Author Archive

Magi welcomes Fraser Chestney as new senior team member

Posted by

London-based aviation finance specialist and aircraft manager Magi Aviation Capital (Magi) is pleased to announce that Fraser Chestney will be joining Magi from September 2018.

Fraser is an international aircraft financier and lessor with a proven track record in the structured finance market. He has over 24 years’ experience in the aviation financing and leasing sector, as financier and lessor, with NatWest, Banca Intesa, Lloyds TSB and SMBC. Most recently he was Managing Partner in London for Doric Partners LLP, where he was Head of Origination. He brings with him a deep knowledge of investors and their requirements, a comprehensive understanding of key negotiation and execution issues in aircraft finance transactions as well as a strong network of airline, lessor and bank relationships.

Peter Vardigans, Partner at Magi said: “We are delighted that Fraser has chosen to join the growing team and business at Magi. Fraser brings core skills and relationships to Magi which, we are confident, will further enable the company to move forward to its next and exciting stage of development.”

Magi Aviation Capital arranges sale & leaseback of two more B777-300ER aircraft with Qatar Airways

Posted by

London-based aviation finance specialist and aircraft manager Magi Aviation Capital (Magi) has arranged the sale and leaseback of two B777-300ER with Qatar Airways. Following these latest deals Magi has now arranged a total of seven sale and leasebacks of the type for Qatar Airways.

Korean institutional investors arranged by KTB Investment & Securities provided the equity and mezzanine funding. Senior debt was arranged by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ANZ) and provided by ANZ, IBJ Leasing and NEC Capital. ANZ also acts as Facility and Security Agent.

Magi will act as servicer and lease administrator for the aircraft, bringing to seven the total number of aircraft managed in its all-widebody fleet with an asset value in excess of USD1.2bn.

English legal counsel for Magi was Vedder Price (London); Korean counsel was Yulchon (Seoul). Cayman Islands counsel was Walkers. Clifford Chance (Singapore) acted on behalf of the senior lenders.

Sean Cleghorn, Partner at Magi said: “This transaction represented a great opportunity for us to continue our excellent track record in Korea, whilst growing our strong relationship with one of the world’s leading airlines, Qatar Airways. We are also delighted that our continued partnership with the highly professional and innovative team at ANZ has contributed to an important transaction for all parties”.

Magi Partners announces rebrand, name change and new website

Posted by

Magi Partners, the aircraft finance and leasing specialist, has today unveiled its new corporate identity and website. Effective 20 September the company name is changed to Magi Aviation Capital Limited.

Peter Vardigans, Co-founder and Partner said “The new name better represents where we are today and makes clearer our business focus and Magi’s role in the aviation industry. We believe that this will resonate with our existing and future clients as our company continues to grow and evolve as an originator and manager. Just three years after closing our first deal as Magi Partners, we believe we have established our reputation with a track record of delivery by our highly experienced team. We look forward to further developing our origination, structuring and aircraft management capability through the provision of innovative finance and leasing solutions to the global aviation community.”

Magi Partners arranges sale & leaseback of four B777-300ER aircraft with Qatar Airways

Posted by

London-based aviation finance specialist Magi Partners has arranged the sale and leaseback of four B777-300ER with Qatar Airways.

For two of the aircraft, Crianza Aviation provided the equity component, Korean institutional investors provided the mezzanine funding and senior debt was arranged and fully underwritten by ANZ Bank.

Magi Partners Aircraft Management (MPAM) will provide the aircraft management services.

English legal counsel for Magi Partners was Vedder Price (London); Korean counsel was Yulchon (Seoul). Cayman Islands counsel was Walkers. Clifford Chance (Singapore) acted on behalf of the
senior lenders.

Sean Cleghorn, Partner at Magi Partners said: “This transaction represented a great opportunity for Magi Partners to continue its strong track record in Korea and undertake its first deal with the growing Korean lessor Crianza, whilst working with one of the world’s leading airlines Qatar Airways. We are also delighted that our continued partnership with the highly professional and innovative team at ANZ Bank has contributed to a tremendous transaction for all parties”

Ishka ‘Investing in Aviation Finance’ conference

Posted by

Magi Partners is sponsoring the Ishka ‘Investing in Aviation Finance’ conference, London on 4th-5th April, 2017.

Aviation Economics Growth Frontiers Korea Conference

Posted by

Magi Partners are lead sponsors of the “Aviation Economics Growth Frontiers Korea Conference” Seoul, Korea 20-21 February 2017.

Magi Partners arranges 15-year 100% financing for Etihad Airways’ B777 Freighter

Posted by

London‐based aviation finance arranger Magi Partners, working in conjunction with Seoul-based Youjee Partners, has arranged a Korean Finance Lease for one new Boeing B777F freighter aircraft for Etihad Airways. The funding (covering 100% of the aircraft cost) was provided by way of a private placement with a group of major Korean institutional investors.

Korean investors finance two A330-300s on operating lease to SIA

Posted by

London-based aviation finance specialist Magi Partners, working in conjunction with its Seoul-­based partner Youjee Partners and EastMerchant Capital has arranged Korean­‐sourced funding for the purchase of two A330-­300 aircraft, which are on lease to Singapore Airlines.

These are the first SIA­‐operated aircraft, and the first A330-­300s, to be financed entirely by Korean investors.

Legal counsel for the parties were Norton Rose Fulbright (Munich), Matheson (Dublin), Yulchon (Seoul) and Watson Farley & Williams (Singapore).

Sean Cleghorn, Partner at Magi Partners said: “This, Magi’s fourth deal with Youjee in the Korean market in just over a year, marks our second transaction involving SIA as operator but our first for A330-­300 aircraft and further validates the Korean market’s ability to provide attractive operating lease solutions as well as finance leases. We are very pleased to have worked successfully once again with our friends and colleagues at EastMerchant.”

Baldur Vander, Managing Director of EastMerchant, said: “We are very pleased to be able to close this transaction within just a few weeks’ time with the strong support and commitment from all parties involved. Once again Magi and EastMerchant have found a unique transaction structure to address the regulatory requirements in different jurisdictions. We now have eight Singapore Airlines aircraft under management. This transaction marks a logical step in the development of EastMerchant’s business towards lessor oriented transactions with differing sources of funding.”

Korean institutions provide 100% financing for Emirates A380 operating lease

Posted by

London-­‐based aviation finance arranger Magi Partners, working in conjunction with its Seoul-­‐ based joint venture partner Youjee Partners, has arranged the purchase of an A380-­‐800 on lease to Emirates from Stellwagen Finance Company Limited, the holding company for Aviation Finance Company (“AFC”). AFC initially arranged 100% of the bridge capital for Magi Partners and Youjee Partners, facilitating the lease novation and sale.

Magi Partners and Youjee Partners have placed the operating lease for the A380-­‐800 entirely with the Korean institutional investor market by means of a private placement with a group of Korean non-­‐bank financial institutions, investing through a Korean fund structure. This transaction marks the first A380-­‐800 operating lease financed entirely by Korean investors.

Lease management services to the Korean investors are being provided by Magi Partners Aircraft Management Limited (“MPAM”).

Yulchon LLC (Seoul), Clifford Chance (Singapore) and Walkers (Cayman) acted for the Korean investors; Allen & Overy (London) acted for AFC and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman acted for Emirates.

Sean Cleghorn, Partner of Magi Partners said: “We are delighted to have been able to complete this ground-­‐breaking transaction with such a prestigious airline as Emirates. Korean institutions provide a growing source of capital, through increasingly diverse products, for the global aviation market and we look forward to completing more such transactions in the future.”

“Working with such quality counterparties such as Emirates, Magi and Youjee is particularly rewarding,” said Douglas Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of AFC. “It affirms the strength of our business model and demonstrates the capabilities AFC brings to the table. I am delighted that the AFC team was able to facilitate this transaction for Magi and the Korean market.”

Magi Partners arranges 15-year 100% financing for Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380

Posted by

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has completed a Korean Finance Lease for its second new Airbus A380 aircraft.

The funding was provided by way of a private placement with a group of major Korean institutional investors and was arranged by London-based aviation finance specialists Magi Partners in conjunction with their Korean associates, Youjee Partners. The deal follows non- deal roadshow meetings between Etihad Airways and Korean investors in early 2014, and a competitive global request for proposals last summer.

The transaction, which is structured as a 15-year, fixed coupon full-payout finance lease, is the first ever Korean financing to be arranged covering the entire cost of a brand new A380 aircraft.

The aircraft is the second of a fleet of ten A380s on order from Etihad Airways to enter service and, like all the airline’s A380s, features The Residence by Etihad™.

Since inception Etihad Airways has raised more than US$10.5 billion from over 70 financial institutions and lessors to fund its fleet of aircraft and engines.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “We are delighted to have engaged so positively with Korean investors, thereby securing strong interest from Korean institutions in the course of our first entry into the Korean market, which we see as a potentially fruitful longer term partnership for us in the future.”

Peter Vardigans of Magi Partners, said: “This financing is a landmark deal for the Korean market and we are delighted to have been able to complete this transaction for such a prestigious airline as Etihad Airways. We anticipate that Korean institutions will provide a growing strategic source of capital for the global aviation market.“

Korean investors refinance junior loan for SIA A380 operating lease

Posted by

London-­based aviation finance arranger Magi Partners, working in conjunction with its Seoul­‐based advisor Youjee Partners and with EastMerchant Capital GmbH, has arranged a $57 million junior loan as part of a refinancing package for an operating lease of an A380 aircraft operated by Singapore Airlines (SIA). The transaction closed in Singapore on 3rd October 2014.

The aircraft is leased by SIA under a German KG leasing structure managed by Lloyd Fonds AG. The new junior loan replaces the existing junior and bridge financings put in place when the lease was originally entered into in 2011.

The new junior loan was funded by means of a private placement with a group of five Korean institutional investors acting through a Korean fund structure.

Senior  debt  is  provided  by  the  Singapore  branch  of  ANZ  Banking  Group  (“ANZ”),  which also acts as Senior Agent and Security Trustee.

Norton Rose Fulbright, Munich acted for the borrower and lessor; Clifford Chance, Singapore  for  the  senior  lender;  Watson  Farley  &  Williams,  Singapore  for  SIA  and Yulchon LLC, Seoul for the junior lender and Korean investors.