19th June 2024
Helios Underwriting plc
("Helios" or the "Company")
Share Repurchase Programme
Helios, the investment vehicle which builds shareholder value through exposure to Lloyd's, announces that the Board of Directors has approved a further share repurchase programme to return up to a maximum aggregate amount £3.7 million to the Company's shareholders (the Programme").
About the Programme
· Since the first share purchase programme was initially announced on 15th August 2023, the Company has acquired 2,781,520 ordinary shares for consideration of £4.0 million at an average price of £1.43.
· This Programme will be in addition to the programme initially announced on 15th August 2023 and will be financed through existing cash resources.
· The aggregate number of ordinary shares of 10 pence each ("Ordinary Shares") acquired by the Company pursuant to the share purchase programmes announced since 15 August 2023 shall not exceed the maximum number of Ordinary Shares which the Company is authorised to purchase pursuant to the authority obtained at the Company's AGM to repurchase up to a maximum 7,731,820 Ordinary Shares ("General Authority") and expected to be renewed at the 2024 AGM on 28 June 2024.
· In accordance with the General Authority, the maximum price paid per Ordinary Share acquired by the Company pursuant to the Programme is to be no more than:
o 105% of the average middle market closing price of an Ordinary Share on AIM for the five business days preceding the date of purchase; and
o the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent purchase bid for Ordinary Shares on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out
· The Programme will commence on the date of this announcement and will continue until the earlier of either the expiration of the General Authority or until the maximum pecuniary amount has been purchased under the Programme.
· The purchased Ordinary Shares will be held by the Company in treasury at the Company's discretion for later reissue or cancellation. Shares held in treasury are not entitled to dividends and have no voting rights at the Company's general meetings.
· Share repurchases will take place in open market transactions and may be made from time to time depending on market conditions, share price and trading volume. The maximum price paid per Ordinary Share will be no more than the net tangible asset value of the Company.
· The Company confirms that it currently has no unpublished inside information.
· The Programme will operate in accordance with and under the terms of the relevant General Authority, and within the regulatory limit on the quantity of Ordinary Shares the Company may purchase on a single day. The Programme will be conducted within the parameters of the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014/EU and the delegated regulations made pursuant to it.
· However, there will be circumstance where the Company conducts share repurchases such that they exceed 25 per cent of the average daily volume in Ordinary Shares for the 20 trading days prior to the share repurchase.
· As at 18th June 2024 the Company's total issued share capital consisted of 77,945,833 Ordinary Shares, with one voting right per share. The Company holds 3,200,689 Ordinary Shares in treasury. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company was 74,745,144.
For further information, please contact:
Helios Underwriting plc
Michael Wade - Chairman
Arthur Manners - Chief Financial Officer
+44 (0)203 965 6441
Deutsche Numis (Nomad and Broker)
Giles Rolls / Charles Farquhar
+44 (0)20 7260 1000
FTI Consulting
Ed Berry / Nathan Hambrook-Skinner
+44 (0)7703 330 199 / +44 (0)7977 817 092
About Helios
Helios provides a limited liability direct investment into the Lloyd's insurance market and is quoted on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market (ticker: HUW). Helios trades within the Lloyd's insurance market writing approximately £507m of capacity for the 2024 account. The portfolio provides a good spread of business being concentrated in property & casualty insurance and reinsurance. For further information please visit www.huwplc.com.
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