Pre-Annual General Meeting Information • Mar 27, 2025
Pre-Annual General Meeting Information
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PPHE HOTEL GROUP LIMITED (Incorporated in Guernsey with registered number 47131)
THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
If you are in doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own advice from your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold or otherwise transferred all your shares in PPHE Hotel Group Limited, please forward this document, together with the accompanying documents, to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer so they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares.
Jefferies, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA is acting exclusively for PPHE Hotel Group Limited and no one else in connection with the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and will not be responsible to anyone other than PPHE Hotel Group Limited for providing the protections afforded to clients of Jefferies or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in relation to the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.
Investec, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA, is acting exclusively for PPHE Hotel Group Limited and no one else in connection with the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and will not be responsible to anyone other than PPHE Hotel Group Limited for providing the protections afforded to clients of Investec or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in relation to the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution or any other matter or arrangement referred to herein.
Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on each of Jefferies and Investec by FSMA or the regulatory regime established thereunder, none of Jefferies, Investec or any of their affiliates accepts any responsibility whatsoever or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, concerning the contents of this document, including its accuracy, completeness or verification, or concerning any other statement made or purported to be made by them, or on their behalf, in connection with PPHE Hotel Group Limited or the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution, and nothing in this document is, or shall be relied upon as, a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Each of Jefferies and Investec accordingly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all and any responsibility and liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to herein) which they might otherwise have in respect of this document or any such statement.
Notice of the Annual General Meeting to be held on 21 May 2025 at 12 noon at La Fregate Hotel, Beauregard Lane, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1UT is set out on pages 2 to 14 of this document.
Unless requested from the Registrar, you will not receive a form of proxy for the Annual General Meeting in the post. Instructions on how to appoint a proxy electronically and how to register are detailed in the notes. If you wish to request a hard copy form of proxy, are unable to locate any of the documents on the web page or need any help with voting online, please contact MUFG Corporate Markets via email at [email protected] or the shareholder helpline on 0044 371 664 0300.
(Incorporated in Guernsey with registered number 47131)
Registered office: 1st and 2nd Floors Elizabeth House Les Ruettes Brayes St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 1EW
Directors:
Kenneth Bradley (Non-Executive Chairman)
Boris Ivesha (President & Chief Executive Officer)
Greg Hegarty (Co-Chief Executive Officer)
Daniel Kos (Chief Financial Officer & Executive Director)
Nigel Keen (Non-Executive Director & Senior Independent Director)
Stephanie Coxon (Non-Executive Director)
Marcia Bakker (Non-Executive Director)
Roni Hirsch (Non-Executive Director)
(each a "Director" and together the "Directors" and/or "Board")
27 March 2025
We are writing to inform you that the AGM of the Company will be held at 12 noon on 21 May 2025 at La Fregate Hotel, Beauregard Lane, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1UT.
Shareholders can either attend in person or will be able to listen to the AGM proceedings remotely via a listen-only dial-in facility and participate by submitting questions in advance.
The dial-in details for Shareholders to listen to the AGM remotely are as follows:
United Kingdom (Local): +44 20 3936 2999
United Kingdom (Toll-Free): +44 800 358 1035
Standard international dial-in number: +44 20 3936 2999
Access Code: 081494
Shareholders are advised to allow up to 20 minutes prior to the commencement of the AGM at 12 noon on 21 May 2025 to access the service. For any questions related to the dial in facility please contact [email protected].
In accordance with the Articles, Shareholders or their proxies listening remotely will not be counted as being present at the AGM. Shareholder participation is important to the Directors and all Shareholders are encouraged to vote ahead of the AGM by appointing a proxy to vote on the resolutions set out in the Notice of AGM as soon as possible and in any event by 12 noon on 19 May 2025. Shareholders can appoint a proxy in respect of the resolutions by any of the following methods:
Engagement with our Shareholders is important to the Company and the Directors. Therefore, we strongly encourage Shareholders who are unable to participate by attending the AGM, in person, to participate in the AGM by submitting any questions in advance. As such, any specific questions on the business of the AGM and on the resolutions can be e-mailed to [email protected] and izilberman@ pphe.com (marked for the attention of Robert Henke and Inbar Zilberman). All such questions should be submitted by 5.00pm on 14 May 2025. The Board will then upload responses to the questions that have been submitted by the aforementioned deadline and these will be found at https://www.pphe.com/media/reports-andpresentations/2024 The formal notice of the AGM and the resolutions to be proposed are set out on pages 14 to 17 of this document. Further information on the business to be conducted at the AGM and the resolutions to be proposed is set out below.
All resolutions at the AGM will be voted on via a poll rather than a show of hands.
The Directors are required by the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 (as amended) ("Companies Law") to present each year the Company's most recent financial statements and the Directors' and the auditors' reports on those financial statements to the Shareholders at the AGM.
Resolution 1 will, therefore, propose that the report of the Directors and the Accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024 together with the report of the auditors ("2024 Annual Report"), be received.
The Company's financial statements and the Directors' and the auditors' reports on the financial statements are available from the Company's website (www.pphe.com).
A final dividend of 21 pence per Ordinary Share for the year ended 31 December 2024 is recommended for payment by the Directors. If Resolution 2 is passed, then the recommended final dividend will be paid on 30 May 2025 to all Shareholders who were on the register of members as at the close of business on 25 April 2025.
The Companies Law has adopted a solvency-based regime rather than a capital maintenance regime, which requires that a company can only pay a dividend provided it satisfies the "solvency test" (as detailed in section 527 of the Companies Law) immediately after the dividend is paid. A company satisfies the "solvency test" if: (i) it is able to pay its debts as they become due; and (ii) the value of its assets is greater than the value of its liabilities. In recommending the payment of the final dividend, the Directors have already considered the "solvency test". However, payment of the final dividend will remain conditional on the Directors reconfirming before paying the proposed dividend that the "solvency test" will be satisfied immediately following such payment being made on 30 May 2025.
In accordance with accepted best corporate governance practice for a company with shares admitted to the equity shares (commercial companies) category of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's ("LSE") Main Market, the Company will put its remuneration report for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 contained at pages 143 to 147 of the 2024 Annual Report ("Remuneration Report") to an advisory shareholder vote.
The Shareholders will be asked to receive and approve the Remuneration Report which is set out in full on pages 143 to 147 of the Annual Report and gives details of the Directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2024. The vote is advisory in nature and the Directors' entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on it being passed.
In accordance with accepted best corporate governance practice for a company with shares admitted to the equity shares (commercial companies) category of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the LSE's Main Market, the Company is seeking an advisory vote on the Company's Remuneration Policy relating to 2025 set out on pages 148 to 151 of the annual report for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 ('Remuneration Policy'). The Company is Guernsey incorporated and is, therefore, not subject to the UK company law requirements to submit its Remuneration Policy to a binding vote, therefore the resolution is advisory. As noted on page 148 of the annual report, it is intended that the Remuneration Policy will be applicable for three years following the AGM.
The Company is required to appoint auditors for each of its financial years.
Resolution 5 will, therefore, propose the reappointment of Brightman Almagor Zohar & Co a firm in the Deloitte Global Network, as the Company's auditors.
Resolution 6 will authorise the Directors to determine their remuneration.
Re-election and election of directors (Resolutions 7 to 14 (inclusive)) The Articles of the Company require that at each annual general meeting a minimum of one-third of the Directors must retire from office, save that if the number of Directors is not three or any multiple of three then the minimum number required to resign is the number nearest to and less than one-third.
The UK Corporate Governance Code 2024 (the "Code") recommends that all directors of listed companies should be subject to annual re-election by shareholders. The Directors have decided to endorse this recommendation of the Code and therefore all the Directors will retire at the AGM and offer themselves for re-election. The biographical details on pages 4 to 5 set out the skills and experience each Director brings to the Board and why their contribution continues to be important for the long-term sustainable success of the Company. Each Director's contribution is based on, amongst other things, their business skills, experience and knowledge, both as an individual and in contribution to the balance of capability, experience, knowledge and skills of the Board as a whole. The Board concluded that it is operating effectively, with each Director able to discharge their duties and each with sufficient capacity to meet their commitments to the Company.
The Board, accordingly, recommends each retiring Director for reelection.
Resolutions 7 to 14 relate to the election or re-election of the Directors (as applicable). Resolutions 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 relate to the election/ re-election of non-executive directors: Marcia Bakker, Ken Bradley, Stephanie Coxon, Nigel Keen, and Roni Hirsch (the "Non-Executive Directors"). Mr Hirsch is a nominee under the Relationship Agreement (defined below) between the Company and the Red Sea Parties (including Mr Papouchado).
Therefore, the Non-Executive Directors, with the exception of Roni Hirsch, are regarded by the Company as being independent of management and free from any business or other relationship that could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgment.
Under the FCA's UK Listing Rules ("UKLR"), because the Company has entered into separate relationship agreements (the "Relationship Agreements") with its immediate controlling shareholders: (1) Euro Plaza and Eli Papouchado (acting in his capacity as trustee of an endowment created under Israeli law); and (2) Boris Ivesha, which as a concert party hold 43.97% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares) (and exercises or controls more than 30% of the voting rights of the Company), the re-election of any independent director by shareholders must be approved by a majority of both the Shareholders as a whole, and separately by all independent shareholders (the "Independent Shareholders").
Resolutions 10, 11, 12 and 13 are therefore being proposed as ordinary resolutions that all Shareholders may vote on. However, in addition, the Company will separately count the number of votes cast by Independent Shareholders in favour of each of the resolutions (as a proportion of the total votes of the Independent Shareholders cast on each resolution). At the time of the AGM results announcement in respect of resolutions 10, 11, 12 and 13 the Company will announce the results of both the vote of all Shareholders and the vote of the Independent Shareholders.
If a vote to re-elect an independent Non-Executive Director is not passed by the Independent Shareholders, the Company may propose a further resolution to re-elect the relevant Director(s) between 90 and 120 days from the date of the AGM. This further resolution in respect of each Non-Executive Director must be passed by a majority of the Shareholders as a whole, and there is no requirement for an additional vote by the Independent Shareholders. UKLR 6.2.7G allows any Non-Executive Director who is not re-elected by the Independent Shareholders to remain in office until the further resolution has been voted on. The Company is required by the UKLR to provide details of:
The Company confirms the following to meet these requirements:
The Company recommends that the Independent Directors should be re-elected as set out in the relevant resolutions.
Boris has been President of the Group since 1991 and brought the Park Plaza brand to the Group in 1994 in collaboration with the Red Sea Group and has been a major influencer in expanding the Group's portfolio over the years. Boris has over 50 years of experience in the hotel industry. Boris is the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Arena Hospitality Group.
As Co-CEO, Greg was appointed to the Board at the 2023 Annual General Meeting and was recently appointed to the role of Co-Chief Executive Officer. Greg has spent a long career in hospitality, holding a Masters' Degree in Business Administration (MBA). He has worked in senior management in several global hospitality brands such as GLH Hotels and BDL Hotels. As well as being a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and a Master Innholder, Greg has achieved the following awards: Acorn Award: 2004 Esprit General Manager of the Year award: 2005.
Daniel has worked with the Group for over eleven years of which the last six years have been as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director. As Chief Financial Officer, Daniel is responsible for the Group's finance, IT and procurement strategy. Daniel has over 20 years of finance experience in the field of audit and corporate finance and has been involved in several large complex M&A deals, large (re)financing projects and several transactions on the public markets in London and Zagreb. Prior to joining the Company, Daniel held senior leadership positions within auditing and finance, including 11 years at internationally recognised accounting, audit and consulting group Mazars LLP, focusing on hospitality, real estate and financial service companies. Daniel is a certified public accountant with significant international experience across many different industries.
Marcia joined the Board as a non-executive director on 6 December 2022. She is a Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in audit, finance, executive search and leadership advisory. She has a broad background in finance with a speciality in financial reporting and was part of the IFRS and Financial Instrument competence centre at KPMG. During the last ten years, she has combined her finance background with executive search and succession planning for various corporate clients.
Ken joined the Board as a non-executive director on 4 September 2019. He spent over 20 years with the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in a range of management roles with a focus on corporate and institutional banking and risk. Ken's last position at Royal Bank of Scotland Group involved him overseeing the whole Guernsey arm of the business. In 2009 Ken moved to Barclays Wealth where he spent 8 years leading their banking and trust business in Guernsey and had wider fiduciary banking responsibilities in other locations. Ken also has an MBA from Warwick Business School and has completed the Institute of Directors certificate and diploma in Company Direction.
Stephanie joined the Board as a non-executive director on 7 August 2020. She is a qualified chartered accountant, with over 15 years of capital market expertise. Stephanie was a capital markets director at PwC where her role included advising asset managers on listing investment funds and real estate investment trusts (UK, Guernsey and Jersey) on the LSE. She also advised on ongoing obligations, corporate governance, accounting policies and reporting processes. Stephanie is also an independent non-executive director of Apax Global Alpha Limited, JLEN Environmental Assets Group Limited and International Public Partnerships Limited.
Nigel joined the Board as a non-executive director on 20 February 2020. He is a qualified Chartered Surveyor, with over 35 years of property expertise from site acquisition through to asset management, Nigel headed-up the property teams at Tesco where he became Construction Director, and The John Lewis Partnership, where he was Property Director, and served on the Waitrose Board. Nigel is a non-executive director of the construction company RG Carter and chairs the Audit Committee. Nigel is also Deputy Chairman at the Maudsley Mental Health Charity.
Roni was appointed to the Board on 9 January 2025. Roni serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Red Sea Group (the Company's major shareholder), a role he has held since 1993. Red Sea is controlled by Eli Papouchado, who, together with his family trusts, owns 32.89% of the voting rights in the Group. Roni is a CPA, with a B.A. in Accounting and Economics from Tel Aviv University.
In certain circumstances, it may be in the best interests of the Company to allot shares (or to grant rights over shares). The purpose of resolution 15 is to grant the power to the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares (or sell treasury shares) up to 13,946,831 Ordinary Shares which is equivalent to approximately one-third of total issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares) as of the Latest Practicable Date.
In addition, in accordance with guidance from the Investment Association on the expectations of institutional investors in relation to the authority of directors to allot shares, upon the passing of resolution 15, the Directors will have authority (pursuant to paragraph (b) of the resolution) to allot up to 27,893,662 Ordinary Shares in connection with a rights issue, open offer or other preemptive offer in favour of ordinary shareholders, such number to be reduced by the number of shares (if any) issued under paragraph (a) of resolution 15. This amount (before any reduction) represents approximately two-thirds of the Company's current issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares) as at the Latest Practicable Date. This authority will expire immediately following the next annual general meeting or the date falling 15 months after the date resolution 15 is passed, whichever is the earlier.
As a result, if resolution 15 is passed, the Directors could allot shares representing up to two-thirds of the current issued Ordinary Shares pursuant to a fully pre-emptive offer.
The Directors will continue to seek to renew these authorities at each annual general meeting, in accordance with current best practice. The Directors have no present intention of exercising either of the authorities sought under this resolution except under paragraph (a), in connection with the Company's obligations under its executive and employee share schemes.
As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Company held 2,506,916 Ordinary Shares of the Company in treasury representing 5.99% of the total ordinary share capital in issue (excluding treasury shares) at that date.
The authority sought in resolution 15 revokes and replaces all unexercised authorities previously granted to the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares but without prejudice to any issue or grant of rights already made, offered or agreed to be made pursuant to such authorities.
Pursuant to article 4.12 of the Company's Articles, if the Directors wish to allot Ordinary Shares or to sell treasury shares for cash, they must in the first instance offer them to existing holders of Ordinary Shares in proportion to their existing holdings. However, there may be occasions when the Directors need flexibility to finance business opportunities by the issue of Ordinary Shares without a preemptive offer to existing holders of Ordinary Shares.
This cannot be done under the Articles without the holders of Ordinary Shares first waiving their pre-emption rights in accordance with article 4.20 of the Articles. As a result, and in accordance with the Pre-emption Group's Statement of Principles 2022 on Disapplying Pre-emption Rights ("Statement of Principles 2022"), the Directors are seeking authority to disapply pre-emption rights in two separate resolutions.
Resolution 16 is conditional on the passing of resolution 15 and authorises the Directors to allot Ordinary Shares or sell treasury shares for cash without application of the pre-emption rights contained in article 4.12 of the Articles as follows:
The aggregate number of Ordinary Shares above represent approximately 10% and 2% respectively of issued Ordinary Shares of the Company as the Latest Practicable Date.
The Directors are seeking further authority under resolution 17 to allot Ordinary Shares or sell treasury shares for cash otherwise than to existing holders of Ordinary Shares pro rata to their existing holdings up to 4,184,049 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 10% of the Company's issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares) but only for the purposes of financing a transaction which the Directors determine to be an acquisition or a specified capital investment, as contemplated by the Statement of Principles 2022, with authority for a further disapplication of preemption rights up to 836,809 representing approximately 2% of issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares) to be used only for the purposes of a follow-on offer. The aggregate number of Ordinary Shares above represent approximately 10% and 2% respectively of issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares) as at the Latest Practicable Date.
Resolutions 16 and 17 are in line with the disapplication authorities permitted by the Statement of Principles 2022. This allows the Directors to issue Ordinary Shares for cash otherwise than in connection with a pre-emptive offer (i) up to 10% of a company's issued Ordinary Shares for use on an unrestricted basis, (ii) up to an additional 10% of issued ordinary share capital in connection with an acquisition or specified capital investment which is announced contemporaneously with the allotment, or which has taken place in the preceding 12 month period and is disclosed in the announcement of the allotment, and (iii) in the case of both (i) and (ii), up to an additional 2% of issued ordinary share capital for the purposes only of a follow-on offer. The Statement of Principles 2022 provides for a follow-on offer as a possible means of enabling smaller and retail shareholders in the Company to participate in a non-pre-emptive equity issue when it may not be possible (for timing or other reasons) for them to participate in a particular offer or placing being undertaken. The Statement of Principles 2022 sets out the expected features of any such follow-on offer, including in relation to qualifying shareholders, monetary caps on the amount qualifying shareholders can subscribe and the issue price of the shares. The Directors confirm that, in considering the exercise of the authorities under resolutions 16 and 17, they intend to follow the shareholder protections set out in Part 2B of the Statement of Principles 2022 to the extent reasonably practicable.
The Directors have no present intention of exercising these authorities but consider that the authorities are appropriate to preserve maximum flexibility in the future.
Both authorities in resolutions 16 and 17 will expire on the earlier of either the conclusion of the next annual general meeting or of the Company or the close of business on the date falling 15 months after the date resolutions 16 and 17 are passed.
The purpose of resolution 18 is to put in place an authority to enable the Company to make market purchases of up to 2,092,024 Ordinary Shares of nil par value, being approximately 5% of the issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) ("Share Buy-Back Authority") as at the Latest Practicable Date.
The Company's exercise of this authority will be subject to renewal of the Rule 9 Waiver in resolution 19 (see details below) and will be subject to the stated upper and lower limits on the price payable (as set out in resolution 18). The Directors will only exercise the power of purchase after careful consideration and in circumstances where they are satisfied, that to do so would result in an increase in earnings per share and would be in the best interests of the Company and of its Shareholders generally. The Directors intend to keep under review the potential to purchase Ordinary Shares. If granted, this authority will expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company or, if earlier, on the date falling 15 months after this resolution is passed.
If the authority conferred by this resolution is exercised, the Company will have the option of either holding in treasury or of cancelling any of its own shares purchased pursuant to this authority and will decide at the time of purchase which option to pursue. As at the Latest Practicable Date, there were 514,248 share options outstanding under the Company's share option plans in respect of 514,248 Ordinary Shares representing 1.23% of the Company's issued share capital (excluding treasury shares). If the authority to purchase the Ordinary Shares were exercised in full, then the total number of options to subscribe for Ordinary Shares outstanding would represent 1.29% of the reduced issued share capital (excluding treasury shares).
The Independent Shareholders will be asked, under the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution (resolution 19), to renew their approval of the waiver by the Takeover Panel of the mandatory offer provisions such that the purchases of Ordinary Shares by the Company pursuant to the authority in resolution 18 will not trigger a requirement for Concert Party to make a mandatory offer for the entire issued share capital of the Company. See details of this waiver set out below.
The Rule 9 Waiver Resolution, which will be proposed as an Ordinary Resolution to be taken on a poll, seeks Independent Shareholder approval of a waiver of the obligation that would arise under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code for the Concert Party to make a general offer for the entire issued share capital of the Company as a result of any purchases by the Company of Ordinary Shares from persons other than members of the Concert Party pursuant to the Share Buy-Back Authority. The Share Buy-Back Authority allows the Company to purchase up to 2,092,024 Ordinary Shares, being, at the date of the Notice of the AGM, an amount equal to approximately 5% of the Ordinary Shares in issue (excluding treasury shares).
As a Guernsey incorporated company with its shares admitted to the equity shares (commercial companies) category of the Official List of the FCA and admitted to trading on the LSE's Main Market, the Company is subject to the Takeover Code. Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, when (i) any person acquires, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, an interest (as defined in the Takeover Code) in shares which, taken together with shares in which he or she and persons acting in concert with him or her are interested, carry 30% or more of the voting rights of a company subject to the Takeover Code, or (ii) any person who, together with persons acting in concert with him or her, is interested in shares which in aggregate carry not less than 30% of the voting rights of a company, but does not hold shares carrying more than 50% of such voting rights, and such person, or any person acting in concert with him or her, acquires an interest in any other shares which increases the percentage of the shares carrying voting rights in which he or she is interested, then, in either case, that person is normally required to make a general offer to all other shareholders to acquire their shares. An offer under Rule 9 must be made in cash and at the highest price paid by the person required to make the offer, or any persons acting in concert with him or her, for any interest in shares in the company during the twelve months prior to the announcement of the general offer.
Where parties acting in concert hold more than 50% of the voting rights in a company, obligations under Rule 9 do not typically arise. Parties acting in concert may accordingly increase their aggregate interests in shares without triggering the obligation under Rule 9, although individual members of the Concert Party acting in concert will not be able to increase their percentage interests in shares through or between a Rule 9 threshold without Takeover Panel consent.
Under Rule 37 of the Takeover Code, when a company redeems or purchases its own voting shares, any resulting increase in the percentage of shares carrying voting rights in which a person or group of persons acting in concert is interested will be treated as an acquisition for the purposes of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code. There is an exemption to Rule 37 which sets out that, where a person comes to exceed the limits in Rule 9 of the Takeover Code in consequence of a company's redemption or purchase of its own shares, he or she will not normally incur an obligation to make a mandatory offer unless that person is a director, or the relationship of the person with any one or more of the directors is such that the person is, or is presumed to be, acting in concert with any of the directors. Boris Ivesha (who is a member of the Concert Party) is a Director, so this exemption does not apply.
The Concert Party currently holds approximately 43.97% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares). Accordingly, if the Concert Party's aggregate shareholding were to increase as a result of the exercise of the Share Buy-Back Authority, which, were the Share Buy-Back Authority to be exercised in full, would increase the Concert Party's shareholding in the Company to 46.28%, the Concert Party would be required to make a mandatory general offer to the other Shareholders (as set out in the Takeover Code) for the remainder of the issued share capital of the Company.
The Company has applied to the Takeover Panel for a waiver of Rule 9 of the Takeover Code in order to permit the Share Buy-Back Authority to be exercised by the Board without requiring any member of the Concert Party to make a mandatory offer to Shareholders. The Takeover Panel has reviewed the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and has agreed, subject to the approval of the Independent Shareholders, to waive the requirement for any member of the Concert Party to make a mandatory offer to the other Shareholders (as set out in the Takeover Code) for the remainder of the issued share capital of the Company that would otherwise arise as a result of the exercise of the Share Buy-Back Authority. In the event that the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution is approved by Independent Shareholders, the Concert Party will not be restricted from making a general offer for the Company.
The Rule 9 Waiver Resolution is being proposed and will be taken on a poll, to be passed by more than 50% of votes cast by Independent Shareholders present in person or by proxy and voting at the AGM.
No members of the Concert Party will be entitled to vote on the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution. Accordingly, Euro Plaza (together with the other companies which hold Ordinary Shares in which Eli Papouchado is interested) and Boris Ivesha have undertaken not to vote the Ordinary Shares in which they are interested, in respect of the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution.
As at the latest practicable date, Eli Papouchado (the former Non-Executive Chairman of the Company) is interested in 13,760,260 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 32.89% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares)) through Euro Plaza and certain other companies. Boris Ivesha, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is interested in 4,636,974 Ordinary Shares (representing approximately 11.08% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares)).
Euro Plaza, Eli Papouchado, Boris Ivesha and other parties are a party to a shareholders' agreement dated 14 March 2013 as amended from time to time (the "Shareholders' Agreement"). Pursuant to the Shareholders' Agreement, it has been agreed that for so long as, inter alia, the combined interests of the Ivesha Parties and the Red Sea Parties in the Company are not less than 30% and the Red Sea Parties' interest in the Company is at least 20% of the share capital then in issue (excluding, in both cases, shares held in treasury), on any Shareholder resolution, all Ordinary Shares held by the Ivesha Parties shall be voted in a manner which is consistent with the votes cast by, or on behalf of, the Red Sea Parties in respect of that resolution. As a result, the Ivesha Parties are all considered to be acting in concert with the Red Sea Parties for the purposes of the Takeover Code.
Accordingly, as at the latest practicable date the Concert Party holds 18,397,234 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 43.97% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares).
The Concert Party has confirmed to the Company that no member of the Concert Party has any intention to change the Company's plans with respect to (i) the future business of the Company, (the Company does not have any research and development functions); (ii) the continued employment of the employees and management of the Company and of its subsidiaries, including any material change in conditions of employment or balance of skills and functions of the employees and management; (iii) its strategic plans for the Company, or their likely repercussions on employment and on the locations of the Company's places of business, including on the location of the Company's headquarters and headquarters functions; (iv) employer contributions into the Company's pension scheme(s) (including with regard to current arrangements for the funding of any scheme deficit), the accrual of benefits for existing members, or the admission of new members; (v) the redeployment of the fixed assets of the Company; and/or (vi) the maintenance of the Company's listing on the LSE.
No member of the Concert Party is currently intending to purchase any additional Ordinary Shares during the period covered by the Share Buy-Back Authority. If the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution is passed, the Concert Party will continue to be subject to Rule 9 of the Takeover Code in respect of any future purchases of Ordinary Shares.
The Directors intend to maintain the listing of the Ordinary Shares on the Official List.
The Independent Directors anticipate that they will continue to seek Shareholder approval on an annual basis of the waiver of any Rule 9 obligation which may arise as a result of the exercise of a renewed buy back authority.
If the Rule 9 Waiver is obtained, the Directors will only exercise the Share Buy-Back Authority after careful consideration and in circumstances where they are satisfied, that to do so would result in an increase in earnings per Ordinary Share and would be in the best interests of the Company and of its Shareholders generally. The Directors intend to keep under review the potential to purchase Ordinary Shares.
The audited consolidated accounts for the periods to 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024 can be found at https://www.pphe. com, and are incorporated into this document by reference. For the avoidance of doubt, the content of the website is not incorporated into and does not form part of this document.
The Directors are not aware of any significant change in the financial or trading position of the Company since 31 December 2024, being the financial year end date to which its latest trading update refers.
Any Shareholder, person with information right or other person to whom this document is sent may request a copy of each of the documents set out above in hard copy form. Hard copies will only be sent where valid requests are received from such persons. Request for hard copies are to be submitted to MUFG Corporate Markets at Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL,via email: [email protected] or Tel: 0371 664 0300 and +44 (0) 371 664 0300 (international). Calls are charged at the standard geographical rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between 09:00 – 17:30, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales. All valid requests will be dealt with as soon as possible and hard copies mailed no later than two Business Days following such request being received.
Your attention is drawn to the 2024 Annual Report and to Part 2 of this document which contain certain additional information in respect of the Company, including Directors' interests. Shareholders are advised to read the whole of this document and the 2024 Annual Report and not rely solely on the summary information set out in this letter.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Independent Directors, who have been so advised by Jefferies and Investec, consider the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and the Share Buy-Back Authority, including the maximum controlling position which it will create and the effect which this will have on Shareholders generally, to be fair and reasonable and to be in the best interests of the Independent Shareholders and the Company as a whole. In providing their advice to the Independent Directors, each of Jefferies and Investec have taken account of the Independent Directors' commercial assessments.
Accordingly, the Independent Directors unanimously recommend that the Independent Shareholders vote in favour of the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution at the AGM as the sole Independent Director who holds Ordinary Shares intends to do in respect of his own beneficial holding of Ordinary Shares, which amounts to 47,170 issued Ordinary Shares.
The Non-Independent Directors have not taken part in the Board's consideration of the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution and have refrained from voting on any Board decisions with regard to it.
and the only responsibility accepted by the Directors in respect of the information in this document in respect of the information relating to the Concert Party has been to ensure that such information has been correctly and fairly reproduced or presented (and no steps have been taken by the Directors to verify this information).
To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that this is the case), such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
1.2 The Non-Independent Directors take responsibility for the statement in Part 1 above that relates to the Concert Party and its intentions. To the best of the knowledge and belief of each of the Non-Independent Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that this is the case), such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
1.3 The Independent Directors take responsibility for the recommendation and associated opinion attributed to them in paragraph number 3 of Part 1 above (under the heading "Audited Consolidated Accounts and Significant Change"). To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Independent Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that this is the case), such information is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
3.1 As at the Latest Practicable Date, the Concert Party holds and/ or is interested in 18,397,234 Ordinary Shares representing approximately 43.97% of the issued share capital of the Company (excluding treasury shares). Details of the members of the Concert Party are set out in Part 1 above under the heading "Outline of the Concert Party".
| Director | Ordinary Shares |
|---|---|
| Boris Ivesha | 4,636,974 |
| Daniel Kos | 47,170 |
| Roni Hirsch | 322,000 |
| Director | Number of options |
Number vested as at the Latest Practicable Date |
Exercise Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Kos | 24,000 | 0 | Nil |
| Greg Hegarty | 85,308 | 61,308 | Nil |
4.3 As at the close of business on the Latest Practicable Date the interests, rights to subscribe and short positions (all of which are beneficial unless otherwise stated) of each member of the Concert Party in the Ordinary Share capital of the Company as notified to the Company were as follows:
| Concert Party member | Number of Ordinary Shares |
Percentage of the issued Ordinary Share capital (excluding treasury shares) |
|---|---|---|
| Red Sea Parties: | ||
| Euro Plaza1 | 12,207,843 | 29.18% |
| Red Sea Club Limited | 22,417 | 0.05% |
| AA Papo Trust Company Limited2 | 1,530,000 | 3.66% |
| Ivesha Parties: | ||
| Boris Ivesha | 4,636,974 | 11.08% |
| Total | 18,397,234 | 43.97% |
Note 1: Euro Plaza is an investment holding company and the statutory director of Euro Plaza is Red Sea Group Management B.V. The directors of Red Sea Group Management are: Cornelis Johannes Maria van Valen and Catharina Johanna Dolfina Weers-Wolterman.
Note 2: A.A. Papo Trust Company Limited is the trustee of a second endowment created by Eli Papouchado under Israeli law in 2008. Eli Papouchado was the owner of these 1,530,000 Ordinary Shares and granted those shares to the second endowment in 2015. The primary beneficiary of the second endowment is Eli's daughter, Eliana, and the secondary beneficiaries are Eli Papouchado and his divorcee, Sigal Gross.
| Percentage of the issued Ordinary |
||
|---|---|---|
| Shareholder | Number of Ordinary Shares |
Share capital (excluding treasury shares) |
| Harel Insurance Investments and | ||
| Financial Services | 3,811,757 | 9.11% |
| Clal Insurance Enterprises | ||
| Holdings | 3,493,945 | 8.35% |
| Aroundtown Property Holdings | 3,270,345 | 7.82% |
4.10 If the Company were to repurchase from persons other than members of the Concert Party, the maximum number of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Share Buy-Back Authority, the Concert Party's interest in Ordinary Shares would (assuming no other allotments of Ordinary Shares) increase to 46.28% of the issued share capital of the Company.
6.1 Each Executive Director has entered into a service contract of no fixed term with the notice period for termination and basic salary set out in the table in paragraph 6.3 below. Each Executive Director is entitled to benefits including pension, car and travel allowance, and in respect of the Chief Financial Officer and Co-Chief Executive Officer, a discretionary bonus and discretionary entitlements under the Company's Employee Share Schemes (details of which are set out in paragraph 4.2 above and the 2024 Annual Report). Payments on termination are restricted to a maximum of the value of base salary and benefits for the notice period and the Remuneration Committee may apply mitigation in respect of any termination payment. Each service contract includes a non-compete arrangement.
| Base Salary | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Contract Date | (2024) | Notice Period |
| Boris Ivesha | 14 June 2007 | 573,1001 | 12 months |
| from Group; | |||
| 6 months from | |||
| Boris Ivesha to | |||
| the Group | |||
| Greg Hegarty | 16 January 2018 | 511,0092 | 12 months |
| from Group; | |||
| 6 months from | |||
| Greg Hegarty | |||
| to the Group | |||
| Daniel Kos | 27 February 2018 | 485,8893 | 6 months |
| from Group; | |||
| 3 months from | |||
| Daniel Kos to | |||
| the Group | |||
| Ken Bradley | 4 September 2019 | 82,0004 | 3 months |
| Nigel Keen | 20 February 2020 | 67,0005 | 3 months |
| Stephanie Coxon 7 August 2020 | 60,0006 | 3 months | |
| Marcia Bakker | 6 December 2022 | 60,0007 | 3 months |
| Roni Hirsch | 9 January 2025 | N/A8 | 3 months |
Note 1: Boris Ivesha is entitled to additional remuneration for his services on the supervisory board of the Group's subsidiary, Arena Hospitality Group, which is not included in the table above. In 2024, the total fee for Boris' services amounted to EUR20,813 (£17,638). In addition, Boris Ivesha was entitled to a pension contribution of £28,655 during 2024.
Note 2: Greg Hegarty is entitled to additional remuneration of EUR 5,000 per annum for his services on the supervisory boards of some of the Group's subsidiaries, including but not limited to Park Plaza Hotels (UK) Limited, which is not included in the table above. In addition, Greg Hegarty was entitled to a pension contribution of £25,500 during 2024.
Note 3: Salary paid in Euros and converted to £ at €1.18 exchange rate for presentation purposes. In addition, Daniel Kos was entitled to a pension contribution of £19,283 during 2024.
Note 4: In 2024 Ken Bradley received £5,000 for sitting on committees of the board.
Note 5: In 2024 Nigel Keen received £5,000 for sitting on committees of the board.
Note 6: In 2024 Stephanie Coxon received £5,000 for sitting on committees of the board.
Note 7: In 2024 Marcia Bakker received £5,000 for sitting on committees of the board.
Note 8: Roni Hirsch was appointed to the board on 9 January 2025 with a base salary of 60,000.
Jefferies and Investec have each given and have not withdrawn their written consents to the issue of this document with the inclusion of their names and references to their names in the form and context in which they appear.
The middle market quotations for the Ordinary Shares of the Company, as derived from the LSE's Daily Official List, on the first Business Day of each of the six months immediately preceding the date of this document and on the Latest Practicable Date were:
| Date | Price per Ordinary Shares (£) |
|---|---|
| Latest Practicable Date | 12.55 |
| 3 March 2025 | 13.10 |
| 3 February 2025 | 13.20 |
| 2 January 2025 | 14.30 |
| 2 December 2024 | 11.80 |
| 1 November 2024 | 12.60 |
| 2 October 2024 | 11.95 |
Copies of the following documents will be available for inspection in the Reports and Presentations section of the Company's website https://www.pphe.com from the date of this document up to and including the date of the AGM:
(a) this document;
You will find enclosed voting instructions on page 2 of this document. Please follow the instructions as set out on that page.
The Directors or the Independent Directors in respect of the Rule 9 Waiver Resolution consider that all the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM are in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and unanimously recommend Shareholders to vote in favour of all the resolutions, as they intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings (where applicable).
Yours sincerely,
KENNETH BRADLEY NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN PPHE HOTEL GROUP LIMITED (Incorporated in Guernsey with registered number 47131)
The following definitions apply throughout this document unless the context requires otherwise.
| 2023 Annual Report the annual report of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 |
|
|---|---|
| 2024 Annual Report the annual report of the Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2024 |
|
| AGM | the Annual General Meeting which will be held on 21 May 2025 |
| APY | A.P.Y. Investments & Real Estate Ltd |
| Articles | the Articles of Incorporation of the Company |
| Board | the Board of Directors |
| Companies Law | the Companies (Guernsey) Law 2008 (as amended) |
| Company | PPHE Hotel Group Limited or PPHE Hotel Group |
| Concert Party | the Red Sea Parties and the Ivesha Parties |
| Endowment | has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 3.1 of Part 2 of this document |
| Euro Plaza | Euro Plaza Holdings B.V. |
| FCA | Financial Conduct Authority |
| FSMA | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
| Group | the Company and all its subsidiaries from time to time |
| Independent Directors |
the Directors excluding the Non Independent Directors |
| Independent Shareholders |
the Shareholders other than the parties to the Relationship Agreements defined on page 3 of this document |
| Investec | Investec Bank plc |
| Ivesha Parties | Boris Ivesha and other parties acting in concert with him (if any) |
| Jefferies | Jefferies International Limited |
| Latest Practicable Date |
the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this document being 20 March 2025 |
| UK Listing Rules | The UK Listing Rules of the FCA |
| Non-Independent Directors |
Boris Ivesha and Roni Hirsch |
|---|---|
| Notice of AGM | the notice convening the AGM dated 27 March 2025 |
| Official List | the official list maintained by the FCA for the purposes of Part VI of Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 |
| Ordinary Resolution | a resolution that requires a simple majority of those present, in person or by proxy, and voting in favour of the resolution in order to be passed |
| Ordinary Shares | Ordinary Shares of no par value each in the capital of the Company |
| Red Sea Group | has the meaning given to that term in paragraph 3.1 of Part 2 of this document |
| Red Sea Parties | Eli Papouchado, Euro Plaza, APY and A.A. Papo Trust Company Limited and other parties acting in concert with him |
| Registrar | MUFG Corporate Markets of Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL |
| Related Party or Parties |
has the meaning set out in the UK Listing Rules |
| Rule 9 Waiver Resolution |
has the meaning given to that term in Part 1 of this document |
| Share Buy-Back Authority |
has the meaning given to that term in Part 1 of this document |
| Shareholders | holders of Ordinary Shares |
| Shareholders' Agreement |
has the meaning given to that term in Part 1 of this document |
| Takeover Code | the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers |
| Takeover Panel | the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers responsible for the issue and administration of The Takeover Code |
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the AGM of the Company will be held at La Fregate Hotel, Beauregard Lane, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1UT at 12 noon on 21 May 2025 for the following purposes with resolutions 1 to 14 and 19 being proposed as ordinary resolutions; resolution 15 being proposed as an extraordinary resolution and resolution 16 to 18 being proposed as special resolutions:
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions as ordinary resolutions:
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an extraordinary resolution:
and so that that Directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements or securities represented by depositary receipts, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The authorities conferred on the Directors under paragraphs (a) and (b) above shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2026 after the date of the passing of this resolution or at the close of business on the date falling 15 months after the date this resolution is passed, whichever is the earlier, save that under each authority the Company may, before such expiry, make offers, or enter into agreements, which would or might require shares to be issued or rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares (as the case may be) in pursuance of such offers or agreements as if the relevant authority conferred hereby had not expired.
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions as special resolutions:
and so that the Directors may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which they consider necessary or appropriate to deal with any treasury shares, fractional entitlements or securities represented by depositary receipts, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter;
(b) to the allotment of Ordinary Shares and/or sale of treasury shares (otherwise than under paragraph (a) of this resolution 16) for cash up to 4,184,049 equivalent to 10% of the issued Ordinary Shares (excluding treasury shares); and
(c) to the allotment of Ordinary Shares or sale of treasury shares for cash (otherwise than under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of this resolution 16) up to 836,809 equal to 20% of any allotment of Ordinary Shares and/or sale of treasury shares from time to time under paragraph (b) of this resolution 16, such authority to be used only for the purposes of making a follow-on offer which the Directors determine to be of a kind contemplated by paragraph 3 of Section 2B of the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this Notice of Annual General Meeting,
such authority to expire at the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2026 or, if earlier, at the close of business on the date falling 15 months after the date this resolution 16 is passed (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company at a general meeting) but, in each case, prior to its expiry the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Directors may issue Ordinary Shares (and sell treasury shares) under any such offers or agreements as if the authority conferred by this resolution had not expired.
PPHE HOTEL GROUP
such authority to expire at the end of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2026 or, if earlier, at the close of business on the date 15 months after the date this resolution 17 is passed (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company at a general meeting), but, in each case, prior to its expiry the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require Ordinary Shares to be issued (and treasury shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Directors may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution. By way of a reminder, resolution 19 will be voted on only by Independent Shareholders of the Company. As members of the Concert Party are interested in the outcome of resolution 19, all members of the Concert Party will be precluded from voting on this resolution:
The approval of the waiver granted by the Takeover Panel of any obligation which may otherwise arise, pursuant to Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, for the Concert Party (both individually and collectively) to make a general offer for the entire issued share capital of the Company following any increase in the percentage of shares carrying voting rights that the Concert Party are interested in as a result of the exercise by the Company of the authority to purchase its own shares granted to the Company pursuant to Resolution 18, provided that such approval shall expire at the end of the next annual general meeting.
By Order of the Board
Registered Office:
1st and 2nd Floors Elizabeth House Les Ruettes Brayes St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 1EW Dated: 27 March 2025
The following notes explain your general rights as a shareholder and your right to vote on the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM (the "Resolutions") or to appoint someone else to vote on your behalf. The arrangements for attendance and voting at this year's AGM and for asking questions on the business of the AGM are explained in the Chairman's letter. Any changes to the arrangements will be communicated to Shareholders through the Company's website https://www.pphe.com/media/ reports-and-presentations and, where appropriate, by regulatory announcement.
Please note that a proxy listening remotely will not be counted as being present at the AGM, will not be able to vote at the AGM and will not have the ability to speak or ask questions. If you are appointing a proxy electronically and you have not already submitted your electronic proxy appointment, when you do so now you will be able to vote on all Resolutions. For a proxy appointment to be valid a form of proxy must be completed. In each case the form of proxy must be received at MUFG Corporate Markets, PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL by 12 noon on 19 May 2025. Unless otherwise indicated on the form of proxy, CREST or any other electronic voting instruction the proxy will vote as they think fit or at their discretion or, withhold from voting.
A copy of this document and the Notice of AGM can be found on the Company's website at www.pphe.com
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