UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 7, 2017 (August 4, 2017)

Willis Lease Finance Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

773 San Marin Drive, Suite 2215

Novato, California 94998

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (415) 408-4700

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:

o                 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o                 Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o                 Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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 o

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. o

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 4, 2017, Willis Engine Structured Trust III (“WEST III”), a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Willis Lease Finance Corporation (“Willis”), closed its offering of $335.7 million in aggregate principal amount of fixed rate notes (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued in two series, with the Series A Notes issued in an aggregate principal amount of $293.7 million and the Series B Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $42 million. The Notes are secured by, among other things, WEST III’s direct and indirect interests in a portfolio of 56 engines.

The Series A Notes have a fixed coupon of 4.69%, an expected maturity of approximately 10 years and a final maturity date of August 15, 2042 and Series B Notes will have a fixed coupon of 6.36%, an expected maturity of approximately 10 years and a final maturity date of August 15, 2042. The Series A Notes were issued at a price of 99.91487% of par and the Series B Notes were issued at a price of 98.29606% of par.  Principal on the Notes is payable monthly to the extent of available cash in accordance with a priority of payments included in the Indenture (as defined below).   Proceeds from engine sales by WEST II will be used, at WEST III’s election subject to certain conditions, to reduce WEST III’s debt or to acquire other engines or aircraft.

In connection with this transaction, Willis and WEST III entered into a number of agreements, in addition to the Note Purchase Agreement previously reported on the Willis’ current report on Form 8-K filed on July 28, 2017, listed below:

1. Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of August 4, 2017 by and between Willis, as seller, and WEST III, as purchaser, providing for, among other things, the sale by Willis to WEST III of the portfolio of 56 engines during a specified delivery period, by way of the sale of the beneficial ownership interests in trusts that each own one of the engines.

2. Trust Indenture dated as of August 4, 2017 among WEST III, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“DBTCA”), as trustee and security trustee, Willis, as administrative agent, and BNP Paribas, as initial liquidity facility provider, providing for the issuance by WEST III of the Notes (the Indenture”).  The Indenture contains customary covenants for offerings of this type that apply to WEST III and its subsidiaries (but not Willis and its subsidiaries other than WEST III)., including among others, limitations on incurrence of additional debt, limitations on distributions and dividends, limitations on asset dispositions, and a requirement to comply with certain concentration lease limits included in the Indenture.   The Indenture also contains customary events of default.

Pursuant to the Indenture, cash earned by WEST III will be collected in a pledged account, which will be used to service the Notes and any remaining amounts, after debt service and defined expenses, will be distributed to Willis. Additionally, amounts equal to a portion of WEST III’s maintenance costs (including maintenance reserve reimbursement obligations) and lease security deposit reimbursement obligations will be accumulated in pledged accounts and will be available to fund future maintenance events and to apply as security deposit amounts are permitted or required to be applied under the applicable lease, respectively.

3. Security Trust Agreement dated as of August 4, 2017 among WEST III and DBTCA as security trustee (the “Security Trustee”) and operating bank (the “Security Trust Agreement”).  Pursuant to the Security Trust Agreement, WEST III grants, and each of WEST III’s future subsidiaries will grant, a security interest in substantially all of its assets to the Security Trustee for the benefit of the secured parties in the transaction.  The assets of WEST III are not available to satisfy Willis’ obligations or those of any of our affiliates other than the obligations specific to WEST III.

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4. Servicing Agreement dated as of August 4, 2017 among WEST III and Willis, as servicer and administrative agent, providing for the appointment of Willis as the servicer of the assets of WEST III and its subsidiaries.  WEST III will pay Willis monthly fees equal to 11.5% as servicer and 2.0% as administrative agent of the aggregate net rents actually received by WEST III on its engines.  WEST III will also pay Willis a fee of 3.0% of the net proceeds from the sale of any engines.

5. Administrative Agency Agreement dated as of August 4, 2017 among WEST III, Willis, as administrative agent and DBTCA, as trustee, providing for the appointment of Willis as the administrative agent of WEST and its subsidiaries.

6. Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of August 4, 2017 among WEST III, Willis, as administrative agent and BNP Paribas, as initial liquidity facility provider, providing for a revolving loan available to be applied to certain of WEST III’s obligations.

Each of these agreements contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and events of default for a transaction of this type.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation.

The information contained under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

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SIGNATURES

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 hereunto duly authorized.

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