John Whelan: Government may have left €81m on the table exiting AIB
AIB CEO Colin Hunt. Throughout 2025, there has been significant growth in AIB’s share price. The Government exited its ownership of AIB shares in June 2025. Picture: Miki Barlok
Irish bank shares delivered a historic rally in 2025, marking one of the strongest years on record for the sector and signalling a decisive shift in investor sentiment, fuelled by resilient growth, high margins, and capital returns.
Throughout 2025, there has been significant growth in AIB’s share price. The stock's performance for the year to December 18 was plus 77%. The Irish government may have exited a little early, leaving an estimated €81m on the table at today’s price, when they fully exited its ownership of AIB shares in June 2025.
