TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2022 /CNW/ - Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) (the "Company") announced today that a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") authorized by its Board of Directors to purchase for cancellation during the next 12 months up to 5,282,458 common shares, representing approximately 3% of its issued and outstanding common shares, has been approved by the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX").
At the close of business on February 8, 2022, there were 176,081,958 common shares issued and outstanding. The actual number of common shares which will be purchased for cancellation and the timing of any such purchases will be determined by the Company. The Company believes that its NCIB provides a flexible means of distributing a portion of its excess capital to shareholders who choose to participate in the program. During the preceding 12-month period, the Company did not purchase any of its common shares.
Purchases under the NCIB will be made by means of open market transactions through the facilities of the TSX as well as through other designated exchanges and alternative trading systems in Canada. The exchange's rules permit the Company to purchase daily a maximum of 69,066 common shares through TSX facilities, subject to any block purchases made in accordance with TSX rules, which is 25% of the average daily trading volume of common shares for the six months ending on January 31, 2022.
The Company has entered into an automatic share purchase plan under which its designated broker will repurchase the Company's common shares during the NCIB. The automatic share purchase plan allows for purchases by the Company of its common shares during certain pre-determined black-out periods, subject to certain parameters. Outside of these pre-determined black-out periods, shares will be purchased in accordance with management's discretion. Purchases for cancellation may also be made through such other means as a securities regulatory authority may permit, including by way of pre-arranged crosses or by way of private agreements outside the facilities of the TSX pursuant to exemption orders. The price to be paid by the Company for any shares will be the market price at the time of acquisition or such other price as a securities regulatory authority may permit. Purchases for cancellation made by way of private agreements under an issuer bid exemption order issued by a securities regulatory authority will be at a discount to the prevailing market price as provided in the exemption order.
Purchases of common shares may commence on or about February 17, 2022 and will expire on the earlier of February 16, 2023 or the date on which the Company has either acquired the maximum number of common shares allowable or otherwise decided not to make any further repurchases.
About Intact Financial Corporation
Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) is the largest provider of property and casualty (P&C) insurance in Canada, a leading provider of global specialty insurance, and, with RSA, a leader in the U.K. and Ireland. Our business has grown organically and through acquisitions to over $20 billion of total annual premiums.
In Canada, Intact distributes insurance under the Intact Insurance brand through a wide network of brokers, including its wholly-owned subsidiary BrokerLink, and directly to consumers through belairdirect. Intact also provides affinity insurance solutions through the Johnson Affinity Groups.
In the U.S., Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions provides a range of specialty insurance products and services through independent agencies, regional and national brokers, and wholesalers and managing general agencies.
Outside of North America, the Company provides personal, commercial and specialty insurance solutions across the U.K., Ireland, Europe and the Middle East through the RSA brands.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this news release are forward-looking statements. These statements include, without limitation, statements relating to the terms and operation of the Company's normal course issuer bid as well as the Company's intention to repurchase its shares. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the 'safe harbour' provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws.
Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including: a decision by the Company not to repurchase all or a portion of the total number of shares it is authorized to repurchase, those discussed in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form and those discussed in the Company's most recently filed annual MD&A. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and we caution you against unduly relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please refer to the cautionary note of the Company's most recently filed MD&A.
SOURCE Intact Financial Corporation
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