Clifford Chance advises Goshawk Aviation, NWS and CTFE on sale of Goshawk Aviation's commercial aircraft leasing platform to SMBC AC at an enterprise value of US$6.7 billion

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31 May 2022

Virginia Lee , Ranbir Hunjan , Eunice Leung , Winnie Poon , Declan Ng , Jing Tang , Zarrar Sehgal , Zoya Afridi , Richard Blewett , Sonia Gilbert , Michael Lyons , Thomas Walsh , Dominique Yong
Hong Kong , London , New York , Brussels

Clifford Chance advises Goshawk Aviation, NWS and CTFE on sale of Goshawk Aviation's commercial aircraft leasing platform to SMBC AC at an enterprise value of US$6.7 billion

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised Goshawk Aviation (as seller), NWS Holdings and Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (each as seller's guarantor) on the sale of Goshawk Aviation's commercial aircraft leasing platform to SMBC Aviation Capital Limited. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, substantially all of Goshawk Aviation's assets, liabilities and contracts for the commercial aircraft leasing platform will be sold to SMBC Aviation Capital for cash consideration of approximately US$1.6 billion at an enterprise value of approximately US$6.7 billion. NWS Holdings and Chow Tai Fook Enterprise each held 50% stakes in Goshawk Aviation. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

Lead partner Virginia Lee in Hong Kong said, "We are very proud to bring together our strong cross-border and cross-practice expertise across M&A, aviation finance, capital markets, antitrust and sanctions to this landmark transaction, which will see the formation of one of the world's largest aircraft leasing groups. The deal demonstrates excellent team work and depth of experience in providing strategic international advice on the most complex and significant M&A transactions."

The multi-jurisdictional team involved experts across corporate M&A, aviation finance, antitrust, sanctions and other specialist areas, led by Hong Kong corporate partner Virginia Lee, with London partner Ranbir Hunjan advising on aviation finance. Virginia was supported by senior associates Eunice Leung and Winnie Poon, associates Jason Chow and Declan Ng in Hong Kong. Ranbir was supported by senior associate Jing Tang in London. New York partner Zarrar Sehgal and associates Dexter Heeter and Zoya Afridi advised on U.S. capital markets matters, partner Richard Blewett in Brussels advised on antitrust matters, and foreign legal consultant Anthony Fay in Hong Kong on tax matters. Partners Sonia Gilbert and Michael Lyons in London, partner Thomas Walsh and senior associate Dominique Yong in Hong Kong also provided support on other specialist areas.

高伟绅为Goshawk Aviation、新创建和周大福企业出售商用飞机租赁平台予SMBC AC提供法律服务

国际领先律师事务所高伟绅为Goshawk Aviation（作为卖方）、新创建集团有限公司（以下简称“新创建”）和周大福企业有限公司（以下简称“周大福企业”，各自作为卖方担保人）向SMBC Aviation Capital Limited （以下简称“SMBC Aviation Capital”）出售Goshawk Aviation的商用飞机租赁平台提供法律服务。根据最终协议，Goshawk Aviation将向SMBC Aviation Capital出售其商用飞机租赁平台的绝大部分资产、债务及租赁合同。此次交易的现金对价为约16亿美元，出售业务企业价值约67亿美元。新创建和周大福企业各持有Goshawk Aviation 50%股权。本次交易完成尚待相关监管批准及满足其他惯常条件。

本交易由香港办公室合伙人李婉雯（Virginia Lee）牵头领导，伦敦办公室合伙人Ranbir Hunjan负责交易涉及的航空融资事宜。其他核心团队成员包括香港办公室公司/并购业务组律师梁咏愉（Eunice Leung）、潘咏怡（Winnie Poon）、周柏尧（Jason Chow）和伍乐熙（Declan Ng），以及伦敦办公室航空融资业务组律师Jing Tang。其他团队成员还包括纽约办公室美国资本市场业务组合伙人Zarrar Sehgal、律师Dexter Heeter和Zoya Afridi，布鲁塞尔办公室反垄断业务组合伙人Richard Blewett，以及香港办公室税务业务组资深顾问律师费立特（Anthony Fay）。此外，伦敦办公室合伙人Sonia Gilbert和Michael Lyons、香港办公室合伙人Thomas Walsh和律师Dominique Yong亦为本项目提供专项法律服务。

李婉雯（Virginia Lee）律师表示：“我们非常高兴能够汇集高伟绅在并购、航空融资、资本市场、反垄断和制裁方面的强大跨境跨业务律师团队，为本项标志性交易提供法律服务。本次交易完成后，将产生全球最大的飞机租赁集团之一。本交易也充分彰显了高伟绅团队在处理最为复杂跨境大型收购项目的深厚经验及一流的团队合作能力。”