Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), ), the largest pure-play security vendor globally, today announced that its board of directors has authorized an extension and expansion to the company’s on-going share repurchase program. Under the updated plan, effective immediately, Check Point is authorized to increase the quarterly repurchase of its outstanding shares by 25% up to $250 million and the overall program by 50% to an aggregate of $1.5 billion. In 2014, we repurchased approximately 11.2 million shares in an aggregate amount of approximately $765 million which represented an average repurchase per quarter of $191 million.
As of December 31, 2014, Check Point has approximately 183.8 million ordinary shares outstanding. Check Point began its share buyback program in 2003, and has since repurchased approximately 115.7 million shares for a total purchase price of approximately $3.8 billion. The new plan replaces the previous repurchase plan adopted in January 2014, which provided for the repurchase of up to $200 million of shares each quarter, up to an aggregate of $1 billion.
“We believe that our market leadership and long term growth prospects make this an effective time to further utilize our cash to increase shareholder value,” said Tal Payne, chief financial officer of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Share purchases will take place in open market transactions or in privately negotiated transactions and may be made from time to time depending on market conditions, share price, trading volume, and other factors. Such purchases will be made in accordance with applicable U.S. securities laws and regulations. For all or a portion of the authorized repurchase amount, Check Point may enter into a plan that is compliant with Rule 10b5-1 of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is designed to facilitate these purchases. The repurchase program does not require Check Point to acquire a specific number of shares, and may be suspended from time to time or discontinued. The share repurchases will be funded from available working capital.
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding the shareholder repurchase program. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include our ability to continue to develop platform capabilities and solutions; customer acceptance and purchase of our existing solutions and new solutions; the market for IT security continuing to develop; competition from other products and services; and general market, political, economic and business conditions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2014. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
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