The Remuneration Committee (“the Committee”) is a committee of the Board of KCOM Group PLC (“the Board”).
1. Membership
1.1 The Committee shall comprise at least three members, all of whom shall be independent non-executive directors. Members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board, on the recommendation of the Nomination Committee and in consultation with the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.
1.2 Only members of the Committee have the right to attend Committee meetings. However other individuals such as the Executive Chairman, the Human Resources Director and external advisors may be invited to attend for all or part of any meeting, as and when appropriate and necessary.
1.3 Appointments to the Committee shall be for a period of up to three years which may be extended for further periods of up to three years, provided the director still meets the criteria for membership of the Committee.
1.4 The Board should appoint the Committee Chairman, who shall be an independent non-executive director. In the absence of the Committee Chairman, 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 Chairman of the Board shall not be Chairman of the Committee.
2. Secretary
The Company Secretary or her nominee shall act as the secretary of the Committee.
3. Quorum
The quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall be two. A duly convened meeting of the Committee at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all or any of the authorities, powers and discretions vested in or exercisable by the Committee.
4. Meetings
The Committee shall meet at least twice 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 Chairman.
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, any other person required to attend no later than four working 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 Meeting
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 promptly to all members of the Committee.
7. Annual General Meeting
The Committee Chairman should attend the Annual General Meeting to answer any shareholder questions on the Committee’s activities.
8. Duties
The Committee shall carry out the duties below for the parent company, major subsidiary undertakings and the group as a whole, as appropriate.
The Committee shall:
8.1 determine and agree with the Board the framework or broad policy for the remuneration of the company’s Executive Chairman, executive directors, the company secretary and such other members of the senior management team as it is designated to consider. The remuneration of non-executive directors shall be a matter for the Executive Chairman and the executive members of the Board. No director or manager shall be involved in any decisions as to their own remuneration;
8.2 in determining such policy, take into account all factors which it deems necessary including relevant legal and regulatory requirements, the provisions and recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance Code and associated guidance. The objective of such policy shall be to ensure that members of the executive management of the company are provided with appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced performance and are, in a fair and responsible manner, rewarded for their individual contributions to the success of the company;
8.3 when setting remuneration policy for directors, review and have regard to the remuneration trends across the Group;
8.4 review the on-going appropriateness and relevance of the remuneration policy;
8.5 within the terms of the agreed policy and in consultation with the Executive Chairman, as appropriate, determine the total individual remuneration package of the Executive Chairman, each executive director, company secretary and other designated senior executives including bonuses, incentive payments and share options or other share awards;
8.6 obtain reliable, up-to-date information about remuneration in other companies. To help it fulfil its obligations the Committee shall have full authority to appoint remuneration consultants and to commission or purchase any reports, surveys or information which it deems necessary, within any budgetary restraints imposed by the Board;
8.7 be exclusively responsible for establishing the selection criteria, selecting, appointing and setting the terms of reference for any remuneration consultants who advise the Committee;
8.8 approve the design of, and determine targets for, any performance related pay schemes operated by the company and approve the total annual payments made under such schemes;
8.9 review the design of all share incentive plans for approval by the Board and 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 to executive directors, company secretary and other designated senior executives and the performance targets to be used;
8.10 determine the policy for, and scope of, pension arrangements for each executive director and other designated senior executives;
8.11 ensure that contractual terms on 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 oversee any major changes in employee benefits structures throughout the Group; and
8.13 agree a policy for authorising claims for expenses from the directors.
9. Reporting Responsibilities
9.1 The Committee Chairman shall report to the Board on its proceedings after each meeting on all matters within its duties and responsibilities.
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.
9.3 The Committee shall produce a report of the Group’s remuneration policy and practices to be included in the company’s Annual Report and ensure each year that it is put to shareholders for approval at the AGM.
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 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 on-going basis for all members;
10.3 give due consideration to laws and regulations, the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code and the requirements of the UK Listing Authority’s Listing, Prospectus and Disclosure and Transparency Rules and any other applicable Rules, as appropriate; and
10.4 arrange for periodic reviews of its own performance and, at least annually, review its constitution and Terms of References to ensure it is operating at maximum effectiveness and recommend any changes it considers necessary to the Board for approval.
11. Authority
11.1 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.
69.00p
1.00p
Date: 18/05/2012
Trade time: 13:19 BST
53%
Year on year improved free cashflow
1,812
Total employees within the KCOM Group
107
Years of service to businesses and public
© KCOM Group PLC 2010
