Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), dated as of August 12, 2022, by and among FTAI Finance Holdco Ltd.
(which, following the Holdco Merger, will be known as FTAI Aviation Ltd.), a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Parent”), FTAI Aviation Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent
(“Merger Sub”), and Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”). Each of the
Company, Parent, and Merger Sub are individually referred to herein as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties”.
WHEREAS, the Company owns approximately 99.99% of the issued and outstanding equity interests in Fortress Worldwide
Transportation and Infrastructure General Partnership, a Delaware general partnership (“Holdco”), which directly owns all of the issued and outstanding equity interests in Parent;
WHEREAS, following the execution of this Agreement but prior to the Recapitalization (as defined below), Holdco will convert into
a Delaware limited liability company and merge with and into Parent, with Parent surviving the merger as a direct subsidiary of the Company and being renamed “FTAI Aviation Ltd.,” and the equityholders of Holdco, being the Company and Fortress
Transportation and Infrastructure Master GP LLC (the “GP”), receiving ordinary shares of Parent as consideration for their interests of Holdco (the “Holdco Merger”);
WHEREAS, following the Holdco Merger and prior to the Effective Time, Parent will recapitalize (the “Recapitalization”)
its shares into: (i) ordinary shares of Parent (“Parent Ordinary Shares”), owned by the Company and the GP, (ii) 8.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series A Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares of Parent (“Parent Series A
Preferred Shares”), owned by the Company, (iii) 8.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Parent Series B Preferred Shares”), owned by the Company, and (iv) 8.25% Fixed-Rate Reset
Series C Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Shares of Parent (“Parent Series C Preferred Shares,” and together with Parent Series A Preferred Shares and Parent Series B Preferred Shares, “Parent Preferred Shares”),
owned by the Company;
WHEREAS, the Parties intend that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, at the Effective Time immediately
following the Holdco Merger and the Recapitalization, (i) Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent that is treated as a
disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii)(A) each common share of the Company (a “Company Common Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, shall be converted into and shall for all purposes represent only the right to receive one Parent Ordinary Share, (B) each 8.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series A Cumulative Perpetual
Redeemable Preferred Share of the Company (a “Company Series A Preferred Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, shall be converted into and shall for all purposes represent only the right to receive one Parent Series A Preferred Share, (C) each 8.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Series B Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Share of the
Company (a “Company Series B Preferred Share”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, shall be
converted into and shall for all purposes represent only the right to receive one Parent Series B Preferred Share and (D) each 8.25% Fixed-Rate Reset Series C Cumulative Perpetual Redeemable Preferred Share of the Company (a “Company Series
C Preferred Share”, and together with Company Series A Preferred Shares and Company Series B Preferred Shares, “Company Preferred Shares”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, shall be converted into and shall for all purposes represent only the right to receive one Parent Series C Preferred Share;
WHEREAS, as a result of the Merger, Parent will assume, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company’s liability under (A)
its 6.50% senior notes due 2025, issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 18, 2018, as supplemented, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, (B) its 9.75% senior notes due 2027,
issued from time to time pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of July 28, 2020, as supplemented, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, (C) its 5.50% senior notes due 2028, issued from time to time pursuant to the
Indenture, dated as of April 12, 2021, as supplemented, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, and (D) the revolving loans and other financial accommodations made under and pursuant to the Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement, dated as of December 2,