AviChina Faced New Opportunites through Substantial Investment in Defense Stock

Friday, 23 May 2014, 15:20 HKT/SGT

HONG KONG, May 23, 2014 - (ACN Newswire) - AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited ("AviChina") (Stock: 2357.HK) earlier announced its largest-ever single investment together with China AVIC Avionics Equipment Co., Ltd., its non-wholly-owned subsidiary, in Sichuan Chengfei Integration Technology Co., Ltd's ("CITC") major assets restructuring. The two companies will subscribe for 100,300,000 shares and 33,100,000 new shares of CITC, respectively, at a consideration of not more than RMB1.665 billion and RMB550 million in cash. Upon completion, AviChina will hold a total of 8.45% equity interest in CITC, the largest share among Aviation Industry Corporation of China's affiliated enterprises which participated in this subscription. The major assets restructuring plan as disclosed by CITC includes purchasing the entire stakes in the three target enterprises, i.e. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Jiangxi Hongdu Technology Corporation Limited owned by AVIC, China Huarong Asset Management Co., Ltd. and HONGDU Aviation Industry Group LTD.. The proposed asset acquisition is estimated to be valued at up to RMB15.847 billion, making it the single largest asset injection in A-share's the military industrial sector.

Backed with policies, AVIC will build China's Lockheed Martin
A new round of reform was initiated by the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee among state-owned enterprises in China, in which, the reformation of military industrial enterprises is acting as a leading driving force of the SOE reform. The injection of core assets of aeronautic defense business by AVIC, AviChina's parent company, into the listed company demonstrates the open-up attitude of the authorities in charge of military industry as to the reorganization and listing of military industrial enterprises. Upon completion of the acquisition, CITC will integrate warplane assets which comprise the production, research and development of warplanes of the third and fourth generations, and assets related to air-surface missiles. By taking ownership of those defense equipment assets that are of utmost strategic significance in AVIC, it will be the first domestic-listed enterprise specialized in entire warplane production, comparable to Lockheed Martin in China. The reform in the national defense and the military industry, together with the advancement of the securitization of military industrial assets, will be a catalyst for the entire military industrial sector, which in turn will create a series of catalytic effect on the affiliated companies of AVIC, including subsidiaries such as AviChina and AVIC Avionics.

With business scope extended to defense equipment, AviChina targets to be China's answer to Boeing
AviChina is the only overseas-listed company of Aviation Industry Corporation of China and this assets reorganization will extend the Company's aviation business to cover defense equipment. AviChina has previously expanded its civil aviation manufacturing business through assets reorganization, merger and acquisition and has become the largest manufacturer of civil helicopters and a leading supplier of avionics systems in China. As the Company expands into the defense equipment sector, it is believed that it will help AviChina broaden its presence in the industry chain, optimize its investment portfolio and develop into China's answer to Boeing.

Major investment banks raised the ratings for AviChina considering the benefits that the company will continue to enjoy
The market's growing interests in the securitization of military industrial assets indicates an unprecedented development opportunity for the military industry sector in China. Investment in companies connected with the military industry will be the focus in 2014. Therefore, AviChina's substantial subscription will directly benefit from the appreciation of CITC. Based on the average P/E of the military industry sector of A shares, a huge sum of future earnings can be secured even on a conservative estimate. Subscription of CITC shares will also enable AviChina to participate in a more diversified aviation business, share the benefits brought by the continuous growth in China's national defense industry, integrate the current business with the defense assets, and facilitate the sound development of the overall industrial chain. Also, considering the continuous and stable growth of the existing business of AviChina, the profitability of the Company is expected to grow significantly. AviChina is the largest platform for assets integration under AVIC. Considering its importance and strategic position, Goldman Sachs, Citibank and BOCI raised the target price and maintained the "Buy" rating for AviChina.

Topic: Press release summary Sectors: Daily Finance, Daily News
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