Macquarie AirFinance Acquisition & Valuation

Macquarie AirFinance was acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for $7B in February 2026.

Macquarie AirFinance acquisition price

$7B

Acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise · Feb 2026

Key investors in Macquarie AirFinance

  • PGGM Investments
  • Australian Retirement Trust

Macquarie AirFinance Overview

About Macquarie AirFinance

Macquarie AirFinance is a commercial aircraft lessor and financier, operating as a subsidiary of Macquarie Group from Dublin. The firm leases narrowbody and widebody jets plus freighters to airlines in North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. Macquarie AirFinance earns revenue from long-term operating leases and related services like maintenance.


HQ

IrelandDublin

Status

Acquired

Customer focus

B2B

Revenue model

Services

Valuation

$7B (acquired Feb 2026)

Macquarie AirFinance Acquisition

Macquarie AirFinance was acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for $7B on 27 February 2026.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) agreed on 26 February 2026 to acquire Macquarie AirFinance, an Ireland-based aircraft leasing platform, from Macquarie Group in an all-cash transaction valuing the business at about USD 7 billion on an enterprise basis. The deal was expected to expand DAE's fleet to more than 1,000 owned, managed and committed aircraft, serving airline customers across nearly 80 countries, and to make the combined group one of the largest aircraft lessors globally. DAE said it would finance the transaction with a mix of debt and equity. The transaction closed in July 2026; by closing, changes to Macquarie AirFinance's fleet since the announcement had increased the deal's implied value to about USD 9 billion.

Macquarie AirFinance acquisition details
AcquirerDateTypePrice
  • Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
27 Feb 2026Strategic M&A$7B

Sources: dubaiaerospace.com, bloomberg.com, dubaiaerospace.com

Macquarie AirFinance Funding History

Macquarie AirFinance has 2 recorded secondary share sales and no primary funding rounds.

Macquarie AirFinance funding rounds
DateStageInvestorsDeal Summary
Dec 2019SecondaryAustralian Retirement TrustSunsuper, now Australian Retirement Trust, agreed to take a 25 per cent interest in Macquarie Group's aircraft operating lease business Macquarie AirFinance, mirroring the 25 per cent stake Dutch pension manager PGGM had bought seven months earlier. The purchase left Macquarie Group with 50 per cent and a commitment to make AirFinance its exclusive platform for aviation leasing investment, with Macquarie providing support services to grow the fleet. Neither party disclosed the price.
May 2019SecondaryPGGM InvestmentsMacquarie Group announced that the PGGM Infrastructure Fund would take a 25 per cent interest in Macquarie AirFinance, the group's aircraft operating lease platform, in PGGM's first investment in aircraft leasing. Macquarie retained the remaining 75 per cent and said the Dutch pension investor would provide long-term capital to support fleet growth, with PGGM gaining input on fleet composition and carbon footprint. Terms were not disclosed; PGGM remained a 25 per cent shareholder alongside Macquarie and the Australian Retirement Trust until Macquarie AirFinance was sold to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise in 2026.

Who has invested in Macquarie AirFinance?

2 investors have backed Macquarie AirFinance across its funding rounds, including PGGM Investments and Australian Retirement Trust.


Macquarie AirFinance Investors

Investors in Macquarie AirFinance by funding rounds participated
InvestorHQRoundsRoleFirst check

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Benchmark 350K+ Funding Rounds and Disclosed VC Valuation Multiples

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Macquarie AirFinance Competitors

Macquarie AirFinance competitors include listed companies like Element Fleet Management, GATX, BOC Aviation and Localiza, and private ones like Mayer's Cars and Trucks and Outdoorsy.

Public and private companies comparable to Macquarie AirFinance
CompanyHQStatusRevenueEBITDAValuationRevenue Multiple
Element Fleet ManagementCanadaCanadaPublicly listed$2.3B$1.2B$7.1B13.0x
GATXUnited StatesUnited StatesPublicly listed$1.7B$1.1B$6.4B8.7x
BOC AviationChinaChinaPublicly listed$2.4B$1.7B$6.3B9.0x
LocalizaBrazilBrazilPublicly listed$8.1B$2.7B$7.8B1.6x
Mayer's Cars and TrucksIsraelTel AvivPrivate$1.9B-$7.9B4.2x
OutdoorsyUnited StatesAustin, TXPrivate$34M-$1.8B54.1x

Macquarie AirFinance Public Comps

Macquarie AirFinance is no longer listed, but its public comps include Element Fleet Management, GATX, BOC Aviation, Localiza, Rush Enterprises, Tokyo Century, Ryder, Hotai Motor, Herc Holdings and Ayvens.

Last FYEV/RevenueEV/EBITDA
RevenueEBITDALast FYLTM2027ELast FYLTM2027E
Element Fleet Management$2.3B$1.2B7.1x13.0x13.7x-
GATX$1.7B$1.1B10.9x8.7x16.8x14.1x
BOC Aviation$2.4B$1.7B10.2x9.0x14.3x9.6x
Localiza$8.1B$2.7B1.8x1.6x5.6x5.0x
Rush Enterprises$7.4B$645M1.0x0.9x11.2x11.0x
Tokyo Century$9.4B$2.9B4.2x4.2x13.6x-
Ryder$13B$3.3B1.4x1.3x5.2x6.1x
Hotai Motor$8.1B$1.6B2.4x-12.3x-

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Common questions about Macquarie AirFinance

Where is Macquarie AirFinance headquartered?Macquarie AirFinance is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Is Macquarie AirFinance publicly listed?No, Macquarie AirFinance was acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise in February 2026.
Who acquired Macquarie AirFinance?Macquarie AirFinance was acquired by Dubai Aerospace Enterprise in February 2026.
How much was Macquarie AirFinance acquired for?Macquarie AirFinance was acquired for $7B in February 2026.
Who are Macquarie AirFinance's investors?Macquarie AirFinance's investors include PGGM Investments and Australian Retirement Trust.
Which companies are comparable to Macquarie AirFinance?Companies comparable to Macquarie AirFinance include Element Fleet Management, GATX, BOC Aviation, Localiza, Mayer's Cars and Trucks and Outdoorsy.

See companies similar to Macquarie AirFinance

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