Investec finances H175 and AW169 for LCI

Investec has financed a Leonardo AW169 and an Airbus H175 for leading helicopter lessor LCI. The AW169 is providing offshore search and rescue services from Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo and the H175 is based in the UK and being used for offshore missions.

“These are the fifth and sixth aircraft that LCI has financed through Investec – a partnership that began in 2019. Investec has an excellent understanding of our sector and our needs, and is demonstrating its commitment to the dynamic helicopter leasing marketplace and the excellent investment opportunities it delivers,” said Praveen Vetrivel, CFO at LCI.

“We are delighted to continue to do repeat business with LCI and value the faith they have placed in us. The helicopter market continues to show strong signs of recovery, with the new generation helicopters able to provide a wide range of services to meet a broad range of needs,” says Bradley Gordon, Head of Aviation Finance at Investec Bank in South Africa.

These transactions bring LCI’s total 2022 capital raising to $300m. The lessor raised more than $1bn between 2019 and 2012.

“As a lessor, we are required to be across a huge variety of capital sources from around the world,” says Vetrivel. “Interest rates and financial compliance costs are up, and we look to offset these with our own efficiencies such as the raising of capital at scale. With a new aviation investment cycle upon us, we are deploying our resources across a broad and efficient range of products including: operating leasing; finance leasing; deposit payment finance; hedging; and also additional equipment finance.” 

Meanwhile, pictured is a Leonardo AW169.