Aviva plc Return of Capital Update

RNS Number : 5044L

Aviva PLC

16 May 2022

 

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

16 May 2022

Aviva plc

Return of Capital Update

Issue of B Shares, Share Consolidation and Admission of New Ordinary Shares

Further to the publication on 5 April 2022 of the explanatory circular regarding the B Share Scheme and Share Consolidation (the "Circular"), and the passing of all the required Resolutions at the General Meeting of Aviva plc (" Aviva " or the " Company ") on 9 May 2022, the Company announces that the allotment and issue of 3,687,322,000 B Shares relating to the B Share Scheme (there being 3,687,322,000 Existing Ordinary Shares in issue at the Record Time) will occur today. The Share Consolidation and admission of the New Ordinary Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities are due to take place no later than 8.00 a.m. today.

This follows the announcement on 2 March 2022 that Aviva intends to return £3.75 billion to the holders of its ordinary shares (the "Shareholders") and holders of American depositary shares representing ordinary shares ("ADSs") in the form of a payment of 101.69 pence per ordinary share. This is in addition to the £1 billion share buy-back which was completed on 31 March 2022.

No application has been, or will be, made to the FCA or to the London Stock Exchange, respectively, for any of the B Shares to be admitted to the Official List or to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities, nor will the B Shares be listed or admitted to trading on any other recognised investment exchange.

No share certificates will be issued in respect of the B Shares and no CREST accounts will be credited with the B Shares.

Assuming there is no unexpected change in the position of the Company or market conditions generally, the Company intends that the B Shares will be redeemed tomorrow for 101.69 pence per B Share. It is expected that Shareholders and holders of ADSs entitled to receive payments in respect of the proceeds of the redemption of the B Shares will receive payment by 31 May 2022 in respect of the Existing Ordinary Shares, and by 6 June 2022 in respect of the ADSs.

Unless a holding of Existing Ordinary Shares is exactly divisible by 100, a Shareholder will have a fractional entitlement to a New Ordinary Share following the Share Consolidation. Fractional entitlements arising from the Share Consolidation will be aggregated into New Ordinary Shares and sold in the market on behalf of such Shareholders. The net proceeds of the sale (after deduction of all expenses and commissions incurred) will be distributed pro rata to relevant Shareholders. The electronic payments in respect of the net proceeds of sale will be despatched to relevant Shareholders or CREST accounts credited with the net proceeds, as appropriate, together with certificates for New Ordinary Shares, where applicable, by 31 May 2022.

At or around the same time as the Share Consolidation, the Depositary will consolidate the ADSs in the same manner as the Existing Ordinary Shares to reflect the Share Consolidation, with fractional entitlements being sold and net cash proceeds (net of applicable fees, taxes, and expenses) being distributed to applicable ADS Holders by 6 June 2022.

In accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1(A) and further to the announcement on 9 May 2022, the Company confirms that, post completion of the previously announced B Share Scheme and Share Consolidation, the Company's total issued share capital will consist of 2,802,364,720 Ordinary Shares of 32 17/19 pence each, with each Ordinary Share carrying the right to one vote. 

Capitalised terms used in this announcement which are not otherwise defined have the same meaning as in the Circular, which is available at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company's website at www.aviva.com/return-of-capital.

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Enquiries :

Analysts:

Rupert Taylor Rea	[phone]
Joel von Sternberg	[phone]
Michael O'Hara	[phone]

IMPORTANT NOTICES

This announcement has been issued by and is the sole responsibility of Aviva. The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. The information in this announcement is subject to change.

This announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities pursuant to this announcement or otherwise.

This announcement has been prepared in accordance with and for the purpose of complying with English law and the Listing Rules and Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the FCA. The information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of England and Wales.

This announcement introduces the proposals contained in the Circular, which should be read by shareholders before taking a decision. The announcement is not a summary of the proposals and should not be regarded as a substitute for reading the Circular.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in, into or from jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the law of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction.

If you are in any doubt about the contents of this announcement or the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately from your stockbroker, bank manager, fund manager, solicitor, accountant or other appropriate independent financial adviser duly authorised   under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 if you are resident in the United Kingdom or, if not, from any appropriately authorised independent financial adviser.

 

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