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Walkers advises on landmark finance lease transaction with Air India and HSBC using GIFT City

Oct 26, 2023

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Walkers' Asset Finance team are very pleased to have provided Irish legal and fiduciary services on a landmark finance lease transaction with Air India and The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in connection with the delivery and financing of two Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

The transaction is particularly noteworthy as it marked a number of significant firsts in aviation financing:

  • the first Airbus A350-900 aircraft to be operated by an Indian operator; and
  • the first time GIFT City International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat, India has been used in aviation financing in a deal between Air India's wholly owned subsidiary AI Fleet Services (AIFS) and HSBC.

The transaction also marks the beginning of Air India's aircraft leasing business from GIFT IFSC, as AIFS will be the primary Air India Group entity for wide body aircraft financing, playing a pivotal role in the future aircraft financing strategy for Air India.

Instructing Walkers in Ireland for legal and fiduciary services was a statement of confidence in our ability to assist with the execution of an innovative transaction of this magnitude, in addition to being able to offer pragmatic advice in a cost effective and commercial manner. Given the large order books of Indian airlines, we expect to see an increase in volume of aircraft financing and leasing activity in India. The benefits and incentives being offered by GIFT City will be a key component in structuring these deals.

Partners Matt Hedigan, Killian McSharry and Tax Consultant Padhraic Mulpeter led the Walkers legal team with support from Of Counsel, Elliot Milton, and Associates Diana Pacheco and Roisin O'Connor. The Walkers Professional Services team was led by members that included Joanna Taylor and Adithya Sivaraman.

FinanceIreland

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Jenny Kokolas

Jenny Kokolas

Communications Manager - Global

T/+44 20 7220 4999
M/+44 (0)7301 272 247
E/Email Jenny Kokolas

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Donna Ager
Donna Ager

Donna Ager

Partner

London

Ireland

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+44 (0) 2079 038 744

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Matt Hedigan

Matt Hedigan

Partner

Ireland

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+353 1 470 6688

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+353 87 227 8653

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Kristen Kwok
Kristen Kwok

Kristen Kwok

Partner

Hong Kong

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+852 2596 3324

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+852 9197 3041

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Killian McSharry
Killian McSharry

Killian McSharry

Partner

Ireland

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+353 1 470 6696

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+353 86 812 5656

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Padhraic Mulpeter
Padhraic Mulpeter

Padhraic Mulpeter

Tax Consultant

Ireland

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+353 1 863 8595

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+353 86 440 6040

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Richard Siddle
Richard Siddle

Richard Siddle

Partner

Singapore

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+65 6595 4678

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+65 9667 5777

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Johanna Hendry
Johanna Hendry

Johanna Hendry

Senior Counsel

Dubai

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+971 4 363 7928

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+971 50 572 9769

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Diana Pacheco

Diana Pacheco

Associate

Ireland

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+353 1 470 6665

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+353 86 440 1241

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Joanna Taylor
Joanna Taylor

Joanna Taylor

Director, Fiduciary Services (Ireland)

Ireland

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+353 01 470 6668

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