OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed SMBC Aviation Capital Limited's (SMBC AC) Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'BBB'. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

These actions are being taken in conjunction with a broader industry review conducted today by Fitch, which includes five aircraft leasing companies. For more commentary on the broader sector review, please see 'Fitch Completes Aircraft Lessor Peer Review', available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

KEY RATING DRIVERS - IDR
The affirmation of SMBC AC's rating is based primarily on the company's continued strong linkage with its majority owner, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG, 'A-', Outlook Stable). Though presently representing only a small portion of SMFG's total assets, SMBC AC is viewed by Fitch as strategically important to SMFG and its core banking subsidiary Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), given SMBC AC's fit with the broader company's strategic objective to diversify its business mix and invest outside Japan in activities with different risk/return profiles to the group's traditional corporate financing business. Since SMFG's acquisition of SMBC AC in 2012, this strategic importance has been supported by an integrated strategy, consistent branding, parent company representation on SMBC AC's Board of Directors and parent-supported funding to SMBC AC.

Fitch considers SMBC AC to be a strategically important subsidiary of SMFG under its Global Non-Bank Financial Institutions Rating Criteria, which typically results in notching of one to two notches from the parent company's long-term IDR. In SMBC AC's case, the IDR is notched down twice from SMFG's long-term IDR, reflecting that SMBC AC is not fully-owned by SMFG, it has a limited operating history under SMFG, it is small in size relative to the broader organization and it operates in a different jurisdiction.

Over the last 14 years, SMBC AC (and its predecessor organization prior to acquisition by SMFG) has built a well-established aircraft leasing franchise, profitable in every year of operation (excluding the effect of one-off breakage costs in relation to acquisition refinancing in 2013) with limited asset impairment charges and stable lease rates. The company has an experienced management team, an institutional structure capable of supporting a large aircraft fleet, and a customer base well-diversified by both operator type and geography, with a number of relatively strong airline credits comprising the top exposures.

In terms of SMBC AC's standalone credit profile, Fitch considers the quality of the aircraft fleet a significant strength, as it is largely unencumbered and predominantly comprised of young, sought-after and fuel-efficient narrowbody models of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 families, with more on order. The company has demonstrated the ability and discipline to execute aircraft sales successfully through cyclical market environments, which Fitch views positively.

These strengths are counterbalanced by SMBC AC's concentrated funding profile, which to date has had limited third-party funding, and its elevated balance sheet leverage. Leverage, defined as debt-to-tangible equity, on a consolidated basis was 5.6x at March 31, 2015 and represented the highest leverage among Fitch-rated aircraft lessors. Fitch expects some reduction in SMBC AC's balance sheet leverage over the next three years, although it is likely to remain higher than most peers.

RATING SENSITIVITIES - IDR
SMBC AC's ratings are primarily sensitive to changes in SMFG's ratings, given that the ratings of SMBC AC are notched two notches below those of SMFG.

Further, although not expected by Fitch, should SMFG seek to dispose of its investment in SMBC AC, or there be any other developments within SMFG which are perceived by Fitch to alter SMFG's willingness or ability to provide support to SMBC AC, SMBC AC's IDR could be adversely affected. Negative rating action could also be taken if SMBC AC's own operating performance deteriorated, thereby not delivering the return on investment envisaged by SMFG, to the extent that this affected Fitch's assessment of the propensity of SMFG to provide support to SMBC AC in case of need.

Absent upward movement in SMFG's IDR, positive rating action for SMBC AC would most likely be limited to an increase in Fitch's assessment of SMFG's propensity to support SMBC AC, in which case the notching between SMFG's rating and SMBC AC's rating could narrow. For example, consistent profitable growth within SMBC AC, such as to render it a more significant contributor to SMFG's overall business, could be beneficial to the ratings in the long term, especially if accompanied by a degree of earnings retention which served to reduce leverage.

Fitch has affirmed the following rating:

SMBC Aviation Capital Limited
--Long-term IDR at 'BBB'

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

SMBC AC is a leading global aircraft lessor, established in 2001 and rebranded as SMBC AC in 2012 on its acquisition by a consortium of SMFG and Sumitomo Corporation companies. As of August 2015 the company owns and manages 417 aircraft valued at over \\$15 billion, on lease to airline customers in over 40 countries, with commitments to purchase a further 214 aircraft worth over USD23 billion from Airbus and Boeing in the coming years.