Caisse invests in aircraft leasing, Ontario Teachers’ in driverless vehicles
The Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec is entering a US$300 million warehouse financing agreement with Titan Aircraft Investments Ltd.
The warehouse facility will provide debt capital to finance Titan’s acquisition of freighter aircraft leases. The Caisse and BNP Paribas are joint lead arrangers and lenders in the transaction.
“This investment is well-aligned with our capital solutions strategy to create tailored solutions backed by high-quality assets in great demand by strong counterparties, such as global freight aircraft lessors and to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns,” said Martin Laguerre, managing director of capital solutions at the Caisse, in a press release.
Read: Caisse investing further in electric vehicle charging network
In other investment news, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s teachers’ innovation platform is leading a US$267 million round of investment in Pony.ai, a company specializing in driverless vehicles.
Other investors in this round include Fidelity China Special Situations, 5Y Capital, ClearVue Partners and Eight Roads Ventures.
“We see a significant global opportunity for autonomous vehicle technology,” said Olivia Steedman, senior managing director of the innovation platform at Ontario Teachers’, in a press release. “Pony.ai’s leading technology and deep, strategic understanding of the sector have helped to position the company as a leader in this space.”