COMPANY
HH Finance plc was set up in January 2018 to act as a financing and property-holding company, then owned by Mr Hugo Chetcuti, who has since been succeeded by his son, Mr Luke Chetcuti. HH Finance is an active player in the property market, with a preference for exposure in the hospitality sector.
Bond – The Company, has been authorized by the Malta Stock Exchange to Issue a bond of €5m on the Prospects MTF Market. The 5% HH Finance plc Unsecured 2028 Bond is being issued in order to part finance the acquisition of a Hotel.
Hotel – HH Finance plc purchased a hotel, nestled in the beating heart of Malta’s night life scene, Paceville. It was purchased in an advanced shell stage, and the full sitting out has been tasked to the tenant operator, who will take care of day to day running of the hotel. The hotel has a total of 9 floors, and when completed will have 160 rooms. The Hotel also has an impressive roof entertainment area that includes a pool and a lounge bar/restaurant.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Luke Chetcuti joined his father’s company at the age of 16, after having attended St. Edwards College (Malta) and The Oratory (UK). His unwavering sense of enthusiasm and deep commitment to the company soon became apparent and within a short period of time, he had been promoted from working behind the bar to Outlet Manager and then Operations Manager of The Hugo’s Group.
Luke immediately set his sights on improving performance, productivity, efficiency and profitability to ensure maximum well-being for the organisation. The Hugo’s Group rapidly increased its market exposure under Luke’s tenure as Operations Manager.
Now, as a Managing Director, both he and his father have identified their objectives to further the company’s prosperity. The expansion within the Hospitality sector with new hotels, franchising the extremely successful Hugo’s Burger Bar and the increased awareness of the Hugo’s brand, both locally and internationally, being the main three areas they plan on developing further.
Recognising that The Hugo’s Group has become a local market leader, Luke has also undertaken the process of restructuring the business in order to create a long lasting competitive edge. Along with his team of highly motivated and experienced professionals. As Director, Luke offers the Board an important company-based perspective. In addition, his particular knowledge of the company’s local markets and industry competitors provides the Board with valuable insight and market expertise. Luke is a member of the Company’s Audit Committee.
Tonio Depasquale is the founder and Chairman of City Advisory, a boutique consultancy firm established in 2012. City Advisory provides advice across all areas related to financial services and management sectors.
Tonio also sits on the board of a number of companies in the financial, shipping, property, offshore marine, construction, health and other sectors.
Tonio retired as CEO of Bank of Valletta p.l.c. in December 2011. He had joined the bank in1969 and held a series of key positions within the group before being appointed CEO in 2004. During his banking career he introduced Corporate Finance services within the group in 1995 and spearheaded the setting up of BOV Stockbrokers Ltd in 2000. He was subsequently responsible for the acquisition by Bank of Valletta p.l.c. of an equity stake in E.I.F. which is the EU’s specialist financial institution for SMEs.
He also sat on the first Board of Governors of Finance Malta and for a number of years he was the Chairman of Malta Bankers Association. Tonio is a member of the Company’s Audit Committee.
After finishing his secondary education in the UK, at Downside School (1998), Kari Pisani returned to Malta to read Law at the University of Malta (2005) and later read for a Masters Degree in Finance with the University of London (2012).
Kari’s career has been characterised by his over ten year experience in the Maltese Banking Sector, having worked for that entire period with Sparkasse Bank Malta Plc. between 2007 and 2017 in various roles in the bank, most notably and recently his membership on the Executive Committee of the Bank, Managing the Private Banking, Customer Onboarding and Payments Departments of the Bank as well as occupying the role of Company Secretary for the Bank.
Since July 2017 Kari has been running his own consultancy and advisory practice and sits on the Board of various licensed and listed companies operating in and from Malta.
Kari brings intimate knowledge and experience of the Maltese jurisdiction and expertise characterised by the development of bankable solutions within the fields of Wealth Management, Investment Services, Corporate Services, Trusts and Securitisation.
Kari joined the Board of HH Finance plc in November of 2019. Kari is the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
Ms. Cheryle Falzon Chetcuti, who handles the operational and administrative affairs of the company, has throughout her career occupied different administrative and office management roles within the catering and entertainment industry since 1990 including office management for Clouds Catering Ltd. between 1988 and 1990, and as of 2005 has continued her career in operational and administrative roles in the business that today constitutes and makes up the wider Hugo’s Group including Hugos’ Terrace, Hugo’s Burger Bar and Hugo’s Boutique Hotel.