Apollo Global Management LLC is talking to bankers about lining up debt to buy all or part of General Electric Co.’s jet-leasing business, which could be worth as much as $40 billion, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reported.
The New York-based alternative asset manager has met with lenders to secure about $30 billion in financing to purchase GE Capital Aviation Services as potential buyers circle one of the ailing manufacturer’s crown jewels, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the matter isn’t public, Bloomberg reported.
No deal is imminent and GE may opt to keep the business, they said. The unit has drawn interest from other potential buyers, they said. Representatives for GE and Apollo declined to comment.
The leasing unit, known as GECAS, sits alongside Dublin-based AerCap Holdings NV as the world’s top plane lessors. GE has a fleet of almost 2,000 aircraft valued at about $40 billion, according to the company’s website. It’s also a significant player in the helicopter market after its $1.8 billion acquisition of Milestone Aviation Group Ltd. in 2015.
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