Maples Group's Global Asset Finance Team Recognised on 10 Aviation Finance Deals of the Year

The Maples Group's global Asset Finance team has been recognised for its role on 10 award-winning Deals of the Year at the Airfinance Journal and Airline Economics awards. Impressively, the team's role in advising on United Airlines' US$6.8 billion financing plan¹ was listed on the most coveted award, the Overall Deal of the Year (global), by both publications.

The team is proud to have advised on the winning deals in the following categories:

Airfinance Journal Awards 2020

• Overall Deal of the Year: United Airlines US$6.8 billion MileagePlus Programme¹ (Cayman Islands counsel)
• Used Aircraft Deal of the Year: Altavair / KKR US$600 million Warehouse Facility for 38 Aircraft (Irish counsel)
• Airline Unsecured Bond Deal of the Year: Etihad Airways US$600 million Sukuk (Cayman Islands counsel)
• Overall Capital Markets Deal of the Year: SAPA 2020-1 US$620 million ABS for 21 Aircraft (Cayman Islands and Irish counsel)

Airline Economics Aviation 100 Deals of the Year Awards 2021

• Overall Deal of the Year: United Airlines MileagePlus US$6.8 billion Secured Bond and Term Loan¹ (Cayman Islands counsel)
• Debt Deal of the Year: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles US$9 billion Financing² (Cayman Islands counsel)
• Overall Deal of the Year – Americas: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles US$9 billion Financing² (Cayman Islands counsel)
• Editor's Deal of the Year – Asia-Pacific: TEAM Sunbird US$256.98 Aircraft Engine ABS (Cayman Islands and Irish counsel)
• Capital Markets Deal of the Year – Middle East & Africa: Etihad US$600 million Sustainability Linked Transition Sukuk and Liability Management of 2021 (Cayman Islands counsel)
• Editor's Deal of the Year – Middle East & Africa: Altavair Senior Secured Term Loan Facility for 13 777-300ERs (Irish counsel)

Jonathon Meloy, Partner and Co-Head of the Cayman Islands Asset Finance practice said: "We are honoured to have been able to help our clients in advising on so many ground breaking international aviation transactions, particularly in a year that was so challenging for the industry. These awards are testament to the talented and dedicated team of aviation experts at the Maples Group as well as our incredibly valued client base who we are proud to support as they continue to innovate and drive the sector forward."

The Maples Group's global Asset Finance team is comprised of lawyers and fiduciary services professionals located in the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dubai, Dublin, Hong Kong, London and Singapore.

Lawyers involved in the award-winning deals included Finance Partners Jonathon Meloy, Donna Ager, Sherice Arman, Manuela Belmontes, Anthony Philp, Mary O'Neill and Shari Howell as well as a number of others across specialist practice areas.

Professionals from the Group's fiduciary services team provided a suite of fiduciary, administration, managing agent and AML/regulatory services on some of the award-winning deals and included Senior Vice Presidents Phillip Hinds, Julian Dunphy, Jarlath Canning and Paul Griffin and Vice President Linval Stewart.