Nord/LB Joins Novus Aviation’s Alternative Financing Platform

Hannover-based Nord/LB, one of the largest commercial banks in Germany, has joined Tamweel Aviation Finance (TAF), Novus Aviation Capital’s integrated financing platform offering turnkey alternative financing solutions to airlines and aircraft leasing companies. TAF was launched in September 2013 with a mandate to facilitate the funding of aircraft acquisitions, providing secured junior and mezzanine loans to airlines for all Airbus aircraft, with a focus on the twin-aisle segment, including the A380. TAF is managed by Dubai-based Novus Aviation Capital.

"We are very pleased to welcome our long-standing partner Nord/LB as a strategic partner to grow the TAF platform in providing alternative financing solutions to the aviation market," said Mounir Kuzbari, managing director at Novus. "Following the successful first closing for Emirates, we are close to announcing another large trade with a leading European carrier."

Novus structured and arranged the financing of three A380-800s for Emirates Airlines, whereby a global banking syndicate provided a senior debt tranche and TAF underwrote and funded the subordinated debt tranche.

"From the very beginning we have been thrilled about the idea of a junior loan fund in cooperation with experienced strategic partners. TAF combines the collective insight of parties coming from different segments of the aviation community and therefore results in a reasonable approach to a complex product," said Tammo Reimann, senior director at Nord/LB. 

Novus Aviation Capital is an independent privately held aircraft leasing and financing platform, focused on investing in commercial aircraft assets. Established over 20 years ago, the Novus team operates out of its four global offices in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Novus currently co-owns and manages aircraft related investments in excess of $1.5 billion. Novus offers airlines and aircraft owners comprehensive aircraft funding solutions and provides tailor-made investment products to investors. Novus’s aircraft portfolio includes A320/330/A340s as well as B737-800 and B747/B777s.

twitter: @NovusAviation

DBJ is a wholly Japanese government owned financial institution with a long history in providing financing to the aviation sector. The focused aviation team set up in 2011 to enhance DBJ’s aircraft financing activities globally has quickly grown to become recognized as one of the up-and-coming financiers in aviation circles, arranging deals across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. In the last fiscal year alone, DBJ arranged financing for airlines and aircraft lessors on around 20 transactions totaling roughly $1 billion. 

Airbus is a leading aircraft manufacturer with the most modern and fuel-efficient family of airliners, ranging in capacity from 100 to more than 500 seats. Airbus has sold over 13,200 aircraft to more than 500 customers and operators worldwide and has achieved more than 8,000 deliveries since the first Airbus aircraft entered service. Headquartered in Toulouse, France, Airbus is an EADS company.

Nord/LB is a German banking institution owned by two federal states and several savings banks associations. With EUR 199 billion total assets, NordLB is one of the 10 largest commercial banks in Germany. Nord/LB’s aviation team is focused on asset based lending and offers a widespread range of products in this segment. With a current portfolio volume of USD $10 billion and an annual underwriting volume between USD $2.5 billion and $3 billion, Nord/LB is one of the biggest players in aircraft finance on a global basis.