PITTSBURGH — Wesco International today announced that its board of directors approved a new $1 billion share repurchase program. The Company expects to repurchase common and preferred shares from time to time subject to the company’s repurchase program limit, its capital plan, market conditions and other factors, including regulatory restrictions and required approvals, if any.
John Engel, Wesco’s Chairman, President and CEO, said, “The new share repurchase authorization of up to $1 billion demonstrates continued confidence in our long-term growth outlook and our ability to consistently generate strong free cash flow. Following our transformational combination with Anixter in June of 2020, we have deployed cash to support the growth of our business and the integration of Anixter while rapidly deleveraging our balance sheet. Now that we expect to be within our target leverage range during the second quarter, we are adding another important tool to opportunistically drive further shareholder value.”
The Company may utilize various methods to effect repurchases of its shares under the repurchase program, which could include open market repurchases, negotiated block transactions, accelerated share repurchases or open market solicitations for shares, some of which may be effected through Rule 10b5-1 plans. The share repurchase program does not obligate Wesco to acquire a specific dollar amount or number of shares and may be extended, modified, or discontinued at any time.