SMBC Aviation Capital Ltd. and Hong Kong Aviation Capital Co. are among bidders for aircraft assets being sold by Dublin-based lessors AWAS.
AWAS has asked for second-round bids for around 100 newer aircraft from its fleet.
SMBC and HKAC are competing with Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd. for the assets. Cheung Kong stated on August 4th that it had submitted a preliminary offer for the aircraft.
Earlier this year, CEO Ray Sisson said AWAS’s assets are valued at about $11 billion, and are expected to increase to as much as $17 billion in 2016.
Asian leasing companies are boosting their fleets as the region is set to overtake the US as the world’s largest aircraft market, spurred by demand from China, India and Southeast Asia. Last month, the Chinese government said it will encourage Chinese leasing companies to look for opportunities overseas.