Natural Gas Services Group Inc. said on Aug. 12 that its board of directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $10 million of its outstanding shares of common stock.

The company, a leading provider of gas compression equipment and services to the natural gas industry based in Midland, Texas, intends to finance the share buyback with existing liquidity and free cash flow.

"This repurchase program provides Natural Gas Services Group with an important tool in allocating capital and demonstrates the board's confidence in our current and future prospects,” said Stephen C. Taylor, who is Natural Gas Services chairman, president and CEO. “We will use this tool strategically in our continued effort to maximize value for [Natural Gas Services] shareholders.”

The repurchase program will expire on September2020, subject to earlier termination of the program by the board of directors. As of July 29, Natural Gas Services Group had roughly 13.2 million common shares outstanding.

Repurchases may be made in open market purchases, block trades or in privately negotiated transactions. Repurchases, if any, under the program will be made at the discretion of management, and will depend upon market pricing and conditions, business, legal, accounting and other considerations. Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations of Rule 10b-18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Repurchases may be made pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with SEC Rule 10b5-1, which would permit common stock to be repurchased when the company might otherwise be precluded from doing so under insider trading laws.

The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time without notice, in the company’s discretion, based upon a number of factors, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, the need for capital in Natural Gas Services Group’s operations and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases. The repurchase program does not obligate the company to repurchase any shares.

Onshore