§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public limited companies bought back their own shares between(a) 1 July and 31 December 1997, (b) 1 July and 31 December 1996 and (c) 1 July and 31 December 1995. [22892]
§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonCompanies House does not record share buy-backs by type of company. The London Stock Exchange records "purchases of own securities" by listed companies, but these include other securities as well as shares.
Companies House does not provide a break-down by type of company for those who have bought back their own shares. It does, however, have a form ("Section 169") which a company is required to return to Companies House when it undertakes the purchase of its own shares.
Total returns from all companies (including private as well as public limited companies) recorded under "Section 169s", for the dates asked for were as follows:
1 July—31 December 1997: 1,610573W1 July—31 December 1996: 1,3491 July—31 December 1995: 1,470.The London Stock Exchange records the number of announcements made by listed companies identified as "purchases of own securities". These include other securities as well as shares. The announcements for the dates asked for were as follows:
1 July—31 December 1997: 5761 July—31 December 1996: 3061 July—31 December 1995: 228.