Aviva Seeks Shareholder Approval to Cancel Preference Shares
Why we think this is good
Aviva is taking proactive steps to simplify its capital structure by retiring inefficient preference shares. Preference shareholders are being offered fair consideration, either through a cancellation with special dividends or a tender offer at a premium to the current market price. There are no major red flags identified in the RNS.
Key Points
- Aviva seeking shareholder approval to cancel £100 million 8.375% and £100 million 8.750% preference shares
- Preference shareholders offered cancellation amount of £1 per share plus special dividend, or tender offer at premium to market price
- Cancellation conditional on preference shareholders approving at advisory vote meeting
Summary
Aviva is seeking shareholder approval to cancel all of its £100 million 8.375% and £100 million 8.750% cumulative irredeemable preference shares. In parallel, the company has invited eligible holders of the preference shares to tender them for purchase by Jefferies International Limited. The cancellation and tender offer are being proposed as the preference shares no longer provide any capital benefit to the group, and represent an inefficient form of funding. Preference shareholders will receive either the cancellation amount (£1 per share plus a special dividend) or the tender offer consideration (also at a premium to the current market price). The cancellation is conditional on preference shareholders approving it at an advisory vote meeting.