Irish aircraft lessor Macquarie AirFinance is reportedly in talks to buy approximately 100 new aircraft, which are being sold by Awas Aviation Capital for more than $4bn.
Sources familiar with the matter were quoted by Reuters as saying that Macquarie AirFinance is looking to finalise a deal by the end of this month.
Awas is owned by British private equity firm Terra Firma Capital Partners.
Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank were appointed by Terra Firma last year to evaluate exit options for Awas.
As part of Awas’s exit process, the company has put 100 aircraft up for sale in July.
Awas has a portfolio of more than 300 aircraft, which are on lease to around 100 airline customers in 50 countries.
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By GlobalDataThe aircraft lessor is planning to launch an initial public offering for the remaining aircraft portfolio, which could be valued at $8bn.
Other companies interested to buy Awas assets include Japanese firms Orix and SMBC Aviation Capital, Hong Kong Aviation Capital and Bohai Leasing.
Hong Kong-based conglomerate Cheung Kong submitted a preliminary offer for Awas assets. However, it later it agreed to buy aircraft worth around $2bn from other lessors.
Terra Firma Capital acquired Awas from Morgan Stanley in 2006 for $2.5bn.
In 2007, Awas purchased Pegasus Aviation Finance from Oaktree Capital Management and Pegasus management and created the world’s third largest aircraft leasing business.
