BMO Financial Group Announces Intention to Repurchase Up to 20 Million of its Common Shares

Rhea-AI Summary

Bank of Montreal (BMO) has announced plans to repurchase and cancel up to 20 million common shares through a normal course issuer bid, pending regulatory approvals. The proposed repurchase represents approximately 2.7% of BMO's public float as of November 30, 2024.

The share buyback will be conducted through the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and other designated exchanges, with various purchase methods including automatic purchase plans and block purchases. The program will run for up to one year after TSX acceptance. As of November 30, 2024, BMO had 729,664,893 common shares outstanding, with a public float of 729,409,604 shares.

Positive

• Announcement of share buyback program for up to 20 million shares (2.7% of float)
• Enhanced capital management flexibility
• Multiple purchase methods available including automatic plans and block purchases

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Analyst

This share repurchase program announcement signals strong capital management and shareholder value creation initiatives from BMO. The planned buyback of up to 20 million shares represents approximately 2.7% of the public float, which is a significant capital return to shareholders.

The flexibility in execution through various trading venues and methods, including potential block trades and private agreements, indicates a strategic approach to capital deployment. With a market cap of $69.5 billion, this buyback could represent a substantial investment, potentially exceeding $2 billion based on current share prices.

The timing discretion and regulatory approval requirements demonstrate prudent risk management. This move typically supports share price stability and earnings per share growth through reduced share count, while maintaining strong capital ratios required by regulators. For investors, share buybacks generally indicate management's confidence in the bank's financial position and future prospects.

TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Bank of Montreal (TSX:BMO)(NYSE:BMO) today announced its intention to purchase for cancellation up to 20 million of its common shares under a normal course issuer bid, subject to the approval of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Purchases will be made through the facilities of the TSX and may also be made through other designated exchanges and alternative Canadian trading systems or by such other means as may be permitted by a securities regulatory authority, including under automatic purchase plans, block purchases, private agreements or share repurchase programs under exemption orders issued by securities regulatory authorities (Exemption Orders).

Bank of Montreal (the Bank) intends to file a notice of intention with the TSX in this regard and, subject to regulatory approvals, the bid would commence following TSX acceptance of the notice and continue for up to one year. The common shares that may be repurchased represent approximately 2.7% per cent of the 'public float' (as such term is defined in the TSX Company Manual) of common shares as of November 30, 2024. The timing and amount of any purchases under the program are subject to regulatory approvals and to management discretion based on factors such as market conditions. Except for any purchases made under an Exemption Order, which will generally be at a discount to the prevailing market price, the Bank will pay the market price for the shares at the time of acquisition. 

There were 729,664,893 Bank of Montreal common shares issued and outstanding as of November 30, 2024, and the public float was 729,409,604 common shares.

The proposed normal course issuer bid will provide the Bank with additional flexibility to manage its capital position.

Bank of Montreal's common shares are listed on both the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. 

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Bank of Montreal's public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this press release and may be included in other filings with Canadian securities regulators or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, but are not limited to: statements with respect to BMO's intention to establish a normal course issuer bid. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "will", "would", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "commit", "target", "may", "schedule", "forecast", "outlook", "seek" and "could" or negative or grammatical variations thereof. 

By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific in nature. There is significant risk that predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections will not prove to be accurate, that our assumptions may not be correct, and that actual results may differ materially from such predictions, forecasts, conclusions or projections. We caution readers of this press release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, as a number of factors – many of which are beyond our control and the effects of which can be difficult to predict – could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from the targets, expectations, estimates or intentions expressed in the forward-looking statements.

The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including, but not limited to: general economic and market conditions in the countries in which we operate, including labour challenges and changes in foreign exchange and interest rates; changes to our credit ratings; cyber and information security, including the threat of data breaches, hacking, identity theft and corporate espionage, as well as the possibility of denial of service resulting from efforts targeted at causing system failure and service disruption; technology resilience, innovation and competition; failure of third parties to comply with their obligations to us; political conditions, including changes relating to, or affecting, economic or trade matters; disruptions of global supply chains; environmental and social risk, including climate change; the Canadian housing market and consumer leverage; inflationary pressures; changes in laws, including tax legislation and interpretation, or in supervisory expectations or requirements, including capital, interest rate and liquidity requirements and guidance, and the effect of such changes on funding costs and capital requirements; changes in monetary, fiscal or economic policy; weak, volatile or illiquid capital or credit markets; the level of competition in the geographic and business areas in which we operate; exposure to, and the resolution of, significant litigation or regulatory matters, the appeal of favourable outcomes and our ability to successfully appeal adverse outcomes of such matters and the timing, determination and recovery of amounts related to such matters; the accuracy and completeness of the information we obtain with respect to our customers and counterparties; our ability to execute our strategic plans, complete proposed acquisitions or dispositions and integrate acquisitions, including obtaining regulatory approvals, and realize any anticipated benefits from such plans and transactions; critical accounting estimates and judgments, and the effects of changes in accounting standards, rules and interpretations on these estimates; operational and infrastructure risks, including with respect to reliance on third parties; global capital markets activities; the emergence or continuation of widespread health emergencies or pandemics, and their impact on local, national or international economies, as well as their heightening of certain risks that may affect our future results; the possible effects on our business of war or terrorist activities; natural disasters, such as earthquakes or flooding, and disruptions to public infrastructure, such as transportation, communications, power or water supply; and our ability to anticipate and effectively manage risks arising from all of the foregoing factors.

We caution that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all possible factors. Other factors and risks could adversely affect our results. For more information, please refer to the discussion in the Risks That May Affect Future Results section, and the sections related to credit and counterparty, market, insurance, liquidity and funding, operational non-financial, legal and regulatory, strategic, environmental and social, and reputation risk in the Enterprise-Wide Risk Management section of BMO's 2024 Annual MD&A, as updated by quarterly reports, all of which outline certain key factors and risks that may affect our future results. Investors and others should carefully consider these factors and risks, as well as other uncertainties and potential events, and the inherent uncertainty of forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the organization or on its behalf, except as required by law. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is presented for the purpose of assisting shareholders and analysts in understanding our financial position as at and for the periods ended on the dates presented, as well as our strategic priorities and objectives, and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Material economic assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained in this press release include those set out in the Economic Developments and Outlook and Allowance for Credit Losses sections of BMO's 2024 Annual MD&A, as updated by quarterly reports. Assumptions about the performance of the Canadian and U.S. economies, as well as overall market conditions and their combined effect on our business, are material factors we consider when determining our strategic priorities, objectives and expectations for our business. In determining our expectations for economic growth, we primarily consider historical economic data, past relationships between economic and financial variables, changes in government policies, and the risks to the domestic and global economy.

Internet: www.bmo.com     X: @BMOmedia

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SOURCE BMO Financial Group

FAQ

How many shares will BMO repurchase in its new buyback program?

BMO plans to repurchase up to 20 million common shares, representing approximately 2.7% of its public float.

When will BMO's share buyback program begin?

The program will commence following TSX acceptance of the notice and regulatory approvals, and continue for up to one year.

How many BMO shares were outstanding as of November 30, 2024?

There were 729,664,893 Bank of Montreal common shares issued and outstanding as of November 30, 2024.

Through which exchanges will BMO conduct its share repurchase?

The purchases will be made primarily through the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and may include other designated exchanges and alternative Canadian trading systems.