Today in the presence of Victor Khristenko, the Russian Minister of Industry and Trade, and Claudio Scajola, Minister of Economic Development, Republic of Italy, Mikhail Pogosyan, Director General of Sukhoi Holding, and Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Finmeccanica, have officially announced the completion of the acquisition of 25% + 1 share in the SCAC capital.

The value of the stock acquired by Alenia Aeronautica is of USD 183 mln (138 mln euro). This agreement makes the Sukhoi Superjet 100 Program the most relevant aviation partnership between Russia and Europe ever seen.

In 2007 Finmeccanica's company Alenia Aeronautica and Sukhoi Holding formed SuperJet International, a joint venture (51% - Alenia Aeronautica, and 49% - Sukhoi Holding) based in Venice, responsible for marketing, sales and aircraft delivery in Europe, North and South America, Africa, Japan and Oceania as well as for worldwide logistic support for the Sukhoi Superjet 100 regional aircraft family.

The Russian Certification of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft, which has to date received firm orders for 98 aircraft, is expected by the end of 2009, as well the delivery to the first customer.

Mikhail Pogosyan, Director General of Sukhoi Holding, notes, "The deal closed today means that the biggest alliance between Russia and Italy in the aircraft industry has been fully developed. Further on, Alenia Aeronautica, our strategic partner, will solidify the Sukhoi Superjet 100 market potential worldwide and will provide our product with distinct logistic support".

Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, Finmeccanica's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, notes: "This agreement is the first fundamental step for an ever broader collaboration between Finmeccanica, Sukhoi and the Russian industry in the aeronautics field and paves the way to more partnerships in other strategic industrial sectors".