SThree plc (STEM), the specialist STEM-focused staffing group listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, has disclosed the purchase of 16,571 of its own ordinary shares on 4 November 2026 as part of its share buyback programme launched on 12 February 2026. The trades were executed through Berenberg, with a weighted average price of 301.7180 pence per share. The purchased shares are to be cancelled, reducing the company's share count. The announcement also carries a Rule 2.9 disclosure, confirming voting rights figures during an ongoing offer period.

Key Points

  • SThree plc (STEM) — specialist STEM staffing group, listed on the London Stock Exchange main market
  • 16,571 ordinary shares purchased on 4 November 2026 via Berenberg under the buyback programme announced 12 February 2026
  • Weighted average price of 301.7180p; price range of 291.0000p to 304.0000p; total buyback to date: 6,498,956 shares
  • Investors should watch the ongoing offer period, confirmed as commencing 9 September 2026, and further buyback or takeover-related disclosures

SThree Purchases 16,571 Shares at Weighted Average 301.72p on 4 November 2026

SThree plc confirmed it purchased 16,571 ordinary shares of 1 pence each on 4 November 2026, all executed on the London Stock Exchange (XLON). Berenberg acted as broker for the transactions on the company's behalf. The lowest price achieved across the day's 26 individual trades was 291.0000 pence per share, recorded in the opening transaction at 08:12, whilst the highest price reached was 304.0000 pence per share in later afternoon trades. The volume-weighted average price for the day stood at 301.7180 pence. All purchased shares are intended for cancellation rather than to be held in treasury.

Cumulative Buyback Reaches 6,498,956 Shares Since February 2026 Programme Launch

Since the buyback programme commenced on 12 February 2026, SThree has now repurchased a cumulative total of 6,498,956 ordinary shares. Following the 4 November transactions, the company will have 121,388,343 ordinary shares in issue, with 35,767 shares held in treasury. The total voting rights figure, which excludes treasury shares, stands at 121,352,576. The announcement states this denominator figure should be used by shareholders when calculating whether they are required to disclose interests or changes in interests under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Rule 2.9 Disclosure Confirms Voting Share Count During SThree Offer Period

SThree's announcement includes a Rule 2.9 disclosure under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, required because the company entered an offer period on 9 September 2026. The company confirms that 121,352,576 ordinary shares are in issue excluding treasury shares, each carrying one vote. The ordinary shares are admitted to trading under ISIN GB00B0KM9T71 and LEI number 2138003NEBX5VRP3EX50. Investors may be watching for further developments related to the offer period, as ordinary shares constitute relevant securities under Rule 8 of the Code, requiring careful disclosure of dealings by relevant parties throughout the process.

Berenberg Executes 26 Separate Trades Across the Full Trading Day for SThree

The full transaction schedule shows Berenberg completed 26 individual trades on behalf of SThree across 4 November 2026, spanning from 08:12 in the morning through to 16:27 in the afternoon. Trade sizes ranged from 83 shares to 1,800 shares per transaction, with prices gradually moving higher through the session. This spread of trades across the day reflects standard practice under structured buyback programmes, which are designed to minimise market impact. The disclosure was made in accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of the Market Abuse Regulation as incorporated into UK law.