or a duly certified copy of any such power or authority), must (failing previous registration with the Company) be received at the offices of the Companys registrars, Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or any adjournment thereof or (in the case of a poll taken otherwise than at the meeting or any adjournment thereof) for the taking of the poll at which it is to be used. |
(5) | Any amendments you make to any form of proxy must be initialled by you. |
(6) | Electronic proxy appointment through CREST: |
(7) | Registered shareholders are entitled to appoint a proxy in respect of some or all of their shares. Shareholders are also entitled to appoint more than one proxy. A space has been included in the WHITE form of proxy to allow you to specify the number of shares in respect of which that proxy is appointed. If you return the WHITE form of proxy duly executed but leave this space blank you will be deemed to have appointed the proxy in respect of all of your shares. |
(8) | If you wish to appoint more than one proxy in respect of your shareholding you should contact the Company for further WHITE forms of proxy or photocopy the form of proxy as required. You should also read the Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions set out on the form of proxy, and note the principles that will be applied in relation to multiple proxies. |
(9) | Copies of the Companys Articles of Association as proposed to be amended by the special resolution set out in the notice of meeting are available for inspection at the offices of Linklaters LLP at One Silk Street, London EC2Y 8HQ during normal business hours on a weekday until the opening of business on the day on which the meeting is held and will also be available for inspection at the place of the meeting for at least 15 minutes before and during the meeting. |
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COURT MEETING FORM OF PROXY INVESCO PLC |
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE |
CHANCERY DIVISION, COMPANIES COURT |
No. 7542 of 2007 |
IN THE MATTER OF INVESCO PLC Shareholder name(s) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE |
COMPANIES ACT 1985 |
Shareholder name(s) |
Investor Code: |
Please read the notes overleaf before filling in this form. Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a holder/holders of Scheme Shares (as defined in the Scheme of Arrangement dated 22 October 2007 relating to INVESCO PLC (the Company) (the Scheme)) in the Company entitled to attend and vote at the Court Meeting of the Company hereby appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or (see note 2) Name of Proxy Address of Proxy Number of Shares proxy is appointed over as my/our proxy to attend and vote for me/us on my/our behalf at the meeting of the holders of Scheme Shares to be held at 11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP and at any adjournment of that meeting for the purposes of considering and, if thought fit, approving (with or without modification) the proposed Scheme of Arrangement referred to in the Notice convening the meeting and at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, to vote for me/us and in my/our name(s) for the Scheme (either with or without modification, as my/our proxy may approve) or against the Scheme as indicated below. |
Multiple Proxies: If you wish to appoint multiple proxies using this form, please photocopy this page indicating on each copy the name and address of the proxy you wish to appoint and the number of shares in respect of which the proxy is appointed and how each proxy is instructed to vote. You should send all the pages to the Companys Registrars, Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU. Further details relating to the appointment of multiple proxies are set out overleaf and headed Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions. |
IMPORTANT If you wish to vote for the Scheme, sign in the box marked FOR the Scheme. If you wish to vote against the Scheme, sign in the box marked AGAINST the Scheme (see note 3). |
Only complete one box FOR the Scheme AGAINST the Scheme |
To assist with arrangements, if you intend attending the meeting in person please place an X in the box opposite |
Date |
INVESCO PLC Court Meeting Admission Form |
To be held at 11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. If you wish to attend this meeting in your capacity as a holder of Scheme Shares, please sign this card and on arrival hand it to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. Signature of person attending |
Shareholder name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53787 |
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING FORM OF PROXY INVESCO PLC |
Shareholder name(s) |
Investor Code: |
Please read the notes overleaf before filling in this form. Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a member/members of INVESCO PLC (the Company), entitled to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company, hereby appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or (see note 2) Name of Proxy Address of Proxy Number of Shares proxy is appointed over as my/our proxy to vote on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company to be held at 11.45 a.m.on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP and at any adjournment thereof. I/We have indicated with a X how I/we wish my/our votes to be cast on the special resolutions (see note 3). |
Multiple Proxies: If you wish to appoint multiple proxies using this form, please photocopy this page indicating on each copy the name and address of the proxy you wish to appoint and the number of shares in respect of which the proxy is appointed and how each proxy is instructed to vote. You should send all the pages to the Companys Registrars, Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, |
Kent BR3 4TU. Further details relating to the appointment of multiple proxies are set out overleaf
and headed Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions. SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS Please mark X to indicate how you wish to vote For Against Abstain |
1. to approve the Scheme of Arrangement between INVESCO PLC and its shareholders, pursuant to which Invesco Ltd. will become the parent of INVESCO PLC, and all matters relating to the Scheme of Arrangement; n n n |
2. to approve, subject to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the issue of bonus shares to Invesco Ltd. n n n (the New Shares); and |
3. to approve the reduction of capital relating to the New Shares n n n |
To assist with arrangements, if you intend attending the meeting in person please place an X in the box opposite |
The Abstain option is to enable you to abstain in any of the specified resolutions. |
Please note that an abstention has no legal effect and will not be counted in the votes For and Against a resolution |
Signature Date (see Note 7) |
INVESCO PLC Extraordinary General Meeting Admission Form To be held at 11.45 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. If you wish to attend this meeting in your capacity as a member of INVESCO PLC (the Company), please sign this card and on arrival hand it to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. |
Signature of person attending Shareholder name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53787 |
Notes on filling in your form of proxy |
1. You are requested to lodge this form of proxy, duly completed, and any power of 5. The completion and return of this form of proxy will not prevent you from attorney or other authority under which it is executed or a copy of it notarially attending and voting at the meeting should you wish to do so. certified or certified in a way approved by the Board with the Companys 6. Other instructions and notes as to how you should complete this form are Registrars, Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, contained in the Q&A section of the accompanying circular in connection with Kent BR3 4TU by no later than 11:30 a.m. on 12 November 2007 or, if the the Scheme. meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours before the time fixed for the holding of the adjourned meeting. However, if the form is not so returned, it may be 7. This form is for use in respect of the shareholder account specified above only handed to the Registrars on behalf of the Chairman at the meeting at any time and should not be amended or submitted in respect of a different account. before the taking of the poll. 8. Entitlement to attend and vote at the Court Meeting and the number of votes |
2. If you wish to appoint a person other than the Chairman as your proxy, then strike which may be cast thereat will be determined by reference to the Register of out the Chairman of the Meeting or and add the full name(s) and address(es) of Members at 6:00 p.m. on 12 November 2007 or, in the event that the meeting is the proxy or proxies desired in block capitals in the space provided and initial the adjourned, the Register of Members at 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days alteration. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. Do not write your own before the date of the adjourned meeting. name in this space. 9. CREST participants may vote using the CREST proxy voting system and they |
3. Your proxy will vote as you indicate overleaf. For any other business arising at should refer to the CREST manual for instructions. CREST participants using the the meeting your proxy will vote at his or her discretion. CREST proxy voting system must deposit their proxy votes with the Companys Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU |
4. In the case of joint holders the signature of only one of the joint holders is (CREST participant ID RA10) by 11.30 a.m. on 12 November 2007 or, if the required but, if more than one votes in person or by proxy, the vote of the first meeting is adjourned, not later than 48 hours before the time of the adjourned named on the Companys register of members will be accepted to the exclusion of meeting. other joint holders. If the appointer is a corporation, this form of proxy must be under seal or under the hand of its duly authorised officer, attorney or other person authorised to sign. |
Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions |
If you are a member of INVESCO PLC, you may appoint a proxy to attend and vote at (d) When considering conflicting proxies, later proxies will prevail over earlier the Court Meeting instead of you and may appoint more than one proxy to attend on proxies, and which proxy is later will be determined on the basis of which proxy the same occasion. You may appoint more than one proxy in relation to a meeting, is last delivered or received by electronic means via CREST. provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different (e) If conflicting proxies are delivered or received by electronic means at the same share or shares held by you. The following principles shall apply in relation to the time in respect of (or deemed to be in respect of) an entire holding, none of them appointment of multiple proxies. will be treated as valid, and, if the Company is unable to determine which was (a) The Company will give effect to the intentions of members and include votes delivered or received last, again none of them will be treated as valid. wherever and to the fullest extent possible. (f) Where the aggregate number of shares in respect of which proxies are appointed (b) Where a proxy does not state the number of shares to which it applies (a blank exceeds a members entire holding and they were all delivered or received at the proxy) then, subject to the following principles where more than one proxy is same time, the number of votes attributed to each proxy will be reduced pro rata. appointed, that proxy is deemed to have been appointed in relation to the total (g) Where the application of paragraph (f) above gives rise to fractions of shares, number of shares registered in the name of the appointing member (the such fractions will be rounded down. |
members entire holding). In the event of a conflict between a blank proxy and a proxy which does state the number of shares to which it applies (a specific (h) If a member appoints a proxy or proxies and then decides to attend the Court proxy), the specific proxy shall be counted first, regardless of the time it was Meeting in person and vote using his poll card, then the vote in person will delivered or received by electronic means via CREST (on the basis that as far as override the proxy vote(s). If the vote in person is in respect of the members possible, the conflicting forms of proxy should be judged to be in respect of entire holding then all proxy votes will be disregarded. If, however, the member different shares) and remaining shares will be apportioned to the blank proxy (pro votes at the meeting in respect of less than the members entire holding, then, if rata if there is more than one). the member indicates on his polling card that all proxies are to be disregarded, that shall be the case; but if the member does not specifically revoke proxies, then (c) Where there is more than one proxy appointed and the total number of shares in the vote in person will be treated in the same way as if it were the last received respect of which proxies are appointed is no greater than the members entire proxy and earlier proxies will only be disregarded to the extent that to count them holding, it is assumed that proxies are appointed in relation to different shares, would result in the number of votes being cast exceeding the members entire rather than that conflicting appointments have been made in relation to the same holding. shares. That is, there is only assumed to be a conflict where the aggregate number of shares in respect of which proxies have been appointed exceeds the members entire holding. |
Notes on filling in your form of proxy |
1. The Resolution is numbered in the same manner as in the Notice of Meeting 5. The appointer or his attorney, if he is an individual, must execute this form under dated 22 October 2007. the hand. A corporation must execute this form under either its common seal or |
2. To appoint as your proxy a person other than the Chairman of the Meeting, insert the hand of a duly authorised agent or officer. the full name(s) and address(es) of the proxy or proxies desired in the space 6. This form is for use in respect of the shareholder account specified above only provided IN BLOCK CAPITALS and delete the words Chairman of the and should not be amended or submitted in respect of a different account. Meeting. Please initial the amendment. A proxy, who need not be a member of 7. In the case of joint holders the signature of only one of the joint holders is the Company, must attend the meeting in person to represent you. Do not write required but, if more than one votes in person or by proxy, the vote of the first your name in this space. named on the Companys register of members will be accepted to the exclusion of |
3. Please indicate how you wish your proxy to vote on the resolutions by inserting other joint holders. If the appointer is a corporation, this form of proxy must be X in the appropriate space. The proxy will exercise his discretion as to how he under seal or under the hand of its duly authorised officer, attorney or other votes or whether he abstains from voting: person authorised to sign. |
(i) on any resolution referred to below if no instruction is given in respect of 8. Entitlement to attend and vote at the EGM and the number of votes which may be that resolution; and cast thereat will be determined by reference to the Register of Members at (ii) on any business or resolution considered at the meeting other than the 6:00 p.m. on 12 November 2007 or, in the event that the meeting is adjourned, the resolutions referred to above. Register of Members at 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of the adjourned meeting or, if both meetings are adjourned, as at of the adjourned |
4. This form of proxy must be lodged with the Companys Registrars, Capita Court Meeting. Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU by no later than 11:45 a.m. on 12 November 2007 or, if the meeting is adjourned, at 9. CREST participants may vote using the CREST Proxy Voting System and they least 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting. Alternatively, if your should refer to the CREST Manual for instructions. CREST participants using the shares are held through CREST, you may submit your proxy appointment via the CREST Proxy Voting System must deposit their proxy votes with the Companys CREST Voting Service. The completion and return of this form of proxy will not Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU preclude you from attending the Extraordinary General Meeting and voting in (CREST participant ID RA10) by 11:45 a.m. on 12 November 2007 or, if the EGM person. is adjourned, not later than 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting. |
Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions |
If you are a member of INVESCO PLC, you may appoint a proxy to attend and vote at (d) When considering conflicting proxies, later proxies will prevail over earlier the Extraordinary General Meeting instead of you and may appoint more than one proxies, and which proxy is later will be determined on the basis of which proxy proxy to attend on the same occasion. You may appoint more than one proxy in is last delivered or received by electronic means via CREST. relation to a meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights (e) If conflicting proxies are delivered or received by electronic means at the same attached to a different share or shares held by you. The following principles shall time in respect of (or deemed to be in respect of) an entire holding, none of them apply in relation to the appointment of multiple proxies. will be treated as valid, and, if the Company is unable to determine which was (a) The Company will give effect to the intentions of members and include votes delivered or received last, again none of them will be treated as valid. wherever and to the fullest extent possible. (f) Where the aggregate number of shares in respect of which proxies are appointed (b) Where a proxy does not state the number of shares to which it applies (a blank exceeds a members entire holding and they were all delivered or received at the proxy) then, subject to the following principles where more than one proxy is same time, the number of votes attributed to each proxy will be reduced pro rata. appointed, that proxy is deemed to have been appointed in relation to the total (g) Where the application of paragraph (f) above gives rise to fractions of shares, number of shares registered in the name of the appointing member (the members such fractions will be rounded down. entire holding). In the event of a conflict between a blank proxy and a proxy which does state the number of shares to which it applies (a specific proxy), the (h) If a member appoints a proxy or proxies and then decides to attend the Extraordinary specific proxy shall be counted first, regardless of the time it was delivered or General Meeting in person and vote using his poll card, then the vote in person will received by electronic means via CREST (on the basis that as far as possible, the override the proxy vote(s). If the vote in person is in respect of the members entire conflicting forms of proxy should be judged to be in respect of different shares) holding then all proxy votes will be disregarded. If, however, the member votes at and remaining shares will be apportioned to the blank proxy (pro rata if there is the meeting in respect of less than the members entire holding, then, if the member more than one). indicates on his polling card that all proxies are to be disregarded, that shall be the case; but if the member does not specifically revoke proxies, then the vote in person (c) Where there is more than one proxy appointed and the total number of shares in will be treated in the same way as if it were the last received proxy and earlier respect of which proxies are appointed is no greater than the members entire proxies will only be disregarded to the extent that to count them would result in the holding, it is assumed that proxies are appointed in relation to different shares, number of votes being cast exceeding the members entire holding. rather than that conflicting appointments have been made in relation to the same shares. That is, there is only assumed to be a conflict where the aggregate number of shares in respect of which proxies have been appointed exceeds the members entire holding. |
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING FORM OF PROXY INVESCO PLC |
Shareholder name(s) |
Investor Code: |
Please read the notes overleaf before filling in this form. Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a member/members of INVESCO PLC (the Company), entitled to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company, hereby appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or (see note 2). |
Name of Proxy Address of Proxy Number of Shares proxy is appointed over |
as my/our proxy to vote on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company to be held on 14 November 2007 at 11:45 a.m. and at any adjournment thereof. I/We have indicated with a X how I/we wish my/our votes to be cast on the special resolutions (see note 3). Multiple Proxies: If you wish to appoint multiple proxies using this form, please photocopy this page indicating on each copy the name and address of the proxy you wish to appoint, the number of shares in respect of which the proxy is appointed and how each proxy is instructed to vote. You should send all the pages to the Companys Registrars, Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU. Further details relating to the appointment of multiple proxies are set out overleaf and headed Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions. |
SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS |
Please mark X to indicate how you wish to vote For Against Abstain 1. to approve the Scheme of Arrangement between INVESCO PLC and its shareholders, pursuant to which Invesco Ltd. will become the parent of INVESCO PLC, and all matters relating to the Scheme of Arrangement; |
2. to approve, subject to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the issue of bonus shares to Invesco Ltd. |
(the New Shares); and |
3. to approve the reduction of capital relating to the New Shares To assist with arrangements, if you intend attending the meeting in person please place an X in the box opposite The Abstain option is to enable you to abstain in any of the specified resolutions. Please note that an abstention has no legal effect and will not be counted in the votes For and Against a resolution. |
Signature Date |
INVESCO PLC Extraordinary General Meeting Admission Form For use by the holder of the special voting share in respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at 11:45 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. If you wish to attend this meeting in your capacity as a holder of the special voting share, please sign this card and on arrival hand it to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. |
Signature of person attending Shareholder Name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53788 |
Notes on filling in your form of proxy |
1. The Resolution is numbered in the same manner as in the Notice of Meeting dated 22 October 2007. |
2. To appoint as your proxy a person other than the Chairman of the Meeting, insert the full name(s) and address(es) of the proxy or proxies desired in the space provided IN BLOCK CAPITALS and delete the words Chairman of the Meeting. Please initial the amendment. A proxy, who need not be a member of the Company, must attend the meeting in person to represent you. Do not write your name in this space. |
3. Please indicate how you wish your proxy to vote on the resolutions by inserting X in the appropriate space. The proxy will exercise his discretion as to how he votes or whether he abstains from voting: (i) on any resolution referred to below if no instruction is given in respect of that resolution; and (ii) on any business or resolution considered at the meeting other than the resolutions referred to above. |
Multiple Proxy Voting Instructions |
If you are a member of INVESCO PLC, you may appoint a proxy to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting instead of you and may appoint more than one proxy to attend on the same occasion. You may appoint more than one proxy in relation to a meeting, provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares held by you. The following principles shall apply in relation to the appointment of multiple proxies. |
(a) The Company will give effect to the intentions of members and include votes wherever and to the fullest extent possible. (b) Where a proxy does not state the number of shares to which it applies (a blank proxy) then, subject to the following principles where more than one proxy is appointed, that proxy is deemed to have been appointed in relation to the total number of shares registered in the name of the appointing member (the members entire holding). In the event of a conflict between a blank proxy and a proxy which does state the number of shares to which it applies (a specific proxy), the specific proxy shall be counted first, regardless of the time it was delivered or received (on the basis that, as far as possible, the conflicting forms of proxy should be judged to be in respect of different shares) and remaining shares will be apportioned to the blank proxy (pro rata if there is more than one). |
(c) Where there is more than one proxy appointed and the total number of shares in respect of which proxies are appointed is no greater than the members entire holding, it is assumed that proxies are appointed in relation to different shares, rather than that conflicting appointments have been made in relation to the same shares. That is, there is only assumed to be a conflict where the aggregate number of shares in respect of which proxies have been appointed exceeds the members entire holding. |
4. This form of proxy must be lodged with the Companys Registrars, Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU by no later than 11:45 a.m. on 12 November 2007 or, if the meeting is adjourned, at least 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting. The completion and return of this form of proxy will not preclude you from attending the Extraordinary General Meeting and voting in person. |
5. Entitlement to attend and vote at the EGM and the number of votes which may be cast thereat will be determined by reference to the Register of Members at 6:00 p.m. on 12 November 2007 or, in the event that the meeting is adjourned, the Register of Members at 6:00 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of the adjourned Court Meeting. |
(d) When considering conflicting proxies, later proxies
will prevail over earlier proxies, and which proxy is
later will be determined on the basis of which proxy is
last delivered or received. (e) If conflicting proxies are delivered or received by electronic means at the same time in respect of (or deemed to be in respect of) an entire holding, none of them will be treated as valid, and if the Company is unable to determine which was delivered or received last, again none of them will be treated as valid. |
(f) Where the aggregate number of shares in respect of which proxies are appointed exceeds a members entire holding and they were all delivered or received at the same time, the number of votes attributed to each proxy will be reduced pro rata. (g) Where the application of paragraph (f) above gives rise to fractions of shares, such fractions will be rounded down. (h) If a member appoints a proxy or proxies and then decides to attend the Extraordinary General Meeting in person and vote using his poll card, then the vote in person will override the proxy vote(s). If the vote in person is in respect of the members entire holding then all proxy votes will be disregarded. If, however, the member votes at the meeting in respect of less than the members entire holding, then, if the member indicates on his polling card that all proxies are to be disregarded, that shall be the case; but, if the member does not specifically revoke proxies, then the vote in person will be treated in the same way as if it were the last received proxy and earlier proxies will only be disregarded to the extent that to count them would result in the number of votes being cast exceeding the members entire holding. |
COURT MEETING FORM OF DIRECTION INVESCO PLC |
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE |
CHANCERY DIVISION, COMPANIES COURT |
No. 7542 o |
f 2007 |
IN THE MATTER OF INVESCO PLC Participant name(s) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE |
COMPANIES ACT 1985 |
Investor Code: |
Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a participant in the INVESCO PLC (the Company) Share Incentive Plan hereby direct Halifax Corporate Trustees Limited, as the nominee, to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Court Meeting of the Company to be held at 11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP and at any adjournment thereof, and to vote as indicated below. IMPORTANT If you wish to vote for the Scheme, sign in the box marked FOR the Scheme. If you wish to vote against the Scheme, sign in the box marked AGAINST the Scheme. |
Only complete one box. FOR the Scheme AGAINST the Scheme |
To be valid this form of direction must be lodged at the offices of the Registrars of the Company,
at Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, not later than 72
hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting. You may submit your proxy electronically at www.invesco.com using the investor code above. |
Date |
INVESCO PLC Court Meeting Admission Form For use by participants in the INVESCO PLC Share Incentive Plan (the Plan) in respect to the Court Meeting to be held at 11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at |
1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. |
If you wish to attend this meeting, please sign this card and on arrival hand it in to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. As a participant in the Plan you can attend that meeting but have no right to address the meeting or vote. |
Signature of person attending Participant name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53869 |
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING FORM OF DIRECTION INVESCO PLC |
Participant name(s) |
Investor Code: |
Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a participant in the INVESCO PLC (the Company) Share Incentive Plan hereby direct Halifax Corporate Trustees Limited, as the nominee, to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company to be held at 11:45 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP and at any adjournment thereof, and to vote as indicated below. |
SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS |
Please mark X to indicate how you wish to vote For Against Abstain 1. to approve the Scheme of Arrangement between INVESCO PLC and its shareholders, pursuant to which Invesco Ltd. will become the parent of INVESCO PLC, and all matters relating to the Scheme of Arrangement; |
2. to approve, subject to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the issue of bonus shares to Invesco Ltd. |
(the New Shares); and |
3. to approve the reduction of capital relating to the New Shares The Abstain option is to enable you to abstain in any of the specified resolutions. Please note that an abstention has no legal effect and will not be counted in the votes For and Against a resolution. |
To be valid this form of direction must be lodged at the offices of the Registrars of the Company, at Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, not later than 72 hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting. |
You may submit your proxy electronically at www.invesco.com using the investor code above. Signature Date |
INVESCO PLC Extraordinary General Meeting Admission Form For use by participants in the INVESCO PLC Share Incentive Plan (the Plan) in respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at 11:45 a.m. on |
14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. |
If you wish to attend this meeting, please sign this card and on arrival hand it in to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. As a participant in the Plan you can attend that meeting but have no right to address the meeting or vote. |
Signature of person attending Participant name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53869 |
COURT MEETING FORM OF DIRECTION INVESCO PLC |
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE |
CHANCERY DIVISION, COMPANIES COURT |
No. 7542 of 2 |
007 |
IN THE MATTER OF INVESCO PLC Participant name(s) AND IN THE MATTER OF THE |
COMPANIES ACT 1985 |
Investor Code: |
Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a participant in the INVESCO PLC (the Company) Employee Share Service hereby direct Capita IRG Trustees Limited, as the nominee, to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Court Meeting of the Company to be held at 11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP and at any adjournment thereof, and to vote as indicated below. IMPORTANT If you wish to vote for the Scheme, sign in the box marked FOR the Scheme. If you wish to vote against the Scheme, sign in the box marked AGAINST the Scheme. |
Only complete one box. FOR the Scheme AGAINST the Scheme |
To be valid this form of direction must be lodged at the offices of the Registrars of the Company,
at Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, not later than 72
hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting. You may submit your proxy electronically at www.invesco.com using the investor code above. |
Date |
INVESCO PLC Court Meeting Admission Form For use by participants in the INVESCO PLC Employee Share Service (the Service) in respect to the Court Meeting to be held at 11:30 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. If you wish to attend this meeting, please sign this card and on arrival hand it in to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. As a participant in the Service you can attend that meeting but have no right to address the meeting or vote. |
Signature of person attending Participant name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53870 |
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING FORM OF DIRECTION INVESCO PLC |
Participant name(s) |
Investor Code: |
Fill in this form using black ink. I/We being a participant in the INVESCO PLC (the Company) Employee Share Service hereby direct Capita IRG Trustees Limited, as the nominee, to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company to be held at 11:45 a.m. on 14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP and at any adjournment thereof, and to vote as indicated below. |
SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS |
Please mark X to indicate how you wish to vote For Against Abstain 1. to approve the Scheme of Arrangement between INVESCO PLC and its shareholders, pursuant to which Invesco Ltd. will become the parent of INVESCO PLC, and all matters relating to the Scheme of Arrangement; |
2. to approve, subject to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, the issue of bonus shares to Invesco Ltd. |
(the New Shares); and |
3. to approve the reduction of capital relating to the New Shares The Abstain option is to enable you to abstain in any of the specified resolutions. Please note that an abstention has no legal effect and will not be counted in the votes For and Against a resolution. To be valid this form of direction must be lodged at the offices of the Registrars of the Company, at Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, not later than 72 hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting. You may submit your proxy electronically at www.invesco.com using the investor code above. |
Signature Date |
INVESCO PLC Extraordinary General Meeting Admission Form For use by participants in the INVESCO PLC Employee Share Service (the Service) in respect to the Extraordinary General Meeting to be held at 11:45 a.m. on |
14 November 2007 at 1 Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2PP. |
If you wish to attend this meeting, please sign this card and on arrival hand it in to the Companys Registrars. This will facilitate entry to the meeting. As a participant in the Service you can attend that meeting but have no right to address the meeting or vote. |
Signature of person attending Participant name(s) Investor Code: |
B U53870 |
Michael S Perman | Maureen Hadaway |
For and on behalf of | For and on behalf of |
INVESCO PLC | Capita IRG Trustees Limited |
A. | o Exercise or cause to be exercised, whether by proxy given by the Trustee to a representative of the Company or otherwise, the undersigneds voting rights at the Extraordinary General Meeting, or any postponement or adjournment thereof, as follows: |
1. | To vote FOR o or AGAINST o or ABSTAIN o or, if no specification is made, to vote FOR the approval of the Scheme of Arrangement between INVESCO PLC and its shareholders, pursuant to which Invesco Ltd. will become the parent of INVESCO PLC, and all matters relating to the Scheme of Arrangement. |
2. | To vote FOR o or AGAINST o or ABSTAIN o or, if no specification is made, to vote FOR the approval, subject to the Scheme of Arrangement becoming effective, of the issue of bonus shares to Invesco Ltd. (the New Shares); and |
3. | To vote FOR o or AGAINST o or ABSTAIN o or, if no specification is made, to vote FOR the approval of the reduction of capital relating to the New Shares. |
B. | o At the Extraordinary General Meeting, deliver a proxy card to the undersigned with respect to all the Exchangeable Shares of Invesco Inc. held by the undersigned as at the close of business in Toronto, Ontario on November 9, 2007 so that the undersigned may exercise personally the undersigneds voting rights at the Extraordinary General Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
C. | o At the Extraordinary General Meeting, deliver a proxy card to to attend and act for and on behalf of the undersigned with respect to all the Exchangeable Shares of Invesco Inc. held by the undersigned as at the close of business in Toronto, Ontario on November 9, 2007 with all the powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present and acting thereat including the power to exercise the undersigneds voting rights at the Extraordinary General Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
1. | The Abstain option is to enable a shareholder to abstain on any of the specific resolutions. Please note that an abstention has no legal effect and will not be counted in the votes For or Against a resolution. |
2. | A shareholder has the right to appoint a person to represent him/her at the Extraordinary General Meeting by inserting in the space provided under alternative C the name of the person the shareholder wishes to appoint. Such person need not be a shareholder. |
3. | To be valid, this Voting Instruction Card must be signed and received by CIBC Mellon Trust Company prior to 5:00 p.m., Toronto time, on November 9, 2007 or, if the Extraordinary General Meeting is adjourned or postponed, prior to 5:00 p.m., Toronto time, on the third business day before any adjourned or postponed Extraordinary General Meeting. This Voting Instruction Card may be mailed to CIBC Mellon Trust Company, P.O. Box 721, Agincourt, Ontario M1S 0A1 (a return envelope is enclosed), hand delivered to CIBC Mellon Trust Company, 320 Bay Street, Banking Hall, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4A6 or sent by fax to CIBC Mellon Trust Company to (416) 368-2502. |
4. | If the shareholder is an individual, please sign exactly as your Exchangeable Shares are registered. |
5. | If an Exchangeable Share is held by two or more persons, each should sign this Voting Instruction Card. |
6. | If this Voting Instruction Card is not dated in the space provided, it is deemed to bear the date on which it is mailed to the shareholder. |
| to advise you that INVESCO PLC, the parent company of Invesco Inc., is proposing to undertake a corporate reorganization, to move its primary listing from the London Stock Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange and to consolidate its share capital, all as further described below; |
| to notify you of the manner in which you, as a holder of Exchangeable Shares, may vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting of shareholders of INVESCO PLC, at which the reorganization referred to above will be considered; and |
| to notify you that Invesco Inc. has, subject to receipt of court approval of the INVESCO PLC corporate reorganization, established December 3, 2007 as the redemption date for all of the issued and outstanding Exchangeable Shares, and in accordance with its right to do so, IVZ Callco Inc. has decided to purchase all of the Exchangeable Shares not already owned by it on such date, in consideration for one ordinary share of INVESCO PLC for each Exchangeable Share purchased. |
| moving INVESCO PLCs primary listing from the London Stock Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange; |
| reorganizing pursuant to a Scheme of Arrangement approved by U.K. courts so that INVESCO PLC becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., a new corporation incorporated in Bermuda, and the former holders of INVESCO PLC ordinary shares become holders of Invesco Ltd. common shares; and |
| to implement a two-for-one share capital consolidation, also known as a reverse stock split, of the common shares of Invesco Ltd. after the Scheme of Arrangement becomes effective. |
1
| the move of INVESCO PLCs primary listing from the London Stock Exchange to the New York Stock Exchange; |
| the reorganization pursuant to a Scheme of Arrangement approved by U.K. courts, so that INVESCO PLC becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invesco Ltd., a new corporation incorporated in Bermuda, and the former holders of INVESCO PLC shares become shareholders of Invesco Ltd.; |
| the implementation of a share capital consolidation, also known as a reverse stock split, of the common shares of Invesco Ltd. after the Scheme of Arrangement becomes effective; and |
| taking certain steps after the Scheme of Arrangement has become effective to allow INVESCO PLC to transfer INVESCO PLCs regulated business in the European Union to Invesco Ltd. |
(a) | in the name of an intermediary (an Intermediary) with whom you deal in respect of the Exchangeable Shares, such as, among others, banks, trust companies, securities dealers or brokers and trustees or administrators of self-administered RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs and similar plans; or | |
(b) | in the name of a clearing agency (such as The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited) of which the Intermediary is a participant. |
2
(a) | a Voting Instruction Card which has already been signed by the Intermediary, as the Registered Holder (typically by a facsimile, stamped signature), which is restricted as to the number of Exchangeable Shares beneficially owned by you but which otherwise has not been completed. The Voting Instruction Card need not be signed by you. In this case, if you wish to direct the exercise of the voting rights of the Exchangeable Shares held by you or to attend and vote at the Extraordinary General Meeting of INVESCO PLC (or have another person attend and vote on your behalf) you should properly complete the Voting Instruction Card and deposit it with CIBC Mellon Trust Company, 320 Bay Street, Banking Hall, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 4A6 or by fax to (416) 368-2502 prior to 5:00 p.m., Toronto time, on November 9, 2007; or | |
(b) | a Voting Instruction Form which must be completed and signed by you in accordance with the directions on the Voting Instruction Form (which may in some cases permit the completion of the Voting Instruction Form by telephone). |
| Immediately following the approval by the U.K. court of the Scheme of Arrangement, scheduled to occur on December 3, 2007, each Exchangeable Share will be purchased by IVZ Callco Inc. for an amount equal to the current market price of an ordinary share of INVESCO PLC on the last business day prior to the redemption date, |
3
which amount will be satisfied by IVZ Callco Inc. delivering one ordinary share of INVESCO PLC for each Exchangeable Share purchased. |
| Upon the implementation of the Scheme of Arrangement, scheduled to occur on December 4, 2007, the previous holders of Exchangeable Shares will receive common shares of Invesco Ltd. for ordinary shares of INVESCO PLC on a one-for-one basis. |
| Promptly after the Scheme of Arrangement becomes effective, Invesco Ltd. will implement a share capital consolidation on a two-for-one basis such that holders of Invesco Ltd. common shares will receive one common share for every two common shares of Invesco Ltd. held. |
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5
6
By Mail: P.O. Box 1036 Adelaide Street Postal Station Toronto, ON M5C 2K4 |
By Hand or Courier 199 Bay Street Commerce Court West Securities Level Toronto, ON M5L 1G9 |
AND TO: | CIBC Mellon Trust Company, as depository |
Number of Exchangeable Shares |
||||||
Certificate Number | shown on face of certificate | Name in which registered | ||||
1. | Use of the Letter of Transmittal |
2. | Signatures |
(a) | If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) of the accompanying certificate(s), such signature(s) on this Letter of Transmittal must correspond with the name(s) as registered or as written on the face of such certificate(s) without any change whatsoever, and the certificate(s) need not be endorsed. If such deposited certificate(s) are registered in the name of two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal. |
(b) | If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the accompanying certificate(s), or if certificate(s) representing Invesco Ltd. common shares are to be credited to a person other than the registered holder(s): |
(i) | such deposited certificate(s) must be endorsed or be accompanied by appropriate share transfer power(s) of attorney duly and properly completed by the registered holder(s); and |
(ii) | the signature(s) on such endorsement or share transfer power(s) of attorney must correspond exactly to the name(s) of the registered holder(s) as registered or as appearing on the certificate(s) and must be guaranteed as noted in Instruction 3. |
3. | Guarantee of Signatures |
4. | Fiduciaries, Representatives and Authorizations |
5. | Special Delivery Instructions |
6. | Miscellaneous |
(a) | If the space on this Letter of Transmittal is insufficient to list all certificates for Exchangeable Shares held, a separate signed list providing the requested information may be affixed to this Letter of Transmittal. |
(b) | If Exchangeable Shares are registered in different forms (e.g., John Doe or J. Doe), a separate Letter of Transmittal should be signed for each different registration. |
(c) | No alternative, conditional or contingent deposits will be accepted. |
(d) | Additional copies of this Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Depository at any of the addresses specified below. |
(e) | Exchangeco, Callco and Invesco Ltd. reserve the right, if they so elect, in their absolute discretion, to instruct the Depositary to waive any defect or irregularity contained in any Letter of Transmittal received by the Depositary. |
(f) | This Letter of Transmittal will be construed in accordance with, and be governed by, the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. |
7. | Lost Certificates |
8. | Questions |