AIB cancels warrants held by Finance Minister for cash payment of €390m to the State

Eva Osborne

AIB has agreed with the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, to cancel the over 271 million warrants held by him for a cash payment to the State of €390 million.

The warrants, which gave the Minister the right to subscribe for ordinary shares in AIB at a specified price, were originally granted in July 2017.

A deed of warrant cancellation between AIB and the Minister was signed on Thursday to give effect to the warrant cancellation.

The warrant cancellation follows the State’s exit from AIB’s share register in June 2025, marking the return of the company to full private ownership.

The Warrant Cancellation represents a further payment of €390 million to the State by AIB.

Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, welcomed the completion of what will be the final transaction with AIB.

In line with Government policy for the State to not be a long-term investor in banks, the Minister agreed to cancel the AIB warrants.

“The completion of this warrants cancellation transaction with AIB is a very important step for both the company and the State. It is the final transaction with AIB and results in a further €390 million recovered from our investment in the company," Donohoe said.

“When combined with the c. €19.8 billion already returned to the State, the total amount returned from our investment in AIB will reach €20.2 billion.

"The proceeds from this transaction will be held within the Exchequer and will ultimately be used to benefit the State.”