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Corporate Governance
Last updated 24 September, 2024
The Board of Directors of EMV Capital PLC is responsible for the governance of the Company, governance being the systems and procedures by which the Company is directed and controlled. High standards of Corporate Governance are a key priority of the Board, and the Directors believe that they govern the Company in the best interests of the shareholders.
The Board’s view continues to be that sound governance is an essential element of a well-run business and is the responsibility of all. The Company follows the code published by the Quoted Compliance Alliance (QCA) as the benchmark for governance matters.
The posts of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are held by different Directors. The Board is balanced by there being an appropriate number of non-executives with at least two of the Directors at all times during the year being non-executive directors. The Board meets regularly throughout the year, quarterly for major milestones and KPI reviews, and more frequently for ongoing business matters and investment decisions. Arrangements are made to enable information in a form and of a quality to be supplied to Directors on a timely basis to enable them to discharge their duties. Additionally, special meetings take place or other arrangements are made when Board decisions are required in advance of regular meetings. Certain matters are reserved for consideration by the Board (with other matters delegated to Board committees). The Board is responsible for leading and controlling the Group and in particular, setting the Group’s strategy, its investment policy and approving its budget and major items of expenditure, acquisitions and disposals.
Board Committees
The Board has delegated certain of its functions and responsibilities to the following committees:
- Audit & Risk Committee (Dr Jonathan Robinson, Chair of Committee): The audit committee has responsibility for considering all matters relating to financial controls and reporting, internal and external audits, the scope and results of the audits, the independence and objectivity of the auditors and keeping under review the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls and risk management. For more information, download the audit committee’s terms of reference
- Remuneration Committee (Dr Jonathan Robinson, Chair of Committee): The Remuneration committee has responsibility for making recommendations to the Board on the Company’s policy for remuneration of senior executives, for reviewing the performance of executive directors and senior management and for determining, within agreed terms of reference, specific remuneration packages for each of the executive directors and members of senior management, including pension rights, any compensation payments and the implementation of executive incentive schemes. For more information, download the remuneration committee’s terms of reference
- Nominations Committee (Dr Charles Spicer, Chair of Committee): The nomination committee has responsibility for considering the size, structure and composition of the Board of directors, and the retirement and appointment of directors, and will make appropriate recommendations to the Board about these matters. For more information, download the nomination committee’s terms of reference
Principles and Approach
The corporate governance framework which EMV Capital plc has set out, including board leadership and effectiveness, remuneration and internal control, is based upon practices which the Board believes are proportionate to the risks inherent to the size and complexity EMV Capital’s operations.
The Board has adopted the principles of the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (“the QCA Code”) published in April 2018, which is the standard deemed appropriate by independent bodies for small and mid-size quoted companies in the UK. The extent of compliance with the ten principles that comprise the QCA Code, together with an explanation of any areas of non-compliance, and any steps taken or intended to move towards full compliance, are set out below:
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 goal is to become a leading VC investor in the deep tech and life sciences sectors, both in the UK and internationally. Further details of the Company’s business model and strategy can be found in its Annual Report (in particular, in the Chief Executive Officer’s Statement).
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 aims to meet with its shareholders periodically. For those shareholders who cannot meet in person, the Board communicates via various means, including RNS announcements and web-site updates, all of which are published in the Investor section of the Group’s website.
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.
For further information relating to shareholder relations, see QCA Principle 10 below.
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 Board is aware of the impact the business activities have on the communities in which the Group’s businesses operate particularly within the medical technology start-up community, research hospitals and patient testing facilities.
The Group’s responsibilities to stakeholders including staff, subsidiaries, creditors, patients and wider society are also recognised.
EMV Capital engages with its employees informally as well as through periodic formal employee reviews. Employees are updated via regular meetings, emails and internal systems.
EMV Capital also maintains continual dialogue with portfolio companies and ensures that the Company is involved in important decisions through having a seat on the Board of our portfolio companies.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-customers
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 Directors review the principal risks faced by the Company as part of the internal controls process.
The Board maintains a register of risks and publishes an annual summary of the significant risks and uncertainties in the Annual Report.
For information on the Company’s risk management framework, see the following sections of the Company’s Annual Report – Chairman’s and CEO’s Statement, Corporate Governance Report, Risks and Uncertainties and Financial Risk Management.
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 Board is comprised of two executive Directors, and two non-executive Directors.
The Board has established Audit, Remuneration and Nominations committees, a summary of each of which is set out above.
The roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are clearly separated. The non-executive directors are considered by the Board to be independent of management and free to exercise independence of judgement.
A description of the roles of the Directors and their time commitments is included in the Company’s Annual Report – Board of Directors section and Corporate Governance section.
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
Directors appointed to the Board are chosen because of their skills and experience they offer. Full biographical details of the Directors are included in the Company’s Annual Report – Board of Directors section and Corporate Governance section.
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
Given the strategy of the Company the Board has clear objectives to deliver shareholder value with the existing cash in the Company and has consequently determined that it is not cost effective to evaluate annually Board performance. Director succession planning is not considered appropriate as there are two executive directors.
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 continually reviews and promotes a corporate culture based on ethical values and behaviours. The Group adopts several policies including anti-bribery, whistleblowing and a share dealing policy for trading in EMV Capital shares. Compliance with all policy is monitored and reported on to the Board.
For further information on how the culture is consistent with the Company’s objectives, strategy and business model in the strategic report and with the description of principal risks and uncertainties, see the Annual Report – Corporate Governance and Risks and Uncertainties sections
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
Details of the Company’s corporate governance arrangements are provided in this section Corporate Governance above. See also the Corporate Governance section of the Company’s Annual Report.
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.
Compliance
The Board attaches great importance to providing shareholders with clear and transparent information on the Group’s activities, strategy and financial position. Details of all shareholder communications are provided on the Group’s website.
The executive members of the Board hold regular meetings with significant institutional shareholders and the Board regards the annual general meeting as a good opportunity to communicate directly with shareholders via an open question and answer session.
The Company lists contact details on its website and on all announcements released via RNS, should shareholders wish to communicate with the Board.
The resolutions put to a vote at the next and past AGMs can be found in the investors section of this website. The results of votes at AGMs are published via RNS.Appl