The Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) on Thursday warned that Vietnam Airlines (HVN) could be delisted if an audit proves the company has logged an operating loss for three consecutive years.

In its warning, the HoSE cited the firm’s consolidated financial statement for the last quarter of 2022 in which Vietnam Airlines posted an accumulated loss of nearly VND34.2 trillion (US$1.46 billion) in 2022. 

The carrier also reported that its equity was negative VND10.2 trillion ($435.4 million) last year.

According to the Law on Securities, the stock of a public company must be delisted if it suffers annual operating losses for three consecutive years, if its accumulated losses exceed its charter capital, or if its equity is negative.

As such, if Vietnam Airlines' audited consolidated financial statement for 2022 shows a loss, it will be the firm’s third consecutive year of operational losses and its ticker will be delisted, the HoSE warned. 

On June 1, 2022, the HoSE issued a decision to put HVN into 'under control' status after the firm released a report on its accumulated losses and negative equity. 

In its most recent quarterly consolidated financial statement, Vietnam Airlines attempted to explain its operating losses, noting that it has implemented a series of short- and long-term solutions during the past year to minimize damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also declared that it was adding more capital and increasing its operational cash flow.

However, due to the slow recovery of the international aviation market, negative factors such as high fuel prices, ongoing global conflicts, and increased fluctuations in exchange and interest rates, the national carrier continued to suffer losses in both the fourth quarter and the whole of 2022.

Nonetheless, Vietnam Airlines expressed its belief that the global aviation market would gradually recover from the last quarter of 2022 and that the firm will have a better 2023.

Vietnam Airlines has decided to completely restructure itself for the 2021-25 period in a move that was approved by shareholders and relevant agencies. 

“The corporation believes that its business activities have gradually stabilized and is preparing for recovery and development in the near future,” the airline claimed.

HVN now trades at around VND13,200 ($0.56) per share, down 11 percent just this month.

In January 2022, HVN was trading at VND27,300 ($1.16) per share.

Established in 1995, Vietnam Airlines has 19 subsidiaries and two affiliates.

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