Investor Relations

James B. Finance plc was incorporated in 2025 as a special purpose vehicle with the objective of raising funds to support and finance James B. Holdings Limited and JCL Holdings Limited and their subsidiaries operating in the fields of food manufacturing, contract catering, healthcare, hospitality, and property development.

Company Structure

Company Share Capital

The Authorised Share Capital of the company is EUR 250,000 divided into 250,000 Ordinary Shares of EUR 1 each.

The Issued Share Capital of the company is EUR 250,000 divided into:

James B. Holdings Limited  C 107276
La Victoire
Triq Il- Pellikani
Tarxien
TXN 1553
Malta
150,000 Ordinary Shares 100%

JCL Holdings Limited C 80181
BLB014A Bulebel Industrial Estate
Zejtun
ZTN 3000
Malta
100,000 Ordinary Shares 100%

The Board of Directors of the Company is composed of;

Mr. James Barbara (Chairman)

James Barbara is the founder of James Caterers Group. Mr Barbara began his journey in the catering industry in 1989 with a one-man operation, producing and distributing his own homemade delicacies. Over the past 30 years, Mr Barbara led his business to grow into a fully-fledged thriving catering organisation, becoming the largest catering firm in Malta. Under his leadership, the James Caterers Group has set a standard of excellence and innovation, enhancing the profile of Maltese gastronomic culture. His strategic direction has opened new opportunities in European and African markets, with the Group actively exploring its potential and adapting its processes to meet evolving demands. Through his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to quality, James Barbara has become a respected figure in Malta’s food and hospitality industry, building a brand synonymous with trust, consistency, and excellence.

Mr. Arthur Gauci (Executive Director)

Arthur Gauci graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Malta in 1991 and has over three decades of senior executive experience in hospitality, leisure, and healthcare sectors. In the mid 1990s, Mr Gauci joined the db Group of companies as Group Financial Controller, where he oversaw the transformation of the finance and IT aspects of the Group. He was subsequently appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, leading strategic acquisitions, securing major financing, and establishing the Group as Malta’s hospitality market leader. Mr Gauci played a key role in, amongst other things, the launch of a €5.8 million IPO, the acquisition of franchise rights for Hard Rock Café in Malta, and the €40 million expansion of db Seabank Resort & Spa into Malta’s largest hotel property. He pioneered diversification into contract catering, securing Air Malta and Government hospital contracts, and spearheaded expansion into elderly care services. During the last two years of his tenure as CEO of the db Group he also secured the franchise rights for the world-renowned Starbucks brand. Over the past five years, Mr Gauci set up his own boutique consultancy firm specialising in Group transformations, restructuring, and succession and business planning. He holds a Corporate Service Provider license from the Malta Financial Services Authority, enabling him to serve as non-executive director on listed and unlisted company boards.

Mr. Fredrick Azzopardi (Executive Director)

Fredrick Azzopardi is a mechanical engineer with extensive experience at different management levels within the private and public sector, and in several specialised engineering fields, including fire safety engineering, energy management and health and safety management. As the chief executive officer and executive chairman at the Water Services Corporation and Enemalta plc, he has led senior management teams to achieve challenging objectives, implement major projects and register major financial advancements. Eng. Azzopardi headed the long-term re-organisation of Enemalta plc, to achieve financial sustainability and improve the efficiency and quality of all services offered to customers. After years of losses, the Company registered profits of €115 within three years whilst reducing its tariffs to some of Europe’s lowest rates. Profitability was sustained through major cost savings, an increase in revenue collection and record annual reductions in technical and non-technical losses. In 2018, Eng. Azzopardi was entrusted with the establishment and management of the Government of Malta’s new infrastructure development agency, Infrastructure Malta. He led a team of civil engineers and other professionals to implement a major upgrade of Malta’s road and maritime infrastructure, with an annual capital budget exceeding €100 million. This agency upgraded over 500 roads and implemented large-scale projects such as the €70 million Marsa Junction Project, the €50 million Grand Harbour Clean Air Project (shoreside electricity for cruise liners and Ro-Ros) and the €20 million Santa Lucija Underpass Project. Eng. Azzopardi also draws on previous professional and entrepreneurial experiences obtained through his roles of Senior Engineer and Chief Engineer at the Works Division of the Ministry for Transport and Infrastructure, as well as the Head of the Coordinating Unit of the Ministry for Public Works and Construction. In these roles, he contributed to the planning and implementation of several major national infrastructural projects during the last two decades. In 2022, Eng. Azzopardi was engaged as Chief Executive Officer at JCL Holdings, a position which he still occupies today.

Mr. Antoine Portelli (Non-Executive Director)

Antoine Portelli is a seasoned accounting and finance professional with over 30 years of experience in strategic financial management, corporate restructuring, and executive leadership. A Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (FCCA, UK), he has held senior roles across various sectors including real estate, hospitality, construction, shipping, and insurance. Over the course of his career, Mr Portelli has held senior executive roles, including Group CFO at MIDI plc, Smart City, Polidano Group, and Alberta Group, leading major restructuring, financing, and ERP projects. As Group COO at Fortina Group, he was instrumental in project financing and strategic partnerships. Moreover, in 2021, he became CEO of Ponte Ferries Ltd, establishing a Malta–Sicily ferry route and securing a 10-year concession in Sicily. Mr Portelli currently operates as a Financial and Management Consultant, holds a Corporate Service Provider (CSP) license issued by the MFSA, and sits on seven boards as a non-executive director and serves as executive director and MLRO at National Insurance Brokers Ltd.

Mr. Joseph Bonello (Non-Executive Director)

Joseph Bonello has been active in the private industry for over 50 years mainly involved in the international procurement and trading of goods and services. He is a graduate of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. Amongst other directorships he currently sits on the board of Midi p.l.c. (C 15836) as a non-executive Director and has also been a member and chaired its Audit Committee.

Dr. Ian Stafrace (Non-Executive Director)

Dr Ian J. Stafrace is a lawyer by profession. He graduated from the University of Malta and was admitted to the bar in 1998. Over the course of his career, Dr Stafrace has gained extensive experience across both the public and private sectors. He began his professional journey with Exco Services Limited (C 16744), where he handled assignments related to corporate law, including mergers, divisions, and company restructuring. He later became a partner at Abela Stafrace & Associates, a law firm specialising in civil and administrative law, where he advised local and international clients on property, planning, and environmental matters, and was involved in the drafting of transposition legislation and other legal instruments. Dr Stafrace also served as Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, the national agency responsible for environmental protection and development planning. Since May 2013, Dr Stafrace has returned to private practice and is the co-founder of Salibastafrace Legal, through which he continues to advise public and private entities on property, civil, and commercial matters.

Dr. Katia Cachia (Company Secretary)

Dr Katia Cachia read for her Law degree at the University of Malta and was conferred a Bachelor of Laws with European Studies in 2011, a Diploma of Notary Public in 2012, and a Doctorate of Laws in 2014, after having successfully completed an ERASMUS program at Tor Vergata University in Rome, Italy in the same year. Dr Cachia then furthered her studies and has obtained her IFSP Foundation Certificate in Trusts Law and Management in 2016. She then went on to complete and obtain the Malta Institute of Taxation Foundation Certificate in 2017. Dr Cachia forms part of a local firm’s corporate department and assists local and international clients in corporate matters. She often assists in international commercial and financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, the drafting and negotiation of corporate related matters and trusts and foundations.

The Audit Committee is composed of;

Mr. Antoine Portelli (Independent & Competent Member in Accounting)

Dr. Ian Stafrace (Independent Member)

Mr. Joseph Bonello (Independent Member)

The Company’s external auditors are CLA Malta.