Experian 2015 Annual Report Download - page 70

Relations with shareholders
and others
Set out below are some of the ways
in which the Company interacts with
investors and others, and keeps abreast
of their views:
Board – an investor relations and media
report is circulated before every Board
meeting, and contains a commentary on
the investment community’s perception of
the Company, media reports, share price
performance and analysis. Shareholders’
views are also assessed in detail via an
investor survey, which is normally conducted
every two years using a third-party supplier.
The results of the latest survey were
presented to the Board at the May 2015
Board meeting.
Engagement with investors – this
year, Roger Davis, as chairman of the
Remuneration Committee, consulted
major investors and others in relation to
future remuneration arrangements and the
proposed renewal of long-term incentive
plans. At the time his appointment as
Deputy Chairman was approved in January
2014, some investors expressed an interest
in meeting with George Rose once he
had been in the role for a period of time.
These requests were followed up and,
during the year, George engaged with and
met investors to discuss a wide range of
issues including corporate governance,
remuneration and risk.
Investors and analysts – the executive
team has an ongoing programme of dialogue
and meetings with institutional investors and
analysts, at which they discuss a wide range
of issues including strategy, performance,
management and governance, within the
constraints of information already made
public. The announcements of the annual
and half-year results and trading updates
provide opportunities for the Company to
answer questions from analysts, covering a
wide range of topics.
Investor roadshows took place during the
year in London, Edinburgh, Boston and
New York. In January 2015, a seminar for
analysts and institutional investors was
held in London, at which senior executives
provided updates on the Group’s strategic
direction and detailed information on
the Group’s five strategic priorities. The
seminar was chaired by Brian Cassin,
the Chief Executive Officer, and included
presentations on Credit Services,
Marketing Services, Consumer Services,
Brazil and the Group’s capital framework,
as well as the opportunities for growth in
the health vertical and fraud and identity.
Annual General Meeting – this important
event provides a valuable opportunity
for the Board to communicate with
shareholders and to meet them informally
before the main business of the meeting.
All directors attended the 2014 AGM,
including the Audit, Remuneration, and
Nomination and Corporate Governance
Committee chairmen.
The 2015 AGM will take place on
Wednesday 22 July 2015. Shareholders
are encouraged to attend and to use the
opportunity to ask questions. However,
if it is not practical for shareholders to
attend, we encourage them to use proxy
voting on the resolutions put forward, all
of which (with the exception of procedural
resolutions) are taken by a poll. In 2014,
voting levels at the AGM were 69.3% of the
Company’s issued share capital, compared
with 67.7% in 2013.
Private shareholders – the Company
Secretary, Charles Brown, oversees
communication with private shareholders.
The Company issues a ‘Shareholder
Questions’ card each year, with the AGM
documentation. Mr Brown ensures that
the Company responds to shareholders
directly, as appropriate, either at or
following the meeting.
Website – the Company’s website was
updated during the year, in terms of
design, content and ease of use, and is
an important channel for communicating
with shareholders. All material information
reported to the regulatory news services
is published there, together with
copies of annual and half-year results
announcements and trading updates.
Investor relations app – this contains
information on our financial performance,
together with reports, presentations and
news of upcoming events.
Experian plc website
The Experian plc website (www.experianplc.com) contains additional information on our corporate governance. There you will find:
• Terms of reference of the principal Board committees
• The schedule of matters reserved to the Board
• The Company’s memorandum and articles of association
• Details of AGM proxy voting by shareholders, including votes withheld
• Schedule of responsibilities of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Corporate governance report continued
68 Governance •Corporate governance report