THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 138 GOVERNANCE The rights attaching to the Company’s ordinary shares, as well as the powers of the Company’s Directors, are set out in the Company’s Articles of Association. There are no restrictions on the transfer or voting rights of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (other than those which may be imposed by law from time to time or as set out in the Company’s Articles of Association). In accordance with the Market Abuse Regulations, certain employees are required to seek approval to deal in the Company’s shares. The Company is not aware of any agreements between shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfers of securities and/or voting rights. No person holds securities in the Company carrying special rights with regard to control of the Company. Unless expressly specified to the contrary, the Company’s Articles of Association may be amended by special resolution of the shareholders. PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES The Directors currently have no authority to buy back the Company’s shares. The Directors anticipate seeking authority from shareholders to buy back shares in line with institutional investor guidelines at the upcoming 2025 AGM as they consider it prudent to obtain the flexibility that authority provides. Details will be included in the Notice of Annual General Meeting. AUTHORITY TO ISSUE SHARES The Directors may only issue shares if authorised to do so by the Articles of Association or the shareholders in general meeting. At the Company’s Annual General Meeting held on 16 May 2024, shareholders granted an authority to the Directors As at 31 December 2024, the Company had received notifications from the following companies and institutions of themselves and their clients holding 3% or more of the issued share capital of the Company. The Company has not received any further notifications since that date through to 25 February 2025. SHARE CAPITAL Shareholder Percentage of share capital Canada Pension Plan Investment Board 14.85 BlackRock Inc 9.68 Norges Bank Investment Management 8.90 APG Asset Management NV 4.85 The Vanguard Group Inc 4.25 At the date of this report, there are 488,792,550 ordinary shares of 25p each in issue, all of which are fully paid-up and quoted on the London Stock Exchange. During the year and through to the date of this report, the following numbers of ordinary shares of 25p each were allotted and issued as follows: 50,000,000 – pursuant to the July 2024 capital raise and representing 49,686,114 placing shares, 300,000 retail offer shares, and Director subscribed shares of 13,886 at a price of 924 pence per share 2,808,461 – Unite share scrip scheme 32,086 – pursuant to the exercise of options under Unite Group PLC Savings Related Share Option Scheme 102,901 – pursuant to the exercise of options under Unite Group PLC Performance Share Plan. DIRECTORS’ REPORT Directors’ Report