RNS Number : 1974L
M. P. Evans Group PLC
20 December 2018
 

M.P. EVANS GROUP PLC ("MP EVANS" OR "THE GROUP")

Share buyback programme

 

The board of directors of MP Evans (the "Board") is pleased to announce its decision to extend the recent, three-month share buyback programme (the "Programme"), originally due to expire on 1 January 2019, up to 30 June 2019 and to increase the budget for the Programme by a further £2 million.

Since commencing the Programme, the Group has purchased 104,517 shares at an average price of £6.95 per share and the total cost to date of the shares purchased is £726,906 out of the approved budget of £1 million.  All shares acquired under the Programme have been or will be cancelled.

The Board continues to believe that the current share price substantially undervalues the Group's assets, the performance of the business to date and its future prospects. The Group's robust balance sheet provides the opportunity to take advantage of prevailing market conditions to repurchase shares at advantageous levels that will be earnings enhancing.

The Group is undertaking this Programme alongside significant continuing capital investment across its estates, the ongoing pursuit of strategic acquisition opportunities and payment of dividends. The Board sees a case for buybacks being economically attractive since the Group's shares are currently trading well below the share price implied by independent valuations of its assets.

The Programme will operate under the authority granted to the Group by shareholders at the Group's most recent Annual General Meeting, held on 15 June 2018, and within the regulatory limits on the quantity of shares the Group may purchase on any single day. The board will keep the price and also Programme under review and will make a decision in due course on whether to further extend its budget or duration.

As previously notified, MP Evans has entered into an agreement with Peel Hunt LLP for them independently to carry out on-market purchases of its 10p shares to give effect to the Programme. The Programme will be conducted in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 and the delegated regulations made pursuant to it.

Enquiries:

M.P. Evans Group PLC

+44 (0)1892 516333

Peter Hadsley-Chaplin

Chairman

Tristan Price

Chief executive

Matthew Coulson

Finance director



Peel Hunt LLP (Nomad and joint broker)

+44 (0)20 7418 8900

Dan Webster


George Sellar


Guy Pengelley




finnCap (Joint broker)

+44 (0)20 7220 0500

Tim Redfern


Chris Raggett




Hudson Sandler

+44 (0)20 7796 4133

Charlie Jack


Bertie Berger


 


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