GANDHINAGAR- Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) provided legal counsel to Standard Chartered regarding financing two Airbus A320neo aircraft for TATA SIA Airlines Limited, known as Vistara (UK).
This financing arrangement utilized a unique structuring approach through Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City or GIFT), employing an entity that is not a wholly-owned airline subsidiary. This transaction is one of the initial commercial aircraft finance deals structured through GIFT.
Vistara A320neo Financing
GIFT City represents India’s inaugural operational greenfield smart city and international financial services center, initiated by the Government of Gujarat as a greenfield project. It is anticipated that GIFT will assume a significant role in funding India’s remarkable aviation expansion.
Standard Chartered, a prominent international banking group, engages in consumer, corporate, and institutional banking and treasury services. Most of its operations are concentrated in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Vistara, an Indian full-service airline, operates primarily from its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. Established in 2015, it is a collaboration between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines. Vistara has steadily grown its network and fleet, linking more than 45 destinations within and beyond India.
The WFW Singapore Aviation team, responsible for advising the Bank, was headed by Partner Richard Williams and assisted by Associates Lyssetta Teo, Andy Wilson, Anmol Gill, and London trainee Zsofi Bori.
Richard remarked, “We are honored to have supported Standard Chartered as lender counsel and collaborated with the Vistara team on this groundbreaking transaction. At WFW, we are deeply committed to the aviation sector in India and are eager to contribute our expertise to facilitate its expansion. We thank the other advisors involved in the transaction for their exceptional guidance.”
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