FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 March 2023
WPP plc ("WPP")
Executive Performance Share Awards
The Executive Performance Share Plan (EPSP) is WPP's long term incentive plan renewed by shareholders at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. On 23 March 2023, awards were made to the 2023 participants which comprise WPP's Chief Executive Officer, as set out in the table below, and other select senior executives within the Group's operating companies.
Executive Director |
Number of shares awarded |
Mark Read |
450,628 |
Awards take the form of nil-cost options or conditional awards of performance shares, which are exercisable over WPP shares or ADRs and the amounts stated represent the maximum possible opportunity.
The extent to which awards become exercisable or vest in 2026 will depend on WPP's performance over the three-year performance period from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2025.
Awards are subject to three equally weighted performance measures: average Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), cumulative Adjusted Free Cash Flow (AFCF), and relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR). Achieving threshold performance will result in a vesting opportunity of 20% of the award. The vesting opportunity will increase on a straight-line basis to 100% of the award for maximum performance.
Notes
1) These awards were made in accordance with the terms of the 2020 Directors' Compensation Policy as approved by shareholders on 10 June 2020
2) To the extent that each element of a conditional award does not vest at the end of the three- year performance period it will lapse
3) Additional shares will be awarded at vesting in lieu of dividends on the shares that vest
4) Awards to Executive Directors are subject to an additional two-year post-vesting holding period
1. |
Details of PDMR/person closely associated with them ('PCA') |
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a) |
Name |
Mark Read |
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b) |
Position/status |
Chief Executive Officer |
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c) |
Initial notification/ |
Initial notification |
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2. |
Details of the issuer |
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a) |
Full name of the entity |
WPP plc |
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b) |
Legal Entity Identifier code |
549300LSGBXPYHXGDT93 |
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3. |
Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted |
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a) |
Description of the financial instrument |
Ordinary shares of 10 pence each ('Ordinary Shares') ISIN: JE00B8KF9B49 |
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b) |
Nature of the transaction |
Grant of conditional awards over WPP plc ordinary shares under the WPP plc Executive Performance Share Plan |
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c) |
Price(s) and volume(s) (Number of WPP ordinary shares or WPP ADRs sold or purchased and price per share/ADR) |
|
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d) |
Aggregated information - Aggregated number - Aggregated Price - Total |
N/A (single transaction)
|
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e) |
Date of the transaction |
23 March 2023 |
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f) |
Place of the transaction |
London Stock Exchange (XLON) |
This notice is given in fulfilment of the obligation under Article 19 of the Market Abuse Regulation.
Balbir Kelly-Bisla
Group Company Secretary
Contact for further information:
Chris Wade, WPP
+44 (0)20 7282 4600
About WPP
WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, clients and communities. For more information, visit www.wpp.com .
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