Last checked at 26 May 2022 07:00
Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) No. 2138008M6MH9OZ6U2T68
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER FOR SALE OF ANY SECURITIES OR AN OFFER OR INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION OR A SOLICITATION OF ANY VOTE OR APPROVAL.
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY) IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION.
SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAMME
Further to the half year results announcement made on 11 May 2022, Compass Group PLC (the "Company") announces that on 25 May 2022 it entered into a non-discretionary agreement with Merrill Lynch International ("MLI") in relation to the purchase by MLI, acting as riskless principal, of the Company's ordinary shares of 11 1/20 pence each ("Ordinary Shares") for an aggregate purchase price of up to £500 million (the "Programme").
Ordinary Shares acquired by MLI under this agreement will be on-sold by MLI to the Company.
The Programme will commence on 26 May 2022 and end no later than 28 September 2022. The purpose of the Programme is to reduce the share capital of the Company by returning surplus capital to shareholders. MLI will make its trading decisions in relation to the Company's Ordinary Shares independently of, and uninfluenced by, the Company. Any purchase of Ordinary Shares by the Company contemplated by this announcement will be carried out on the London Stock Exchange.
The Programme will be conducted within certain pre-set parameters. The Company's shareholders generally authorised it to purchase up to a maximum of 178,386,000 Ordinary Shares at its 2022 Annual General Meeting held on 3 February 2022, subject to certain limitations (the "General 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 General Authority.
The Programme will be conducted within the parameters prescribed by the General Authority, Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) (as in force in the UK and as amended by the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019), the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (as in force in the UK and as amended by the FCA's Technical Standards (Market Abuse Regulation) (EU Exit) Instrument 2019) and in accordance with Chapter 12 of the UK Listing Rules.
Any market purchase of Ordinary Shares under the Programme will be announced no later than 7:30 a.m. on the business day following the calendar day on which the purchase occurred. All Ordinary Shares purchased will be held in treasury and are expected to be used to meet obligations arising from employee share schemes, or other allocations of shares, to employees or directors. No purchases will be made in respect of the Company's American Depositary Receipts.
Enquiries
Investors: | Agatha Donnelly & Simon Bielecki | +44 (0) 1932 573 000 |
Press: | Giles Robinson | +44 (0) 1932 963 486 |
Website: | www.compass-group.com |
Note to Editors:
Compass Group PLC is a world leading food service company, which generated annual revenues of £18.1 billion in the year to 30 September 2021. It operates in 44 countries and employs and engages around 480,000 people. The Company specialises in providing food and a range of support services across the core sectors of Business & Industry, Healthcare & Senior Living, Education, Sports & Leisure and Defence, Offshore & Remote, with an established brand portfolio.