SThree plc (STEM), the specialist STEM-focused staffing group listed on the London Stock Exchange, has announced the purchase of 16,698 of its own ordinary shares on 11 November 2026 through broker Berenberg, as part of a share buyback programme launched on 12 February 2026. The weighted average price paid was 299.3956 pence per share, with trades ranging between 297.5p and 303.0p. The company intends to cancel the purchased shares, reducing the total share count in circulation. The announcement also carries a Rule 2.9 disclosure, reflecting SThree's ongoing offer period status under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

Key Points

  • SThree plc (STEM) — specialist STEM staffing group, London Stock Exchange main market
  • 16,698 ordinary shares of 1 pence each purchased on 11 November 2026 via Berenberg and are to be cancelled
  • Weighted average purchase price of 299.3956p; lowest 297.5p, highest 303.0p; cumulative buyback total now 6,579,398 shares
  • Investors should watch developments related to the offer period announced on 9 September 2026, given the Rule 2.9 disclosure requirement under the City Code

SThree's 12 February 2026 Buyback Programme Reaches 6,579,398 Shares Repurchased

Since the buyback programme commenced on 12 February 2026, SThree has now repurchased a cumulative total of 6,579,398 ordinary shares. The latest tranche of 16,698 shares, executed across 19 individual trades on 11 November 2026, was conducted entirely on the London Stock Exchange's main market under the XLON venue code. All trades were carried out by Berenberg on the company's behalf. The purchased shares will be cancelled rather than held in treasury, which serves to reduce the total number of shares in issue and can enhance earnings per share over time, all else being equal.

SThree Confirms 121,272,134 Voting Shares in Issue Under City Code Rule 2.9

Following the latest purchases, SThree confirms it has 121,307,901 ordinary shares in issue in total, with 35,767 shares held in treasury. This gives a total voting rights figure of 121,272,134 ordinary shares, which the company has disclosed in accordance with Rule 2.9 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers. SThree entered an offer period on 9 September 2026, making such disclosures a regulatory requirement. The ordinary shares carry one vote each and are identified by ISIN GB00B0KM9T71 and LEI number 2138003NEBX5VRP3EX50. Shareholders can use the voting rights figure as the denominator when calculating whether FCA disclosure thresholds have been crossed.

Berenberg Executed 19 Separate Trades Across the Session on 11 November 2026

The full transaction log published alongside the announcement shows Berenberg executed 19 individual trades between 08:51 and 15:31 on 11 November 2026. Trade sizes ranged from 28 shares to 2,195 shares per transaction, with prices moving from a session low of 297.5p in the morning to a high of 303.0p in the afternoon. The disclosure of individual transaction reference numbers and timestamps reflects compliance with Article 5(1)(b) of the UK Market Abuse Regulation, which governs the transparency requirements applicable to share buyback programmes of this nature.