SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAMME

Sage Group PLC

22 November 2023

 

THE SAGE GROUP PLC.

SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAMME

Sage announces that it is commencing a share buyback programme of up to £350 million.

London 22 November 2023 - The Sage Group plc ("Sage" or the "Group") today announces that it is commencing a share buyback programme of up to £350 million. The programme will run from 22 November 2023 and is expected to end no later than 23 April 2024.

The share buyback programme is consistent with the Group's disciplined capital allocation policy, and reflects the Board's confidence in Sage's future prospects, together with Sage's strong cash generation and robust financial position. Sage continues to have considerable financial flexibility to drive the execution of its growth strategy.

Further details of the share buyback programme are set out below.

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Enquiries

The Sage Group plc: [phone]

Caroline Xu, Group Finance

James Sandford, Investor Relations

David Ginivan, Corporate PR

FGS Global: [phone]

Conor McClafferty

Sophia Johnston

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Further details of the share buyback programme

Sage has entered into non-discretionary arrangements with Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc ("Morgan Stanley") and J.P. Morgan Securities plc ("J.P. Morgan") (together, the "Brokers") in relation to the purchase by the Brokers, acting as principals, of ordinary shares of Sage (the "Shares"). Morgan Stanley will conduct the first half of the share buyback programme and J.P. Morgan will conduct the latter half.

The Brokers will make trading decisions in relation to Shares purchased under the buyback programme independently of, and uninfluenced by, Sage. The purpose of the share buyback programme is to reduce the share capital of Sage. The Brokers will make an on-sale of such Shares to Sage and all Shares repurchased will be cancelled.

Any purchases of Shares contemplated by this announcement will be carried out on the London Stock Exchange and/or other recognised investment exchange(s) and will be effected within certain pre-set parameters. These arrangements are in accordance with Sage's general authority to repurchase Shares granted at its latest Annual General Meeting, Chapter 12 of the Listing Rules, and those provisions of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 (as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018) dealing with buyback programmes.

 

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