Willis Lease (NASDAQ: WLFC) boosts revolver to $1.75B and extends to 2031
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Willis Lease Finance Corporation has amended and extended its main revolving credit facility. Total lender commitments increased from $1.0 billion to $1.75 billion, and the facility’s maturity was pushed out to April 2031. The facility was oversubscribed by about $1.0 billion in excess commitments, signaling strong lender support. Management expects the added capacity, longer term and flexibility to help fund ongoing growth and diversification of its aircraft engine leasing and aviation services platform.
Positive
- Expanded and extended liquidity: Revolving credit facility commitments increased from $1.0 billion to $1.75 billion and maturity was extended to April 2031, enhancing available funding and term visibility for Willis Lease Finance Corporation’s growth plans.
Negative
- None.
Insights
WLFC secures a larger, longer revolver, improving funding flexibility.
Willis Lease Finance Corporation expanded its revolving credit facility commitments to $1.75 billion and extended the maturity to April 2031. For an engine lessor, this type of committed bank liquidity is a core funding source for asset growth.
The company also noted the facility was oversubscribed by roughly $1.0 billion, indicating strong demand from its lender group. Oversubscription typically suggests banks are comfortable with the risk profile and portfolio performance, though exact pricing and covenant terms are not detailed here.
Management highlights that increased capacity, term and flexibility are intended to support continued growth and diversification of its platform. Future quarterly and annual filings will clarify how much of this $1.75 billion revolver is drawn over time and how it influences leverage and interest expense.
8-K Event Classification
4 items: 1.01, 2.03, 7.01, 9.01
4 items
Item 1.01
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement
Financial
The company incurred a new significant debt or off-balance-sheet obligation.
Item 7.01
Regulation FD Disclosure
Disclosure
Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________________________________________________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
______________________________________________________________________
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 27, 2026
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | ||||||||||||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (561 ) 349-9989
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On March 27, 2026, Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Willis” or the “Company”), entered into an amendment (the “Amendment No. 3”), to the Company’s existing Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2024 (the “Existing Credit Agreement,” as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2025 and Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement, dated as of February 19, 2026, the “Amended Credit Agreement), by and among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and the Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent. Amendment No. 3 provides for a new revolving commitment such that the total aggregate amount of the revolving commitments under the Existing Credit Agreement is $1,750,000,000.
The foregoing description of Amendment No. 3 and the Existing Credit Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of Existing Credit Agreement, a copy of which is will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2026.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off‐Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8‐K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On March 27, 2026, the Company issued a news release announcing entry into Amendment No.3 to the Existing Credit Agreement referred to in Item 1.01.
A copy of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
The information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be considered “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of such section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into future filings by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company expressly sets forth in such future filing that such information is to be considered “filed” or incorporated by reference therein.
This Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “planned,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to many uncertainties in the Company’s operations and business environment. These uncertainties include general economic conditions, in particular, relating to the aviation industry, consumer demand for the Company’s and its customers’ products, competitive and technological developments, customer purchasing actions, work stoppages at the Company or at the location of its key customers as a result of labor disputes, foreign currency fluctuations, uncertainties stemming from U.S. trade policies, tariffs and reactions to same from foreign countries, the volume and scope of product returns, adverse business and operational issues resulting from the continuing effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, matters adversely impacting the timing and availability of component parts and raw materials needed for the production of our products and the products of our customers and fluctuations in our costs of operation. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made herein are only made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Report. In addition, such uncertainties and other operational matters are discussed further in the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 9.01 Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits:
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 99.1 | News Release issued by Willis Lease Finance Corporation, dated March 27, 2026, announcing entry into Amendment No. 3 to Existing Credit Agreement. | |||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized officer.
Dated: March 30, 2026
| WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION | ||||||||
| By: | /s/ Scott B. Flaherty | |||||||
| Scott B. Flaherty | ||||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
3
| NEWS RELEASE | CONTACT: | Scott B. Flaherty | ||||||
| EVP & Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
| sflaherty@willislease.com | ||||||||
| 561.413.0112 | ||||||||
Willis Lease Finance Corporation Amends Revolving Credit Facility
COCONUT CREEK, FL, March 30, 2026 – Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the “Company”), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and a global provider of aviation services, today announced that it has amended and extended its existing revolving credit facility, increasing total commitments from $1.0 billion to $1.75 billion and extending the maturity to April of 2031.
The amended facility was oversubscribed, with approximately $1.0 billion in excess lender commitments, reflecting strong support from the Company’s lenders/partners.
“We are very pleased to complete the expansion and extension of our revolving credit facility, reflecting the strength and confidence the markets have in our platform,” said Scott B. Flaherty, EVP & Chief Financial Officer of Willis Lease Finance Corporation. “The increased capacity, term and flexibility provided by our amended facility will support the continued growth and diversification of our platform as we strive to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
Willis Lease Finance Corporation
Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) leases large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft to airlines, aircraft engine manufacturers and maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers worldwide. These leasing activities are integrated with engine and aircraft trading, engine lease pools and asset management services, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. Additionally, through Willis Engine Repair Center®, Jet Centre by Willis, and Willis Aviation Services Limited, the Company’s service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance, aircraft line and base maintenance, aircraft disassembly, parking and storage, airport FBO, and ground and cargo handling services.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve several inherent risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are subject to change in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which the forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed, either expressly or implicitly, in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as war, terrorist activity and natural disasters; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors, as well as the impact of new or increased tariffs; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing and current reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is advisable, however, to consult any further disclosures the Company makes on related subjects in such filings. These statements constitute the Company’s cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
# # #
FAQ
What did Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) announce in this 8-K?
Willis Lease Finance Corporation announced it amended and extended its main revolving credit facility. Total commitments increased to $1.75 billion and the maturity was extended to April 2031, providing more committed bank funding for its aircraft engine leasing and aviation services operations.
How large is Willis Lease Finance Corporation’s amended revolving credit facility?
The amended revolving credit facility for Willis Lease Finance Corporation now has total commitments of $1.75 billion. This represents an increase from the prior $1.0 billion level, giving the company additional borrowing capacity to support engine leasing, trading and broader aviation service activities.
How long is the maturity on WLFC’s updated revolving credit facility?
The updated revolving credit facility for WLFC has its maturity extended to April 2031. A longer-dated maturity can help stabilize the company’s funding profile, giving it more time to deploy capital into aircraft engines and related aviation assets without near-term refinancing pressure.
Was Willis Lease Finance Corporation’s amended facility oversubscribed?
Yes. The company reported that the amended revolving credit facility was oversubscribed, with approximately $1.0 billion in excess lender commitments. This oversubscription indicates that lending institutions offered more capacity than WLFC chose to take, suggesting strong appetite among its banking partners.
Why is the larger revolving credit facility important for WLFC’s strategy?
The larger, extended revolving credit facility is intended to support WLFC’s continued growth and diversification. Management notes that the increased capacity, longer term and flexibility help finance engine leases, trading and aviation services as the company responds to evolving customer needs across global airline and maintenance markets.
What business does Willis Lease Finance Corporation operate?
Willis Lease Finance Corporation focuses on leasing large and regional spare commercial aircraft engines and aircraft. It also offers engine and aircraft trading, lease pools, asset management and end-of-life engine solutions, plus maintenance, disassembly, parking, storage and ground-handling services through various specialized subsidiaries.