Fosun retail unit Yuyuan sets up US$6.4 billion firm to invest in airlines

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Yuyuan’s shares rise by the daily limit amid speculation that its aviation investment company would target Hainan Airlines

Retailer will contribute 10 billion yuan, while the rest of the capital will be provided by unnamed partners

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Shops operated by Yuyuan in downtown Shanghai. The new entity will be called Yuyuan Aviation Industry Limited Partnership, according to its filing on Thursday. Photo: Getty Images

Daniel Ren

Published: 6:00pm, 20 May 2021Updated: 6:00pm, 20 May 2021

Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart Group, a leading retailer in China controlled by conglomerate Fosun International is setting up a 40 billion yuan (US$6.4 billion) company that will invest in airlines.

The retailer said in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Thursday that it would shell out up to 10 billion yuan to establish the business. The rest of the capital will be contributed by unnamed partners. The new entity will be called Yuyuan Aviation Industry Limited Partnership, according to the filing.

Yuyuan’s shares rose by the daily limit of 10 per cent to 13.08 yuan on Thursday amid speculation that its aviation investment company would target Hainan Airlines.

“The announcement fuelled expectations that Yuyuan, or its parent Fosun, would be interested in buying Hainan Airlines’ assets,” said Ivan Li, a fund manager at Shanghai-based Loyal Wealth Management. “But Hainan Airlines may not be able to boost Yuyuan’s earnings because it is unprofitable.”

Hainan Airlines, China’s fourth-largest airline, is seeking new capital injection to avoid liquidation. At the end of last month, the carrier, which is owned by debt-ridden HNA Group, reported a loss of 64 billion yuan for 2020, or 3.83 yuan per share. Its operations have been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, and in the first quarter of this year, the Haikou-based company posted a loss of 2.6 billion yuan.

Shares of Hainan Airlines jumped on Thursday amid speculation that Yuyuan’s aviation investment company would target its assets. Photo: Reuters

Fosun retail unit Yuyuan sets up US$6.4 billion firm to invest in airlines

Yuyuan’s shares rise by the daily limit amid speculation that its aviation investment company would target Hainan Airlines Retailer will contribute 10 billion yuan, while the rest of the capital will be provided by unnamed partners

Yuyuan’s shares rise by the daily limit amid speculation that its aviation investment company would target Hainan Airlines

Retailer will contribute 10 billion yuan, while the rest of the capital will be provided by unnamed partners