Stakeholder Engagement Policy At Mercury we understand that support from and engagement with our owners, business partners, communities, customers and other stakeholders adds value and contributes to the long-term success of our business. Our stakeholder relationships are based on communicating openly through direct discussions and meetings and our commitment to best-practice market disclosure, along with sharing information through news releases, our website and other channels. We recognise that engagement involves a two-way conversation. “Sharing and Connecting” is part of the Mercury attitude. There are a range of opportunities for direct discussion with management and the Board, through our Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, investor briefings, and hosting specific events for key stakeholders. In addition, we will engage with stakeholders on a two-yearly cycle to identify what is most important to them about Mercury. We will use this to inform specific Stakeholder Engagement Plans.
1 Company Information To provide shareholders and other key stakeholders with access to relevant information Mercury will:
ensure its website contains: • • •
•
a description of our business our company reports, including the annual reports and any interim or other periodic report we choose to publish a comprehensive set of investor-related information and data including stock exchange and media releases, investor presentations and webcasts, share price information, dividend histories, shareholder meeting materials, shareholder notices and such other material as demonstrates best practice in investor communications; and governance related material including the Company’s major policies, director and management biographies; and
make available to shareholders (at no charge) a copy of the Company’s annual report. Shareholders who have provided the Company with an email address will be sent annual reports electronically unless they expressly opt to receive hard copy reports.
2 Investor Relations Programme The Company will have an ongoing programme aimed at building understanding and enabling appropriate measurement of the Company’s performance among investors and analysts through:
dialogue with management; briefings for results and announcements that allow analysts to ask questions of management; visits to operations; and opportunities to meet with directors.
3 Shareholder Meetings Shareholder meetings will be held periodically in New Zealand at a time and location which will, over time, aim to maximise participation by shareholders. The Company’s objective is to ensure a high level of accountability and identification with Mercury’s strategies and goals. The format for Annual Shareholders’ Meetings will generally include:
the use of audio/visual media in support of the presentations, including webcasting to allow attendance by shareholders who are unable to attend meetings in person;
Stakeholder Engagement Policy | Reviewed by Board of Directors | 2 December 2019 | Page 1 of 2
adequate opportunity for those present to ask questions during the meeting; the presence of senior management, legal advisors and auditors to assist in answering questions raised by shareholders; and an opportunity at the conclusion of the meeting for shareholders to meet with directors and senior management to informally discuss matters of interest.
4 General Stakeholder Engagement Mercury has identified nine primary stakeholder groups: customers, employees, partnerships, shareholders and investors, Maori and iwi, Government and regulators, community, suppliers, and industry participants. These stakeholders are important, because what matters to them influences the ability to achieve the outcomes sought by Mercury (as articulated through its mission, purpose and strategy). Understanding what is material, both to Mercury and these stakeholders, forms the basis of our business strategy. Mercury recognises that what our stakeholders see as important will change over time, so engagement needs to be for the long term. At regular intervals we will seek and collect feedback from representatives of these groups of stakeholders to inform our understanding of what matters most to them in their interactions with us. We are committed to the long-term and pro-active management of stakeholder relationships and to support that will build and maintain appropriate stakeholder engagement plans and processes for key stakeholder groups or sub-groups.
5 Authorised Spokespersons Spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the Company with respect to material information are set out in the Market Disclosure Policy and in Mercury’s Delegations Policy. Spokespersons authorised to speak on behalf of the Company with respect to non-material information are the Chair, Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer, General Manager Corporate Affairs, Head of Investor Relations, Head of Communications and their respective nominees. Private views expressed on social media by Mercury employees do not represent the views of Mercury.
6 Policy review The Board will review this policy as required and at least every three years.
Stakeholder Engagement Policy | Reviewed by Board of Directors | 2 December 2019 | Page 2 of 2