Sberbank Leasing will purchase a batch of 12 B737 Next Generation jets. 

      Transaero, Russia’s second largest airline, is expected to be the end user of the aircraft.

      This deal marks the first time in the history of the Russian business whena local financial institution buys jets for lease from Boeing via a direct contract.

      Set up in 1993, Sberbank Leasing’s portfolio totaled 203 billion roubles, or some $7 billion, in 2011. Aviation accounted for 15.2 percent of the contracts over the same period.