Watson Farley & Williams, a prominent legal firm, provided invaluable guidance to UniCredit Bank GmbH during the ECA-backed financing of Airbus rescue helicopters. The loan, amounting to €25m, was extended to Elifriulia S.p.A. for the acquisition of three Airbus H145 helicopters from Airbus SE, with the backing of German ECA Euler Hermes.
This intricate transaction involved a complex cross-border and cross-jurisdictional purchase and financing structure, integrating aspects of English, German, Italian, and Spanish law. Established in 1971, Elifriulia, headquartered in Ronchi dei Legionari in the northern Friuli region, is renowned as Italy’s oldest helicopter operator. Serving various sectors such as helicopter rescue, public passenger transport, flight education and training, and aircraft maintenance, the company holds a significant position in the aviation industry.
The WFW Project & Structured Finance team, specialized in cross-border legal matters, played a pivotal role in overseeing the core English law aspects of the transaction. The team was led by Frankfurt Partner Florian Kutzbach, supported by Senior Associate Kathy Buenaventura, Transaction Lawyer Andrés Mejía Barboza, and Trainee Henry Stevenson. The team also received support from Paris Partner Alexia Russell, Senior Associate Hugues Hounkpati, Milan Partner Mario D’Ovidio, Senior Associate Alessandro Di Carlo, Associate Daniele Sani, Trainee Marta Lomuscio, and Madrid Partner Jose Maria Anarte, along with Associates Julia Belmonte and Diana Palazon.
Florian Kutzbach expressed his satisfaction, stating, “We are pleased to have advised UniCredit on this complex international transaction spanning a number of jurisdictions and areas of legal expertise. This assignment once again underscores WFW’s outstanding capabilities in managing challenging cross-border financing projects.” This statement exemplifies the firm’s commitment to delivering exceptional legal services, reaffirming its position as a leading authority in the legal sector.
Deloitte Legal also played a crucial role in advising Eliance Group and Elifriulia throughout the transaction, ensuring that all legal aspects were meticulously addressed and resolved.
Through the strategic collaboration between legal experts and financial institutions, such as UniCredit, complex international transactions are effectively navigated, emphasizing the importance of legal guidance in ensuring the smooth execution of such intricate deals. With the involvement of renowned legal firms such as Watson Farley & Williams, clients can be assured that their legal needs will be expertly managed and that their interests will be safeguarded at all times.