Distribution Policy
The Company aims to provide shareholders with an attractive total return comprising income, from distributions through the period of the Company’s ownership of the aircraft, and capital, upon the sale of the aircraft.
In the event that the Company is wound-up pursuant to a shareholder resolution, shareholders may also receive a capital return reflecting any profit on the sale of the aircraft.
Income Distributions
The Company receives income in the form of lease rentals and income distributions are made to Shareholders quarterly, subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
From the first dividend payment in July 2015, the Company has targeted a distribution to investors of 2.0625 pence per Share per quarter (amounting to a yearly distribution of 8.25 pence per share) and continuing to do so.
The above target distributions are targets only and are based on various projections and assumptions at the time of modelling and are therefore subject to change. The income the Company may receive cannot be accurately predicted and is subject to risks including, but not limited to, a default by a lessee on its obligations under a lease, late delivery of any of the aircraft and the effect of loan bullet payments falling due (which may cause the Board to consider if a distribution can lawfully be made under Guernsey law). Moreover, should shareholders approve the acquisition of further aircraft or the sale proceeds of existing aircraft be re-invested, there can be no guarantee that the terms on which such further aircraft are leased will support the level of target dividends described above. There can therefore be no guarantee that dividends will be paid to shareholders and, if dividends are paid, as to the timing and amount of any such dividend. Any distribution of dividends to shareholders will be subject always to compliance with the applicable laws. Investors should not place any reliance on such target return in deciding whether to invest in the Company.
Before recommending any dividend, the Board will consider the capital position of the Company and the impact on such capital of paying the proposed dividend. The Company expects to declare and pay all dividends in Sterling.
Return of Capital
Following the sale of an aircraft acquired by the Company the Directors may, as they deem appropriate at their absolute discretion, either (i) return to shareholders the net capital proceeds of such sale, or (ii) re-invest the proceeds in accordance with the Company’s investment policy.
Further, the Company intends to return to shareholders net capital proceeds if the Company is wound-up (for example, pursuant to a shareholder resolution, including the Liquidation Resolution) subject to compliance with the Articles and the applicable laws.
Liquidation Resolution
Although the Company does not have a fixed life, the Articles require that the Directors convene a Liquidation Proposal Meeting in 2029, or such other date as Shareholders may approve by ordinary resolution. At the Liquidation Proposal Meeting, a Liquidation Resolution will be proposed that the Company proceed to an orderly wind up. In the event that the Liquidation Resolution is not passed, the Directors will consider alternatives for the Company and shall propose such alternatives at a general meeting of the shareholders, including re-leasing the aircraft (to the extent the aircraft have not already been disposed of in the market) or selling the aircraft and applying the capital received from the sale of those aircraft to: (i) repayment of debt; (ii) reinvestment in other aircraft; and/or (iii) any maintenance expenses associated with aircraft other than those disposed of.
In the event that a Shareholder Resolution is proposed for the acquisition of further aircraft, the purchase of such aircraft, but also upon shareholder approval of a change to the year in which the Liquidation Proposal Meeting is to be held (in order to ensure alignment with the periods of the leases proposed to be entered into in connection with the aircraft to be acquired).