Australia’s Macquarie Group and Japan’s Orix are among a handful of companies exploring binding offers for the US$5 billion aircraft portfolio being sold by Dublin-based lessor Awas, people familiar with the matter said.
Macquarie’s aircraft leasing subsidiary Macquarie AirFinance, and Orix Aviation, part of the Japanese financial group, are set to compete against other Asian parties bidding for the asset, including Cheung Kong Holdings, which has previously confirmed its interest.
Other bidders include Hong Kong Aviation Capital, which is owned by China’s HNA Group and Bohai Leasing, and SMBC Aviation Capital - part of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, according to the people familiar with the matter.
Awas, one of the world’s biggest aircraft lessors and owned by British private equity firm Terra Firma, plans to seek second-round bids in late September with the hope of finalising a deal by next month, the people said, asking not to be named because the matter is not public.
The companies’ interest underscores strong demand for aircraft assets from Asian buyers, at a time when the region has become the world’s fastest-growing market as Asian airlines tap into the spending power of travellers.
Representatives for Macquarie, Hong Kong Aviation Capital, Orix, SMBC Aviation Capital and Terra Firma all declined comment.
Cheung Kong, controlled by Asian tycoon Li Ka-shing, said last month it had submitted a preliminary bid for the aircraft portfolio.