HNA Group

History

In 1993, Chen Feng established Hainan Airlines on behalf of Hainan Provincial People's Government. Following a restructuring of the airline in 1997, Feng founded HNA Group, Co., Ltd. as the parent company of Hainan Airlines in January 2000. Following the CAAC's creation of three major airline groups in early 2000s, HNA Group took control of China Xinhua Airlines, Chang An Airlines, and Shanxi Airlines to remain competitive.

Since then, the group has undergone great diversification, entering multiple industries such as tourism and logistics. It has also significantly expanded its involvement with both national and international companies. These include several airlines, NH Hotel Group, Uber, and an office tower and a hotel in New York City. HNA Group has spent more than US$3 billion on foreign acquisitions. It intends to be one of the top 50 companies in the world by 2030.

On February 18, 2016, HNA Group was reported to reach an agreement with Ingram Micro Inc, a California-based technology distributor for $6 billion, in the largest Chinese takeover of a US information technology company. HNA Group was then advised by China International Capital Corporation in the transaction.

Entities

HNA Group is composed of five core industries: HNA Aviation, HNA Holdings, HNA Capital, HNA Tourism, and HNA Logistics.

HNA Aviation

HNA Aviation is affiliated with multiple Chinese airlines. These include the following:

The group also has stakes in some carriers based outside China, including Africa World Airlines, Aigle Azur (48%), Azul Brazilian Airlines (23.7%), Comair (6.2%), MyCargo Airlines and a pending stake in Virgin Australia (13%).

On 18 January 2016, HNA Aviation formed the world's first alliance of low-cost carriers, U-FLY Alliance. While the founding members of the alliance—HK Express, Lucky Air, Urumqi Air, and West Air—are all affiliated with HNA Aviation, the alliance is also open to airlines not within HNA Group.

Other entities

HNA Holdings is involved in real estate and the retailing industry. Subgroup HNA Airport Group operates 16 airports across China, including the airports in Haikou, Sanya, Weifang, Dongying, Yichang, Anqing, and Yingkou.

HNA Capital deals with financial services and investment banking. It has over 30 member companies, such as Bohai Trust.

HNA Tourism is involved in the tourism industry. Subgroup HNA Hospitality Group operates several resorts, business hotels, boutique hotels, and the Tangla hotel chain.

HNA Logistics is engaged with shipbuilding, marine cargo transport, air cargo, and other elements of logistics.

Subsidiaries

Equity investments

Shareholders

HNA Group is 70% owned by Hainan Traffic Administration Holding (Chinese: 海南交管控股) and 30% by Yangpu Jianyun Investments (Chinese: 洋浦建运投资). The latter was 100% owned by Hainan Airlines Trade Union; Hainan Traffic Administration Holding was 50% owned by Tang Dynasty Development (Yangpu) (Chinese: 盛唐发展(洋浦)), 25% by Yangpu Hengsheng Chuangye (Chinese: 洋浦恒升创业) and 25% by Yangpu Zhongxin Airlines Holding (Chinese: 洋浦中新航空实业), which Yangpu Zhongxin Airlines Holding was also owned by Hainan Airlines Trade Union; Tang Dynasty Development (Yangpu) was 65% owned by Hainan Province Cihang Foundation and 35% by Hong Kong incorporated company Tang Dynasty Development; Tang Dynasty Development was 98% owned by Pan-American Aviation Holding and 2% owned by Hainan Airlines; Pan-American Aviation Holding was 100% owned by Bharat Bhisé (later transferred to Jun Guan); Yangpu Hengsheng Chuangye was owned by HK incorporated company Headstreams Investment, which was 98% owned by Bharat Bhisé in 2004.

To sum up, the charity foundation and Hainan Airlines Trade Union were the major shareholders of HNA Group, it was followed by Bharat Bhisé / Jun Guan as minority shareholders.