THE UNITE GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2024 87 ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR INVESTORS EQUITY INVESTORS Institutional investors Investors attend our year-end and half-year results presentations. After the announcement of our results in February and July 2024, our Executive Directors held meetings with investors to ensure their views were taken into consideration as we continue to develop our strategy; to help them understand the ongoing performance of the business and our approach to dividends. We held an investor day in November showcasing our Stapleton House property in London. The event included meeting with our largest investors, updating on progress of the Newcastle University joint venture and sharing views on the outlook for UK Higher Education. We also engage with investors throughout the year on various aspects of environmental, social and governance matters. The Board is made aware of the views of major shareholders concerning the Company through, among other means, regular analyst and broker briefings and shareholder feedback. These will continue throughout 2025. The Chair, Richard Huntingford, also reaches out to the top 20 shareholders each year. Retail investors Our 2024 Annual General Meeting was held in person and allowed shareholders the opportunity to attend and to raise questions of the Board. In addition, shareholders were invited to ask questions via email in advance of the meeting. All resolutions put to the 2024 AGM received overwhelming support from our shareholders. The results of voting are available at: www.unitegroup.com/investors/agm. There were no resolutions with less than 80% voting in favour and therefore Code Provision 4 did not apply. Our July 2024 capital raise included a retail offer to ensure ongoing participation by our retail investors. Scrip scheme The Company continues to offer a scrip dividend alternative to shareholders, which enables them to opt for shares rather than cash with no dealing costs or stamp duty. The scheme, with modified terms and conditions to offer an enhanced scrip dividend alternative, was approved and renewed for a further three years at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. DEBT INVESTORS Bond holders Bond holders are periodically invited to meet with senior management and the Treasury team to update them on performance and business strategy. Other discussions are held with bond holders on specific topics as required, such as ESG and our sustainability framework. Lenders Regular dialogue is maintained with our key relationship lenders, through meetings or conference calls with our CFO and Treasury team. Our Treasury team also actively engages with new and potential lenders. During 2024, engagement with our lenders focused on increasing the size and flexibility of our financing commitments. Credit Rating Agencies During the year, business and financial updates were provided by our Treasury team to Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. S&P upgraded our investment grade corporate rating to BBB+ with a stable outlook and Moody’s investment grade corporate rating remains at Baa1, with a stable outlook.