Vallair said it has appointed Maxime Gorsse as Director of Investor Relations & Project Financing. Based in Luxembourg, Gorsse will be pivotal in advising Vallair on all capital expenditure decisions as well as sourcing and negotiating financing for Vallair assets and programmes.
Grégoire Lebigot, Vallair CEO, said: “For any capital-intensive programme, project financing is key. Our Cargo Conversion programme is a prime example of this. As we look to further augment and expand this avenue, the requirement for regular funding has very much come to the fore. Maxime has the industry insight and financial expertise to source attractive debt or equity financing to support Vallair’s growth over the coming years and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.”
Vallair said it has recently been awarded a ten-year lease for a new state-of-the-art full-service aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul and cargo conversion hangar which is being constructed adjacent to its existing aero structures repair and logistics facility in central France. This significant project in partnership with the Centre Val de Loire Region and the Chateauroux Airport Establishment further establishes Vallair’s MRO footprint in Europe and complements its MRO & Painting facilities in Montpellier.
“The COVID pandemic has had a significant impact on the aviation market. We are seeing key lending players on the debt and equity side exercising extreme caution with their investment decisions. Consequently, it is likely that the range of investors willing to provide financing in the short term will be limited to those already familiar with the freighter market and its resilience. This environment will certainly present challenges, however I am confident that Vallair’s wide and varied portfolio will have sustained investor appeal,” Gorsse commented.
Gorsse has an MA in Finance & Actuarial Science and has accrued his professional experience in the aviation finance sector. Most recently he worked for CHC Helicopter as Senior Manager of Fleet Transactions.
