Notes that Over 92% of Unaffiliated Stockholders Opposed WLFC&#39;s Executive Compensation and Nearly 84% Opposed Re-Election of Stephen Jones  Calls on Stockholders to Continue Opposing Charter Amendment Proposal that would

WLFC

Four Tree Island Advisory Highlights Overwhelming Stockholder Rejection of Willis Lease Finance's Governance and Compensation Practices at 2026 Annual Meeting

WLFC governance backlash intensifies as activist pushes for reforms and capex cuts

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  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>Notes that Over 92% of Unaffiliated Stockholders Opposed WLFC&amp;#39;s Executive Compensation and Nearly 84% Opposed Re-Election of Stephen Jones  Calls on Stockholders to Continue Opposing Charter Amendment Proposal that would</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Four Tree Island Advisory, a top-10 WLFC holder, flags wide minority opposition to governance and pay. With 84% opposing Stephen Jones&#039;s re-election and 92% opposing executive compensation, the group urges governance reforms and resists a charter-amendment to triple shares. A reconvened meeting on June 23, 2026 could force meaningful concessions.</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>84% unaffiliated stockholders opposed Stephen Jones re-election; 92% opposed executive compensation.</li><li>WLFC adjourned the meeting; reconvening June 23, 2026 to vote on the charter amendment.</li><li>Four Tree Island Advisory pushes governance/capital-discipline measures; urges against tripling shares.</li><li>Proposed actions: cancel 300k option grant; sell yacht and one aircraft; 10-year Willis equity ban.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Four Tree Island Advisory LLC (N/A)</strong>: Activist investor urging governance reforms and against share-count expansion at WLFC.</li><li><strong>Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC)</strong>: Subject of activist pressure; governance and capital-allocation concerns could affect strategic decisions.</li><li><strong>Fortress Transportation &amp; Infrastructure Investors (FTAI)</strong>: Peer reference; used to contextualize WLFC&#039;s capitalization decisions and market positioning.</li><li><strong>AerCap (AER)</strong>: Peer; mentioned in commentary on peer group capital metrics and asset mix.</li><li><strong>Air Lease Corporation (AL)</strong>: Peer; cited in comparison of aircraft holdings and valuation context.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>Category: Corporate Developments. The article centers on activist-driven governance concerns at WLFC and potential capital-structure changes, signaling meaningful near-term strategic risks and investor activism dynamics.</p>
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  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Reconvened June 23 vote could trigger governance concessions and alter cap structure.</li><li>Activist opposition may pressure board to drop tripling authorized shares.</li><li>Negative sentiment around compensation and governance could weigh on WLFC stock.</li><li>Peers FTAI/AER/AL valuations may set WLFC capital-structure expectations.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Annual Meeting results: 84% unaffiliated opposed Stephen Jones re-election; 92% opposed executive compensation.</li><li>Meeting adjourned; reconvened vote scheduled for June 23, 2026.</li><li>Proposal to triple authorized shares failed; reconvened vote set for later in June.</li><li>Governance measures proposed by Four Tree Island: cancel 300k option grant; sell yacht and one aircraft; no Willis family equity for 10 years.</li><li>WLFC peer reference: FTAI, AerCap (AER), Air Lease (AL) noted for comparison; WLFC owned two aircraft and a luxury yacht.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Near-term downside risk for WLFC unless governance concessions materialize before the June 23 reconvened meeting.</p>
  </section>
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<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p align="center"><em>Notes that Over 92% of Unaffiliated Stockholders Opposed WLFC's Executive Compensation and Nearly 84% Opposed Re-Election of Stephen Jones</em></p>  <p align="center"><em>Calls on Stockholders to Continue Opposing Charter Amendment Proposal that would Triple Authorized Share Count at Reconvened Annual Meeting</em><br></br></p>  <p align="justify">PORTSMOUTH, N.H., June  01, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Four Tree Island Advisory LLC ("Four Tree Island Advisory" or "we"), a top-10 stockholder of Willis Lease Finance Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/WLFC">WLFC</a>) ("WLFC" or the "Company") based on public information, today commented on the decisive rebuke to the Company's Board of Directors and management team delivered by stockholders at the Company's 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting").</p>  <p align="justify">Based on the voting results from the Annual Meeting disclosed by the Company, nearly 84% of unaffiliated stockholders opposed the re-election of director Stephen Jones, demonstrating a profound lack of confidence in the Company's governance and oversight. Furthermore, over 92% of unaffiliated stockholders voted AGAINST the Company's executive compensation program, underscoring widespread dissatisfaction with WLFC's pay practices.<sup>1</sup></p>  <p align="justify">WLFC also failed to secure sufficient stockholder support for its proposal to triple the Company's authorized share count. Rather than accept this outcome, the Company adjourned the Annual Meeting and announced its intention to solicit additional votes in an effort to pass the proposal. A subsequent vote has been scheduled for a reconvened Annual Meeting on June 23, 2026.</p>  <p align="justify">Four Tree Island Advisory believes these results reflect a clear and unambiguous message from minority stockholders: fundamental changes are required at the Company.</p>  <p align="justify">In our view, stockholders have spoken decisively against entrenched governance practices, excessive compensation and value destructive capital allocation decisions. We believe it is incumbent upon the Board, particularly its independent directors, to respect this mandate rather than attempt to override it through continued solicitation efforts.</p>  <p align="justify">Four Tree Island Advisory is urging stockholders to continue to vote <strong>AGAINST</strong> the proposed increase in authorized shares unless and until the Company implements three critical governance and capital discipline measures:</p>  <ul><li style="text-align:justify;">The cancellation and rescission of the 300,000-share option grant awarded to Executive Chairman Charles Willis in November 2025.</li></ul>  <ul><li style="text-align:justify;">The sale of the Company's luxury superyacht and the sale of one of the Company's two corporate aircraft, accompanied by a binding commitment not to acquire similar assets in the future. For point of reference, no company in WLFC's broader peer group (FTAI, AerCap and Air Lease which are 19x, 16x and 5x (at its recent acquisition price) WLFC's market capitalization, respectively) has more than one corporate aircraft and none has a corporate luxury yacht.</li></ul>  <ul><li style="text-align:justify;">A formal agreement that no member of the Willis family will receive any further equity compensation for a minimum of ten years.<br></br><br></br></li></ul>  <p align="justify">Four Tree Island Advisory further calls on the Board – especially those designated as independent – to take immediate action to address what it believes can only be described as an egregious compensation and perquisite culture that is plaguing the Company.</p>  <p align="justify">We believe that continuing to ignore the will of minority stockholders and the Board's fiduciary responsibilities risks further erosion of trust and value. We encourage all stockholders to remain engaged and to hold the Board accountable in the coming weeks and beyond subject to fundamental, positive change.</p>  <p align="justify">THIS COMMUNICATION IS NOT A SOLICITATION OF AUTHORITY TO VOTE YOUR PROXY AND DOES NOT REQUEST OR SEEK THE POWER TO ACT AS A PROXY FOR ANY STOCKHOLDER. DO NOT SEND US YOUR PROXY CARD. FOUR TREE ISLAND ADVISORY IS NOT ASKING FOR YOUR PROXY CARD AND WILL NOT ACCEPT PROXY CARDS IF SENT. FOUR TREE ISLAND ADVISORY IS NOT ABLE TO VOTE YOUR PROXY, NOR DOES THIS COMMUNICATION CONTEMPLATE SUCH AN EVENT.</p>  <p align="justify"><strong>Contact</strong><br></br>Four Tree Island Advisory LLC <br></br><a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=ybPH1zjmXlqTvxa85YuQ2IFRQIU65sDyK1n5AP1O1vVdd_Xz6aouIxBlUkLiR-t4-l9rG9320gs4xhsxbZiRhv5ijPDpdAd3a4fQN4r98HRvodFS-nUMuULnnOzcMkfIjRKpA8g4RtUC1VRWBRxTIA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">info@fourtreeislandadvisory.com</a> <br></br>(603) 427-8053</p>  <p align="justify">______________________________<br></br><sup>1</sup> Calculated based on 7,604,821 shares outstanding less 3,768,660 shares owned by the Company's directors &amp; executive officers as disclosed in the Company's proxy statement (4,128,608 reported beneficial ownership for directors &amp; executive officers less unexercised options and performance-based awards), and assumes that the Company's directors &amp; executive officers voted in favor of the proposals.</p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTcyOTg2NyM3NjMwODIwIzIzMDgzODk="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/OTNkOTE1ZWItNmIxNy00NjY2LWIyZWQtZWIzZTlhYjI3MGUzLTEzMTk5MzktMjAyNi0wNi0wMS1lbg==/tiny/Four-Tree-Island-Advisory-LLC.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img>

Four Tree Island Advisory, a top-10 WLFC holder, flags wide minority opposition to governance and pay. With 84% opposing Stephen Jones's re-election and 92% opposing executive compensation, the group urges governance reforms and resists a charter-amendment to triple shares. A reconvened meeting on June 23, 2026 could force meaningful concessions.

four-tree-island-advisory-highlights-overwhelming-stockholder-rejection-of-willis-lease-finance-s-governance-and-compensation-practices-at-2026-annual-meeting

Four Tree Island Advisory Highlights Overwhelming Stockholder Rejection of Willis Lease Finance's Governance and Compensation Practices at 2026 Annual Meeting

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

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