GECAS and alternative asset manager Oz Management closed STARR 2018-1. Operating as START Ltd., this closing marks the first aircraft portfolio purchase vehicle structure to include a dedicated asset manager for equity investors. In this transaction, GECAS is selling a portfolio of aircraft to Start Ltd, which is financing its acquisition through issuance of 144A debt and equity. The sales are subject to typical conditions including any regulatory approvals that may be necessary. GECAS will continue to service the portfolio and an affiliate of Oz will serve as an asset manager.

The diversified portfolio is comprised of 24 in-production Boeing and Airbus aircraft on lease to 16 global airlines in 15 countries, with a total appraised value of approximately $700 million.

An affiliate of Oz, through an exclusive, multi-year agreement with GECAS, will serve as an asset manager on this and potential future transactions, acting on behalf of the syndicated equity investors as an advisor to the board regarding portfolio matters. In this capacity, Oz will provide increased transparency on behalf of START Ltd. through enhanced investor reporting to improve liquidity for debt and equity investors.

Rob Shafir, CEO of Oz Management, said, “We are excited to team up with the leading aircraft lessor in the world to create a new structure which enhances pooled aircraft sale transactions. GECAS — with their fleet of nearly 2000 owned, serviced and on-order aircraft — brings their domain expertise and 50 years’ aviation finance experience to this transaction. When coupled with Oz’s experience as an institutional asset manager, START Ltd. will bring increased institutional capital to the commercial aviation space.”

“By joining with Oz on this transaction, we feel confident this unique structure will bolster investor interest in the aviation finance space,” said Alec Burger, president of GE Capital and president and CEO of GECAS. “While GECAS continues our lessee relationships through our servicing arrangement, this structure provides GECAS, as a seller, and buyer/issuers like START Ltd. with access to the institutional market on a more consistent basis. We look forward to teaming up with Oz on similar aircraft sales transactions going forward and capitalizing on their expertise in managing these types of platforms.”

With nearly $1 trillion in outstanding market value in commercial aviation, this asset manager structure aims to broaden the investor base in the sector and bring increased institutional capital to the space, similar to other securitization markets such as CLOs. In addition to serving as the asset manager, funds managed by Oz have the added opportunity to invest equity.