HNA Group and Azul Brazilian Airlines Form Long Term Strategic Partnership
24-Nov-2015 HNA Group Company Limited ("HNA Group") and Azul Brazilian Airlines ("Azul") today announced a new strategic partnership. HNA Group will acquire a 23.7% stake in Azul, Brazil's third largest airline, aiming to benefit from substantial passenger traffic between China and Brazil, which are strong global trade partners. HNA Group will assume the role of single largest shareholder of Azul, and will appoint new members to the board of directors.
Through the partnership, the companies will cooperate in the development of code sharing, new route development, and expand the loyalty participation programs.
This global partnership joins together two of the largest players in two of the fastest-growing aviation markets in the world. Azul is the largest airline in Brazil by number of cities served, offering more than 900 daily flights to more than 100 destinations. With a fleet of 145 aircraft Azul operates approximately one-third of the daily departures of the Brazilian aviation market. HNA Group owns the fourth largest airline group in terms of fleet size in the People's Republic of China and operates a fleet of 561 aircrafts. It operates scheduled domestic and international service on more than 630 routes from locations throughout the People's Republic of China and internationally.
Bravia Capital, a leading global transportation and infrastructure investment and advisory firm, and UBS Investment Bank served as financial advisor to HNA Group. Seabury Securities LLC, Seabury Group's investment banking unit, served as financial advisor to Azul.
"HNA Group is committed to expanding in the airline industry through strategic investments in companies with strong market positions and excellent management teams. We are pleased to partner with Azul in order to bring more choice and convenience to our customers traveling to and from Brazil. We eagerly look forward to working with Azul founder David Neeleman and his team for the mutual benefit of both airlines," said Adam Tan, President of HNA Group.
David Neeleman, CEO of Azul, said "HNA Group sees in Azul a solid investment with high growth potential. The USD $450 million investment, considering Brazil's current macroeconomic situation, demonstrates that we have a winning business model and that the HNA Group, as a large investor, has absolute confidence in Azul's team. Moreover, this investment makes Azul the airline with the highest valuation in the Brazilian market, at more than R$ 7.0 billion."
Bharat Bhise, CEO of Bravia Capital, said "China and Brazil are important trading partners, and Azul and HNA Group each have very strong positions as passenger carriers in their respective markets. Bravia is pleased to bring to HNA Group an opportunity for strategic expansion into the largest economy in Latin America."
Azul Brazilian Airlines to Receive Record Investment of US$ 450 Million From HNA Group
24-Nov-2015
24-Nov-2015 Azul Brazilian Airlines to Receive Record Investment of US$ 450 Million From HNA Group
- HNA Group will hold a 23.7% economic stake in Azul
- With this equity raise, Azul will have one of the strongest balance sheets in Latin America
Countering the headwinds of the current Brazilian economic crisis, Azul Brazilian Airlines announces today an important milestone that positions it as an even stronger and more competitive airline. The Chinese international conglomerate HNA Group has selected Azul as its primary strategic investment in Latin America.
In one of the largest equity investments in a Brazilian company this year, Azul received a firm commitment from HNA Group, subject to completion of certain conditions precedent, for the investment of US$ 450 million in exchange for an economic stake of 23.7%. As a result, HNA Group will be Azul's newest shareholder and board member. With this equity raise, Azul will have one of the strongest balance sheets in Latin America.
Over the past 20 years, HNA Group has successfully transformed itself from a traditional aviation company to a global conglomerate spanning the aviation, real estate, finance, tourism, and logistics sectors, with revenues of US$ 21 billion and over 110 thousand employees.
HNA Group has a solid experience with aircraft lessors and has recently invested in Swissport, a renowned global aviation handling company. Within its aviation group, HNA owns 14 airlines with a total fleet of 561 aircraft.
According to David Neeleman, CEO of Azul, the Chinese group saw in Azul a solid investment with high growth potential. "The investment of US$ 450 million investment, considering Brazil's current macroeconomic situation, demonstrates that we have a winning business model and that the HNA Group, as a large investor, has absolute confidence in Azul's team. Moreover, this investment makes Azul the airline with the highest valuation in the Brazilian market, at US$ 1.9 billion."
"HNA Group is committed to expanding in the airline industry through strategic investments in companies with strong market positions and excellent management teams. We are pleased to partner with Azul in order to bring more choice and convenience to our customers traveling to and from Brazil. We eagerly look forward to working with Azul founder David Neeleman and his team for the mutual benefit of both airlines," said Adam Tan, President of HNA Group.
This investment will bring significant benefits to Azul including a stronger cash position, support for its fleet plan, product and service improvements. Moreover, the partnership between Azul and HNA Group will result in commercial agreements, joint negotiation efforts, and adjustments in aircraft allocation. Finally, it also enables the company's entry into the Asian market.
Seabury Securities LLC, Seabury Group's investment banking unit, served as financial advisor to Azul.
海航集團與巴西藍色航空訂立長期策略夥伴協議
24-Nov-2015
海航集團與巴西藍色航空 (Azul Brazilian Airlines) 今天宣布訂立新的策略夥伴協議。據此，海航集團將收購巴西第三大航空公司藍色航空23.7%權益，以期受惠於中國與巴西這兩名強大全球貿易夥伴的龐大乘客 量。海航航空將成為藍色航空的單一最大股東，並將委任新成員加入董事會。
根據協議，雙方將合作發展航班共享、開發新航線及擴大飛行常客計劃。
是 次訂立全球夥伴協議標誌著全球兩個最迅速增長的航空市場內兩家最大航空企業的合作。以航點數目計算，藍色航空是巴西最大的航空公司，每日有逾900航班來 往超過100個地點。公司營運的機隊達145架飛機，佔巴西航空市場每日離境航班約三分之一。而海航集團擁有中國第四大航空集團， 旗下超過561架飛機經營逾630條來往中國與全球各地的本地及國際航線。
有關交易由全球領先運輸及基建投資及顧問公司Bravia Capital安排，瑞銀投資銀行則為海航集團的顧問。
「海 航集團致力在航空業擴展業務，策略性投資於擁有強大市場地位和優秀管理團隊的公司。我們很高興與藍色航空合作，為往來巴西的顧客提供更多選擇和更便利的服 務。我們熱切期待與藍色航空創辦人David Neeleman及其團隊攜手合作，令兩家航空公司互惠互利。」海航集團總裁譚向東先生表示。
藍 色航空行政總裁David Neeleman表示：「海航集團認為藍色航空具有龐大增長潛力，因此視這次收購為一項穩固的投資。在巴西目前的宏觀經濟狀況下，是項價值四億五千萬美元 的投資顯示出我們擁有成功的業務模式，而作為重要投資者的海航集團亦對藍色航空的團隊充滿信心。此外，是項投資造就藍色航空成為巴西市場內估值最高的航空 公司，達到70億雷亞爾。」
「中國與巴西是重要的貿易夥伴，而藍色航空與海航集團在各自的客機市場中佔據強大地位。Bravia很高興為海航集團帶來策略性擴展至拉丁美洲最大經濟體系的機會。」Bravia Capital行政總裁Bharat Bhise表示。
海航集团与巴西蓝色航空订立长期策略伙伴协议
24-Nov-2015
海航集团与巴西蓝色航空(Azul Brazilian Airlines) 今天宣布订立新的策略伙伴协议。据此，海航集团将收购巴西第三大航空公司蓝色航空23.7%权益，以期受惠于中国与巴西这两名强大全球贸易伙伴的庞大乘客 量。海航航空将成为蓝色航空的单一最大股东，并将委任新成员加入董事会。
根据协议，双方将合作发展航班共享、开发新航线及扩大飞行常客计划。
是 次订立全球伙伴协议标志着全球两个最迅速增长的航空市场内两家最大航空企业的合作。以航点数目计算，蓝色航空是巴西最大的航空公司，每日有逾900航 班来往超过100个地点。公司营运的机队达145架飞机，占巴西航空市场每日离境航班约三分之一。而海航集团拥有中国第四大航空集团， 旗下超过561架飞机经营逾630条来往中国与全球各地的本地及国际航线。
有关交易由全球领先运输及基建投资及顾问公司Bravia Capital安排，瑞银投资银行则为海航集团的顾问。
「海 航集团致力在航空业扩展业务，策略性投资于拥有强大市场地位和优秀管理团队的公司。我们很高兴与蓝色航空合作，为往来巴西的顾客提供更多选择和更便利的服 务。我们热切期待与蓝色航空创办人David Neeleman及其团队携手合作，令两家航空公司互惠互利。」海航集团总裁谭向东先生表示。
蓝 色航空行政总裁David Neeleman表示：「海航集团认为蓝色航空具有庞大增长潜力，因此视这次收购为一项稳固的投资。在巴西目前的宏观经济状况下，是项价值四亿五千万 美元的投资显示出我们拥有成功的业务模式，而作为重要投资者的海航集团亦对蓝色航空的团队充满信心。此外，是项投资造就蓝色航空成为巴西市场内估值最高的 航空公司，达到70亿雷亚尔。」
「中国与巴西是重要的贸易伙伴，而蓝色航空与海航集团在各自的客机市场中占据强大地位。Bravia很高兴为海航集团带来策略性扩展至拉丁美洲最大经济体系的机会。」Bravia Capital行政总裁Bharat Bhise表示。