Greencore identifies main shareholders

Greencore has identified its main shareholders in order to dispel any take over rumors following recent heavy trading of its stock.

A report last week showed that Bank of Ireland related companies, in just a few weeks, had increased their stake from 16% to 27%.

In a statement issued to the Irish Stock exchange yesterday, the food company said that Bank of Ireland Securities Services (BOISS) was the holder of 27% of its shares.

The company added that BOISS did not have a beneficial interest in any of the shares. They are being held for clients under the name of Bank of Ireland Nominees.

Bank of Ireland Asset management also have a 15.97% stake, but most of this is included in the overall BOISS 27% holding.

Greencore said that AIB, Fidelity and Standard Life Investments no longer controlled above 3% and the company declined to comment on Mr Dermot Desmond's IIU Nominees, which owns 22% of the company.

The Irish financier has built up his stake from 16% in October.