A Guide for the Perplexed

Abstract

Thousands of aircraft have been financed in the public markets by the issuance of securities known as enhanced equipment trust certificates (EETCs). Investors' decisions to buy, sell, or hold EETCs are typically governed by standard investment criteria such as identity of the issuer, nature and value of collateral, loan-to-value (LTV) coverage, yield, average life tenor, and subordination. In addition, the author discusses a number of ?exogenous elements? unique to EETC securities that should also play an important role in the making of these investment decisions, including whether the financing is a mortgage or leveraged lease, and controlling party decision-making dynamics such as atomization of investors, whether investors are yield or asset based, cross holdings, fear of litigation, collecting bargaining, and whether controlling investors bought at par or a discount.