Babcock & Brown arranges over $250 million of aicraft acquisition financing

International investment and specialised fund and asset management group Babcock & Brown announced that a joint initiative with HCI Capital AG (HCI), a leading distribution house for closed funds and structured products in Germany, has acquired its first aircraft leasing investment with the purchase of two Boeing 777-200LR aircraft delivered to Air Canada in February 2008. The aircraft have been leased back to Air Canada under long-term operating leases. Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (NORD/LB) provided the long-term and equity bridge loan financing for the transactions. Babcock & Brown acted as the arranger for the initial purchases and will also co-initiate the aircraft fund with HCI. Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM) will serve as the aircraft fund