LCI and SMFL add 12 helicopters to joint venture

LCI and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing (SMFL) are adding 12 helicopters to their joint venture. The 12 helicopters are worth $120m and are added to the existing $230m 19 helicopter joint venture which was announced in September 2020.

“The LCI and SMFL joint venture was purposefully created to offer a wide range of leasing and financing options to the helicopter industry on efficient and flexible terms,” said Jaspal Jandu, chief executive officer of LCI. “These latest acquisitions, so soon after the vehicle’s launch, further validate our efforts and represent a wider vote of continuing investor confidence in the helicopter leasing marketplace.”

The aircraft comprise of four Airbus Helicopters H145, three Leonardo AW139 and five Leonardo AW169 helicopters.

Shinichiro Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer of SMFL, says: “The robust model of our joint venture, featuring ESG-friendly, long-term leases on full power by the hour maintenance contracts, together with LCI’s skill as a partner, make this expansion a natural progression. We expect our collective and proven track record, knowledge and financial strength to continue to drive growth in the years ahead.”

LCI has a $1bn helicopter portfolio.