Relations with shareholders

The Board recognises the importance of having an ongoing relationship with its shareholders and other stakeholders. It fully supports the principles of the Code and the UK Stewardship Code which encourage open dialogue between companies and their shareholders. The Group has arrangements in place which enable it to communicate effectively with shareholders in respect of issues such as business strategy, governance, remuneration and any senior management or Board changes.

Information about the Group, its Board and its business, including the annual and interim reports, interim management statements and trading updates, company announcements and details on services available to shareholders can be found on the Company’s website www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk. Information of a price sensitive nature is communicated as required via a Regulated Information Service and the Group strives to ensure that all key information is effectively and clearly communicated.

The Group Chief Executive and the Group Finance Director meet regularly with investors and analysts in order to convey an understanding of the Group’s operations, the market and its management objectives. These meetings take place during the year but particularly after the annual and interim results announcements. The Chairman and other Non-Executive Directors also have the opportunity to attend meetings with major shareholders at the request of either party and the Senior Independent Director is available to meet with major shareholders, as and when required, to gain an understanding of their issues and concerns.

The notice of each AGM and related papers are circulated to all shareholders at least 20 working days before the meeting. All Directors, including the Chairmen of each of the Committees, attend every AGM and are available to answer shareholder questions before, during and after the meeting. The Group Chief Executive also gives a presentation on the progress and performance of the Group prior to the formal business of the meeting.

In order to ensure that all Directors are aware of, and have a clear understanding of, the views of major shareholders, the Group Finance Director presents regular reports to the Board on the Company’s investor relations activities.