Last checked at 26 Feb 2020 10:01
26 February 2020
Ascential plc ("the Company")
Share repurchase programme
Pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 8 May 2019, the Company announces it entered into a non-discretionary agreement with Numis Securities Limited ("Numis") on 25 February 2020 in relation to the purchase by Numis, acting as principal, of the Company's ordinary shares of 1 pence each ("Ordinary Shares") for an aggregate purchase price of up to £120m (the "Programme") and not exceeding 40,277,568 ordinary shares of 0.01p each, representing approximately 9.99% per cent. of its current issued ordinary share capital.
The Company commenced the buyback programme on Tuesday 25 February 2020.
Any purchase of shares done in relation to this announcement will be carried out on the London Stock Exchange and will be effected within certain pre-set parameters.
Ascential's shareholders generally authorised Ascential to purchase Ordinary Shares at its 2019 Annual General Meeting held on 8 May 2019, subject to certain limitations (the "Authority"). The aggregate number of Ordinary Shares acquired by the Company pursuant to the Programme shall not exceed the maximum number of Ordinary Shares which the Company is authorised to purchase pursuant to the Authority. The Programme will be executed in accordance with (and subject to the limits prescribed by) the Authority and will be conducted within the parameters prescribed by the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014, the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 and in accordance with Chapter 12 of the Listing Rules.
The Company will announce any market repurchase of shares no later than 7.30 a.m. on the business day following the calendar day on which the repurchase occurred. The purpose of the Programme is to reduce the share capital of the Company. All Shares purchased will be cancelled.
The total number of voting rights in the Company on 25 February 2020 was 403,274,977.
Name and contact details for enquiries:
Louise Meads, Company Secretary +44 (0) 20 7516 5042