Air China Regulatory News (AIRC)

15 Jan 2010 13:43



Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited take no responsibility for the contents of this announcement, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss whatsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this announcement.

(a joint stock limited company incorporated in the People's Republic of China with limited liability)

(Stock Code: 00753)

Overseas Regulatory Announcement

China National Aviation Holding Company ("CNAHC"), the controlling shareholder of Air China Limited (the "Company"), has informed the Company that CNAHC had recently received a "Notice on 2009 State-owned Capital Operation Budget (allocation) Granted by the Ministry of Finance to China National Aviation Holding Company" (《財政部關於下達中國航空集團公司2009年中央國有資本經營預算(撥款)的通知》) issued by the Ministry of Finance, and an "Approval to 2009 State-owned Capital Operation Budget of China National Aviation Holding Company" (《關於中國航空集團公司2009年國有資本經營預算的批復》) issued by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. According to these documents, the 2009 state-owned capital operation budget granted by the Ministry of Finance to CNAHC amounted to RMB1.5 billion, which will in turn be injected by CNAHC to the Company to be applied to the acquisitions by the Company of minority shareholders' equity interest in Air China Cargo Co., Ltd. (the "Capital Injection"). As the acquisitions have already been implemented, the RMB1.5 billion will be used to replenish the Company's internal funds that have been used to pay the consideration for the acquisitions.

The Company has made inquiries to the management of the Company and CNAHC in respect of the Capital Injection and was advised that as of the date of this announcement, CNAHC and the Company have not taken any action including entering into any agreement with respect to the Capital Injection. The Company will make further announcements to keep the investors informed of the progress of the Capital Injection pursuant to the relevant regulatory rules.

The implementation of the Capital Injection would be subject to the execution of the relevant agreements and approvals of the relevant regulatory authorities. As such, there is no certainty that the Capital Injection would be completed. Investors are advised to exercise caution in dealing in shares of the Company.

This announcement is issued by the Company pursuant to Rule 13.09 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

By order of the Board

Air China Limited

Huang Bin Tam Shuit Mui

Joint Company Secretaries

Beijing, 15 January 2010

As at the date of this announcement, the Directors of the Company are Mr. Kong Dong, Ms. Wang Yinxiang, Mr. Wang Shixiang, Mr. Cao Jianxiong, Mr. Christopher Dale Pratt, Mr. Chen Nan Lok, Philip, Mr. Cai Jianjiang, Mr. Fan Cheng, Mr. Hu Hung Lick, Henry*, Mr. Zhang Ke*, Mr. Jia Kang* and Mr. Fu Yang*.

* Independent non-executive Director of the Company