Lookers plc (LON:LOOK), one of the leading UK motor retail and aftersales service groups, has provided an update in relation to its Annual General Meeting to be held on 30 June 2021.
Response to COVID-19
We were looking forward to welcoming shareholders in person to our AGM, particularly given the constraints we faced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of the Notice of AGM, the UK Government guidelines suggested that it would have been possible to hold the AGM as an open meeting, with shareholders present in person, and we had planned for this accordingly.
However, Lookers notes the recent government announcement in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic given on 14 June 2021 and in order to comply with this latest announcement it is with regret that we will be amending the format of the AGM such that shareholders will not be permitted to attend the AGM in person.
Attendance at the meeting will be limited to those Lookers representatives that can safely attend for the purposes of forming a valid quorum, while observing social distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions. It is intended that the AGM will now take place at 10.00 a.m. at the registered office, Lookers House, 3 Etchells Road, West Timperley, WA14 5XS.
We strongly recommend that shareholders refrain from attending the AGM in person, as they will be refused entry.
While we are constantly monitoring the situation, we believe it is unlikely that the advice and guidance will change ahead of the date of the AGM. If it does, we will notify shareholders of any change by issuing a shareholder announcement via RNS. Any updates to the position will also be included on our website at www.lookersplc.com/investors/regulatory-news.
Proxy Appointment
In this context, we strongly encourage all shareholders to complete and return a proxy appointment (appointing the Chair of the meeting as their proxy) in accordance with the notes set out in Part II of the Notice of AGM. To be valid, the proxy appointment must be received at the address for delivery specified in the notes by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 28 June 2021.
Questions
As detailed in the Notice of AGM, shareholders who wish to ask a question of the Board relating to the business of the AGM can do so by sending an email to generalmeetings@lookers.co.uk. We will ensure, to the extent practicable, that answers to questions received by 5:00 p.m. on 16 June 2021 are published on our website by 10.00 a.m. on 23 June 2021. The Company will endeavour to publish responses to any questions received after 5:00 p.m. on 16 June 2021 on the Company’s website in advance of the AGM.
Accounts General Meeting
As previously announced, the standard shareholder resolutions relating to receiving the audited financial statements and the auditors’ and directors’ reports, approving the directors’ remuneration report and the reappointment and remuneration of our auditors, will be tabled at a separate “accounts general meeting” of shareholders.
The Group will release its audited preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2020 on 29 June 2021 with the formal notice in respect of the “accounts general meeting” being sent to shareholders shortly thereafter.
Whilst we continually monitor the situation, the Board expects that this “accounts general meeting” will be capable of being an open general meeting. The Board looks forward to welcoming shareholders in person once again though updates will be provided in due course.
