LAKE FOREST, Ill. (Feb. 2, 2015) — Tenneco Inc.'s board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $350 million of the company's outstanding common stock over the next three years as part of its overall capital allocation strategy.
“The new share repurchase authorization demonstrates Tenneco's financial strength and continued commitment to deliver value to our shareholders,” said Gregg Sherrill, Tenneco's chairman and CEO. “Our priorities for capital have not changed, but the significant improvement in our leverage ratio creates the opportunity for shareholder returns in excess of the share repurchases completed in recent years.”
Tenneco said its priorities for capital allocation are:
- Funding organic growth through capital spending and working capital;
- Funding restructuring activities to improve the company's long-term cost competitiveness;
- Maintaining balance sheet strength consistent with a target leverage ratio of 1x;
- Investing in strategic growth opportunities; and
- Providing capital returns to shareholders.
The Lake Forest-based automotive supplier anticipates acquiring the shares through open market or privately negotiated transactions, which will be funded through cash from operations. The repurchase program does not obligate Tenneco to make repurchases within any specific time or situations, and opportunities in higher priority areas could affect the cadence of this program.
Tenneco completed repurchases of common stock in each of the last four years to offset dilution from shares of stock issued to employees under Tenneco's long-term compensation plan, according to the firm.
The company designs, manufactures and markets clean air and ride performance products and systems for automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment markets and the aftermarket under the principal brands Monroe, Walker, XNOx and CleviteElastomer.