The 2024 AGM was held at 6.15pm on Tuesday 8 October at London Stadium Store and was attended by over 90 Bondholders.
Chair’s Welcome
Martine Bennett opened the meeting and welcomed Bondholders and guests.
Martine updated the meeting by thanking Bondholders for their engagement and response to surveys over the last year. Work on tracing all bondholders has continued. The owners of 90 bonds are’ lost’ but work to trace them is ongoing. A further 14 bonds are held by estates.
Martine stressed the importance of Bondholders keeping their contact details updated and ensuring provision is made for the Bond in their will.
If anyone knows any Bondholder who has not yet confirmed their details, please ask them to contact [email protected].
Bond sales
Over the last year the average sales price of a Bond was £10,000. Thirty Bonds have been sold and ten transferred. There are 309 currently on the waiting list to purchase a Bond.
The previously discussed change to using an auction format for Bond sales will happen in 2024/25 after further discussions have taken place with the bondholder committee and any new members. Auctions are likely to be run quarterly and the seller will be able to set a reserve price. A 5% fee will be payable by both the buyer and seller. All fees are held in the Hammers Bond Company account for the benefit of all Bondholders.
Company Accounts
Tony Barritt presented the company accounts. The balance at the year-end was £14,911.86. The only expenditure for the year was £58.80 to purchase a card reader.
FAB Representation
In the recent survey 92.5% of respondents agreed that the Bondholders should join the newly formed Fan Advisory Board. The first meeting was held on 11 September. Martine attended as the Bondholders' representative.
Committee Elections
The attendees voted to accept a motion to re-elect the ten current members of the Committee together with two new Committee members, to represent Bondholders for the next 12 months. The committee members elected were Barbara Adams, Stephen Applebee, Tony Barritt, Martine Bennett, Richard Boast, Lloyd Howard, Martin Jessop, Keith Knight, Michael Evans, Mike Lee, Joe O;Sullivan and Colin Sheridan.
Q and A with Club officials
Martine Bennett introduced Nicola Keye, Director of Ticketing, Tara Warren Executive Director, Andy Mollett, Chief Financial Officer and Cat Smith, Head of Supporter Services. Tara gave an update on the formation and aims of the Fans Advisory Board, Martine then asked a range of submitted questions on a range of subjects including concession pricing, future technological developments in ticketing and the financial benefits of European competition
James Collins
Following the more formal business of the evening Joe O'Sullivan introduced James Collins. James shared a number of stories and experiences from his two spells playing for West Ham. James answered a variety of pre-submitted questions, together with those from the floor during an entertaining and enlightening Q and A session.
Closing Remarks
Martine, on behalf of the Bondholders and the Executive Committee thanked the Club for hosting the event, together with Club representatives and James Collins for an entertaining and informative evening. James Collins then drew out three raffle tickets for lucky winners of a signed Men's Shirt and a signed Women's Shirt donated by the Club and a James Collins signed provided by the committee and signed by James on the night.