Grant of share options

CATHAY INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LTD.

Grant of share options

Hong Kong, 18 March 2011 - Cathay International Holdings Limited (LSE: CTI.L), an investment holding company and a leading investor in the growing healthcare sector in the People's Republic of China, announces that on 16 March 2011, the Company granted 921,176 options to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lee Jin Yi, under the share option plan (the 'Share Option Plan') approved by shareholders of the Group on 4 June 2010.

The exercise price of the options of 41.37 pence per share was determined at the average mid-market price of the Company's common shares for the 30 trading days immediately prior to the date of grant. The options have a three years vesting period and are exercisable on or before the fifth anniversary of the date of grant, subject to certain exercise conditions with reference aligned to the Group's results and performance.

The number of options granted to date to the Group's management and employees represents about approximately 20% of the options currently available under the Share Option Plan.

About Cathay International Holdings Limited

Cathay International Holdings Limited (CIH), focused on the People's Republic of China (PRC), is an investment holding company and a leading investor in the growing healthcare sector in China. The Group now employs more than 2000 people across the PRC, including over 30 specialist corporate and business development staff based at the holding company's headquarters in Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

The Group aims to identify investment opportunities with emphasis on high growth healthcare markets and build them into market sector leaders, with a clear exit strategy. The Group has demonstrated a strong track record of identifying potential high-growth investment opportunities in this area, including: Lansen Group, a leading specialty pharmaceutical company focused on rheumatology and Haotian Group, a company engaged in the manufacture, marketing and sale of key active ingredients for healthcare products, including inositol. To complement its healthcare portfolio, CIH has an R&D business focused on bringing new products to the growing Chinese market.

The Group also has a private equity investment arm focused on minority investment opportunities and a hotel investment.