Artemis UK Future Leaders plc (AFL) has announced a market purchase of 14,000 ordinary shares of 20 pence each, completed on 2 November 2026, at a price of 402.779 pence per share. The shares will be held in treasury, reducing the total number of shares carrying voting rights. The buyback represents 0.03% of the company's current issued ordinary share capital, and investors holding positions in AFL should note the updated denominator figure for disclosure obligations under FCA rules.

Key Points

  • Artemis UK Future Leaders plc (AFL) — a UK-listed investment trust focused on smaller and medium-sized UK growth companies
  • The company purchased 14,000 ordinary shares of 20 pence each on 2 November 2026 at 402.779 pence per share, to be held in treasury
  • Following the transaction, total issued share capital stands at 49,826,436 shares, with 21,151,358 held in treasury
  • Investors should watch the updated voting rights denominator of 28,675,078 for FCA disclosure threshold calculations

AFL Purchases 14,000 Ordinary Shares at 402.779p for Treasury Holding

The board of Artemis UK Future Leaders plc confirmed on 3 November 2026 that it completed a market purchase of 14,000 ordinary shares at 402.779 pence each on 2 November 2026. The purchased shares, each carrying a nominal value of 20 pence, will be held in treasury rather than cancelled. The transaction equates to 0.03% of the company's current issued ordinary share capital. Treasury shares do not carry voting rights and are excluded from dividend entitlements, meaning the buyback effectively concentrates the economic interests of remaining voting shareholders.

Issued Share Capital and Treasury Position Following the November 2026 Buyback

Following the completion of this transaction, Artemis UK Future Leaders plc's total issued share capital stands at 49,826,436 ordinary shares. Of this total, 21,151,358 shares are now held in treasury, representing a substantial proportion of the overall issued capital. The number of ordinary shares with active voting rights therefore stands at 28,675,078. The scale of the treasury holding relative to total issued capital reflects an ongoing share buyback programme that the company has pursued over time, a common mechanism used by investment trusts to manage discounts to net asset value.

FCA Disclosure Obligations: Updated Denominator for AFL Shareholders

The announcement explicitly states that the figure of 28,675,078 voting ordinary shares should serve as the denominator for shareholders calculating whether they are required to notify an interest, or a change in interest, under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. Any shareholder whose holding crosses a relevant threshold relative to this denominator must file the appropriate notification. Northern Trust Secretarial Services (UK) Limited, acting as company secretary, issued the announcement on behalf of the Artemis UK Future Leaders board.