海航斥资4.5亿美元入股巴西廉价航空公司

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.

中国海航集团(HNA Group)周一以4.5亿美元购入巴西低成本航空公司蓝色航空(Azul)近24%股权，成为最新一家利用巴西雷亚尔大幅贬值和公司估值下滑的机会，投资于拉美最大经济体的公司。海航的业务遍及银行业至航空业。

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个月前，蓝色航空取消了首次公开发行(IPO)计划，但没有透露取消的原因，不过不断恶化的市场状况最有可能是原因之一。该航空公司由JetBlue创始人大卫尼勒曼(David Neeleman)创建。

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.

尽管一些巴西公司（例如肉类加工商JBS）受益于雷亚尔大幅贬值，但与其他巴西航空公司一样，蓝色航空正受到燃油价格上涨（价格以美元计）和国内需求较为疲弱的双重打击。

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

尼勒曼表示，海航此次入股对蓝色航空的估值为19亿美元，将增强蓝色航空的资产负债表。

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.

对于海航而言，这笔交易将令其更好地利用中国蓬勃发展的海外旅游市场。海航拥有14家航空公司，共运营561架飞机。

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.

海航总裁谭向东(Adam Tan)表示：“我们很高兴与蓝色航空合作，这将给我们往来巴西的客户带来更多选择和便利。”