Investec has closed its first transaction with LEVL Leasing Limited, the joint venture between Lobo Leasing Limited and EMP Structured Assets GmbH, in a key financing solution for the specialist search and rescue (SAR), emergency medical services (EMS) and firefighting aviation segment.The funding facility was created to finance 15 helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft. The rotary-wing element included Airbus H125s and 145s and Bell 412s. The aircraft are to be used by five lessees for government support services across SAR, EMS and firefighting, operating in Spain, France and Kenya.
The portfolio of aircraft forms part of LEVL’s planned deployment of EUR75 million of committed equity funding (together with debt leverage where appropriate) in sustainable linked aviation such as EMS, firefighting, SAR and other ESG-compliant transactions.
Investec said the transaction is another sign of its growing helicopter financing activity. According to John Shaw, Aviation Finance Associate at Investec: “This asset type has proven its versatility, providing essential work across a diversified user base that includes EMS, SAR, aerial policing, firefighting, offshore energy services and VIP transportation. With more and more people living and working in regions vulnerable to extreme weather events such as storms, flooding and forest fires, SAR, EMS, firefighting, and other related services have assumed an important role when it comes to the adoption of environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
