NTR returns €252m to shareholders

Irish utility firm NTR has returned €252 million to shareholders in a share buy-back scheme.

The "liquidity event" saw the company purchase the equivalent of 16 per cent of its share capital.

NTR, which booked a profit of €830.8 million following the disposal of its windfarm unit Airtricity and the sale of its interest in the West-Link toll-bridge to the Government, offered to redeem shares worth as much as €275 million at an egm last month.

The redemption was offered at €6.65 per ordinary share.

Major shareholders include Dreamport Ltd which held 35.5 per cent of the company on behalf of NTR chairman Tom Roche and his family for the year ending March 31st 2007, according to the company's annual report.

Investment firm One51 held 25.5 per cent, Laycross Company a further 6.4 per cent while Standard Life had a 6.3 per cent stake at that time. Remaining shares are held by a number of smaller investors.

A spokeswoman for NTR declined to say whether the shareholders had availed of the share buy-back on the pro-rata basis on which it was offered.

She said the €23 million not taken up by shareholders would be left in the company.

NTR shares are not listed but are available on the grey market and can be bought through the company's Dublin-based brokers: Davy, Goodbody Stockbrokers and NCB Stockbrokers.