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The most important shareholder within the proprietor of Wagamama has delivered a sizeable enhance to its board by pledging its assist forward of a vital annual assembly this month.
Sky Information can reveal Columbia Threadneedle Investments, which owns 19% of The Restaurant Group (TRG), has determined to vote in assist of firm resolutions at its AGM on 23 Could.
The choice to again chief government Andy Hornby’s £792,000 pay package deal for final 12 months comes after activist investor Oasis Administration Firm – which holds 12% of TRG – urged fellow shareholders to oppose it.
Oasis has been embroiled in an more and more bitter struggle with TRG’s chairman, Ken Hanna, and his boardroom colleagues over its administration and technique.
Mr Hanna has rejected Oasis’s calls for for a board seat and expressed continued confidence in Mr Hornby.
In an announcement issued to Sky Information, Columbia Threadneedle mentioned:
“As a long-term shareholder in The Restaurant Group, we stay supportive of TRG’s board and administration crew, who’ve efficiently navigated the exceptionally powerful business backdrop.
“The board continues to obtain our assist as they assess the most effective choices to ship long-term shareholder worth.”
Along with Wagamama, TRG owns a concessions enterprise at transport hubs, a pubs division and the Chiquito and Frankie & Benny’s informal eating chains.
Final week, it issued a optimistic buying and selling replace and was boosted this week by a analysis observe from analysts at Shore Capital who cited its “strong efficiency”.
Shares in TRG closed on Wednesday 7% larger at 51.2p, giving the corporate a market worth of £366m.
It not too long ago introduced plans to shut 35 underperforming websites, whereas others within the sector, resembling Prezzo, are turning to insolvency mechanisms to implement web site closures.
A spokesperson for TRG mentioned: “As you’ll have seen from final week’s buying and selling replace, the market’s response and upgrades from the analysts, we are going to proceed to let our numbers do the speaking.”
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Final week, Mr Hornby mentioned the corporate had “loved a very optimistic first 4 months of the 12 months”.
“Wagamama and our Brunning & Value Pubs proceed to commerce very strongly and it’s particularly pleasing to see the constant development in ‘dine in’ gross sales with prospects clearly having fun with consuming out regardless of the financial backdrop.
“Our Concessions enterprise can also be performing significantly strongly as air journey continues to recuperate.”
Glass Lewis, the proxy adviser, has beneficial that TRG shareholders vote with Oasis, whereas the Funding Affiliation’s voting advisory service has backed Mr Hanna over Mr Hornby’s pay.
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