GE to merge aircraft leasing unit with rival AerCap in a $30 billion deal as industry faces more pandemic turmoil
General Electric on Wednesday said it will sell its jet leasing business to rival AerCap in a deal valued at $30 billion, a move that would create a massive lessor as the aviation industry struggles through the Covid-19 pandemic and GE moves to reduce its debt load.

The deal would give GE a 46% stake in the combined company and generate about $24 billion in cash. GE Capital Aviation Services, or Gecas, is a part of GE Capital, which has been whittled down since the financial crisis. When the deal closes, which GE expects to take nine to 12 months, GE Capital will be folded into the larger corporate structure, no longer broken out as a separate unit in financial reports.

GE said it would reduce its debt by about $30 billion after the transaction closes using proceeds from the deal and existing cash. The company said it would take a $3 billion charge in the first quarter of 2021.

GE's and AerCap's shares were each down about 5% in afternoon trading. S&P Global Ratings said it expects to lower GE's credit rating because "debt leverage will be higher than previously expected due to the consolidation of GE Capital financials."

"This is the right time to further accelerate our transformation," GE CEO Larry Culp said in a news release announcing the deal. "This action will enable us to significantly de-risk GE and continue on our path to being a well-capitalized company.