Banking

AIB plans to buy-out up to 67,000 ‘trapped’ shareholders

The bank said almost 90 per cent of its registered holders have 20 or fewer shares

AIB said as a result of the government bailout it has an “unusually large number of small shareholders”. Picture: Bloomberg/Aidan Crawley

AIB is aiming to buy-out up to 67,000 shareholders who own 20 shares or less in order to reduce its administrative costs and offer “trapped” shareholders a way out.

At the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM) in May shareholders will be asked to sign off the launch of an odd-lot offer. This would mean shareholders who have 20 or fewer shares will be able to sell their position at a 5 per cent premium to ...