REMUNERATION COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. MEMBERSHIP
1.1. The Remuneration Committee (the “Committee”) shall comprise at least two members, all of whom shall be independent non-executive directors. The Chair of the Board may also serve on the committee as an additional member if they were considered independent on appointment as Chair.
1.2. Appointments to the Committee are made by the Board on the recommendation of the Nomination Committee and in consultation with the Chair of the Remuneration Committee and shall be for a period of up to three years which may be extended for up to two additional three-year periods, provided members (other than the Chair of the Board, if they are a member of the Committee) continue to be independent.
1.3. Only members of the Committee have the right to attend Committee meetings. However, other individuals such as the Chief Executive, the Chief People Officer and external advisers may be invited to attend for all or part of any meeting, as and when appropriate.
1.4. The Board shall appoint the Committee Chair who shall be an independent nonexecutive director who should have served on a remuneration committee for at least 12 months. In the absence of the Committee Chair and/or an appointed deputy, the remaining members present shall elect one of themselves to chair the meeting who would qualify under these terms of reference to be appointed to that position by the Board. The Chair of the Board shall not be Chair of the Committee.
2. SECRETARY
The company secretary or their nominee shall act as the secretary of the Committee and will ensure that the Committee receives information and papers in a timely manner to enable full and proper consideration to be given to the issues.
3. QUORUM
The quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall be two.
4. FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS
The Committee shall meet at least three times a year and otherwise as required.
5. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
5.1. Meetings of the Committee shall be called by the secretary of the Committee at the request of the Committee Chair or any of its members.
5.2. Unless otherwise agreed, notice of each meeting confirming the venue, time and date together with an agenda of items to be discussed, shall be forwarded to each member of the Committee and any other person required to attend no later than five days before the date of the meeting. Supporting papers shall be sent to Committee members and to other attendees, as appropriate, at the same time.
6. MINUTES OF MEETINGS
6.1. The secretary shall minute the proceedings and resolutions of all Committee meetings, including the names of those present and in attendance.
6.2. Draft minutes of Committee meetings shall be circulated to all members of the Committee. Once approved, minutes should be circulated to all other members of the Board and the company secretary unless, exceptionally, it would be inappropriate to do so.
7. ENGAGEMENT WITH SHAREHOLDERS
The Committee chair should attend the Company’s annual general meeting (“AGM”) to answer any shareholder questions on the Committee’s activities. In addition, the Committee chair should seek engagement with shareholders on significant matters related to the Committee’s areas of responsibility.
8. DUTIES
The Committee should carry out the duties detailed below for the parent company, major subsidiary undertakings and the group as a whole, as appropriate.
The Committee shall:
8.1. Have delegated responsibility for determining the policy for directors’ remuneration and setting remuneration for the Company’s Chair and executive directors and senior management population.
8.2. Establish remuneration schemes that promote long-term shareholding by executive directors that support alignment with long-term shareholder interests,
8.3. Design remuneration policies and practices to support strategy and promote long-term sustainable success, with executive remuneration aligned to company purpose and values, clearly linked to the successful delivery of the company’s long-term strategy, and that enable the use of discretion to override formulaic outcomes and to recover and/or withhold sums or share awards under appropriate specified circumstances.
8.4. When determining executive director remuneration policy and practices, consider the Code requirements for clarity, simplicity, risk mitigation, predictability, proportionality and alignment to culture.
8.5. No director or senior manager shall be involved in any decisions as to their own remuneration outcome. The Committee shall recognise and manage conflicts of interest when receiving views from the executive directors or the senior management populations, or when consulting the Chief Executive about its proposals. The Board itself or, where required by the Articles of Association, the shareholders should determine the remuneration of the non-executive directors within the limits set in the Articles of Association.
8.6. In determining remuneration policy, take into account all other factors which it deems necessary including relevant legal and regulatory requirements, the provisions and recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance Code and associated guidance.
8.7. Review the ongoing appropriateness and relevance of the remuneration policy, having regard to the views of shareholders, the workforce and other stakeholders.
8.8. Within the terms of the agreed policy and in consultation with the Chair of the Board and/or Chief Executive, as appropriate, determine the total individual remuneration package of each executive director, the Company Chair and the members of the senior manager population including pension arrangements, bonuses, incentive payments and share options or other share awards. The choice of financial, non-financial and strategic measures is important, as is the exercise of independent judgement and discretion when determining remuneration awards, taking account of Company and individual performance, and wider circumstances.
8.9. Have full authority to appoint remuneration consultants and to commission or purchase any reports, surveys or information which it deems necessary at the expense of the Company. However, the Committee should avoid designing pay structures based solely on benchmarking to the market or on the advice of remuneration consultants.
8.10. Review the design of all share incentive plans for approval by the Board and, where required, shareholders. For any such plans, determine each year whether awards will be made, and if so, the overall amount of such awards, the individual awards for executive directors and the members of the senior management population, and the performance targets to be used.
8.11. Determine the policy for service agreements for executive directors and the senior management population, and ensure that contractual terms of termination, and any payments made, are fair to the individual and the Company, that failure is not rewarded and that the duty to mitigate loss is fully recognised.
8.12. Review workforce remuneration and related policies and take these into consideration when setting the remuneration of the executive directors and senior management population.
8.13. Oversee any major changes in employee benefits structures throughout the Company or Group.
8.14. Work and liaise as necessary with other Board committees, ensuring the interaction between committees and with the Board is reviewed regularly.
9. REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES
9.1. The Committee Chair shall report to the Board after each meeting on the nature and content of its discussion, recommendations and action to be taken.
9.2. The Committee shall make whatever recommendations to the Board it deems appropriate on any area within its remit where action or improvement is needed, and adequate time should be available for Board discussion when necessary.
9.3. The Committee shall provide a description of its work in the annual report in line with the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
9.4. The Committee shall also ensure that provisions regarding disclosure of information as set out in The Companies (Directors’ Remuneration Policy and Directors’ Remuneration Report) Regulations 2019 and the Code are fulfilled, and that a report on the directors’ remuneration policy and practices is included in the Company’s annual report and put to shareholders for approval at the AGM as necessary.
9.5. If the Committee has appointed remuneration consultants, the consultant should be identified in the annual report alongside a statement about any other connection it has with the company or individual directors.
10. OTHER MATTERS
The Committee shall:
10.1. Have access to sufficient resources in order to carry out its duties, including access to the company secretariat for advice and assistance as required.
10.2. Be provided with appropriate and timely training, both in the form of an induction programme for new members and on an ongoing basis for all members.
10.3. Give due consideration to all relevant laws and regulations, the provisions of the Code and published guidelines or recommendations regarding the remuneration of Company directors and the formation and operation of share incentive plans, the requirements of the FCA’s Listing Rules, Prospectus Rules, Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook, and any other applicable rules, as appropriate.
10.4. Ensure that a periodic evaluation of the Committee’s own performance is carried out.
10.5. At least annually, review its constitution and terms of reference to ensure it is operating at maximum effectiveness and recommend any changes it considers necessary to the Board for approval.
11. AUTHORITY
The Committee is authorised by the Board to obtain, at the Company’s expense, outside legal or other professional advice on any matters within its terms of reference.
Recommended by the Committee: 19 October 2023
Adopted by resolution of the Board: 19 October 2023