Restaurant Group PLC Update (8188I)

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RNS Number : 8188I

Restaurant Group PLC

06 April 2020

The Restaurant Group plc

Increased flexibility in our Banking facilities, Executive pay cuts and changes to our Board composition

The Restaurant Group plc ("Group" or "TRG") today announces increased flexibility in our Banking facilities, Executive pay cuts and changes to our Board composition.

Extra Flexibility in our Banking Facilities

TRG is pleased to confirm that the TRG Lending Group have agreed that there will be no covenant test at the half year. In addition, Santander have increased their super senior revolving credit facility to Wagamama from GBP20m to GBP35m, thereby adding an extra GBP15m to the Group's overall debt facilities.

Executive Pay Cuts and Bonus Waivers

The Executive Directors have decided to reduce their base salaries for a period of three months from April 1(st) . Andy Hornby, Chief Executive, has volunteered to take a 40% pay cut, which reflects the core policy for senior members of the TRG team who are not being furloughed. Kirk Davis, CFO, volunteered a pay cut and will see a 20% reduction for the same period. The smaller pay reduction for the CFO reflects the exceptional

workload for the Finance function.   These arrangements will be reviewed again on July 1(st) 2020. 

Both Executive Directors have also volunteered to forego their bonuses for the 2019 financial year, which were due to be paid on March 31(st) 2020. The CEO was due to receive 37.5% of his salary (prorated to reflect his joining date of August 1(st) 2019) and the CFO was due to receive 30% of salary, which equates to GBP98,000 for the CEO and GBP109,000 for the CFO.

In light of the very significant number of colleagues in TRG sites that have been furloughed and the significant pay cuts taken by the Executive Directors, the Non-Executive Directors have also proposed to reduce their fees with effect from April 1(st) 2020 by 40%. This arrangement will also be reviewed again on July 1(st) 2020.

Board Changes

The Board is mindful of the rightsizing of the business that is currently taking place and has therefore also considered the size and composition of the Board, as well as the tenure of its members, concluding that it is timely to reduce the overall number of Non-executives from six to five.

As a result, Mike Tye has offered to step down as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee with effect from today. This will also allow him to concentrate on his other business and charity interests. The Board would like to thank Mike for the strong input he has provided since he joined the Board in April 2016 and wish him well.

Zoe Morgan, who is an experienced Chair of plc Remuneration Committees, will take over the Chair of this Committee with immediate effect.

Commenting on the announcement, Andy Hornby, Chief Executive said:

"These are unprecedented times for our business and our sector. Against this backdrop we have taken decisive action to improve our liquidity, reduce our cost base and downsize our operations. I would like to wholeheartedly thank all of my TRG colleagues for their extraordinary understanding and commitment during this period."

Enquiries:

 
 The Restaurant Group plc 
  Andy Hornby, Chief Executive 
  Officer 
  Kirk Davis, Chief Financial 
  Officer                             0203 117 5001 
 MHP Communications (Financial 
  PR adviser) 
  Oliver Hughes / Simon Hockridge     07885 224 532 / 07709 496 125 
 

Other Disclosures

In accordance with s.430 (2B) of the Companies Act 2006, it is confirmed no payments will be made to Mike Tye in connection with his stepping down from the Board, other than his usual Non-executive fees paid pro-rata.

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April 06, 2020 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)