A purchase by a company of its own shares. A company may carry out a share buyback for various reasons, including to return surplus cash to shareholders (for example, after a large disposal) or as a means of facilitating the exit of a departing shareholder.

A limited company must comply with the provisions in Part 18 of the Companies Act 2006 when buying back its own shares. A share buyback by a limited company may be effected either through an off-market purchase or a market purchase.

For more information on share buybacks, see Practice note, Share buybacks: overview.