Ritch Mueller advises on financing for VivaAerobus engine acquisition
Ritch Mueller has acted as legal counsel to Itasca, as insurer agent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), as lender, arranger, and facility agent, in an insurance-backed financing program for the acquisition of five IAE aircraft engines by VivaAerobus.
It was a cross-border transaction involving Mexico, Ireland, England, and the United States. The financing was structured as an insurance-backed financing for the acquisition of the five engines.
The deal, closed on July 11 2025, is a financial structure where insurance is used to reduce the lender’s risk, making it easier or more cost-effective for an airline or aircraft operator to finance the purchase of engines.
Ritch Mueller’s lead partner was Octavio Olivo Villa (pictured) along with Carlos F. Chiossone López. Other firms involved in the transaction were A&O Shearman, English counsel to Itasca MGA Limited, as Itasca insurer agent, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
