Smith, Gambrell & Russell Client Avianca Awarded 2019 Latin America Deal of the Year in Airfinance Journal’s Global Awards

Press Release

October 28, 2020

2020 Scroller Heading Avianca AF Award

ATLANTA (October 28, 2020) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that the firm represented client Avianca in its aircraft lease and debt reprofiling program which was recently awarded the 2019 Latin America Deal of the Year in Airfinance Journal’s Global Awards. The award recognized the South American airline for its restructuring of more than $4.5 billion of aircraft lease, debt and other obligations with more than 125 creditors and suppliers beginning in early 2019. The transaction is the largest lease and debt reprofiling program of a Latin American air carrier.

The Airfinance Journal Global Awards, announced in the July/August 2020 issue, recognize excellence among market participants on deals across the airline and lessor financings in all regions around the world. They celebrate the pivotal role played by companies participating in the most outstanding air finance transactions that reached financial close and funded in the 2019 calendar year. The 2019 Global Awards are judged by an external, expert judging panel from a shortlist determined by the publication’s editorial team.

To view the complete list of winners of the 2019 Airfinance Journal Global Awards, click here.

Avianca is advised by firm wide members of SGR’s Global Transport Practice. Included in this transaction were partners Peter Barlow (New York/Austin), Jeffrey Tenen (Miami), and Israel Sanchez (Miami), counsel Ellen Fontanella (Miami), and associates Erin McCallum (Atlanta) and Anna Stangle (Atlanta).

About Avianca Holdings S.A.
Avianca is the commercial brand for the collection of passenger airlines and cargo airlines under the umbrella company Avianca Holdings S.A. Avianca has been flying uninterrupted for 100 years. With a fleet of 158 aircraft, Avianca serves 76 destinations in 27 countries within the Americas and Europe. With more than 21,000 employees, Avianca Holdings had revenues of US$4.6 billion in 2019 and transported 30.5 million passengers. On May 24, 2019, control of Avianca Holdings was assumed by Kingsland Holdings Limited, an independent third party of United Airlines. Visit www.avianca.com for more information.

About Airfinance Journal
Airfinance Journal is a market leading financial publication of the global aircraft and aviation business. Published continually since 1979, it has been at the forefront of supporting and informing aviation professionals. The Journal includes the latest news, analysis and data relating to the financing of airlines, aircraft leasing companies and manufacturers.

About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
SGR is a full service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s 250 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including aviation, corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta; Austin; Jacksonville; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Munich; New York; Southampton, U.K; and Washington, D.C.