8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 8, 2018

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	001-15369	68-0070656
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215

Novato, California 94998

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 408-4700

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

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Item 8.01. Other Events.

On August 8, 2018, Willis Lease Finance Corporation issued a news release announcing the offering of approximately $373.4 million of fixed rate notes by Willis Engine Structured Trust IV, its direct, wholly-owned subsidiary.

A copy of the news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. The news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	News release dated August 8, 2018, announcing the offering by Willis Engine Structured Trust IV of $373.4 million of fixed rate notes.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
Date: August 8, 2018	By:	/s/ Dean M. Poulakidas
		Dean M. Poulakidas
		Senior Vice President and General Counsel

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE                 CONTACT: Scott B. Flaherty                                        Chief Financial Officer                                        (415) 408-4700

Willis Lease Announces Offering of $373.4 Million in Fixed Rate Notes

NOVATO, CA – August 8, 2018 – Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ: WLFC) (“Willis”), a leading lessor of commercial jet engines, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Willis Engine Structured Trust IV (“WEST IV”) proposes to offer $373.4 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate notes (the “Notes”). It is expected that the Notes will be issued in two series, with the Series A Notes to be issued in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $326.8 million and the Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $46.7 million. The Notes will be secured by, among other things, WEST IV’s direct and indirect interests in a portfolio of 55 aircraft engines and one airframe.

The net proceeds of the Notes will be applied, in part, to pay fees and expenses related to the issuance and to pay Willis periodically over a 270-day delivery period as consideration for the aircraft engines and the airframe acquired by WEST from Willis in the financing. Willis will apply the net proceeds it receives to repay certain amounts drawn under Willis’ revolving credit facility and the remainder will be used for general corporate purposes.

The Notes being offered by WEST IV have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. The Notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A under the Securities Act and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance in Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, the Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This news release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act.

Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements, which give only expectations about the future and are not guarantees. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. Our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the effects on the airline industry and the global economy of events such as terrorist activity, changes in oil prices and other disruptions to the world markets; trends in the airline industry and our ability to capitalize on those trends, including growth rates of markets and other economic factors; risks associated with owning and leasing jet engines and aircraft; our ability to successfully negotiate equipment purchases, sales and leases, to collect outstanding amounts due and to control costs and expenses; changes in interest rates and availability of capital, both to us and our customers; our ability to continue to meet the changing customer demands; regulatory changes affecting airline operations, aircraft maintenance, accounting standards and taxes; the market value of engines and other assets in our portfolio; and risks detailed in Willis’ Annual Report on Form 10-K and other continuing reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.