Jackson Square Aviation Announces A319 Sale/Leaseback With Avianca and
Execution of Two Debt Facilities With NordLB
</pre> <p><span class="xn-location">SAN FRANCISCO</span>, <span class="xn-chron">April 12</span> /CNW/ -- <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> Aviation, LLC is pleased to announce the delivery of one Airbus A319-115 to Aerovias del Continente Americano S.A. ("Avianca"), Colombia's leading airline. This transaction represents a continuation of <span class="xn-location">Jackson</span> Square's long relationship with Avianca and the second sale/leaseback transaction of its new fleet, which is being built in partnership with Oaktree Capital. Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale ("NordLB") provided <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> with long-term debt financing on this aircraft and has also provided financing on an A320 which <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> purchased at delivery and leased to Avianca in <span class="xn-chron">February 2010</span>.</p> <p/> <p>"This is an exciting time for <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span>, as we have recently launched our new brand and have added another excellent transaction to our growing fleet," said <span class="xn-person">Scott Weiss</span>, <span class="xn-location">Jackson</span> Square's COO and EVP of Capital Markets. "Avianca has been a great customer of ours over the years and we're thrilled to be able to conduct more business with one of Latin America's strongest airlines. And we're excited to have executed our first debt financing, as NordLB is a great partner for us as we build out our portfolio of next-generation aircraft. We have over <span class="xn-money">$1 billion</span> in committed aircraft purchases already, and we're working hard to provide as much capital as possible to our worldwide customer base."</p> <p/> <p>Fabio Villegas, Avianca's Chief Executive Officer, said, "Avianca appreciates <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> Aviation's support for our fleet renewal plan, which will help us to reduce fuel costs, improve overall fleet reliability, and achieve higher passenger comfort levels. With the current volatility of oil prices, fuel-efficient aircraft are a key competitive advantage." Avianca provides domestic and international passenger and cargo air service to and within <span class="xn-location">Colombia</span>, where the topography and distances between cities make air transportation vital.</p> <p/> <p>Oliver Gruenke, NordLB's Deputy Head of Global Aircraft Finance, commented that NordLB is delighted to add <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> and Avianca to its client list. "Our bank has been among the most active aviation lenders in this environment, and business with companies like these fit our growth agenda perfectly. It is our full intention to finance <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> on many future transactions as well, as they lease to the world's major airlines."</p> <p/> <p>About <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> Aviation, LLC: <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> is a full-service aircraft leasing company based in <span class="xn-location">San Francisco</span> with offices in <span class="xn-location">Seattle</span>, <span class="xn-location">Miami</span>, and <span class="xn-location">Buenos Aires</span>, with European and Asian offices opening in 2010. The management team, which had previously worked together at Pegasus Aviation and Sky Holding, has over 100 years of combined industry experience. The team has collectively acquired over <span class="xn-money">$10 billion</span> of aircraft, has purchased and/or remarketed over 400 aircraft, and has developed relationships with over 30 commercial lenders and investment banks across <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>, Asia and <span class="xn-location">North America</span>. <span class="xn-person">Jackson Square</span> is equity funded with a <span class="xn-money">$500 million</span> commitment from its management team and Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a premier global alternative and non-traditional investment manager with over US$70 billion in assets under management.</p> <p/> <p>About Avianca: Avianca was the first airline founded in the Americas and the second one in the world. Along with Ocean Air in <span class="xn-location">Brazil</span> and Vip S.A. in <span class="xn-location">Ecuador</span>, it is part of the Synergy Aerospace Group. With more than six thousand direct collaborators and a fleet of 58 short, medium and long range aircraft, Avianca currently operates directly to 21 destinations in <span class="xn-location">Colombia</span> and 22 points in the Americas and <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>. From its hub in <span class="xn-location">Bogota</span>, the company offers an average of 250 flights per day connecting its domestic and international destinations. Passengers have more than 6,000 options for connections between destinations operated both directly and through code share agreements with other internationally renowned companies. In addition to its passenger air transport services, Avianca provides tourism, mail, cargo, and courier transport services, as well as aeronautical assistance services, through its Business Units: Avianca Tours, Deprisa and Avianca Services. Avianca also has code-share agreements in place with Iberia and Mexicana de Aviacion. At the end of 2009, Avianca's shareholders announced the signing of an agreement with the TACA Group, geared towards a strategic union of their business, with the purpose of strengthening each airline's position and capacity in the Americas. For additional information, please visit <a href="http://www.avianca.com">www.avianca.com</a>.</p> <pre> www.jacksonsquareaviation.com
For further information: Jackson Square Aviation, LLC, +1-415-655-5000, [email protected] Web Site: http://www.jacksonsquareaviation.com http://www.avianca.com
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