Hedge funds have outraged Dutch unions by demanding a break up of €1.3bn ($1.7bn) Dutch-listed industrials conglomerate Stork.

Centaurus Capital and Paulson, which have been invested in Stork for more than two years, said they had increased their stake in the company to 32.9% of the voting rights and called for an extraordinary general meeting on 19 October to agree a reorganisation of the business.