Air Lease Acquisition, Valuation & Financials

Air Lease was acquired by Sumitomo for $7.4B in September 2025, a 2.7x multiple on $2.7B of revenue.

Air Lease acquisition price

$7.4B

Acquired by Sumitomo · Sep 2025

Air Lease revenue at acquisition

$2.7B

Last twelve months · Sep 2025

Air Lease revenue multiple at acquisition

2.7x

EV/Revenue · Sep 2025

Cumulative funding Air Lease raised

$1.3B

across 1 funding round

Air Lease Overview

About Air Lease

Air Lease Corp is an aircraft leasing company based in the United States. It is engaged in the modern, fuel-efficient new technology commercial jet aircraft directly from aircraft manufacturers and leasing those aircraft to airlines throughout the world to generate attractive returns on equity. The company also sells aircraft from its fleet to third parties, including other leasing companies, financial services companies, airlines, and other investors, and offers fleet management services to investors and owners of aircraft portfolios for a management fee. Geographically, it derives a maximum of its revenue from the Europe and the rest from Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Central America, South America, Mexico, the United States, and Canada.


Founded

2010

HQ

United StatesLos Angeles, CA

Status

Acquired

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Usage-based

Revenue

$2.7B (Sep 2025)

Valuation

$7.4B (acquired Sep 2025)

Air Lease Acquisition

Air Lease was acquired by Sumitomo for $7.4B on 2 September 2025.

The acquisition price implies a 2.7x revenue multiple on $2.7B of revenue.

Before the acquisition Air Lease had raised $1.3B across 1 funding round.

Air Lease Corporation, a leading aircraft lessor with a portfolio primarily comprised of new technology aircraft, is being acquired by a consortium consisting of Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, and investment vehicles affiliated with Apollo managed funds and Brookfield in a 100% cash transaction valued at $65.00 per Class A share. The acquisition was announced on September 1, 2025, with Air Lease shareholders approving the merger agreement on December 19, 2025, with approximately 80.7% of Class A shares voting in favor. Upon closing, Air Lease will be renamed Sumisho Air Lease Corporation and operate as a Dublin-based holding company, with SMBC Aviation Capital acting as servicer to Sumisho Air Lease's portfolio and Air Lease's aircraft orderbook transferring to SMBC Aviation Capital. The deal aligns with Sumitomo Corporation's Mid-Term Management Plan 2026 and strengthens the strategic position of Sumitomo-invested aircraft leasing companies, which collectively rank among the world's largest by fleet size. Committed financing of $12.1 billion has been provided by SMBC, Citi, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, and Sumisho Air Lease is expected to receive investment grade ratings from S&P, Fitch, and Kroll. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, marking Air Lease's transition from a publicly listed New York Stock Exchange company to private ownership.

Air Lease acquisition details
AcquirerDateTypePriceEV/Revenue
2 Sep 2025Strategic M&A$7.4B2.7x

Air Lease as a Public Company

Air Lease traded as DUS: AVLA before it was taken private. Its acquisition was announced in September 2025. January 2026 is its last month on record as a listed company, with a market cap of $7.2B and an enterprise value of $27B.

Last-twelve-month revenue was $3B, and the shares traded at 9.0x EV/Revenue.

Over the 4 years before that, its market cap grew from $4.5B in January 2022 to $7.2B, while revenue grew from $2.1B to $3B.

Air Lease market cap while listed

Air Lease EV/Revenue (LTM) while listed

Air Lease financials and trading multiples by year while listed
As ofMarket capRevenue (LTM)EBITDA (LTM)EBITDA marginEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
Jan 2026$7.2B$3B--9.0x-
Jan 2025$5.1B$2.8B$2.6B94%9.0x9.6x
Jan 2024$4.6B$2.7B$2.4B90%8.6x9.5x
Jan 2023$5B$2.3B$1.4B62%9.7x15.7x
Jan 2022$4.5B$2.1B$1.9B92%9.9x10.7x

Market cap, enterprise value and last-twelve-month figures are month-end values, up to the last month Air Lease traded.

Air Lease Funding History

Air Lease has raised a total of $1.3B across 1 funding round.

Air Lease funding rounds

Air Lease funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsRaisedDeal Summary
Jun 2010Undisclosed stageLeonard Green & Partners; W.L. Ross & Co; Ares Management; CommBank$1.3BAir Lease Corporation, the aircraft lessor launched in February 2010 by Steven F. Udvar-Házy, completed the initial closing of a private placement of Class A common stock and Class B non-voting common stock on 4 June 2010, raising a total of $1.3 billion of cash equity to fund aircraft purchases. Funds managed by Ares Management and Leonard Green & Partners had already financed the start-up in May 2010 through $60.0 million of 6.0% convertible notes, issued together with management and directors, alongside a forward purchase arrangement to buy shares at a discounted $18.00 per share; the notes converted into equity at the June closing. By March 2011 Ares Management held 6,944,444 Class A shares, or 10.93% of the company, the same holding as Leonard Green, while other holders of more than 5% included Commonwealth Bank of Australia, WL Ross & Company, American Funds Insurance Series Growth Fund and Genefinance, which held all of the non-voting Class B stock. Management and board members invested about $90.5 million of their own money. The company said the placement was its main funding source alongside warehouse debt facilities, and it acquired 28 aircraft by 30 September 2010 at a total cost of $980.1 million and 40 aircraft by the end of 2010. Air Lease is based in Los Angeles and buys new commercial jets from manufacturers and leases them to airlines around the world under net operating leases. Udvar-Házy had earlier founded International Lease Finance Corporation. The private placement investors kept their stakes through the company's New York Stock Exchange listing in April 2011.

Who has invested in Air Lease?

4 investors have backed Air Lease across its funding rounds, including Ares Management, Leonard Green & Partners, CommBank and W.L. Ross & Co.


Air Lease Investors

Investors in Air Lease by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check
Leonard Green & PartnersUnited StatesLos Angeles, CA1ParticipantJun 2010
W.L. Ross & CoUnited StatesNew York City, NY1ParticipantJun 2010

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Air Lease Competitors

Air Lease competitors include listed companies like Tokyo Century, BOC Aviation, Ayvens and GATX, and private ones like Outdoorsy and Loscam.

Public and private companies comparable to Air Lease
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
Tokyo CenturyJapanJapanPublicly listed$9.2B$2.8B$7.4B4.1x
BOC AviationChinaChinaPublicly listed$2.4B$1.7B$7.1B9.3x
AyvensFranceFrancePublicly listed$28B$12B$8.2B1.7x
GATXUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$1.7B$1.1B$6.4B8.3x
OutdoorsyUnited StatesAustin, TXPrivate$34M-$1.8B54.1x
LoscamHong KongHong KongPrivate--$1.7B-

Air Lease Public Comps

Air Lease is no longer listed, but its public comps include Tokyo Century, BOC Aviation, Ayvens, GATX, Localiza, Hotai Motor, Element Fleet Management, Rush Enterprises, Herc Holdings and U-Haul.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Tokyo Century$9.2B$2.8B4.1x4.1x13.2x-
BOC Aviation$2.4B$1.7B10.6x9.3x14.8x9.9x
Ayvens$28B$12B1.6x1.7x3.9x27.2x
GATX$1.7B$1.1B10.8x8.3x16.8x13.4x
Localiza$7.6B$2.5B1.6x1.4x5.0x4.4x
Hotai Motor$7.8B$1.5B2.4x-12.3x-
Element Fleet Management$2.3B$1.2B6.5x11.9x12.6x-
Rush Enterprises$7.4B$645M0.9x0.9x10.5x10.4x

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Common questions about Air Lease

When was Air Lease founded?Air Lease was founded in 2010.
Where is Air Lease headquartered?Air Lease is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Is Air Lease publicly listed?No, Air Lease was acquired by Sumitomo in September 2025.
Who acquired Air Lease?Air Lease was acquired by Sumitomo in September 2025.
How much was Air Lease acquired for?Air Lease was acquired for $7.4B in September 2025, a 2.7x revenue multiple.
How much funding has Air Lease raised?Air Lease has raised $1.3B across 1 funding round.
What was Air Lease's last funding round?Air Lease's last funding round was a $1.3B undisclosed-stage round in June 2010.
Who are Air Lease's investors?Air Lease's investors include Leonard Green & Partners, W.L. Ross & Co, Ares Management and CommBank.
Which companies are comparable to Air Lease?Companies comparable to Air Lease include Tokyo Century, BOC Aviation, Ayvens, GATX, Outdoorsy and Loscam.
What was Air Lease's market cap before the acquisition?Air Lease had a market cap of $7.2B in January 2026, its last month on record as a listed company, trading at 9.0x EV/Revenue.
What was Air Lease's revenue as a public company?Air Lease's last reported twelve-month revenue was $3B (January 2026).

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