EMP Structured Assets has entered the helicopter market by the formation of LEVL Leasing together with established helicopter leasing platform.
LEVL Leasing is a Dublin based joint-venture company dedicated to providing lease and capital solutions for helicopter and vertical lift operators. Lobo and EMP each own 50 % in the joint venture.
LEVL Leasing brings togethers Lobo Leasing’s full suite capabilities as a helicopter leasing platform with EMP’s capabilities in structuring financing solutions alongside raising capital for diverse aviation financing projects.
LEVL Leasing has already secured a €75million equity commitment from a fund in Switzerland. Through LEVL Leasing, these funds (together with debt leverage where appropriate) will be invested in EMS, firefighting, SAR, and other ESG-compliant transactions.
LEVL Leasing has already closed its first transaction for the fund – the acquisition and lease of two H145 helicopters to Everett Aviation. These helicopters are being deployed onto an EMS contract in Kenya funded by the UK government.
Dan Roberts, CEO of Lobo Leasing, commented: “We are thrilled to have formalised our relationship with EMP through the formation of LEVL Leasing. This partnership has been years in the making and creates a hugely powerful combination capable of delivering (through a single platform) the full variety of leasing products required by the helicopter and emerging vertical lift industries. The Everett H145 transaction is the perfect start and represents a great opportunity to embark on our strategy of building a dedicated ESG compliant portfolio.”
Ulf Hüttmeyer, Executive Vice President of EMP Structured Assets, commented: “Backed by the equity commitment of the Fund and enriched by the proven capabilities of Lobo Leasing we are very enthusiastic to enter into the JV and grow LEVL Leasing.”