ASX 200 plumbing supplies company Reece Ltd (ASX: REH) has announced a quarter of a billion dollar off-market share buyback, in a move which chief executive officer Peter Wilson says is a sign of the company's confidence and balance sheet strength.
The buyback will aim to purchase $250 million worth of Reece shares, but the board also retains the discretion to increase this to as much as $400 million, the company said on Monday.
The announcement sent the company's shares 15.1 per cent higher in early trade on Monday, with the stock changing hands for $11.88, after hitting an early high of $12.25.
The $6.7 billion market capitalisation company, which operates across Australia, New Zealand and the US, will start the buyback on Monday September 29 and close it on Friday October 17.
The buy-back price will be set in a range from $11.00 to $13.00, which the board will determine based on shareholder demand at different tender price increments. Final size and price will also depend on market conditions, value creation, our capital allocation framework and other factors.
Image source: Getty Images
All capital management options considered
Mr Wilson said the board had carefully evaluated all of the available options regarding capital management and believed the buyback was an efficient way to return excess capital to shareholders, while maintaining a conservative leverage ratio.
Despite the challenging near-term outlook, we remain optimistic for the long-term. We have a history of investing through the cycle to build a stronger business and will maintain financial flexibility to fund future growth opportunities. Depending on the outcome of this buy-back, we may explore further capital management options including a potential on-market buy-back.
Reece shareholders will be sent an information flyer setting out how they can take part in the buyback by October 1.
Shareholders in the company will be able to sell their shares back to the company at a nominated price of at least $11, or at any price in 20 cent intervals between $11 and $13.
The Wilson family is the major shareholder in Reece, and the company said at the target buyback size of $250 million their stake in Reece would increase from 67.1% to 69.5%.
In the event there is demand up to the maximum buy-back size of $400 million, their aggregate holdings would increase to around 71.1%. As the family already exercises substantive control, this will not have any material control implications for Reece.
In terms of the outlook for the company, Reece said while FY25 was "not without its challenges", they were optimistic for the long term.
The company in August reported a net profit of $317 million, down 24%, on revenue of $8.9 billion, down 1%.
