The mysterious Chinese investor who held 29 per cent of HNA, one of the nation’s most acquisitive private conglomerates, has made a rare public appearance to reject allegations of links to high-ranking Chinese officials in a video posted online.
The identity of businessman Guan Jun and how he came to hold such a large stake in China’s airline-to financing conglomerate has been a mystery that has helped fuel explosive corruption allegations from an exiled Chinese businessman, Guo Wengui.
The 29 per cent stake in HNA was transferred to Mr Guan in 2016 from Bharat Bhise, an aviation executive living in New York, and was then passed to a New York-based foundation this summer.