Brian D. Wendt

Brian Wendt represents operating lessors, commercial banks, finance companies, private equity firms, hedge funds and other investors in a variety of commercial aircraft, railcar and other high-value equipment transactions.

With a responsive and business-driven approach, Brian identifies and delivers targeted solutions that help his clients achieve their long-term business goals.

Guiding businesses through all aspects of global transportation and high-value equipment finance, Brian negotiates, structures and closes leasing and sales transactions, including international deals, for assets worldwide. He is also experienced with both traditional and bespoke financing vehicles and structures.

Brian advises clients on securitizations and warehouse financings, Rule 144A and Regulation S capital markets offerings, joint ventures, M&A transactions, cross-border operating and finance leases, distressed debt trades and workouts, and portfolio acquisition and disposition transactions. He also provides guidance on various day-to-day matters, including corporate structuring, servicing and management agreements, as well as general corporate and securities law issues.

Experience

• Guided the client as lead railcar counsel on the $1.1 billion acquisition and financing of over 20,000 railcars.
• Represented Stonebriar Commercial Finance LLC in multiple equipment asset-backed securities transactions, each backed by a diverse portfolio of equipment lease and loan contracts secured by essential-use assets across industries such as transportation, medical, energy and manufacturing. These transactions include equity interests in entities formed to own aircraft and portfolio interest certificates related to motor vehicle leases.
• Advised ITE Management L.P. and American Industrial Transport Inc. (AITX) regarding the issuance of asset-backed securitizations by USQ Rail IV and USQ Canada Rail IV, secured by a $670.3 million railcar portfolio.
• Represented Blue Owl Asset Leasing Fund as sponsor in its first securitization bond deal worth $367.3 million, backed by a pool of equipment loans and leases extended to borrowers in the manufacturing, healthcare equipment and IT hardware sectors.
• Advised ITE Management L.P. on the acquisition of The Andersons, Inc.’s rail leasing business by ITE affiliate American Industrial Transport, Inc. (AITX) for $550 million.
• Represented Granite Park Finance Holdings I LLC as the sponsor in its first commercial equipment asset-backed securitization, secured by a portfolio of commercial equipment loans and leases across various asset classes, including aviation, marine transportation, energy and manufacturing throughout the United States.