BRAMPTON, ON, April 26, 2017 /CNW/ - (TSX: L) – Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has accepted a notice filed by Loblaw of its intention to make a normal course issuer bid (NCIB).

The TSX notice provides that Loblaw may, during the 12-month period commencing April 28, 2017 and terminating April 27, 2018, purchase up to 21,016,472 of Loblaw's common shares (Common Shares), representing approximately 10% of the public float, by way of a NCIB on the TSX or through alternative trading systems or by such other means as may be permitted by the TSX or under applicable law. As of April 12, 2017 Loblaw had 398,404,923 outstanding Common Shares. Based on the average daily trading volume of 514,607 during the last six months, daily purchases will be limited to 128,651 Common Shares, other than block purchase exceptions.

Purchases of Common Shares will be made in open market transactions on the TSX or through alternative trading systems. In addition, Loblaw may enter into forward purchase or swap contracts in connection with Common Shares which may be settled by physical settlement, cash settlement or a combination thereof. The forward price will be based on market price, dividend yield and market interest rates. Loblaw may also purchase Common Shares through private agreements or share repurchase programs if it receives an issuer bid exemption order permitting it to make such purchases. Any purchases of Common Shares made by way of private agreements or under share repurchase programs may at a discount to the prevailing market price as provided in the relevant issuer bid exemption order.

Decisions regarding the timing of future purchases of Common Shares will be based on market conditions, share price and other factors. Loblaw may elect to suspend or discontinue its NCIB at any time. Common Shares purchased under the NCIB will be cancelled or used in connection with the settlement of restricted share units or performance share units. Loblaw believes that the market price of Common Shares could be such that their purchase may be an attractive and appropriate use of corporate funds. Loblaw may also use its NCIB to acquire the number of Common Shares that are issued pursuant to the exercise of options in order to offset the dilutive effect of options that have been exercised.  Within the past 12 months 10,284,793 Common Shares have been purchased at a weighted average price of $69.6892 pursuant to its previous NCIB.

From time to time, when Loblaw does not possess material non-public information about itself or its securities, it may enter into a pre-defined plan with its broker to allow for the purchase of Common Shares at times when Loblaw ordinarily would not be active in the market due to its own internal trading blackout periods and insider trading rules. Any such plans entered into with Loblaw's broker will be adopted in accordance with the requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws.

Loblaw Companies Limited is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, the nation's largest retailer, and the majority unitholder of Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, banking, and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,300 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees, and Associate-owners employ approximately 192,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.

Loblaw's purpose - Live Life Well - puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the companies' stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at more than 1,250 Shoppers Drug Mart and Pharmaprix locations and more than 500 Loblaw locations; no-fee banking with PC Financial; affordable Joe Fresh fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top consumer brands in Life Brand^®, noname^® and President's Choice^®. Through the PC Plus^TM and Shoppers Optimum^® loyalty programs, more than one in every three Canadians are rewarded for shopping with the companies.

For more information, visit Loblaw's website at www.loblaw.ca and Loblaw's issuer profile at www.sedar.com(Open in a new tab).

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited