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Willis Lease Finance Sells Consultancy Unit to Joint Venture with Mitsui & Co.

Willis Lease Finance Sells Consultancy Unit to Joint Venture with Mitsui & Co.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla., June 30, 2025 — Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC), a prominent lessor of commercial aircraft engines and provider of global aviation services, has finalized the sale of its consultancy and advisory subsidiary, Bridgend Asset Management Limited (BAML), to its joint venture with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. The joint venture, Willis Mitsui & Co. Engine Support Limited (WMES), will now incorporate BAML under the new name Willis Mitsui & Co. Asset Management Limited (WAML). This integration marks a significant expansion of WMES’s asset management and technical consultancy capabilities.
Strategic Expansion of WMES
The transaction is designed to enhance WMES’s platform by adding technical consultancy and records management services, thereby improving operational efficiency and broadening its presence in aviation asset management. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Dublin, WMES currently manages approximately $380 million in assets, a figure expected to increase as the joint venture expands its service offerings.
Austin C. Willis, Chief Executive Officer of WLFC, described the deal as a milestone for both Willis Lease Finance and its partnership with Mitsui. He emphasized that the sale represents the first step toward closer collaboration and substantial growth within WMES. Yuichi Nagata, General Manager of the Aerospace Business Division at Mitsui, echoed this sentiment, noting that the transaction deepens the partnership and positions WMES to better meet the evolving demands of the global aviation market. He highlighted the joint venture’s strengthened role as a comprehensive provider of engine-related services.
Implications and Challenges
While the sale allows WLFC to concentrate on its core financial leasing operations, it also introduces challenges related to the integration of the consultancy unit into the joint venture. Ensuring regulatory compliance and managing potential cultural differences between the companies will require careful oversight. Market responses may vary; some investors may welcome WLFC’s sharpened strategic focus, while others might express concerns regarding the financial impact of the divestiture. Furthermore, this move could prompt competitors to enhance or acquire consultancy services, potentially intensifying competition within the sector.
WLFC will maintain a 50% ownership stake in WMES and continue to utilize the joint venture’s expanded capabilities to support its leasing business. The company also plans to pursue additional strategic initiatives aimed at growing its aviation portfolio.
About Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Willis Lease Finance Corporation specializes in leasing large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines, auxiliary power units, and aircraft to airlines, engine manufacturers, and maintenance providers worldwide. Its integrated services encompass engine and aircraft trading, lease pools, asset management, and end-of-life solutions for aviation materials. Through subsidiaries such as Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the company offers engine maintenance, aircraft disassembly, storage, and airport services. Additionally, Willis Sustainable Fuels is dedicated to developing projects that support the decarbonization of aviation.
Forward-looking statements in this release involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from expectations.

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