Corporate governance

• The Board of Weatherly International plc is made up of:
  
  

  Non-Executive Chairman	John Bryant
  Chief Executive Officer	Rod Webster
  Non-Executive Director	Alan Stephens (Senior Independent)
  Non-Executive Director	Dr Wolf Martinick

• Board meetings are held according to an annual programme that is agreed in December each year. At other times the chairman can call a meeting as and when necessary and will give as much notice as possible.
• The Company Secretary is responsible for the preparation and circulation of agenda and supporting papers for Board Meetings. For meetings in the regular cycle a draft agenda will be circulated by e-mail to all Directors one week in advance of the meeting and Directors can bring forward items for the agenda and should notify the Company Secretary. The Agenda is agreed with the CEO and then the Chairman who is responsible for the agenda and the conduct of the meetings.
• Wherever possible, the final agenda should be sent out (at least) 5 days before the board meeting and every item of substance should be supported by a written paper explaining the issues with recommendations outlining the course of action.

• Uphold the highest standards of integrity and probity.
• Set the agenda, style and tone of board discussions to promote effective decision making and constructive debate.
• Ensure that they are fully informed about all issues on which the board will have to make a decision, through briefings with the Chief Executive Officer, the Company Secretary, and members of the executive management as appropriate.
• Ensure effective implementation of board decisions.
• Promote effective relationships and open communication between executive and non-executive directors both inside and outside the boardroom, ensuring an appropriate balance of skills and personalities.
• Build an effective and complementary board, and with the Nomination Committee, initiate change and plan succession in board appointments (except that of a successor as Chairman) subject to board and shareholder approval.
• With the assistance of the Company Secretary, promote the highest standards of corporate governance, seeking compliance with the Combined Code. If full compliance is not possible, ensure that the reasons for non-compliance are fully understood, agreed by the board and explained to shareholders.
• Ensure an appropriate balance is maintained between the interests of shareholders and other stakeholders (employees, customers, suppliers and the community).
• Ensure the long term sustainability of the business.
• Ensure the continual improvement in quality and calibre of the executives.
• Establish a close relationship of trust with the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, providing support and advice while respecting executive responsibility.
• Provide coherent leadership of the Company, including, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer, representing the Company to customers, suppliers, governments, shareholders, financial institutions and the media, the community and the public.

• The CEO is responsible for the executive management of the company. For this he will have in place a management team that will execute the management of the company. The CEO should report on the management of the company at the board meetings.
• This will be done through regular meetings at which the (Independent) Chairman has a right to attend and should receive a copy of the notes and actions arising from the meetings. In the event of any disagreement at such a meeting the notes should record this so the Chairman is aware of the matter.

• The director’s duties to the company are extensively dealt with and described in many books and guides. It is assumed that all directors are familiar with these. It is particularly important that a director discloses all his interests (and those of related parties) by way of directorships or shareholdings so that they can be recorded in the register of interests and referred to should a conflict or potential conflict arise at a board meeting or generally in the company’s business.
• In addition the Company has adopted the Model Code (this is attached at Appendix B) for dealing in the company’s securities and as a matter of law directors must comply with the restrictions that this imposes on their ability to deal in securities.

The Board can of course take decisions on all matters but the following matters are reserved to the Board and can only be done with the Boards approval.

Legal and regulatory

• Approval of Interim and preliminary results, Annual Report and accounts and /or summary financial statement or any document that is to be circulated to shareholders.
• Approval of any interim dividend or recommendation of any final dividend (to A.G.M.)
• Approval of any listing particulars or any document concerned with the sale or offering of shares.

Appointments

• Appointment and removal of the Company Secretary
• Appointment and removal of Directors in the circumstances envisaged by the articles. (Directors are voted for at A.G.M.)
• Receipt of declarations of Interest
• Appointment of any director as Chairman, Deputy Chairman or Senior Independent Non Executive
• Appointment and removal of the Chief Executive Officer
• Appointment of directors to the boards of all subsidiary companies or Joint Ventures
• Approval of the terms of reference of all board committees and all delegations of authority
• Approval of the policy on Directors remuneration
• Succession Planning for the Board of directors and senior management
• Approval of the terms and conditions for the appointment of Non-executive directors.
• Appointment of any Bank, Nominated Adviser, Broker or Corporate adviser.

Management

• Approval of the Group Strategic Plan and budget
• Approval of the provision of non-audit services by the Auditors
• Approval of and significant changes to:
  1. Group policies and standards
  2. Insurance cover
  3. Group system of internal control

Transactions

• Approval of transactions in capital expenditure and Revenue expenditure and any transaction involving the exchange or grant of shares outside delegated authorities listed in the Internal Control Manual

Guarantees

• Approval of any guarantee or indemnity for whatever purpose
• Share Capital and Financing
• Approval of any increase/reduction in the issued share capital of the company within the authorised share capital
• Approval of any debts or loans or the repayment thereof

General

• Approval of any employee share scheme including share options schemes
• To consider:
  1. The effectiveness of the system of internal control and risk management
  2. The effectiveness of the communication between the company and its shareholders and stakeholders.
  3. The effectiveness of the Board and its sub-committees.
  4. The effectiveness of our Anti Corruption and Bribery Management Procedures
  5. The effectiveness of its executive and non-executive directors.
     
     Item a) and d) will initially be considered by the Audit committee and reported to the Board for their consideration. Item d) Reported formally twice yearly
     Items c) and e) will initially be considered by the Appointments (or Nomination) Committee at the end of the annual audit cycle and reported to the Board.)