Following the announcement on 12 January 2024 of its expected intention to go public, Air Astana confirmed its intention to undertake an initial public offering of its GDRs internationally (Global Offer) and a concurrent offering of Shares and GDRs in Kazakhstan (the Domestic Offer, and together with the Global Offer, the Offering), and certain details of the Offering.
The Offering will comprise the sale of Shares and GDRs held by BAE Systems (Kazakhstan) Limited and Sovereign Wealth Fund Samruk-Kazyna Joint Stock Company (SK), in addition to new Shares and GDRs issued by the Company.
The Company intends to apply: (i) for the admission of the GDRs to the standard listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the LSE (the London Admission), and (ii) for the admission of the Shares and the GDRs to the official list of the AIX and to trading on the AIX (the AIX Admission). The Company has also made an application for the Shares to be admitted to the Premium category of the Shares sector of the Main market of the KASE and will apply for admission to trading on the KASE (the KASE Admission).
The final offer price in respect of the Offering, together with the maximum number of GDRs and Shares to be sold in the Offering, will be determined following a book-building process. The London Admission and AIX Admission are currently expected to occur in February 2024 and KASE Admission is expected to occur on or around the date of this announcement.
Peter Foster, Air Astana Group President and CEO, commented: “On behalf of the Company, I am delighted to formally confirm our intention to bring Air Astana Group to the public markets. As the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus, we are confident that our industry standing, market position and growth profile present a compelling investment opportunity. This is an important milestone in our long-term strategy and we look forward to welcoming new Kazakh and international investors as shareholders.”