China's Nanshan Group has taken control of Air New Zealand's remaining shares in Virgin¹ Australia for 301.4 million Australian dollars, giving Chinese backed airlines a near one-third stake in Australia's second largest airline.

 

中国南山集团以3.014亿澳元购入新西兰航空公司在维珍澳洲航空公司的剩余股份，这使南山集团拥有了澳大利亚第二大航空公司近1/3的股份。

 

In a statement to the ASX on Friday, Virgin Australia said Air New Zealand has agreed to sell China's Nanshan Group 19.98 percent of its stake in the second ranked carrier for 33 Australian cents (24.48 U.S. cents) per share.

 

"We believe Nanshan Group will be a very strong, positive and complementary shareholder² for Virgin Australia," Air New Zealand chairman Tony Carter said in the statement.

 

"The sale will now allow Air New Zealand to focus on its own growth opportunities."

 

Virgin's shares shot up 6.07 percent, or 0.02 cents to 30 Australian cents (22.25 U.S. cents) by 11.10 local time (AEST).

 

In March, Air New Zealand flagged it was seeking to sell its 25.9 percent stake in Virgin Australia as questions continued over the airline's balance sheet.

 

The announcement was just days after Virgin Australia said it was seeking a 425 million Australian dollar (315.25 million U.S. dollars) cash facility from its four biggest shareholders³ at the time, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Etihad Airways⁴ and the Richard Branson owned Virgin Group.

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