海航斥資4.5億美元入股巴西廉價航空公司

The Chinese conglomerate, whose business interests span banking to aviation, has just snapped up a near 24 per cent stake in Brazilian low-cost carrier Azul for $450m.

中國海航集團(HNA Group)週一以4.5億美元購入巴西低成本航空公司藍色航空(Azul)近24%股權，成爲最新一家利用巴西雷亞爾大幅貶值和公司估值下滑的機會，投資於拉美最大經濟體的公司。海航的業務遍及銀行業至航空業。

The deal comes just three months after Azul pulled plans for an initial public offering. The airline - created by JetBlue founder David Neeleman - did not give a reason for the cancellation, but deteriorating market conditions most likely played a role.

就在3個月前，藍色航空取消了首次公開發行(IPO)計劃，但沒有透露取消的原因，不過不斷惡化的市場狀況最有可能是原因之一。該航空公司由JetBlue創始人大衛尼勒曼(David Neeleman)創建。

Although some Brazilian companies - such as meat processor JBS - have benefitted from the sharp depreciation in the real, Azul, like other Brazilian carriers, are being hit by a double whammy of higher fuel costs (which are priced in dollars) and weaker domestic demand.

儘管一些巴西公司（例如肉類加工商JBS）受益於雷亞爾大幅貶值，但與其他巴西航空公司一樣，藍色航空正受到燃油價格上漲（價格以美元計）和國內需求較爲疲弱的雙重打擊。

Mr Neeleman said HNA's investment values Azul at $1.9bn and will strengthen the company's balance sheet.

尼勒曼表示，海航此次入股對藍色航空的估值爲19億美元，將增強藍色航空的資產負債表。

For HNA, which owns 14 airlines with a total fleet of 561 aircraft, the deal would allow it to better tap into China's booming overseas travel market.

對於海航而言，這筆交易將令其更好地利用中國蓬勃發展的海外旅遊市場。海航擁有14家航空公司，共運營561架飛機。

Adam Tan, president of HNA Group, said: We are pleased to partner with Azul in order to bring more choice and convenience to our customers traveling to and from Brazil.

海航總裁譚向東(Adam Tan)表示：“我們很高興與藍色航空合作，這將給我們往來巴西的客戶帶來更多選擇和便利。”