Air Lease announced a wholly owned subsidiary entered into a joint venture with a co-investment vehicle arranged by Napier Park Global Capital for the purpose of investing in commercial aircraft and leasing them to airlines around the globe. The newly formed entity with committed equity and debt capital is
named Blackbird Capital I, and 90.5% of the equity is owned, through the JV Partner, by a pooled investment vehicle of long-term institutional investors managed by Napier Park. The company owns 9.5% of the joint venture and will not consolidate the entity.

The revolving warehouse facility was arranged by BNP Paribas, as structuring agent, syndication agent and joint lead arranger; Credit Suisse A.G. as joint lead arranger; and includes Bank of America, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Citibank and MUFG Union Bank.

The joint venture is expected to acquire total aircraft assets of approximately $2 billion by year-end 2016, with up to $500 million in equity and the remainder financed by a committed $750 million warehouse credit facility (which includes an accordion feature that could make the total facility up to $1.5 billion) and other forms of debt financing. ALC will provide management services over a 12 year period to the joint venture for a servicing fee based upon aircraft assets under management. In addition, the Company expects to sell aircraft from its portfolio to the joint venture with an aggregate value of approximately $500 million by year-end 2016. Through the joint venture, ALC will manage up to $2.0 billion of additional aircraft lease transactions to better serve the airline industry.

“We are excited to partner with Napier Park and its group of institutional investors because they share ALC’s vision of creating long-term value through leased aircraft assets,” said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, chairman and CEO of Air Lease Corporation. “Blackbird Capital I is an important partnership for ALC’s strategy to grow our management business and serves as a model that can be replicated in the future.”

“Blackbird Capital I benefits all of the parties involved, including Air Lease Corporation, its global aircraft leasing customers, Napier Park and our investors. We look forward to a successful, long-term partnership with ALC and its management team,” said James O’Brien, Napier Park’s co-managing partner.
“This joint venture continues Napier Park’s focus on partnering with leading industry operators to support their core businesses.”

“ALC’s core aircraft leasing business has generated strong profitability and stable returns for our shareholders. Now, with Blackbird Capital I, we will be able to supplement our existing leasing platform and serve our airline customers even better by providing additional lease opportunities beyond our current orderbook and customer credit and risk parameters,” said John L. Plueger, president and COO of Air Lease Corporation.

Macquarie Capital acted as financial advisor in the formation of the joint venture.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed advised the joint venture, Munger Tolles & Olson LLP advised the company, and Sidley Austin advised Napier Park, in each case in connection with the formation of the joint venture. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy advised the lead arrangers and the lenders in connection with the warehouse facility.

To read the entire press release, click here.