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THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about<br />

the contents of this document and what action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own<br />

financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other<br />

independent financial adviser duly authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are<br />

taking advice in the United Kingdom or, if you are taking advice in another jurisdiction, from an appropriately<br />

authorised independent financial adviser.<br />

If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your ordinary shares in <strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong>, please send this document and<br />

the accompanying Forms of Proxy at once to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent<br />

through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for transmission to the purchaser or transferee. However, such<br />

documents should not be forwarded, transmitted or distributed in or into the United States of America, Canada,<br />

Australia, Japan, the Republic of Ireland or South Africa or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a<br />

violation of the laws of such jurisdiction. If you have sold or transferred only part of your holding in ordinary shares<br />

in <strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong> you should retain this document.<br />

Application will be made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and it is expected that<br />

trading in the New Ordinary Shares will commence on 1 July 2011.<br />

<strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong><br />

(Incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985<br />

with registered number 2990100)<br />

Capital Reorganisation<br />

and<br />

Notices of Annual General Meeting and General Meeting<br />

Notices convening the Annual General Meeting and a General Meeting of the Company to be held at the offices of<br />

Burges Salmon, Third Floor, Chancery Exchange, 10 Furnival Street, London EC4A 1AB on 30 June 2011 at, respectively,<br />

11.00 a.m. and 11.15 a.m., or such later time as the Annual General Meeting convened for 11.00 a.m. has concluded<br />

or been adjourned, are set out at the end of this document. Forms of Proxy for use at the meetings are enclosed, and<br />

should be completed and returned to the Company’s Registrars, Capita Registrars, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road,<br />

Beckenham BR3 4TU as soon as possible and, in any event, so as to arrive not later than 11.00 a.m. on 28 June 2011 in<br />

the case of the Form of Proxy for the Annual General Meeting and 11.15 a.m. on 28 June 2011 in the case of the Form<br />

of Proxy for the General Meeting.


CONTENTS<br />

Page<br />

Expected timetable of principal events 1<br />

Definitions 2<br />

Letter from the Chairman of <strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong> 3<br />

Notice of Annual General Meeting 6<br />

Notice of General Meeting 8<br />

Expected timetable of principal events<br />

Despatch of this document 4 June 2011<br />

Latest time and date for receipt of proxy forms for AGM 11.00 a.m. on 28 June 2011<br />

Latest time and date for receipt of proxy forms for GM 11.15 a.m. on 28 June 2011<br />

Annual General Meeting 11.00 a.m. on 30 June 2011<br />

General Meeting 11.15 a.m. on 30 June 2011<br />

Record Date for the Capital Reorganisation 6.00 p.m. on 30 June 2011<br />

Admission of New Ordinary Shares Friday, 1 July 2011<br />

Capital reorganisation statistics<br />

Number of Existing Ordinary Shares as at the date of the GM 636,710,000<br />

Closing mid-market price as at 26 May 2011<br />

Approximate market capitalisation as at 26 May 2011<br />

Consolidation<br />

0.40 pence<br />

£2.55 million<br />

1 New Consolidated Ordinary Share for<br />

every 10,000 Existing Ordinary Shares<br />

Number of New Consolidated Ordinary Shares 63,671<br />

Subdivision of each New Consolidated Ordinary Share<br />

100 New Ordinary Shares<br />

and 9,900 Deferred Shares<br />

Number of New Ordinary Shares 6,367,100<br />

Theoretical mid-market price immediately following Capital Reorganisation<br />

Theoretical market capitalisation immediately following Capital Reorganisation<br />

40 pence<br />

£2.55 million<br />

1


DEFINITIONS<br />

“Admission”<br />

“AGM” or “Annual General Meeting”<br />

“AIM”<br />

“AIM Rules”<br />

“Articles”<br />

“Board” or “Directors”<br />

“Capital Reorganisation”<br />

“Circular”<br />

“Company” or “<strong>Petards</strong>”<br />

“Company’s Registrars”<br />

“Consolidation”<br />

“CREST”<br />

“Deferred Shares”<br />

“Existing Ordinary Shares”<br />

“Form(s) of Proxy”<br />

“GM” or “General Meeting”<br />

the admission of the New Ordinary Shares in issue immediately following<br />

the Capital Reorganisation to trading on AIM becoming effective in<br />

accordance with the AIM Rules<br />

the annual general meeting of the Company convened for 11.00 a.m. on<br />

30 June 2011, notice of which is set out at the end of this Circular<br />

the market of that name operated by the London Stock Exchange <strong>plc</strong><br />

the AIM rules for companies published by the London Stock Exchange <strong>plc</strong><br />

from time to time<br />

the articles of association of the Company<br />

the directors of the Company whose names are set out on page 3 of<br />

this Circular<br />

the proposed Consolidation and subsequent Sub-division<br />

this document<br />

<strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong><br />

Capita Registrars Limited<br />

the proposed consolidation of every ten thousand Existing Ordinary Shares<br />

into one New Consolidated Ordinary Share<br />

the electronic settlement system operated by Euroclear UK and<br />

Ireland Limited<br />

the deferred shares of 1p each in the capital of <strong>Petards</strong> resulting from<br />

the Sub-division<br />

the 636,710,000 ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of <strong>Petards</strong> in issue<br />

at the date of this document<br />

the forms of proxy accompanying this document for use in connection with<br />

the AGM and GM, as appropriate<br />

the General Meeting of the Company convened for 11.15 a.m. (or such later<br />

time as the AGM convened for 11.00 a.m. has concluded or been adjourned)<br />

on 30 June 2011, notice of which is set out at the end of this document<br />

“New Consolidated Ordinary Shares” the new ordinary shares of £100 each in the capital of <strong>Petards</strong> resulting from<br />

the Consolidation<br />

“New Ordinary Shares”<br />

“Resolution”<br />

“Shareholders”<br />

“Sub-division”<br />

the new ordinary shares of 1p each in the capital of <strong>Petards</strong> resulting from<br />

the Sub-division<br />

the resolution before Shareholders as set out in the notice of GM<br />

holders of the Existing Ordinary Shares<br />

the proposed sub-division of each New Consolidated Ordinary Share into<br />

100 New Ordinary Shares and 9,900 Deferred Shares<br />

2


LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF PETARDS GROUP PLC<br />

(Registered in England and Wales with number 2990100)<br />

Directors<br />

Tim Wightman (Chairman)<br />

Bill Conn<br />

Andy Wonnacott<br />

Osman Abdullah<br />

Terry Connolly<br />

Registered Office<br />

390 Princesway<br />

Team Valley<br />

Gateshead<br />

Tyne and Wear<br />

NE11 0TU<br />

4 June 2011<br />

Dear Shareholder<br />

Capital Reorganisation, Notice of Annual General Meeting and Notice of General Meeting<br />

1 Introduction<br />

I last wrote to Shareholders on 19 May 2010 concerning a proposed capital reorganisation which was put to<br />

Shareholders at a General Meeting on 24 June 2010. While the majority of Shareholders voted in favour of that<br />

reorganisation, Water Hall <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong>, who at the date of this document holds 29.99% of the Company’s share capital,<br />

voted against the proposal at that time explaining that it wished to better understand the ambitions of the Board<br />

before giving its support to a capital reorganisation.<br />

I am pleased to say that Water Hall <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong> has now indicated its support for the Capital Reorganisation in<br />

substantially the form previously proposed and therefore I am writing to provide details and seek approval for the<br />

Capital Reorganisation and to explain the background to and reasons for the Capital Reorganisation.<br />

2 Background to and reasons for the Capital Reorganisation<br />

The Company’s share price has been below the nominal value of its Existing Ordinary Shares for some time.<br />

Company law prohibits companies from issuing new shares at less than the nominal value, therefore at present the<br />

Company is restricted as to how it can use its shares: for example, it would currently be unable to raise new share<br />

capital from investors.<br />

At close of business on 26 May 2011, the latest practical date prior to publication of this Circular, the Company<br />

had 14,132 Shareholders of which 13,502 had shareholdings of less than 10,000 shares. These 13,502 Shareholders<br />

account for 95 per cent. of the Shareholders by number, but represent 1.6 per cent. of the total number of Existing<br />

Ordinary Shares.<br />

At the closing bid price of 0.35 pence on 26 May 2011, the latest practical date prior to the publication of this Circular,<br />

the market value of 10,000 shares would be £35. The Directors consider that should a shareholder with 10,000 shares<br />

or less choose to sell their shares, the proceeds will be significantly reduced or even completely eliminated by the<br />

dealing costs of selling. Therefore the Directors recognise that for small Shareholders it is uneconomic for them to<br />

dispose of their shares. The Capital Reorganisation will allow small Shareholders to realise value for their shares free<br />

of dealing costs.<br />

Another benefit of the Capital Reorganisation is that it will allow the Company to reduce certain costs associated<br />

with maintaining a large shareholder register in particular printing, postage and registrars’ costs.<br />

For the reasons set out above, the Directors are proposing to reorganise the Company’s share capital on the terms set<br />

out below.<br />

3 Capital Reorganisation<br />

Under the Capital Reorganisation, the Existing Ordinary Shares will be consolidated into New Consolidated Ordinary<br />

Shares on the basis of one New Consolidated Ordinary Share for each 10,000 Existing Ordinary Shares. Each New<br />

Consolidated Ordinary Share will then be sub-divided into 100 New Ordinary Shares and 9,900 Deferred Shares.<br />

3


Any fractions arising as a result of the Consolidation will be aggregated and, following the Sub-division, the<br />

Directors will, in accordance with the Articles sell the aggregated shares in the market for the benefit of the<br />

relevant Shareholders.<br />

The proceeds from the sale of the fractional entitlements shall be distributed pro rata amongst the relevant<br />

Shareholders save that where a Shareholder is entitled to an amount which is less than £3 it will (in accordance with<br />

the Articles) not be distributed to such Shareholder but will be retained by the Company for its benefit.<br />

One consequence of the Capital Reorganisation is that Shareholders holding less than 10,000 Existing<br />

Ordinary Shares will receive no New Ordinary Shares.<br />

Shareholders holding 10,000 Existing Ordinary Shares will receive 100 New Ordinary Share and 9,900 Deferred Shares.<br />

The rights attaching to the New Ordinary Shares will be identical in all respects to those of the Existing Ordinary Shares.<br />

The Deferred Shares will have no voting rights and will not carry any entitlement to attend general meetings of the<br />

Company. They will carry only the right to participate in any return of capital to the extent of the amount paid up or<br />

credited as paid up on each Deferred Share but only after the holder of each New Ordinary Share has received in<br />

aggregate capital repayments totalling £10,000,000 per New Ordinary Share.<br />

Accordingly, the Deferred Shares will, for all practical purposes, be valueless and it is the Board’s intention, at an<br />

appropriate time, to cancel the Deferred Shares.<br />

Existing share certificates will cease to be valid following the Capital Reorganisation. New share certificates in respect<br />

of the New Ordinary Shares will be issued by 8 July 2011. No certificates will be issued in respect of the Deferred<br />

Shares, nor will CREST accounts of Shareholders be credited in respect of any entitlement to the Deferred Shares. No<br />

application will be made for the Deferred Shares to be admitted to trading on AIM or any other investment exchange.<br />

A CREST Shareholder will have their CREST account credited with their New Ordinary Shares following their<br />

Admission, which is expected to be on 1 July 2011.<br />

The notice of GM set out at the end of this document contains a resolution to give effect to the proposed Capital<br />

Reorganisation. The Capital Reorganisation is conditional upon the approval of the Shareholders at the GM as<br />

required by the Companies Act 2006 and the Articles.<br />

4 Annual General Meeting<br />

The Annual General Meeting has been convened for 11.00 a.m. on Thursday 30 June 2011 at the offices of Burges<br />

Salmon, Third Floor, Chancery Exchange, 10 Furnival Street, London EC4A 1AB to receive the audited accounts for the<br />

year ended 31 December 2010, to re-elect Terry Connolly as director, to elect Osman Abdullah as director, to<br />

re-appoint KPMG Audit Plc as auditors and to authorise the Directors to fix their remuneration. The notice convening<br />

the AGM is set out at the end of this Circular.<br />

5 General Meeting<br />

You will find set out at the end of this Circular a notice convening the GM to be held at the offices of Burges Salmon,<br />

Third Floor, Chancery Exchange, 10 Furnival Street, London EC4A 1AB at 11.15 a.m. (or such later time as the<br />

AGM convened for 11.00 a.m. has concluded or been adjourned) on 30 June 2011, at which the following resolution<br />

will be proposed:<br />

That:<br />

(a) each of the Existing Ordinary Shares be consolidated into New Consolidated Ordinary Shares of £100 each on the<br />

basis that every 10,000 Existing Ordinary Shares will be consolidated into one New Consolidated Ordinary Share.<br />

The treatment of any fractions arising as a result of the Consolidation is explained in paragraph 3 above;<br />

(b) the New Consolidated Ordinary Shares of £100 each be subdivided into 100 New Ordinary Shares of 1p and<br />

9,900 Deferred Shares of 1p each; and<br />

(c) the Articles be amended to reflect the rights and restrictions attaching to the Deferred Shares (as set out in<br />

paragraph (c) of the Resolution).<br />

4


6 Action to be taken<br />

Forms of proxy for use at the AGM and GM are enclosed with this Circular. Whether or not you intend to be present<br />

at the AGM and/or GM, you are requested to complete the Forms of Proxy and return them to the Company’s<br />

Registrars, Capita Registrars, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU as soon as possible and, in any<br />

event, so as to arrive not later than 11.00 a.m. on 28 June 2011 in the case of the Form of Proxy for use at the<br />

AGM and 11.15 a.m. on 28 June 2011 in the case of the Form of Proxy for use at the GM. Alternatively, CREST<br />

members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies via CREST may do so in accordance with the procedures set out in<br />

the notices of AGM and GM and the Forms of Proxy.<br />

The return of the Forms of Proxy or appointment of a proxy via CREST will not prevent you from attending the AGM<br />

and GM and voting in person should you so wish.<br />

7 Recommendation<br />

The Board believes that all of the resolutions to be considered at the AGM and the Capital Reorganisation are<br />

in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Board unanimously<br />

recommends that Shareholders vote in favour of all of the AGM resolutions and the GM Resolution, as they<br />

intend to do in respect of their own shareholdings which, at the date of this document amount to 13,363,940<br />

Existing Ordinary Shares in aggregate, representing 2.1% of the Existing Ordinary Shares.<br />

Water Hall <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong>, the Company’s major shareholder whose shareholding at the date of this document is<br />

191,011,269 Existing Ordinary Shares representing 29.99% of the Existing Ordinary Shares also intends to<br />

vote in favour of all of the AGM Resolutions and the GM Resolution and has given the Company an irrevocable<br />

undertaking to that effect.<br />

Yours faithfully<br />

Tim Wightman<br />

Chairman<br />

5


PETARDS GROUP PLC<br />

(the “Company”)<br />

(Registered in England and Wales No. 2990100)<br />

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING<br />

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an Annual General Meeting of <strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong> will be held at the offices of Burges<br />

Salmon, Third Floor, Chancery Exchange, 10 Furnival Street, London EC4A 1AB on 30 June 2011 at 11.00 a.m. for the<br />

purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolutions to be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions.<br />

Ordinary Business<br />

1. To receive and consider the audited accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2010 together<br />

with the directors’ report and the auditors’ report.<br />

2. To re-elect Terry Connolly as a director.<br />

3. To elect Osman Abdullah as a director.<br />

4. To re-appoint KPMG Audit Plc as auditors to hold office from the conclusion of the meeting until the conclusion<br />

of the next general meeting at which the accounts are laid before the Company.<br />

5. To authorise the directors to fix the auditors’ remuneration.<br />

4 June 2011<br />

Registered Office:<br />

390 Princesway<br />

Team Valley<br />

Gateshead<br />

Tyne and Wear<br />

NE11 0TU<br />

Company Number: 2990100<br />

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD<br />

Andy Wonnacott<br />

Company Secretary<br />

6


NOTES:<br />

1. Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the<br />

meeting. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise<br />

the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.<br />

2. A Form of Proxy is enclosed for use at the AGM. Please read carefully the instructions on how to complete the form. To be valid it must<br />

be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand to the Company’s registrars (Capita Registrars, PXS, 34 Beckenham<br />

Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU), no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting.<br />

3. The return of a completed proxy form, other such instrument or any CREST Proxy Instruction (as described in paragraph 6 below) will<br />

not prevent a shareholder attending the meeting and voting in person if he/she wishes to do so.<br />

4. To be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting or any adjournment (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of<br />

the votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company 48 hours (excluding nonworking<br />

days) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting. Changes to the Register of Members after<br />

the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting.<br />

5. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using<br />

the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST<br />

members who have appointed a service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able<br />

to take the appropriate action on their behalf.<br />

6. In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a “CREST<br />

Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s specifications, and must<br />

contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com/CREST). The<br />

message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously<br />

appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (ID RA10) 48 hours (excluding<br />

non-working days) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will<br />

be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the CREST Application Host) from which the<br />

issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of<br />

instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.<br />

7. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland<br />

Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will,<br />

therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or,<br />

if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that<br />

his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by<br />

means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or<br />

voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST<br />

system and timings.<br />

8. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated<br />

Securities Regulations 2001.<br />

9. Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its<br />

powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.<br />

10. The service contracts or consultancy agreements of the executive directors and letters of appointment of the non-executive directors<br />

are available for inspection at 390 Princesway, Team Valley, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear NE11 0TU during normal business hours (excluding<br />

weekends and public holidays) from the date of this notice until the date of the AGM and, on the date of the AGM, at the place of the<br />

AGM from at least 15 minutes prior to the AGM until the conclusion of the AGM.<br />

7


PETARDS GROUP PLC<br />

(the “Company”)<br />

(Registered in England and Wales No. 2990100)<br />

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING<br />

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Meeting of <strong>Petards</strong> <strong>Group</strong> <strong>plc</strong> will be held at the offices of Burges Salmon,<br />

Third Floor, Chancery Exchange, 10 Furnival Street, London EC4A 1AB on 30 June 2011 at 11.15 a.m. or such later time<br />

as the annual general meeting convened for 11.00 a.m. on 30 June 2011 has concluded or been adjourned, for the<br />

purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolution, being proposed as a special resolution.<br />

1. THAT:<br />

SPECIAL RESOLUTION<br />

(a)<br />

(b)<br />

(c)<br />

every 10,000 existing ordinary shares of the Company whether issued or unissued be consolidated into one<br />

new consolidated ordinary share of £100 each provided that where such consolidation results in any<br />

entitlement to fractions of new ordinary shares, such fractions shall be dealt with by the directors of the<br />

Company as they see fit pursuant to the powers under article 44 of the articles of association of the Company;<br />

all of the new consolidated ordinary shares of £100 each in the capital of the Company created by paragraph<br />

(a) of this Resolution be subdivided into 9,900 deferred shares of 1p each and 100 ordinary shares of 1p<br />

each, such deferred shares having the rights and being subject to the restrictions as set out in paragraph<br />

(c) below; and<br />

article 3 of the existing articles of association of the Company shall be deleted and replaced with the<br />

following new article 3 namely:<br />

“3 SHARE CAPITAL<br />

3.1 The ordinary shares shall rank pari passu together as one class.<br />

3.2 The deferred shares, which save as otherwise provided below shall rank pari passu together as one class:<br />

(a)<br />

shall not be entitled to any dividends or to any other right or participation in the profits of<br />

the Company;<br />

(b) on any return of assets on liquidation, shall confer on the holders thereof an entitlement to receive<br />

out of the assets of the Company available for distribution amongst the members (subject to the<br />

rights of any new class of shares with preferred rights) the amount paid up or credited as paid up on<br />

the deferred shares held by them respectively after (but only after) payment shall have been made<br />

to the holders of the ordinary shares of the amounts paid up or credited as paid up on such shares<br />

and the sum of £10,000,000 in respect of each ordinary share held by them respectively. The holders<br />

of the deferred shares shall have no further right to participate in the assets of the Company;<br />

(c) shall not be entitled to vote upon any resolution of the Company in general meetings and shall not<br />

be entitled to receive notice of, attend any general meeting, or be part of the quorum thereof as the<br />

holders of the deferred shares;<br />

(d) any reduction of capital involving the cancellation of the deferred shares for no consideration shall<br />

not be deemed to be a variation of the rights attaching to them nor a modification or abrogation of<br />

the rights or privileges attaching to the deferred shares;<br />

(e) the special rights conferred upon the holders of the deferred shares shall be deemed not to be<br />

modified, varied or abrogated by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or in<br />

priority to the deferred shares;<br />

8


(f ) notwithstanding any provisions of these Articles, the holders of the deferred shares shall not be<br />

entitled to be issued with a share certificate;<br />

(g) no transfer of any deferred shares shall be permitted save as permitted by Article 3.2(h) below; and<br />

(h) the Company shall have irrevocable authority at any time to appoint any person to execute on<br />

behalf of the holders of the deferred shares a transfer thereof and/or an agreement to transfer the<br />

same (without making any payment to the holders thereof ) to such person or persons as the<br />

Company may determine and/or to cancel the same without making any payment to the holders<br />

thereof and/or acquire the same (in accordance with the provisions of the CA 2006) without making<br />

any payment to or obtaining the sanction of the holders hereof.”<br />

4 June 2011<br />

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD<br />

Andy Wonnacott<br />

Company Secretary<br />

Registered Office:<br />

390 Princesway<br />

Team Valley<br />

Gateshead<br />

Tyne and Wear<br />

NE11 0TU<br />

Company Number: 2990100<br />

9


NOTES:<br />

1. Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the<br />

meeting. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise<br />

the rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company.<br />

2. A Form of Proxy is enclosed for use at the GM. Please read carefully the instructions on how to complete the form. To be valid it must<br />

be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand to the Company’s registrars (Capita Registrars, PXS, 34 Beckenham<br />

Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU), no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for holding the meeting.<br />

3. The return of a completed proxy form, other such instrument or any CREST Proxy Instruction (as described in paragraph 6 below) will<br />

not prevent a shareholder attending the meeting and voting in person if he/she wishes to do so.<br />

4. To be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting or any adjournment (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of<br />

the votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company 48 hours (excluding nonworking<br />

days) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting. Changes to the Register of Members after<br />

the relevant deadline shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting.<br />

5. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using<br />

the procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST<br />

members who have appointed a service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able<br />

to take the appropriate action on their behalf.<br />

6. In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a “CREST<br />

Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s specifications, and must<br />

contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available via www.euroclear.com/CREST). The<br />

message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously<br />

appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (ID RA10) by 48 hours (excluding<br />

non-working days) before the time appointed for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting. For this purpose, the time of receipt will<br />

be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the CREST Application Host) from which the<br />

issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of<br />

instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.<br />

7. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland<br />

Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will,<br />

therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or,<br />

if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider, to procure that<br />

his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by<br />

means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or<br />

voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST<br />

system and timings.<br />

8. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated<br />

Securities Regulations 2001.<br />

9. Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its<br />

powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.<br />

10. A copy of the proposed new articles of association of the Company, and a copy of the existing articles of association marked to show<br />

the changes being proposed in resolution 1 is available for inspection at 390 Princesway, Team Valley, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear<br />

NE11 0TU during normal business hours (excluding weekends and public holidays) from the date of this notice until the conclusion<br />

of the GM, and will also be available on the date of the GM, at the place of the GM from at least 15 minutes prior to the GM until the<br />

conclusion of the GM.<br />

10


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