Air Lease Plans $7.4B Acquisition by Sumitomo-Led Group

Air Lease Corporation has agreed to be acquired by a newly formed Dublin-based holding company backed by Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, and investment funds affiliated with Apollo and Brookfield for $7.4 billion in cash. Under the terms of the deal, Air Lease shareholders will receive $65 per share, representing a 14% premium over the company's 30-day volume-weighted average share price. Including debt obligations, the transaction values Air Lease at approximately $28.2 billion. The company's board unanimously approved the agreement, which is expected to close in the first half of 2026. Air Lease CEO John Plueger expressed confidence that the acquisition will benefit shareholders and the aviation industry, while chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy highlighted the transaction as a milestone that rewards stockholders with immediate premium and certainty. The deal has been positively received by the market, with shares rising in premarket trading following the announcement.