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1 Jul 2026 07:00
1 July 2026
AO WORLD PLC
£20M SHAREHOLDER RETURN VIA DIVIDEND AND SHARE BUYBACK
AO World PLC ("AO" or the "Company"), the UK's most trusted online electrical retailer, is pleased to announce that, in line with the Company's full year results announcement on 17 June 2026, the Board has:
a) approved the commencement of a further share buyback programme to purchase a total of up to £10 million (excluding expenses) of the Company's ordinary shares (the "Ordinary Shares") (the "Programme"); and
b) declared a special dividend of 1.75 pence per Ordinary Share, representing an aggregate return of approximately £10m (the "Special Dividend").
The Board believes the combined return reflects the Company's strong financial position, cash generation and disciplined approach to capital allocation, while retaining the flexibility to invest in the business and pursue its strategic priorities.
Share Buyback Programme
The sole purpose of the Programme is to reduce the share capital of AO and the Company therefore intends to cancel the Ordinary Shares purchased under the Programme. The Board considers the Programme to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
The Programme will be conducted in accordance with and under the terms of the general authority granted by the Company's shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 15 September 2025 and any further authority to repurchase Ordinary Shares as may be granted by its shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting in 2026. The maximum number of Ordinary Shares that the Company is currently authorised to repurchase under the Programme is 48,281,353 (being the number of Ordinary Shares able to be purchased under the 2025 authority less the number of shares purchased under the Company's share buyback programme that completed on 25 March 2026).
Share purchases will take place in open market transactions and may be executed from time to time depending on market conditions, share price, trading volume and other factors. Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies") and Peel Hunt LLP ("Peel Hunt") will manage the Programme, which is an irrevocable, non‑discretionary share buyback programme to repurchase the Company's shares on its behalf, and within certain defined parameters. Jefferies and Peel Hunt will each make trading decisions in relation to the buyback of Ordinary Shares independently of the Company within the Programme terms. Jefferies and Peel Hunt will each complete the buyback in respect of £5m of Ordinary Shares. The first £5m tranche will be undertaken by Jefferies.
The Programme will run from the date of this announcement until no later than 31 March 2027, subject always to the Company having appropriate shareholder authority in place at the relevant time.
Purchases may continue during any closed period to which the Company is subject during the above‑mentioned period.
The Programme will be carried out on the London Stock Exchange and other trading venues and executed within the parameters of Article 5(1) of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (as each forms part of domestic law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, including where relevant pursuant to the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019) and Chapter 9 of the UK Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority.
Details of any and all purchases made under the Programme will be notified by no later than the end of the seventh daily market session following the purchase, under UKLR 9.6.6R.
Special Dividend
The Special Dividend will be 1.75 pence per Ordinary Share and will be paid to shareholders who are listed in the Company's register of members at the close of business on Friday 10 July 2026. The Ordinary Shares will trade ex-dividend from Thursday 9 July 2026. The Special Dividend is expected to be paid on Friday 31 July 2026. The Company confirms that the Special Dividend will be paid in accordance with the London Stock Exchange Dividend Procedure Timetable; see further information below. There is no scrip dividend alternative, dividend reinvestment plan or currency election available for the Special Dividend, which will be paid in cash in sterling. The dividend amount is stated gross.
The Remuneration Committee has considered the impact of the Special Dividend on the Company's employee share plans. Any adjustments or dividend equivalent treatment will be applied in accordance with the applicable plan rules.
Further information in relation to the Special Dividend:
Issuer/Company Name | AO World PLC |
Security | AO. ORD 0.25P |
ISIN | GB00BJTNFH41 |
TIDM | AO. |
Ex-Date | 9 July 2026 |
Record Date | 10 July 2026 |
Payment Date | 31 July 2026 |
Dividend Type | Special |
Dividend Amount and Currency | 1.75 pence per Ordinary Share (GBP) |
Currency of Dividend Payment | GBP |
Is there a Dividend option? | No |
If applicable, please state whether Dividend is a PID or Part PID or paid as an Interest Distribution | N/A |
Enquiries:
Julie Finnemore
Company Secretary
AO World PLC Tel: +44(0) 1204 672400 Email: cosec@ao.com
About AO AO World PLC, headquartered in Bolton and listed on the London Stock Exchange, is the UK's most trusted major electrical retailer, with a mission to be the destination for electricals. Our strategy is to create value by offering our customers brilliant customer service and making AO the destination for everything they need, in the simplest and easiest way, when buying electricals.
We offer major and small domestic appliances and a growing range of mobile phones, AV, consumer electricals and laptops. We also provide ancillary services such as the installation of new and collection of old products and offer product protection plans and customer finance. We also serve the B2B market in the UK, providing electricals and installation services at scale. AO also ensures customers' electronic waste is dealt with responsibly through its WEEE processing facility alongside tech refurbishment via musicMagpie.
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