Jackson Square Aviation To Become A Group Company Of Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackson Square Aviation is pleased to announce it will become a group company of Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited ("MUL"), whose interests will be wholly owned by MUL.  The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2012, pending regulatory approvals.  Jackson Square is one of the world's leading commercial aircraft lessors, with a fleet of 76 next-generation aircraft valued in excess of $4 billion.

"We are excited to join forces with MUL," remarked Richard S. Wiley, Jackson Square's President and CEO. "Having the support of another major international financial services company enables us to continue to provide our airline customers with new capital to finance their next-generation deliveries."

Scott B. Weiss, Jackson Square's COO and Executive Vice President of Capital Markets, commented that "MUL brings to the table a premier brand name and a large presence in Asia, home to some of aviation's highest growth markets. This will be a great combination of two superior global companies."

"Airlines want to know they are conducting business with a well-capitalized lessor who will stand behind its commitments," added Toby Bright, EVP and Head of Marketing. "With the support of MUL, we will continue to be a reliable source of funding for our airline customers."

About Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited

Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited is a prominent global leasing company headquartered in Tokyo.  MUL, incorporated April 1971, focuses on leasing, installment sales, various types of financing, and international business.  With a total paid capital of 33,196,047,500 JPY and 320,000,000 authorized shares, MUL's principal shareholders are Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company, and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation.  MUL is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.  The company employs more than 2,200 people worldwide.  

About Jackson Square Aviation

Jackson Square Aviation is a full-service aircraft leasing company based in San Francisco with offices in Seattle, London, Miami, Toulouse, Singapore, and Beijing. The management team, which had previously worked together at Pegasus Aviation Finance Company, has over 100 years of combined industry experience.  The company's current fleet (owned and committed) includes 76 aircraft valued in excess of $4 billion, originated via sale/leasebacks with 23 of the world's leading airlines.  Led by the experienced aircraft leasing trio of Richard Wiley, Toby Bright and Scott Weiss, the team has collectively acquired over $11 billion of aircraft, has purchased and/or remarketed over 400 aircraft, and has established relationships with over 30 commercial lenders and investment banks throughout Europe, Asia and North America.  The majority of Jackson Square's shares are currently held by certain funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., a leading global investment management firm focused on alternative markets, with US$78.7 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2012.