Top aircraft leasing firm's IPO could raise $1.5b

BOC Aviation Ltd begins assessing demand for its listing in Hong Kong

BOC Aviation Ltd, Asia's biggest aircraft-leasing company by asset value, has begun gauging demand for a Hong Kong initial public offering that could raise as much as $1.5 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.

The Singapore-based company, owned by Bank of China Ltd, expects to start taking investor orders in mid-May, according to the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. It plans to start trading at the end of May.