7th Mar 2025 18:22
(Alliance News) - Ryanair Holdings PLC on Friday said it will now allow non-EU nationals to buy ordinary shares, ending a prohibition that has also applied to UK nationals since 2021.
The Dublin-based budget airline had banned non-EU nationals from buying ordinary shares in the company in 2002, to comply with an EU ruling which required the company to be majority EU owned and controlled.
In December 2020, the firm also said that all shares held by non-EU nationals would be treated as restricted shares, with holders not permitted to attend or vote at general meetings.
Following an ownership and control review, Ryanair said EU nationals now hold more than 50% of its issued share capital.
The airline said it would discontinue the purchase prohibition with immediate effect and continue to apply the voting restrictions.
It said it would reintroduce the purchase ban "at an appropriate time" to ensure the level of share capital held by EU nationals is at least 20%.
Both EU and non-EU nationals can now invest in Ryanair shares listed on Euronext Dublin and Nasdaq. Non-EU investors who had been ordered to sell their shares no longer need to do so, Ryanair said.
Ryanair shares were down 0.7% at EUR20.37 in Frankfurt on Friday afternoon.
By Michael Hennessey, Alliance News reporter
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