Milestone Aviation Group Provides $230 Million Secured Debt Facility to Bristow Group

DUBLIN, Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Milestone Aviation Group Limited ("Milestone"), a GE Capital Aviation Services ("GECAS") company and the global leader in helicopter leasing, announced today a commitment letter with Bristow Group Inc. ("Bristow"), a leading provider of global industrial aviation services. Under the agreement, Milestone is providing a $230 million secured term loan facility to a subsidiary of Bristow, secured by a pool of Bristow's helicopter assets. As part of the agreement, Bristow will extend select Sikorsky S-92 leases with Milestone, and Milestone will also defer lease rentals on select Airbus H225 assets on lease to Bristow.

"Bristow is a world leader in industrial aviation and our long-time partner, and this funding agreement symbolizes GE and Milestone's confidence in the Bristow strategy and management team," said Milestone President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel Rosenthal. "We take great pride in our ability to create innovative solutions to best serve the operators we work with, and as part of GE, we are very pleased that we can continue to be a key contributor of capital to helicopter operators. We understand the challenges that exist in the current environment, and we look forward to continuing to ensure the long-term success of the global helicopter industry."

"Milestone has been our primary lessor since 2012, and this agreement is another example of the continued strength of their commitment to Bristow Group," said Jonathan Baliff, Bristow President and Chief Executive Officer. "Throughout our relationship, they have worked creatively and flexibly to structure lease solutions best suited for our business, and with the backing of GE they now have the capability to support our business objectives by providing us with significant financial flexibility, as an important alternative to traditional banking capital." 

About Milestone Aviation Group
Milestone Aviation Group, a GE Capital Aviation Services company, is the world's leading helicopter leasing and financing company. Milestone has a fleet of over 225 helicopters worth US $3.9 billion plus debt commitments of approximately $400 million. The company has a forward order book of firm and option aircraft with an estimated aggregate purchase price in excess of US $3 billion. Milestone partners with helicopter operators worldwide, providing a wide array of financial and productivity solutions, including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, engine leasing and fleet advisory. The company supports 34 customers in 26 countries serving a variety of industries, including offshore oil and gas, search and rescue, emergency medical services, police surveillance, mining and other utility missions. www.milestoneaviation.com

About GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS)
GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) is a world leader in aviation leasing and financing.  With 50 years of experience, GECAS offers a wide range of aircraft types including narrowbodies, widebodies, regional jets, turboprops, freighters and helicopters, plus multiple financing products and services including operating leases, purchase/leasebacks, secured debt financing, capital markets, engine leasing, airframe parts management and airport/airline consulting.  GECAS owns or services a fleet of over 1,950 aircraft (~1,700 fixed wing/ ~250 rotary wing) in operation or on order, plus provides loans collateralized on an additional ~400 aircraft. GECAS serves ~270 customers in over 75 countries from a network of 25 offices. www.gecas.com

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world's Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com

Media Contact for Milestone:

Nathan Riggs
Kekst and Company
+1-212-521-4804
[email protected]

SOURCE Milestone Aviation Group