Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) announced on September 16, 2026, that it has entered into a Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement with the Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ). Under the terms of the agreement, WLFC will issue 1,750,000 shares of newly issued Series B Preferred Stock in a private placement.
The preferred shares are priced at $20.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of approximately $35 million for the company. The closing of the transaction is expected to occur by the end of the third quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
The Series B Preferred Stock carries an annual dividend rate of 8.09% and features a liquidation preference of $20.00 per share. The company noted that the Certificate of Designations for this preferred stock will be detailed in a future Form 8-K filing following the closing of the placement.
WLFC stated that the issuance is not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, relying instead on the Section 4(a)(2) exemption. The company confirmed that it did not engage in any general solicitation or advertising in connection with the transaction.
WLFC highlighted that this agreement builds upon a nearly 10-year partnership with DBJ. The company noted that this investment will support its global expansion plans, including the development of a new Willis Engine Repair Center in Johor, Malaysia.
