Agribusiness company IAWS is considering the option of reducing the Irish Agricultural Wholesale Cooperative's stake in the publicly limited company below 51 per cent. The co-op currently holds a controlling 55 per cent to 60 per cent of the quoted company.

Reducing the co-op stake in the group would unlock some value for the co-op shareholders and would make it easier for the company to raise funds on the market. The Kerry Group recently indicated that Kerry Co-op may soon allow its holding in the publicly quoted company to fall below 51 per cent.