BOC Aviation ends unchanged after raising HK$4.52 billion in Hong Kong debut

Asia’s largest aircraft lessor BOC Aviation made its trading debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange Wednesday, after raising HK$4.52 billion from cornerstone investors including Boeing.

The company’s shares ended the session unchanged at HK$42, equal to its offer price, after trading as much as 4.4 per cent higher during intraday trade.

The Bank of China subsidiary’s Hong Kong public offering was 38.6 times oversubscribed. A total of 31.23 million shares, or 15 per cent of its global offering, were alloted to Hong Kong investors after the addition of 15.6 million shares.

“There is plenty of demand for capital [in aircraft leasing], and we are delighted to lead Asian lessors to be able to raise that capital here in Asia rather than having to go to the New York Stock Exchange, which is what international competitors have done,” Robert Martin, managing director and chief executive of BOC Aviation, said.

He said the capital expenditure in the leasing aviation industry is expected to grow to US$120 billion in the next five years, from US$90 billion in 2015.

Headquartered in Singapore, BOC Aviation has a portfolio of 270 owned and managed aircraft leased to 62 airlines in 30 countries.