Vedder Price Advises Arena Aviation Capital in Strategic Partnership to Launch $1.5 Billion Aircraft Leasing Platform KLA Aviation Finance
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that it represented Arena Aviation Capital (“Arena”), a full-service aircraft investment management company, in its strategic partnership with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management (“Kennedy Lewis”), a leading opportunistic credit manager, in the launch of KLA Aviation Finance (“KLA”), a $1.5 billion aircraft leasing platform.
KLA will seek to acquire modern technology commercial aircraft assets leased to airlines globally, with a primary focus initially on young and new narrow-body aircraft. Kennedy Lewis has committed to provide equity financing to capitalize KLA. Arena will source transactions for the platform on an exclusive basis providing a full suite of lease servicing and asset management services.
Global Transportation Finance Shareholder Jordan R. Labkon and Shareholder and Vice Chairman of the Finance &Transactions group Joseph H. Kye led the Vedder Price team, which also included Associate Daniel M. Cunix.
“We’re proud to be a part of Arena’s development and strategy with the launch of KLA. We look forward to continuing to support their efforts as they build a best-in-class aviation leasing portfolio,” said Mr. Labkon. “This transaction is yet another example of Vedder Price’s ability to leverage our industry-leading Global Transportation Finance team’s commercial aviation capabilities together with our Finance and Transaction practice to produce an excellent result for our client,” added Mr. Kye.
About Vedder Price:
Vedder Price is a thriving, 300-lawyer firm with seven offices worldwide, including Chicago, New York, Washington, DC, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Singapore. The firm offers a unique mix of finance, corporate, labor and employment, and litigation skills, including market-leading practices in global transportation finance, middle-market finance/M&A, executive compensation, employment class actions and more. Vedder Price has enduring relationships with marquee organizations, and many of the firm’s clients have been with the firm since its founding in 1952. For more information, visit vedderprice.com.
About Kennedy Lewis
Kennedy Lewis (www.klimllc.com) is an opportunistic credit manager founded in 2017 by David K. Chene and Darren L. Richman. It pursues event-driven situations in which a catalyst may unlock value and focuses primarily on corporate and structured credit opportunities in North America and Europe.
About Arena Aviation Capital
Arena Aviation Capital (www.arena-aviationcapital.com) is a full-service aircraft investment management company focusing on the complete life cycle of acquiring and leasing used commercial aviation assets, servicing investment and airline customers worldwide and providing services including the origination, financing, risk management, and administration (finance/accounting and legal) of commercial aviation assets. Arena also provides pre-packaged tailor-made solutions for airline customers for their mid and end-of-life assets. Arena today manages 52 aircraft leased to 23 airline customers in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
Vedder Thinking | News Vedder Price Advises Arena Aviation Capital in Strategic Partnership to Launch $1.5 Billion Aircraft Leasing Platform KLA Aviation Finance
Press Release
January 20, 2021
Vedder Price is pleased to announce that it represented Arena Aviation Capital (“Arena”), a full-service aircraft investment management company, in its strategic partnership with Kennedy Lewis Investment Management (“Kennedy Lewis”), a leading opportunistic credit manager, in the launch of KLA Aviation Finance (“KLA”), a $1.5 billion aircraft leasing platform.
KLA will seek to acquire modern technology commercial aircraft assets leased to airlines globally, with a primary focus initially on young and new narrow-body aircraft. Kennedy Lewis has committed to provide equity financing to capitalize KLA. Arena will source transactions for the platform on an exclusive basis providing a full suite of lease servicing and asset management services.
Global Transportation Finance Shareholder Jordan R. Labkon and Shareholder and Vice Chairman of the Finance &Transactions group Joseph H. Kye led the Vedder Price team, which also included Associate Daniel M. Cunix.
“We’re proud to be a part of Arena’s development and strategy with the launch of KLA. We look forward to continuing to support their efforts as they build a best-in-class aviation leasing portfolio,” said Mr. Labkon. “This transaction is yet another example of Vedder Price’s ability to leverage our industry-leading Global Transportation Finance team’s commercial aviation capabilities together with our Finance and Transaction practice to produce an excellent result for our client,” added Mr. Kye.
About Vedder Price:
Vedder Price is a thriving, 300-lawyer firm with seven offices worldwide, including Chicago, New York, Washington, DC, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Singapore. The firm offers a unique mix of finance, corporate, labor and employment, and litigation skills, including market-leading practices in global transportation finance, middle-market finance/M&A, executive compensation, employment class actions and more. Vedder Price has enduring relationships with marquee organizations, and many of the firm’s clients have been with the firm since its founding in 1952. For more information, visit vedderprice.com.
About Kennedy Lewis
Kennedy Lewis (www.klimllc.com) is an opportunistic credit manager founded in 2017 by David K. Chene and Darren L. Richman. It pursues event-driven situations in which a catalyst may unlock value and focuses primarily on corporate and structured credit opportunities in North America and Europe.
About Arena Aviation Capital
Arena Aviation Capital (www.arena-aviationcapital.com) is a full-service aircraft investment management company focusing on the complete life cycle of acquiring and leasing used commercial aviation assets, servicing investment and airline customers worldwide and providing services including the origination, financing, risk management, and administration (finance/accounting and legal) of commercial aviation assets. Arena also provides pre-packaged tailor-made solutions for airline customers for their mid and end-of-life assets. Arena today manages 52 aircraft leased to 23 airline customers in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
