SThree plc (STEM), the specialist STEM-sector staffing group listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, has announced the purchase of 16,801 of its own ordinary shares on 3 November 2026 as part of its ongoing share buyback programme. The shares were acquired through broker Berenberg at prices ranging from 295.5p to 303.0p, with a weighted average price of 297.5162p per share. The company has confirmed it intends to cancel all purchased shares, reducing the total share count in issue. 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
  • 16,801 ordinary shares of 1 pence each purchased on 3 November 2026 via Berenberg under the buyback programme announced 12 February 2026
  • Weighted average purchase price of 297.5162p; total shares purchased since programme launch now stand at 6,482,385
  • Investors should watch developments related to the offer period announced on 9 September 2026, which triggered the Rule 2.9 disclosure requirement

SThree's Berenberg-Executed Buyback Adds 16,801 Shares at 295.5p–303.0p on 3 November 2026

SThree plc conducted the latest tranche of its share buyback programme on 3 November 2026, purchasing 16,801 ordinary shares entirely on the London Stock Exchange (XLON). All trades were executed by JOH Berenberg, Gossler & Co KG, trading as Berenberg, on the company's behalf. The lowest price paid in any single transaction was 295.5p, while the highest reached 303.0p, with the day's volume-weighted average settling at 297.5162p. The purchases took place across multiple transactions throughout the trading session, with a notable cluster of trades executed at 15:02 at a price of 296.5p per share.

Total Shares Repurchased Since February 2026 Reaches 6,482,385 as Cancellations Reduce Float

Since the buyback programme commenced following its announcement on 12 February 2026, SThree has now repurchased a cumulative total of 6,482,385 ordinary shares. Following execution of the 3 November purchases, the company will have 121,404,914 ordinary shares in issue, with 35,767 shares held in treasury. The company has confirmed its intention to cancel the newly purchased shares rather than retain them in treasury, which will reduce the total share count over time. The total voting rights figure currently stands at 121,369,147, which the announcement states may be used by shareholders as a denominator for interest notification calculations under FCA Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

Rule 2.9 Disclosure Reflects SThree's Offer Period Status Under the City Code on Takeovers

The announcement includes a formal Rule 2.9 disclosure under the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, required because SThree entered an offer period on 9 September 2026. The company confirms that 121,369,147 ordinary shares are in issue as at the announcement date, excluding treasury shares. Each ordinary share carries one vote, and the shares are admitted to trading under ISIN GB00B0KM9T71 and LEI number 2138003NEBX5VRP3EX50. The offer period context means SThree's ordinary shares are classified as relevant securities under Rule 8 of the Code, requiring careful disclosure of any dealings by interested parties.