Globalized Financing Channels for Flexible Worldwide Expansion

31 March 2015, Hong Kong - China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited (“CALC” or the “Group”, stock code: 01848.HK), the fastest-growing independent aircraft operating lessor in Greater China, announced the completion, on 23 March 2015, of its very first aircraft financing backed by a guarantee issued by UK Export Finance (fronting for the European Export Credit Agencies) for an Airbus A320 aircraft leased to Air India. . 

This financing covers the first of the five A320 aircraft being delivered to Air India this year. The ECA-guarantee arrangement is expected to enhance the Group’s competitiveness and geographical coverage. Among the transaction parties, Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank (CACIB) acts as the ECA financing advisor to the Group, Vedder Price as the transaction counsel representing the Group, TD Bank, N.A. as the lender and TD Securities as co-arranger; ING Capital LLC is the co-arranger and facility agent, Wilmington Trust SP Services (Dublin) Ltd is the Security Trustee and Watson Farley & Williams LLP is the transaction counsel representing the ECAs and the lender.

Dr. Mike Poon, CEO and Executive Director of CALC, said, “We are glad to have obtained ECA financing as an important international financing support for our global business expansion strategies. This mandate also means to us a recognition of our credit status by international agencies, and it further facilitates our on-going development plan into the international aviation market that we have laid a good start with Air India. Riding on the ‘One Belt One Road’ socio-economic strategy announced by the Chinese government, CALC is determined to extend our full value-chain aircraft solution model to the overseas market, paving ‘One Belt One Road’ in the aviation sector. We would like to thank the three ECAs for their support, and all the professional parties involved in this project. We look forward to further cooperation in the near future.”

CALC’s vision is to globalize its business in provision of the commercial aircraft value chain solutions. With this delivery to Air India and the ECA financing by Group’s professional team of extensive international aviation market experience, CALC has made significant progress in expanding into international scene, offering airline customers tailor-made, innovative and value-adding full life-cycle solutions for its fleet management needs.