20 May 2024
Extension of Share and GDR Repurchase Programme to the London Stock Exchange
Almaty, Kazakhstan - Air Astana JSC (the "Company") announces that, pursuant to the decision of the Board of Directors of the Company taken on 14 May 2024, the buyback programme to purchase ordinary shares of the Company ("Shares") and global depositary receipts representing Shares ("GDRs") (the "Programme") has been extended to the London Stock Exchange ("LSE"), in addition to the JSC "Kazakhstan Stock Exchange" ("KASE") and the Astana International Exchange ("AIX") as announced on 30 April 2024.
As of 14 May 2024, the Company has purchased 112,530 shares and 4,651 GDRs (representing 18,604 shares) through JSC "Halyk Finance" ("Halyk"), as agent for the Company, on the KASE and AIX (leaving a balance of 4,655,666 Shares available for repurchase under the Programme in the form of Shares or GDRs through 8 February 2025).
The Company today announces that the engagement of Halyk has been extended to transactions over the LSE with respect to GDRs, on an execution basis only, as agent for and in the name of the Company. All purchases will be executed in accordance with the rules of the relevant exchanges and in compliance with the applicable market abuse legislation.
The Company intends to continue to announce the results of its Programme on a regular basis.
This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or any solicitation of an offer for securities in any jurisdiction. None of the Company or any brokers engaged by the Company for the purposes of the Programme or their affiliates (or their respective directors, employees, agents or advisors) makes any recommendation as to whether or not shareholders or holders of GDRs should sell any or all of their Shares or GDRs. The shareholders and holders of GDRs are recommended to seek their own financial advice regarding participation in the Programme from their broker(s), investment manager(s), legal advisor(s), accountant(s), custodian(s) or other appropriately authorised independent financial advisor(s). Any individual or company whose Shares and/or GDRs are held on its behalf by a broker, dealer, bank, custodian, trust company or other nominee must contact such entity if they wish to take part in the Programme.
For further information, please visit ir.airastana.com or contact:
| Air Astana Irina Martinez Head of Investor Relations +7 727 258 41 36 | Air Astana Bella Tormysheva Vice-President Corporate Communications +7 727 258 41 35 | Instinctif Partners Joe Quinlan Vivian Lai +44 20 7457 2020 |
About the Company
The Company is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions by revenue and fleet size. The Company operates a fleet of 52 aircraft split between Air Astana, its full-service airline that operated its inaugural flight in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019. The Company provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Middle East, India and Europe. In 2023, Air Astana was recognised eleven times in a row as the "Best Airline in Central Asia and CIS" at the Skytrax World Airline Awards and received a five-star rating in the major airline category by the APEX. FlyArystan was also awarded the Skytrax Award for "Best low-cost carrier in Central Asia and CIS" for the first time, and is one of the twelve Skytrax 4-Star airlines globally. The Company is listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange and London Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: AIRA).
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