News — 2018

SMBC Aviation Capital results for the year ended 31 March 2018

06/06/2018


-Record profitability alongside large scale sale and leaseback deals and strong numbers of aircraft sales-

Dublin, 7 June 2018: SMBC Aviation Capital (or the "Company" ), one of the world's leading aircraft leasing companies, today announces its results (1) for the financial year ended 31 March 2018.

Key Highlights

  • Profit before tax of $319.4 million, up 2.2% compared to the year ended 31 March 2017 ($312.5 million)
  • Aircraft related assets stood at $10.3 billion
  • Core Lease Revenue increased by 1.1% to $934 million compared to 2017 with overall income from continuing operations steady at $1.033 billion for the year
  • Continued focus on active portfolio management, resulting in the completion of 80 transactions
  • 50 aircraft sold from our owned portfolio, including the sale of a 19 aircraft portfolio to Aircastle, one of the largest bilateral trades in the market this year, with 22 aircraft also sold from our managed portfolio
  • 22% of portfolio now comprising newest technology A320neo family, A350 and B787 aircraft, up 11% from 2017
  • Signed contracts for 43 aircraft on sale and leaseback
  • 99.95% aircraft utilisation in owned fleet, reflecting high quality portfolio with weighted average age of 4.5 years
  • Shareholder announcement of up to USD $1 billion capital injection by 31 March 2019
  • US$1.4bn of third party finance raised including $600m through a primarily Asian syndicated finance, allowed us to introduce 12 new financing relationships during the year

Commenting on the company's performance, Peter Barrett, CEO, SMBC Aviation Capital said:

"This has been another year of record profitability for SMBC Aviation Capital and we are pleased with the overall performance of the company

It was a positive year for our sale and leaseback business particularly in Asia and South America where we have continued to execute deals of scale with our long term customers including 10 Boeing MAX 8 aircraft to Aeromexico; 11 Airbus A320 neo aircraft to Avianca and 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to Jet Airways.In the majority of these deals, we have been able to partner with our shareholders to offer PDP financing which has given us competitive advantage.

Our trading performance has been strong and has included a number of large scale bilateral deals including the sale of an eight, narrow-body aircraft portfolio to Genesis Aircraft Services and the completion of a 19-aircraft sale to Aircastle Ltd. These transactions, among others, have allowed us to deliver on our strategy of actively trading and managing our portfolio, the average age of which is 4.5 years. Our fleet continues to be one of the best amongst lessors with 22% made up of the newest technology aircraft.

The strong support from our shareholders, coupled with the provision of up to USD $1.4 billion of third party finance means that we have continued to successfully diversify our funding base.

Our team's achievements during the year, which is demonstrated in our ability to deliver for our customers and the consistent execution of our strategy have positioned us well to continue to grow in this sector."

-ENDS-


MEDIA CONTACTS:

Orla Benson, SMBC Aviation Capital, Mobile: 00 353 86 047 4343

Ben Griffiths/Selene Alford, Powerscourt: +44 7753 464 637 / +353 87 642 8844

ABOUT SMBC AVIATION CAPITAL:

SMBC Aviation Capital is one of the world's leading aircraft lessors, with c. 90 airline customers in 40 countries. At 31 March 2018, the company owns, manages and is committed to purchase 675 aircraft. Established in 2001, the company was acquired in 2012 by a consortium comprising of two of Japan's biggest companies SMFG and Sumitomo Corporation. For further information go to http://www.smbc.aero/

(1) - The financial and non-financial metrics disclosed for the period relate to SMBC Aviation Capital's Irish entity and its subsidiaries

Media Enquiries:

Conor Irwin/Dara O’Sullivan
SMBC Aviation Capital

+353 1 859 9000

Email

Charles O'Brien
Partner
Finsbury

+44 0 7825 043 656

Email