Launch of Share Buyback

LEI: 213800OC94PF2D675H41

19 June 2025

Hostelworld Group plc

Share REPURCHASE Programme

Hostelworld Group plc ("Hostelworld" or the "Company") today announces the commencement of a share buyback programme to repurchase ordinary shares of up to a maximum aggregate consideration of £5 million (the "Maximum Consideration"). 

The Company has entered into irrevocable, non-discretionary arrangements with Goodbody Stockbrokers UC ("Goodbody") to repurchase ordinary shares on the Company's behalf up to the Maximum Consideration (the "Share Buyback Programme").

The Share Buyback Programme will commence on 19 June 2025, and may continue until 31 December 2025, subject to market conditions, the ongoing capital requirements of the business and termination provisions customary for arrangements of this nature, unless the amount of the Maximum Consideration is reached earlier. The maximum number of ordinary shares to be repurchased under the Share Buyback Programme is 12,498,978 pursuant to the Company's general authority to repurchase ordinary shares approved by shareholders at the Company's AGM on 7 May 2025 (the "2025 Repurchase Authority") and such ordinary shares may only be repurchased on the London Stock Exchange. The purpose of the Share Buyback Programme is to reduce the Company's share capital, and it is intended that the shares repurchased will be cancelled.

Goodbody will make their trading decisions in relation to the Company's shares independently of, and uninfluenced by, the Company and in accordance with certain pre-set parameters.

The Share Buyback Programme will be conducted (i) in accordance with the 2025 Repurchase Authority and (ii) within the parameters prescribed by the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU ("EU MAR"), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (also as in force in the United Kingdom ("UK"), from time to time, including, where relevant, pursuant to the UK's Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 ("UK MAR")) as well as the applicable laws and regulations of the London Stock Exchange.

The Share Buyback Programme may be supplemented by the purchase of ordinary shares by way of block trades in accordance with the Company's general authority to repurchase shares. The Maximum Consideration payable by the Company under the Share Buyback Programme will be reduced by the corresponding amount of capital returned through block trades.

Details of any ordinary shares repurchased will be notified to a Regulatory Information Service by the Company following any repurchase.

The company is initiating the share buyback programme in line with the capital allocation framework presented at our recent Capital Markets Day. This decision underscores our confidence in our robust financial position and our commitment to enhancing shareholder value. Importantly, this programme will not limit our capacity to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions that will help to support growth, enhance our capabilities, and drive incremental returns for shareholders.

The Company confirms that, following the release of this announcement, it is not in possession of any unpublished price sensitive information.

MAR information

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of UK MAR and EU MAR. For the purposes of UK MAR and EU MAR, this announcement is being made on behalf of the Company by Caroline Sherry, Chief Financial Officer.

For further information contact:

Hostelworld Group plc - [email protected]

Gary Morrison, Chief Executive Officer

Caroline Sherry, Chief Financial Officer

Sodali (Financial PR adviser) - [email protected]

Eavan Gannon/Oliver Banks

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7250 1446

About Hostelworld Group

Hostelworld Group PLC is a ground-breaking social network powered Online Travel Agent ("OTA") focused on the hostelling category, with a clear mission to help travellers find people to hang out with. Our mission statement is founded on the insight that most travellers go hostelling to meet other people, which we facilitate through a series of social features on our platform that connect our travellers in hostels and cities based on their booking data. The strategy has been extraordinarily successful, generating significant word of mouth recommendations from our customers and strong endorsements from our hostel partners.

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Ireland, Hostelworld is a well-known trusted brand with almost 260 employees, hostel partners in over 180 countries, and a long-standing commitment to building a better world. To that end, our focus over the last few years has been on improving the sustainability of the hostelling industry. In particular, over the last two years we have commissioned independent research to validate the category's sustainability credentials and recently introduced a hostel specific sustainability framework which encourages our hostel partners to move to even more sustainable operations and also provides the data points for our customers to make more informed decisions about where they stay. In addition, our customers are now able to offset their trip's carbon emissions should they wish to do so, and we have maintained our 'Taking Climate Action' label awarded by South Pole.