Executive Directors have frequent discussions with institutional shareholders on a range of issues throughout the year affecting the Group’s performance, which include meetings following the announcements of the annual and interim results. Meetings are also held with analysts and the financial press. It is also the Company’s practice, following the preliminary results that these meetings are followed up by a telephone conversation between the Chairman and the relevant shareholders. The Company’s stockbrokers also discuss the outcome of meetings with shareholders and report their findings to the Board. The Board believes that this provides a better form of governance than attendance at meetings by Non-Executive Directors. Other ad hoc meetings, presentations and site visits are arranged for shareholders throughout the year.
The Company’s Annual General Meeting is used as an opportunity to communicate with private investors. Shareholders attending the Annual General Meeting are invited to ask questions and to meet with the Directors informally after the meeting.