There were no material share transactions for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The authorized share capital of the Company is set at one billion euro and zero cents (€1,000,000,000), divided into up to one hundred billion (100,000,000,000) shares (the “Shares”) represented by Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares.
On July 8, 2022, the Company issued 56,306,306 non-convertible, non-voting 9% cumulative preferred shares of nominal value of €4.44 per preferred share to the Ardagh Group for €250 million (approximately $260 million). The preferred shares are perpetual instruments with no fixed term and are only redeemable at the sole discretion of the Company. The preferred shares provide for annual cumulative dividends that may accumulate indefinitely if not declared. Redemption of the preferred shares at par plus unpaid dividends, as well as the payment of dividends on the preferred shares are entirely at the discretion of the Company and have, therefore, been classified as equity. Transaction costs of $3 million related to the issuance of the preferred shares are included in share premium.
In the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased a total of 5,768,638 ordinary shares returning $35 million to shareholders. The amount paid to repurchase these shares was initially recognized as a deduction of equity within treasury shares, together with any directly related expense. Upon cancellation of all the repurchased ordinary shares for the year ended December 31, 2022, the amount paid to repurchase these shares was transferred to retained earnings.
19. Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: capital risk, interest rate, currency exchange risk, commodity price risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.
Capital structure and risk
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and provide returns to its shareholders. The Group funds its operations primarily from the following sources of capital: borrowings, cash flow and shareholders’ capital. The Group aims to achieve a capital structure that results in an appropriate cost of capital to accommodate material investments or acquisitions, while providing flexibility in short and medium term funding. The Group also aims to maintain a strong statement of financial position and to provide continuity of financing by having a range of maturities and borrowing from a variety of sources.
The Group’s overall treasury objectives are to ensure sufficient funds are available for the Group to carry out its strategy and to manage certain financial risks to which the Group is exposed, details of which are provided below. The finance committee of the Board (the “Finance Committee”) reviews and monitors the capital structure, financial policies and treasury function in addition to advising the Board on whether to approve financing agreements or arrangements.
Financial risks are managed on the advice of Group Treasury and senior management in conjunction with the Finance Committee. The Group does not permit the use of treasury instruments for speculative purposes, under any circumstances. Group Treasury regularly reviews the level of cash and debt facilities required to fund the Group’s activities, plans for repayment and refinancing of debt, and identifies an appropriate amount of headroom to provide a reserve against unexpected funding requirements.
The Group’s long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to the Group’s growth investment program and the servicing of its debt obligations. Management expect to satisfy the Group’s future long-term liquidity needs through a combination of cash flow generated from operations and, where appropriate, to raise additional financing and to refinance the Group’s debt obligations in advance of their respective maturity. The Group generates substantial cash flow from