JD Sports Fashion PLC shares climbed 6.2% on Monday after the company revealed a new £200 million share repurchase programme for its fiscal 2027 year. The retailer said the plan launches immediately and will be carried out in two tranches.
The first tranche is for up to £100 million and is scheduled to complete no later than July 31, 2026. The second tranche, also up to £100 million, will follow once the initial tranche is complete. JD Sports said the repurchase aligns with its capital allocation priorities and its commitment to returning cash to shareholders.
Execution arrangements for the programme were disclosed in the announcement. JD Sports has agreed with Merrill Lynch International to undertake the first tranche on its behalf. For market purchases, BofA Securities will acquire ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange acting as a riskless principal, making trading decisions independently of the company but subject to agreed parameters.
Shares bought under the programme will either be cancelled or held in treasury, with the effect of reducing the company’s share capital if shares are cancelled. At the company’s annual general meeting on July 2, 2025, shareholders authorised a maximum of 515,475,677 shares that may be acquired under the buyback authority. At the date of the buyback announcement, 368,613,803 of that authorized allowance remained unutilized.
The shareholder authority to purchase shares will expire at the close of business on July 31, 2026, or earlier if it ends on the conclusion of JD Sports’ 2026 annual general meeting, at which the company expects to seek renewal of the authority. Any purchases under the programme will be made in accordance with the company’s general authority to purchase shares and applicable UK market regulations.
JD Sports also committed to timely disclosure of any transactions under the programme. The company will announce any share purchases by no later than 7:30 a.m. on the business day following the calendar day on which a purchase occurred.
Context and implications
The announcement sets out a clear timetable and execution framework for the buyback, including third-party trading arrangements and the treatment of acquired shares. The specified authorization limits and remaining number of shares available under the shareholder resolution were set out in the company notice.