Danske Bank's Share Buyback Programme: Transactions in Week 1
Monday, Jan 6, 2025 4:05 am ET
GPCR --
Danske Bank A/S, Denmark's largest bank, kicked off its share buyback programme on 2 February 2024, aiming to repurchase up to 70 million shares, worth a total of DKK 5.5 billion, by 31 January 2025. The programme, carried out under the Safe Harbour Rules, has seen significant activity in its first week, with the bank acquiring a substantial number of shares.
In week 1 of the programme, Danske Bank repurchased a total of 25,941,321 shares, with a gross value of DKK 15,234,624,093. This transaction was made at an average price of DKK 201.7871 per share. Additionally, the bank made further purchases on 30 December 2024, acquiring an additional 66,775 shares at an average price of DKK 202.571 per share, with a gross value of DKK 13,526,679. These transactions were made in accordance with the Commission's delegated regulation (EU) 2016/1052 of 8 March 2016.

The total accumulated number of own shares under the share buy-back programme corresponds to 3.03% of Danske Bank A/S’ share capital. This significant accumulation of shares signals the bank's commitment to returning surplus capital to shareholders and optimizing its capital structure. The share buyback programme can have a positive impact on Danske Bank's earnings per share (EPS) in the long term by reducing the number of outstanding shares and potentially boosting investor confidence.
Moreover, the programme can also influence the company's capital structure and financial stability. By repurchasing its own shares, Danske Bank reduces the number of outstanding shares, which can make the company's capital structure more debt-heavy. However, in Danske Bank's case, the programme is funded by surplus capital, which means it does not involve additional debt issuance. This helps maintain the company's financial stability and creditworthiness.
In conclusion, Danske Bank's share buyback programme has seen significant activity in its first week, with the bank acquiring a substantial number of shares. The programme has the potential to positively impact the bank's EPS, capital structure, and financial stability. As the programme progresses, investors will closely monitor the bank's share repurchases and their impact on the company's financial performance.