China Duty Free Group to acquire 100% of shares of China CTS Asset Operations Corporation

CHINA. China Duty Free Group (CDFG) announced today (15 December) that it is taking a 100% stake in China CTS Asset Operations Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of CDFG’s majority shareholder, China Tourism Group. The transaction amount is CNY126,482,089.23 (US$19.8 million).

According to the rules governing the listing of stocks on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, this transaction constitutes a connected transaction and not a major asset restructuring. It therefore does not require review & approval byshareholders’ meetings.

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CDFG said that the transaction is aimed at further enhancing its competitive advantage and mitigating competition with its majority shareholder, China Tourism Group. It will help create business synergy, consolidate duty free resources, and achieve sound, sustainable business growth, CDFG pointed out.

The move is the result of China Tourism Group’s commitment in September 2016 to mitigate peer competition and minimise and eventually eliminate business overlap between China Tourism Group and CDFG by 26 December, 2021.

Before the transaction, China CTS Asset Operations Corporation could bid for the right to nationwide duty free business operations in China, which could create potential competition with CDFG. In addition, China CTS Asset Operations Corporation also holds a licence for operating foreign exchange duty free stores (i.e. downtown duty free stores where customers can purchase duty free goods after returning home from abroad), which is complimentary to CDFG’s existing businesses.

The transaction will be non-public, agreement-based, and funded by CDFG’s proprietary funding. The agreement between China Duty Free Group and China Tourism Group Investment and Asset Management was signed on 14 December.

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