SMBC and HK Aviation vying for Awas aircraft

[HONG KONG] SMBC Aviation Capital and Hong Kong Aviation Capital are among bidders for aircraft assets being sold by Terra Firma Capital Partners' plane lessor Awas Aviation Capital, said people familiar with the matter.

Dublin-based Awas (in June 2004, Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services officially changed its name to Awas) has asked for second-round bids for about 100 newer aircraft from its fleet that it's selling for as much as US$5 billion, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified as the process is private.

SMBC Aviation, controlled by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, and Hong Kong Aviation, the plane lessor whose shareholders include China's HNA Group, are vying with Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing's Cheung Kong Holdings for the assets.