Hong Kong – 24 June 2015 - China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (“CALC” or the “Group”, stock code: 01848.HK), the largest independent operating aircraft lessor in China, signed a memorandum of understanding with the administrative committee of Tianjin Dongjiang Free Trade Zone today, to deepen their cooperation in Tianjin Dongjiang Free Trade Zone (“DFTZ”).

The memorandum marks an extending cooperation between both parties, allowing CALC to leverage the competitive advantages of DFTZ in the favourable policy environment and industry resources, and promote the steady development of its aircraft leasing business and structure innovation. Mr. Zhang Aiguo, Director of Administrative Committee of DTFZ and Ms. Winnie Liu, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of CALC attended the signing ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong.

According to the memorandum, CALC will continue to expand its business scale in DFTZ, including by delivering an estimated total of 40 aircraft to its domestic and overseas airlines customers via the DFTZ platform between 2015 and 2018. The signing of the memorandum not only demonstrates the government’s recognition of CALC’s effort and achievement in advancing the aircraft leasing industry in China, it also shows the government’s strong support in CALC’s future development.

Through the Tianjin DFTZ platform, the two parties will deepen and strengthen their cooperation in the research and development of innovative business model of aircraft leasing industry in the domestic market; implement  the national "One Belt One Road" policy; and accelerate the internaionalisation of China’s aircraft leasing industry, aiming to develop DTFZ into an aircraft leasing center in China as well as the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition, Tianjin DFTZ will actively consider views and recommendations put forward by CALC, and assist in the implementation of relevant policies in order to promote the deepening reform and innovation of services and continue to provide CALC with stable and efficient government services.

In December 2010, CALC established China Asset Leasing Company Limited (“CALC Tianjin”) in DTFZ, the first foreign-owned aircraft leasing company which set up its subsidiary in the area. To date, CALC Tianjin has already set up 69 SPVs in DFTZ and has successfully delivered [43] aircraft to domestic airlines via the platform.

In the past four years, CALC has created a good number of unprecedented aircraft leasing models in customs, foreign exchange management and taxation, which served as practical examples to expedite the introduction and implementation of new policies through the Tianjin DFTZ platform. In September 2014, CALC won the "Innovative Deal of the Year Award – China's first aircraft leasing asset securitisation" for its successful completion of the aircraft leasing receivables realisation project in end of 2013. The award was presented in the Second China AirFinance Awards Ceremony co-organised by the Administrative Committee of Tianjin DTFZ and the General Aviation Sub-Association of China Air Transport Association. The accreditation was a solid recognition of the Group’s ability in business innovation by the industry as well as DFTZ.

Over the past five years, DFTZ has pioneered over 20 different innovative models in financing and leasing structures. The DFTZ made a number of breakthroughs in business models including China’s first aircraft leasing transaction in a free trade zone; the first successful borrowing of foreign loans by SPV for financing leasing transaction of large aircraft, and China's first aircraft leasing transactions transiting from a free trade zone. As of September 2014, there were more than 500 aircraft leasing companies registered in Tianjin DFTZ, cumulating a total of 409 aircraft deliveries. The number of aircraft deliveries in the DFTZ accounted for 90% of the number of aircraft imported to China, crowning the DFTZ the aircraft leasing center in China.

The signing ceremony was part of the merchant conference organised by Tianjin DFTZ in Hong Kong. The 3-day conference is hosted by Mr. Duan Chunhua, the Deputy Mayor of Tianjin, with the participation of Deputy Secretary General of Tianjin Municipal Government, and representatives from Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Tianjin Finance Bureau, Tianjin Customs, Binhai New Area Government, Free Trade Zone Management Commission, Donjiang Management Commission and other related government departments.

Looking forward, CALC will provide its airline customers with a wide range of leasing and structured finance products, and other financial services. The Group is committed to offering further advisory and recommendations to Tianjin DFTZ to facilitate the enhancement of its system and competitiveness, as well as the advancing of the internationalisation of Chinese aircraft leasing industry with DFTZ’s favorable policies. Meanwhile, CALC will also continue its business expansion on the DFTZ platform, and strive to create more innovative business and transaction models.