REG - Prudential PLC - Repurchase to neutralise share issuances

PrudentialAnnouncement

22/11/2024 17:30

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RNS Number : 4058N  Prudential PLC  22 November 2024

Prudential plc

 

Repurchase Programme to neutralise 2024 share issuances for Scrip dividend and
Employee share scheme

 

Prudential plc (the "Company") announces that it will commence a share
repurchase programme in respect of c. 2,800,000(1) ordinary shares of 5 pence
each ("Ordinary Shares"), in the issued share capital of the Company (the
"Programme").

 

The purpose of the Programme is to reduce the issued share capital of the
Company to offset dilution from shares issued under the scrip dividend
alternative in respect of the 2024 first interim dividend of 6.84 US cents per
ordinary share and issuance from the vesting of options under employee share
scheme during the second half of 2024. Based on the total number of Ordinary
Shares in issue announced on 15 November 2024, the Programme approximates to
0.11% of the Company's issued share capital. The Directors consider the
Programme to be in the best interests of the Company and of its shareholders
generally. Given its small size, the implementation of the Programme is
expected to marginally enhance earnings per share.

 

The Company intends to make further repurchases of its Ordinary Shares in
future including in order to offset issuance under its scrip dividend
alternative for future dividends (if offered) and any expected dilution from
the vesting of awards under employee and agent share schemes.  The Company
will make further announcements in respect of any such repurchases in due
course.

 

Detailed terms of the Programme

 

The Company has entered into an arrangement with Merrill Lynch International
("MLI") (acting as riskless principal) to conduct the repurchases in respect
of the Programme on its behalf.

 

The arrangement with MLI enables the purchase of Ordinary Shares for a period
from 25 November 2024, and will complete no later than 29 November 2024. The
aggregate maximum pecuniary amount allocated to the Programme is GBP 18.3
million (exclusive of associated fees, expenses and stamp duty) (equivalent to
HKD 178.4 million, based on the closing exchange rate between GBP and HKD as
of 22 November 2024 HKT and equivalent to USD 22.9 million, based on the
closing exchange rate between GBP and USD as of 22 November 2024 HKT).

 

MLI may effect purchases of Ordinary Shares under the Programme on the London
Stock Exchange and/or other trading venues(2) for subsequent purchase by the
Company. Purchases by the Company will be treated as being made on the London
Stock Exchange. The Company intends that any Ordinary Shares purchased will be
cancelled.

 

The Programme is in accordance with the Company's general authority to
purchase a maximum of 274,967,019 Ordinary Shares, granted by shareholders at
the Company's 2024 Annual General Meeting. The Programme will be conducted
within the parameters prescribed by the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU
(as in force in the UK and as amended by the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU
Exit) Regulations 2019), the Commission Delegated Regulation 2016/1052/EU (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, the Hong Kong Listing Rules and the Hong Kong Code on
Share Buy-backs. No purchase of Ordinary Shares will be conducted on the Hong
Kong Stock Exchange. No repurchases will be made in respect of the Company's
American Depositary Receipts.

 

The Company will make further announcements in due course following any
repurchase of shares. There is no guarantee that the Programme will be
implemented in full or that any shares will be repurchased by the Company.

 

(1)Two million, eight-hundred and fourteen-thousand, and twenty-three Ordinary
Shares (2,814,023)

(2) Being any multilateral trading facility operated by Turquoise Global
Holdings Limited, CHI-X and BATS

 

Additional information

About Prudential plc

Prudential plc provides life and health insurance and asset management in 24
markets across Asia and Africa. Prudential's mission is to be the most trusted
partner and protector for this generation and generations to come, by
providing simple and accessible financial and health solutions. The business
has dual primary listings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (2378) and the
London Stock Exchange (PRU). It also has a secondary listing on the Singapore
Stock Exchange (K6S) and a listing on the New York Stock Exchange (PUK) in the
form of American Depositary Receipts. It is a constituent of the Hang Seng
Composite Index and is also included for trading in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong
Stock Connect programme and the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect programme.

 

Prudential is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc. a
company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America,
nor with The Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G
plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

 

https://www.prudentialplc.com/ (https://www.prudentialplc.com/)

 

 

Contact

 

 Media                             Investors/Analysts
 Simon Kutner  +44 (0)7581 023260  Patrick Bowes       +852 9611 2981
 Sonia Tsang   +852 5580 7525      William Elderkin    +44 (0)20 3977 9215
                                   Darwin Lam          +852 2918 6348

 

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