Airfinance Journal today publishes the shortlist for the 2017 Deals of the Year, team awards and winners of its individual awards.

Now in its 22nd year, the awards are an essential calendar fixture for airlines and the global aviation finance sector.

Each year Airfinance Journal shines a spotlight on aviation transactions that standout in terms of innovation, size, timing, pricing and whether the deal created a new market standard.

The shortlist for these prestigious awards, which will take place in Miami on 16 May, has been compiled after a rigorous judging process.

More than 150 submissions were received covering 90 unique transactions (average 10 deals per category), with an aggregate value of approximately $62 billon. The submissions were then narrowed down to three deals per category by Airfinance Journal's editorial and data experts.

The shortlist now has been passed on to a judging panel of senior aviation finance executives, comprising Bertrand Grabowski (former board member and head of aircraft finance at DVB Bank), Scott Scherer (former vice president of aircraft financial services and general manager at Boeing Capital Corp.) and Hugh Robertson (former aviation finance partner at Milbank).

There are 19 categories considered in this year’s Airfinance Journal’s awards. The 2017 shortlist of the best industry deals:

Bank Loan Deal of the Year
Peregrine (AerCap-NCB) for 21 mid-life aircraft
DAE Capital PDP for 15 A320s
Qantas A$350m enhanced corporate loan programme

Export Credit Deal of the Year
LOT 2x787s UKEF financing
Aeromexico MRO SERV insured loan
Norwegian 787 Jolco-UKEF financing

Tax Lease Deal of the Year‎
Bocomm Leasing 737s with Ex-Im takeout option
THY 2x777 Freighters AFIC/French Lease
Wizz Air 3xA320s Japanese operating lease

Operating Lease Deal of the Year
DAE Gulf Air 5x787s PDP/purchase and leasebacks
AviaAM 8xA320s Chinese financing of purchase and leasebacks with Aeroflot
Aeromexico 25x737 Max PDP/sale and leasebacks

Equity Deal of the Year
Azul $644m IPO
VietJet $167m IPO
ACG-Tokyo Century 20% sale

M&A Deal of the Year
Avolon/CIT Aerospace acquisition
DAE/AWAS acquisition
GECAS/CDPQ joint venture

Capital Markets Deal of the Year
American 2016-3 B tranche EETC
Goshawk $567m Unsecured Bond
Aergo/METAL 2017-1 ABS

Innovative Deal of the Year
Atlas/Titan Aviation/Amazon $306m Risk bifurcation
ICBC Leasing/Korean Air 1x787 Debut HK tax concession structure
Korean Air 2x787+1x747-8I First AFIC transaction

Used Deal of the Year
Cathay Pacific Used Aircraft $350m RCF
Aero Capital Solutions $350m Stub leases
Altavair 2x777-200LRs Secured Refinancing

Overall Deal of the Year
Avolon CIT acquisition
DAE AWAS acquisition
Korean Air 2x787+1x747-8I First AFIC transaction

Team Shortlists:

Aviation Finance House of the Year
BNP Paribas
Citi
CA-CIB
Goldman Sachs

Lessor of the Year
Avolon
DAE
CDB Leasing

‎Airline Treasury Team of the Year‎
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Gol Linhas Aereas

Lessor Treasury Team of the Year
AerCap
BOC Aviation
DAE

Individual award winners 

Aviation Finance Person of the Year
Bob Morin – Marsh

News Event of the Year
Airbus/Bombardier/CSeries investment

Editor's Deal of the Year
Jack Dutton, the editor of AFJ, will choose this award after all other awards are determined

Lifetime Achievement Award
Scott Scherer

Best Airline of the Year as Measured by Return on Capital
To be determined by data from The Airline Analyst

The judging panel will now determine the winning deal in each category and, if necessary, by vote. Members of the judging panel must recuse themselves from deliberations relating to a category where their current or immediate past employer is short-listed.

In the event the judging panel cannot reach agreement, the panel may call for further information or discussion with AFJ.
A deal can only win one award. All winners will be announced on 16 April.

To ensure a space or table at the 16 May Deals of the Year Awards, please contact Chris Gardner: chris.gardner@airfinancejournal.com 

To find out more about the awards dinner please click on the image below to view the brochure: