International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), the world’s largest aircraft lessor by value, is reportedly close to reaching agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to obtain a US$5 billion line of credit that will help facilitate its sale. Last month the ILFC said it needed financial support due to its lack of access to financing because it was a unit of American International Group (AIG) which saw more than US$180 billion pumped in by the government and the NY Fed to bail out AIG and keep it solvent. ILFC is believed to be one of AIG’s most profitable assets and has been attempting to find buyers to remove it from under AIG’s shadow. As at the end of 2008 ILFC had firm orders with Boeing and Airbus for 168 aircraft with a combined value of $16.7 billion to be delivered through 2019. The Financial Times reported recently that ILFC is in discussions with potential buyers including the Carlyle Group, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Greenbriar Equity Group.