Daiwa Securities Group Deepens Strategic Alliance with Airborne Capital

In a move to strengthen its position in the global aircraft leasing market, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Has announced a formal capital participation in Dublin-based Airborne Capital Limited. The agreement, finalized on May 20, 2026, marks a significant expansion of a partnership that began in November 2024, signaling a shift from a purely business-based collaboration to a long-term capital relationship.

Expanding the Investment Horizon

The alliance is rooted in the growing demand for alternative assets that offer stability and inflation resilience. As global air travel continues to recover from post-pandemic lows, aircraft leasing has emerged as a compelling asset class. Daiwa Securities Group and Airborne Capital are targeting this sector to provide diversified investment opportunities for both high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients.

“By combining Daiwa Securities’ high-value, customer-centric solution delivery with Airborne Capital’s deep aviation expertise, we aim to expand our offering of highly specialized aircraft leasing products in Japan,” said Ramki Sundaram, CEO of Airborne Capital Limited.

Strategic Details of the Alliance

Under the terms of the agreement, Daiwa Securities Group will acquire a 10% voting interest in Airborne Capital through the purchase of common shares from existing shareholders. The firm will subscribe to subordinated notes issued by Airborne Capital. The deal also includes warrants that provide Daiwa Securities Group the option to increase its voting interest to up to 20% in the future.

To ensure alignment between the two organizations, Daiwa Securities Group plans to nominate a director to the Airborne Capital board, facilitating deeper management integration. This capital investment builds upon existing joint ventures, including:

• Daiwa Airborne Co., Ltd.: Operational since January 2025, this joint venture focuses on providing Japanese Operating Lease (JOL) products to ultra-high-net-worth clients.
• MACH OE: An open-ended aircraft fund developed in partnership with Mercuria Investment Co., Ltd., designed to provide institutional investors with access to aircraft asset classes.

A Focus on Asset Management

For Daiwa Securities Group, the partnership is a key component of its broader strategy to maximize customer asset value. By integrating Airborne Capital’s specialized asset management capabilities into its wealth management and institutional investment divisions, the group aims to offer more differentiated, tailor-made solutions.

“In the aircraft leasing sector, we provide tailor-made JOL solutions to high-net-worth individuals, corporate clients, and others through Airborne Capital and Daiwa Airborne; this has become a key product offering for our ultra-high-net-worth client base,” stated Akihiko Ogino, President and CEO of Daiwa Securities Group Inc.

Key Takeaways

• Capital Stake: Daiwa Securities Group has acquired a 10% voting interest in Airborne Capital, with an option to increase this to 20%.
• Management Integration: The agreement includes the nomination of a director from Daiwa Securities Group to the Airborne Capital board.
• Market Focus: The collaboration centers on providing aircraft leasing investment vehicles, including open-ended funds and Japanese Operating Leases (JOL), to a diverse range of investors.
• Strategic Growth: The partnership leverages Daiwa’s extensive customer base in Japan alongside Airborne Capital’s specialized aviation asset management expertise.

Future Outlook

While the immediate impact on Daiwa Securities Group’s consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2027 is expected to be minor, the company views this capital participation as a foundation for long-term growth. Both firms have indicated that they will continue to explore new product development to reach broader investor segments, further cementing their collaboration in the evolving aircraft leasing landscape.