For the background to this Program, reference is made to the Company’s second quarter and half year 2021 results press release dated 29 July 2021 which outlines that it will (i) return the proceeds from the redeemed Cleveland Cliffs preference shares and (ii) advance a part of its prospective 2022 capital return to shareholders (to be funded from 2021 surplus cash flow under the capital return policy announced in February 2021) by launching a new $2.2 billion share buyback. This Program will be completed by 31 December 2021, subject to market conditions.
The shares acquired under the Program are intended:
1) To meet ArcelorMittal’s obligations under debt obligations exchangeable into equity securities, and/or;
2) To reduce its share capital.
ArcelorMittal intends to repurchase shares for an aggregate maximum amount of $2.2 billion in accordance with the AGM Authorization and applicable market abuse regulations. The Program will commence on 2 August 2021[1].
[1] The Significant Shareholder has declared its intention to enter into a share repurchase agreement with ArcelorMittal, to sell each trading day on which ArcelorMittal has purchased shares under the Program, an equivalent number of shares, at the proportion of the Significant Shareholder’s stake in the Company of 36.34% of issued and outstanding shares of ArcelorMittal, at the same price as the shares repurchased on the market. The effect of the share repurchase agreement is to maintain the Significant Shareholder’s voting rights in ArcelorMittal’s issued share capital (net of treasury shares) at the current level, pursuant to the Program.