Norton Rose Fulbright advises Amedeo Air Four Plus Limited on recommended cash acquisition by LAC 10 LLC

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright is advising Amedeo Air Four Plus Limited (AA4+) on the £190 million recommended cash acquisition by LAC 10 LLC, a newly incorporated wholly-owned direct subsidiary of Lesha Bank LLC (Public).

AA4+ is a non-cellular company limited by shares, registered and incorporated in Guernsey, having its shares listed on the Specialist Fund Segment of the London Stock Exchange's Main Market since May 2015. AA4+'s investment objective is to obtain income returns and a capital return for its shareholders by acquiring, leasing and then selling aircraft. AA4+ currently has a portfolio of six A380, two B777-300ER and four A350-900 aircraft, all on long-term leases to either Emirates Airlines or Thai Airways.

Lesha Bank is a financial institution based in Qatar and listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange with a market capitalisation of approximately QAR 1.9 billion. LAC 10 is a QFC-incorporated entity that was formed for the purposes of the Acquisition. The Lesha Aviation Capital division of Lesha Bank, operated via wholly-owned subsidiaries of Lesha Bank, is a global aviation leasing and investment platform and operates as a full-service platform providing investment management capabilities to global aviation investors. The platform focuses on resilient asset-backed investments across the aviation sector.

Lesha Aviation Capital currently has assets under management of c.US$1.5 billion and its current portfolio consists of 15 wide body aircraft including six Boeing 787s, five Boeing 777-300ERs and four Airbus A350-1000s. These assets are currently on lease to a Gulf Cooperation Council airline and a global flag carrier. The acquisition of AA4+ is the next step in the creation of a global aircraft leasing portfolio alongside alternative aviation investments and builds upon Lesha Aviation Capital's existing portfolio and investments made in aviation infrastructure to date.

The London-based Norton Rose Fulbright team is being led by corporate partner Kit McCarthy, alongside corporate partner Alan Bainbridge and banking partner Giles Brand, supported by corporate associates Adam Worth, Katherine MacPhail and Shayne Ghelani.