ACC Aviation moves into aviation finance advisory; Viktor Berta named Vice President, Aviation Finance Advisory

Monday 12th July 2021

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ACC Aviation, the global aviation services business, backed by YFM Equity Partners, is expanding the expertise it offers to airlines, lenders and lessors with the addition of an in-house aviation finance specialist. Viktor Berta joins the group effective 15^th July  as Vice President of its newly created Aviation Finance Practice. The appointment broadens the scope of ACC Aviation’s suite of Consultancy services, led by Rob Watts, who also takes on an enhanced role as Director of Aviation Services.

 

The development will see ACC Aviation extend its Consultancy offer into four distinct pillars of activity – Aviation Finance Services / Asset Management / Consulting and coming this Autumn, Technical Services. 

 

Viktor Berta, who will work between the UK and Dubai offices, brings a wealth of experience and contacts in aviation finance to the group, drawing on his eight years in aviation finance and investment management at DVB Bank and Erste Bank, working from their Amsterdam and London offices.    

 

Viktor has structured and restructured a plethora of deals - asset backed as well as corporate loans, working with lessors, airlines and MROs on structuring and restructuring facilities, utilising his asset and credit knowledge.  He has built an impressive network of global airlines, including many niche carriers, complementary to ACC Aviation’s existing airline partnerships to form a ready market for the expanded offer.

 

Viktor is a member of ISTAT, the ISTAT Appraiser Programme and a Member of the Aviation Club UK.  He became familiar with ACC Aviation in 2018 and has been attending their annual airline conferences in London since. Prior to the pandemic, while holding his position as a lender, he worked with ACC Aviation’s consulting team on an aircraft financing deal, planting a seed of the value with both parties, of bringing such expertise in-house.  

 

“We agreed it was an opportune time to expand ACC Aviation’s offer to help our clients and partners navigate the changing aviation landscape. With our extended suite of services, we can now offer advice to analyse financing and leasing arrangements, restructuring existing indebtedness and sourcing new forms of financing,” said ACC Chief Executive Officer Phil Mathews. 

 

“We are delighted that our Board and equity partners YFM continue to back our expansion into new markets and new service offerings, enabling us to expand our capabilities and welcome Viktor to the team.”

 

Viktor is looking forward to driving the move into aviation financial services and supporting the company’s rapid growth trajectory.  (ACC Aviation is lauded as one of aviation’s fastest growing companies, entering the Financial Times’ FT1000 - top 1000 companies - for the first time this year.)

 

“The great appeal in joining ACC Aviation is that we can offer the full platform of aircraft transaction and finance expertise under one roof across Aviation Finance, Asset Management, valuation and advisory, and shortly, Technical Services. In the current climate airlines, lessors and lenders alike, are evaluating their balance sheets, assets, and associated financing facilities. The market is facing a period of unsustainable indebtedness and stakeholders are looking at ways to restructure and refinance their balance sheets. It’s an excellent time to widen ACC’s expertise and offer it all under one consultancy. I am looking forward to talking with existing and new clients about the offering,” he said. 

 

Complementary services around the aircraft asset

 

Providing complementary services around the aircraft asset is the underlying logic with this move, said ACC Aviation Director of Consulting Rob Watts, noting the group will shortly complete the circle with the addition of a new Technical Services hire too. 

 

“This means that ACC Aviation will be able to help a client evaluate the right aircraft, both economically and technically, source aircraft, arrange associated debt or lease capital, technically inspect and accept the aircraft, monetise the aircraft over the ownership period through ACC’s charter and ACMI divisions, and then at the end of that period, support the return of the aircraft to its lessors or remarket them into the secondary market. We are positioning ourselves to become a full-service aircraft transactions consultancy to airlines, lessors and financiers alike,” he commented.

 

   

  Viktor Berta joins ACC Aviation as VP,  Aviation Finance Advisory 

 

About ACC Aviation

 

Founded in 2002 as an aircraft leasing specialist, today ACC Aviation delivers market-leading solutions across leasing, air charter, aviation asset management and strategic consultancy services. Through an international office network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Asia, it provides bespoke aviation solutions to clients across the globe. Its success is built on the strength and depth of its relationships within the aviation industry and, through continued investment in developing and maintaining these partnerships with a persistent focus on innovation, ACC Aviation delivers superior solutions to a diverse and growing client base.

 

YFM Equity Partners-backed ACC Aviation  was ranked 85^th in the Sunday Times BDO national Profit Track 100 Awards this Spring, lauded for its contribution to the economy and society during the pandemic.  ACC Aviation first entered the Profit Track 100 line up in 2020 and has featured in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 since 2013.  It was also welcomed as an FT1000 ranked company for the first time this year, entering the fifth annual edition of the Financial Times’ Top 1000 European companies in 786^th place, achieving a notable growth rate of 44.1%. 

 

www.ACCAviation.com