Company Overview - Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a global provider of aviation services [1][3] - The company engages in leasing large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft to various clients, including airlines and maintenance providers [3] Recent Appointment - Steven Bridgland has been appointed as Head of Investor Relations & Capital Markets for Willis Aviation Capital, the company's newly announced asset manager [1] - In his role, Bridgland will manage existing investor relationships, develop new ones, and support capital deployment efforts [1] Experience and Expertise - Bridgland brings over three decades of experience in equity and debt capital markets, investor relations, and aviation finance [2] - His previous roles include senior positions at Deucalion Aviation, DVB, RBC Capital Markets, and Greenwich NatWest, with a strong focus on structuring aviation funds and joint ventures [2] Leadership Statement - Brian R. Hole, Global Head of Managed Funds & Credit at WLFC, expressed excitement about Bridgland's appointment, highlighting his trustworthiness and integrity [3]

Core Viewpoint - Willis Lease Finance Corporation announced a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share, reflecting the strength of its business and commitment to long-term shareholder value [1][2]. Company Overview - Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and provides global aviation services, including leasing large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft to various stakeholders [3]. - The company's services are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools, asset management services, and end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials [3]. - WLFC also offers maintenance services through its subsidiaries, including Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, and ground handling services [3].

Company Overview - Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) is an independent aircraft engine leasing and servicing company, operating as a fully integrated aviation ecosystem with $3.4 billion in owned and managed assets [2] - Founded in 1985, the company is controlled by the Willis family, which holds approximately 60% of the business [3] - WLFC provides a range of services including leasing, engine repairs, used serviceable materials, end-of-life planning, airframe maintenance, and in-house consulting [2][3] Investment Thesis - The investment case for WLFC is based on two main pillars: lack of analyst coverage and minimal institutional ownership, leading to compressed valuation multiples despite strong fundamentals [4] - WLFC's stock has increased by approximately 300% year-to-date, yet it still trades at a significant discount compared to its closest peer, FTAI, despite having a larger engine fleet and broader service capabilities [4] - The company is well-positioned to benefit from industry tailwinds such as OEM delivery delays, next-generation engine durability issues, and a global shortage of MRO capacity, which have increased demand for spare engines and repairs [5] Financial Performance and Outlook - WLFC has experienced strong post-COVID growth in lease rents and maintenance reserves, with improving visibility and multiple catalysts for growth [6] - The author suggests that a rerating towards peer multiples could support a significant upside, with a base case price target near $300 [6] - The company's in-house repair centers and used serviceable materials inventory reduce reliance on external MROs and OEMs, lowering costs and improving turnaround times [5]

I've kicked the tires on Willis Lease Finance Corporation ( WLFC ) a few times in the past couple of years, and have passed on it because I felt the discount to NAV in names likeIndividual investor and family office principal with over 20 years of investment experience. I favor fundamental analysis and look for individual issues and asset classes that are out of favor and represent a good risk/reward trade off. I often employ options strategies, covered calls on companies I own that have gotten ahead of the ...

I've kicked the tires on Willis Lease Finance Corporation ( WLFC ) a few times in the past couple of years, and have passed on it because I felt the discount to NAV in names likeIndividual investor and family office principal with over 20 years of investment experience. I favor fundamental analysis and look for individual issues and asset classes that are out of favor and represent a good risk/reward trade off. I often employ options strategies, covered calls on companies I own that have gotten ahead of the ...

Core Viewpoint - Four Tree Island Advisory LLC expresses concerns about the material undervaluation of Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) shares and its significant underperformance compared to public comparables FTAI Aviation and AerCap [1][3] Group 1: Stockholder Communication and Engagement - The company seeks enhancements in stockholder communication, investment community engagement, and corporate governance [1] - Four Tree Island Advisory has made efforts to encourage improvements through private discussions and constructive research but has faced reluctance from WLFC to implement necessary changes [4] Group 2: Financial Performance and Valuation - WLFC experienced a -34% total shareholder return in 2025, significantly lagging behind FTAI Aviation and AerCap by approximately 72% and 85%, respectively [3] - The gap between WLFC's underlying value and its market valuation has expanded, leading to a belief that the company should trade at a materially higher valuation [2][3] Group 3: Call for Public Discussion - Four Tree Island Advisory believes it is time for a broader public discussion regarding WLFC's potential and the steps needed to realize it [4] - The advisory firm has released an open letter to the board to facilitate dialogue among stockholders and interested parties [5]

Core Viewpoint - Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) and Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BX) have formed a strategic partnership focused on aircraft engine leasing, planning to invest over $1 billion in the next two years in both current and next-generation aircraft engines and select aircraft [1] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership combines WLFC's expertise in aircraft engine leasing with Blackstone's extensive private credit capabilities, specifically targeting the engine asset class [1] - WLFC is recognized as a pioneer in aircraft engine leasing and is expanding its asset management platform [1] Group 2: Investment Strategy - WLFC has identified a seed portfolio and a near-term pipeline of high-quality engine assets that are expected to be integrated into the partnership, which will provide immediate scale and diversification across various engine types and airline customers globally [1]

Core Insights - The establishment of Willis Aviation Capital (WAC) aims to manage third-party assets and capital, generating recurring management fees and supporting balance sheet deleveraging for Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) [1][3] Group 1: Company Overview - WLFC is a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and provides global aviation services, including leasing large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and auxiliary power units [5] - The company integrates its leasing activities with end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. [5] Group 2: New Division and Partnerships - WAC will manage engine and aviation asset portfolios primarily funded by third-party capital, including partnerships with Blackstone Credit & Insurance ($1 billion) and Liberty Mutual Investments (up to $600 million) [3] - WAC will also oversee existing joint ventures with Mitsui & Co. and China Aviation Supplies Company, as well as select third-party aviation assets [3] Group 3: Leadership and Structure - Brian R. Hole has been appointed as Global Head of Managed Funds and Credit for WAC, bringing extensive experience from his previous roles at WLFC [4] - Dan Coulcher has been named Senior Vice President of Joint Ventures, reporting to Mr. Hole [4] Group 4: Strategic Goals - The WAC structure is designed to enhance WLFC's return profile and leverage the company's industry-leading leasing and services platform to attract partners [2][5] - The initiative aims to create durable income streams and recurring revenue from institutional funds and joint ventures, driving shareholder value [7]

Core Viewpoint - Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) and Blackstone Credit & Insurance (BXCI) have formed a strategic partnership to invest over $1 billion in aircraft engines and select aircraft over the next two years, leveraging WLFC's expertise in aircraft engine leasing and BXCI's capital resources [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership Details - The partnership aims to deploy over $1 billion in current and next-generation aircraft engines and select aircraft [1] - WLFC has identified a seed portfolio and a near-term pipeline of high-quality engine assets, which will provide immediate scale and diversification across engine types and airline customers globally [2] - BXCI's investment is expected to accelerate the growth of WLFC's asset management business, demonstrating confidence in WLFC's ability to generate attractive returns through disciplined asset selection and active management [3] Group 2: Company Profiles - WLFC is a leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines, providing leasing services to airlines, engine manufacturers, and maintenance providers worldwide, along with various end-of-life solutions for engines [5] - BXCI is a prominent credit investor managing over $100 billion, focusing on providing investment-grade credit, non-investment grade credit, and structured investments across various sectors, including infrastructure and commercial finance [4][6]

Core Viewpoint - Willis Lease Finance Corporation has successfully completed an offering of $337.4 million in Series A Fixed Rate Notes and $55.5 million in Series B Fixed Rate Notes, secured by a portfolio of aircraft engines and airframes [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Details - The Series A Notes have a fixed coupon of 5.159% and the Series B Notes have a fixed coupon of 5.696% [2]. - The expected maturity for both Series A and Series B Notes is approximately six years, with a final maturity of 25 years [2]. - The Series A Notes were issued at a price of 99.99937% of par, while the Series B Notes were issued at 99.99686% of par [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Willis Lease Finance Corporation specializes in leasing commercial aircraft engines and provides various aviation services, including engine maintenance and asset management [5]. - The company operates through its subsidiaries, offering services such as aircraft disassembly, parking, storage, and ground handling [5]. - Willis Sustainable Fuels aims to develop projects to decarbonize aviation [5].