EANS-News: Air Berlin PLC / Air Berlin intensifies its cooperation with NIKI and increases its participation

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Corporate news transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer/originator is solely
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London/Berlin (euro adhoc) - Air Berlin PLC announces an increase of its
participation in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH. The contracts were notarized on 17
February 2010. Air Berlin PLC and its subsidiary Air Berlin PLC & Co.
Luftverkehrs KG have contractually agreed with the Privatstiftung Lauda (private
Lauda foundation) that Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG will indirectly
acquire 25.9 percent of the shares of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH and thereby increase
its current participation in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH from 24 to 49.9 percent. The
purchase price for the shares is EUR 21 million.

In connection with the increase of its participation, Air Berlin PLC & Co.
Luftverkehrs KG will grant the private Lauda foundation a EUR 40.5 million loan.
The private foundation has the option to repay the loan in three years, either
in cash, or through the transfer of the remaining 50.1 percent of NIKI Luftfahrt
GmbH´s shares.

Andreas Nikolaus (Niki) Lauda will remain at NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH's disposal for
at least another three years. The implementation of the measures described above
remains subject to receiving the necessary anti-trust approvals. NIKI Luftfahrt
GmbH will be fully consolidated within the Air Berlin Group. NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH
will remain a legally independent company with its own management. The "NIKI"
brand will continue to exist in the foreseeable future.

Joachim Hunold, CEO of Air Berlin PLC, commented on the increased participation,
as follows: "Following years of successful cooperation and partnership with
NIKI, the increase of Air Berlin's participation is a logical development.
NIKI's network complements Air Berlin's network very well. For Air Berlin, the
Vienna hub opens up an additional access to the fast-growing markets of Eastern
Europe."

Ulf Hüttmeyer, CFO of Air Berlin PLC, added: "The increase of Air Berlin's
participation in the profitable NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH which - counter to the trend
witnessed in the airline sector - continued to expand in the past year and can
show respectable financial figures, increases the value of Air Berlin."

Niki Lauda, the founder and Chairman of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH, commented on the
participation, as follows: "It is important to me that we can provide NIKI with
a broad base for future growth. The intensified cooperation with Air Berlin will
make us more profitable, more efficient and more attractive to the passengers."

NIKI's integration into the Air Berlin Group increases Air Berlin's fleet size
by eleven aircraft. Based on the provisional figures for the 2009 business year,
the number of passengers transported by the Air Berlin Group will increase by
2.6 million - at a fleet capacity utilization rate of 77 percent. According to
the provisional figures, NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH achieved a revenue of EUR 260.2
million (i.e. an increase of 17 percent over the previous year) and an EBIT
(Earnings before interest and taxes) of EUR 23.1 million, i.e. an increase of 71
percent over the 2008 business year.

For the current business year, NIKI has planned an expansion of its network. The
planned connections include Sofia, Bucharest, Copenhagen and Nice. Additional
flight routes to Olbia/Cagliari, Belgrade and Barcelona complement Air Berlin's
existing flight network.

Further inquiry note:
Hans-Christoph Noack
Director Corporate Communications Air Berlin
phone: + 49 30 3434 1500
fax: + 49 30 3434 1509
e-mail: [email protected]
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Air Berlin PLC
The Hour House, High Street 32
UK-WD3 1ER Rickmansworth, Herts
phone: +49 (0)30 3434 1500
FAX: +49 (0)30/3434-1049
mail: [email protected]
WWW: http://www.airberlin.com
sector: Air Transport
ISIN: GB00B128C026
indexes: SDAX, Classic All Share, Prime All Share
stockmarkets: regulated dealing/prime standard: Frankfurt, free trade: Berlin,
Hamburg, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, München
language: English

Digitale Pressemappe: http://www.ots.at/pressemappe/EASY_12274

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