Golden Vale's managing director has made a profit of almost €700,000 after exercising his Golden Vale options and then selling the shares to Kerry Group as part of Kerry's takeover of the Charleville-based group. This is in addition to the €77,000 that Mr Jim Murphy received for his 50,000 Golden Vale shares.

Finance director Mr Liam Irvine, who realised €518,000 from the sale of his Golden Vale shares, has made another €97,000 from the exercise and sale of his share options while company secretary Mr Seamus Lynch made €77,000 profit on his options. Another director, Mr Pat Doyle made €40,000 on the options.