Ryanair has previously announced an intention to return capital to shareholders by way of a combination of share buybacks and dividends. Yesterday the low-cost airline purchased for cancellation a total of 352,400 ordinary shares of nominal value €0.00635 each in the capital of the company.
The Ordinary Shares repurchased have been repurchased through Citigroup at an average price of €10.1024 per Ordinary Share. In respect of this programme, which will operate until 14 August 2015, Citigroup will make its trading decisions in relation to Ryanair's Ordinary Shares repurchased under the buy-back programme independently of, and uninfluenced by, Ryanair. Any such acquisitions will be effected within certain pre-set parameters, and in accordance with both Ryanair's general authority to repurchase shares and Chapter 9 of the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange.
Following the cancellation of the Ordinary Shares repurchased on 4 March 2015, Ryanair will have 1,381,459,624 Ordinary Shares in issue. To the extent that further Ordinary Shares are repurchased under the programme, these shares will also be cancelled.