Deutsche Bank-Led Facility Is First Ever for a Helicopter Leasing Firm, Highlights Strong Support From Global Lenders
DUBLIN, IRELAND--(Marketwire - August 13, 2012) - Milestone Aviation Group, the global leader in helicopter leasing, announced today that it has closed on a series of debt facilities totalling US$400 million. The company will use the proceeds to support its partners and provide additional liquidity to the global helicopter market.
"These are important milestones for our company," said Richard Santulli, Milestone's Chairman. "We thank Deutsche Bank and our financing partners for providing additional capital to fuel our growth. Lenders' enthusiasm for the offerings further validates the strength of our business model and highlights the important role Milestone plays for the rotary sector."
"By structuring and leading this innovative facility, which is widely acknowledged to be the first of its kind in the market, this has helped Milestone to execute on its growth strategy," said Richard Moody, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank. "In addition, the market reacted positively to the sponsor, and the financing structure resulting in the facility being over-subscribed."
The combined US$400 million in debt facilities include:
An oversubscribed US$265 million facility led by Deutsche Bank, along with Nomura, Huntington Bank, CIT, 1st Source Bank, EverBank Commercial Finance and Credit Suisse as lenders -- this portfolio financing is generally recognised as the first facility of this type undertaken in the market;
A US$75 million facility with SEB; and
Three facilities totalling more than US$60 million with Société Générale -- including a facility to cover certain of Milestone's pre-delivery payments (PDP).
Milestone launched in August 2010 having raised US$500 million in equity from the Jordan Company and Nautic Partners to provide operating lease financing to the helicopter industry. Since inception Milestone has leased 53 aircraft valued at more than US$600 million. The company presently leases helicopters to 20 operators spread over four continents including leases with three of the four largest global helicopter operators. By the end of 2012, the company expects to have leased assets operating on six continents and valued at more than US$1 billion.
ABOUT MILESTONE AVIATION GROUP
Milestone Aviation Group is the first global aircraft leasing company exclusively focused on helicopters. Milestone's global aircraft leasing platform addresses the liquidity needs of the market through 100% operating lease financing. Since launching in August 2010, Milestone has leased more than 50 aircraft valued at more than $600 million. Further information is available atwww.milestoneaviation.com.
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