Investors: AIM Rule 26 compliance
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Group is committed to good corporate governance and has elected to comply with the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code. This section of the website explains the governance arrangements that are in place.
The Board is collectively responsible for Corporate Governance and I, as Chairman of the Board, am ultimately responsible for ensuring that a high level of Corporate Governance is embedded in the Petards Group PLC (“the Company) culture.
As a company whose shares are traded on the Alternative Investment Market (‘AIM’) of the London Stock Exchange, Petards Group plc recognises its responsibility for the proper management of the Company and the importance of sound corporate governance, commensurate with the size and nature of the Company and the interests of its shareholders. In accordance with AIM Rule 26, which requires AIM companies to comply with a recognised code of Corporate Governance, the Board believes that the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code 2018 (the “QCA Code”) provides a suitable framework by which it is able to continue to commit to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. Accordingly, the Company complies with the 10 principles of the QCA Code where considered relevant and appropriate, having regard to the size, current stage of development and resources of the Company.
The QCA Code is applied by the Company primarily through its Board process, which includes regular meetings covering financial as well as non-financial matters which affect not only the Company’s shareholders but other significant stakeholders, including employees. The Board process and corporate governance is enhanced by the establishment of Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees.
The Board believes that, having regard to the size of the Group, its stage of development and the resources it has available, its governance structures and practices are in compliance with the expectations of the QCA Code.
Set out below are the 10 principles of the QCA Code, together with a summary under each heading explaining how the Company has applied these. In fulfilling their responsibilities, the Directors believe that they govern the Company in the best interests of its shareholders, whilst having due regard to the interests of other stakeholders in the Group including, in particular, customers, employees and creditors.
Raschid Abdullah
Chairman
21 June 2023
Application
The board must be able to express a shared view of the company’s purpose, business model and strategy. It should go beyond the simple description of products and corporate structures and set out how the company intends to deliver shareholder value in the medium to long-term. It should demonstrate that the delivery of long-term growth is underpinned by a clear set of values aimed at protecting the company from unnecessary risk and securing its long-term future.
Compliance
The Company's vision is to invest in and develop its business to deliver long term, sustainable growth in shareholder value. This may come from organic growth, acquisitions or divestments.
The strategy for achieving this focuses on maintaining acceptable gross profit margins, underpinned with sensible cost and cash management, having regard to perceived risks within the industry market and sector parameters, as well as the macro economic environment.
The Chairman’s Statement and Strategic Report include detailed analysis of the Group’s strategy, financial performance, principal risks and uncertainties and future expectations.
Application
Directors must develop a good understanding of the needs and expectations of all elements of the company’s shareholder base. The board must manage shareholders’ expectations and should seek to understand the motivations behind shareholder voting decisions.
Compliance
The Board recognises and understands that it has a fiduciary responsibility to the shareholders. The Board is aware of the need to protect the interests of minority shareholders and balancing these interests with those of any more substantial shareholders. The Chairman is responsible for ongoing dialogue and relationships with shareholders supported by the other executive directors.
As such, members of the Board meet with the Company’s larger shareholders during the course of the year. The Annual General Meeting is always an opportunity for the Board to communicate with shareholders and the Board welcomes the attendance and participation of all shareholders.
This communication allows the Board to understand the shareholders’ views, and to ensure that the strategies and objectives of the Group are aligned with shareholders. In its decision-making, the Board will have regard to the ascertained expectations and needs of its shareholders (as appropriate in accordance with its statutory and fiduciary duties).
The Group’s website (www.petards.com) allows shareholders access to information including; contact details, major shareholders and the current share price. In addition, all announcements issued since 2014 via RNS are available, together with an archive of recent financial reports and accounts and interim statements.
The resolutions to be put to a vote at each AGM can be found at the back of the relevant Annual Financial Report and the Financial Reports and Circulars section of the Company's website for any forthcoming AGM. Past AGM resolutions can be found at the back of each Annual Financial Report with the results now published in the RNS section.
Application
Long-term success relies upon good relations with a range of different stakeholder groups both internal (workforce) and external (suppliers, customers, regulators and others). The board needs to identify the company’s stakeholders and understand their needs, interests and expectations.
Where matters that relate to the company’s impact on society, the communities within which it operates or the environment have the potential to affect the company’s ability to deliver shareholder value over the medium to long-term, then those matters must be integrated into the company’s strategy and business model.
Feedback is an essential part of all control mechanisms. Systems need to be in place to solicit, consider and act on feedback from all stakeholder groups.
Compliance
The Group’s responsibilities to stakeholders including staff, suppliers and customers and the wider society are also recognised as important to the delivery of the Company’s business objectives.
The Company is committed to a series of Corporate Social Responsibility principles that provide a reference point for all stakeholders on the elements that define the conduct of the Company’s business and relationships in the geographical markets in which it operates
These principles are subject to periodic review and cover the following areas; ethics and business conduct, employees (including our supply chain), health and safety, environment and community.
The environmental impact of the Group’s activities is carefully considered, and the maintenance of high environmental standards is a priority. The Group is committed to reducing that impact as far as reasonably possible through full regulatory compliance, recycling programmes and other initiatives.
The Board has regard to the feedback of relevant stakeholders in its decision-making and the formulation of strategy.
Application
The board needs to ensure that the company’s risk management framework identifies and addresses all relevant risks in order to execute and deliver strategy; companies need to consider their extended business, including the company’s supply chain, from key suppliers to end-customer.
Setting strategy includes determining the extent of exposure to the identified risks that the company is able to bear and willing to take (risk tolerance and risk appetite).
Compliance
The Board has established Audit and Remuneration Committees full details of which are contained in principle 9, below.
The Company also receives feedback from its external auditors on the effectiveness of its internal control structure. The Audit Committee believes that there should be no internal audit function for the Group at this time considering the size of the Group and the close involvement of senior management over the Group’s accounting systems. However, the Committee will keep this matter under review in the event that circumstances warrant an internal function in the future.
In addition to the activities of the Board’s sub-committees, the Board approves the annual budget each year. This process allows the Board to identify key performance targets and risks expected during the upcoming year. The Board also considers the agreed budget when reviewing trading updates and considering expenditures throughout the year. Progress is monitored via monthly reporting of actual financial performance against budget. Where appropriate, forecasts are prepared to further appraise any risks arising during the year.
The Group has clear authority limits deriving from the list of matters reserved for decision by the Board, including capital expenditure approval procedures.
The Board regularly reviews and monitors Key Performance Indicators, including those related to banking covenants.
The Board plans to develop a risk register to assist in addressing and monitoring the risks critical to executing and delivering its strategy.
Application
The board members have a collective responsibility and legal obligation to promote the interests of the company, and are collectively responsible for defining corporate governance arrangements. Ultimate responsibility for the quality of, and approach to, corporate governance lies with the chair of the board.
The board (and any committees) should be provided with high quality information in a timely manner to facilitate proper assessment of the matters requiring a decision or insight.
The board should have an appropriate balance between executive and non-executive directors and should have at least two independent non-executive directors. Independence is a board judgement.
The board should be supported by committees (e.g. audit, remuneration, nomination) that have the necessary skills and knowledge to discharge their duties and responsibilities effectively.
Directors must commit the time necessary to fulfil their roles.
Compliance
The principal risks faced by the Group are addressed by the appointment of an experienced executive Board supported by an experienced independent non-executive director and a team of appropriately qualified professional advisers.
The executive directors are closely involved in the day to day operations of the Group and report to the Board in detail, typically on a monthly basis. Their reports include the status and trends of agreed Key Performance Indicators that are noted in the Group's Annual Financial Report in the Strategic Report and Financial and Operational Highlights.
The Company Secretary records attendance at all Board meetings and a table of attendance is published in its Annual Report and Accounts.
The Board currently comprises three executive directors and two independent non-executive directors. Biographical details of the directors are available on the website.
The role of the independent non-executive directors is to bring independent judgement to Board deliberations and decisions. The independent non-executive directors have no personal financial interests in the matters to be decided.
The Board believes that based on the size of the Company, its current stage of development and its internal resources, having two independent non-executive directors represents a sufficient balance and level of independence. The Board reviews these factors regularly and considers whether, or at what stage of the Company’s development, a third independent non-executive director will be required to further enhance this balance.
The Board has sub-committees appointed to review the specific matters of Audit, Remuneration and Nominations. The Audit and Remuneration Committees are chaired by independent non-executive directors and the whole Board undertakes the responsibilities of the Nominations Committee. Further details are provided under principle 9, below.
The Board is confident that each current member has the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to discharge his duties and responsibilities effectively and that each commits the time necessary to fulfil his role.
The annual report and accounts (available on the website) also explains the governance framework and provides data on the number of Board and Committee meetings (and Director attendance at the same).
Application
The board must have an appropriate balance of sector, financial and public markets skills and experience, as well as an appropriate balance of personal qualities and capabilities. The board should understand and challenge its own diversity, including gender balance, as part of its composition.
The board should not be dominated by one person or a group of people. Strong personal bonds can be important but can also divide a board.
As companies evolve, the mix of skills and experience required on the board will change, and board composition will need to evolve to reflect this change.
Compliance
Each Board director has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the Group’s business operations and financial management, and of the market the sector in which it operates.
The Board is collectively aware of its need to consider and review its composition, in terms of individual personalities, diversity and gender. Having regard to the size and stage of development of the Group and of its internal resources and management support structure beneath it, the Board believe that it currently has an appropriate mix of personal qualities, experience and capability.
Biographical details of the directors are available on the website.
Application
The board should regularly review the effectiveness of its performance as a unit, as well as that of its committees and the individual directors.
The board performance review may be carried out internally or, ideally, externally facilitated from time to time. The review should identify development or mentoring needs of individual directors or the wider senior management team.
It is healthy for membership of the board to be periodically refreshed. Succession planning is a vital task for boards. No member of the board should become indispensable.
Compliance
The Board undertakes regular monitoring of personal and corporate performance using agreed key performance indicators and detailed financial reports.
Key performance indicators include; revenues, Adjusted EBITDA, pre-tax profit, cash generation, net cash, net assets and earnings per share.
The Board considers the need for refreshing its membership and is also responsible for succession planning.
Having regard to the size and stage of development of the Group and of its internal resources and management support structure beneath it, the Board believes that it currently has an appropriate mix of personal qualities, experience and capability and that it undertakes sufficient procedures to review its own effectiveness and performance as a unit, as well as that of its committees and individual members.
Application
The board should embody and promote a corporate culture that is based on sound ethical values and behaviours and use it as an asset and a source of competitive advantage.
The policy set by the board should be visible in the actions and decisions of the chief executive and the rest of the management team. Corporate values should guide the objectives and strategy of the company.
The culture should be visible in every aspect of the business, including recruitment, nominations, training and engagement. The performance and reward system should endorse the desired ethical behaviours across all levels of the company.
The corporate culture should be recognisable throughout the disclosures in the annual report, website and any other statements issued by the company.
Compliance
The Board is committed to embodying and promoting a sound corporate culture and has endorsed various policies which require ethical behaviour of staff and relevant counterparties (such as those mandating anti-corruption, anti-counterfeiting, fair treatment and equality of opportunity).
The Board and management conduct themselves ethically at all times. The Group values its reputation for ethical behaviour and has a set of values that are at the core of its business philosophy.
Application
The company should maintain governance structures and processes in line with its corporate culture and appropriate to its:
- size and complexity; and
- capacity, appetite and tolerance for risk.
The governance structures should evolve over time in parallel with its objectives, strategy and business model to reflect the development of the company.
Compliance
Whilst the Company recognises the importance of high standards of Corporate Governance, the Board has sought to address the matter in a proportionate way having regard to the size and resources of the Group.
The principal risks faced by the Group are addressed by the appointment of an experienced executive Board, supported by an experienced independent non-executive director, an experienced, capable and diverse operational management support structure and a team of appropriately qualified external professional advisers.
The Board aims to hold twelve formally constituted meetings per annum at which it typically reviews the Group’s financial performance and risk profile and considers strategies for future growth.
The Board is supported by the Company Secretary who records and distributes minutes of the meetings on a timely basis.
In support of its aim of maintaining governance structures and processes, the Board has sub-committees appointed to review the specific matters of Audit, Remuneration and Nominations.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring that the financial performance of the Group is properly reported on and monitored and for meeting the auditors and reviewing their reports in relation to the accounts and the audit. It holds a formal meeting with the external auditors at least twice a year.
The Audit Committee evaluates the independence and objectivity of the external auditor and takes into consideration all United Kingdom professional and regulatory requirements. Consideration is given to all relationships between the Group and the audit firm including in respect of the provision of non-audit services. The Audit Committee considers whether those relationships appear to impair the auditor’s judgement or independence. The Audit Committee believes they do not.
The Audit Committee believes that there should be no internal audit function for the Group at this time considering the size of the Group and the close involvement of senior management over the Group’s accounting systems. However, the Committee will keep this matter under review in the event that circumstances warrant an internal function for the Group in the future.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for setting the scale and structure of the executive directors' remuneration. It also recommends the allocation of share options to directors and other employees.
The responsibilities of both the Audit and Remuneration Committees are undertaken by the Company’s Independent Non-Executive Director, who seeks independent advice from external advisors as he feels is appropriate and necessary.
Nomination Committee
The whole Board undertakes the Nomination Committee responsibilities. The remit comprises all new appointments of directors and senior management throughout the Group; nominations, interviewing, taking up references and considering related matters.
Application
A healthy dialogue should exist between the board and all of its stakeholders, including shareholders, to enable all interested parties to come to informed decisions about the company.
In particular, appropriate communication and reporting structures should exist between the board and all constituent parts of its shareholder base. This will assist:
- the communication of shareholders’ views to the board; and
- the shareholders’ understanding of the unique circumstances and constraints faced by the company.
- It should be clear where these communication practices are described (annual report or website).
Compliance
The Board is conscious of the need to engage with shareholders and other stakeholders so that interested parties have sufficient information on which to make informed decisions about the Company.
The Company’s Annual Financial Report provides information on a number of key areas, including the following:
- Corporate Governance, including reference to the QCA Code;
- Operational and Financial review
- A summary of the business, the business model and strategy;
- Significant risks and uncertainties;
- Significant accounting policies and particularly areas which are subject to judgements, estimates and assumptions; and
- A Remuneration Committee Report.
The Company Website provides further information on a number of key areas, including the following:
- Material on the Company’s Corporate Governance Framework;
- The AGM Statement and results of voting at the AGM;
- Regulatory News; and
- Historical Annual Financial Reports.
Both the Company’s Annual Financial Report and its Website provide information on forthcoming AGMs and a list of external advisers.
Further details regarding the communication between the Company and its shareholders is explained in the disclosure above against principle 2.
The Board of Directors is responsible for the systems and procedures by which the Company is directed and controlled.
Great Britain.
All pertinent constitutional documents relating to Petards Group plc can be found here.
The relevant information can be found here.
An archive of recent financial reports issued by Petards Group plc can be found here.
None.
All regulatory news items relating to the Group are available to read here.
Petards Group plc's most recent admission document can be found on the shareholder information section of our website.
Our recent financial reports and circulars can be found here.
Contact information for our key advisors can be found here.
Petards is subject to the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.
Website managed by Petards Group plc