Denis O’Brien’s Aer Lingus holding down to 2.4% after €4.7m share sale

Holding falls below 3% threshold that obliges investors to inform market of transactions

Denis O’Brien sold €4.7 million worth of shares in Aer Lingus. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times
Denis O’Brien sold €4.7 million worth of shares in Aer Lingus. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill / The Irish Times

Businessman Denis O'Brien sold €4.7 million worth of shares in Aer Lingus, cutting his stake in the airline to less than 3 per cent.

The news comes as the company conditionally awarded almost one million shares to chief executive, Christoph Mueller and his recently appointed boardroom colleague Bernard Bot under a bonus programme.

According to a notice formally issued to the market late on Tuesday, Mr O’Brien reduced his holding to 12.75 million shares from 16.81 million on July 31st.

The stocks closing price was €1.33 on the day, valuing the shares sold by Mr O’Brien at €4.7 million. The move reduced his holding to 2.4 per cent. That is less than the 3 per cent stake that obliges investors to inform the market of any transaction.

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The airline has conditionally granted Mr Mueller 532,355 shares under a long- term incentive programme; the award is tied to its performance up to the end of 2016. Mr Mueller is leaving in May. It paid him €1.5 million last year and he owns more than 700,000 of its shares.

It conditionally awarded Mr Bot, appointed chief financial officer last month, 401,548, shares under the same scheme.

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O'Halloran

Barry O’Halloran covers energy, construction, insolvency, and gaming and betting, among other areas