Also according to the company, Vincent Crowley, chief executive of Irish business, has raised his stake to 531,870 shares, or about 0.06 percent of the company, according to Thomson Financial.

Crowley exercised option over the shares at 1.4147 euros each.

Gavin O'Reilly, president of the World Association of Newspapers, is also chief operating officer of Independent News & Media and the son of Anthony O'Reilly.