HNA mulls sale of Swiss aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics, potentially raising US$1 billion
- HNA Group has engaged an adviser on the potential disposal of its 80 per cent stake in SR Technics
- Beleaguered Chinese group bought into the aircraft maintenance firm in 2016
- HNA has further reduced its stake in Deutsche Bank AG to 6.3 per cent, raising US$410 million
HNA Group, the embattled Chinese conglomerate, is exploring options for Swiss aircraft-maintenance firm SR Technics including a potential sale, people familiar with the matter said.
The Chinese group, which grew out of an airline on tropical Hainan island, is working with an adviser on the potential disposal, the people said. HNA’s 80 per cent stake in SR Technics could be valued at US$700 million to US$1 billion, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter is private.
Though HNA began its selling spree with sales of property and other peripheral businesses, the Chinese conglomerate has started unloading assets close to its core aviation operations. As it seeks to trim one of China’s biggest debt piles, HNA is aiming to sell airport-cargo handler Swissport International as well as container-leasing business Seaco.
SR Technics business could be hurt as the airlines it services face increasing pressure, according to one of the people. Air Berlin Plc, one of SR Technics’s customers, filed for insolvency last year amid fierce competition and volatile oil prices.
No final decision has been made, and HNA could still decide to pursue other options for SR Technics or retain its ownership of the company, the people said. Representatives for HNA and SR Technics declined to comment.
Based in Zurich airport, SR Technics has more than 3,000 employees globally and provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services for airframes, engines and components, its website shows.
HNA bought its controlling stake in the company from Mubadala Development Co. in 2016 for an undisclosed sum, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The Abu Dhabi government-backed investment fund retains the remaining stake.
In a related development, HNA continued to reduce its stake in Deutsche Bank AG, as the Chinese conglomerate prepares to exit one of its most high-profile purchases.
HNA’s C-Quadrat unit exercised options to sell 26.8 million Deutsche Bank shares for 363.4 million euros (), reducing its ownership to 6.3 per cent, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The shares were sold at prices ranging from 11.45 euros to 16.70 euros apiece, far above current market prices, because the Chinese group had hedged its investment in Deutsche Bank with put options. Deutsche Bank shares closed at 7.752 euros in Frankfurt on Friday.
Since last year, the Chinese conglomerate has agreed to sell more than US$20 billion of assets ranging from property to big shareholdings.
HNA plans to dispose of its entire stake in Germany’s largest lender, people briefed on the matter have said. The Chinese group once held almost 10 per cent of Deutsche Bank. In July of last year C-Quadrat transferred options on more than 26 million of its Deutsche Bank shares to JPMorgan Securities Plc.
HNA has long been a controversial shareholder for Deutsche Bank. Former CEO John Cryan initially refused to meet with its executives, people familiar said at the time. He eventually relented when the issue fuelled tensions with Deutsche Bank chairman Paul Achleitner, who was personally involved in wooing the investor.
