FACE TO FACE - CEO MERCHANT WEST GROUP: BRAAM VILJOEN

Guy Leitch has 10 questions.

- Guy LEITCH

GL: Merchant West is a relatively new arrival in aviation financing, which requires specialist knowledge and is a small market. Is aviation an end in itself or a bridge to access a broader market of high net worth (HNW) individuals who are aircraft owners and operators?

BV: Merchant West has been financing assets for 25 years to the local corporate market across industries and sectors, as well as to HNW individuals. Our philosophy is to put the customer at the centre of our solution design process, under the premise that clients have multiple and diverse needs. We fund solar, farming, and mining equipment just as easily as we will finance that business owner or executive's aircraft. We have the expertise in-house to finance fixed wings or rotors and see the size of the market as being offset by the big-ticket prices for these assets. Its more than funding an asset purchase - clients also require finance for avionics upgrades, engine overhauls and rebuilds.

GL: Tell us about Merchant West - do you finance aviation across Africa?

BV: Merchant West is a privately owned financial services group based in South Africa. The group has a countrywide footprint with operations in other territories like Namibia, with an appraisal of the Botswana market underway at present. Insofar as aviation assets in Africa are concerned, our focus is on financing ZS aircraft registered with the SACAA.

GL: For many ageing aircraft, avionics and engine overhauls have become the single largest item of capital expenditure. Do you find the investment pays off in the value and saleability of the aircraft?