Subject to section 693A, A company may only make an off-market purchase of its own shares in pursuance of a contract approved prior to the purchase in accordance with this section.
Either—
The contract may be a contract, entered into by the company and relating to shares in the company, that does not amount to a contract to purchase the shares but under which the company may (subject to any conditions) become entitled or obliged to purchase the shares.
The authority conferred by a resolution under this section may be varied, revoked or from time to time renewed by a . . . resolution of the company.
In the case of a public company a resolution conferring, varying or renewing authority must specify a date on which the authority is to expire, which must not be later than five years after the date on which the resolution is passed.
A resolution conferring, varying, revoking or renewing authority under this section is subject to—
section 695 (exercise of voting rights), and
section 696 (disclosure of details of contract).