12 September 2024
Vistry Group
PLC
Commencement of £130m share
buyback programme
Vistry Group PLC (the "Company" or
the "Group") today announces that it is
commencing the share buyback programme (the "Programme") to
repurchase up to £130million of ordinary shares of 50 pence each in
the capital of the Company ("Ordinary Shares"), formed of an
ordinary buyback of £55million and a special buyback of £75million
as previously announced on 5 September 2024 with the 2024 Half Year
results.
The Programme is expected to
commence today, 12 September 2024, and is expected to be completed
no later than the Annual General Meeting to be held on 14 May
2025.
As previously announced, the Group
intends to pursue a two times adjusted earnings ordinary
distribution cover in respect of a full financial year, with such
distributions made through either share buybacks or dividends, the
method to be determined by the Board considering all relevant
factors at the time. The ordinary buyback of £55million under the
Programme is in line with this capital allocation
policy.
As set out in the 2024 Half Year
results announcement, the special buyback of £75million under the
Programme reflects the progress made with the Group's strategy to
date and further progress expected in the remainder of the year to
generate surplus capital to be returned to shareholders.
The Company has entered into a
discretionary arrangement with Numis Securities Ltd ("Deutsche
Numis") in relation to the purchase by Deutsche Numis, acting as
principals, of the Ordinary Shares of the Company. Deutsche Numis
will conduct the first tranche of the Programme, which will be for
circa £43.3million. The Company will release a further announcement
in due course confirming arrangements for the remainder of the
Programme.
The aggregate purchase price of all
Ordinary Shares acquired under the Programme will be no more than
£130 million (excluding stamp duty and expenses). All Ordinary
Shares purchased under the first tranche of the Programme will be
cancelled.
Any purchases of Ordinary Shares
contemplated by this announcement will be carried out on the London
Stock Exchange and/or other recognised investment exchange(s). The
Programme is in accordance with the Company's general authority to
purchase a maximum of 51,083,054 Ordinary Shares, granted by its
shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held on 16 May 2024 and
the purpose of the Programme is to reduce the share capital of the
Company.
The Programme will be effected
within the parameters of the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU
and the Commission Delegated Regulation 2016/1052/EU (as in force
in the UK from time to time, including where relevant pursuant to
the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019). The Group
confirms that it currently has no other unpublished price sensitive
information.
The Company will announce any market
repurchases of Ordinary Shares no later than 7.30 a.m. on the
business day following the calendar day on which the repurchase
occurred.
For further information please
contact:
Vistry Group PLC
Tim Lawlor, Chief Financial
Officer
Susie Bell, Group Investor Relations
Director
FTI
Consulting
Richard Mountain / Susanne
Yule
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07469 287335
020 3727 1340
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Cautionary statement regarding
forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this press
release are, or may be deemed to be, forward looking statements.
Forward looking statements involve evaluating a number of risks,
uncertainties or assumptions, many of which are beyond the Group's
control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by those statements. Forward looking
statements regarding past trends, results or activities should not
be taken as representation that such trends, results or activities
will continue in the future. Undue reliance should not be placed on
forward looking statements. Forward looking statements speak only
as at the date of this document and the Group and its directors and
officers expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to
release any update of, or revisions to, any forward looking
statement herein.