Michael Noonan eyes dates for AIB shares sale

Michael Noonan appears to have ruled out selling down an initial stake in AIB to stock markets until after the election.

The Finance Minister indicated that he now views that any initial public offering in shares in the nationalised bank would take place next spring or by early summer 2016 at the earliest.

Talking to the media at a presentation of the National Treasury Management Agency, Mr Noonan reiterated that the preparations for the sale of AIB would not be influenced by what he described as the “political calendar.” A window to sell a stake would be as early as autumn, but he said a sale at that time may possibly interrupt preparations for the Budget in October.