Thora hires new MD and advises on sale-leaseback of EMS helicopters

Thora Capital has appointed helicopter veteran Marc Schechter as its new MD and has advised Apollo MedFlight on the sale-leaseback of three EMS helicopters.

Backed by more than 10 years’ experience of the helicopter industry, Schechter was previously head of Risk and Credit at one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing organisations. In that role he managed more than $1bn of aircraft leased across 30 countries.

Adam Gerchen, chairman of Thora, said: “Marc’s wealth of experience will further enhance both our origination and underwriting capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Thora has advised an investor group on the successful consummation of a helicopter acquisition and leaseback involving three Airbus EC135s in EMS configuration. The aircraft are leased and operated by Apollo MedFlight, headquartered in Texas.

Matthew Rothschild, Thora’s CEO, said: “We are pleased to be able to advise this particular investor group on its first fully unilateral helicopter acquisition, while also bolstering our growing portfolio of managed assets.” The helicopters will be used in Nebraska for both emergency and non-emergency medical transport.

Russell Christopher, the Chicago-based alternative asset manager’s MD, said: “We are delighted to continue to support our investors in this way and also to be supporting the important work that Apollo MedFlight does across the USA. These are popular and versatile aircraft and will be used to save lives and help Apollo, an existing lessee of Thora’s capital partners, to grow their footprint and serve its mission.”

The deal involved Thora assisting the investor group in its investment decisions. Vedder  Price, Washington DC, was legal counsel to the transaction. Uniflight Global, based in Grand Prairie, Texas, is technical servicer and will provide collateral monitoring to the asset manager.