AIB confident of raising capital independently

AIB remains confident of raising necessary post-NAMA capital without the need of further Government assistance, but hasn’t ruled out the latter option.

At yesterday’s extraordinary general meeting proposing the bank’s participation in NAMA, AIB chairman Dan O’Connor reiterated that a number of options were being considered. “As previously indicated, it’s our intention to raise additional capital within the next year. We’re currently exploring a number of ways to bolster our equity capital base through asset sales, the introduction of a strategic investor and a public share issue, which may require Government support.”

His mention of valuable assets such as its stakes in US bank M&T and Polish bank, Bank Zachodni WBK, would also suggest that every asset is up for consideration.