Washington, D.C. – The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has been recognized by AirFinance Journal with four of its calendar year 2012 aviation “Deal of the Year” awards.

The Bank was awarded for capital-markets financings of U.S.-manufactured Boeing commercial aircraft to airlines in Ethiopia and Chile, and Atlas Air, an operator of a global fleet of cargo aircraft based in Purchase, N.Y. The Bank was also awarded for its financing of engine overhaul services provided by Delta Tech Ops to a Brazilian airline.

Each of the award-winning transactions was financed through the issuance of an innovative Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed bond, which sourced the funding of the transactions through the capital markets.

“Ex-Im’s capital-markets financing is one of our most successful innovations in recent years. I am proud of our work to expand the availability of funding for aviation-related exports that help support jobs in the American aerospace industry,” said Ex-Im Bank Chairman and President Fred P. Hochberg. “These awards acknowledge the extraordinary work done by all the staff here at Ex-Im Bank involved in these transactions, including the trade-finance experts in the Transportation Division, the General Counsel’s Office and other divisions.”

AirFinance Journal Awards to Ex-Im Bank:

  • African Deal of the Year – Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed financing of Boeing 787 aircraft for Ethiopian Airlines, arranged by JP Morgan
  • Latin American Deal of the Year – Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed financing of Delta TechOps engine overhaul services for GOL Airlines in Brazil, arranged by JP Morgan
  • North American Deal of the Year – Ex-Im Bank guaranteed financing of Boeing 747-8F cargo aircraft for Atlas Air arranged by Apple Bank for Savings, KGS Alpha and BNP Paribas
  • Export Credit Deal of the Year – Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed financing of Boeing 767, 777 and 787 aircraft for LAN Airlines in Chile, arranged by JP Morgan

Although several of Ex-Im Bank’s aircraft financings are still being funded by commercial banks or by the Private Export Funding Corporation (PEFCO), a significant number of the Bank’s aircraft financings now include a capital-markets option to allow the transaction to be funded through the issuance of Ex-Im Bank-guaranteed bonds.