25 March 2024
Gamma
Communications plc
("Gamma"
or the "Company")
Share
buyback programme
Gamma Communications plc, a leading
technology-based provider of communications services across Europe,
announces that, from today, it has appointed Investec Bank plc
("Investec") to manage a share buyback programme to purchase
ordinary shares of 0.25 pence each in the Company ("Shares") for an
aggregate purchase of up to £35 million (the "Programme"), within
certain pre-set parameters. The Company has authorised the
Programme to continue while it retains the
authority from shareholders to repurchase such Shares until the earlier of: (i)
the maximum aggregate consideration payable by the
Company has been reached or (ii) Friday 6 September 2024. Shares
acquired under the Programme will either be cancelled or held in
treasury as described below. The
existing buy-back authority was granted by shareholders at last
year's annual general meeting ("AGM"). This authority is due to
expire at the next AGM and a resolution will be proposed at the
forthcoming AGM to refresh this authority.
As noted in the full year results
published this morning, Gamma had a strong 2023 and is confident in
its prospects for 2024. Gamma has a strong unlevered balance sheet
and continues to generate significant operating cash flow, with a
net cash balance as at 31 December 2023 of £134.8m*.
The Board's main priorities when it
comes to our cash are to enhance the growth of the business, both
organically and through selective acquisitions, and to reward
shareholders through growth in earnings alongside our progressive
dividend policy, while retaining a robust capital base. Where there
is surplus cash over and above the needs of funding that organic
and inorganic growth, the Board has concluded that
the announced share buyback, combined with our ordinary
regular dividend, provides a balanced approach for additional
one-off returns of capital to shareholders.
The Programme will be conducted by
the Company in accordance with and under the terms of the general
authority granted to the Board by the Company's shareholders. The
Programme will also be effected within the provisions of the UK
version of the Market Abuse Regulation (Regulation (EU) No
596/2014) as incorporated into UK domestic law by virtue of the
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Share
purchases will be made by Investec on the Company's behalf and, in
the case of any purchases made during closed periods, shall be made
independently of and uninfluenced by the Company.
Any purchases will be conducted in
compliance with the relevant conditions for trading, restrictions
regarding time and volume, disclosure and reporting obligations,
and price conditions. The purpose of the Programme is to reduce the
Company's share capital (any Shares repurchased for this purpose
will be cancelled) and to enable the Company to meet obligations
arising from share option programmes (any Shares repurchased for
this purpose will be held in treasury).
The Company will make further
announcements in due course following the completion of any
repurchases. There is no guarantee that the Programme will be
implemented in full or that any Shares will be repurchased by the
Company.
The Board will continue to keep its
capital allocation policy and further distributions to shareholders
under review, with consideration of other potential uses of capital
that may drive value for shareholders over the medium
term.
* Net Cash
is Cash and Cash Equivalents less Borrowings. We do not class
contingent consideration or IFRS 16 lease liabilities as debt for
the purpose of quoting a net cash figure.
Enquiries:
|
Gamma Communications plc
Andrew Belshaw, Chief Executive
Officer
Bill Castell, Chief Financial
Officer
Rachael Matzopoulos, Company
Secretary
|
Tel: +44 (0)333 006 5972
|
Investec Bank plc (NOMAD & Broker)
Patrick Robb / Virginia
Bull
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 597 5970
|
Teneo (PR Adviser)
James Macey White / Matt Low /
Rebecca Hamer
|
Tel: +44 (0)207 353 4200
|