British hotel operator Whitbread's shareholders reject Corvex-backed director

Whitbread Shareholders Vote Against Corvex-Nominated Director for Board

Whitbread Board Vote Outcome and Shareholder Response

Nov 9 (Reuters) - Premier Inn-owner Whitbread on Monday said its shareholders have voted against major investor Corvex Management's demand to appoint its nominee James Gemmel as a director on the UK-based hotel operator's board.

Details of the Shareholder Vote

Here are more details:

Vote Breakdown

• Whitbread said 83.41% of its shareholders voted against the resolution to appoint James Gemmel to the board at its General Meeting on Monday

• Excluding the shares voted by Corvex, 91% of votes cast were against the resolution

Background on Corvex's Campaign

• US-based Corvex has been campaigning for a seat on Whitbread's board after dropping its push for a sale, arguing that the firm's strategic review had failed to address underlying challenges

Whitbread's Position and Strategic Focus

• Whitbread had urged shareholders to reject the fund's board bid, arguing it could risk execution as the company focuses on a turnaround plan that includes job cuts and closures of branded restaurants

Statement from Whitbread Chair

• "We will now continue to focus on delivering our five-year plan, which has clear and measurable milestones to drive significant value for shareholders, and which we are already executing at pace," Chair Christine Hodgson said

Corvex's Response

• Corvex did not immediately comment on the vote

(Reporting by Simone Lobo in Bengaluru; Editing by Jonathan Ananda)