4 questions lodged at 2025 Guzman Y Gomez hybrid AGM
November 14, 2025
Below is the text of the 4 written questions submitted at the 70 minute Guzman Y Gomez (GYG) hybrid AGM held on November 13, 2025 via the Automic platform, plus a summary of the answers and some video grabs via Twitter. See notice of meeting. No protest votes. Market cap was $2.51b on AGM day. The proxies were disclosed early in this separate ASX announcement. David Kingston gave them a good workout from the floor and see 4 questions asked at debut 2024 AGM. Just waiting for the AGM webcast.
Q1. How many full time equivalent staff do we currently have and is this likely to fall over the coming 12 months with the rapid roll out of AI? Which parts of our business and operations are the most prospective for AI productivity gains and how energetically are we embracing those opportunities?
Answer: The chair Guy Russo handed over to CFO Eric Du Plessis who said the focus was in the restaurants which currently employ 14,000 people. Watch video of exchange via Twitter, plus these additional comments by the CFO.
Q2. The latest ASIC report summarising net short positions across the ASX300 shows that 12.08% of our total shares on issue are currently sold short, which makes us one of the 10 most heavily ASX200 shorted stocks on the ASX. Do we know which of our institutional shareholders are lending their shares to short sellers and could the CEO confirm that he his not lending his stock to short sellers? Do we know the identity of the short sellers, have we observed any tactics by short sellers to try and drive the share price lower and how are we generally handling this overall situation?
Answer: The chair Guy Russo left it to the CFO Eric Du Plessis after the two founders confirmed they were not lending their stock to short sellers. Watch video of exchange via Twitter, plus these additional comments by the CFO.
Q3. Which of the proxy advisers covered us this year & did any recommend a vote against any of today's resolutions, including this remuneration report item? If so, what reasons did they give and did this translate into any material protest votes? Please don't say they are confidential. It is standard for companies to be across this detail on the voting recommendations and inform shareholders where relevant.
Answer: The chair Guy Russo handed straight over to CFO Eric Du Plessis who said all 3 proxy advisers recommended in favour of all resolutions. Hence, there were no protest votes. Watch video of exchange via Twitter.
Q4. I agree with David Kingston, please retire the ridiculous world's biggest restaurant company aspiration and make it Australia's biggest restaurant chain. The two fast growing companies mentioned by the CEO are Starbucks, which currently has a market cap of $US99 billion and Chippole, which is capitalised at $US41 billion. Once our $US1.5 billion market cap has lifted to at least 20% of their size by value, bring the big claim back into play. Will Marina Joanou argue to retire the claim, for now?
Answer: The former CFO of Kmart was quite resolute in saying she would not support retiring the overblown claim, which was disappointing as it is ridiculous. Watch video of exchange via Twitter.
Copyright © 2025 The Mayne Report. All rights reserved
