7th Jan 2026 07:00
7 January 2026
RECKITT BENCKISER GROUP PLC
PUBLICATION OF CIRCULAR RELATING TO A SPECIAL DIVIDEND AND SHARE CONSOLIDATION AND NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING
Following the announcement on 31 December 2025 confirming the completion of the divestment of the Essential Home business to Advent International, L.P., Reckitt Benckiser Group plc ("Reckitt") is pleased to announce that a circular setting out full details of the proposed special dividend and associated share consolidation (the "Circular") has been published today.
The Circular confirms that following completion, Reckitt intends to return approximately £1.6 billion of excess capital to shareholders by way of a proposed special dividend of 235 pence per existing ordinary share in the capital of Reckitt (the "Special Dividend").
The Circular sets out full details of the proposed Special Dividend and associated 24 for 25 share consolidation (the "Share Consolidation") and also contains a notice convening a general meeting of Reckitt to be held at Slaughter and May, One Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8YY at 8.00 a.m. on Tuesday 27 January 2026 (the "General Meeting").
Special Dividend
Reckitt confirms that it intends to return approximately £1.6 billion to shareholders by way of a proposed Special Dividend of 235 pence per existing ordinary share. The Board is proposing to pay the Special Dividend to shareholders on the register as at 6.00 p.m. on Friday 30 January 2026 in pounds sterling. An equivalent amount in US dollars is proposed to be paid to those ADR Holders that are on the ADR register as at 9.00 a.m. (New York time) on Monday 2 February 2026 (being the effective date for the Share Consolidation for the ADSs).
Subject to (i) shareholder approval of the Special Dividend and the Share Consolidation; and (ii) admission in respect of the new ordinary shares, the Special Dividend is expected to be paid to shareholders on Friday 20 February 2026 and to ADR holders commencing Friday 27 February 2026.
The proposed Special Dividend is in addition to Reckitt's ongoing share buyback programme and ordinary dividend policy.
Share Consolidation
It is proposed that, subject to (i) shareholder approval of the Special Dividend and the Share Consolidation; and (ii) admission in respect of the new ordinary shares, the payment of the Special Dividend be accompanied by a consolidation of Reckitt's ordinary share capital on the basis of 24 new ordinary shares with nominal value of 10⁵⁄₁₂ pence for every 25 existing ordinary shares.
The effect of the Share Consolidation will be to reduce the number of existing ordinary shares in issue by approximately the same proportion of market capitalisation returned via the Special Dividend (the market capitalisation for which will be as of market close on 2 January 2026). It is anticipated, therefore, that the market price of each ordinary share in Reckitt should remain at a broadly similar level following the Special Dividend and the Share Consolidation.
As all ordinary shareholdings in Reckitt will be consolidated, the number of ordinary shares held by each shareholder will reduce, but the proportion of the total issued ordinary share capital of Reckitt held by each shareholder immediately before and following the Share Consolidation will remain unchanged, save for fractional entitlements and any subsequent participation in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Apart from having a different nominal value, each new ordinary share will carry the same rights as set out in Reckitt's articles of association which currently attach to the existing ordinary shares.
As further explained in the Circular, fractional entitlements arising from the Share Consolidation will be aggregated and sold in the market. The proceeds of such sale of fractional entitlements below £5 will be donated to The British Red Cross. The value of any one shareholder's fractional entitlement will not exceed the value of one new ordinary share.
Additional resolutions
Given the change in the share capital of Reckitt, shareholder approval will also be sought to renew the annual authorities to enable Reckitt to allot new ordinary shares, disapply pre-emption rights and buyback its own shares to cover the period between the date of the General Meeting and Reckitt's 2026 Annual General Meeting. Further details of these additional resolutions are set out in the Circular.
Expected timetable
As set out in the Circular, the expected timetable for the General Meeting, the Special Dividend and the Share Consolidation is as follows:
Announcement and publication and posting of the Circular, including the Notice of General Meeting, and Form of Proxy | Wednesday 7 January 2026 |
Latest time and date for receipt of proxy instructions | 8.00 a.m. on Friday 23 January 2026 |
Record time and date for entitlement to vote at the General Meeting | 6.30 p.m. on Friday 23 January 2026 |
General Meeting | 8.00 a.m. on Tuesday 27 January 2026 |
Announcement of results of the General Meeting | After the General Meeting on Tuesday 27 January 2026 |
Latest time for dealings in Existing Ordinary Shares | 4.30 p.m. on Friday 30 January 2026 |
Record time and date for Ordinary Shareholders for entitlement to the Special Dividend and for the Share Consolidation | 6.00 p.m. on Friday 30 January 2026 |
Record time and date for participation in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan for the Special Dividend and deadline for receipt of DRIP Elections for the Special Dividend | 6.00 p.m. on Friday 30 January 2026 |
Ordinary Shares marked ex-Special Dividend | 8.00 a.m. on Monday 2 February 2026 |
Effective time and date for the Share Consolidation | 8.00 a.m. on Monday 2 February 2026 |
Commencement of dealings in New Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange (after the Share Consolidation) | 8.00 a.m. on Monday 2 February 2026 |
CREST accounts credited with New Ordinary Shares (after the Share Consolidation) | On or soon after 8.00 a.m. on Monday 2 February 2026 |
ADRs marked ex-Special Dividend | 9.00 a.m. (New York time) on Monday 2 February 2026 |
ADR effective time and date for the Share Consolidation | 9.00 a.m. (New York time) on Monday 2 February 2026 |
Credit of new ADSs to ADR Holders | 9.00 a.m. (New York time) on Monday 2 February 2026 |
Commencement of dealings in new ADSs | 9.00 a.m. (New York time) on Monday 2 February 2026 |
Payment of the Special Dividend to Ordinary Shareholders | Friday 20 February 2026 |
Payment in respect of fractional entitlements relating to the Share Consolidation of £5 or more | Friday 20 February 2026 |
Commencement of purchases of New Ordinary Shares for DRIP participants | Friday 20 February 2026 |
Dispatch of share certificates in respect of New Ordinary Shares | No later than Friday 20 February 2026 |
Payment of the Special Dividend to ADR Holders | Commencing Friday 27 February 2026 |
Availability of the Circular
A copy of the Circular will be posted to shareholders shortly. A copy of the circular has been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and will be available for inspection at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.
In addition, a copy of the Circular will be available for inspection at Reckitt's website at www.reckitt.com.
Capitalised terms used but not otherwise defined in this announcement have the same meaning given to them in the Circular.
For further information
Catheryn O'Rourke, Company SecretaryTel. 01753 217 800
103-105 Bath Road, Slough SL1 3UHRegistered in England and Wales, No. 6270876
Enquiries:
Investors and Analysts:
Nick Ashworth +44 (0)7408 812350
Jon Bone +44 (0)7408 811493
Media:
Anna Davies, Corporate Affairs +44 (0)7408 861689
Charlie Armitstead, FTI Consulting +44 (0)7703 330269
About Reckitt
We make the products people trust to care for the ones they love. We are home to some of the world's best-loved consumer health and hygiene brands, including Dettol, Durex, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mucinex, Nurofen, Strepsils, Vanish and Veet. Consumers are at the heart of everything we do. By creating innovative, science-backed solutions, we support people every day to live healthier lives.
Reckitt exists to protect, heal and nurture in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. This commitment goes beyond the products we make. Through our actions, we expand access to healthcare, education and economic opportunities. We support the planet by reducing waste, conserving resources and driving sustainable innovation.
We believe good health starts at home. With every action we take, we strive to make our consumers' lives easier, cleaner and healthier, to strengthen communities and to create a more sustainable future.
*Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt group of companies
Cautionary note concerning forward-looking statements
This announcement contains statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward looking statements" which are prospective in nature. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward‐looking statements.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including many factors outside Reckitt's control.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Reckitt expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Reckitt's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based
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