Majority shareholder of the German bank: the co-founder of HNA, Wang Jian, is crushed in France

Chinese HNA group leader Wang Jian was fatally wounded in the south of France. The company said Wednesday that the 57 – year – old man had fallen on a business trip to Provence. He had suffered serious injuries in the fall and was Tuesday "sadly dead". According to the French Gendarmerie, Wang Jian fell ten meters into the picturesque village of Bonnieux, north of Aix-en-Provence. It looks like an accident, according to the French police, according to "Handelsblatt". Wang was held on a wall so his family could take a picture of him. He then dropped 15 meters into the depth. The exact cause of death should clarify an autopsy.

Reuters, citing a French police officer, reports that Wang in Bonnieux, in the south of France, "tried to climb a low wall to enjoy the view and take pictures." However, because Wang did not do it the first time, he started and ran to the wall. Then he fell off the wall. Meanwhile, on the internet, wild speculation circulates that the incident may not have been an accident, the Handelsblatt continues.

"An exceptionally talented chef and model"

Wang was director of strategy and daily operations as people familiar with the case said. "We deplore the loss of an exceptionally talented chef and model whose vision and values ​​will continue to be a beacon for those lucky enough to know him," the corporation says in a statement. statement on Wang's death.

The surprise death of the boss of HNA bursts in a period of uncertainty for the conglomerate, which has apparently taken over the past three years with acquisitions of billionaires. HNA is one of the 500 largest companies in the world and is, among others, a major shareholder of Deutsche Bank with 7.8%.

The Chinese acquired companies and real estate for 30 billion US dollars (25.75 billion euros) But he accumulated a larger debt. The group is now working to ease the plight of billions of real estate and stock sales.

He would have owned 15% of HNA

Wang Jian was a key figure in the expansion. Along with founder Chen Feng, he headed the conglomerate, most recently chairing HNA International's board of directors. "The ownership structure of the company is considered opaque, but co-founder Wang Jian would have owned 15%." Together we mourn the loss of an exceptionally talented chef and model whose vision and values ​​continue to be a beacon. Hana said in a statement

A spokesman for the French gendarmerie said that, according to initial findings, it seems to be an accident. Wang Jian probably tried to climb a wall to "enjoy the scenery" – it was possible that he wanted to take a picture or have his picture taken. He probably took too much momentum and knocked him down.

In 1990, he founded the airline Hainan Airlines

Wang Jian is from the aviation industry and founded with Chen Feng in the early 90's Hainan Airlines, the flagship of the Group. fourth largest Chinese airline. HNA also bought 82.5% shares of the local deficit airport of Frankfurt-Hahn for 15 million euros last year

The fact that HNA is in a difficult position is also linked to the new Beijing policy. For years, Chinese state banks have agreed to fund the buying orgies of Chinese companies overseas, injecting billions of dollars. But it was suddenly over – also out of fear of capital outflows.

Participation in the chain of Hilton hotels for sale

The government now wants the domestic companies to focus on overseas acquisitions on high technology, bringing the industrial upgrading of The country is advanced. Companies such as HNA, which are primarily interested in real estate and financial investments, but have drastically extinguished the money. In addition to HNA, real estate giant Wanda and Anbang insurance group are also in difficult waters.

In April, HNA reduced its stake in Deutsche Bank from 9.9 to 7.9% and announced its 26% stake You want to sell all or part of the Hilton hotel chain worth more than $ 6 billion.

Wang wrote in an email about "conspiracy"

that Wang had emailed him a few months ago Employees blamed a "plot" against the Communist Party and Chinese President Xi Jinping for group problems. More recently, the company has received state support according to media reports. At a meeting with the Chinese central bank, lenders were instructed to "support" HNA bonds, the Bloomberg news agency and the Financial Times reported last month. (TSP / dpa / Reuters)