Budget airline Ryanair has removed a long-standing restriction that prevented non-EU nationals from purchasing ordinary shares in the company.
EU regulations require that at least 51 per cent of an airline’s shares be held by EU nationals to maintain operational rights. While non-EU investors could previously buy shares, these were classified as restricted, meaning they carried no voting or speaking rights.
Following Brexit in 2021, these restrictions were extended to UK citizens.
However, in a trading update on Euronext Dublin, Ryanair announced that after a review of ownership and control, more than 50 per cent of its share capital is now EU-held.
Citing investor feedback, the airline has now decided to lift the ban, allowing non-EU investors to purchase ordinary shares on Euronext Dublin or depositary shares on Nasdaq.