EANS-Adhoc: Air Berlin PLC
Approval under Austrian competition law for
increase in shareholding in NIKI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ad-hoc disclosure pursuant to section 15 of the WpHG transmitted by euro adhoc with the aim of a Europe-wide distribution. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase in shareholding
07.05.2010
London, 07 May 2010 - Through the withdrawal of its request to the Cartel Court for an investigation with respect to the 25.9% indirect increase (from 24% to 49%) in Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG´s shareholding in Niki Luftfahrt GmbH as agreed among the Private Lauda Foundation (Privatstiftung Lauda), Air Berlin PLC and Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG, the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde) has approved this transaction under Austrian competition law. Today the Cartel Court has decided to close the relevant proceeding.
The clearance extends to the acquisition of the remaining 50.1% of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH's shares through Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG, if a loan to be issued by Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG to Private Lauda Foundation in connection with the above-mentioned transaction is settled by means of an indirect transfer of such 50.1% shareholding.
Completion of the entire transaction (see the Ad-hoc Notification dated February 17, 2010) remains inter alia subject to the granting of further anti-trust approvals.
Air Berlin PLC The Hour House 32 High Street Rickmansworth WD3 1ER Hertfordshire Great Britain WKN AB1000 (Share) on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Regulated Market, Prime Standard) WKN A0NQ9H (Convertible Bond 2007) Euro MTF Market on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange WKN A1ALH0 (Convertible Bond 2009) Open Market on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange
end of announcement euro adhoc --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Further inquiry note:
Ingolf Hegner
Head of Investor Relations
+49 (0)30 3434 1532
ihegner@airberlin.com
Branche: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
WKN: AB1000
Index: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
Börsen: Frankfurt / regulated dealing/prime standard
Berlin / free trade
Hamburg / free trade
Stuttgart / free trade
Düsseldorf / free trade
München / free trade
Original content of: Air Berlin PLC, transmitted by news aktuell