8-K

CRH PUBLIC LTD CO 8-K Report (Mar 12, 2008)

Filed March 12, 2008For Securities:CRH

Summary

CRH Public Limited Company (CRH) has filed a Form 6-K, reporting a transaction in its own shares on March 11, 2008. On this date, UBS Limited, acting on behalf of CRH, repurchased 90,606 ordinary shares at prices ranging from EUR23.95 to EUR24.75 per share. These repurchased shares will be held as treasury shares, which can be used for various corporate purposes such as employee stock options or future acquisitions. This share repurchase activity indicates CRH's ongoing strategy to manage its capital structure and potentially enhance shareholder value. The company now holds 6,885,440 ordinary shares in treasury, with 540,341,754 ordinary shares remaining in issue. Investors should note this transaction as a potential signal of management's confidence in the company's stock value.

Key Highlights

  • 1CRH plc repurchased 90,606 ordinary shares on March 11, 2008.
  • 2The share repurchase was executed by UBS Limited on behalf of CRH.
  • 3The purchase price per share ranged between EUR23.95 and EUR24.75.
  • 4The repurchased shares will be held as treasury shares.
  • 5Following the transaction, CRH holds 6,885,440 ordinary shares in treasury.
  • 6The total number of ordinary shares in issue, excluding treasury shares, is 540,341,754.

Frequently Asked Questions

Treasury shares are typically held by a company for various strategic purposes, which can include fulfilling obligations under employee stock option plans, facilitating stock-based acquisitions, or potentially for future open market repurchases. Holding treasury shares can also be a method of returning capital to shareholders if they are later canceled.

A share repurchase program can indicate that management believes the company's stock is undervalued, or it can be part of a broader strategy to optimize the company's capital structure and return value to shareholders. It may also suggest a stable or positive outlook for the company's financial performance.

While the number of ordinary shares *in issue* has decreased slightly due to the repurchase, the number of *outstanding* shares available for trading by the public has also decreased by the same amount. The total number of shares, including those held in treasury, remains relevant for calculating metrics like earnings per share on a diluted basis.