WFW is delighted to announce that the Paris Aviation team, led by partner Charles Viggers, advised on two deals awarded “Deal of the Year 2018” at the awards ceremony of respected sector publication Global Transport Finance’s held in London on 31 January 2019.
On the first deal, named “Operating Lessor JOLCO Deal of the Year 2018”, we advised Société Générale as debt arranger, debt underwriter, facility agent and security trustee for a syndicate of lenders on a JOLCO transaction for ICBC Financial Leasing Co. (“ICBCFL”) in respect of two (2) new A321 NEO aircraft to be leased to Vietnam Airlines. The deal completed after several months of active negotiations. The Japanese equity was arranged by Asset Brok’Air International. This transaction was the first JOLCO financing for ICBCFL involving a Vietnamese airline. The WFW Paris team that advised on this deal was led by Paris Partner and Global Head of Aviation Charles Viggers, supported by Senior Associate Marc-Alexandre Tremblay, Associate Konstantina Kyprianidou and Trainee Solicitor Jacob Southgate.
Secondly, the team advised Crédit Industriel et Commercial, La Banque Postale and Banque Palatine in respect of the JOLCO financing of up to 4 x A320 NEO aircraft for Scandinavian Airlines System Denmark Norway Sweden (“SAS”). The deal was named “JOLCO Finance Deal of the Year 2018 – Europe”. The aircraft was leased to SAS Group’s own asset management affiliate Gorm Asset Management. The Japanese equity was arranged by Asset Brok’Air International. Charles’s team included Associates Lucy Todd, Natasha Seel and Trainee Solicitor Jacob Southgate.
Charles commented: “The team has worked closely with our clients throughout the year and it’s a great credit to our collective hard work that these deals have been recognised in the market. We’re very pleased to be associated with the success of these award-winning deals. This is a great boost for the team and we’re greatly looking forward now to the year ahead!”
