Willis Affiliates Reduce Stake in Willis Lease

Charles F. Willis, IV, along with CFW Partners, L.P. and Austin Chandler Willis, filed an amendment to their Schedule 13D for Willis Lease Finance Corp (WLFC) on April 3, 2026. The filing reveals a series of open-market sales and returns of restricted shares to the issuer to satisfy tax liabilities occurring throughout March and early April 2026. Notably, Charles F. Willis, IV now beneficially owns 3,359,547 shares, representing a 43.24% ownership stake, which includes 300,000 shares underlying stock options. CFW Partners, L.P. holds 2,134,148 shares (27.47%), and Austin C. Willis holds 869,100 shares (11.19%). The report also notes that Austin C. Willis entered into a new Rule 10b5-1 trading plan on March 24, 2026, allowing for the sale of up to 15,184 additional shares starting in July 2026. Significant transactions included the return of 42,950 shares by Charles F. Willis, IV and 24,595 shares by Austin C. Willis to the issuer on April 1, 2026, at a price of $175.62 per share.