BP Makes Strategic Investment in China Aviation Oil (Singapore)

05 December 2005, BP Singapore announced today that it is to purchase 20 per cent of the equity in China Aviation Oil (Singapore) for some $US44 million.

The investment follows approval from the creditors of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) for the company to seek a strategic investor as part of the restructuring process prior to seeking re-listing on the Singapore Exchange.

Under the equity investment agreement, BP will appoint two directors to the Board of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) and have the ability to appoint staff to a key trading role and a key governance and control role.

“BP fully supports the restructuring plans for China Aviation Oil (Singapore) which will clear the way for China Aviation Oil to start afresh,” said Mike Bennetts, BP’s Regional Director for Supply and Trading. “In addition to the financial investment, we will be providing the company with corporate governance and supply and trading management systems to enable the re-listed company to trade profitably and create value for all its shareholders.”
Notes to Editors:

* China Aviation Oil (Singapore) is the Singapore Exchange (SGX) registered subsidiary of China Aviation Oil Holding Company (CAOHC) and a major importer of jet fuel into the Chinese market.
* The company decided to pursue a consensual debt and equity restructuring in late 2004 after derivative losses arising from unauthorised trading. Having agreed a Scheme of Arrangement with creditors in June 2005, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) is now nearing completion of its restructuring before seeking final approvals from regulatory bodies and minority shareholders to re-list the company on the Singapore Exchange.
* BP, which was a creditor of China Aviation Oil (Singapore), will still receive repayment of its outstanding debt under the agreed Scheme of Arrangement in the same way as the other creditors.
* BP Singapore is an important regional head office for BP in Asia, supporting a number of international businesses and the company’s integrated supply and trading division. Around 500 people are employed by BP Singapore.

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Wendy Silcock

Press Office

BP London

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