PayPoint plc (LON:PAY) today announced the commencement of the third tranche of its share buyback program.

In line with the company’s previously announced intention to return at least £30 million per annum to shareholders until the end of March 2028, targeting a reduction in the company’s equity base of at least 20% over the period, the company intends to purchase ordinary shares of £0.003611 each in the capital of the company for an aggregate maximum consideration of £25 million.

As at 30 June 2026, the company had returned £50 million through the first and second tranches of the Buyback Programme, with 7,860,645 Ordinary Shares purchased for cancellation and, together with the Company’s share consolidation, shares in issue reduced by 17.7%. Of this £50 million, £5 million was returned during FY27 and, together with the Third Tranche, is expected to bring total FY27 shareholder returns through share buybacks to £30 million.

The Third Tranche will commence on 1 July 2026 and will end no later than 31 March 2027. The sole purpose of the Buyback Programme is to reduce the share capital of the Company and, accordingly, any Ordinary Shares purchased under the Third Tranche will be cancelled.

The Company has entered into renewed irrevocable, non-discretionary instructions with Investec Bank plc to conduct the Third Tranche on its behalf and to make trading decisions under the Buyback Programme independently of PayPoint. Any purchase of Shares under the Third Tranche will take place in open market transactions and may be made from time to time depending on market conditions, share price and trading volumes.

The Third Tranche of the Buyback Programme will be effected under the general authority to repurchase Ordinary Shares granted by the Company’s Shareholders at the Company’s 2025 annual general meeting (and subject to renewed authority at the Company’s 2026 annual general meeting).

The Takeover Panel has reconfirmed that, under Rule 37.1 of the Takeover Code and the notes to that Rule, Asteriscos Patrimonial SL should continue to be treated as an “innocent bystander” and will not therefore be required to make an offer under Rule 9 as a result of any increase in its holding caused by such a buyback.