Bank of East Asia : Grant of Share Options (7th April, 2017)

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東亞銀行有限公司

(Incorporated in Hong Kong with limited liability in 1918)

(Stock Code: 23)

On 7th April, 2017, the Bank granted 6,400,000 share options to subscribe for Shares to certain Eligible Persons (as defined in the rules of the 2016 Scheme), out of which 2,000,000 share options were granted to the Chairman & Chief Executive and

650,000 share options to each of the two Executive Directors & Deputy Chief Executives of the Bank.

This announcement is made pursuant to Rule 17.06A of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

The Board of Directors of The Bank of East Asia, Limited (the "Bank") announces that on 7th April, 2017, the Bank granted 6,400,000 share options to subscribe for ordinary shares of the Bank ("Shares") under its Staff Share Option Scheme adopted on 19th April, 2016 (the "2016 Scheme") to certain Eligible Persons (as defined in the rules of the 2016 Scheme). Details of such grant are set out below:

Date of grant : 7th April, 2017 Exercise price of share options granted : HK$32.25 per Share Number of share options granted : 6,400,000

Closing price of the Shares on the date of grant

: HK$31.95 per Share

Validity period of the share options : (i) First tranche (not more than one

third of the share options) is exercisable from 7th April, 2018 to 7th April, 2023

1. Second tranche (not more than one third of the share options) is exercisable from 7th April, 2019 to 7th April, 2024

2. Third tranche (the remaining balance of the share options) is exercisable from 7th April, 2020 to 7th April, 2025

Out of the 6,400,000 share options granted:

1. 2,000,000 share options were granted to Dr. the Hon. Sir David LI Kwok-po, Chairman & Chief Executive of the Bank;

2. 650,000 share options were granted to Mr. Adrian David LI Man-kiu,

   Executive Director & Deputy Chief Executive of the Bank; and

3. 650,000 share options were granted to Mr. Brian David LI Man-bun, Executive Director & Deputy Chief Executive of the Bank.

The granting of the share options to the Chairman & Chief Executive and the two Executive Directors & Deputy Chief Executives were approved by all the Independent Non-executive Directors of the Bank.

By Order of the Board Alson LAW Chun-tak Company Secretary

Hong Kong, 7th April, 2017.

As at the date of this announcement, the Board of Directors of the Bank comprises Dr. the Hon. Sir David LI Kwok-po# (Chairman & Chief Executive), Professor Arthur LI Kwok- cheung* (Deputy Chairman), Dr. Allan WONG Chi-yun** (Deputy Chairman), Mr. Aubrey LI Kwok-sing*, Mr. Winston LO Yau-lai**, Mr. Richard LI Tzar-kai**, Mr. Stephen Charles LI Kwok-sze*, Mr. KUOK Khoon-ean**, Dr. Isidro FAINÉ CASAS*, Dr. Peter LEE Ka-kit*, Mr. Adrian David LI Man-kiu# (Deputy Chief Executive), Mr. Brian David LI Man-bun# (Deputy Chief Executive), Dr. Daryl NG Win-kong**, Mr. Masayuki OKU*, Dr. the Hon. Rita FAN HSU Lai-tai**, Mr. Meocre LI Kwok-wing**, Dr. the Hon. Henry TANG Ying-yen**, The Hon. CHAN Kin-por** and Dr Delman LEE**.

# Executive Director

* Non-executive Director

** Independent Non-executive Director