Aircraft leasing group LCI is looking to accelerate its diversification strategy fueled by a capital injection from the acquisition of a 35 percent stake by Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Company (SMFL). Announcing the agreement on March 29, LCI’s parent, Libra Group, said the further support from its Japanese partner will aid efforts to grow LCI’s business by around $1.5 billion, with a significant portion of this expansion coming from taking positions in the fast-emerging advanced air mobility (AAM) sector.
Over the past 12 months, LCI has been one of a handful of leasing groups to make plans to invest in new electric and hybrid-electric aircraft, announcing provisional sales agreements for up to 125 of Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 eVTOL models and up to 40 of Elroy Air’s Chaparral's autonomous freighters. The new vehicles will expand a portfolio of assets that already includes multirole helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
