Carlyle Aviation Partners has announced the completion of its seventeenth aircraft portfolio transaction, known as AASET 2025-1 Trust. This issuance represents the first commercial aircraft asset-backed securitization (ABS) for 2025, involving $518 million in Secured Notes intended to finance a portfolio of 23 aircraft.
AASET 2025-1 introduces a master trust structure, initially implemented by Carlyle Aviation last year. This allows the trust to finance pre-identified aircraft at its discretion. Javier Meireles, CEO of Carlyle Aviation, expressed optimism about the transaction: “We are encouraged by the strong demand and favorable terms of this transaction. The innovative master trust structure of AASET 2025-1 highlights our continued commitment to excellence in this space.”
Bill Hoffman, Chairman of Carlyle Aviation, emphasized their leadership role: “We are proud of our leadership in the aircraft ABS market and believe the innovative master trust structure will benefit issuers and investors alike, offering larger asset pools with more diversification.”
Goldman Sachs acted as sole structuring agent, global coordinator, and joint lead bookrunner for this transaction. Milbank LLP served as issuer counsel while Phoenix American was appointed managing agent.
The Secured Notes issued under AASET 2025-1 have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933. They were offered exclusively to qualified institutional buyers per Rule 144A and outside the U.S. according to Regulation S.
Carlyle Aviation Partners operates within Carlyle’s Global Credit business segment, managing $194 billion in assets as of September 30, 2024. The firm is recognized for its technical knowledge and industry expertise within aviation investment management.
Carlyle itself is a global investment firm with $447 billion in assets under management across three segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Global Investment Solutions.
