Jefferson Smurfit director Mr Paddy Wright has realised a paper profit of £530,000 (€672,961) by exercising share options. Mr Wright paid £777,000 yesterday for 621,568 additional shares at an option price of €1.25.

This brings his stake in the company to 0.17 per cent. The option price compares with the current share price of €2.15 which values his additional shares at €1.3 million.