Business
Launch of second share buyback tranche 2024
Launch of second share buyback tranche 2024.
About this update from Imperial Brands Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nIMPERIAL BRANDS PLC\nLegal Entity Identifier (LEI) No. 549300DFVPOB67JL3A42\n11 March 2024\n \nImperial Brands PLC second share buyback tranche of up to £550 million\nFollowing the completion of its £1 billion share repurchase programme in FY23, Imperial Brands PLC (the \"Company\") 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.\nThe share repurchase programme is in line with the Company's 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.\nThe 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.\nUnder 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.\nShare 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.\nAny purchases of ordinary shares by the Company 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 sha...