Announcement of Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement

Willis Lease Finance (WLFC) entered into a $35 million Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with Development Bank of Japan on September 16, 2026, covering 1,750,000 shares of 8.09% Series B Preferred Stock.

Rhea-AI Summary

Willis Lease Finance (WLFC) entered into a $35 million Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with Development Bank of Japan on September 16, 2026, covering 1,750,000 shares of 8.09% Series B Preferred Stock.

The company describes this investment as supporting continued global business growth, including its planned Willis Engine Repair Center in Johor, Malaysia. The deal extends a long-standing relationship with DBJ, which in 2024 purchased Series A preferred stock that refinanced and expanded $50 million of existing preferred securities into a single $65 million preferred series.

Positive

• $35 million Series B preferred equity financing from Development Bank of Japan
• New issue of 1,750,000 shares of 8.09% Series B Preferred Stock
• Follows prior $65 million Series A preferred investment that refinanced $50 million of earlier preferred stock
• Company links DBJ’s additional investment to funding global growth, including a new repair center in Malaysia

Negative

• New preferred stock adds ongoing 8.09% dividend obligation on 1,750,000 shares

Market Context

WLFC was up 0.77% before publication, while the momentum scanner listed no peers. The preferred-stoc...

Analysis

WLFC was up 0.77% before publication, while the momentum scanner listed no peers. The preferred-stock agreement was announced against an individual pre-headline move, with no recorded peer-momentum comparison in the supplied scanner data.

Key Figures

Preferred stock investment: $35 million Shares issued: 1,750,000 shares Preferred stock rate: 8.09%

Preferred stock investment

$35 million

Series B preferred stock purchase agreement with DBJ

Shares issued

1,750,000 shares

Series B Preferred Stock

Preferred stock rate

8.09%

Series B Preferred Stock

Key Terms

preferred stock purchase agreement, preferred stock, part 145, forward-looking statements, +1 more

5 terms

preferred stock purchase agreement financial

"entered into a $35 million preferred stock purchase agreement with the Development Bank of Japan"

A preferred stock purchase agreement is a legal contract that spells out the terms under which investors buy preferred shares from a company, including price, number of shares, investor rights (like dividend priority and liquidation preference), closing conditions, and usual representations and warranties. Think of it as a detailed bill of sale and rulebook combined: it defines what the buyer gets and what protections they have, so investors know how their ownership, claim on cash or assets, and voting or conversion rights behave relative to common shareholders.

preferred stock financial

"1,750,000 shares of the Company’s 8.09% Series B Preferred Stock"

Preferred stock is a type of ownership in a company that typically offers investors higher and more consistent dividend payments than common stock. Unlike regular shares, preferred stock usually doesn’t come with voting rights but provides a priority claim on the company’s assets and profits, making it a more stable and predictable investment option. This makes preferred stock attractive to those seeking steady income with lower risk.

part 145 technical

"service offerings include Part 145 engine maintenance"

Part 145 is the regulatory approval that lets an aviation maintenance facility legally inspect, repair and sign off on aircraft and components; think of it like a licensed mechanic shop for airplanes. For investors, holding a Part 145 approval matters because it enables a company to win maintenance contracts, generate recurring service revenue, and avoid costly grounding or compliance penalties that can disrupt operations and cash flow.

forward-looking statements regulatory

"the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements"

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

private securities litigation reform act regulatory

"cautionary statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995"

A federal law that changed how lawsuits by private investors against public companies over alleged securities fraud are started and handled. It requires plaintiffs to show specific facts about alleged wrongdoing up front, limits certain types of legal damages and stops lawyers from shopping for plaintiffs, so companies face fewer frivolous suits and investors know stronger cases move forward. Think of it as tightened screening at the courthouse to reduce baseless claims and clarify legal risk for investors.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla., Sept. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“WLFC” or the "Company"), the leading lessor of commercial aircraft engines and global provider of aviation services, today announced that on September 16, 2026, it entered into a $35 million preferred stock purchase agreement with the Development Bank of Japan Inc. (“DBJ”) for 1,750,000 shares of the Company’s 8.09% Series B Preferred Stock.

“We’re delighted to continue to grow our partnership with DBJ, which started nearly 10 years ago,” said Scott B. Flaherty, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of WLFC. “It is an exciting period for the Company as we expand our global aviation services platform, including our recently announced plans for a new Willis Engine Repair Center^® in Johor, Malaysia. This additional investment from DBJ will support the continued growth of our business globally.”

Today’s announcement builds on the long-term partnership between WLFC and DBJ. In 2024, WLFC entered into a Series A Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with DBJ, which refinanced and expanded WLFC’s $50 million of aggregate Series A-1 and Series A-2 preferred stock into one $65 million preferred stock series.

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

Willis Lease Finance Corporation 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 through Willis Mitsui & Co. Asset Management Limited, as well as various end-of-life solutions for engines and aviation materials provided through Willis Aeronautical Services, Inc. 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.

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. 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.

The Company’s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed 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 the COVID-19 pandemic; changes in oil prices, rising inflation and other disruptions to world markets; trends in the airline industry and the Company’s ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; the Company’s 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 the Company and its customers; the Company’s 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 the Company’s 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.

CONTACT:

Scott B. Flaherty EVP & Chief Financial Officer sflaherty@willislease.com 561.413.0112