8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

March 30, 2026

Date of Report

(Date of earliest event reported)

AIR LEASE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (310) 553-0555

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

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:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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. ☐

As previously reported, on September 1, 2025, Air Lease Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Sumisho Air Lease Corporation Designated Activity Company (formerly known as Gladiatora Designated Activity Company), an Irish private limited company (“Parent”), and Takeoff Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, subject to the conditions contained in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as an indirect subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”). Parent is a holding company that will be owned directly or indirectly by Sumitomo Corporation, a Japanese corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited, a company incorporated with limited liability in Ireland, and investment vehicles affiliated with Apollo managed funds and Brookfield Asset Management Ltd.

On March 30, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the receipt of the final regulatory approval that is a condition to closing the Merger. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company expects to complete the Merger on April 8, 2026. Completion of the Merger remains subject to the satisfaction of the remaining closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement. Following the Merger, the Class A Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”) will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and the shares of Class A Common Stock will cease to be publicly traded.

The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

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SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Air Lease Announces Receipt of Final Regulatory Approval in Connection with Pending Merger

LOS ANGELES, California, March 30, 2026 – Air Lease (NYSE: AL) announced today the receipt of the final regulatory approval that is a condition to closing Air Lease’s previously announced merger with a subsidiary of Sumisho Air Lease Corporation DAC, a holding company based in Dublin, Ireland, whose shares at closing will be held directly or indirectly by Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital Limited and investment vehicles affiliated with Apollo managed funds and Brookfield.

Air Lease expects to complete the merger on or about April 8, 2026, subject to the satisfaction of the remaining closing conditions set forth in the merger agreement and discussed in detail in the definitive proxy statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by Air Lease on November 4, 2025. Under the terms of the merger agreement, upon completion of the merger, Air Lease’s Class A common stockholders will be entitled to receive $65.00 in cash, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of Class A common stock of Air Lease held immediately prior to the effective time of the merger. Additionally, under the terms of the merger agreement, each share of 4.65% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, 4.125% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, and 6.00% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D, of Air Lease issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will remain outstanding as preferred stock of the surviving corporation. Upon completion of the merger, Air Lease will be renamed Sumisho Air Lease Corporation.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “seeks,” “estimates” and variations on these words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding the expected timing of the closing of the merger; the ability of the parties to complete the merger considering the various closing conditions; the expected benefits of the merger; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, that (i) one or more closing conditions to the merger may not be satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise; (ii) the business of Air Lease may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the merger and there may be challenges with employee retention as a result of the pending merger; (iii) the merger agreement contains restrictions on Air Lease’s ability to incur additional debt, which may negatively impact its liquidity and ability to maintain its investment grade ratings; (iv) the merger may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (v) legal proceedings have been and may continue to be initiated related to the merger; (vi) changes in economic conditions, political conditions and changes in laws or regulations may occur; (vii) an event, change or other circumstance may occur that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement (including circumstances requiring a party to pay the other party a termination fee pursuant to the merger agreement); and (viii) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in Air Lease’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Air Lease’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which are available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). There can be no assurance that the merger will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close within the anticipated time period or that the expected benefits of the merger will be realized.

In addition, new risks and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Air Lease to predict or assess the impact of every factor that may cause its actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Air Lease expressly disclaims any obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement to reflect actual results or events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

About Air Lease (NYSE: AL)

Air Lease is a leading global aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. Air Lease and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing new commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. The company routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the “Investors” section of its website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult Air Lease’s website regularly for important information. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, Air Lease’s website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release.