Two Hogan Lovells transactions win AFJ 2020 Deal of the Year Awards
London, 23 June 2021 – International law firm Hogan Lovells is pleased to announce that two matters on which it has advised have won Airfinance Journal’s 2020 Deals of the Year Awards – its Equity Deal of the Year and Latin America Deal of the Year. The AFJ Awards recognise the most innovative transactions, teams and individuals in aviation finance in 2020.
In the Equity Deal of the Year, the firm advised long-standing client Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, together with the company’s Norwegian and Irish legal advisers, on its recapitalisation, involving the conversion of approximately US$912 million of the company’s aircraft operating lease obligations into shares and perpetual convertible bonds and the restructuring of its aircraft operating leases, in conjunction with its acceptance of a package of COVID-19 related state aid from the Norwegian Government. The London team was led by partner Robert Fugard, assisted by counsel Russell Green, and members of the asset finance team.
In the Latin America Deal of the Year, the firm advised Knighthead Capital Management and Certares Management on the issue by the Brazilian airline Azul of US$325 million in secured convertible debentures to help it survive the pandemic-driven industry downturn. The firm’s clients acted as anchor investors in the ground breaking transaction. New York partners Stuart Morrissy and Mehtap Cevher Conti led the team. This matter was also recently recognised as the Capital Markets Deal of the Year at the Latin Lawyer Deal of the Year Awards.
Partner and Global Head of Asset Finance, Robert Fugard, commented: “We are delighted that these deals have been recognised by the AFJ Awards; they are a testament to the complex and market-leading work of our global asset finance practice”.