Repurchase of Helen of Troy Common Stock

On May 10, 2017, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $400 million of our outstanding common stock. The authorization is effective for a period of three years and replaced our former repurchase authorization. These repurchases may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades, accelerated stock repurchase transactions, or any combination of such methods. The number of shares purchased and the timing of the purchases will depend on a number of factors, including share price, trading volume and general market conditions, working capital requirements, general business conditions, financial conditions, any applicable contractual limitations, and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities. As of February 28, 2019, our repurchase authorization allowed for the purchase of $110.5 million of common stock.

Our current equity-based compensation plans include provisions that allow for the “net exercise” of share settled awards by all plan participants. In a net exercise, any required payroll taxes, federal withholding taxes and exercise price of the shares due from the option holder can be paid for by having the option holder tender back to us a number of shares at fair value equal to the amounts due. Net exercises are treated as purchases and retirements of shares.

The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity for the periods shown:



	Fiscal Years Ended February 28,
(in thousands, except share and per share data)	2019		2018		2017
Common stock repurchased on the open market:
Number of shares	1,875,469		717,300		922,731
Aggregate value of shares	$	212,080	$	65,795	$	75,000
Average price per share	$	113.08	$	91.73	$	81.28

Common stock received in connection with share-based compensation:
Number of shares	59,024		75,785		6,286
Aggregate value of shares	$	5,413	$	7,258	$	595
Average price per share	$	91.70	$	95.77	$	94.61