Irish-based aviation financier Airborne Capital is joining forces on a Japanese venture with Far Eastern investment manager Mercuria to cash in on likely increased institutional demand for aircraft leasing opportunities.
Founded in 2017, Airborne specialises in leasing and managing aircraft, and has assets of around $1 billion (€850m).
The Irish company said it and its partner were founding a new business, Mercuria Airborne Capital, that would cater for Japanese investors seeking to get involved in aviation.
Airborne noted that despite Covid-19’s impact on travel, aircraft investments continued to provide good returns.
It added that the pair were founding the joint venture as they believed institutional investors would play an increased role in aviation leasing.
Ramki Sundaram, Airborne chief executive, said Mercuria Airborne Capital would "offer institutional investors in Japan access to a growing range of attractive investment opportunities in the global aviation finance sector".
Toshihiro Toyoshima, Mercuria chief executive, dubbed the partnership with Airborne an “exciting step”.
Mercuria manages around $2 billion in assets from offices in Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong and Bangkok.
