(Hong Kong, 16 October 2024)  - China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited ("CALC" or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 01848), a full value chain aircraft solutions provider for the global aviation industry, is pleased to announce that the Group has successfully secured a US$400 million warehouse facility, with an option to increase the facility amount, for financing its modern next-generation orderbook, refinance existing aircraft and bolstering other growth initiatives.

The facility is led by BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole CIB (CACIB), MUFG and Natixis CIB as Mandated Lead Arrangers; CACIB also acts as Facility Agent, Security Trustee and Account Bank of this transaction. Milbank acts as CALC’s legal counsel while A&O Shearman advises the lenders for the transaction. The bank account used in the transaction is a sustainability-linked deposit account in which the interest rate earned on deposited amounts are indexed to the environmental, social and governance score of CALC as issued by S&P Global Ratings.

It features a five-year term providing CALC with enhanced flexibility. This transaction marks the first warehouse facility closed by an Asian-based lessor since 2015, featuring an innovative structure backed by a CALC guarantee. The facility grants the Group considerable operational flexibility to facilitate its acquisition, sale and leasing of the next-generation aircraft.

“This groundbreaking deal highlights our commitment to strategic growth and financial innovation,” said Mr. Conrad Li, Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of CALC. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to BNP Paribas, CACIB, MUFG and Natixis CIB for their unwavering support, which has significantly improved our collaboration with financial allies. This move provides the Group with a significant capacity to support its growth plans with required flexibility, signifying a crucial milestone in CALC’s path of expansion.”

The successful closing of this facility underscores CALC’s resilience and positions the Group to capitalize on the renewed optimism in the aviation sector. With the strong backing of a broad range of lenders, CALC is well-equipped to pursue its strategic goals, including future asset-backed securities (ABS) issuances and long-term growth objectives.