19th Annual Global Airfinance Conference Dublin 2017

GECAS, the U.S. and Irish commercial aircraft financing and leasing business of GE, has a fleet of over 1,950 aircraft (~1,700 fixed wing/ ~250 rotary wing) in operation or on order, plus provides loans collateralized on an additional ~400 aircraft. With 45 years of industry experience, GECAS is recognized as the pre-eminent commercial airline and helicopter leasing company in the world, offering a wide range of aircraft types and financing options, including operating leases and secured debt financing. GECAS also provides an ever-expanding array of productivity solutions including spare engine leasing, aviation consulting services, and spare parts financing and management – an industry-leading suite of products and services to help our customers expand their operations, and stay equipped with the latest in commercial aviation technology.

KPMG is globally recognised as the centre of excellence for the aircraft leasing industry. Almost every aviation finance industry player of any significance can be found on our client list. We have been identified as one of the 30 most influential companies operating in the global aviation sector. We have advised on aviation transactions in over 150 countries worldwide.

About BNP Paribas in Asia Pacific (http://apac.bnpparibas/en/) 
About BNP Paribas (https://group.bnpparibas) 

BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 72 markets, with more than 200,000 employees. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets in Europe, International Financial Services and Corporate & Institutional Banking. 

In Asia Pacific, BNP Paribas is one of the best-positioned international financial institutions with an uninterrupted presence since 1860. Currently with over 18,000 employees* and a presence in 13 markets, BNP Paribas provides corporates, institutional and private investors with product and service solutions tailored to their specific needs. It offers a wide range of financial services covering corporate & institutional banking, wealth management, asset management, insurance, as well as retail banking and consumer financing through strategic partnerships. 

*excluding partnerships
 

Bank of Communications Financial Leasing Co., Ltd (“Bocomm Leasing”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of Communications, the 11th largest bank in the world. It was established in 2007 with a registered capital of USD 1.3B. By the end of 2018, with its total assets of more than USD 33B, Bocomm Leasing is the largest leasing company headquartered in Shanghai and one of the aviation leasing leaders in China. Furthermore, Bocomm Leasing is the first Chinese leasing company which establish professional leasing subsidiary in Chinese free trade zones. Its fleet consists of about 220 aircrafts in service and about 160 aircrafts in backlog. With over USD 11B aircraft assets, it has more than 50 domestic and international well-known aviation customers.
 
Bocomm Leasing can offer both finance and operating lease products. With competitive multi-currency (such as USD, JPY, EURO, RMB) financing tools, we could meet specific customers’requirements via SPVs set up both on-shore and off-shore. Powered by professional and innovative management, Bocomm Leasing is endeavored to provide aviation customers with value-added and tailor-made leasing services.
 
Innovation:

• First lease transaction through SPV established in Shanghai Free Trade Zone (SFTZ);
• First finance lease transaction denominated in JPY by Chinese Leasing company through an offshore SPV;
• First spare engine lease transaction through SPV established in SFTZ;
• First operating lease transaction for Airbus Tianjin assembled A320 through SPV established in Tianjin Free Trade Zone;
• First Chinese leasing company to establish subsidiary.

Company website: https://www.bocommleasing.com/en/index.mvc
 

AerCap is the global leader in aircraft leasing and aviation finance. With $42 billion of assets, AerCap is funded by a robust long-term capital structure that produces strong earnings and cash flow generation. The AerCap fleet of modern fuel-efficient aircraft, one of the largest in the world, provides our customers with scope for improved operational efficiency and profitability. With increased demand for global air transportation, our modern fleet profile and extensive portfolio of valued customers, we are a driving force in the industry.

Air Lease Corporation is a leading aircraft leasing company principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its valued airline customers worldwide.

AWAS is a global leader in commercial aircraft leasing, with the scale, expertise, and dedication to deliver innovative solutions for our customers around the world. Our team of industry professionals serves every major and developing commercial aviation market around the globe from our Dublin headquarters and offices in New York, Miami, and Singapore. For over 30 years AWAS has been providing flexible, customized and competitive aviation finance solutions to airlines worldwide. Our staff is known throughout the industry for providing an unmatched level of knowledge and consultative expertise to our customers, helping them to meet their business goals.

Dentons is the world's first polycentric global law firm. A top 20 firm on the Acritas 2015 Global Elite Brand Index, the Firm is committed to challenging the status quo in delivering consistent and uncompromising quality and value in new and inventive ways. Driven to provide clients a competitive edge, and connected to the communities where its clients want to do business, Dentons knows that understanding local cultures is crucial to successfully completing a deal, resolving a dispute or solving a business challenge. Now the world's largest law firm, Dentons' global team builds agile, tailored solutions to meet the local, national and global needs of private and public clients of any size in more than 125 locations serving 50-plus countries.

DVB enjoys a unique position, thanks to its strategic focus on the international transport market, with the submarkets of shipping, aviation, and land transport. As a highly-specialised niche provider, the Bank offers a broad range of customised financial services. With offices in twelve locations, we have a worldwide presence in the transport markets and their various segments. This global presence enables us to take into account both the international dimension and the local specifics of the markets in which our clients in Shipping, Aviation and Land Transport Finance operate. Our Aviation Finance team and our clients benefit from our unique and integrated platform, with a range of products and services covering the entire lifecycle of aircraft and engines – from financing new airplanes right through to dismantling them, plus individual solutions for their engines. Consequently, our strategy is geared to offering our clients the most efficient services “where money and metal meet” – irrespective of industry and economic cycles. We provide asset financing on the basis of sound research and a deep understanding of aviation markets and specific types of aircraft. Our experts have gained their wings through many years of experience in the banking business as well as in the aviation industry – with airlines, manufacturers, asset managers and lessors.

ICBC Aviation Leasing Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of ICBC Leasing, was established in Hong Kong in March 2018 with a registered capital of USD 1.2 billion. ICBC Leasing, established in 2007 with a registered capital of CNY 18 billion, is wholly owned by ICBC Bank. ICBC Leasing is one of the leading players in China’s leasing industry with a local and overseas asset portfolio worth more than CNY 300 billion.
At the end of 2018, ICBC Aviation Leasing owned and managed 668 aircraft, among which 385 commercial aircraft were in operation. ICBC Aviation Leasing provides innovative fleet leasing solutions for 83 domestic and global airline clients across 38 countries and regions. The fleet value in operation exceeds CNY 100 billion and ranks No. 6 worldwide and No. 1 in China. 
ICBC Aviation Leasing has won many important awards from multiple Chinese and international authorities, such as Airfinance Journal, Airline Economics, Global Transport Finance, Financial News and China Business News. Its growing business has spurred the company’s social responsibility and it has launched various CSR projects and encouraged employees to give back to society with love and responsibility.
Through the integration of domestic and international participants, ICBC Aviation Leasing aims for high standards of professionalism and efficiency. By leveraging the advantageous financial, legal and tax environment domestically and abroad, ICBC Aviation Leasing has developed into a globally competitive aircraft leasing company.
 

ORIX Aviation Systems Limited is a leading aircraft leasing and asset management company providing specialist services to clients, including some of the world’s leading financial institutions, government entities, operators and investors.

SMBC Aviation Capital is one of the world’s leading aircraft leasing companies.  We invest in the most modern, technologically advanced aircraft in the world that are most sought after by our 150 airline and investor customers in c. 50 countries.  We have a fleet of 675 owned, managed and committed aircraft.

 

Every minute one of SMBC Aviation Capital’s aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world.  Our 172 professionals based in Dublin and at locations in Amsterdam, Beijing, Hong Kong, Miami, New York, Seattle, Shanghai, Singapore, Tokyo and Toulouse are committed to understanding and meeting the requirements of our customers. 

 

The support of our shareholders, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Corporation sets us apart by giving us the scale to provide one of the broadest product offerings in the aircraft leasing industry.

 

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,600 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy.

For more than a century, Wilmington Trust has been a leader in corporate trust services, serving on some of the largest and highest profile transactions. We have capabilities in many of the world's most attractive jurisdictions.  Specifically in Ireland, we have acted as the sole Irish Owner Trustee service provider in Ireland for nearly a decade.  This is a testament to our commitment developing customized solutions, pairing technology and disciplined, tenured staff.  Our experience is your advantage when working with Wilmington Trust.  Please contact Caroline Magee to learn more - 353 1 7920711 or carolinemagee@wilmingtontrust.com.

Visit our website here: https://www.wilmingtontrust.com/wtcom/index.jsp?section=Corp&fileid=1378740089066

A&L Goodbody is a leading Irish law firm offering legal services to the Corporate sector across the island of Ireland. The firm provides a full range of business legal services through corporate, banking and financial services, tax, litigation and commercial property. In addition to the main office in Dublin, the firm also has offices in Belfast, London, New York, San Francisco and Palo Alto. With an international outlook and expertise, A&L Goodbody advise many international companies on successful investments and activities in Ireland. For further information visit www.algoodbody.com.

With nearly 1,000 lawyers practicing in 13 offices around the globe, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP serves clients across 40 distinct practice areas. The combined firm, which draws upon the legacies of both Arnold & Porter and Kaye Scholer, brings together 100 years of renowned regulatory expertise, sophisticated litigation and transactional practices, and leading multidisciplinary offerings in the life sciences and financial services industries.

Burnham Sterling is a leading provider of financial advisory and capital raising services to the transportation industry. Burnham Sterling/Burnham Sterling Securities has placed billions of dollars in private debt, equity and sale/leaseback transactions backed by transportation assets. We specialize in advising issuers, investors and sellers on financing options and placing transactions valued between $50 million and $1 billion.

CFM International (CFM) was formed in 1974 as a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines. Today, CFM is the world’s leading supplier of commercial transport aircraft engines and the best example of a successful international joint venture. 
Since the first engine was delivered in 1982, CFM has received orders for more than 50,000 CFM56 and LEAP engines from 600 operators worldwide, of which more than 34,700 engines have been delivered.   
In addition to the highly successful CFM56 product line, CFM introduced the advanced LEAP engine which has demonstrated an unrivaled utilization since it started revenue service in August 2016. The LEAP engine powers the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 MAX and the COMAC C919. To date, the fleet has logged more than 4,000 000 flight-hours. Overall, CFM has garnered orders and commitments for more than 17,300 LEAP and plans to build 2,000 engines per year by 2020.  
As of March 2019, more than 750 aircraft had been delivered to 100 customers. 
The engine is delivering a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency along with significant reductions in noise and emissions signatures.  All of this while maintaining CFM’s industry-leading reliability and overall cost of ownership. 
In 2008, with the launch of the LEAP engine, CFM announced that all services offerings for this new product would come from directly from CFM.  The organize could also provide support for CFM56 engines, as well.  This was done to support customer requests for seamless product sales and support.  
Since then, the primary focus of CFM Services has been to provide world-class aftermarket products and programs, working with customers to meet their unique, evolving needs from entry-into-service to mid-life through maturity and retirement.  

Matheson’s primary focus is on serving the Irish legal needs of international companies and financial institutions doing business in and through Ireland. Our clients include over half of the Fortune 100 companies. We also advise 7 of the top 10 global technology brands and over half of the world’s 50 largest banks. We have more than 600 people across our four offices, in Dublin, London, New York and Palo Alto, including over 350 lawyers and 75 partners. Matheson is the only Irish law firm commended by the Financial Times for innovation in corporate law, finance law, dispute resolution and corporate strategy.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation
Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation commenced operation on April 1, 2008 to conduct the design, type certification, sales & marketing and customer support of the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ). MRJ is a family of 70~90-seat next-generation aircraft featuring state-of-the-art aerodynamics and Pratt & Whitney's revolutionary PurePower® engine to drastically reduce fuel consumption, noise, and emissions, while offering top-class operational benefits, an outstanding cabin and large overhead bins designed for heightened passenger flying comfort. Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation is capitalized at 270 Billion Yen (including capital reserve), with financing furnished by, among others, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The MRJ is currently conducting flight and ground tests for the Type Certification at facilities located both in Japan and U.S.

Company website: http://www.flythemrj.com/
 

Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver the cleanest, safest and most competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs. We have customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 4,000 marine customers including 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.

In the Civil Aerospace market, we power more than 35 types of commercial aircraft and have over 13,000 engines in service around the world. Our engines power the latest modern widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A330neo, Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 as well as the world’s fastest and largest business jets.

HaoTong Aviation is an AS9100, AS9110, AS9120,ASA100 and FAA AC00-56 quality system accredited company providing aviation technical services since 2011. We are also an EASA approved Part-21J Design Organization and Continuing Airworthiness Management Organization (CAMO) providing Engineering Solutions and Asset Tech Management to lessors, airlines, MROs and aircraft manufacturers.HaoTong Aviation has a flexible team able to respond quickly at short notice to our customers. The technical team comprises of Aeronautical Engineers experienced in engineering design,fleet management, aircraft airworthiness inspection and asset tech management. Our work force is highly experienced having worked on projects all over the world,ranging from commercial aircraft (narrow body and wide body), business jet and engines.

TMF Group is a Global Business Operator present in every country our clients’ aspirations demand. We are renowned for helping clients operate and invest seamlessly, in and beyond their home markets, by providing Global Business Services that allow them to focus on their core competencies. We have extensive experience in providing services to companies and special purpose vehicles (SPVs) used for owning and leasing aircraft. Our clients include aircraft lessors, banks, airlines, private equity and hedge funds. We have staff in every major global jurisdiction used for aviation services, which allows us to move swiftly and provide efficient, effective services anywhere in the world. We specialize in providing services to operating lease platforms including holding companies and aircraft owning companies (AOCs), aircraft financing structures, lease in, lease out (LILO) special purpose vehicles and aircraft and engine securitization vehicles. We manage hundreds of aircraft leases in SPVs around the world, nine out of the ten top global aircraft lessors are our client; we service half of the top 50 aircraft lessors globally.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP is a leading international law firm that provides innovative legal services to clients around the world. Founded in New York over 150 years ago, Milbank has offices in Beijing, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, DC. Milbank’s lawyers collaborate across practices and offices to help the world’s leading commercial, financial and industrial enterprises, as well as institutions, individuals and governments, achieve their strategic objectives.

Link Asset Services is part of Link Group, a leading global provider of financial administration solutions. With over 30 years in experience in the industry, Link Asset Services is the leading provider of corporate services to aviation leasing companies in Ireland.

Citi’s Aviation
Citi is a market leader in providing a full range of corporate and investment banking advisory services and products to important aircraft manufacturers, full service airlines, low cost carriers, aircraft lessors, airports and other aviation related customers around the world. Our Services to the sector include M&A & privatization advice, public & private equity, public & private debt, bank financing, export credit financing, project financing, securitization, leasing, risk management and transaction banking. Leveraging its presence in over 100 countries, Citi is uniquely positioned to deliver solutions to the aviation industry – locally, regionally and globally.

Company website: www.citi.com
 

CMB Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (abbreviated to the “CMBFL”), approved by the State Council, is one of the first batch of five financial leasing companies affiliated with banks in China. With the approval from China Banking Regulatory Commission, CMBFL was founded in March, 2008. CMBFL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Merchants Bank (abbreviated to the “CMB”) with the registered capital of RMB 6 billion. CMBFL opened on April 23, 2008. Since the establishment of CMBFL, it has been actively researching and developing all kinds of financial leasing products in accordance with the need of the physical economy. CMBFL launched financial solutions for clients from various fields of industry including aviation, shipping, energy, equipment manufacturing, energy saving and environmental protection, health industry, public utility and culture industry, financial leasing companies. The clients of CMBFL come from a variety of large, medium and small companies. CMBFL permanently persists in the core values of “Service, Innovation and Moderate” and the corporate objective of “High-Base, High-Standard and High-Level”. The balance of the leasing assets of CMBFL exceeded RMB100 billion in Sept. 2014 which made CMBFL among the ranks of “100 billion” financial leasing companies. On the new development stage, CMBFL has formally established the strategy of “internationalize, professionalize and differentiate” so as to build sustainable competitive edge to become the expert in financial solutions with excellent professional service abilities, and be committed to becoming the best financial leasing company in China. The balance of the leasing assets of CMBFL exceeded USD25 billion in Dec. 2018. 

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd. is a globally recognized aerospace corporation and one of the largest aircraft leasing companies in the world. Headquartered in Dubai, DAE’s leasing and engineering divisions serve over 125 airline customers around the world from its seven locations in Dubai, Dublin, Singapore, Jordan and the US.
 
DAE’s award-winning leasing division DAE Capital has an owned, managed and committed fleet of approximately 355 Airbus, ATR and Boeing aircraft with a fleet value of US$ 14 billion. DAE’s strong capital base, its full-service, best-in-class platform and its three decades of leasing experience allows it to provide customized and comprehensive solutions to airlines to address their fleet ambitions.
 

DBRS is an independent, privately held, globally recognized credit ratings agency with offices in Toronto, New York, London, Chicago and Mexico City. We strive to differentiate ourselves from competitors through a more pragmatic rather than mechanistic approach, in-depth research and unequalled mandate execution.

 

Holland & Knight’s Aircraft Finance Team has earned an international reputation for transactional work involving the domestic and cross-border acquisition, financing and leasing of aircraft, engines and spare parts. Our lawyers have completed hundreds of aircraft acquisition, financing, leasing and restructuring transactions on behalf of the world’s leading leasing companies, financial institutions, manufacturers and airlines. Our team’s presence across offices in multiple time zones ensures clients that coverage is timely, responsive and serves their best interests. Holland & Knight is a global law firm with more than 1,300 attorneys in 28 offices in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom.

Established in 1988, IBA is a leading independent aviation consultancy advising a broad mix of lessors, operators, financiers and investors. Operating globally, we inform decision making and support operations across the aviation spectrum. Whether supporting strategic investments, managing aircraft, advising on expansion, or driving efficiency improvements, our mix of intelligence gathering, analysis, proprietary data, technical expertise and decades of aviation experience delivers value across aviation opportunities and challenges.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 600 attorneys in locations across the United States and an affiliate in London. We strive to be a firm of first choice for clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services nationally and globally. While Katten offers an extensive range of legal services across numerous industries, our core areas of practice include corporate, financial services, litigation, real estate, commercial finance, intellectual property and trusts and estates. Among our clients are a wide range of public and private companies, including a third of the Fortune 100, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals

With strong support from the major shareholder China Minsheng Bank, Minsheng Financial Leasing Co., Ltd (MSFL), with registered capital of 5.095 billion Yuan now, was established in April 2008 and is one of the first five banking background financial leasing companies upon the approval of China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC).
 
Minsheng commercial aviation is beginning in July 2013, which is an important arm of MSFL integrated aviation platform. MSFL has a professional commercial aircraft leasing team with long-term experience. Minsheng commercial aircraft leasing team can implement custom design of trading structure suitable for the characteristics of the industry, enterprise and equipment according to the project requirements, which fully meets diversified and personalized needs of clients.
 
In the past five years, MSFL gradually opens up the market and accumulates high-quality customers by purchasing asset package, leaseback, purchase-modification leasing and other modified business model. As of the end of May 2018, MSFL owns nearly 50 commercial aircraft on lease to many global airlines across China, Europe and other Southeast Asian countries.
 
Supported by the business platforms in Beijing, Hong Kong, Tianjin and Dunlin, MSFL will actively explore innovative mode according to the market situation and custom demand. MSFL will continue to expand international and domestic aviation markets, and strive to become the Asia-Pacific region’s leading commercial aircraft leasing company and an important participant in international commercial aircraft leasing market to provide personalized leasing and financing services to airlines worldwide.

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: MFG), based in Japan, is one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering comprehensive financial and strategic services including private banking and venture capital through its subsidiaries. The group has over 900 offices and 60,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. As of December 31, 2017, its total assets were $1.8 trillion. Learn more about Mizuho Financial Group at www.mizuho-fg.com.​

PTS Aviation Inc. is a worldwide supplier of full service components. Founded in 1995 with over 120 years combined management experience. PTS Aviation Inc. has been creating innovative ways to serve our domestic and international customer needs for over 20 years. We pride ourselves as a reliable aftermarket supplier of aircraft parts and inventory solutions. We are dedicated to providing high quality parts, engines, and services to all of our customers.

As an independent advisor to the aviation industry, SGI Aviation provides technical consulting and advisory services in the areas of aircraft and engine asset management and safety regulations. Our services portfolio covers the entire lifecycle of an aviation asset, as well as the surrounding regulatory, operational and IT needs. Our clients include lessors and financiers, airlines, corporate aircraft owners, aircraft manufacturers and MROs, as well as aviation authorities and regulators. W.: www.sgiaviation.com E.: info@sgiaviation.com

Sumisho Aero Engine Lease B.V., headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is an engine leasing joint venture between Sumitomo Corporation (Japan) and MTU Aero Engines (Germany). It specializes in medium- to long-term leases and engine financing solutions.

Sysco Leasing Software is a complete management solution in a single system that empowers aircraft lessors’ deal desk, contracts, assets, technical data, asset forecasting and management reporting within Microsoft Dynamics. Providing secure, real-time business intelligence across all lessor teams including legal, risk, sales and operations. Our solution enables these teams to communicate and collaborate on deals and leases anywhere in the world - from any device. Contact Gerry Power T 353 1 6768900 E marketing@sysco-software.com W www.sysco-software.com/sectors/aircraft-leasing/

Turbine Services & Solutions Aerospace (TS&S Aerospace) provides comprehensive MRO services to customers around the world on aircraft engines installed on a variety of applications including Airbus A330, A320, A310/A300; Boeing 787, 767 and 747; Augusta Bell 212/412, as well as other fixed wing and rotary light aircraft. www.ts-s.ae

JSC VTB Leasing is one of the leaders in the leasing services market and holds a substantial competitive position in main segments of the market. The company has proved itself as a reliable partner not only in Russia but also in the global international market.

Willis Lease has earned an industry-wide reputation for service, innovation, technical support and in-depth knowledge of commercial aviation. Our core business is leasing commercial aircraft engines to airlines, OEMs and MROs — worldwide. Along with short- and long-term leasing, we have developed and implemented strategic engine pooling programs which provide pool members with attractive benefits. We provide innovative leasing solutions to our customers. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools supported by cutting-edge technology, as well as technical and asset management, provided through its subsidiary Willis Asset Management Limited, and various end-of-life solutions for aircraft, engines and aviation materials provided through its subsidiary, Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. With one of the largest and most diverse portfolios of engines in the aviation industry, we can meet a wide range of customer technical and operating requirements. Quick responses to AOG emergencies illustrate how our worldwide team of dedicated professionals responds 24/7. Our experience, knowledge and leadership in engine leasing gives our customers a competitive advantage with Power to Spare — Worldwide®.

The Dublin International Piano Competition was established in 1988. A triennial event, it was sponsored for the first three competitions by GPA Group. In 1994, the sponsorship was taken over by Guardian Insurance and when AXA acquired the company in 1999 they also took over title sponsorship which they sustained for 10 years. The Competition is now supported by donations and private benefactors. Since its foundation the Dublin Competition has grown in stature, and now ranks among the most important piano competitions in the world. It offers a generous prize fund, but perhaps the most important prize is the prestigious list of engagements secured for the winner. These include début concerts in London and New York as well as appearances at international festivals and concertos with leading orchestras. Previous winners have launched highly successful international careers from this springboard.

Fáilte Ireland is the National Tourism Development Authority. Our role is to support the tourism industry and work to sustain Ireland as a high-quality and competitive tourism destination. We provide a range of practical business supports to help tourism businesses better manage and market their products and services. We also work with other state agencies and representative bodies, at local and national levels, to implement and champion positive and practical strategies that will benefit Irish tourism and the Irish economy. We promote Ireland as a holiday destination through our domestic marketing campaign (DiscoverIreland.ie) and manage a network of nationwide tourist information centres that provide help and advice for visitors to Ireland.