AIB Group plc  - STATement on STATE DIVESTMENT

AIB Group plc notes the announcement by the Irish Department of Finance regarding the sell down of 5% of the issued ordinary capital of the Group, which brings the State's shareholding to c. 12.5%.

Commenting on the share sale, AIB Group Chief Executive Officer Colin Hunt, said:

"We very much welcome the decision and subsequent transaction undertaken by the Minister for Finance,  which has led to a further divestment of the State's shareholding in AIB Group plc.

This well-supported transaction is another important milestone in the process of returning the State's investment in the Group and a normalisation of the share register. It will return a further c. €652 million to Irish taxpayers to whom AIB is deeply grateful, for their support during the financial crisis. This brings the total proceeds returned to the State to c. €18 billion.

2024 was the first year of our new strategic cycle and we made strong progress in each of our three focus areas: Customer First, Greening our business and Operational efficiency. Our business performance is underpinned by a supportive domestic economy, our leading customer franchise, competitive market positioning, growing loan book and resilient and diversifying income. We look forward to continuing to support our customers, generating shareholder value and delivering our 2024 Annual Financial Results on 5 March."

-ENDS-

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Forward Looking Statements

This document contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of AIB Group and certain of the plans and objectives of the Group. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward looking statements sometimes use words such as 'aim', 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'estimate', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', 'may', 'could', 'will', 'seek', 'continue', 'should', 'assume', or other words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the Group's future financial position, capital structure, Government shareholding in the Group, income growth, loan losses, business strategy, projected costs, capital ratios, estimates of capital expenditures, and plans and objectives for future operations. Because such statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. By their nature, forward looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. These are set out in Principal Risks on pages 27 to 30 of the Annual Financial Report 2023 and updated on page 32 of the 2024 Half-Year Financial Report. In addition to matters relating to the Group's business, future performance will be impacted by (i) the Group's ability along with governments and other stakeholders to measure, manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change effectively, (ii) the impacts of inflation and (iii) Irish, UK and wider European and global economic and financial market considerations. Future performance could also be impacted by the direct and indirect consequences of conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Group speak only as of the date they are made. The Group cautions that the list of important factors on pages 27 to 30 of the Annual Financial Report 2023 is not exhaustive. Investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events when making an investment decision based on any forward-looking statement.