Aviation Finance

The aviation finance team advises on most major domestic and cross-border aircraft finance transactions in South Africa. The team is experienced in all types of aircraft finance transactions, including export credit supported financing, engine financing, pre-delivery financing, off-balance sheet structures, high-value tax-based and non-tax based leasing structures (domestic and in-bound), aircraft portfolio transfers and capital markets. The team’s client base includes lessors, operators, arrangers, banks, manufacturers and export credit agencies. The team has particular expertise in:

• all forms of aircraft leasing (cross-border and domestic);
• aircraft and engine financings including pre-delivery financings;
• tax treatment of aircraft transactions, including importing aircraft and VAT registration considerations;
• security issues, including drafting and registration of aircraft mortgages and Cape Town filings;
• insolvency issues arising from airline failure;
• delivery and other forms of legal opinions; and
• regulatory issues.