Following the completion of its £1 billion share repurchase programme in FY23, Imperial Brands PLC (LON:IMB) announced on 5 October 2023, that it intends to repurchase up to £1.1 billion of shares in the period from 6 October 2023 to the end of September 2024. This is part of the Company’s commitment to an ongoing, multi-year buyback programme that will deliver a material reduction in the capital base over time, which, together with our progressive dividend policy, will provide an ongoing source of shareholder returns.
The share repurchase programme is in line with Imperial Brands’ policy to distribute surplus capital to shareholders, having maintained leverage at the lower end of its 2.0-2.5 times net debt to EBITDA target range and with the intention to remain at this level going forwards.
The first tranche of the current share repurchase programme has been executed. To execute the second tranche of this share repurchase programme, the Company has entered into an irrevocable and non-discretionary arrangement with Barclays Capital Securities Limited (“Barclays”) to repurchase up to £550 million of its shares commencing from 11 March 2024 and expected to end no later than 29 October 2024 (the “Programme”), which is slightly longer than originally envisaged.
Under this arrangement, Barclays will act as riskless principal and will make decisions under the Programme independently from the Company. Purchases may continue during any closed period to which the Company is subject. The purpose of the share repurchase programme is to reduce the share capital of Imperial Brands. All shares repurchased as part of this arrangement will be cancelled.
Share purchases will take place in open market transactions and be carried out on the London Stock Exchange and/or other recognised investment exchange(s) and may be made from time to time depending on market conditions, share price, trading volume and other factors.
Any purchases of ordinary shares by Imperial Brands in relation to this announcement will be effected within certain pre-set parameters and in accordance with (and subject to the limits prescribed by) the Company’s general authority to repurchase shares. The maximum number of shares that may be repurchased under the Programme is 88,800,000 shares, less shares already repurchased since the date of the Company’s 2024 Annual General Meeting, being the number of shares the Company is authorised to purchase pursuant to the authority granted by shareholders at the Company’s 2024 AGM. The Programme will also be effected within the parameters of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules. The Company confirms that it currently has no unpublished inside information.
