false2021FY0001378789☐☐☐P9MP1MP3MP6MP1MP3MP6MP9Mhttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#OtherAssetshttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#OtherAssetsP1MP6MP10YP3MP10YP3MP5YP5YP5YP6MP12Mhttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrenthttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrentAndNoncurrenthttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebthttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#LongTermDebtP3Yoneone00013787892021-01-012021-12-310001378789dei:BusinessContactMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:A5.875FixedRateResetJuniorSubordinatedNotesdue2079Member2021-01-012021-12-3100013787892021-12-31xbrli:sharesiso4217:USD00013787892020-12-31iso4217:EURxbrli:shares0001378789us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember2020-12-310001378789aer:BaseLeaseRentsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:BaseLeaseRentsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:BaseLeaseRentsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRentsAndOtherReceiptsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRentsAndOtherReceiptsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRentsAndOtherReceiptsMember2019-01-012019-12-3100013787892020-01-012020-12-3100013787892019-01-012019-12-31iso4217:USDxbrli:shares00013787892019-12-3100013787892018-12-310001378789aer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2021-12-3100013787892021-11-012021-11-300001378789aer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2020-12-310001378789aer:NorwegianAirShuttleASAMemberaer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2020-05-012020-05-310001378789aer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789aer:NonCashInvestingAndFinancingActivitiesMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2018-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2019-12-310001378789srt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2019-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:TreasuryStockMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ParentMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2021-12-31aer:aircraftaer:engineaer:helicopter0001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-012021-11-010001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-012021-11-010001378789aer:GeneralElectricMemberaer:AerCapHoldingsNVMember2021-11-01xbrli:pure0001378789aer:GeneralElectricMember2021-11-01aer:numberOfDirectors0001378789srt:MinimumMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-012021-11-010001378789srt:MaximumMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-012021-11-010001378789aer:PassengerAircraftMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:PassengerAircraftMember2021-12-310001378789aer:FreighterAircraftMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:FreighterAircraftMember2021-12-310001378789aer:HelicoptersMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:HelicoptersMember2021-12-310001378789aer:EnginesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:EnginesMember2021-12-31aer:segment0001378789aer:FloatingRateDebtMemberus-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember2021-12-310001378789aer:FloatingRateDebtMemberaer:OneMonthLIBORMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:ThreeMonthLIBORMemberaer:FloatingRateDebtMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:FloatingRateDebtMemberaer:SixMonthLIBORMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-010001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-292021-10-290001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:GECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:GECASAcquisition1899SeniorUnsecuredNotesDue2025Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-010001378789us-gaap:CommonStockMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-112021-11-110001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Memberaer:BankingFeesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:ProfessionalFeesAndOtherExpensesMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Memberaer:SeveranceAndOtherCompensationExpensesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-11-012021-12-310001378789aer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:DisposalGroupHeldforsaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2021-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsAndLeasePremiumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMember2020-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMember2019-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMemberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:MaintenanceRightsMember2021-12-310001378789aer:LeasePremiumsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:LeasePremiumsMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2020-12-310001378789aer:OtherContractualIntangibleAssetsMember2021-12-310001378789aer:OtherContractualIntangibleAssetsMember2020-12-310001378789aer:CustomerRelationshipsAndOtherIntangibleAssetsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:CustomerRelationshipsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:CustomerRelationshipsAndOtherIntangibleAssetsMember2021-12-310001378789aer:ShannonEngineSupportLtdMember2021-12-310001378789aer:ShannonEngineSupportLtdMember2020-12-310001378789aer:AerdragonMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AerdragonMember2020-12-310001378789aer:AerliftLeasingLtdMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AerliftLeasingLtdMember2020-12-310001378789aer:EinnVolantAircraftLeasingHoldingsLtdMember2021-12-310001378789aer:EinnVolantAircraftLeasingHoldingsLtdMember2020-12-310001378789aer:AcsalHoldcoLLCMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AcsalHoldcoLLCMember2020-12-310001378789aer:GileadAviationDesignedActivityCompanyMember2021-12-310001378789aer:GileadAviationDesignedActivityCompanyMember2020-12-310001378789aer:MubadalaInfrastructureInvestmentsLimitedMember2021-12-310001378789aer:MubadalaInfrastructureInvestmentsLimitedMember2020-12-310001378789srt:MaximumMember2021-12-310001378789aer:DeferralAgreementsMember2021-12-310001378789aer:DeferralAgreementsMember2020-12-310001378789aer:AircraftSaleReceivableMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AircraftSaleReceivableMember2020-12-310001378789aer:GeneralElectricMember2021-12-310001378789srt:MinimumMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:InterestRateCapMemberus-gaap:NondesignatedMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:InterestRateCapMemberus-gaap:NondesignatedMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMemberus-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMemberus-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:InterestRateCapMemberus-gaap:DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:InterestRateCapMemberus-gaap:DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMemberus-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:NondesignatedMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMemberus-gaap:CashFlowHedgingMemberus-gaap:NondesignatedMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateSwapMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateCapMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateCapMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:InterestRateCapMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789aer:InterestRateCapsAndSwapsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:InterestRateCapsAndSwapsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:InterestRateCapsAndSwapsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:ILFCLegacyNotesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:ILFCLegacyNotesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AerCapTrustAICDCNotesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AerCapTrustAICDCNotesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AsiaAndCitiRevolvingCreditFacilitiesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AsiaAndCitiRevolvingCreditFacilitiesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:OtherUnsecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:OtherUnsecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:UnsecuredDebtFairValueAdjustmentMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:UnsecuredDebtFairValueAdjustmentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:ExportCreditFacilitiesMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-31aer:aircraftAndEngines0001378789aer:ExportCreditFacilitiesMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:AerfundingRevolvingCreditFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AerfundingRevolvingCreditFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:OtherSecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:OtherSecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:SecuredDebtFairValueAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:SecuredDebtFairValueAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:ECAPSSubordinatedDebtAndOtherNotesMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:ECAPSSubordinatedDebtAndOtherNotesMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:SubordinatedDebtVariableInterestEntitiesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:SubordinatedDebtVariableInterestEntitiesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:SubordinatedDebtFairValueAdjustmentMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:SubordinatedDebtFairValueAdjustmentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:FloatingRateDebtMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AerCapTrustAICDCNotesMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMembersrt:MaximumMemberaer:AerCapTrustAICDCNotesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AerCapTrustAICDCNotesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A175BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2023Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A325BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2024Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A10BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2024Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A375BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2026Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A375BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2028Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A40BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2032Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A15BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2033Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A15BillionGECASAcquisitionSeniorNotesDue2041Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:A500MillionGECASAcquisitionFloatingRateSeniorNotesDue2023Memberaer:GECapitalAviationServicesDue2023Member2021-10-290001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AsiaRevolverMember2018-03-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:AsiaRevolverMember2021-08-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:CitiRevolverIMember2019-10-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:CitiRevolverIMember2019-10-012019-10-310001378789us-gaap:UnsecuredDebtMemberaer:CitiRevolverIIMember2021-03-300001378789aer:ExportCreditFacilitiesMembersrt:MinimumMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789srt:MaximumMemberaer:ExportCreditFacilitiesMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansSetantaFacilityMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansSetantaFacilityMember2020-12-310001378789aer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansHyperionFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansHyperionFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:CeltagoCeltagoIIFacilitiesMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:CeltagoCeltagoIIFacilitiesMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789aer:CesiumFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:CesiumFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:GoldfishFacilityMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:GoldfishFacilityMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:ScandiumMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:ScandiumMember2020-12-310001378789aer:RhodiumFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2021-12-310001378789aer:RhodiumFacilityMemberus-gaap:SecuredDebtMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:OtherSecuredFacilitiesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:OtherSecuredFacilitiesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SecuredDebtMemberaer:InstitutionalSecuredTermLoansSetantaFacilityMember2021-11-050001378789aer:Aerfunding1LimitedMemberaer:CharitableTrustMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:Aerfunding1LimitedMemberaer:AercapIrelandMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:TermLoanMemberaer:AerfundingRevolvingCreditFacilityMember2020-12-012020-12-310001378789aer:TermLoanMemberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMemberaer:AerfundingRevolvingCreditFacilityMember2022-03-012022-03-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMemberaer:ECAPSSubordinatedNotesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMemberaer:ECAPSSubordinatedNotesMember2020-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMemberaer:A2045SubordinatedNotesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMemberaer:A2045SubordinatedNotesMember2020-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMemberaer:A2079SubordinatedNotesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMemberaer:A2079SubordinatedNotesMember2020-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtNotesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:ECAPSSubordinatedNotesMember2005-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtTrancheTwoMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2005-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtTrancheOneMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2005-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtTrancheTwoMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2005-12-012005-12-310001378789aer:SubordinatedDebtTrancheOneMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMember2005-12-012005-12-310001378789aer:ThreeMonthLIBORMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:ECAPSSubordinatedNotesMember2005-12-012005-12-310001378789aer:TenYearConstantMaturityUSTreasuryMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:ECAPSSubordinatedNotesMember2005-12-012005-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:ThirtyYearConstantMaturityUSTreasuryMemberaer:ECAPSSubordinatedNotesMember2005-12-012005-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:A2045JuniorSubordinatedNotesMember2015-06-3000013787892015-06-012015-06-300001378789us-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMemberus-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:A2045JuniorSubordinatedNotesMember2015-06-012015-06-300001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:A2045JuniorSubordinatedNotesMember2015-06-012015-06-30aer:deferralPeriod0001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberaer:A2079JuniorSubordinatedNotesMember2019-10-3100013787892019-10-012019-10-310001378789us-gaap:SubordinatedDebtMemberus-gaap:UsTreasuryUstInterestRateMemberaer:A2079JuniorSubordinatedNotesMember2019-10-012019-10-310001378789aer:CitiBridgeCreditFacilityMemberus-gaap:BridgeLoanMember2021-03-310001378789aer:CitiBridgeCreditFacilityMemberus-gaap:BridgeLoanMember2021-03-302021-03-300001378789aer:CitiTermLoanCreditAgreementMemberus-gaap:LineOfCreditMember2021-03-310001378789aer:CitiTermLoanCreditAgreementMemberus-gaap:LineOfCreditMember2021-03-302021-03-300001378789aer:CitiTermLoanCreditAgreementMemberus-gaap:LineOfCreditMember2021-11-010001378789country:IE2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:IE2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:IE2019-01-012019-12-310001378789country:US2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:US2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:US2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:ForeignCountryMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ForeignCountryMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:ForeignCountryMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789country:IE2021-12-310001378789country:US2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ForeignCountryMember2021-12-310001378789country:IE2020-12-310001378789country:US2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:ForeignCountryMember2020-12-310001378789country:IEaer:NoExpirationDateMember2021-12-31aer:company0001378789aer:Between2035And2038Membercountry:US2021-12-310001378789aer:NoExpirationDateMembercountry:US2021-12-3100013787892019-11-3000013787892020-01-310001378789aer:EquityIncentivePlanTwoThousandTwelveMember2012-03-310001378789aer:EquityIncentivePlanTwoThousandFourteenMember2014-05-140001378789aer:EquityIncentivePlanTwoThousandFourteenMember2021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789srt:MaximumMemberaer:NvEquityPlanMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:TimeBasedRestrictedStockUnitsAndRestrictedStocksMember2020-12-310001378789aer:PeformanceBasedRestrictedStockUnitsAndRestrictedStocksMember2020-12-310001378789aer:TimeBasedRestrictedStockUnitsAndRestrictedStocksMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:PeformanceBasedRestrictedStockUnitsAndRestrictedStocksMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:TimeBasedRestrictedStockUnitsAndRestrictedStocksMember2021-12-310001378789aer:PeformanceBasedRestrictedStockUnitsAndRestrictedStocksMember2021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanExecutivesMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanExecutivesMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMember2021-12-310001378789aer:FirstMilestoneMemberaer:NvEquityPlanExecutivesMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMember2021-12-310001378789aer:FirstMilestoneMemberaer:NvEquityPlanExecutivesMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanExecutivesMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMemberaer:SecondMilestoneMember2021-12-310001378789aer:NvEquityPlanExecutivesMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockMemberaer:SecondMilestoneMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMemberaer:NvEquityPlanMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:LapsedRestrictionsOnRestrictedStocksMemberaer:NvEquityPlanMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheOneMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheTwoMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheThreeMember2021-12-310001378789aer:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheFourMember2021-12-310001378789aer:ShareBasedCompensationAwardTrancheFiveMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AercapGECASPlanMember2021-12-310001378789aer:ActivesMember2021-12-31aer:employee0001378789aer:FrozenActivesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:DeferredsMember2021-12-310001378789aer:PensionersMember2021-12-3100013787892021-11-012021-12-3100013787892021-11-010001378789us-gaap:DefinedBenefitPlanDebtSecurityMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:DefinedBenefitPlanEquitySecuritiesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:DefinedBenefitPlanOtherMember2021-12-310001378789country:CN2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:CNus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:CN2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:CNus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:CN2019-01-012019-12-310001378789country:CNus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789country:US2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:USus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:US2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:USus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:US2019-01-012019-12-310001378789country:USus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMemberus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMemberus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMemberus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789us-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberus-gaap:SalesRevenueSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001378789country:CN2021-12-310001378789country:CNus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:CN2020-12-310001378789country:CNus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789country:US2021-12-310001378789country:USus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789country:US2020-12-310001378789country:USus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMember2021-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMemberus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMember2020-12-310001378789aer:OtherCountriesMemberus-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789us-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:GeographicConcentrationRiskMemberaer:LongLivedAssetsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001378789aer:InvestmentInFinanceLeasesMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:NotesReceivableMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:LoansReceivableMember2020-12-310001378789aer:InvestmentInFinanceLeasesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:NotesReceivableMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:LoansReceivableMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:InvestmentInFinanceLeasesMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:NotesReceivableMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:LoansReceivableMembersrt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2020-12-310001378789srt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2020-12-310001378789aer:InvestmentInFinanceLeasesMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:NotesReceivableMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:LoansReceivableMember2021-12-310001378789aer:COVID19PandemicGECASTransactionMember2021-01-012021-12-31aer:category0001378789aer:CategoryAMember2021-12-310001378789aer:CategoryBMember2021-12-310001378789aer:CategoryCMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AerCapPartnersIAndAercapPartners767Memberus-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:DeucalionAviationFundsMemberus-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberaer:AerCapPartnersIAndAercapPartners767Member2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:AercapPartnersIHoldingLimitedMemberus-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AercapPartnersIHoldingLimitedMembersrt:ParentCompanyMember2021-12-310001378789aer:AercapPartnersIHoldingLimitedMemberaer:DeucalionAviationFundsMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberaer:AercapPartners767HoldingLimitedMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberaer:AercapPartners767HoldingLimitedMember2020-12-310001378789srt:ParentCompanyMemberaer:AercapPartners767HoldingLimitedMember2020-12-310001378789aer:DeucalionAviationFundsMemberaer:AercapPartners767HoldingLimitedMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberaer:Aerfunding1LimitedMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:VariableInterestEntityPrimaryBeneficiaryMemberaer:Aerfunding1LimitedMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:GeneralElectricMemberaer:AerCapHoldingsNVMember2021-11-010001378789aer:GeneralElectricMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:SESMember2021-12-310001378789aer:SESMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789srt:OfficerMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CapitalAdditionsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:EnginesHelicoptersMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FlightEquipmentMemberus-gaap:CapitalAdditionsMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FlightEquipmentMemberus-gaap:CapitalAdditionsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001378789aer:AircraftMemberaer:VaspLitigationMember1992-12-310001378789aer:VaspLitigationMemberaer:EnginesMember1992-12-310001378789aer:VaspLitigationMember2017-01-012017-12-310001378789aer:VASPLitigationEnglishCourtMemberaer:VaspLitigationMember2006-01-012006-12-310001378789aer:VaspLitigationMemberaer:VASPLitigationIrishCourtMember2006-01-012006-12-310001378789aer:VASPLitigationEnglishCourtMemberaer:VaspLitigationMember2008-01-012008-12-310001378789aer:VaspLitigationMemberaer:VASPLitigationIrishCourtMember2008-01-012008-12-310001378789aer:TransbrasilLitigationMember2011-07-012011-07-31aer:claim0001378789aer:TransbrasilLitigationMemberaer:StatutoryPenaltiesMember2011-07-012011-07-310001378789aer:TransbrasilLitigationMember2011-07-310001378789aer:TransbrasilLitigationMember2013-10-012013-10-310001378789aer:RecoveryofAttorneysFeesMemberaer:TransbrasilLitigationMember2011-07-012011-07-310001378789aer:IndemnityClaimMemberaer:TransbrasilLitigationMember2011-07-012011-07-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Member2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:MeasurementInputDiscountRateMemberus-gaap:IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember2021-12-310001378789aer:MeasurementInputNonContractualCashFlowsMemberus-gaap:IncomeApproachValuationTechniqueMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Memberus-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Memberus-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel1Memberus-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel2Memberus-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMembercountry:RU2022-02-230001378789country:RU2021-12-310001378789aer:ShannonEngineSupportLtdMemberus-gaap:SubsequentEventMembercountry:RU2022-02-230001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMembercountry:UA2022-02-230001378789country:UA2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMembercountry:UA2022-03-300001378789aer:BaseLeaseRentsMembercountry:RU2021-01-012021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMembercountry:RU2022-03-300001378789country:RUaer:RepossessedRussianAssetsMember2021-12-310001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMember2022-02-240001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMember2022-02-242022-03-30aer:financialInstitution0001378789us-gaap:SubsequentEventMemberus-gaap:InsuranceClaimsMember2022-02-24
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
☒
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
Commission file number 001-33159
AerCap Holdings N.V.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
The Netherlands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
AerCap House
65 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin D02 YX20
Ireland
+ 353 1 819 2010
(Address of principal executive offices)
Vincent Drouillard, AerCap House, 65 St. Stephen’s Green,
Dublin D02 YX20, Ireland
Telephone number: +353 1 819 2010, Fax number: +353 1 672
0270
(Name, Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of
Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Act:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
Ordinary Shares |
AER |
The New York Stock Exchange |
5.875% Fixed-Rate Reset Junior Subordinated Notes due
2079 |
AER79 |
The New York Stock Exchange |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s
classes of capital or ordinary stock as of the close of the period
covered by the annual report.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Shares, Euro 0.01 par value |
245,395,448 |
|
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned
issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes ☒ No ☐
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check
mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past
90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted
electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted
pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to submit such
files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer,
or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated
filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Large accelerated filer |
☒ |
Accelerated filer |
☐ |
Non accelerated filer
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
|
☐ |
Emerging growth company |
☐ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on
and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section
404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the
registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit
report. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has
used to prepare the financial statements included in this
filing:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. GAAP |
☒ |
International Financial Reporting Standards as
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board |
☐ |
Other |
☐ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question,
indicate by check mark which financial statement item the
registrant has elected to follow: Item 17
☐
Item 18
☐
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the
registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report includes “forward looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
principally under the captions “Item 3. Key Information—Risk
Factors,” “Item 4. Information on the Company” and
“Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” We
have based these forward looking statements largely on our current
beliefs and projections about future events and financial trends
affecting our business. Many important factors, in addition to
those discussed in this annual report, could cause our actual
results to differ substantially from those anticipated in our
forward looking statements, including, among other
things:
•the
severity, extent and duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, including
the rate of recovery in air travel, the aviation industry and
global economic conditions; the potential impacts of the pandemic
and responsive government actions on our business and results of
operations, financial condition and cash flows;
•the
availability of capital to us and to our customers and changes in
interest rates;
•a
downgrade in any of our credit ratings;
•the
ability of our lessees and potential lessees to make lease payments
to us;
•our
ability to successfully negotiate flight equipment (which includes
aircraft, engines and helicopters) purchases, sales and leases, to
collect outstanding amounts due and to repossess flight equipment
under defaulted leases, and to control costs and
expenses;
•changes
in the overall demand for commercial aviation leasing and aviation
asset management services;
•the
effects of terrorist attacks on the aviation industry and on our
operations;
•the
economic condition of the global airline and cargo industry and
economic and political conditions;
•development
of increased government regulation, including travel restrictions,
regulation of trade and the imposition of import and export
controls, tariffs and other trade barriers;
•competitive
pressures within the industry;
•the
negotiation of flight equipment management services
contracts;
•our
ability to successfully integrate GECAS or achieve the anticipated
benefits of the GECAS Transaction;
•the
potential impact of the consummation of the GECAS Transaction on
our relationships, including with employees, suppliers, customers
and competitors;
•regulatory
changes affecting commercial flight equipment operators, flight
equipment maintenance, engine standards, accounting standards and
taxes; and
•the
risks set forth in “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors”
included in this annual report.
The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,”
“anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” and similar words are intended to
identify forward looking statements. Forward looking statements
include information concerning our possible or assumed future
results of operations, business strategies, financing plans,
competitive position, industry environment, potential growth
opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of
competition. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date
they were made and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or
to revise any forward looking statements because of new
information, future events or other factors. In light of the risks
and uncertainties described above, the forward looking events and
circumstances described in this annual report might not occur and
are not guarantees of future performance.
PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior
Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected
Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
AerCap Holdings N.V. (together with its subsidiaries, “AerCap,”
“we,” “us” or the “Company”) completed the acquisition of the GE
Capital Aviation Services (“GECAS”) business from General Electric
(“GE”) on November 1, 2021 (the “Closing Date”). We refer to this
acquisition as the “GECAS Transaction.” Under the terms of the
transaction agreement, GE received 111.5 million newly issued
AerCap shares, $23 billion of cash and $1 billion of AerCap senior
notes. Immediately following the completion of the GECAS
Transaction, GE held approximately 46% of AerCap’s issued and
outstanding ordinary shares.
RISK FACTORS
Summary Risk Factors
Risks related to the GECAS Transaction
•The
GECAS Transaction may not be successful and we may not achieve its
anticipated benefits. In particular, we may not successfully
realize anticipated growth or cost-savings opportunities or
successfully integrate our business and operations with those of
the GECAS business.
•The
GECAS Transaction may prove disruptive and could result in the
combined business failing to meet our expectations.
•We
have incurred a substantial amount of debt to complete the GECAS
Transaction, which has significantly increased our indebtedness and
debt service obligations, increasing risks relating to our
substantial level of indebtedness.
•The
GECAS Transaction could adversely impact our relationship with our
customers and may result in the departure of key
personnel.
•Investors
who were holding our ordinary shares immediately prior to the
completion of the GECAS Transaction, in the aggregate, have a
significantly reduced ownership and voting interest in us due to
the completion of the GECAS Transaction and exercise less influence
over management.
•Sales
by GE of our ordinary shares issued to GE in connection with the
GECAS Transaction may negatively affect the market price of our
ordinary shares.
Risks related to disease, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and
other world events
•The
Covid-19 pandemic may continue to have a material and adverse
impact on the aviation industry and our business.
•Global
or regional public health developments, extreme weather or natural
disasters or other force majeure events may adversely affect the
demand for air travel, the financial condition of our lessees and
the aviation industry more broadly, and ultimately our financial
condition, results and cash flows.
•The
effects of terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorist attacks,
war or armed hostilities may adversely affect the financial
condition of the airline industry.
•We
expect the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the impact of resulting
sanctions by the United States, the European Union, the United
Kingdom and other countries to adversely affect our business and
financial condition, results and cash flows.
Risks relating to our funding and liquidity
•We
require significant capital to fund our business and service our
debt, and changes in the availability of capital or in the interest
rates we pay on our debt may affect our operations or financial
results.
•We
have a substantial level of indebtedness and we might incur
significantly more debt, which could adversely impact our operating
flexibility and subject us to covenants that impose restrictions
that may affect our ability to operate our business.
Risks relating to market demand for, and lease rates and value of,
flight equipment in our fleet
•Our
business depends heavily on the level of demand for the flight
equipment in our fleet, which may decline as a result of factors
outside our control, thereby affecting the returns on our flight
equipment investments.
•Our
operations depend on flight equipment manufacturers, whose behavior
may change in ways that adversely affect the lease rates and value
of flight equipment in our fleet or our results of operations more
broadly.
•If
a decline in demand for certain flight equipment causes a decline
in their projected lease rates, or if we dispose of flight
equipment for a price that is less than their depreciated book
value on our balance sheet, then we will recognize impairments or
make fair value adjustments.
Risks related to the financial strength of our lessees
•Our
financial condition depends, in part, on the financial strength of
our lessees, and factors outside of our control may adversely
affect our lessees’ operations, their ability to meet their payment
obligations to us or their demand for our flight
equipment.
•Airline
bankruptcy proceedings or reorganizations may limit our ability to
collect lease rentals and other payments, depress flight equipment
market values and adversely affect our ability to re-lease or sell
flight equipment at favorable rates, if at all, particularly where
such proceedings involve our lessees.
Risks related to our relationship with our lessees
•We
have limited control over the operation of our flight equipment
while they are under lease and we depend on our lessees to properly
maintain and insure our flight equipment, which may expose us to
additional and unexpected costs.
•If
our lessees encounter financial difficulties and we restructure or
terminate our leases, our ability to re-lease flight equipment on
favorable lease terms, collect outstanding amounts due to us, and
repossess flight equipment under defaulted leases may be limited
and require us to incur additional costs and expenses.
Risks related to competition and the aviation industry
•We
face significant competition and our business may be adversely
affected if market participants change as a result of restructuring
or bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions, or new entities entering
or exiting the industry, or if existing competitors enter into new
or different market segments.
•We
rely on a small number of manufacturers for the supply of
commercial flight equipment, and any disruption in these
manufacturers’ operating abilities may cause us to experience
delivery delays on our flight equipment orders. We may experience
additional delivery delays and associated costs if flight equipment
manufacturers deliver flight equipment that fail to meet our
lessees’ expectations or the requirements of air travel
regulators.
Risks related to the geopolitical, regulatory and legal exposure of
our business
•We
are exposed to geopolitical, economic and legal risks associated
with the international operations of our business and those of our
lessees, including many of the economic and political risks
associated with emerging markets. We are exposed to concentrated
political and economic risks in certain geographical regions in
which our lessees are concentrated, particularly
China.
•Our
assets are subject to various environmental regulations and
concerns that may be supplemented by additional regulations and
requirements or become more stringent, which may negatively affect
our operations.
Risks related to our IT, structure and taxation
•We
depend on our information technology systems and those of
third-parties, and our business may suffer if they are damaged or
interrupted, including by cyberattack.
•We
are incorporated in the Netherlands and it may be difficult to
obtain or enforce judgments against us or our executive officers,
some of our directors and some of our named experts in the United
States.
•We
are subject to taxation regimes in various jurisdictions, and we
may become subject to additional taxes in those jurisdictions,
taxes in other jurisdictions, or experience changes in our tax
status in certain jurisdictions, which may affect the effective tax
rates that we are subject to and the results of our
operations.
Risks related to the GECAS Transaction
The GECAS Transaction may not be successful and we may not achieve
its anticipated benefits. In particular, we may not successfully
realize anticipated growth or cost-savings opportunities or
successfully integrate our business and operations with those of
the GECAS business.
Now that the GECAS Transaction has been completed, we have
significantly more revenue, expenses, assets and employees than we
did prior to the GECAS Transaction. In the GECAS Transaction, we
have assumed all of the liabilities and other obligations of GECAS.
Additionally, our management has expended, and will continue to
expend, significant time and resources in connection with the GECAS
Transaction, and we have incurred, and will continue to incur,
significant legal, advisory and financial services fees related to
the GECAS Transaction. We may not successfully or cost-effectively
integrate GECAS’s business and operations into our business and
operations. Even if we are able to integrate GECAS’s business and
operations successfully, our future operations and cash flows will
depend largely upon our ability to operate the combined company
efficiently and this integration may not result in the realization
of the full benefits of the growth opportunities, cost-savings or
synergies that we currently expect from the GECAS Transaction
within the anticipated time frame, or at all.
The GECAS Transaction may prove disruptive and could result in the
combined business failing to meet our expectations.
The process of integrating our operations with GECAS may require a
disproportionate amount of resources and management attention. Our
management team may encounter unforeseen difficulties in managing
the integration. In order to successfully combine AerCap and GECAS
and operate the combined business, our management team will need to
focus on realizing anticipated synergies and cost savings on a
timely basis while maintaining the efficiency of our operations.
Any substantial diversion of management attention to difficulties
in operating the combined business could affect our revenues and
ability to achieve operational, financial and strategic
objectives.
We have incurred a substantial amount of debt to complete the GECAS
Transaction, which has significantly increased our indebtedness and
debt service obligations, increasing risks relating to our
substantial level of indebtedness.
As of December 31, 2021, the principal amount of our outstanding
indebtedness, which excluded debt issuance costs, debt discounts
and debt premium of $344 million, was $50.5 billion. To finance the
cash portion of the consideration for the GECAS Transaction, we
have incurred $24 billion of additional long-term debt,
including $1 billion of additional debt issued to GE as
additional consideration for the GECAS Transaction. Our ability to
make payments on our debt, fund our other liquidity needs, and make
planned capital expenditures will depend on the combined company’s
ability to generate cash in the future. We cannot guarantee that
the combined company will generate sufficient cash or that we will
have alternative measures available to us to meet our debt
obligations. The substantial level of our indebtedness after giving
effect to the GECAS Transaction may limit our ability to raise
additional financing on favorable terms or at all in the future,
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in
our business or industry or make us more vulnerable to downturns in
our business, our industry or the economy in general, in ways that
could negatively affect the price of our ordinary shares as well as
our business and financial condition.
The GECAS Transaction could adversely impact our relationship with
our customers and may result in the departure of key
personnel.
The GECAS Transaction could cause disruptions to our business. For
example, our customers may refrain from leasing or re-leasing our
aircraft until they determine whether the GECAS Transaction will
affect our business, including, but not limited to, the pricing of
our leases, the availability of certain aircraft, and our customer
support. Our customers may also choose to lease aircraft and
purchase services from our competitors until they determine whether
the GECAS Transaction will affect our business or our relationship
with them. Uncertainty concerning potential changes to us and our
business could also harm our ability to enter into agreements with
new customers. In addition, key personnel may depart for a variety
of reasons, including perceived uncertainty regarding the effect of
the GECAS Transaction on their employment.
Investors who were holding our ordinary shares immediately prior to
the completion of the GECAS Transaction, in the aggregate, have a
significantly reduced ownership and voting interest in us due to
the completion of the GECAS Transaction and exercise less influence
over management.
Investors holding our ordinary shares immediately prior to the
completion of the GECAS Transaction, in the aggregate, owned a
significantly smaller percentage of the combined company
immediately after the completion of the GECAS Transaction.
Immediately following the completion of the GECAS Transaction, GE
held approximately 46% of our issued and outstanding ordinary
shares, and our existing shareholders held approximately 54% of our
issued and outstanding ordinary shares. The ordinary shares
received by GE are subject to certain voting restrictions and
standstill provisions. Furthermore, pursuant to the terms of the
shareholders’ agreement, GE is entitled to nominate two directors
for election to our Board of Directors. Consequently, existing
shareholders, collectively, are able to exercise less influence
over the management and policies of the combined company than they
were able to exercise over the management and our policies
immediately prior to the completion of the GECAS
Transaction.
Sales by GE of our ordinary shares issued to GE in connection with
the GECAS Transaction may negatively affect the market price of our
ordinary shares.
The ordinary shares issued to GE pursuant to the GECAS Transaction
are subject to a lock-up period that will expire in stages over a
nine to 15 month period following the completion of the GECAS
Transaction on November 1, 2021. Sales by GE of these ordinary
shares, or the perception in the market that those sales could
occur following the expiration of the lock-up period, may
negatively affect the price of our ordinary shares.
Risks related to disease, natural disasters, terrorist attacks and
other world events
The Covid-19 pandemic may continue to have a material and adverse
impact on our business.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared that the
Covid-19 outbreak was a pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic and
responsive government actions have caused significant economic
disruption and a dramatic reduction in commercial airline traffic,
resulting in a broad adverse impact on air travel, the aviation
industry and demand for commercial aircraft globally, all of which
has impacted our results of operations. The continued impact of the
Covid-19 pandemic on our business will depend, among other things,
on the duration of the pandemic and the speed and effectiveness of
vaccination efforts; the rate of recovery in air travel and the
aviation industry, including the future demand for commercial
aircraft; and global economic conditions.
We have agreed with many of our lessees to defer rent obligations
and if the financial condition of our customers remains weak or
weakens further, we may grant further accommodations.
If we determine that the collectability of lessee rental payments
is no longer probable (including any deferral thereof), we are then
required to recognize rental revenues using a cash accounting
method rather than an accrual method. In the period we conclude
that collection of lease payments is no longer probable, we
recognize any difference between revenue amounts recognized to date
under the accrual method and payments that have been collected from
the lessee, including security deposit amounts held, as a current
period adjustment to lease revenue. Subsequently, we recognize
revenues based on the lesser of the straight-line rental income and
the lease payments collected from the lessee until such time that
collection is probable, which could materially reduce our reported
revenue. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized
rent payments from a number of our lessees using the cash method,
which resulted in a decrease in basic lease rents of
$296 million. If the financial condition of any additional
lessees worsens, we may determine to recognize rent payments from
these lessees using the cash method, which could, in future
periods, further decrease basic lease rents.
Many national governments have provided financial assistance to
airlines. In some cases, governments have imposed conditions on
airline recipients of assistance, and governments may also impose
conditions on any future assistance, such as requiring airlines to
remove less environmentally friendly aircraft from their fleets or
obtain concessions from their creditors, including aircraft
lessors, which could adversely impact our business. Refer to “Item
3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks related to the financial
strength of our lessees—Our financial condition is dependent, in
part, on the financial strength of our lessees.”
In addition to a reduction in basic lease rents, the significant
decline in air travel has resulted, and may continue to result, in
lower utilization of our aircraft and engines, which is likely to
reduce future supplemental maintenance rent and end-of-lease
(“EOL”) compensation payable to us.
We are observing, as a result of the significant and sustained
decline in international air passenger traffic and an expectation
of a long recovery time for international air traffic, a shift by
some airlines away from current technology widebody aircraft in
favor of new technology widebody aircraft. If airlines continue to
experience prolonged financial hardships or bankruptcies, or there
are other adverse developments to the air travel industry arising
from the pandemic, aircraft values may decline further, thereby
increasing the likelihood that in future quarters we recognize
additional impairment charges with respect to our aircraft. Refer
to “Item 5. Critical accounting policies and estimates—Event-driven
impairment and impairment calculation charges.” In addition, any
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other restructuring of
our lessees may result in their grounding our flight equipment,
negotiating reductions in lease rentals or altogether rejecting
their leases, all of which could depress asset market value and
adversely affect our ability to timely re-lease or sell flight
equipment at favorable rates, if at all. Refer to “Item 3. Key
Information—Risk Factors—Risks related to the financial strength of
our lessees—If our lessees encounter financial difficulties and we
restructure or terminate our leases, including as a result of
customer reorganizations or bankruptcies, we are likely to obtain
less favorable lease terms.”
While we expect that, even with current market conditions, our
liquidity is more than sufficient to satisfy our anticipated
operational and other business needs over the next 12 months, we
cannot assure you that operating cash flow will not be lower than
we expect due to, for example, higher than expected deferral
arrangements or payment defaults. Although we currently have a
number of sources of liquidity, in some cases the availability of
these sources is contingent upon our ability to satisfy certain
financial covenants. Refer to Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report. To the extent that the Covid-19 pandemic adversely affects
our ability to comply with any of these covenants, it may also have
the effect of exacerbating many of the other risks identified in
“Item 3—Risk Factors—Risks related to our funding and liquidity—The
agreements governing our debt contain various covenants that impose
restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate our
business.” Even though we do not currently foresee any difficulty
or inability to remain in compliance with these financial
covenants, to the extent we do not do so, we may be in default
under, and/or unable to draw upon, these sources of liquidity or
may be required to negotiate amendments with our counterparties,
the terms of which could be unfavorable to us.
Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic has led us to adopt remote
working arrangements (which remain in place in a small number of
our locations), which could negatively affect our operations and
may require us to implement new processes, procedures and controls
to respond to further changes in our business environment. We also
depend on certain key officers and employees; should any of them
become ill and unable to work, it could impact our productivity and
business continuity.
Global or regional public health developments, extreme weather or
natural disasters or other force majeure events may adversely
affect the demand for air travel, the financial condition of our
lessees and the aviation industry more broadly, and ultimately our
financial condition, results and cash flows.
Our international operations expose us to risks associated with
unforeseen global and regional events. Epidemic diseases such as
Covid-19, Ebola, measles, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),
H1N1 (swine flu) and Zika virus could materially and adversely
affect the overall amount of air travel. These epidemic diseases,
or the fear of these diseases, could result in government-imposed
travel restrictions and reduced passenger demand for travel. The
occurrence of severe weather events or natural disasters, including
floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, may make airlines
unable to operate to or from certain regions or impact demand for
air travel and the frequency or severity of these types of events
may worsen as a result of climate change. The occurrence or
outbreak of any of the above events or other force majeure events
could adversely affect commercial airline traffic, reduce demand
for flight equipment leases or impair the financial condition of
the aviation industry, including our lessees. As a result, our
lessees may not be able to satisfy their payment obligations to us.
These events may also cause damage to our flight equipment, the
extent of losses from which may not be fully covered by insurance.
For these and other reasons, our financial results may be
materially and adversely affected by the occurrence of such
events.
The effects of terrorist attacks, war or armed hostilities may
adversely affect the financial condition of the airline industry
and our lessees’ ability to meet their lease payment obligations to
us.
Terrorist attacks and the threat of terrorist attacks, war or armed
hostilities, or the fear of such events, have historically had a
negative impact on the aviation industry and could result
in:
•higher
costs to the airlines due to the increased security
measures;
•decreased
passenger and air cargo demand and revenue;
•the
imposition of “no-fly zone” or other restrictions on commercial
airline traffic in certain regions, including the recent landing
and overflight restrictions on Russian airlines in response to the
Russian invasion of Ukraine and corresponding restrictions on
airlines in the European Union, United States and other
jurisdictions imposed by Russia;
•uncertainty
of the price and availability of jet fuel and the cost and
practicability of obtaining fuel hedges;
•higher
financing costs and difficulty in raising the desired amount of
proceeds on favorable terms, if at all;
•significantly
higher premiums or reduced coverage amounts for aviation insurance
coverage for future claims caused by acts of war, terrorism,
sabotage, hijacking and other similar perils, which may be
insufficient to comply with the current requirements of aircraft
lenders and lessors or applicable government regulations, or the
unavailability of certain types of insurance;
•reliance
by aircraft lenders or lessors on government programs for specified
types of aviation insurance, which may not be available at the
relevant time or under which governments may not pay in a timely
fashion;
•inability
of airlines to reduce their operating costs and conserve financial
resources, taking into account the increased costs incurred as a
consequence of such events;
•special
charges recognized by some operators, such as those related to the
impairment of aircraft and engines and other long-lived assets
stemming from the grounding of aircraft as a result of terrorist
attacks, economic conditions and airline reorganizations;
and
•an
airline becoming insolvent and/or ceasing operations.
Such events are likely to cause our lessees to incur higher costs
and to generate lower revenues, which could result in a material
adverse effect on their financial condition and liquidity,
including their ability to make rental and other lease payments to
us or to obtain the types and amounts of insurance we require. This
in turn could lead to aircraft groundings or additional lease
restructurings and repossessions, increase our cost of re-leasing
or selling flight equipment, impair our ability to re-lease or
otherwise dispose of flight equipment on favorable terms or at all,
or reduce the proceeds we receive for our flight equipment in a
disposition.
We expect the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the impact of
resulting sanctions by the United States, the European Union, the
United Kingdom and other countries to adversely affect our business
and financial condition, results and cash flows.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale military
invasion of Ukraine and is now engaged in a broad military conflict
with Ukraine (the “Ukraine Conflict”). In response, the United
States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries
have imposed broad, far-reaching sanctions against Russia, certain
Russian persons and certain activities involving Russia or Russian
persons. These sanctions include prohibitions regarding the supply
of aircraft and aircraft components to Russian persons or for use
in Russia, subject to certain wind-down periods.
Prior to the Ukraine Conflict, we had 135 owned aircraft on lease
to Russian airlines, as well as 14 owned engines on lease to
Russian airlines. We had no helicopters on lease to Russian
customers. The aggregate net carrying value of our owned assets
leased to Russian airlines was approximately $3.1 billion
(which includes flight equipment net book value of
$3.3 billion, maintenance rights assets and other
lease-related assets of approximately $500 million and
maintenance liabilities and other lease-related liabilities of
approximately $700 million) as of December 31, 2021.
Additionally, our Shannon Engine Support (“SES”) joint venture had
14 engines on lease to Russian airlines prior to the Ukraine
Conflict.
In addition, we had seven owned aircraft on lease to Ukrainian
airlines, with an aggregate net carrying value of approximately
$125 million as of December 31, 2021. As of
March 30, 2022, five of these aircraft are in temporary
storage outside of Ukraine. As of March 30, 2022, the
remaining two aircraft are grounded in Ukraine, but the exact
status of these aircraft remains difficult to
ascertain.
We intend to fully comply with all applicable sanctions and we have
terminated the leasing of all of our aircraft and engines with
Russian airlines. These terminations will result in reduced
revenues and operating cash flows. Basic lease rents from our owned
aircraft and engines leased to Russian airlines were approximately
$33 million for the month of December 2021.
We have sought to repossess all of our aircraft and engines from
Russian airlines and remove them from Russia. As of March 30,
2022, we had detained 22 of our owned aircraft and three of our 14
owned engines outside of Russia. The net carrying value as of
December 31, 2021, of the owned aircraft and engines that we
have removed from Russia was approximately
$400 million.
It is unclear whether we will be able to repossess any additional
aircraft or engines from our former Russian airline customers, or,
if we do so, when we will be able to do so, and we do not know what
the condition of these assets will be at the time of repossession
or whether any such aircraft could be re-leased or sold. Any
failure to promptly repossess our aircraft and engines will
adversely affect our business and financial results. Many of these
Russian airlines have continued to fly our aircraft and engines
notwithstanding the leasing terminations and our repeated demands
for the return of our assets. Our aircraft and engines that remain
in Russia may suffer damage or deterioration due to inadequate
maintenance and lack of spare parts.
As a result, we expect to recognize an impairment on our assets in
Russia which have not been returned to us as early as the first
quarter of 2022. While we have not yet determined the amount of
this impairment, it may amount to the total net carrying value of
these assets. We may also recognize an impairment on our assets
that we have repossessed from Russian airlines as a result of our
inability to re-lease them or otherwise.
We had letters of credit related to our aircraft and engines leased
to Russian airlines as of February 24, 2022 of approximately
$260 million, all confirmed by financial institutions in
Western Europe. We have presented requests for payment to all of
these institutions. As of March 30, 2022, we had received
payments of approximately $175 million related to these
letters of credit. We have initiated legal proceedings against one
financial institution which rejected our payment demands in respect
of certain letters of credit. We continue to work with other
financial institutions toward receiving payments on the remaining
letters of credit. We intend to pursue all available legal claims
concerning these letters of credit but the timing and amount of any
payments under these remaining letters of credit are
uncertain.
Our lessees are required to provide insurance coverage with respect
to leased aircraft and we are named as insureds under those
policies in the event of a total loss of an aircraft or engine. We
also purchase insurance which provides us with coverage when our
aircraft or engines are not subject to a lease or where a lessee’s
policy fails to indemnify us. We have submitted an insurance claim
for approximately $3.5 billion with respect to all aircraft
and engines remaining in Russia and intend to pursue all of our
claims under these policies with respect to our assets leased to
Russian airlines as of February 24, 2022. However, the timing
and amount of any recoveries under these policies are
uncertain.
In addition, we intend to pursue all available legal claims related
to our assets leased to Russian airlines as of February 24, 2022.
However, the timing and amount of any recoveries under any of these
claims are uncertain.
It is not possible to predict the broader or longer-term
consequences of the Ukraine Conflict, which could include expansion
of the conflict, further sanctions, embargoes, regional
instability, geopolitical shifts and adverse effects on
macroeconomic conditions, security conditions, fuel prices,
currency exchange rates and financial markets. Such geopolitical
instability and uncertainty could have a negative impact on our
ability to lease aircraft, engines and helicopters, collect
payments from, and support customers in certain regions based on
trade restrictions, embargoes and export control law restrictions,
and logistics restrictions including closures of air space, and
could materially and adversely affect our business.
Risks relating to our funding and liquidity
We require significant capital to fund our business.
As of December 31, 2021, we had 417 new aircraft, 30 engines and 16
helicopters on order, which will require substantial purchase
contract payments. In order to meet these commitments and to
maintain an adequate level of unrestricted cash, we will need to
raise additional funds by accessing committed debt facilities,
securing additional financing from banks or through capital markets
transactions, or possibly by selling flight equipment.
If we are unable to meet our purchase commitments as they come due,
we will be subject to several risks, including:
•forfeiting
deposits and progress payments to manufacturers and having to pay
certain significant costs related to these commitments such as
actual damages and legal, accounting and financial advisory
expenses;
•defaulting
on our lease commitments, which could result in monetary damages
and strained relationships with lessees;
•failing
to realize the benefits of purchasing and leasing such flight
equipment; and
•risking
harm to our business reputation, which would make it more difficult
to purchase and lease flight equipment in the future on agreeable
terms, if at all.
Any of these events could materially and adversely affect our
financial results.
To service our debt and meet our other cash needs, we will require
a significant amount of cash, which may not be
available.
Our ability to make payments on, and to repay or refinance, our
debt, depends largely upon our operating performance, which is in
part subject to factors beyond our control. In addition, our
ability to borrow funds to make payments on our debt depends on our
maintaining specified financial ratios and satisfying financial
condition tests and other covenants in certain of the agreements
governing our debt. Our business may not generate sufficient cash
flow from operations and future borrowings may not be available in
amounts sufficient to pay our debt and to satisfy our other
liquidity needs.
If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund
our debt service obligations, we may be forced to seek
alternatives, such as to reduce or delay investments and flight
equipment purchases, sell assets, restructure or refinance our
indebtedness, or seek additional capital, including through new
types of debt, equity or hybrid securities. Our ability to
restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of
the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any
refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and might
require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could
further restrict our business operations. These alternative
measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our
scheduled debt service obligations or to meet our flight equipment
purchase commitments as they come due. Failure to make payments on
our debt would result in a default under those agreements and could
result in a default under other agreements containing cross default
provisions. Moreover, the issuance of additional equity may be
dilutive to existing shareholders or otherwise may be on terms not
favorable to us or existing shareholders.
Despite our substantial indebtedness, we might incur significantly
more debt.
Despite our current indebtedness levels, we may increase our levels
of debt in the future to finance our operations, including to
purchase aircraft or to meet our contractual obligations, or for
any other purpose. The agreements relating to our debt, including
our indentures, term loan facilities, Export Credit Agency
(“ECA”)-guaranteed financings, revolving credit facilities,
securitizations, other commercial bank financings, and other
financings do not prohibit us from incurring additional debt. As of
December 31, 2021, we had approximately $10.6 billion of undrawn
lines of credit available under our revolving credit and term loan
facilities and other available secured debt, subject to certain
conditions, including compliance with certain financial covenants.
If we increase our total indebtedness, our debt service obligations
will increase, and we will become more exposed to the risks arising
from our substantial level of indebtedness.
Our level of indebtedness, which requires significant debt service
payments, could adversely impact our operating flexibility and
financial results.
The principal amount of our outstanding indebtedness, which
excludes debt issuance costs, debt discounts and debt premium of
$344 million, was $50.5 billion as of December 31, 2021,
(approximately 68% of our total assets as of December 31, 2021),
and our interest payments, net of amounts capitalized, were $1.1
billion for the year ended December 31, 2021. Due to the
capital-intensive nature of our business, we expect that we will
incur additional indebtedness in the future and continue to
maintain significant levels of indebtedness.
Our level of indebtedness:
•requires
a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to be
dedicated to interest and principal payments and therefore not
available to fund our operations, working capital, capital
expenditures, expansion, acquisitions or general corporate or other
purposes;
•may
impair our ability to obtain additional financing on favorable
terms or at all in the future;
•may
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in
our business and industry; and
•may
make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business, our industry
or the economy in general.
The agreements governing our debt contain various covenants that
impose restrictions on us that may affect our ability to operate
our business.
Certain of our indentures, term loan facilities, ECA-guaranteed
financings, revolving credit facilities, securitizations, other
commercial bank financings, and other agreements governing our debt
impose operating and financial restrictions on our activities that
limit our operational flexibility. Among other negative covenants
customary for such financings, certain of these restrictions limit
our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens on, sell
or access certain assets, declare or pay certain dividends and
distributions or enter into certain transactions, investments,
acquisitions, loans, guarantees or advances. Additionally, a
substantial portion of our owned aircraft are held through SPEs or
finance structures that finance or refinance the aircraft through
funding agreements that place restrictions on distributions of
funds to us.
Agreements governing certain of our indebtedness also contain
financial covenants, including requirements that we comply with
certain loan-to-value, interest coverage and leverage ratios. These
restrictions could impede our ability to operate our business by,
among other things, limiting our ability to take advantage of
financing, merger and acquisition and other corporate
opportunities. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be
affected by events beyond our control. Failure to comply with any
of the covenants in our financing agreements would result in a
default under those agreements and could result in a default under
other agreements containing cross default provisions. Under these
circumstances, we may have insufficient funds or other resources to
satisfy all our obligations.
Changes in interest rates may increase our cost of borrowing or
otherwise adversely affect our net income.
We use a mix of fixed rate and floating rate debt to finance our
business. Any increase in our cost of borrowing directly impacts
our net income. Our cost of borrowing is affected by the interest
rates that we obtain on our debt financings, which can fluctuate
based on, among other things, general market conditions, the
market’s assessment of our credit risk, prevailing interest rates
in the market, fluctuations in U.S. Treasury rates and other
benchmark rates, changes in credit spreads or swap spreads, and the
duration of the debt we issue. If interest rates increase, we will
be obligated to make higher interest payments to the lenders of our
floating rate debt to the extent that it is not hedged. Please
refer to “Item 11—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk—Interest rate risk” for further details on our
interest rate risk. In addition, we are exposed to the credit risk
that the counterparties to our derivative contracts will default on
their obligations.
Decreases in interest rates may adversely affect our interest
revenue on cash deposits and our lease revenue. During the year
ended December 31, 2021, approximately 1.2% of our basic lease
rents from flight equipment under operating leases was attributable
to leases with lease rates tied to floating interest rates and
approximately 98.8% was derived from leases with fixed lease rates.
A decrease in interest rates would cause a decrease in our lease
revenue from leases with lease rates tied to floating interest
rates. We could also experience reduced lease revenue from our
fixed rate leases if interest rates decrease because these are
based, in part, on prevailing interest rates at the time we enter
into the lease. As a result, new fixed rate leases we enter into at
a time of lower interest rates may be at lower lease rates than had
no such interest rate decrease occurred, adversely affecting our
lease revenue.
Moreover, if interest rates were to rise sharply, we would not
immediately be able to fully offset the negative impact on our net
income by increasing lease rates, even if the market were able to
bear the increased lease rates. Our leases are generally for
multiple years with fixed lease rates over the life of the lease
and, therefore, lags will exist because our lease rates with
respect to a particular aircraft cannot generally be increased
until the expiration of the lease.
Negative changes in our credit ratings may limit our ability to
obtain financing or increase our borrowing costs.
Our cost of borrowing and access to the capital markets are
affected by our credit ratings.
We are currently subject to periodic review by independent credit
rating agencies S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, each of which currently
maintains an investment grade rating with respect to
us.
We cannot assure you that these credit ratings will remain in
effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be
lowered, suspended or withdrawn. Any actual or anticipated changes
in our credit ratings, could negatively impact our ability to
obtain secured or unsecured financing, increase our borrowing costs
or limit our access to the capital markets, which could adversely
impact our financial results.
The discontinuation, reform or replacement of benchmark indices may
negatively affect our interest rate exposure.
Interest rate benchmarks, including the London Interbank Offered
Rates (“LIBOR”), are the subject of ongoing reform and, in some
cases, discontinuation. The discontinuation or replacement of such
benchmarks may disrupt the broader financial markets or could
negatively impact our interest expense, and hedging transactions
that we use in respect of floating rate instruments based on such
benchmarks may not be effective to protect us against any such
negative impact. On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the U.K.
Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), which regulates LIBOR,
announced that the FCA will no longer persuade or compel banks to
submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. This has
subsequently been extended to June 2023 for the major USD LIBOR
tenors. We are party to certain debt instruments, derivative
contracts and leases that use benchmark rates, such as LIBOR, which
will require us to transition these instruments, contracts and
leases to alternative reference rates in the event of their
discontinuation. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to reach
agreement with our lenders and other counterparties with respect to
any such amendments and the replacement of an existing benchmark
rate with an alternate benchmark rate may negatively impact the
value of those contracts to us, expose us to additional financial,
tax, legal, operational or other costs, or expose us to additional
interest rate-related risks, such as different alternative
reference rates applying to our assets compared to our liabilities.
As of December 31, 2021, we had approximately $7.9 billion of
floating rate debt outstanding that used either one-month,
three-month or six-month USD LIBOR as the applicable reference rate
to calculate interest on such debt, of which $6.0 billion is
set to mature after June 30, 2023. As of December 31, 2021, we had
approximately $6.3 billion notional amount of floating rate
derivatives outstanding that used either one-month, three-month or
six-month USD LIBOR. Certain of our floating rate debt and
derivatives contain LIBOR transition fall-back provisions and we
expect to transition to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate
(“SOFR”) on or before June 30, 2023.
Risks relating to market demand for, and lease rates and value of
flight equipment in our fleet
We may be unable to generate sufficient returns on our flight
equipment investments.
Our results depend on our ability to consistently acquire
strategically attractive flight equipment, continually and
profitably lease and re-lease them, and finally sell or otherwise
dispose of them, in order to generate returns on the investments we
have made, provide cash to finance our growth and operations, and
service our existing debt. Upon acquiring flight equipment, we may
not be able to enter into leases that generate sufficient cash flow
to justify the cost of purchase. When our leases expire or our
flight equipment are returned prior to the date contemplated in the
lease, we bear the risk of re-leasing, selling or parting-out the
asset. Because our leases are predominantly operating leases, only
a portion of the relevant flight equipment’s value is recovered by
the revenues generated from the lease and we may not be able to
realize such flight equipment’s residual value after lease
expiration. As a result of the sanctions imposed by various
governments on Russia, we have terminated the leasing of all of our
aircraft and engines with Russian airlines and we now bear the risk
of re-leasing, selling or parting-out the aircraft and engines that
were subject to those leases and have been recovered by us from
Russia. We cannot provide any assurance that the residual values of
aircraft and engines that were subject to such terminated leases
will be realized. Our ability to profitably purchase, lease,
re-lease, sell or otherwise dispose of our aircraft and engines
will depend in part on conditions in the airline industry and
general market and competitive conditions at the time of purchase,
lease and disposition, which are outside of our
control.
Our business depends heavily on the level of demand for flight
equipment in our fleet, which may decline as a result of changes in
market conditions and the overall health of air
travel.
Flight equipment are long-lived assets and aircraft demand can
change over time as a result of changes in market conditions
outside of our control. Customer demand for our assets is primarily
driven by long-term trends in passenger air travel and air cargo
demand, and is limited by airport and air traffic control
infrastructure constraints. Demand is also influenced by changes in
economic growth, regulation, customer profitability, fuel prices,
the availability of asset financing, pricing and other competitive
factors. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly
affected passenger air travel worldwide, and the extent, duration
and severity of the pandemic and the rate of recovery in air
travel, the aviation industry and global economic conditions will
impact demand for our aircraft. In addition, the imposition of more
stringent regulation on air travel, including travel restrictions
imposed in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, may adversely impact
the profitability of air travel and reduce demand for our aircraft
and engines. Types of regulation that could impact flight equipment
demand include environmental rules, noise or emissions limitations,
age constraints, trade and import and export controls, tariffs and
other trade barriers. If flight equipment demand declines, lease
rates and residual values of assets could be negatively impacted
and we may be unable to lease our assets on favorable terms, if at
all. Flight equipment values and lease rates have occasionally
experienced sharp decreases in response to market conditions or
otherwise.
Demand for an aircraft can also be affected by factors unique to
that aircraft, including the maintenance and operating history of
the airframe and engines, the compatibility of aircraft
configurations and specifications with other aircraft owned by
operators of that type, the number of operators using the
particular type of aircraft, the availability of documentary
records for the aircraft and aircraft age. The desirability of an
aircraft may also be impacted by factors pertinent to the model of
an aircraft, such as the performance and reliability of the
specific engine type installed on a particular aircraft model,
technical limitations and technical problems associated with an
aircraft model or the operating histories of an aircraft model. For
example, the 2019 grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX has affected
demand and our ability to lease these aircraft, which, together
with potential reputational damage pertaining to the aircraft
model, may affect our future lease rates and residual values for
these aircraft.
In addition, new aircraft types that are introduced to the market
could be more attractive for the target lessees of our aircraft,
increasing the supply of older aircraft in the marketplace. This
may cause the retirement and obsolescence of aircraft models,
decrease comparative values of aircraft based on newly competitive
aircraft and reduce the availability of spare parts for older
aircraft. For instance, Airbus S.A.S. (“Airbus”), The Boeing
Company (“Boeing”) and Embraer S.A. (“Embraer”) have launched
several new aircraft types in recent years, including the Boeing
787 Family, the Boeing 737 MAX Family, the Boeing 777X, the Airbus
A320neo Family, the Airbus A330neo Family, the Airbus A350 Family,
the Airbus A220 Family and the Embraer E-Jet E2 Family. These new
aircraft types, and potential variants of these types, may reduce
the desirability of, and have an adverse effect on residual value
and future lease rates of, older aircraft types and variants.
Additionally, new manufacturers may develop a narrowbody aircraft
that competes with established aircraft types from Airbus, Boeing
and Embraer, putting downward price pressure on, and decreasing the
marketability of, aircraft from these manufacturers. The
development of more fuel-efficient engines could make aircraft in
our portfolio with engines that are not as fuel-efficient less
attractive to potential lessees.
A decrease in demand for our flight equipment as a result of any of
these factors could materially and adversely affect lease rates and
residual values for our flight equipment, our ability to lease our
flight equipment on favorable terms, if at all, and our financial
results.
Manufacturer behavior may adversely affect the lease rates and
value of aircraft in our fleet or our results of operations more
broadly.
The manufacture and supply of commercial aircraft is concentrated
among a limited number of manufacturers. Aircraft also have long
delivery cycles. We rely, as a result, on these manufacturers
responding early and appropriately to changes in the market
environment, delivering aircraft that meet our lessees’
expectations and fulfilling contractual obligations they have to
us. Failure on the part of manufacturers in relation to any of
these requirements may cause us to experience:
•missed
or late delivery of aircraft and engines ordered by us and an
inability to meet our contractual obligations to our customers,
resulting in lost or delayed revenues, lower growth rates and
strained customer relationships;
•an
inability to acquire aircraft and engines and related components on
terms that will allow us to lease those aircraft and engines to
customers at a profit, resulting in lower growth rates or a
contraction in our aircraft portfolio;
•a
market environment with too many aircraft and engines available,
creating downward pressure on demand for the aircraft and engines
in our fleet and reduced market lease rates and sale
prices;
•reduced
demand for a manufacturer’s aircraft due to poor customer support
or reputational damage to such manufacturer, thereby reducing the
demand for those aircraft or engines in our fleet and reduced
market lease rates and residual aircraft values for those aircraft
and engines;
•a
reduction in our competitiveness due to deep discounting by the
aircraft or engine manufacturers, which may lead to reduced market
lease rates and aircraft values and may affect our ability to
remarket for lease or sell at a profit, some of the aircraft in our
fleet; and
•technical
or other difficulties with aircraft or engines after delivery that
subject aircraft to operating restrictions or groundings, reducing
value and lease rates of such aircraft and our ability to lease or
dispose of such aircraft on favorable terms.
For example, the market is currently experiencing oversupply due to
the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the years preceding the
Covid-19 pandemic, the airline industry committed to a significant
number of aircraft deliveries through order placements with
manufacturers, and in response, aircraft manufacturers raised their
production output. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic,
manufacturers have significantly reduced their production output.
Considering the significant decrease in demand for air travel,
these production cuts may not be sufficient to prevent continuing
overcapacity. Uncertainty regarding air travel demand may also lead
to a reduction in the availability of debt financing for aircraft
purchases, which could increase the gap between aircraft production
and demand. Any such decrease in aircraft values and lease rates,
or increase in the cost or availability of funding, could
materially and adversely affect our financial results.
Additionally, the reintroduction into service of the grounded
Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has the potential to cause or exacerbate
conditions of oversupply, especially in light of the backlog of
parked inventory. This may put downward pressure on our aircraft
lease rates, values and results of operations.
Risks related to the financial strength of our lessees
Our financial condition is dependent, in part, on the financial
strength of our lessees.
We generate our revenue primarily from leases to airlines, and as a
result we are exposed to many of the risks that airlines face. The
ability of our lessees to perform their obligations depends
primarily on their financial condition and cash flows, which are
affected by factors outside our control. In addition to general
economic and market conditions, airlines are affected by overall
changes in passenger and air cargo demand, the price and
availability of jet fuel, labor difficulties and costs, the
availability of financial or other governmental support and
governmental regulation and associated fees, including travel
restrictions, restrictions on carbon emissions, environmental
regulations and fly-over restrictions.
Generally, airlines with high financial leverage are more likely
than airlines with stronger balance sheets to be affected, and are
affected more quickly, by these factors. Such airlines are also
more likely to seek operating leases.
A deterioration in the financial condition and cash flows of our
lessees, including from the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19
pandemic or the Ukraine Conflict, would increase the risk that they
will delay, reduce or fail to make rental payments when due. At any
point in time, our lessees may be significantly in arrears. Some
lessees encountering financial difficulties may seek a reduction in
their lease rates or other concessions, such as a deferral of their
obligations to make rent or supplemental maintenance rent payments
or a decrease in their contribution toward maintenance obligations.
Moreover, we may not correctly assess the credit risk of each
lessee or charge lease rates that incorrectly reflect related
risks. Many of our lessees are not rated investment grade by the
principal U.S. rating agencies and may be more likely to suffer
liquidity problems than those that are so rated.
Our financial condition, financial results and cash flows may be
materially and adversely affected by any events adversely affecting
the financial strength of our lessees.
Increases in fuel prices and fuel price volatility could affect our
lessees’ ability to meet their lease payment obligations to
us.
The cost of fuel represents a major expense to airlines that is not
within their control, and significant increases in fuel costs or
hedges that inaccurately assess the direction of fuel costs can
materially and adversely affect their operating results.
Historically, fuel prices have fluctuated widely depending
primarily on international market conditions, geopolitical and
environmental events and currency exchange rates, including events,
such as natural disasters and wars, that affect fuel supply. For
example, predominantly as a result of the Ukraine Conflict and
resulting sanctions imposed by various governments on Russia, in
early 2022 oil prices rose to their highest levels since
2008.
Due to the competitive nature of the aviation industry, operators
may be unable to increase airfares in a manner that fully offsets
increases in fuel costs. In addition, they may not be able to enter
appropriate hedging positions to manage their exposure to fuel
price fluctuations. Airlines that hedge their fuel costs may suffer
adverse impacts to their profitability and liquidity from swift
movements in fuel prices, if their hedge agreements require them to
post cash collateral. Therefore, if for any reason fuel prices
return to historically high levels or show significant volatility,
our lessees are likely to incur higher costs or generate lower
revenues, which may affect their ability to meet their obligations
to us.
Instability in the banking system or financial markets could impair
our lessees’ ability to finance their operations, which could
affect their ability to comply with payment obligations to
us.
Adverse changes in the global banking system or the global
financial markets may have a material adverse effect on our
business. Many of our lessees have expanded their airline
operations through borrowings and some are highly leveraged. These
lessees depend on banks and the capital markets to provide working
capital and to refinance existing indebtedness. Global financial
markets can be highly volatile and the availability of credit from
financial markets and financial institutions can vary
substantially. Events that adversely impact capital markets could
lead to the imposition of stricter capital requirements on
borrowers, reduce the general availability of credit or otherwise
result in higher borrowing costs, limiting our lessees’ abilities
to finance their operations, which could affect their ability to
meet payment obligations to us.
If our lessees encounter financial difficulties and we restructure
or terminate our leases, including as a result of customer
reorganizations or bankruptcies, we are likely to obtain less
favorable lease terms.
If a lessee delays, reduces, or fails to make rental payments when
due, or has advised us that it will do so in the future, we may
elect or be required to restructure or terminate the lease. In
addition, in recent years, several airlines and other customers,
including several of our lessees, have filed for protection under
their local bankruptcy and insolvency laws, and certain airlines
and other customers have gone into liquidation, and the impact of
the Covid-19 pandemic on air travel has caused an increase in the
number of airlines and other customers filing for such protection.
A restructured lease will likely contain terms that are less
favorable to us. If we are unable to agree on a restructuring and
we terminate the lease, we may not receive all or any payments
still outstanding, and we may be unable to re-lease the flight
equipment promptly and at favorable rates, if at all. Moreover,
airline bankruptcies historically have led to the grounding of
significant numbers of aircraft, rejection of leases and negotiated
reductions in aircraft lease rentals, with the effect of depressing
aircraft market values. As such, further reorganizations would
adversely affect our ability to re-lease or sell aircraft at
favorable rates, if at all. We have conducted restructurings and
terminations in the ordinary course of our business, and we expect
more will occur in the future. If we are obligated to perform a
significant number of restructurings and terminations, the
associated reduction in lease revenue could materially and
adversely affect our financial results and cash flows.
Risks related to our relationship with our lessees
We have limited control over the operation of our flight equipment
while they are under lease and depend on our lessees to properly
maintain and insure our flight equipment.
While our flight equipment are on lease, we do not directly control
their operation. Under our leases, our lessees are primarily
responsible for maintaining our assets, obtaining adequate levels
of insurance and complying with all governmental requirements
applicable to the lessee and the flight equipment, including
operational, maintenance, government agency oversight, registration
requirements and airworthiness directives. We also require many of
our lessees to pay us supplemental maintenance rents. Nevertheless,
because we still own and hold title to the flight equipment we
could be exposed to costs resulting from a lessee’s failure to
properly maintain an asset under lease or be held liable for losses
resulting from its operation while under lease. If a lessee fails
to perform required maintenance on our asset during the term of the
lease, the asset’s market value may decline or we might be required
to incur maintenance and modification costs, which would result in
lower revenues from its subsequent lease or sale, or the asset
might be grounded. Additionally, if our lessees fail to maintain
adequate insurance coverage, default in their indemnification or
insurance obligations to us, or are exposed losses for which they
do not have coverage, we could face increased costs from pursuing
corrective action or face reductions in insurance proceeds that
would otherwise be payable to us in the case of loss. If our
lessees fail to meet their obligations to pay supplemental
maintenance rents or EOL compensation, fail to perform required
scheduled maintenance, fail to obtain and maintain insurance
coverage for losses to which they are exposed, or if we are
required to incur unexpected costs associated with any of the
above, our financial results may be materially and adversely
affected.
If our lessees fail to cooperate in returning our assets following
lease terminations, we may encounter obstacles and are likely to
incur significant costs and expenses conducting
repossessions.
Our legal rights and the relative difficulty of repossession vary
significantly depending on the jurisdiction in which our flight
equipment is located and the applicable law. We may need to obtain
a court order or consents for deregistration or re-export, a
process that can differ substantially in different countries. Where
a lessee or other operator flies only domestic routes in the
jurisdiction in which the asset is registered or in which the
lessee operator is based, repossessing and exporting the asset may
be challenging, especially if the jurisdiction permits the lessee
or the other operator to resist deregistration or export of the
asset. For example, due to the Ukraine Conflict and sanctions
imposed against Russia, we have sought to repossess all of our
aircraft and engines from Russian airlines and remove them from
Russia but we have experienced, and we anticipate that we will
continue to experience, difficulties in repossessing such assets.
It is unclear whether we will be able to repossess our aircraft and
engines from our former Russian airline customers, or if we do so,
when we will be able to do so, and we do not know what the
condition of these assets will be at the time of
repossession.
When a defaulting lessee is in bankruptcy, protective
administration, insolvency or similar proceedings, additional
limitations may apply. For example, certain jurisdictions entitle
the lessee or another third-party to retain possession of the
flight equipment without paying lease rent or performing all or
some of the obligations under the relevant lease. Certain of our
lessees are partially or wholly owned by government-related
entities, which can complicate our efforts to repossess our
aircraft in that government’s jurisdiction. If we encounter any of
these difficulties, we may be delayed in, or prevented from,
enforcing certain of our rights under a lease and in re-leasing the
affected flight equipment.
When conducting a repossession, we are likely to incur significant
costs and expenses that are unlikely to be recouped, including, for
example, legal and regulatory expenses, taxes, lost revenue,
maintenance and refurbishment and repair costs necessary to put the
flight equipment in suitable condition for re-lease or sale. We may
also make payments to discharge liens placed on our flight
equipment by third parties and, until these liens are discharged,
be restricted in our ability to repossess, release or sell our
flight equipment. Although the financial obligations relating to
these liens are the contractual responsibility of our lessees, if
they fail to fulfill these obligations, such liens may ultimately
become our responsibility and impose additional repossession costs
on us. If we incur significant costs in repossessing our flight
equipment, our financial results may be materially and adversely
affected.
In certain countries, an engine affixed to an aircraft may become
an accession to the aircraft and we may not be able to exercise our
ownership rights over the engine.
Under some legal principles, an engine affixed to an aircraft may
become an accession to the aircraft, whereby the ownership rights
of the owner of the airframe supersede those of the owner of the
engine. In such cases, where an aircraft is security for the
owner’s obligations to a third-party, the security interest in the
aircraft may supersede our rights as owner of the engine. As a
substantial part of the value of an aircraft derives from its
engines, we would suffer a substantial loss if our ability to
repossess a leased engine was limited in the event of a lease
default, which could materially and adversely affect our financial
results.
Risks related to competition and the aviation industry
Competition and changes in market participants, including lessors,
manufacturers and aircraft lessees, may adversely affect our
business operations.
The aviation leasing industry is highly competitive. Our
competitors are primarily other major aircraft leasing companies,
but we may also encounter competition from emerging aircraft
leasing companies that we do not currently consider our main
competitors. We may also face competition from other market
participants, such as airlines, aircraft manufacturers, aircraft
brokers, financial institutions, including those seeking to dispose
of repossessed aircraft at distressed prices and other entities
that invest in aircraft and engines. Some of these competitors may
have greater operating and financial resources than we do and we
may not always be able to compete successfully, which could
materially and adversely affect our financial results.
Over the past several years, market participants in the aviation
industry have changed as a result of restructuring or bankruptcies,
mergers and acquisitions, entities entering or exiting the industry
or entities entering into new or different market segments. We
expect similar transitions to continue to take place into the
future. Changes in market participants may affect our business by,
for instance, reducing competition amongst manufacturers, changing
the offering of aircraft types and models in the market, reducing
demand for our aircraft from lessees or increasing the competition
we face for new lessees or favorable terms on our transactions. New
aircraft manufacturers, such as Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation in
Japan, JSC United Aircraft Corporation in Russia and Commercial
Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. in China could produce aircraft
that compete with current offerings from Airbus, Boeing and
Embraer. These changes may materially affect our
business.
The financial instability of an aircraft or engine manufacturer
could impact delivery of our aircraft on order and negatively
affect our cash flow and results of operations.
The supply of commercial aircraft is dominated by Airbus and Boeing
and a limited number of engine manufacturers. As a result, we are
dependent on these manufacturers remaining in existence and
financially stable to fulfill contractual obligations they have to
us. Any disruption to these manufacturers’ operating abilities may
cause us to experience delivery delays on our aircraft orders. Our
leases contain lessee cancellation clauses related to aircraft
delivery delays, typically for aircraft delays greater than one
year, and our purchase agreements contain similar provisions. If
there are manufacturing delays for aircraft for which we have made
future lease commitments, some or all of our affected lessees could
elect to terminate their lease arrangements with respect to such
delayed aircraft. Any such termination could negatively affect our
cash flow and results of operations.
Further, we may experience additional delivery delays and
associated costs if aircraft manufacturers deliver aircraft that
fail to meet our lessees’ expectations or the requirements of air
travel regulators. Following the fatal accidents of two Boeing 737
MAX aircraft, the worldwide fleet of these aircraft was grounded by
aviation authorities in March 2019 and production was temporarily
suspended by Boeing in January 2020, resulting in ongoing delays in
the delivery of our aircraft on order from Boeing. Most
jurisdictions have now approved the Boeing 737 MAX return to
service, including the United States, China and Europe. As of
December 31, 2021, we had 43 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft delivered and
on lease, and a further 67 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order,
excluding aircraft for which we have cancellation rights. Refer to
“Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks relating to market
demand for, and lease rates and value of, aircraft in our
fleet—Manufacturer behavior may adversely affect the lease rates
and value of aircraft in our fleet or our results of operations
more broadly.”
Risks related to the geopolitical, regulatory and legal exposure of
our business
The international operations of our business and those of our
lessees expose us to geopolitical, economic and legal risks
associated with a global business, including many of the economic
and political risks associated with emerging markets.
We and our lessees conduct business in many countries and, as a
result, we are exposed to a large number of regulatory and legal
regimes. We also face uncertainty from changes in political regimes
globally. Volatility in the political and economic environments
associated with international markets could adversely affect our
operations. Changes in international regulations, laws, taxes,
export controls, tariffs, embargoes, sanctions or other
restrictions on trade or travel could adversely affect the
profitability of our lessees’ businesses, the operations of
aircraft manufacturers or the results of our operations. For
example, the Ukraine Conflict, the situation in Syria, Venezuela
and Ethiopia, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, tension over the
nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran, political instability in
the Middle East and North Africa, tensions and potential conflict
between mainland China and Taiwan, the territorial disputes between
Japan and China and the tensions in the South China Sea could lead
to further instability in these regions and negative impacts on our
lessees’ businesses and our results of operations. Additionally,
the international distribution of our assets exposes us to risks
associated with limitations on the repatriation of our assets or
the expropriation of our international assets. These factors may
have a material and adverse effect on our financial
results.
Furthermore, we derive substantial lease revenue (approximately 54%
in 2021, 53% in 2020 and 58% in 2019) from airlines in emerging
market countries. Emerging market countries have less developed
economies and are more vulnerable to economic and political
problems and may experience significant fluctuations in gross
domestic product, interest rates and currency exchange rates, as
well as civil disturbances, government instability, nationalization
and expropriation of private assets and the imposition of taxes or
other charges by government authorities. The occurrence of any of
these events could result in economic instability that adversely
affects the value of our ownership interest in flight equipment
subject to lease in such countries, or the ability of our lessees
that serve such markets to meet their lease obligations. As a
result, lessees that operate in emerging market countries may be
more likely to default than lessees that operate in developed
countries. In addition, legal systems in emerging market countries
may be less developed, which could make it more difficult for us to
enforce our legal rights in such countries. For these and other
reasons, our financial results may be materially and adversely
affected by economic and political developments in emerging market
countries.
Existing and future litigation against us could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial position, liquidity or
results of operations.
We are, and from time to time in the future may be, a defendant in
lawsuits relating to our business. We cannot accurately predict the
ultimate outcome of any litigation due to its inherent
uncertainties. These uncertainties may be increased by our exposure
to different liability standards and legal systems internationally,
including some that may be less developed and less predictable than
those in advanced economies. An unfavorable outcome could
materially and adversely affect our business, financial position,
liquidity or results of operations. In addition, regardless of the
outcome of any litigation, we may be required to devote substantial
resources and executive time to the defense of such actions. For a
description of certain pending litigation involving our business,
refer to Note 30—Commitments
and contingencies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report.
Because our lessees are concentrated in certain geographical
regions, we have concentrated exposure to the political and
economic risks associated with those regions, particularly
China.
Through our lessees and the countries in which they operate, we are
exposed to the specific economic and political conditions and
associated risks of those jurisdictions, including the regional
impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. These risks can include economic
recessions, burdensome local regulations or, in extreme cases,
increased risks of requisition of our flight equipment and risks of
wide-ranging sanctions prohibiting us from leasing flight equipment
in certain jurisdictions. An adverse political or economic event in
any region or country in which our lessees or our flight equipment
are concentrated could affect the ability of our lessees to meet
their obligations to us, or expose us to various legal or political
risks associated with the affected jurisdictions, all of which
could have a material and adverse effect on our financial
results.
We have a large concentration of lessees in China and therefore
have increased exposure to the economic and political conditions in
that country and to the increasingly adversarial relationship
between China and the West. Recent and future political
developments, including trade or other disputes between the U.S.
and China, and other evolving policies pursued in Europe, could
result in increased and unexpected regulations on trade, which
could adversely impact the results of our operations. Further
deterioration in China’s relationship with the West could result in
the imposition of more stringent trade or travel restrictions,
which would harm the operations of our lessees and could materially
affect our financial results. Also, in the event that sanctions
affecting the ability of aircraft lessors to conduct business in
China are imposed by the United States, the European Union, the
United Kingdom or other governmental authorities, whether as a
result of conflict between mainland China and Taiwan or otherwise,
our business in China would be materially adversely affected, which
could have a material impact on our financial condition, cash flows
and results of operations.
We are subject to various risks and requirements associated with
transacting business in many countries.
Our international operations expose us to trade and economic
sanctions, export controls and other restrictions imposed by the
United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other
governments or organizations. For example, as a result of the
Ukraine Conflict and sanctions imposed by various governments
against Russia, certain Russian persons and certain activities
involving Russia or Russian persons, we are now prohibited from
leasing our aircraft and engines to Russian lessees. We intend to
fully comply with all applicable sanctions and we have terminated
the leasing of all of our aircraft and engines with Russian
airlines. The U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, State and
Treasury and other U.S. federal agencies and authorities have a
broad range of civil and criminal penalties they may seek to impose
against corporations and individuals for violations of economic
sanctions laws, export control laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act, and other U.S. federal statutes and regulations, including
those established by the Office of Foreign Asset Control. Under
these laws and regulations, the U.S. government may require export
licenses, may seek to impose modifications to business practices,
including cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries,
and modifications to compliance programs, which may increase
compliance costs, and may subject us to fines, penalties and other
sanctions. A violation of any of these laws or regulations could
materially and adversely impact our business, operating results,
and financial condition.
We have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures
designed to ensure compliance by us, our subsidiaries and our
directors, officers, employees, consultants and agents with respect
to various export control, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism and
anti-money laundering laws and regulations. However, such personnel
could engage in unauthorized conduct for which we may be held
responsible. Violations of such laws and regulations may result in
severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other
liabilities, which could materially and adversely affect our
financial results.
The General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), which became law
in the EU on May 25, 2018, regulates the ways in which businesses
process personal data in Europe. There are extensive documentation
obligations and transparency requirements, which may impose
significant costs on us. Failure to comply with the GDPR may
subject us to significant litigation or enforcement actions, fines,
claims for compensation by customers and other affected
individuals, damage to our reputation, orders to remedy breaches or
criminal prosecutions, any of which could have a material adverse
impact on our business, operating results, and financial condition.
For example, under the GDPR, we could incur significant fines of up
to 4% of our annual global revenue.
Our assets are subject to various environmental regulations and
concerns, including those relating to climate change.
Governmental regulations regarding aircraft and engine noise and
emissions levels apply based on where the relevant airframe is
registered and where the aircraft is operated. For example,
jurisdictions throughout the world have adopted noise regulations
that require all aircraft to comply with noise level standards. In
addition, the United States and the International Civil Aviation
Organization (“ICAO”) have adopted a more stringent set of
standards for noise levels that apply to engines manufactured or
certified beginning in 2006, as well as a more stringent set of
standards in respect of aircraft with a maximum certificated
takeoff weight greater than or equal to 55,000 kg and aircraft with
a maximum certificated takeoff weight less than 55,000 kg,
effective December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Currently, United States regulations do not require any phase-out
of aircraft that qualify with the older standards, but the EU has
established a framework for the imposition of operating limitations
on aircraft that do not comply with the newer standards. These
regulations could limit the economic life of certain of our
aircraft and engines, reduce their value, limit our ability to
lease or sell the non-compliant aircraft and engines or, if engine
modifications are permitted, require us to make significant
additional investments in the aircraft and engines to make them
compliant.
In addition to more stringent noise restrictions, due to growing
concerns over the risks of climate change, the United States, the
EU and other jurisdictions are moving towards imposing more
stringent limits on greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft engines.
Although current emissions control laws generally apply to newer
engines, new laws could be passed in the future that also impose
limits on older engines, thereby subjecting our older engines to
existing or new emissions limitations or indirect taxation. For
example, the EU issued a directive in January 2009 to include
aviation within the scope of its greenhouse gas emissions trading
scheme (“ETS”) beginning on January 1, 2012, regardless of the
engine type or age. However, the EU subsequently suspended ETS
application to flights from or to non-EU countries through 2023. In
October 2016, ICAO adopted the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme
for International Aviation (“CORSIA”), a global market-based scheme
aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emission from international
aviation that will become mandatory in 2027. At least 107 countries
including the United States, have indicated that they will
participate in the voluntary phase-in of CORSIA in 2022.
Limitations on emissions such as ETS and CORSIA could favor
younger, more fuel-efficient aircraft since they generally produce
lower levels of emissions per passenger, which could adversely
affect our ability to re-lease or otherwise dispose of less
efficient aircraft on a timely basis, on favorable terms, or at
all. This is an area of law that is rapidly changing and as of yet
remains specific to certain jurisdictions. While we do not know at
this time whether new emissions restrictions will be passed, and if
passed what impact these laws might have on our business, any
future emissions limitations or other future requirements to
address climate change concerns could adversely affect
us.
The airline industry also has come under increased scrutiny by the
press, the public and investors regarding the impact of air travel
on the environment, including emissions to the air, discharges to
surface and subsurface waters, safe drinking water, aircraft noise,
the management of hazardous substances, oils and waste materials
and other environmental impacts related to aircraft operations. If
such scrutiny results in reduced air travel or increased costs to
air travel, it may affect demand for our aircraft, lessees’ ability
to make rental and other lease payments and reduce the value we
receive for our aircraft upon any disposition, which would
negatively affect our financial condition, cash flow and results of
operations. In addition, growing demand to transition to
lower-carbon technologies, such as so-called sustainable aviation
fuels that may be developed over time, may increase our costs or
reduce demand for our aircraft or engines or airline travel more
generally.
Corporate responsibility, specifically related to environmental,
social and governance (“ESG”) matters, may impose
additional costs and expose us to new risks.
Public ESG and sustainability reporting is becoming more broadly
expected by investors, shareholders and other third parties.
Certain organizations that provide corporate governance and other
corporate risk information to investors and shareholders have
developed, and others may in the future develop, scores and ratings
to evaluate companies and investment funds based upon ESG or
“sustainability” metrics. Many investment funds focus on positive
ESG business practices and sustainability scores when making
investments and may consider a company’s ESG or sustainability
scores as a reputational or other factor in making an investment
decision. In addition, investors, particularly institutional
investors, use these scores to benchmark companies against their
peers and if a company is perceived as lagging, these investors may
engage with the company to improve ESG disclosure or performance
and may also make voting decisions, or take other actions, to hold
these companies and their boards of directors accountable. The
level of a company’s greenhouse gas emissions is an ESG topic that
is, in particular, receiving heightened attention by investors,
shareholders and lawmakers. We may also face reputational damage in
the event our corporate responsibility initiatives or objectives,
including with respect to greenhouse gas emissions, do not meet the
standards set by our investors, shareholders, lawmakers or other
constituencies, or if we are unable to achieve an acceptable ESG or
sustainability rating from third party rating services. A low ESG
or sustainability rating by a third-party rating service could also
result in the exclusion of our common stock or debt from
consideration by certain investors who may elect to invest with our
competition instead. Ongoing focus on corporate responsibility
matters by investors and other parties as described above may
impose additional costs or expose us to new risks.
Risks related to accounting and impairments
If a decline in demand for certain assets causes a decline in its
projected lease rates, or if we dispose of an asset for a price
that is less than its depreciated book value on our balance sheet,
then we will recognize impairments or make fair value
adjustments.
We test long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets
may not be recoverable from their undiscounted cash flows. If the
gross cash flow test fails, the difference between the fair value
and the carrying amount of the asset is recognized as an impairment
loss. Factors that may contribute to impairment charges include,
but are not limited to, unfavorable airline industry trends
affecting the residual values of certain flight equipment types,
high fuel prices and development of more fuel-efficient aircraft
shortening the useful lives of certain aircraft, management’s
expectations that certain flight equipment are more likely than not
to be parted-out or otherwise disposed of sooner than their
expected life, and new technological developments. Cash flows
supporting carrying values of older flight equipment are more
dependent upon current lease contracts. In addition, we believe
that residual values of older flight equipment are more exposed to
non-recoverable declines in value in the current economic
environment.
If economic conditions deteriorate, we may be required to recognize
impairment losses. In that event, our estimates and assumptions
regarding forecasted cash flows from our long-lived assets would
need to be reassessed, including the duration of the economic
downturn and the timing and strength of the pending recovery, both
of which are important variables for purposes of our long-lived
asset impairment tests. Any of our assumptions may prove to be
inaccurate, which could adversely impact forecasted cash flows of
certain long-lived assets, especially for older aircraft. If so, it
is possible that there may be an event-driven impairment for other
long-lived assets in the future and that any such impairment
amounts may be material.
As of December 31, 2021, 469 of our owned aircraft under operating
leases were 15 years of age or older. These aircraft
represented approximately 13% of our total flight equipment and
lease-related assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2021.
Please refer to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects—Critical accounting policies and estimates—Impairment
charges” for a detailed description of our impairment
policy.
Risks related to information technology
A cyberattack could lead to a material disruption of our IT systems
or the IT systems of our third-party providers and the loss of
business information, which may hinder our ability to conduct our
business effectively and may result in lost revenues and additional
costs.
Parts of our business depend on the secure operation of our
information technology, or IT, systems and the IT systems of our
third-party providers to manage, process, store and transmit
information associated with aviation leasing. Like other global
companies, we have, from time to time, experienced threats to our
data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks,
internet network scans, systems failures and disruptions. A
cyberattack that bypasses our IT security systems or the IT
security systems of our third-party providers, causing an IT
security breach, could lead to a material disruption of our IT
systems or the IT systems of our third-party providers, as
applicable, and adversely impact our daily operations and cause the
loss of sensitive information, including our own proprietary
information and that of our customers, suppliers and employees.
Such losses could harm our reputation and result in competitive
disadvantages, litigation, regulatory enforcement actions, lost
revenues, additional costs and liability. While we devote
substantial resources to maintaining adequate levels of
cybersecurity, our resources and technical sophistication may not
be adequate to prevent all types of cyberattacks.
We could suffer material damage to, or interruptions in, our IT
systems or the IT systems of our third-party providers as a result
of external factors, staffing shortages or difficulties in updating
our existing software or developing or implementing new
software.
We depend largely upon our IT systems and the IT systems of our
third-party providers in the conduct of all aspects of our
operations. Such systems are subject to damage or interruption from
power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer
viruses, security breaches, fire and natural disasters. Damage or
interruption to these IT systems may require a significant
investment to fix or replace them, and we may suffer interruptions
in our operations in the interim. In addition, we are currently
pursuing a number of IT-related projects that will require ongoing
IT-related development and conversion of existing systems. Costs
and potential problems or interruptions associated with the
implementation of new or upgraded systems and technology or with
maintenance or support of existing systems could also disrupt or
reduce the efficiency of our operations. Any material interruptions
or failures in our IT systems may have a material adverse effect on
our business or results of operations.
Risks related to our structure and taxation
We are a public limited liability company incorporated in the
Netherlands (“naamloze vennootschap” or “N.V.”) and it may be
difficult to obtain or enforce judgments against us or our
executive officers, some of our directors and some of our named
experts in the United States.
We were incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and, as
such, the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and the civil
liability of our directors will be governed by the laws of the
Netherlands and our articles of association. The rights of
shareholders under the laws of the Netherlands may differ from the
rights of shareholders of companies incorporated in other
jurisdictions. Many of our directors and executive officers and
most of our assets and the assets of many of our directors are
located outside the United States. In addition, our articles of
association do not provide for U.S. courts as a venue for, or for
the application of U.S. law to, lawsuits against us, our directors
and executive officers. As a result, you may not be able to serve
process on us or on such persons in the United States or obtain or
enforce judgments from U.S. courts against us or them based on the
civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United
States. There is doubt as to whether the Dutch courts would enforce
certain civil liabilities under U.S. securities laws in original
actions and enforce claims for punitive damages.
Under our articles of association, we indemnify and hold our
directors, officers and employees harmless against all claims and
suits brought against them, subject to limited exceptions. Under
our articles of association, to the extent allowed by law, the
rights and obligations among or between us, any of our current or
former directors, officers and employees and any current or former
shareholder shall be governed exclusively by the laws of the
Netherlands and subject to the jurisdiction of the Dutch courts,
unless such rights or obligations do not relate to or arise out of
their capacities listed above. Although there is doubt as to
whether U.S. courts would enforce such provision in an action
brought in the United States under U.S. securities laws, such
provision could make judgments obtained outside of the Netherlands
more difficult to enforce against our assets in the Netherlands or
jurisdictions that would apply Dutch law.
We may become a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for
U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We do not believe we will be classified as a PFIC for 2021. We
cannot yet make a determination as to whether we will be classified
as a PFIC for 2022 or subsequent years. The determination as to
whether a foreign corporation is a PFIC is a complex determination
based on all of the relevant facts and circumstances and depends on
the classification of various assets and income under PFIC rules.
In our case, the determination is further complicated by the
application of the PFIC rules to leasing companies and to joint
ventures and financing structures common in the aviation leasing
industry. It is unclear how some of these rules apply to us.
Further, this determination must be tested annually and our
circumstances may change in any given year. We do not intend to
make decisions regarding the purchase and sale of aircraft with the
specific purpose of reducing the likelihood of our becoming a PFIC.
Accordingly, our business plan may result in our engaging in
activities that could cause us to become a PFIC. If we are or
become a PFIC, U.S. shareholders may be subject to increased U.S.
federal income taxes on a sale or other disposition of our ordinary
shares and on the receipt of certain distributions and will be
subject to increased U.S. federal income tax reporting
requirements. Refer to “Item 10. Additional
Information—Taxation—U.S. tax considerations” for a more detailed
discussion of the consequences to you if we are treated as a PFIC
and a discussion of certain elections that may be available to
mitigate the effects of that treatment. We urge you to consult your
own tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to
your particular circumstances.
We may become subject to income or other taxes in jurisdictions
which would adversely affect our financial results.
We and our subsidiaries are subject to the income tax laws of
Ireland, the Netherlands, the United States and other jurisdictions
in which our subsidiaries are incorporated or based. Our effective
tax rate in any period is impacted by the source and the amount of
earnings among our different tax jurisdictions. Our ability to
defer the payment of some level of income taxes to future periods
is dependent upon the continued benefit of accelerated tax
depreciation on our flight equipment in some jurisdictions, the
continued deductibility of external and intercompany financing
arrangements and the application of tax losses prior to their
expiration in certain tax jurisdictions, among other factors. A
change in the division of our earnings among our tax jurisdictions
could have a material impact on our effective tax rate and our
financial results. In addition, we or our subsidiaries may be
subject to additional income or other taxes in these and other
jurisdictions by reason of the management and control of our
subsidiaries, our activities and operations, where our aircraft
operate, where the lessees of our aircraft (or others in possession
of our aircraft) are located or changes in tax laws or practices,
regulations or accounting principles. Although we have adopted
guidelines and operating procedures to ensure our subsidiaries are
appropriately managed and controlled, we may be subject to such
taxes in the future and such taxes may be substantial. The
imposition of such taxes could have a material adverse effect on
our financial results.
We may become subject to additional taxes in Ireland based on the
extent of our operations carried on in Ireland.
Our Irish tax resident group companies are currently subject to
Irish corporate income tax on trading income at a rate of 12.5%, on
capital gains at 33% and on other income at 25%. We expect that
substantially all of our Irish income will be treated as trading
income for tax purposes in future periods. As of December 31, 2021,
we had significant Irish tax losses available to carry forward
against our trading income. The continued application of the 12.5%
tax rate to trading income generated in our Irish tax resident
group companies and the ability to carry forward Irish tax losses
to offset future taxable trading income depends in part on the
extent and nature of activities carried on in Ireland, both in the
past and in the future.
We may fail to qualify for benefits under one or more tax
treaties.
We do not expect that our subsidiaries located outside of the
United States will have any material U.S. federal income tax
liability by reason of activities we carry out in the United States
and the lease of assets to lessees that operate in the United
States. This conclusion will depend, in part, on continued
qualification for the benefits of income tax treaties between the
United States and other countries in which we are subject to tax
(particularly Ireland). That, in turn, may depend on, among other
factors, the nature and level of activities carried on by us and
our subsidiaries in each jurisdiction, the identity of the owners
of equity interests in subsidiaries that are not wholly owned and
the identities of the direct and indirect owners of our
indebtedness.
The nature of our activities may be such that our subsidiaries may
not continue to qualify for the benefits under income tax treaties
with the United States and that may not otherwise qualify for
treaty benefits. Failure to so qualify could result in the
imposition of U.S. federal and state taxes, which could have a
material adverse effect on our financial results.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (“OECD”)
Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (“BEPS”) initiative.
The OECD announced an initiative on January 29, 2019, to create an
international consensus on new rules (referred to as “BEPS 2.0”)
for the framework governing international taxation, which was
supported by the publication of the Pillar One and Pillar Two
Blueprint Reports on October 12, 2020. On October 8, 2021, 136
countries, including Ireland, approved a statement, known as the
OECD BEPS Inclusive Framework (“IF”), providing a framework for
BEPS 2.0, which builds upon the Blueprints and a prior iteration of
the IF signed by 130 countries on July 1, 2021. The revised Pillar
Two Blueprint includes a global minimum effective tax rate of 15%
for groups with a global turnover in excess of €750 million,
subject to certain exclusions. The OECD published detailed rules to
assist in the implementation of the Pillar 2 rules on December 20,
2021 These detailed rules should allow some countries to introduce
the Pillar 2 rules into domestic legislation during the course of
2022 (to be effective 2023 at the earliest). As noted above, the EU
intends to implement the Pillar 2 measures by way of a Directive.
It is this Directive which, if it enters into force, will
ultimately be transposed into Irish domestic legislation. On
December 22, 2021, the European Commission published a proposed EU
directive to incorporate the Pillar 2 tax rules into EU law.
Further publications in relation to this are expected from the OECD
and the EU in the coming months. Although it is difficult to
determine the degree to which these changes may result in an
increase in our effective tax rate and cash tax liabilities in
future periods, these developments make it more likely that this
initiative will have an adverse impact on our effective tax rate
and cash tax liabilities in future periods.
The EU Anti-tax Avoidance proposals may impact our effective rate
of tax in future periods.
Irish tax law will be subject to changes as a result of the
implementation of the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (“EU ATAD”)
and the amending Directive (“EU ATAD 2”). One such change will be
the implementation of a restriction on the tax deductibility of
interest payments. As currently proposed, the EU ATAD would
restrict the tax deductibility of net interest expense to 30% of
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization
(“EBITDA”) or possibly higher if the third-party group interest
expense ratio to group EBITDA is higher. As currently proposed, the
interest limitation legislation in Ireland contains certain
provisions which allow for a portion of operating lease income to
be treated as interest. Further guidance on the proposed
legislation is expected. The exact content of this guidance could
impact our ability to claim a tax deduction for interest payments
on debt instruments. The interest limitation rules apply to
accounting periods commencing on or after January 1,
2022.
On December 22, 2021, the European Commission issued a proposal for
a Council Directive laying down rules to prevent the misuse of
shell entities for tax purposes within the EU (“EU ATAD 3”). Whilst
EU ATAD 3 is expected to be adopted and published into EU member
states’ national laws by June 30, 2023, and come into effect as of
January 1, 2024, there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the
development of the proposal and its implementation. The proposal
could result in additional reporting and disclosure
obligations.
Item 4. Information on the
Company
Business overview
Global leader in aviation leasing
We are the global leader in aviation leasing with a portfolio
consisting of 3,701 aircraft, engines and helicopters, that were
owned, on order or managed as of December 31, 2021. We provide a
wide range of assets for lease, including narrowbody and widebody
aircraft, regional jets, freighters, engines and helicopters. We
focus on acquiring in-demand flight equipment at attractive prices,
funding them efficiently, hedging interest rate risk prudently and
using our platform to deploy these assets with the objective of
delivering superior risk-adjusted returns. We believe that by
applying our expertise, we will be able to identify and execute on
a broad range of market opportunities that we expect will generate
attractive returns for our investors. We have the infrastructure,
expertise and resources to execute a large number of diverse
transactions in a variety of market conditions. Our teams of
dedicated marketing and asset trading professionals have been
successful in leasing and managing our asset portfolio. During the
year ended December 31, 2021, we executed 438 aviation asset
transactions.
We have an extensive track record of successfully acquiring and
integrating companies, including the acquisition of Genesis Lease
in 2010 and the acquisition of ILFC in 2014. The acquisition of
ILFC and the GECAS Transaction are the two largest transactions in
the history of aviation leasing. We believe that our ability to
successfully identify, acquire and integrate companies is a key
competitive advantage.
Aircraft leasing
AerCap is the global leader in aircraft leasing, leasing to
customers in every major geographical region. As of December 31,
2021, we owned 1,756 aircraft and managed 196 aircraft and had 417
new aircraft on order. As of December 31, 2021, the average age of
our owned aircraft fleet, weighted by net book value, was 7.1
years. During the year ended December 31, 2021, our weighted
average owned aircraft utilization rate was 94%, calculated based
on the number of days each aircraft was on lease during the year,
weighted by the net book value of the aircraft.
AerCap Cargo is a global leader in the air cargo market, with more
than 25 years’ experience and a global fleet of over 100 aircraft
that are owned, serviced or committed for conversion. AerCap Cargo
provides 12 types of modern narrowbody and widebody cargo aircraft
to approximately 20 customers around the world, including freight
forwarders, express delivery and cargo operators. AerCap Cargo also
plays a developmental role in the provision of new cargo options,
including the “Big Twin” freighter program between AerCap Cargo and
Israel Aerospace Industries, which involves the conversion of the
Boeing 777-300ER aircraft into long-haul large-capacity freighters.
AerCap Cargo was also involved in the development of the Boeing
767-300BDSF as well as the Boeing 737 Classic freighter conversion
programs. AerCap Cargo’s largest customers are Amazon, Maersk and
ASL Aviation.
Engine leasing
AerCap is the world’s largest engine leasing company, with over 900
owned and managed engines (including engines owned by our SES joint
venture) with over 75 customers. Our owned engine portfolio is
comprised almost entirely of General Electric and CFM International
engines, the most liquid engine types that power the world’s most
popular and in-demand aircraft, including Airbus A320 and A320neo
Family aircraft and Boeing 737, Boeing 787, and Boeing 737 MAX
aircraft.
We have longstanding and deep relationships with two key engine
original equipment manufacturers, GE Aviation and CFM
International. We manage the global spare engine pool for GE
Aviation, and our joint venture SES manages the global spare engine
pool for CFM International, in each case under a long-term
management agreement. The two largest customers of our engine
leasing business are GE Aviation and SES, representing over 50% of
the net book value of our owned engine portfolio. AerCap and GE
Aviation agreed to continue their relationship following completion
of the GECAS Transaction. In 2021, AerCap and Safran Aircraft
Engines, the French aerospace manufacturer, entered into a 20-year
joint venture agreement regarding SES.
Helicopter leasing
The Milestone Aviation Group (“Milestone”) is the world’s leading
helicopter leasing and financing company
with 355 owned or on order helicopters as of December 31, 2021.
Milestone partners with helicopter operators worldwide, providing a
wide array of financial and productivity solutions, including
operating leases, purchase and leasebacks, secured debt financing,
engine leasing and fleet advisory services. Milestone supports over
40 customers in more than 35 countries serving a variety of
industries, including offshore oil and gas, search and rescue,
emergency medical services, police surveillance, mining and other
utility missions. Milestone’s largest customers are CHC
Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters, Saudi Aramco and Babcock
International.
AerCap Materials
AerCap Materials is a global distributor of airframe and engine
parts for leading commercial aircraft and engine manufacturers.
Since its founding as the Memphis Group in 1971, it has provided
quality products and services ranging from spares distribution,
engine components, consignment and acquisition. AerCap Materials
has its own dismantlement facility located in Greenwood,
Mississippi. AerCap Materials has a large inventory of aircraft
parts to support mid-life and new-generation aircraft and provides
ready access to support various aircraft types, including Boeing
737NG, Boeing 777, Embraer, and A320/A320neo Family
aircraft.
Aviation leases and transactions
We lease most of our flight equipment to customers under operating
leases. Under these leases, the lessee is responsible for the
maintenance and servicing of the equipment during the lease term
and we receive the benefit, and assume the risks, of the residual
value of the equipment at the end of the lease. Many operators
lease flight equipment under operating leases as this reduces their
capital requirements and costs and affords them flexibility to
manage their fleet more efficiently as flight equipment assets are
returned over time. Since the 1970s and the creation of aircraft
leasing pioneers Guinness Peat Aviation (“GPA”) and International
Lease Finance Corporation (“ILFC”), the world’s airlines have
increasingly turned to operating leases to meet their aircraft
needs. We serve approximately 300 customers around the world with
comprehensive fleet solutions. Our relationships with these
customers help us place new flight equipment and remarket existing
flight equipment.
Over the life of our flight equipment, we seek to increase the
returns on our investments by managing the lease rates, time
off-lease and financing and maintenance costs, and by carefully
timing their sale. Our current operating leases have initial terms
ranging in length up to approximately 16 years. By varying our
lease terms, we mitigate the effects of changes in cyclical market
conditions at the time aircraft become eligible for
re-lease.
Well in advance of the expiration of an operating lease, we
prioritize entering into a lease extension with the then-current
operator. This reduces our risk of aircraft downtime as well as
aircraft transition costs. The terms of our lease extensions
reflect the market conditions at the time and typically contain
different terms from the original lease. Should a lessee not be
interested in extending a lease, or if we believe we can obtain a
more favorable return on the aircraft, we will explore other
options, including the sale of the asset. If we enter into a lease
agreement for the same asset with a different lessee, we generally
do so well in advance of the scheduled return date of the asset.
When the asset is returned, maintenance work may be required before
transition to the next lessee.
Our extensive experience, global reach and operating capabilities
allow us to rapidly complete numerous aviation transactions, which
enables us to increase the returns on our flight equipment
investments by minimizing any time that our assets are not
generating revenue for us.
The following table provides details regarding the aircraft, engine
and helicopter transactions we executed during the years ended
December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The trends shown in the table
reflect the execution of the various elements of our leasing
strategy for our owned and managed portfolio, as described further
below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2021 (a) |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
|
Total |
Owned portfolio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New leases on new assets |
45 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
54 |
|
|
109 |
|
New leases on used assets |
107 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
37 |
|
|
156 |
|
Extensions of lease contracts |
131 |
|
|
67 |
|
|
92 |
|
|
290 |
|
New asset purchases |
58 |
|
|
36 |
|
|
65 |
|
|
159 |
|
Asset sales and part-outs (b) |
56 |
|
|
40 |
|
|
88 |
|
|
184 |
|
Managed portfolio |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New leases on used assets |
14 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
25 |
|
Extensions of lease contracts |
14 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
20 |
|
New asset purchases |
7 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
7 |
|
Asset sales and part-outs |
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
20 |
|
Total transactions |
438 |
|
|
179 |
|
|
353 |
|
|
970 |
|
(a)
Does not include GECAS transactions executed prior to the Closing
Date.
(b) Disassembly of an aircraft for the sale of its
parts.
We perform a review of all of our prospective lessees, which
generally includes reviewing financial statements, business plans,
cash flow projections, maintenance capabilities, operational
performance histories, hedging arrangements for fuel, foreign
currency and interest rates and relevant regulatory approvals and
documentation. We perform on-site credit reviews for new lessees,
which typically include extensive discussions with the prospective
lessee’s management before we enter into a new lease. We also
evaluate the jurisdiction in which the lessee operates to ensure we
are in compliance with any regulations and evaluate our ability to
repossess our assets in the event of a lessee default. Depending on
the credit quality and financial condition of the lessee, we may
require the lessee to obtain guarantees or other financial support
from an acceptable financial institution or other third
parties.
We typically require our lessees to provide a security deposit for
their performance under a lease, including the return of the leased
asset in the specified maintenance condition at the expiration of
the lease.
All of our lessees are responsible for the maintenance and repair
of the leased flight equipment as well as other operating costs
during the lease term. Based on the credit quality of the lessee,
we require some of our lessees to pay supplemental maintenance
rents to cover major scheduled maintenance costs. If a lessee pays
supplemental maintenance rents, we reimburse them for their
maintenance events (as defined in the lease) up to the amount of
their supplemental maintenance rent payments. Under the terms of
our leases, at lease expiration, we retain excess maintenance rents
to the extent that a lessee has paid us more supplemental
maintenance rents than we have reimbursed them for their
maintenance events. In most lease contracts that do not require the
payment of supplemental maintenance rents, the lessee is generally
required to redeliver the leased asset in a similar maintenance
condition (normal wear and tear excepted) as when accepted under
the lease. To the extent that the redelivery condition is different
from the acceptance condition, we generally receive cash
compensation for the value difference at the time of redelivery. As
of December 31, 2021 and 2020, approximately 34% and 35%,
respectively, of our owned aircraft leases provided for
supplemental maintenance rental payments.
We require the lessee to compensate us if the aircraft is not in
the required condition upon redelivery. All of our leases contain
provisions regarding our remedies and rights in the event of
default by the lessee, and also include specific provisions
regarding the required condition of the leased asset upon its
redelivery.
Our lessees are also responsible for compliance with all applicable
laws and regulations governing the leased asset and all related
costs. We require our lessees to comply with either the FAA, EASA
or their equivalent standards in other jurisdictions.
During the term of our leases, some of our lessees may experience
financial difficulties resulting in the need to restructure their
leases. Generally, our restructurings can involve a number of
possible changes to the lease terms, including the voluntary
termination of leases prior to their scheduled expiration, the
arrangement of subleases from the primary lessee to a sublessee,
the rescheduling of lease payments and the exchange of lease
payments for other consideration. In some cases, we may repossess a
leased asset and, in those cases, we usually export the leased
asset from the lessee’s jurisdiction to prepare it for remarketing.
In the majority of repossessions, we obtain the lessee’s
cooperation and the return and export of the leased asset are
completed without significant delay. In some repossessions,
however, our lessees may not cooperate in returning leased assets
and we may be required to take legal action. In connection with the
repossession of an asset, we may be required to settle claims on
such asset or to which the lessee is subject, including outstanding
liens on the repossessed asset. Refer to “Item 3. Key
Information—Risk Factors—Risks related to our relationship with our
lessees—If our lessees fail to cooperate in returning our assets
following lease terminations, we may encounter obstacles and are
likely to incur significant costs and expenses conducting
repossessions” for a discussion of how repossessions may affect our
financial results.
Scheduled lease expirations
The following table presents the scheduled lease expirations (for
the minimum non-cancelable period) for our owned aircraft under
operating leases by aircraft type as of December 31, 2021. The
table does not give effect to contracted unexercised lease
extension options, aircraft on finance leases, lease extensions or
re-leases that are subject to a letter of intent, aircraft sales
that have been contracted or are subject to a letter of intent, or
designations of a certain aircraft for sale or
part-out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft type |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
2027 |
|
2028 |
|
2029 |
|
2030 |
|
2031 |
|
Thereafter |
|
|
|
Total |
Passenger Aircraft |
|
123 |
|
|
92 |
|
|
151 |
|
|
130 |
|
|
165 |
|
|
138 |
|
|
81 |
|
|
82 |
|
|
94 |
|
|
106 |
|
|
212 |
|
|
|
|
1,374 |
|
Airbus A220 Family |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
Airbus A320 Family |
|
59 |
|
|
52 |
|
|
68 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
55 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
398 |
|
Airbus A320neo Family |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
42 |
|
|
49 |
|
|
62 |
|
|
126 |
|
|
|
|
308 |
|
Airbus A330 |
|
13 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
61 |
|
Airbus A350 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
44 |
|
Boeing 737 MAX |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
16 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
|
42 |
|
Boeing 737NG |
|
20 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
41 |
|
|
45 |
|
|
73 |
|
|
42 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
268 |
|
Boeing 777-200ER |
|
6 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
10 |
|
Boeing 777-300 / 300ER |
|
4 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
7 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
49 |
|
Boeing 787 |
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
3 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
16 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
99 |
|
Embraer E190 / E195 / E2 |
|
4 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
34 |
|
Other |
|
16 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
Freighter Aircraft |
|
2 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
57 |
|
Boeing 737 |
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
4 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
44 |
|
Boeing 747 / 767 / 777 |
|
— |
|
|
2 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
13 |
|
Total (a) (b) |
|
125 |
|
|
95 |
|
|
153 |
|
|
132 |
|
|
167 |
|
|
144 |
|
|
90 |
|
|
92 |
|
|
111 |
|
|
108 |
|
|
214 |
|
|
|
|
1,431 |
|
(a)As
of December 31, 2021, scheduled lease expirations through the end
of 2023 represented less than 6% of the aggregate net book value of
our fleet. As of March 25, 2022, 44 of the 125 aircraft with leases
expiring in 2022 have been re-leased, have had leases extended, or
have been designated for sale or part-out.
(b)Includes
46 aircraft that were off-lease and under commitment for re-lease
as of December 31, 2021.
Principal markets and customers
The following table presents the percentage of lease revenue of our
owned portfolio from our top five lessees for the year ended
December 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lessee |
|
Percentage of 2021 lease revenue |
American Airlines |
|
7.6 |
% |
China Southern Airlines |
|
7.1 |
% |
Air France |
|
4.9 |
% |
Azul Airlines |
|
4.7 |
% |
Ethiopian Airlines |
|
3.2 |
% |
Total |
|
27.5 |
% |
We lease our aircraft to lessees located in every major
geographical region. The following table presents the percentage of
our total lease revenue by region based on our lessee’s principal
place of business for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and
2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
Region |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
Asia/Pacific/Russia |
|
36 |
% |
|
38 |
% |
|
38 |
% |
Europe |
|
26 |
% |
|
27 |
% |
|
28 |
% |
United States/Canada/Caribbean |
|
16 |
% |
|
14 |
% |
|
13 |
% |
Latin America |
|
12 |
% |
|
11 |
% |
|
11 |
% |
Africa/Middle East |
|
10 |
% |
|
10 |
% |
|
10 |
% |
Total |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
For further geographic information on our total lease revenue and
long-lived assets, refer to Note 21—Geographic
information
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report.
Aircraft and engine services
We provide aircraft and engine asset management and corporate
services to securitization vehicles, joint ventures and other third
parties. As of December 31, 2021, we had asset management servicing
contracts with 22 parties that owned 196 aircraft and 221 engines.
Since we have an established operating system to manage our own
aircraft and engines, the incremental cost of providing asset
management services to securitization vehicles, joint ventures and
third parties is limited. Our primary aircraft and engine asset
management activities include:
•remarketing
aircraft and engines for lease or sale;
•collecting
rental and supplemental maintenance rent payments, monitoring
aircraft maintenance, monitoring and enforcing contract compliance
and accepting delivery and redelivery of aircraft and
engines;
•conducting
ongoing lessee financial performance reviews;
•periodically
inspecting the leased aircraft and engines;
•coordinating
technical modifications to aircraft to meet new lessee
requirements;
•conducting
restructuring negotiations in connection with lease
defaults;
•repossessing
aircraft and engines;
•arranging
and monitoring insurance coverage;
•registering
and de-registering aircraft;
•arranging
for aircraft and engine valuations; and
•providing
market research.
We charge fees for our aircraft and engine management services
based on a mixture of fixed and rental-based amounts, and we also
receive performance-based fees related to the managed aircraft or
engine lease revenues or sale proceeds.
We also provide corporate administrative and cash management
services to securitization vehicles and joint ventures. We
currently have corporate administration and/or cash management
service contracts with eight parties. Our corporate administrative
services consist primarily of accounting and corporate secretarial
services, including the preparation of budgets and financial
statements. Cash management services consist primarily of treasury
services such as the financing, refinancing, hedging and ongoing
cash management of these companies.
Aviation parts and supply chain
Through AerCap Materials, Inc. (“AerCap Materials”), we provide
airframe and engine parts and supply chain solutions and we
disassemble aircraft and engines into parts. AerCap Materials sells
airframe parts to airlines, maintenance, repair and overhaul
service providers, and aircraft parts distributors.
Our business strategy
We develop and grow our aviation leasing business by executing on
our focused business strategy, the key components of which are as
follows:
Manage the profitability of our flight equipment
portfolio
Our ability to profitably manage flight equipment throughout their
lifecycle depends, in part, on our ability to successfully source
acquisition opportunities of new and used flight equipment at
favorable terms, as well as our ability to secure long-term funding
for such acquisitions, lease flight equipment at profitable rates,
minimize downtime between leases and associated maintenance
expenses and opportunistically sell aircraft. We manage the
long-term profitability of our flight equipment portfolio
by:
•purchasing
flight equipment directly from manufacturers;
•entering
into purchase and leaseback transactions with
airlines;
•using
our global customer relationships to obtain favorable lease terms
for flight equipment and maximizing utilization;
•maintaining
diverse sources of global funding;
•optimizing
our portfolio by selling flight equipment; and
•providing
management services to securitization vehicles, our joint ventures
and other aircraft owners at limited incremental cost to
us.
Efficiently manage our liquidity
We analyze sources of financing based on pricing and other terms
and conditions in order to optimize the return on our investments.
We have the ability to access a broad range of liquidity sources
globally. In 2021, we raised $30.5 billion of financing, including
note issuances in the capital markets, bank debt and revolving
credit facilities, $24 billion of which was for the purpose of
financing the GECAS Transaction.
We have access to liquidity in the form of our revolving credit
facilities and our term loan facilities, which provide us with
flexibility in raising capital and enable us to deploy capital
rapidly to accretive aircraft purchase opportunities that may
arise. As of December 31, 2021, we had $10.6 billion of undrawn
lines of credit available under our revolving credit and term loan
facilities and other available secured debt and $1.7
billion of unrestricted cash. We strive to maintain a diverse
financing strategy, both in terms of capital providers and
structure, through the use of bank debt, note issuance and export
credit, including ECA-guaranteed loans, in order to maximize our
financial flexibility. We also leverage our longstanding
relationships with major aircraft financiers and lenders to secure
access to capital. In addition, we attempt to maximize our
operating cash flows and continue to pursue the sale of flight
equipment to generate additional cash flows. Refer to
Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for a detailed description of our outstanding
indebtedness.
Manage our flight equipment portfolio
We intend to maintain an attractive portfolio of in-demand flight
equipment by acquiring new flight equipment directly from
manufacturers, executing purchase and leaseback transactions with
airlines, assisting airlines with refleetings and pursuing other
opportunistic transactions. We rely on our experienced team of
portfolio management professionals to identify and purchase assets
we believe are being offered at attractive prices or that we
believe will experience an increase in demand over a prolonged
period of time. In addition, we intend to continue to rebalance our
portfolio through sales to maintain the appropriate mix of flight
equipment by customer concentration, asset, age and
type.
Maintain a diversified and satisfied customer base
We operate our business on a global basis, leasing flight equipment
to customers in every major geographical region. We have active
customer relationships with approximately 300 customers around the
world. These customer relationships are either with existing
customers or airlines with which we maintain regular dialogue in
relation to potential transaction opportunities. Our relationships
with these airlines help us place new flight equipment and remarket
existing flight equipment. We monitor our lessee exposure
concentrations by both customer and country jurisdiction and intend
to maintain a well-diversified customer base. We believe we offer a
quality product, both in terms of assets and service, to all of our
customers. We have successfully worked with many customers to find
mutually beneficial solutions to operational and financial
challenges. We believe we maintain excellent relations with our
customers. We have been able to achieve a high utilization rate on
our aviation assets as a result of our customer reach, quality
product offering and strong portfolio management
capabilities.
Allocate capital efficiently
We seek to deploy our capital efficiently to provide the best
long-term returns for our investors. We have a broad range of
options for deployment of capital, including investment in flight
equipment, repayment of debt, mergers and acquisitions and the
return of capital to shareholders. We have deployed our capital
across all of these areas in the past and will continue to seek
opportunities to do so in the future.
Joint ventures
We conduct some of our business through joint ventures. The joint
venture arrangements allow us to obtain stable servicing revenues
and diversify our exposure to the economic risks related to
aircraft and engines.
Shannon Engine Support Ltd
Following the GECAS Transaction, SES is a joint venture 50% owned
by us and 50% owned by Safran Aircraft Engines. SES is
headquartered in Shannon, Ireland, with marketing offices in
Beijing, China and Budapest, Hungary. SES offers spare engine
solutions to CFM International operators, including guaranteed pool
access, short-term and long-term leases, trading and exchanges, all
of which can be structured and combined to meet an individual
airline’s fleet requirements. SES’s spare engine pools are located
at certified MRO facilities around the world, close to
international logistics hubs, to easily support airlines operating
CFM56 and LEAP powered aircraft. We account for our investment in
SES under the equity method of accounting.
Refer to Note 10—Associated
companies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for further details on our joint ventures.
Relationship with Airbus, Boeing and other
manufacturers
We are one of the largest customers of Airbus and Boeing measured
by deliveries of aircraft through 2021 and our order backlog. We
were also the launch customer of the Embraer E2 program. We are
also among the largest purchasers of engines from each of CFM
International, GE Aviation, International Aero Engines,
Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce. These extensive
manufacturer relationships and the scale of our business enable us
to place large orders with favorable pricing and delivery terms. In
addition, these strategic relationships with manufacturers and
market knowledge allow us to participate in new aircraft designs,
which gives us increased confidence in our airframe and engine
selections. AerCap cooperates broadly with manufacturers seeking
mutually beneficial opportunities.
Competition
The aviation leasing and sales business is highly competitive, and
we face competition from other aviation leasing companies,
airlines, aviation manufacturers, aviation brokers and financial
institutions. Competition for a leasing transaction is based on a
number of factors, including delivery dates, lease rates, term of
lease, other lease provisions, aircraft condition and the
availability in the market place of the types of aircraft that can
meet customer requirements. As a result of our geographical reach,
diverse aircraft portfolio and success in remarketing our aircraft,
we believe we are a strong competitor in all of these
areas.
Insurance
Our lessees are required under our leases to bear responsibility,
through an operational indemnity subject to customary exclusions,
and to carry insurance for any liabilities arising out of the
operation of our flight equipment, including any liabilities for
death or injury to persons and damage to property that ordinarily
would attach to the operator of the asset.
In addition, our lessees are required to carry other types of
insurance that are customary in the air transportation industry,
including hull all risks insurance for both the aircraft and each
engine whether or not installed on our aircraft (in each case, at a
value stipulated in the relevant lease which typically exceeds the
aircraft net book value by 10%) and hull war risks insurance
covering risks such as hijacking and terrorism and, where
permitted, including confiscation, expropriation, nationalization
and seizure (subject to adjustment or fleet or policy aggregate
limits in certain circumstances and customary exclusions). Our
lessees are also required to carry aircraft spares insurance and
aircraft third party liability insurance, in each case subject to
customary deductibles and exclusions. We are named as an additional
insured on liability insurance policies carried by our lessees, and
we or our lenders are designated as a loss payee in the event of a
total loss of an asset. We monitor the compliance by our lessees
with the insurance provisions of our leases by securing
confirmation of coverage from the lessees’ insurance
brokers.
We also purchase insurance which provides us with coverage when our
assets are not subject to a lease or where a lessee’s policy fails
to indemnify us. In addition, we carry customary insurance for our
property, which is subject to customary deductibles, limits and
exclusions. Insurance experts advise and make recommendations to us
as to the appropriate amount of insurance coverage that we should
obtain.
Regulation
While the air transportation industry is highly regulated, we
generally are not directly subject to most of these regulations, as
we do not operate our assets. Our lessees are subject, however, to
extensive regulation under the laws of the jurisdictions in which
they are registered and in which they operate. These regulations,
among other things, govern the registration, operation and
maintenance of our assets. Most of our aircraft are registered in
the jurisdiction in which the lessee of the aircraft is certified
as an air operator. Both our aircraft and engines are subject to
the airworthiness and other standards imposed by our lessees’
jurisdictions of operation. Laws affecting the airworthiness of
flight equipment are generally designed to ensure that all
aircraft, engines and related equipment are continuously maintained
in proper condition to enable safe operation of the aircraft. Most
countries’ aviation laws require aircraft and engines to be
maintained under an approved maintenance program with defined
procedures and intervals for inspection, maintenance and
repair.
In October 2016, ICAO adopted CORSIA, a global market-based scheme
aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emission from international
aviation that will become mandatory in 2027. At least 107 countries
including the United States, have indicated that they will
participate in the voluntary phase-in of CORSIA in 2022.
Limitations on emissions such as ETS and CORSIA could favor
younger, more fuel-efficient aircraft since they generally produce
lower levels of emissions per passenger, which could adversely
affect our ability to re-lease or otherwise dispose of less
efficient aircraft on a timely basis, on favorable terms, or at
all. This is an area of law that is rapidly changing and as of yet
remains specific to certain jurisdictions. While we do not know at
this time whether new emissions restrictions will be passed, and if
passed what impact these laws might have on our business, any
future emissions limitations or other future requirements to
address climate change concerns could adversely affect
us.
In addition, under our leases, we may be required, in some
instances, to obtain specific licenses, consents or approvals for
different aspects of the leases. These required items include
consents from governmental or regulatory authorities for certain
payments under the leases and for the import, re-export or
deregistration of the leased assets. Also, to perform some of our
cash management services and insurance services from Ireland under
our management arrangements with our joint ventures and
securitization entities, we are required to have a license from the
Irish regulatory authorities, which we have obtained.
The United States, among other jurisdictions, regulates the export
of goods, software, technology, and military items from the United
States. In addition to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, two
principal U.S. Government agencies have regulatory authority in
this area. The U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense
Trade Controls (“DDTC”) administers the International Traffic in
Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and the U.S. Department of Commerce,
Bureau of Industry and Security administers the Export
Administration Regulations (“EAR”).
ITAR and EAR compliance are an integral part of AerCap compliance
activities. As a result of the GECAS Transaction, Milestone
Aviation, a helicopter operating lessor which engages in defense
trade activities, became a wholly-owned subsidiary of AerCap. While
our fleet is comprised of civil helicopters, certain of the
helicopters (generally helicopters configured for search and rescue
(“SAR”) or police services missions) are equipped with controlled
equipment covered by active ITAR licenses. In view of our defense
trade activities, The Milestone Aviation Group LLC is registered
with DDTC as an exporter and broker under ITAR. The controlled
equipment in our fleet may require prior authorizations to be
exported to certain jurisdictions. Any failures by us or our
customers or suppliers to comply with these laws and regulations
could result in civil or criminal penalties, fines, investigations,
adverse publicity or restrictions on its ability to continue to
engage in business activities involving controlled equipment, and
repeat failures could carry more significant penalties. Any changes
in export or sanctions regulations may further restrict business
activities involving controlled equipment. The length of time
required by the licensing processes can vary, potentially delaying
helicopter lease transactions and the recognition of the
corresponding revenue.
Please refer to “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks
related to the geopolitical, regulatory and legal exposure of our
business—We are subject to various risks and requirements
associated with transacting business in many countries” and
“Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks related to the
geopolitical, regulatory and legal exposure of our business—Our
assets are subject to various environmental regulations and
concerns,” for a detailed discussion of government sanctions,
export controls and other regulations that could affect our
business.
Litigation
Please refer to Note 30—Commitments
and contingencies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for a detailed description of material litigation to which
we are a party.
Trademarks
We have registered the “AerCap” name with the European Union
Intellectual Property Office and the United States Patent and
Trademark Office, as well as filed the “AerCap” trademark with the
World Intellectual Property Organization International (Madrid)
Registry and various local trademark authorities. The Milestone
Aviation Group LLC has registered the “Milestone” trademark with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the European Union
Intellectual Property Office, and various local trademark
authorities.
Culture and values
We strive to conduct our business with integrity and in an honest
and responsible manner and to build and maintain long-term,
mutually beneficial relationships with our customers, suppliers,
shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. These values are
further specified in our code of conduct and our ethics-related
compliance policies, procedures, trainings and programs. Ethical
behavior is strongly promoted by the management team. The Company
has an excellent track record in relation to ethics and compliance.
These ethical values are reflected in the Company’s long-term
strategy and our way of doing business.
Sustainability and community
During 2021, the Board of Directors discussed and reviewed our
approach to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) related
topics and other values that contribute to a culture focused on
long-term value creation. In April 2021, we published a new ESG
report, which was prepared in accordance with the Global Reporting
Initiative Standards: Core option, which is publicly available on
our website and not incorporated by reference into this annual
report. The report sets forth in detail our commitment to growing
our business in a responsible and sustainable way. In December
2021, our Board of Directors established an ESG Committee, which
aims to enhance AerCap’s governance of ESG-related risks and
opportunities and reflects AerCap’s aspiration to be a leader in
this space. The committee comprises three board-level independent
directors and members of the AerCap senior leadership team. These
individuals have relevant experience in areas such as governance,
sustainability, energy efficiency, charitable outreach, financial
reporting and reputational risk management. This approach is
designed to provide dedicated oversight to ESG issues at the
highest level.
Renewing our aircraft portfolio through the acquisition of new,
modern technology aircraft while disposing of older aircraft has a
positive impact on the environment, as these new technology
aircraft produce significantly lower emissions than older aircraft
and engines, thus helping AerCap and our airline customers to
reduce their environmental footprint. AerCap is committed to the
efficient use of resources and the reduction of unnecessary waste.
Our head office in Dublin has been certified for sustainability in
the areas of building materials, energy and water use and
accessibility. Our office buildings in Los Angeles and Singapore
hold similar green building certifications. The Company has
invested resources to improve greenhouse gas emissions and
corresponding mitigating initiatives.
Our Board of Directors along with members of the AerCap senior
leadership team oversee our human capital management. We have zero
tolerance of human rights violations, including modern day slavery,
child labor and human trafficking, and we monitor for occurrences
of these both in our operations and through our supply chain. We
have a diverse workforce with employees from over 25 countries
around the world. We align our non-discrimination policies with
local laws in the locations where we operate, and we see great
value in the diversity of cultural, ethnic, gender, social and
education backgrounds as we serve customers in over 80 different
countries around the world.
We actively seek to hire and retain talented employees and
remunerate our employees with what we believe are attractive
packages that are competitive with or superior to our peers. This
includes not only competitive salaries and benefits, but also
performance based-bonuses and employee share schemes. In addition,
we also provide opportunities for employees to move within the
organization through continuous development programs, industry
insights and training and knowledge sharing sessions as well as
through well-being initiatives.
We participate in a number of charitable events and
industry-related educational programs. Through our social
responsibility program, we encourage employees to support local and
national organizations that strengthen the communities in which
they live and operate. Our employee-led CSR Committee oversees the
selection of charitable themes and charity partners and the
implementation of charitable donations and activities. A number of
our charitable donations involve the matching of funds raised
through employee team efforts for the benefit of local community
projects. We, along with other major aircraft leasing companies,
are a founder and sponsor of a prestigious master’s degree in
aviation finance program at a renowned university. In addition to
sponsorship, this program involves lectures by some of our key
employees and internships provided by the Company to a number of
international students from the program, in line with the global
nature and identity of the Company and our business.
In August 2021, we launched a four-year scholarship program,
providing ten scholarships to students of the Faculty of
Engineering at the International School of Engineering at
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s number one ranked university
and a world-class leader in aerospace engineering education. In
addition to the scholarships, AerCap will provide a range of
tailored support to students, including guest lectures and
workshops, and summer internships. As part of the scholarship
program, final year students will undertake a research project in
collaboration with AerCap which will focus on our environmental
objectives to reduce our carbon footprint and to drive sustainable
growth for our airline customers and the wider aviation
industry.
GECAS Integration
Following the completion of the GECAS Transaction, we have focused,
and will continue to focus, on integration while maintaining the
efficiency of our operations in order to achieve our operational,
financial and strategic objectives. Since the completion of the
GECAS Transaction, we have continued to execute our business
strategy described above.
Aircraft portfolio
The following table presents our aircraft portfolio by type of
aircraft as of December 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft type |
|
Number of
owned
aircraft |
|
% Net Book Value |
|
Number of
managed
aircraft |
|
Number of on
order aircraft (b) |
|
Total owned,
managed and on
order aircraft |
Passenger Aircraft |
|
1,685 |
|
|
97 |
% |
|
189 |
|
|
417 |
|
|
2,291 |
|
Airbus A220 Family |
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
10 |
|
|
11 |
|
Airbus A320 Family |
|
530 |
|
|
13 |
% |
|
76 |
|
|
— |
|
|
606 |
|
Airbus A320neo Family |
|
312 |
|
|
27 |
% |
|
15 |
|
|
265 |
|
|
592 |
|
Airbus A330 |
|
74 |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
10 |
|
|
— |
|
|
84 |
|
Airbus A330neo Family |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
12 |
|
|
12 |
|
Airbus A350 |
|
44 |
|
|
10 |
% |
|
6 |
|
|
— |
|
|
50 |
|
Boeing 737 MAX |
|
45 |
|
|
3 |
% |
|
1 |
|
|
67 |
|
|
113 |
|
Boeing 737NG |
|
366 |
|
|
13 |
% |
|
79 |
|
|
— |
|
|
445 |
|
Boeing 777-200ER |
|
21 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
21 |
|
Boeing 777-300 / 300ER |
|
49 |
|
|
5 |
% |
|
1 |
|
|
— |
|
|
50 |
|
Boeing 787 |
|
99 |
|
|
20 |
% |
|
1 |
|
|
25 |
|
|
125 |
|
Embraer E190 / E195 / E2 |
|
73 |
|
|
2 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
33 |
|
|
106 |
|
Other (a) |
|
71 |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
5 |
|
|
76 |
|
Freighter Aircraft |
|
71 |
|
3 |
% |
|
7 |
|
— |
|
78 |
Boeing 737 |
|
45 |
|
2 |
% |
|
7 |
|
— |
|
52 |
Boeing 747 / 767 / 777 |
|
26 |
|
1 |
% |
|
— |
|
— |
|
26 |
Total |
|
1,756 |
|
|
100 |
% |
|
196 |
|
|
417 |
|
|
2,369 |
|
(a) Other includes 71 owned aircraft (including 26 Embraer E170/175
aircraft; 22 Boeing 767 aircraft; 19 ATR and De Havilland Canada
DHC-8-400 aircraft and four Boeing 757 aircraft) and five regional
jet aircraft on order.
(b) Excludes aircraft for which we have cancellation rights, and
aircraft with contractual sales at delivery.
The following table presents our owned aircraft portfolio by type
of aircraft as a percentage of total net book value as of each of
the five years ended December 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
Aircraft type |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
Passenger Aircraft |
|
97 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
Airbus A220 Family |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Airbus A320 Family |
|
13 |
% |
|
13 |
% |
|
14 |
% |
|
16 |
% |
|
21 |
% |
Airbus A320neo Family |
|
27 |
% |
|
23 |
% |
|
18 |
% |
|
14 |
% |
|
7 |
% |
Airbus A330 |
|
3 |
% |
|
4 |
% |
|
7 |
% |
|
9 |
% |
|
11 |
% |
Airbus A350 |
|
10 |
% |
|
10 |
% |
|
10 |
% |
|
10 |
% |
|
7 |
% |
Boeing 737 MAX |
|
3 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
— |
|
Boeing 737NG |
|
13 |
% |
|
15 |
% |
|
16 |
% |
|
19 |
% |
|
22 |
% |
Boeing 777-200ER |
|
— |
|
|
1 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
2 |
% |
Boeing 777-300/300ER |
|
5 |
% |
|
3 |
% |
|
4 |
% |
|
5 |
% |
|
6 |
% |
Boeing 787 |
|
20 |
% |
|
29 |
% |
|
28 |
% |
|
25 |
% |
|
22 |
% |
Embraer E190/195/E2 |
|
2 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
1 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Other |
|
1 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
2 |
% |
Freighter Aircraft |
|
3 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Boeing 737 |
|
2 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Boeing 747 / 767 / 777 |
|
1 |
% |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Total |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
100 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New technology aircraft (a) |
|
61 |
% |
|
63 |
% |
|
58 |
% |
|
49 |
% |
|
37 |
% |
(a)New
technology aircraft includes Airbus A220 Family, Airbus A320neo
Family, Airbus A350, Boeing 737 MAX, Boeing 787 and Embraer E2
aircraft.
Following the fatal accidents of two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the
worldwide fleet of these aircraft was grounded by aviation
authorities in March 2019 and production was temporarily suspended
by Boeing in January 2020, resulting in ongoing delays in the
delivery of our aircraft on order from Boeing. Most jurisdictions
have now approved the Boeing 737 MAX return to service, including
the United States, China and Europe. As of December 31, 2021, we
had 43 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft delivered and on lease, and a
further 67 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on order, excluding aircraft for
which we have cancellation rights. Refer to “Item 3. Key
Information—Risk Factors—Risks related to competition and the
aviation industry—The financial instability of an aircraft or
engine manufacturer could impact delivery of our aircraft on order
and negatively affect our cash flow and results of
operations.”
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we had the following
activity related to owned aircraft:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Held for operating leases |
|
Investment in finance leases, net |
|
Held for sale |
|
Total owned aircraft |
Number of owned aircraft at beginning of period |
863 |
|
|
76 |
|
|
— |
|
|
939 |
|
GECAS Transaction |
662 |
|
|
157 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
823 |
|
Aircraft purchases |
45 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
45 |
|
Aircraft reclassified to held for sale |
(27) |
|
|
— |
|
|
27 |
|
|
— |
|
Aircraft sold or designated for part-out |
(33) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(18) |
|
|
(51) |
|
Aircraft reclassified from investment in finance leases,
net
|
7 |
|
|
(7) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Number of owned aircraft at end of period |
1,517 |
|
|
226 |
|
|
13 |
|
|
1,756 |
|
Aircraft on order
The following table details our 417 aircraft on order as of
December 31, 2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aircraft type |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
Thereafter |
|
Total |
Airbus A220 Family |
|
7 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
10 |
|
Airbus A320neo Family |
|
58 |
|
|
63 |
|
|
51 |
|
|
48 |
|
|
28 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
265 |
|
Airbus A330neo Family |
|
1 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boeing 737 MAX |
|
6 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
— |
|
|
67 |
|
Boeing 787 |
|
3 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
25 |
|
Embraer E190/195-E2 |
|
5 |
|
|
— |
|
|
11 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
33 |
|
Other |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
5 |
|
|
— |
|
|
5 |
|
Total |
|
80 |
|
|
91 |
|
|
91 |
|
|
92 |
|
|
43 |
|
|
20 |
|
|
417 |
|
Due to our order book of aircraft, we believe that we are
well-positioned to take advantage of trading opportunities and
expand our aircraft portfolio. We believe that our global network
of strong relationships with airlines, aircraft manufacturers,
maintenance, repair and overhaul service providers and commercial
and financial institutions gives us a competitive advantage in
sourcing and executing transactions. Our revolving credit
facilities are designed to allow us to rapidly execute our
portfolio management strategies by providing us with large-scale
committed funding to acquire new and used aircraft.
Aircraft acquisitions and dispositions
We purchase new and used aircraft directly from aircraft
manufacturers, airlines and financial investors. The aircraft we
purchase are both on-lease and off-lease, depending on market
conditions and the composition of our portfolio. The buyers of our
aircraft include airlines, financial investors and other aircraft
leasing companies. We acquire aircraft at attractive prices in
three primary ways: by purchasing large quantities of aircraft
directly from manufacturers to take advantage of volume discounts,
by purchasing portfolios consisting of aircraft of varying types
and ages and by entering into purchase and leaseback transactions
with airlines. In addition, we also opportunistically purchase
individual aircraft that we believe are being offered at attractive
prices. Through our marketing team, which is in frequent contact
with airlines worldwide, we are also able to identify attractive
acquisition and disposition opportunities. We sell aircraft when we
believe the market price for the type of aircraft has reached its
peak or to rebalance the composition of our aircraft
portfolio.
Prior to a purchase or disposition, our dedicated portfolio
management group analyzes the aircraft’s price, fit in our aircraft
portfolio, specification and configuration, maintenance history and
condition, the existing lease terms, financial condition and
creditworthiness of the existing lessee, the jurisdiction of the
lessee, industry trends, financing arrangements and the aircraft’s
redeployment potential and value, among other factors. During the
year ended December 31, 2021, we purchased 45 aircraft and sold 51
aircraft from our owned portfolio.
History and development of the Company
AerCap Holdings N.V. was incorporated in the Netherlands as a
public limited liability company (“naamloze
vennootschap”
or
“N.V.”)
on July 10, 2006. AerCap is the global leader in aviation
leasing with 2,369 aircraft owned, managed or on order, over 900
engines (including engines owned by our Shannon Engine Support
joint venture), over 300 owned helicopters, and total assets of
$74.6 billion as of December 31, 2021. Our ordinary shares are
listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the ticker
symbol AER. Our headquarters is located in Dublin, and we have
offices in Shannon, Miami, Singapore, Amsterdam, Shanghai, Abu
Dhabi and other locations. We also have representative offices at
the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, Boeing in Seattle and
Airbus in Toulouse.
As of December 31, 2021, we had 250,347,345 ordinary shares issued,
including 245,395,448 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, and
4,951,897 ordinary shares held as treasury shares. Our issued and
outstanding ordinary shares included 5,822,811 shares of unvested
restricted stock.
The address of our headquarters in Dublin is AerCap House, 65
St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin D02 YX20, Ireland, and our general
telephone number is +353 1 819 2010. Our website address
is
www.aercap.com.
Information contained on our website does not constitute a part of
this annual report. Puglisi & Associates is our authorized
representative in the United States. The address of
Puglisi & Associates is 850 Liberty Avenue,
Suite 204, Newark, DE 19711 and their general telephone number
is +1 (302) 738-6680. The U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”) maintains an internet site that contains
reports, proxy and information statements, and other information
regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You can
review our SEC filings, including this annual report, by accessing
the SEC’s internet website at
www.sec.gov.
AerCap completed the acquisition of the GECAS business from GE on
November 1, 2021. Under the terms of the transaction agreement, GE
received 111.5 million newly issued AerCap shares, $23 billion of
cash and $1 billion of AerCap senior notes. Immediately following
the completion of the GECAS Transaction, GE held approximately 46%
of AerCap’s issued and outstanding ordinary shares. In connection
with the GECAS Transaction, GE appointed one member to join the
Board of Directors of AerCap, bringing the number of directors
serving on AerCap’s Board of Directors to ten. Additionally,
pursuant to the shareholder agreement between AerCap and GE, for as
long as GE and its wholly owned subsidiaries, collectively,
beneficially own at least 10% of our outstanding shares, GE will be
entitled to designate a second director for appointment to AerCap’s
Board of Directors. The GE shares are subject to a lock-up period
which will expire in stages from nine to 15 months after the
Closing Date. GE has entered into agreements with AerCap regarding
voting restrictions, standstill provisions and certain registration
rights. Refer to Note 4—GECAS
Transaction
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report.
Our primary capital expenditure is the purchase of flight equipment
under purchase agreements with the manufacturers (primarily,
Airbus, Boeing and Embraer for aircraft). Please refer to
“Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects—Liquidity and capital resources” for a detailed
discussion of our capital expenditures. The following table
presents our capital expenditures for the years ended December 31,
2021, 2020 and 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
|
(U.S. Dollars in thousands) |
Purchase of flight equipment |
$ |
1,703,395 |
|
|
$ |
778,547 |
|
|
$ |
3,359,092 |
|
Prepayments on flight equipment |
86,386 |
|
|
405,178 |
|
|
1,369,400 |
|
Facilities
We lease our Dublin, Ireland headquarters office facility under a
25-year lease that began in December 2015, which has a termination
right, at our option, in 2031. We lease our Shannon, Ireland office
facilities under four separate leases, one of which expires in 2033
with an option to terminate in 2029 and three of which expire in
2029 with options to terminate in 2024. We lease our Singapore
office facility under three leases that expire by February 2024. In
January 2022 we entered into a lease for our Miami office facility
that expires in December 2034. In addition to the above facilities,
we also lease small offices in various locations around the world
including Dublin, Ireland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Shanghai,
China, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates.
Organizational structure
AerCap Holdings N.V. is a holding company that holds directly
and indirectly consolidated subsidiaries, which in turn own our
aviation assets. As of December 31, 2021, AerCap Holdings N.V.
did not own significant assets other than its direct and indirect
investments in its subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2021, our major
operating subsidiaries, each of which is ultimately 100%-owned by
AerCap Holdings N.V., are AerCap Ireland Limited (Ireland) (“AerCap
Ireland”), AerCap Ireland Capital DAC (Ireland), AerCap Global
Aviation Trust (United States) (“AerCap Trust”), AerCap Aviation
Leasing Limited (Ireland), Celestial Aviation Funding Unlimited
Company (Ireland) and Celestial Aviation Services Limited
(Ireland). Refer to Exhibit 8.1—List
of Subsidiaries of AerCap Holdings N.V.
for a complete list of all our subsidiaries.
Item 4A. Unresolved Staff
Comments
Not applicable.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects
You
should read this discussion in conjunction with our audited
Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included in
this annual report. Our financial statements are presented in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. The discussion below
contains forward looking statements that are based upon our current
expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes of
circumstances. Refer to “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors”
and “Special Note About Forward Looking Statements.”
Overview
Net income attributable to AerCap Holdings N.V. for the year
ended December 31, 2021 was $1 billion, compared to a net loss of
$299 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. For the year
ended December 31, 2021, diluted earnings per share was $6.71 and
the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding was
149,005,981. Net interest margin, the difference between basic
lease rents and interest expense, excluding the mark-to-market of
interest rate caps and swaps, was $2.6 billion for the year ended
December 31, 2021. Annualized net spread less depreciation and
amortization was 2.2% for the year ended December 31, 2021. Please
refer to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects—Non-GAAP measures” for a reconciliation of net interest
margin, annualized net spread and annualized net spread less
depreciation and amortization to the most closely related
U.S. GAAP measure for the years ended December 31, 2021
and 2020.
Major developments in 2021
The Covid-19 pandemic and responsive government actions continue to
cause economic disruption and a reduction in commercial airline
traffic as compared to pre-pandemic levels, resulting in an adverse
impact on air travel in certain jurisdictions, the aviation
industry and the demand for commercial aircraft. Despite the
ongoing challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2021
AerCap:
•Completed
the GECAS acquisition on November 1, 2021, making AerCap the
worldwide industry leader across all areas of aviation leasing:
aircraft, engines and helicopters;
•Raised
$30.5 billion of financing, including note issuances in the capital
markets, bank debt and revolving credit facilities, $24 billion of
which was for the purpose of financing the GECAS
Transaction;
•Completed
purchases of 45 new technology aircraft for approximately $2.2
billion;
•Completed
sales of 51 owned aircraft, with an average age of 18 years, for
aggregate proceeds of approximately $0.8 billion;
•Executed
a total of 438 transactions, including 311 lease agreements;
and
•Received
an ESG Rating of “A” from MSCI Inc., an improvement from our
previous ESG rating of “BBB.”
Aviation assets
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we purchased 45 owned
aircraft, five engines and eight helicopters for approximately $2.4
billion. As of December 31, 2021, we owned 1,756 aircraft and
managed 196 aircraft. We also owned or managed over 900 engines
(including engines owned by SES) and over 300 helicopters. As of
December 31, 2021, we had 417 new aircraft on order. The average
age of our fleet of 1,756 owned aircraft, weighted by net book
value, was 7.1 years as of December 31, 2021.
Significant components of revenues and expenses
Revenues and other income
Our revenues and other income consist primarily of basic lease
rents, maintenance rents and other receipts, net gain on sale of
assets and other income.
Basic lease rents and maintenance rents and other
receipts
Nearly all of our aircraft lease agreements provide for the
periodic payment of a fixed or a floating amount of rent. Floating
rents for aircraft are tied to interest rates during the terms of
the respective leases. During the year ended December 31, 2021,
1.2% of our basic lease rents from aircraft under operating leases
was attributable to leases with lease rates tied to floating
interest rates. In addition, our leases require the payment of
supplemental maintenance rent based on aircraft utilization during
the lease term, or EOL compensation calculated with reference to
the condition of the aircraft at lease expiration. The amount of
basic lease rents and maintenance rents and other receipts
(together, “lease revenue”) we recognize is primarily influenced by
the following five factors:
•the
contracted lease rate, which is highly dependent on the age,
condition and type of the leased aircraft;
•for
leases with rates tied to floating interest rates, interest rates
during the term of the lease;
•the
number of aircraft currently subject to lease
contracts;
•the
lessee’s performance of its lease obligations; and
•the
amount of EOL compensation payments we receive, maintenance revenue
and other receipts recognized during the lease and accrued
maintenance liabilities recognized as revenue at the end of a
lease.
In addition to aircraft-specific factors such as the type,
condition and age of the aircraft, the lease rates for our leases
with fixed rental payments are initially determined in part by
reference to the prevailing interest rate for a debt instrument
with a term similar to the lease term and with a similar credit
quality as the lessee at the time we enter into the lease. Many of
the factors described above are influenced by global and regional
economic trends, airline market conditions, the supply and demand
balance for the type of aircraft we own and our ability to remarket
our aircraft subject to expiring lease contracts under favorable
economic terms.
As of December 31, 2021, 1,624 of our 1,756 owned aircraft were on
lease, with no lessee representing more than 10% of total lease
revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31,
2021, our owned aircraft portfolio included 132 aircraft that were
off-lease. As of March 25, 2022, of the 132 aircraft, 55 were
re-leased or under commitments for re-lease, 43 aircraft were
designated for sale or part-out (which represented less than 1% of
the aggregate net book value of our fleet), 27 aircraft were being
marketed for re-lease (which represented approximately 1% of the
aggregate net book value of our fleet) and seven aircraft were
sold.
Net gain on sale of assets
Our net gain on sale of assets is generated from the sale of our
flight equipment and is largely dependent on the condition of the
asset being sold, prevailing interest rates, airline market
conditions and the supply and demand balance for the type of asset
we are selling. The timing of aircraft sale closings is often
uncertain, as a sale may be concluded swiftly or negotiations may
extend over several weeks or months. As a result, even if net gain
on sale of assets is comparable over a long period of time, during
any particular reporting period we may close significantly more or
fewer sale transactions than in other reporting periods.
Accordingly, net gain on sale of assets recorded in one reporting
period may not be comparable to net gain on sale of assets in other
reporting periods.
Other income
Other income consists of proceeds from claims sales, interest
revenue, management fee revenue, insurance proceeds and income
related to other miscellaneous activities.
Our interest revenue is derived primarily from interest on
unrestricted and restricted cash balances and on financial
instruments we hold, such as notes receivable, loans receivable and
subordinated debt investments in unconsolidated securitization
vehicles or affiliates. The amount of interest revenue we recognize
in any period is influenced by our unrestricted or restricted cash
balances, the principal balance of financial instruments we hold,
contracted or effective interest rates, and movements in provisions
for financial instruments which can affect adjustments to
valuations or provisions.
We generate management fee revenue by providing management services
to non-consolidated aircraft securitization vehicles, joint
ventures, and other third parties. Our management services include
aircraft asset management services, such as leasing, remarketing
and technical advisory services, cash management and treasury
services, and accounting and administrative services.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized $635 million
of proceeds from the sale of unsecured claims in Other income.
Refer to Note 23—Other
income
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report.
Operating expenses
Our operating expenses consist primarily of depreciation and
amortization, interest expense, leasing expenses and selling,
general and administrative expenses.
Depreciation and amortization
Our depreciation expense is influenced by the adjusted gross book
values, depreciable lives and estimated residual values of our
flight equipment. Adjusted gross book value is the original cost of
our flight equipment, adjusted for subsequent capitalized
improvements, impairments and accounting basis adjustments
associated with a business combination or a purchase and leaseback
transaction. In addition, we have definite-lived intangible assets
which are amortized over the period which we expect to derive
economic benefits from such assets.
Interest expense
Our interest expense arises from a variety of debt funding
structures and related derivative financial instruments as
described in “Item 11—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures
About Market Risk,” Note 12—Derivative
financial instruments
and Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report. Interest expense in any period is primarily affected by
contracted interest rates, amortization of fair value adjustments,
amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts and
premiums, principal amounts of indebtedness and unrealized
mark-to-market gains or losses on derivative financial instruments
for which we do not achieve cash flow hedge accounting
treatment.
Leasing expenses
Our leasing expenses consist primarily of maintenance rights asset
amortization expense, maintenance expenses on our flight equipment,
which we incur during the lease through lessor maintenance
contributions or when we perform maintenance on our off-lease
aircraft, expenses we incur to monitor the maintenance condition of
our flight equipment during a lease, expenses to transition flight
equipment from an expired lease to a new lease contract,
non-capitalizable flight equipment expenses, and provisions for
credit losses on notes receivable, trade receivables, loans and
investment in finance leases, net.
Maintenance rights assets are recognized when we acquire flight
equipment subject to existing leases. These assets represent the
contractual right to receive the aircraft in a specified
maintenance condition at the end of the lease under lease contracts
with EOL payment provisions, or our right to receive the aircraft
in better maintenance condition due to aircraft maintenance events
performed by the lessee either through reimbursement of maintenance
deposit rents held under lease contracts with maintenance reserve
(“MR”) provisions, or through a lessor contribution to the
lessee.
For leases with EOL maintenance provisions, upon lease termination,
we recognize receipt of EOL cash compensation as lease revenue to
the extent those receipts exceed the EOL maintenance rights asset,
and we recognize leasing expenses when the EOL maintenance rights
asset exceeds the EOL cash received. For leases with maintenance
reserve payment provisions, we recognize maintenance rights expense
at the time the lessee submits a reimbursement claim and provides
the required documentation related to the cost of a qualifying
maintenance event that relates to pre-acquisition
usage.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily
of personnel expenses, including salaries, benefits and severance
compensation, share-based compensation expense, professional and
advisory costs, office facility expenses and travel expenses, as
summarized in Note 22—Selling,
general and administrative expenses
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report. The level of our selling, general and administrative
expenses is influenced primarily by the number of our employees and
the extent of transactions or ventures we pursue that require the
assistance of outside professionals or advisors.
Income tax benefit (expense)
Our operations are taxable primarily in the two main jurisdictions
in which we manage our business: Ireland and the United States.
Deferred taxes are provided to reflect the impact of temporary
differences between our income before income taxes and our taxable
income. Our effective tax rate has varied from year to year. The
primary source of temporary differences is the availability of tax
depreciation in our primary operating jurisdictions. Our effective
tax rate in any year depends on the tax rates in the jurisdictions
from which our income is derived, along with the extent of
permanent differences between income or loss before income taxes
and taxable income.
We have tax losses in certain jurisdictions that can be carried
forward, which we recognize as deferred tax assets. We evaluate the
recoverability of deferred tax assets in each jurisdiction in each
period based upon our estimates of future taxable income in these
jurisdictions. If we determine that we are not likely to generate
sufficient taxable income in a jurisdiction prior to expiration, if
any, of the availability of tax losses, we establish a valuation
allowance against the tax loss to reduce the deferred tax asset to
its recoverable value. We evaluate the appropriate level of
valuation allowances annually and make adjustments as necessary.
Increases or decreases to valuation allowances can affect our
income tax benefit (expense) in our Consolidated Income Statements
and consequently may affect our effective tax rate in a given
year.
Factors affecting our results
Our results of operations have also been affected by a variety of
other factors, primarily:
•the
completion of the GECAS acquisition;
•the
severity, extent and duration of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rate
of recovery in air travel, the aviation industry and global
economic conditions, and the potential impacts of the pandemic and
responsive government actions on our business and results of
operations, financial condition and cash flows;
•the
number, type, age and condition of the flight equipment we
own;
•aviation
industry market conditions, including general economic and
political conditions;
•the
demand for our flight equipment and the resulting lease rates we
are able to obtain for our flight equipment;
•the
availability and cost of debt capital to finance purchases of
flight equipment;
•the
purchase price we pay for our flight equipment;
•the
number, type and sale price of flight equipment, or parts in the
event of a part-out of flight equipment, we sell in a
period;
•the
ability of our lessees to meet their lease obligations, and the
timing thereof, and maintain our flight equipment in airworthy and
marketable condition;
•the
utilization rates of our flight equipment;
•the
recognition of non-cash share-based compensation expense related to
the issuance of restricted stock units or restricted
stock;
•our
expectations of future maintenance reimbursements and lessee
maintenance contributions;
•interest
rates, which affect our lease revenues, our interest expense and
the market value of our interest rate derivatives;
•our
ability to fund our business; and
•our
ability to recover claims related to airline bankruptcies or other
restructurings.
Factors affecting the comparability of our results
GECAS Transaction
AerCap completed the acquisition of GECAS on November 1, 2021. The
results of GECAS’s operations have been included in our
consolidated financial statements since November 1, 2021. The
acquired GECAS business contributed total revenues and other income
of $0.4 billion and net income of $49 million to AerCap
for the period beginning November 1, 2021, and ended December 31,
2021. Refer to Note 4—GECAS
Transaction
for further details.
During 2021, we recognized transaction and integration-related
expenses of $335 million related to the GECAS
Transaction.
During 2020, we did not recognize any transaction-related
expenses.
Asset impairment charges
During 2021, we recognized impairment charges of $128.4 million
related to sales transactions and lease terminations.
During 2020, we recognized impairment charges of $1.1 billion
related primarily to current technology widebody aircraft, in
particular Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft. In addition, we
recognized impairment charges related to sales transactions and
lease terminations. We also assessed our indefinite-lived goodwill
assets for impairment and recognized impairment charges related to
goodwill.
Cash accounting
When we determine that the collection of rental payments is no
longer probable, we cease accrual-based revenue recognition on an
operating lease contract and we instead recognize lease revenues
using a cash accounting method (“Cash Accounting”). During 2021, we
recognized a reduction in basic lease rents of $296 million
due to the application of Cash Accounting.
During 2020, we recognized a reduction in basic lease rents of $311
million due to Cash Accounting.
Proceeds from sale of unsecured claims
During 2021, we recognized $635 million of proceeds from the sale
of unsecured claims in other income.
During 2020, we did not recognize proceeds from the sale of
unsecured claims.
Losses on debt extinguishment
During 2021, we recognized losses on debt extinguishment of $9.7
million.
During 2020, we recognized losses on debt extinguishment of $118.5
million, primarily related to the premium paid on the repurchase of
debt as a result of the tender offers completed in
2020.
Gain (loss) on investment at fair value
During 2021, we recognized a gain on investment at fair value of
$2.3 million.
During 2020, we recognized a loss on investment at fair value of
$143.5 million.
Sales transactions
During 2021, we completed sales of 51 owned aircraft, with an
average age of 18 years, for aggregate proceeds of approximately
$0.8 billion.
During 2020, we completed sales of 40 owned aircraft, with an
average age of 17 years, for aggregate proceeds of approximately
$0.6 billion.
Trends in our business
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on
aviation. Overall global passenger traffic, measured in revenue
passenger kilometers, rose in 2021, but was still only 42% of 2019
pre-pandemic levels, according to IATA. In March 2022, IATA
estimated that global air passenger traveler numbers would recover
significantly in 2022, to 83% of 2019 pre-pandemic levels. This
forecast is subject to downside risk if continued or more severe
travel restrictions are imposed.
We expect demand for leased aircraft to remain subdued in the short
term and over the medium term we expect improvements in leased
aircraft demand as air traffic continues to recover from the lows
observed in 2020.
Critical accounting policies and estimates
Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance
with U.S. GAAP, and require us to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our Consolidated
Financial Statements and accompanying notes. The use of estimates
is or could be a significant factor affecting the reported amounts
of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and related disclosures
of contingent assets and liabilities. Our estimates and assumptions
are based on historical experiences and currently available
information that management believes to be reasonable under the
circumstances. Actual results may differ from our estimates under
different conditions, sometimes materially. A summary of our
significant accounting policies is presented in
Note 3—Summary
of significant accounting policies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report. Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as
those that are both most important to the portrayal of our
financial condition and results of operations and that require our
judgments, estimates and assumptions. Our critical accounting
policies and estimates are described below.
Flight equipment held for operating leases, net
Flight equipment held for operating leases is stated at cost less
accumulated depreciation and impairment. Flight equipment is
depreciated to its estimated residual value on a straight-line
basis over the useful life of the asset. The costs of improvements
to flight equipment are normally recorded as leasing expenses
unless the improvement increases the long-term value of the flight
equipment. In that case, the capitalized improvement cost is
depreciated over the estimated remaining useful life of the
aircraft.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Useful Life (a) |
|
Residual Value (b) |
Passenger aircraft |
25 years |
|
15 |
% |
Freighter aircraft |
35 years |
|
15 |
% |
Helicopters |
30 years |
|
20 |
% |
Engines |
20 years |
|
60 |
% |
(a) Useful life may be determined to be a different period
depending on the disposition strategy.
(b) Estimated industry price, except where more relevant
information indicates that a different residual value is more
appropriate.
We periodically review the estimated useful lives and residual
values of our flight equipment based on our industry knowledge,
external factors, such as current market conditions, and changes in
our disposition strategies, to determine if they are appropriate,
and record adjustments to depreciation rates prospectively on an
individual asset basis, as necessary.
We test flight equipment for impairment whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets
may not be recoverable. The quarterly impairment assessments are
primarily triggered by potential sale transactions, early
terminated leases, credit events impacting lessees or forecasted
significant and permanent declines in the demand for asset types.
The quantitative impairment test is performed at the lowest level
for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of other
groups of assets, which is the individual asset, including the
lease-related assets and liabilities of that asset, such as the
maintenance rights assets, lease incentives, and maintenance
liabilities (the “Asset Group”). If the sum of the expected
undiscounted future cash flows is less than the Asset Group, an
impairment loss is recognized. The loss is measured as the excess
of the carrying value of the Asset Group over its estimated fair
value.
Fair value reflects the present value of future cash flows expected
to be generated from the assets, including its expected residual
value, discounted at a rate commensurate with the associated risk.
Future cash flows are assumed to occur under current market
conditions and assume adequate time for a sale between a willing
buyer and a willing seller. Expected future lease rates are based
on all relevant information available, including current contracted
rates for similar assets and industry trends.
On an annual basis, we also perform an assessment of all assets
held for operating leases to identify potential impairment by
reference to estimated future cash flows at the Asset Group level,
and perform a quantitative impairment test. We apply significant
judgment in assessing whether an impairment is necessary and in
estimating significant assumptions including the future lease
rates, maintenance cash flow forecasts, the residual value and the
discount rate when performing quantitative impairment
tests.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many of our customers
continue to curtail their commercial operations and are under
varying degrees of financial stress, which could result in lease
defaults, lease terminations and related aircraft repossessions.
The future cash flows supporting the carrying value of our flight
equipment are based on current lease contracts and our estimates of
future lease rates, useful lives and residual values for these
assets. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the
aviation industry and the global economic environment, there is
more uncertainty regarding the future cash flows relating to our
flight equipment. A reduction in the future expected cash flows
relating to our assets could result in impairment losses that could
be material to our financial results.
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and responsive government actions
continue to have an impact on international travel. While both
domestic and international air travel continue to increase since
the low points experienced in early 2020, in general domestic
travel has been faster to recover and has been more rapid than for
international travel. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic led governments in many countries to
reimpose restrictions on international travel or to delay the
relaxation of existing restrictions. As a result, the expected
recovery time for international air traffic has become
longer.
Due to the significant uncertainties associated with potential
sales transactions, we use our judgment to evaluate whether a sale
or other disposal is more likely than not. The factors we consider
in our assessment include
(i) the
progress of the potential sales transactions through a review and
evaluation of the sales-related documents and other communications,
including, but not limited to, letters of intent or sales
agreements that have been negotiated or executed;
(ii) our
general or specific fleet strategies and other business needs and
how those requirements bear on the likelihood of sale or other
disposal; and
(iii) the
evaluation of potential execution risks, including the source of
potential purchaser funding and other execution risks.
The future cash flows supporting the carrying value of aircraft
that are 15 years of age or older are more dependent upon
current lease contracts, and these leases are generally more
sensitive to weaknesses in the global economic environment.
Deterioration of the global economic environment and a decrease in
aircraft values might have a negative effect on the undiscounted
cash flows of older aircraft and might cause an impairment loss. As
of December 31, 2021, 469 aircraft with an aggregate Asset
Group value of approximately $6.8 billion were 15 years
of age or older, which represented approximately 13% of our total
flight equipment and lease-related assets and liabilities. The
estimated undiscounted future cash flows of these 469 aircraft
were $9.9 billion, which measured on a weighted average basis
was 47% in excess of the aggregate carrying value. As of December
31, 2021, all of these aircraft passed the recoverability test. The
following assumptions drive the undiscounted cash flows: contracted
lease rents through current lease expiry; subsequent re-lease rates
based on current marketing information; maintenance cash flow
forecasts; and residual values. We review and stress-test our key
assumptions to reflect any observed weakness in the global economic
environment.
Aircraft that are between five and 15 years of age where future
cash flows do not exceed the aircraft carrying value by at least
10% are more susceptible to impairment risk. As of December 31,
2021, seven aircraft with an Asset Group carrying value of
$368.3 million did not exceed our 10% threshold, which
represented less than 1% of our total flight equipment held for
operating leases and lease-related assets and liabilities. The
seven aircraft that were below the 10% threshold did, however, pass
the impairment test as of December 31, 2021, and as such no
impairment was recognized.
Application of the acquisition method of accounting
We applied the acquisition method of accounting and measured the
identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their
respective fair values on the GECAS Transaction Closing Date. These
fair values were determined primarily using the income approach and
were primarily based on significant inputs and assumptions that are
not observable in the market. The fair value measurement of each
major asset acquired and liability assumed is discussed separately
below:
Flight equipment held for operating leases, net:
We measured the fair value of the GECAS flight equipment in its
estimated physical condition as of the Closing Date using
contractual lease cash flows adjusted by lessee credit risk,
estimated follow-on lease cash flows and estimated residual values.
We included contracted lease cash flows in the fair value where
applicable for the remainder of the existing lease terms and
expected follow-on lease cash flows using estimated market lease
rental rates and an estimated residual value based on the flight
equipment type, age, and airframe and engine configuration, as
applicable and required. The aggregate cash flows were then
discounted to present value. The discount rate was based on the
type and age of flight equipment and incorporated market
participant assumptions regarding the likely debt and equity
financing components and the required returns of those financing
components. Key inputs and assumptions underlying the income
approach and the projected cash flows are discussed further
below:
(a) The contracted leases were adjusted to
current market rents as appropriate, and accounted for
approximately 49% of the flight equipment’s fair
value.
(b) For in-production, younger aircraft,
residual values were assumed after the extension of the existing
lease or new lease. The residual value assumption was based on an
internal model. The residual values for in-production younger
aircraft accounted for approximately 28% of the flight equipment’s
fair value.
(c) For most aircraft, an extension of the
existing lease or a new lease was assumed based on our knowledge of
the lessee’s fleet plans and expected market lease rents. The
extensions and new leases accounted for approximately 14% of the
flight equipment’s fair value.
(d) To determine the residual values for
out-of-production, older aircraft that are at the end of their
economic life, we assumed that these aircraft are to be sold for
parts at the conclusion of their respective leases (“Part-out
Residual”). The Part-out Residual values were based on an internal
part-out model. Part-out Residual values accounted for
approximately 9% of the flight equipment’s fair value.
(e) The discount rate assumption is based on
our knowledge of market returns and leverage and was
6.5%.
Investment in finance leases, net:
We determined the fair value of the GECAS investment in finance
leases, net using an income approach based on the present value of
the current contracted finance leases for the remainder of the
terms, and an estimated residual value where we retain the residual
value risk. The cash flows were then discounted to present value
using a discount rate of 6.5%. The discount rate incorporated
market participant assumptions regarding the likely debt and equity
financing components and the required returns of those financing
components. Key inputs and assumptions underlying the income
approach relate to the counterparty’s ability to fulfil their
obligations under the existing contracts and an appropriate
discount rate.
Maintenance rights asset and lease premium, net:
We determined the fair value of the GECAS maintenance rights assets
associated with contracts with EOL compensation provisions based on
the present value of the expected cash flows, measured as the
difference between the aircraft physical maintenance condition at
the Closing Date and the specified contractual return condition at
the end of the respective lease term, adjusted for the credit risk
of the lessee. The fair value of the maintenance rights assets
associated with contracts where the lessee provides maintenance
reserve payments based on usage during the lease term was
determined based on the present value of reimbursements to lessees
for maintenance events relating to pre-acquisition usage expected
during the remaining post-acquisition lease term. The expected cash
flows of the EOL compensation provision and maintenance
reserve-paying lease contracts are discounted at market rates of
return that reflect the relative risk of achieving the expected
cash flows of the assets and the time value of money.
We determined the fair value of the lease premium based on the
present value of the expected cash flows calculated as the
difference between the contractual lease payments, adjusted for
lessee credit risk, and the lease payments that the aircraft could
generate over the remaining lease term based on current market
rates.
Accrued maintenance liability:
We determined the fair value of the GECAS maintenance liabilities,
including amounts we agreed to contribute to certain maintenance
events that the lessee incurs during the lease term (“Lessor
Contributions”) relating to pre-acquisition aircraft usage. The
fair value was determined based on the present value of expected
cash outflows during the remaining lease term consisting of
expected reimbursements of maintenance reserves and expected lessor
contributions at the time of the forecasted maintenance event.
These two cash flows are based on estimated maintenance intervals
and estimated cost to perform the maintenance event. The cash flows
were discounted to their respective present values using a market
rate of return that reflects the relative risk of the cash flows
and the time value of money.
Income taxes:
AerCap and GECAS have agreed to treat the GECAS Transaction as a
deemed “asset sale” for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will,
with respect to each target entity that is a domestic corporation
for U.S. federal income tax purposes, jointly make an election
under Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended
(the “Code”), to similarly treat such stock purchases for legal
purposes as deemed asset sales for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. As a result of the tax structure of this transaction,
AerCap will have a tax basis equal to fair market value (a
“step-up”) in certain of the legacy GECAS U.S.-owned assets,
including flight equipment. In the months following closing, a
significant portion of the legacy GECAS U.S.-owned assets and
related liabilities were transferred to Ireland. These assets and
liabilities are subject to corporation tax in Ireland.
Recent accounting standards adopted during the year ended December
31, 2021
Please refer to Note 3—Summary
of significant accounting policies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report.
Future application of accounting standards
Please refer to Note 3—Summary
of significant accounting policies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report.
Comparative results of operations
Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2021 as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
December 31, |
|
Increase/ (Decrease) |
|
|
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
|
(U.S. Dollars in thousands) |
|
|
Revenues and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic lease rents
|
$ |
3,891,089 |
|
|
$ |
3,761,611 |
|
|
$ |
129,478 |
|
|
|
Maintenance rents and other receipts
|
520,914 |
|
|
559,395 |
|
|
(38,481) |
|
|
|
Lease revenue
|
4,412,003 |
|
|
4,321,006 |
|
|
90,997 |
|
|
|
Net gain on sale of assets |
89,428 |
|
|
89,618 |
|
|
(190) |
|
|
|
Other income |
722,574 |
|
|
83,005 |
|
|
639,569 |
|
|
|
Total Revenues and other income |
5,224,005 |
|
|
4,493,629 |
|
|
730,376 |
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
1,737,925 |
|
|
1,645,373 |
|
|
92,552 |
|
|
|
Asset impairment |
128,409 |
|
|
1,086,983 |
|
|
(958,574) |
|
|
|
Interest expense |
1,230,466 |
|
|
1,248,225 |
|
|
(17,759) |
|
|
|
Loss on debt extinguishment |
9,713 |
|
|
118,460 |
|
|
(108,747) |
|
|
|
Leasing expenses |
319,022 |
|
|
323,535 |
|
|
(4,513) |
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
317,888 |
|
|
242,161 |
|
|
75,727 |
|
|
|
Transaction and integration-related expenses |
334,966 |
|
|
— |
|
|
334,966 |
|
|
|
Total Expenses |
4,078,389 |
|
|
4,664,737 |
|
|
(586,348) |
|
|
|
Gain (loss) on investment at fair value |
2,301 |
|
|
(143,510) |
|
|
145,811 |
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes and income of
investments accounted for under the equity method
|
1,147,917 |
|
|
(314,618) |
|
|
1,462,535 |
|
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit |
(162,537) |
|
|
17,231 |
|
|
(179,768) |
|
|
|
Equity in net earnings of investments accounted for
under
the equity method
|
24,051 |
|
|
2,464 |
|
|
21,587 |
|
|
|
Net income (loss) |
$ |
1,009,431 |
|
|
$ |
(294,923) |
|
|
$ |
1,304,354 |
|
|
|
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest
|
(8,924) |
|
|
(3,643) |
|
|
(5,281) |
|
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to AerCap
Holdings N.V. |
$ |
1,000,507 |
|
|
$ |
(298,566) |
|
|
$ |
1,299,073 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic lease rents. The
increase in basic lease rents of $129.5 million, or 3%, was
attributable to:
•the
acquisition of assets, between January 1, 2020 and December
31, 2021, including the assets acquired as part of the GECAS
Transaction, with an aggregate net book value of $28.8 billion
on their respective acquisition dates, resulting in an increase in
basic lease rents of $161.3 million;
•an
increase in basic lease rents of $41.7 million primarily due
to re-leases and extensions at higher rates. The accounting for the
extensions requires the remaining rental payments to be recorded on
a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the original lease
plus the extension period; and
•a
$14.2 million lower impact on basic lease rents as a result of
the application of Cash Accounting during the year ended December
31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020;
partially offset by
•the
sale of 91 aircraft between January 1, 2020 and December 31,
2021 with an aggregate net book value of $1.1 billion on their
respective sale dates, resulting in a decrease in basic lease rents
of $87.7 million.
Maintenance rents and other receipts. The
decrease in maintenance rents and other receipts of $38.5 million,
or 7%, was attributable to:
•a
decrease of $129.4 million in maintenance revenue and other
receipts from early lease terminations;
partially offset by
•an
increase of $90.9 million in regular maintenance rents, including
regular maintenance rents related to the GECAS
Transaction.
Net gain on sale of assets. The
decrease in net gain on sale of assets of $0.2 million was
primarily due to the composition of asset sales. During the year
ended December 31, 2021, we recognized proceeds of $836.2 million
primarily relating to the sale of 51 aircraft and during the year
ended December 31, 2020, we sold 40 aircraft for proceeds of $613.4
million.
Other income. The
increase in other income of $639.6 million was primarily
driven by proceeds from the sale of unsecured claims during the
year ended December 31, 2021.
Depreciation and amortization. The
increase in depreciation and amortization of $92.6 million, or 6%,
was primarily a result of the GECAS Transaction and aircraft
purchases, offset by aircraft sales.
Asset impairment. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized impairment charges
of $128.4 million related to sales transactions and lease
terminations. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we
recognized impairment charges of $1.1 billion related primarily to
current technology widebody aircraft, in particular Airbus A330 and
Boeing 777 aircraft, as well as to the write-off of goodwill.
Please refer to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects—Critical accounting policies and estimates” for further
information on our event-driven impairment
assessments.
Interest expense. The
decrease in interest expense of $17.8 million, or 1%, was primarily
attributable to:
•a
decrease in the average cost of debt to 3.6% for the year ended
December 31, 2021 as compared to 3.8% for the year ended December
31, 2020. The average cost of debt excludes the effect of
mark-to-market movements on interest rate caps and swaps, and debt
issuance costs, upfront fees and other impacts. Please refer to
“Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Non-GAAP
measures” for further information on the average cost of
debt;
partially offset by
•an
increase in the average outstanding debt balance to
$32.3 billion during the year ended December 31, 2021 from
$30.2 billion during the year ended December 31, 2020,
primarily resulting from debt incurred to finance the GECAS
Transaction.
Loss on debt extinguishment. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, we recognized a loss on debt
extinguishment of $9.7 million. During the year ended December 31,
2020, we recognized a loss on debt extinguishment of $118.5
million, primarily related to the premium paid on the repurchase of
debt as a result of the tender offers completed in
2020.
Leasing expenses. The
decrease in leasing expenses of $4.5 million was primarily due to
$54.7 million of higher expenses related to airline defaults and
restructuring, and $39.1 million of higher aircraft transition
costs and other leasing expenses offset by $59.3 million of lower
lessor maintenance contributions and $39.0 million of lower
maintenance rights asset amortization.
Selling, general and administrative expenses. The
increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $75.7
million, or 31%, was primarily due to higher compensation-related
expenses as a result of the GECAS Transaction.
Transaction-related expenses.
During 2021, we recognized transaction-related expenses of $335.0
million related to the GECAS Transaction. Refer to
Note 4—GECAS
Transaction
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for further details.
Gain (loss) on investment at fair value.
During the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a
gain on investment at fair value of $2.3 million and a loss on
investment at fair value of $143.5 million, respectively. We
elected to account for an investment using the fair value option,
whereby changes in the fair value based on quoted market price were
recognized as a gain or loss in the Consolidated Income
Statements.
Income tax (expense) benefit. The
effective tax rate was 14.2% for the year ended December 31, 2021,
compared to the effective tax rate of 5.5% for the year ended 2020.
The effective tax rate is impacted by the source and amount of
earnings among our various tax jurisdictions as well as permanent
tax differences relative to pre-tax income or loss. Refer to
Note 16—Income
taxes
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for a detailed description of income taxes.
For Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2020, as
compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, refer to “Item 5.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Comparative results of
operations” in our annual report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the
SEC on March 2, 2021.
Liquidity and capital resources
Capital expenditures and cash commitments
We have significant capital requirements, including making
pre-delivery payments and paying the balance of the purchase price
for flight equipment on delivery. As of December 31, 2021, we had
commitments to purchase 417 new aircraft, excluding aircraft for
which we have cancellation rights, scheduled for delivery through
2027. We also had commitments to purchase 30 engines and 16
helicopters through 2025. As a result, we will need to raise
additional funds to satisfy these requirements, which we expect to
do through a combination of accessing committed debt facilities and
securing additional financing, if needed, from capital markets
transactions or other sources of capital. If other sources of
capital are not available to us, we may need to raise additional
funds through selling aircraft or other aircraft investments,
including participations in our joint ventures. Refer to
Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for a detailed description of our outstanding
indebtedness.
Overview of sources and uses of cash
As of December 31, 2021, our cash balance was $1.9 billion,
including unrestricted cash of $1.7 billion, and we had $10.6
billion of undrawn lines of credit available under our revolving
credit and term loan facilities and other available secured debt.
As of December 31, 2021, our total available liquidity, including
undrawn lines of credit, unrestricted cash, cash flows from
contracted asset sales and other sources of funding, was
$13 billion, and including estimated operating cash flows for
the next 12 months, our total sources of liquidity were $18
billion. As of December 31, 2021, our existing sources of liquidity
were sufficient to operate our business and cover approximately
2.2x of our debt maturities and contracted capital requirements for
the next 12 months.
Debt
As of December 31, 2021, the principal amount of our outstanding
indebtedness, which excludes debt issuance costs, debt discounts
and debt premium of $344 million, totaled $50.5 billion and
consisted of senior unsecured, subordinated and senior secured
notes, export credit facilities, commercial bank debt, revolving
credit debt, securitization debt and capital lease
structures.
In order to satisfy our contractual purchase obligations, we expect
to source new debt financing through access to the capital markets,
including the unsecured and secured bond markets, the commercial
bank market, export credit and the asset-backed securities
market.
In the longer term, we expect to fund the growth of our business,
including acquiring aircraft, through internally generated cash
flows, the incurrence of new bank debt, the refinancing of existing
bank debt and other capital-raising initiatives.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, our average cost of debt,
excluding the effect of mark-to-market movements on our interest
rate caps and swaps, debt issuance fees, upfront fees and other
impacts, was 3.6%. As of December 31, 2021, our adjusted debt to
equity ratio was 2.7 to 1. Please refer to “Item 5. Operating
and Financial Review and Prospects—Non-GAAP measures” for further
information on our average cost of debt and reconciliations of
adjusted debt and adjusted equity to the most closely related
U.S. GAAP measures as of December 31, 2021 and
2020.
Refer to Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for a detailed description of our outstanding
indebtedness.
Taxation
AerCap Holdings N.V. is incorporated in the Netherlands and
headquartered in Ireland, and is not directly engaged in business
within, nor has a permanent establishment in, the United States.
Only our U.S. subsidiaries are subject to U.S. net income tax or
would potentially have to withhold U.S. taxes upon a distribution
of our earnings.
While we were tax resident in the Netherlands, we did not accrue or
pay taxes as a result of repatriation of earnings from any of our
foreign subsidiaries to the Netherlands. Effective February 1,
2016, we became tax resident in Ireland and we would typically
expect that the repatriation of earnings from our foreign
subsidiaries should not, except where recognized in our financial
statements, give rise to material additional Irish taxation due to
the availability of foreign tax credits. As of December 31, 2021,
$335 million out of $1.7 billion of cash and short-term investments
was held by our foreign subsidiaries outside of Ireland.
Additionally, legal restrictions in relation to dividend payments
from our subsidiaries to us are described in “Item 10.
Additional Information—Taxation—Dividend withholding
tax.”
Contractual obligations
Our estimated future obligations as of December 31, 2021 include
both current and long-term obligations. Our contractual obligations
consist of principal and interest payments on debt, executed
purchase agreements to purchase flight equipment and rent payments
pursuant to our office and facility leases. We intend to fund our
contractual obligations through unrestricted cash, lines-of-credit
and other borrowings, operating cash flows and cash flows from
asset sales. We believe that our sources of liquidity will be
sufficient to meet our contractual obligations.
The following table provides details regarding our contractual
obligations and their payment dates as of December 31,
2021:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|
2025 |
|
2026 |
|
Thereafter |
|
Total |
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions) |
Unsecured debt
facilities
|
$ |
2,655.4 |
|
|
$ |
5,370.1 |
|
|
$ |
7,250.0 |
|
|
$ |
3,650.0 |
|
|
$ |
5,250.0 |
|
|
$ |
12,900.0 |
|
|
$ |
37,075.5 |
|
Secured debt
facilities
|
1,327.5 |
|
|
1,959.5 |
|
|
1,660.8 |
|
|
2,480.2 |
|
|
689.6 |
|
|
3,071.8 |
|
|
11,189.4 |
|
Subordinated debt
facilities
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
2,277.2 |
|
|
2,277.2 |
|
Estimated interest
payments (a)
|
1,561.6 |
|
|
1,394.2 |
|
|
1,168.8 |
|
|
953.3 |
|
|
740.8 |
|
|
5,557.6 |
|
|
11,376.3 |
|
Purchase obligations
(b)
|
4,241.0 |
|
|
5,693.8 |
|
|
5,245.5 |
|
|
4,233.0 |
|
|
1,885.7 |
|
|
1,063.1 |
|
|
22,362.1 |
|
Operating leases (c) |
46.8 |
|
|
49.7 |
|
|
46.7 |
|
|
12.4 |
|
|
6.8 |
|
|
30.8 |
|
|
193.2 |
|
Total |
$ |
9,832.3 |
|
|
$ |
14,467.3 |
|
|
$ |
15,371.8 |
|
|
$ |
11,328.9 |
|
|
$ |
8,572.9 |
|
|
$ |
24,900.5 |
|
|
$ |
84,473.7 |
|
(a)Estimated
interest payments for floating rate debt are based on rates as of
December 31, 2021 and include the estimated impact of our interest
rate swap agreements.
(b)As
of December 31, 2021, we had commitments to purchase 417 aircraft
(including 26 purchase and leaseback transactions and excluding
aircraft for which we have cancellation rights and aircraft with
contracted sales at delivery), 30 engines, 16 helicopters and other
commitments. The timing of our purchase obligations is based on
current estimates. We have incorporated expected delivery delays
into the table above. In addition, we have the right to reschedule
the delivery dates of certain of our aircraft to future dates.
Refer to Note 30—Commitments
and contingencies
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for further details on our purchase
obligations.
(c)Represents
contractual payments on aircraft that we lease in from corporate
aircraft owners and contractual payments on our office and facility
leases. Refer to Note 17—Leases
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for further details on our operating lease
obligations.
Historical Information
The following table presents our consolidated cash flows for the
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions) |
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
$ |
3,693.8 |
|
|
$ |
2,130.4 |
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
(23,458.9) |
|
|
(712.3) |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
20,183.8 |
|
|
(1,225.3) |
|
Cash flows provided by operating activities. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, our net cash provided by
operating activities of $3.7 billion was the result of a net profit
of $1.0 billion, other adjustments to net income of $2.1 billion,
collections of finance leases of $124.3 million, and the net change
in operating assets and liabilities of $475.2 million. During the
year ended December 31, 2020, our net cash provided by operating
activities of $2.1 billion was the result of a net loss of $294.9
million, other adjustments to net loss of $3.0 billion, and
collections of finance and sales-type leases of $68.1 million,
partially offset by the net change in operating assets and
liabilities of $654.7 million.
Cash flows used in investing activities. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, our net cash used in investing
activities of $23.5 billion primarily consisted of the acquisition
of GECAS (net of cash acquired) of $22.5 billion and purchase
of aircraft of $1.8 billion, partially offset by cash provided by
asset sale proceeds of $824.0 million. During the year ended
December 31, 2020, our net cash used in investing activities of
$712.3 million primarily consisted of cash used for the purchase of
aircraft of $1.2 billion, partially offset by cash provided by
asset sale proceeds of $471.4 million.
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing
activities. During
the year ended December 31, 2021, our net cash provided by
financing activities of $20.2 billion primarily consisted of cash
provided by new financing proceeds, net of debt repayments and debt
issuance costs, of $20.1 billion, net receipts of maintenance and
security deposits of $159.5 million, the repurchase of shares and
payments of tax withholdings on share-based compensation of $76.2
million, and cash used for the payment of dividends to our
non-controlling interest holders of $0.3 million. During the year
ended December 31, 2020, our net cash used in financing activities
of $1.2 billion primarily consisted of cash used for new financing
proceeds, net of debt repayments and debt issuance costs, of $867.5
million, net receipts of maintenance and security deposits of
$227.1 million, the repurchase of shares and payments of tax
withholdings on share-based compensation of $127.8 million, and
cash used for the payment of dividends to our non-controlling
interest holders of $2.9 million.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
We have interests in variable interest entities, some of which are
not consolidated into our Consolidated Financial Statements. Refer
to Note 28—Variable
interest entities
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for a detailed description of these interests and our other
off-balance sheet arrangements.
Book value per share
The following table presents our book value per share as of
December 31, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions,
except share and per share data) |
Total AerCap Holdings N.V. shareholders’ equity |
$ |
16,571 |
|
|
$ |
8,864 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares issued |
250,347,345 |
|
|
138,847,345 |
|
Treasury shares |
(4,951,897) |
|
|
(8,448,807) |
|
Ordinary shares outstanding |
245,395,448 |
|
|
130,398,538 |
|
Shares of unvested restricted stock |
(5,822,811) |
|
|
(2,552,346) |
|
Ordinary shares outstanding, excluding shares of unvested
restricted stock |
239,572,637 |
|
|
127,846,192 |
|
|
|
|
|
Book value per ordinary share outstanding, excluding shares of
unvested restricted
stock
|
$ |
69.17 |
|
|
$ |
69.34 |
|
Non-GAAP measures
The following are definitions of non-GAAP measures used in this
report on Form 20-F and a reconciliation of such measures to
the most closely related U.S. GAAP measures.
Net interest margin, annualized net spread, annualized net spread
less depreciation and amortization and average cost of
debt
Net interest margin is calculated as the difference between basic
lease rents and interest expense, excluding the impact of the
mark-to-market of interest rate caps and swaps. Annualized net
spread is net interest margin expressed as a percentage of average
lease assets. Annualized net spread less depreciation and
amortization is net interest margin less depreciation and
amortization, including maintenance rights expense, expressed as a
percentage of average lease assets. Average cost of debt is
calculated as interest expense, excluding mark-to-market on
interest rate caps and swaps, divided by the average debt balance.
We believe these measures may further assist investors in their
understanding of the changes and trends related to the earnings of
our leasing activities. These measures reflect the impact from
changes in the number of aircraft leased, lease rates and
utilization rates, as well as the impact from changes in the amount
of debt and interest rates.
The following is a reconciliation of basic lease rents to net
interest margin, annualized net spread and annualized net spread
less depreciation and amortization for the years ended December 31,
2021 and 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
Percentage
Difference |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions) |
|
|
Basic lease rents |
$ |
3,891 |
|
|
$ |
3,762 |
|
|
3 |
% |
Interest expense |
1,230 |
|
|
1,248 |
|
|
(1 |
%) |
Adjusted for: |
|
|
|
|
|
Mark-to-market of interest rate caps and swaps |
20 |
|
|
(14) |
|
|
NA |
Interest expense excluding mark-to-market on interest rate caps and
swaps |
1,250 |
|
|
1,234 |
|
|
1 |
% |
Net interest margin |
$ |
2,641 |
|
|
$ |
2,528 |
|
|
4 |
% |
Depreciation and amortization, including maintenance rights
expense |
(1,745) |
|
|
(1,691) |
|
|
3 |
% |
Net interest margin less depreciation and amortization |
$ |
896 |
|
|
$ |
837 |
|
|
7 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average lease assets |
$ |
40,646 |
|
|
$ |
37,145 |
|
|
9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annualized net spread |
6.5 |
% |
|
6.8 |
% |
|
|
Annualized net spread less depreciation and
amortization
|
2.2 |
% |
|
2.3 |
% |
|
|
Adjusted debt to equity ratio
This measure is the ratio obtained by dividing adjusted debt by
adjusted equity. Adjusted debt represents consolidated total debt
less cash and cash equivalents, and less a 50% equity credit with
respect to certain long-term subordinated debt. Adjusted equity
represents total equity, plus the 50% equity credit with respect to
the long-term subordinated debt. Adjusted debt and adjusted equity
are adjusted by the 50% equity credit to reflect the equity nature
of those financing arrangements and to provide information that is
consistent with definitions under certain of our debt covenants. We
believe this measure may further assist investors in their
understanding of our capital structure and leverage.
The following is a reconciliation of debt to adjusted debt and
equity to adjusted equity as of December 31, 2021 and
2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions
except debt/equity ratio) |
Debt |
$ |
50,205 |
|
|
$ |
28,742 |
|
Adjusted for: |
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
(1,729) |
|
|
(1,249) |
|
50% credit for long-term subordinated debt |
(1,125) |
|
|
(1,125) |
|
Adjusted debt |
$ |
47,351 |
|
|
$ |
26,368 |
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
$ |
16,647 |
|
|
$ |
8,932 |
|
Adjusted for: |
|
|
|
50% credit for long-term subordinated debt |
1,125 |
|
|
1,125 |
|
Adjusted equity |
$ |
17,772 |
|
|
$ |
10,057 |
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted debt/equity ratio |
2.66 to 1 |
|
2.62 to 1 |
Summarized financial information of issuers and
guarantors
AerCap Trust and AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company
Notes
From time to time since the completion of the acquisition of ILFC,
AerCap Trust and AerCap Ireland Capital Designated Activity Company
(“AICDC”) have co-issued senior unsecured notes (the “AGAT/AICDC
Notes”). Refer to Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report for further details on the AGAT/AICDC Notes. The AGAT/AICDC
Notes are jointly and severally and fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by AerCap Holdings N.V. (the “Parent Guarantor”)
and by AerCap Ireland, AerCap Aviation Solutions B.V., ILFC and
AerCap U.S. Global Aviation LLC (the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and,
together with the Parent Guarantor, the “AGAT/AICDC
Guarantors”).
Subject to the provisions of the indenture governing the AGAT/AICDC
Notes (the “AGAT/AICDC Indenture”), a Subsidiary Guarantor will be
automatically and unconditionally released from its guarantee with
respect to a series of AGAT/AICDC Notes under the following
circumstances: (1) the sale, disposition or other transfer of (i)
the capital stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor after which such
Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary (as
defined in the AGAT/AICDC Indenture) or (ii) all or substantially
all of the assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor; (2) the permitted
designation of the Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary as defined in and pursuant to the AGAT/AICDC Indenture;
(3) the consolidation, amalgamation or merger of a Subsidiary
Guarantor with and into AerCap Trust, AICDC or another AGAT/AICDC
Guarantor with such person being the surviving entity, or upon the
liquidation of a Subsidiary Guarantor following the transfer of all
of its assets to AerCap Trust, AICDC or another AGAT/AICDC
Guarantor; or (4) legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with
respect to such series, each as described in the AGAT/AICDC
Indenture, or if the obligations of AerCap Trust and AICDC with
respect to such series under the AGAT/AICDC Indenture are
discharged.
The guarantee obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor are limited
(i) to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be
guaranteed by a Subsidiary Guarantor (after giving effect to any
collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments
made by or on behalf of all other AGAT/AICDC Guarantors in respect
of the obligations under their respective guarantees) without
rendering the guarantee, as it relates to such Subsidiary
Guarantor, voidable under applicable fraudulent conveyance or
transfer laws, and (ii) as necessary to recognize certain defenses
generally available to guarantors, including voidable preference,
financial assistance, corporate purpose, capital maintenance or
similar laws, regulations or defenses affecting the rights of
creditors generally or other considerations under applicable law.
In addition, given that some of the AGAT/AICDC Guarantors are Irish
and Dutch companies, it may be more difficult for holders of the
AGAT/AICDC Notes to obtain or enforce judgments against such
guarantors.
Because AICDC and certain AGAT/AICDC Guarantors are holding
companies with very limited operations, their only significant
assets are the equity interests of their directly held
subsidiaries. As a result, AICDC and certain AGAT/AICDC Guarantors
are dependent primarily upon dividends and other payments from
their subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet their
outstanding debt service and other obligations, and such dividends
or other payments will in turn depend on factors, such as their
subsidiaries’ earnings, covenants in instruments governing their
subsidiaries’ indebtedness, other contractual restrictions and
applicable laws (including local law restricting payments of
dividends).
Junior Subordinated Notes
In October 2019, AerCap Holdings N.V. issued $750.0 million
aggregate principal amount of 5.875% fixed-rate reset junior
subordinated notes due 2079 (the “Junior Subordinated Notes”).
Refer to Note 15—Debt
to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual
report. The Junior Subordinated Notes are jointly and severally and
fully and unconditionally guaranteed by AerCap Trust, AICDC, AerCap
Ireland, AerCap Aviation Solutions B.V., ILFC and AerCap U.S.
Global Aviation LLC (the “Subordinated Notes
Guarantors”).
Subject to the provisions of the indenture governing the Junior
Subordinated Notes (the “Subordinated Notes Indenture”), a
Subordinated Notes Guarantor will be automatically and
unconditionally released from its guarantee under the following
circumstances: (1) the sale, disposition or other transfer of all
or substantially all of the assets of a Subordinated Notes
Guarantor; (2) the consolidation, amalgamation or merger of a
Subordinated Notes Guarantor with and into AerCap Holdings N.V. or
another Subordinated Notes Guarantor with such person being the
surviving entity, or upon the liquidation of a Subordinated Notes
Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to AerCap
Holdings N.V. or another Subordinated Notes Guarantor; or (3) legal
defeasance or covenant defeasance, each as described in the
Subordinated Notes Indenture, or if the obligations of AerCap
Holdings N.V. under the Subordinated Notes Indenture are
discharged.
The guarantee obligations of each Subordinated Notes Guarantor are
limited (i) to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can
be guaranteed by a Subordinated Notes Guarantor (after giving
effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from
or payments made by or on behalf of all other Subordinated Notes
Guarantors in respect of the obligations under their respective
guarantees) without rendering the guarantee, as it relates to such
Subordinated Notes Guarantor, voidable under applicable fraudulent
conveyance or transfer laws, and (ii) as necessary to recognize
certain defenses generally available to guarantors, including
voidable preference, financial assistance, corporate purpose,
capital maintenance or similar laws, regulations or defenses
affecting the rights of creditors generally or other considerations
under applicable law. In addition, given that some of the
Subordinated Notes Guarantors are Irish and Dutch companies, it may
be more difficult for holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes to
obtain or enforce judgments against such guarantors.
Because AerCap Holdings N.V. and certain Subordinated Notes
Guarantors are holding companies with very limited operations,
their only significant assets are the equity interests of their
directly held subsidiaries. As a result, AerCap Holdings N.V. and
certain Subordinated Notes Guarantors are dependent primarily upon
dividends and other payments from their subsidiaries to generate
the funds necessary to meet their outstanding debt service and
other obligations, and such dividends or other payments will in
turn depend on their subsidiaries’ earnings, covenants in
instruments governing their subsidiaries’ indebtedness, other
contractual restrictions and applicable laws (including local law
restricting payments of dividends).
Summarized Combined Financial Information
Summarized financial information (the “SFI”), as defined under Rule
1-02(bb) of Regulation S-X, is provided below for the issuers and
the guarantor entities and includes AerCap Holdings N.V., AerCap
Trust, AICDC, AerCap U.S. Global Aviation LLC, AerCap Aviation
Solutions B.V., AerCap Ireland and ILFC (collectively, the “Obligor
Group”) as of December 31, 2021, and for the year ended December
31, 2021. The SFI is presented on a combined basis with
intercompany transactions and balances among the entities included
in the Obligor Group eliminated. The Obligor Group SFI excludes
investments in non-obligor entities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summarized combined financial information of issuers and
guarantors |
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
|
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions) |
Flight equipment held for operating leases, net
|
|
$ |
8,483 |
|
|
|
Intercompany receivables
|
|
32,806 |
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
44,631 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt
|
|
38,726 |
|
|
|
Intercompany payables
|
|
5,650 |
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
46,710 |
|
|
|
Non-controlling interest
|
|
77 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended |
|
|
December 31, 2021 |
|
|
(U.S. Dollars in millions) |
Total revenues and other income (a) |
|
$ |
2,206 |
|
Total expenses (b) |
|
1,347 |
|
Income before income taxes and income of investments accounted for
under the equity method |
|
859 |
|
Net income |
|
753 |
|
Net income attributable to AerCap Holdings N.V. |
|
753 |
|
(a)Total
revenues include interest income from non-obligor entities of $635
million.
(b)Total
expenses include interest expense to non-obligor entities of $16
million.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and
Employees
Directors and officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
|
Date of First
Appointment |
|
End Current
Term (a) |
|
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Dacier |
|
64 |
|
Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors |
|
May 2010 |
|
2025 AGM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aengus Kelly |
|
48 |
|
Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer |
|
May 2011 |
|
2026 AGM |
|
Julian (Brad) Branch |
|
67 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
April 2018 |
|
2022 AGM |
|
Stacey Cartwright |
|
58 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
April 2019 |
|
2023 AGM |
|
Rita Forst |
|
66 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
April 2019 |
|
2023 AGM |
|
Richard (Michael) Gradon |
|
62 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
May 2010 |
|
2022 AGM |
|
James (Jim) Lawrence |
|
69 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
May 2017 |
|
2025 AGM |
|
Jennifer VanBelle |
|
53 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
November 2021 |
|
2025 AGM |
|
Michael Walsh |
|
55 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
May 2017 |
|
2025 AGM |
|
Robert (Bob) Warden |
|
49 |
|
Non-Executive Director |
|
July 2006 |
|
2022 AGM |
|
Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Juhas |
|
50 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Canniffe |
|
49 |
|
Group Treasurer |
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Anderson |
|
46 |
|
Chief Commercial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Vincent Drouillard |
|
46 |
|
General Counsel |
|
|
|
|
|
Joe Venuto |
|
62 |
|
Chief Technical Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Anton Joiner |
|
51 |
|
Chief Risk Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Jorg Koletzki |
|
54 |
|
Chief Information Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Risteard Sheridan |
|
47 |
|
Company Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Theresa Murray |
|
54 |
|
Head of Human Resources |
|
|
|
|
|
Bart Ligthart |
|
40 |
|
Chief Investment Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Olson |
|
59 |
|
Head of OEM Relations |
|
|
|
|
|
John Govan |
|
50 |
|
Head of EMEA |
|
|
|
|
|
Bashir Hajir |
|
54 |
|
Head of Americas |
|
|
|
|
|
Emmanuel Herinckx |
|
49 |
|
Head of Asia Pacific |
|
|
|
|
|
Pat Sheedy |
|
42 |
|
President and CEO, Milestone Aviation |
|
|
|
|
|
Tom Slattery |
|
50 |
|
Executive Vice President Engines |
|
|
|
|
|
Dermot Manifold |
|
55 |
|
Head of Commercial Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
(a)The
term for each director ends at the Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders (“AGM”) typically held in April or May of each
year.
Directors
Our Board of Directors currently consists of ten directors, nine of
whom are non-executive directors.
Paul Dacier. Mr.
Dacier has been a Director of AerCap since May 27, 2010. He is also
currently the general counsel at Indigo Agriculture, a privately
held start-up company, and he is on the Board of Directors of
Progress Software Inc. (a software application development
company). Until 2016, Mr. Dacier was Executive Vice President and
General Counsel of EMC Corporation (an information infrastructure
technology and solutions company), where he worked in various
positions from 1990. He was a Non-Executive Director of GTY
Technology Holdings Inc. from October 2016 until November 2019 and
a Non-Executive Director of Genesis from November 2007 until the
date of its amalgamation with AerCap International Bermuda Limited
in March 2010. Prior to joining EMC, Mr. Dacier was an attorney
with Apollo Computer Inc. (a computer work station company) from
1984 to 1990. Mr. Dacier received a B.A. in history and a J.D. in
1983 from Marquette University. He is admitted to practice law in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of
Wisconsin.
Aengus Kelly. Mr.
Kelly was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
of AerCap on May 18, 2011. Previously, he served as Chief Executive
Officer of AerCap’s U.S. operations from January 2008 to May 2011.
Mr. Kelly served as AerCap’s Group Treasurer from 2005 through
December 31, 2007. He started his career in the aviation leasing
and financing business with Guinness Peat Aviation (“GPA”) in 1998
and continued working with its successors AerFi in Ireland and
debis AirFinance and AerCap in Amsterdam. Prior to joining GPA in
1998, he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin. Mr. Kelly is a
Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and
a Master’s degree in Accounting from University College,
Dublin.
Julian (Brad) Branch.
Mr. Branch has been a Director of AerCap since April 25, 2018. Mr.
Branch most recently served Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd
(Deloitte’s global organization) as Senior Advisor in the Office of
the CEO and served the Boards of Deloitte Northwest Europe LP and
of Deloitte’s Middle East practice. Mr. Branch’s professional
career has spanned 40 years; he first qualified as a Certified
Public Accountant in June 1979, and was a general partner of
Deloitte entities in the U.S. including Deloitte & Touche LLP
(accounting and auditing) and Deloitte Consulting LLP (consulting)
for 29 years. His industry focus has been the air transportation
industry; large global air carriers. Mr. Branch held a variety of
global leadership roles with Deloitte, having lived and practiced
outside of the U.S. for over a decade. Mr. Branch has vigorously
supported the community through not-for-profit Board service, such
as the Advisory Board of Emory University School of Ethics and the
Duke University Heart Center. He received a B.A. and M.B.A. from
the University of North Carolina.
Stacey Cartwright. Ms.
Cartwright has been a Director of AerCap since April 24, 2019. She
is also currently a Non-Executive Director of Savills PLC, Genpact
and Majid al Futtaim LEC. She also Chairs the Advisory Committee of
Majid al Futtaim Lifestyle. Ms. Cartwright previously served as
Chief Executive Officer of Harvey Nichols Group from 2014 to 2017
(and as Deputy Chairman in 2018), Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Burberry Group from 2004 to 2013, and
Chief Financial Officer of Egg PLC from 1999 to 2003, having spent
her early career with Granada Group. Ms. Cartwright was also a
Non-Executive Director of GlaxoSmithKline PLC and a Senior
Independent Dir