UK: Diageo to carry out £1.7 bln share buyback

Diageo PLC said it is to carry out a share buyback worth £1.7 bln as the third part of a previously announced capital returns programme, ProActiveInvestors.co.uk reported on February 21.

The Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness maker had already bought back shares totalling £2.25 bln on 31 January 2020 and 11 February 2022 as part of the £4.5 bln exercise, which is scheduled to finish by the end of its financial year to June 2023.

UBS will carry out the latest buyback with £1.4 bln of the shares to be acquired by June and the whole amount by 5 October 2022.

Diageo said it will decide whether to use share buybacks or special dividends for the remaining £650 mln of the returns programme depending on market conditions at the time.

21 February, 2022