General Electric on Wednesday said it reached a deal to combine its jet-leasing business with rival AerCap in a deal valued at $30 billion, a move that would create a massive lessor as the aviation industry struggles through the Covid-19 pandemic and GE moves to reduce its debt load. CNBC's David Faber breaks down his conversation with CEO Larry Culp Wednesday morning about the deal. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi General Electric on Wednesday said it will sell its jet leasing business to rival AerCap in a deal valued at $30 billion, a move that would create a massive lessor as the aviation industry struggles through the Covid-19 pandemic and GE moves to reduce its debt load. The deal would give GE a 46% stake in the combined company and generate about $24 billion in cash. GE Capital Aviation Services, or Gecas, is a part of GE Capital, which has been whittled down since the financial crisis. When the deal closes, which GE expects to take nine to 12 months, GE Capital will be folded into the larger corporate structure, no longer broken out as a separate unit in financial reports. GE said it would reduce its debt by about $30 billion after the transaction closes using proceeds from the deal and existing cash. GE shares were down 5% in morning trading while AerCap’s were off 2% after the deal was announced. ″This is the right time to further accelerate our transformation,” GE CEO Larry Culp said in a news release accouncing the deal. “This action will enable us to significantly de-risk GE and continue on our path to being a well-capitalized company. Both companies are large customers of both Boeing and rival Airbus. A combination of the two into what analysts describe as the world’s largest aircraft lessor will give them the ability to press for better aircraft prices, just as Boeing and Airbus are trying to find their footing in the pandemic. Aircraft leasing companies hold about half of the more than 22,000 single- and twin-aisle commercial jetliners, according to consulting firm Ascend by Cirium. “They will have a lot of negotiating power,” said Eric Bernardini, co-head of the aerospace, defense and aviation practice at consulting firm AlixPartners. Culp told analysts Wednesday that he expects the aviation industry’s rebound to boost the value of its proposed equity stake. “As the industry recovers that equity stake that we have in the combined business undoubtedly will be worth more than it is today,” Culp said. “We would have never sold Gecas for cash at his point in the cycle. Fortunately, that’s really not what we’re doing today. We’re putting GE together with an important partner, creating, I think, more value for the GE shareholder over time.” Gecas is closely intertwined with GE’s massive aircraft engine business as the leasing company often finances and rents aircraft outfitted with GE engines that the company later services. Gecas’ owned, serviced or ordered aircraft top 1,600, and it had assets worth $35.86 billion as of the end of 2020. AerCap owned, managed or had on order some 1,330 aircraft at the end of last year with assets of assets worth $42 billion, according to regulatory filings. » Subscribe to CNBC TV: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCtelevision » Subscribe to CNBC: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBC » Subscribe to CNBC Classic: https://cnb.cx/SubscribeCNBCclassic Turn to CNBC TV for the latest stock market news and analysis. From market futures to live price updates CNBC is the leader in business news worldwide. The News with Shepard Smith is CNBC’s daily news podcast providing deep, non-partisan coverage and perspective on the day’s most important stories. Available to listen by 8:30pm ET / 5:30pm PT daily beginning September 30: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/09/29/the-news-with-shepard-smith-podcast.html?__source=youtube%7Cshepsmith%7Cpodcast Connect with CNBC News Online Get the latest news: http://www.cnbc.com/ Follow CNBC on LinkedIn: https://cnb.cx/LinkedInCNBC Follow CNBC News on Facebook: https://cnb.cx/LikeCNBC Follow CNBC News on Twitter: https://cnb.cx/FollowCNBC Follow CNBC News on Instagram: https://cnb.cx/InstagramCNBC https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-credit-cards/ #CNBC #CNBCTV

• published: 10 Mar 2021
• views: 10368