Form 6-K - Report of foreign issuer [Rules 13a-16 and 15d-16]

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

 

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the month of November, 2024

 

PRUDENTIAL PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

 

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

 

13/F, One International Finance Centre,

1 Harbour View Street, Central,

Hong Kong, China

 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports

under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F X           Form 40-F

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information

contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the

Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes              No X

 

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant

in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-

 

 

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. 2,800,0001 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 venues2 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.

 

1Two 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/

 

Contact

 

Media		Investors/Analysts
Simon Kutner	[phone]	Patrick Bowes	[phone]
Sonia Tsang	[phone]	William Elderkin	[phone]
		Darwin Lam	[phone]

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

Date: 22 November 2024

 

 

 

	PRUDENTIAL PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
	By: /s/ Sylvia Edwards
	Sylvia Edwards
	Deputy Group Secretary

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