CALC has completed the establishment of an international investment vehicle for aircraft leasing – CAG, to invest in aircraft portfolio on lease to global airlines. CALC calls this an “important strategic move for the Group amid its transition towards an asset-light business model for supporting its continuing global expansion, whilst further enhancing the professional development of its aircraft asset management capabilities”.
The lessor expects CAG to grow to around US$1.15-$1.4bn of aircraft assets within two years. CALC joins hands with three mezzanine financiers (Chinese large-scale state-owned enterprises engaged in outbound investment, insurance business, and aviation sector) to provide mezzanine financing by way of shareholder loans. Three mezzanine investors also signed long-term cooperation agreement with CAG, whose financing is further complemented by senior syndicated financing from a number of well-known international and Chinese banks.
CALC will provide aircraft and lease management service to CAG. CAG also serves as a financing channel to fuel CALC's further business expansion.
“The successful launch of CAG represents an important step forward in CALC's transition into an asset-light business model, which increases our aircraft asset under management, and hence further strengthens the Group’s position as an aircraft full value-chain solutions provider for the global aviation industry,” says Mike Poon, Chief Executive Officer of CALC. “CAG is also a replicable financing channel that supports vast capacity in the future through efficient turnover on our capital. With the participation by our partners from different backgrounds, we strive to facilitate the development of the national blockbuster initiative Aviation Silk Road.”
Winnie Liu, Deputy CEO and Chief Commercial Officer of CALC, said, “We would like to extend our gratitude to the mezzanine investors for their trust in CALC's asset management capability, our aircraft full life-cycle business model, international professional expertise and long-term growth potential. We are also glad that CAG won tremendous support from numerous renowned international and Chinese banks in senior syndicated financing.”