Unilever share buy-back
Unilever PLC
12 March 2007
UNILEVER ANNOUNCES COMMENCEMENT OF SHARE BUY-BACK PROGRAMME
Unilever today announces the commencement of its share buy-back programme.
This follows the company's announcement on 8 February 2007 of its plan to buy
back ordinary shares up to an aggregate market value of Euro 1.5 billion in
2007.
The purpose of the share buy-back programme is to provide a flexible route for
returning cash to shareholders, over and above regular annual dividends.
The buy-back may be of either Unilever NV shares, Unilever PLC shares or any
combination of the two. The buy-back will take place within the limitations of
the authority which has been granted or will be granted to the Boards by the
respective general meetings of shareholders.
Any share purchases during close periods will be made according to irrevocable
mandates issued prior to the periods concerned.
About Unilever
Unilever's mission is to add vitality to life. We meet everyday needs for
nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that help people feel good,
look good and get more out of life.
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods
with strong local roots in more than 100 countries across the globe. Its
portfolio includes some of the world's best known and most loved brands
including twelve €1 billion brands and global leadership in many categories in
which the company operates. The portfolio features brand icons such as: Knorr,
Hellmann's, Lipton, Blue Band, Flora/Becel, Bertolli; Dove, Lux, Pond's, Axe/
Lynx, Rexona/Sure; Skip/Persil; Cif and Domestos.
Unilever has around 206,000 employees in approaching 100 countries and generated
annual sales of €40 billion in 2005. For more information about Unilever and
its brands, please visit www.unilever.com.
SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT:
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including
'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the United States Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as 'expects',
'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other similar
expressions of future performance or results, including financial objectives to
2010, and their negatives are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current
expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other
factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they
guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and
activities, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key
customer relationships and supply chain sources, currency values, interest
rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures,
physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and
legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative,
fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in
the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of
the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the
Group are described in the Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange,
Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
Annual Report & Accounts on Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak
only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable
law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements
contained herein to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard
thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based.
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