Air Lease Corporation Sold To Japan’s Sumitomo

One of the world’s largest aircraft lessors, SMBC Aviation Capital, along with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, will acquire Air Lease Corporation, another major aircraft lessor. The deal will be completed through a newly established entity called Sumisho Air Lease Corporation (Ireland) DAC.

As such, Air Lease will be renamed Sumisho Air Lease Corporation (“Sumisho Air Lease”) and its order book will be transferred to SMBC Aviation Capital. Both entities currently lease various aircraft to the world’s leading airlines.

The Purchase Of Air Lease Corporation

Wikimedia Commons

On September 2, 2025, SMBC, Sumitomo Corporation, Apollo Managed Funds (Apollo), and Brookfield reached a definitive agreement to acquire Air Lease. Apollo and Brookfield will provide the capital, joining Sumitomo and SMBC as aligned investors. The new entity will be optimally positioned to capitalize on airline and investor demand in a supply-constrained environment.

The agreement provides that Air Lease common stockholders will receive $65.00 per share in cash, representing a total valuation of approximately $7.4 billion, or approximately $28.2 billion, including debt obligations to be assumed or refinanced net of cash. Sumisho Air Lease is expected to be an investment-grade rated aircraft lessor with a diverse portfolio of airline customers and modern aircraft.

SMBC, which is already one of the largest lessors globally, will significantly grow its portfolio with the new orderbook, highlighting the importance of economies of scale. SMBC Aviation Capital CEO Peter Barrett said,

“This transaction is transformational for our business and the leasing landscape. Investing in Sumisho Air Lease, purchasing their orderbook and becoming servicer to the substantial majority of Sumisho Air Lease’s portfolio will enable us to deploy our financial scale and strength to meet the evolving needs of our customers and take a strategic lead in reshaping our sector.”

Leveraging SMBC’s Leasing Expertise

Wikimedia Commons

Bringing together Sumisho Air Lease’s position as an established aircraft lessor and SMBC’s industry-leading capabilities will ensure financial strength and scale to meet the evolving needs of operators. The deal is also expected to increase profitability, positioning Sumitomo Corporation Group’s aircraft leasing business as one of the largest in the world by the number of aircraft owned and managed through Sumisho Air Lease, whose fleet will focus on new-generation equipment.

The new entity will form an integral part of Sumitomo Corporation Group’s wider investments in the air transport sector. Furthermore, Sumisho Air Lease will benefit from the Sumitomo Corporation as well as SMBC’s deep expertise in aircraft leasing.

Barrett added that Air Lease’s portfolio, which is focused on liquid, in-demand, new tech aircraft, made it an attractive opportunity for co-investors. Air Lease’s portfolio consists of Airbus A320neo family, A350, Boeing 737 MAX, 787, and 777 aircraft. Some of the lessor’s clients include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, British Airways, Emirates, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Approving The Air Lease Acquisition

Shutterstock

To fund the transaction, SMBC, Citi, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA have invested $12.1 billion of committed financing. Sumisho Air Lease is expected to receive investment-grade ratings from S&P, Fitch and Kroll. SMBC has a strong capital position, holding an A- rating from S&P and a BBB+ rating from Fitch. According to the company’s website, SMBC’s portfolio consists of 509 owned aircraft, 232 managed, and 248 committed. These include the following:

Last year, United Airlines leased 20 Airbus A321neos from SMBC. The lessor has several clients across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Some of its other customers in North America include Delta, Spirit Airlines, Breeze Airways, Air Transat, and Flair Airlines.

Air Lease’s Board of Directors unanimously approved the agreement. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Air Lease’s common stockholders and upon receiving certain regulatory approvals. The deal is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026, with Air Lease’s directors and certain executive officers set to vote on the shares of common stock held by them in favor of the agreement.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}